Book Review: Out of Deep Tides (Tides #1) by A. Jones

About the Book:

Gracie

Where do you run when memories of the past threaten to keep you locked in a place you don’t want to stay? A hand on your throat, squeezing a little tighter each day, making every breath harder to breathe.

Where do you go when you can’t go home either? Because there is no home. No one left to run to. No one to hold the broken pieces together.

For me that place was Cole, Georgia.

A quiet beach town and a safe place to rest.

And the key to a future I didn’t see coming.

Lee

Home.

The place I dreamed of when the demons of war threatened to drag me under. The life I fought to get back to when bombs and bullets made it all flash before my eyes like a faded highlight reel of days gone by.

It held the peace I needed when what I thought I left behind overseas followed me home.

And it’s the place that holds steady and strong on the days my grief and regret are hard to put behind me.

I thought I knew everything about this town.

Its stories.

Secrets.

But I don’t know hers.

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My Review:

Out of Deep Tides by A. Jones
Rating: 4.75/5
Pages: 310
Published: April 24, 2026
Series: Tides

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I loved beta-reading this one, and I am so excited it’s finally here! The story deals with trauma and healing in a unique way. I loved the friends group in this story, and well… there’s so much I enjoyed about this one! The story does deal with domestic abuse/violence and starts out rough, but it is such a good read, and the main focus isn’t about the abuse but the hope for healing that comes after.

Ah, there’s so much that I would love to say about this one, but I also know that a lot of things in this book are better to experience and find out as you read. The themes of healing, friendship, and family are great, but there’s also a strong theme of faith and finding your purpose in Him after heartbreak and trauma. That the pain isn’t the end. The cross offers us a place to lay down our pain, and to take up our cross. Our purpose, our calling. To follow Him. Jesus promises that even the pain serves a purpose, there’s always a reason, and that if we will trust Him and follow Him, He will make all things new in time. This book is a beautiful reminder of this.

There is some content that isn’t suitable for all readers. While this is a clean/closed-door romance and nothing happens that would make it steamy, it does deal with a broken marriage, domestic violence, death, PTSD, suicide(off-page and before the book starts), anger, and guilt. There are a few swear words used, especially h3– but not really anything beyond that. The topics are covered carefully and with as much grace and tact as possible, while still included for the character’s backstory and healing/growth arcs; the details are often left vague and the mentions brief.

A part of my love and deep respect for this story and the author’s courage in writing it is how the characters handle these very things. Their deep love, desire to see good even in the darkness, their growing faith, and human struggles along the way made them more real. I loved the friendships and family, and seeing them band together when one of them was struggling. I loved seeing the support and compassion, even while they willingly stepped back and allowed the other to face the challenges along when needed, they were never truly alone. They were always there to support each other. Some tasks require that we walk by faith and face the trials without someone offering a solution or trying to ‘fix’ the issue for us. Sometimes we have to walk that road, but having another beside us along the way is a beautiful thing, and this story highlights that very fact. It’s beautiful. It’s heart-breaking. It’s such a real and raw part of our walk with God, and I adore stories that are able to express and show that. This story did a remarkable job of this, and to think that this is a debut is even more amazing. May those who read it be blessed. May it draw you into a deeper understanding of Who He is, and His steadfast love for us, even when we struggle, He never leaves us. He’s always there, waiting for us to trust Him and to seek His face once more.

I loved seeing this theme reflected in various ways in the characters, and I look forward to reading about Lee’s friends and learning their stories as well as the series continues.

Other books in the series:
_{(Below is a list of the other books in this series. I’ll link to my reviews as I post them.)}

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