Art carries revenge in his soul, a revenge so poisonous, he carries it with him every day of his life. With the advice of an older Irish man, Art learns to survive through the hardships and struggles of life on this island far away from home. The Tide Between Us is my second book with Poolbeg. I was aware of The Difficult Second Novel and how many writers often fall short of the mark, so I was determined to give it everything I had. In my old-life, before my book deal with Poolbeg, I idled away a lot of hours shopping, socialising, popping in and out of various friends’ houses without considering the hours that passed. I had to deliver my second novel within nine months. When I began the novel in April 2016, I was working full-time for a radio station in an advertising position that involved a lot of travelling and thought. I soon realised that I couldn’t work in that role and write to the best of my ability within that time-frame. I had to decide what was more important: my allegiance to the day-job or Book 2. I chose Book 2 and quit the day-job. I took another advertising position working from home, strictly 9 to 5pm, and less demanding in every respect. Jamaica is an island that now claims 25% of it’s population to be of Irish descent. Through Olive’s research she discovered that ‘There are words spoken in remote parts of Jamaica with a clear Irish lilt and there are songs sung reminiscent of the struggles that continued in their homeland while they laid roots in their exotic new home, Jamaica.’ declan, the male main character, wants to be everything to giana, so he secretly learns sign language to be able to communicate in giana’s language! 🥰 Eventually, Art is promised seven gold coins for seven decades of service. He doubts his master will part with the coins. The morning Art sets out to claim his gratuity, he ignores his sense of foreboding that he may not return home alive.

Historical tale of inevitable acceptances The story spans 1821 – 1991, switches from Jamaica to Ireland and is told from the perspective of Art and Yseult. How did you ensure that each character and time period has their own distinct voice and presence? In her small-town beach romance, The Tides Between Us, Cali Melle follows marine biologist Diana Cirone and surfer Declan Parks. friends to lovers, surfing, golden retriever mmc, ASL rep, small beach town, no third act breakup, dual pov I thoroughly enjoyed this historical novel set in two different time periods. The first half of the book is set in the 1800s and follows the life of Art O'Neill, who as a young boy of eleven years, was taken from his home in Ireland to be an indentured servant in Jamaica. He incidentally serves under the man who murdered his father. The second half of the book is set mainly in 1991 Ireland on the estate of Lugdale, from the viewpoint of the current owner Yseult, as she grapples with the news of a skeleton found on her property.Because I was working under such a tight deadline, I had to get immersed in their lives. My routine was rigid. I have a full-time job which I finished at 5pm. I’d begin writing at 6pm until midnight. My bedtime reading was research. Everything that happened in my life was seen through the eyes of my characters. I love hearing what other people are passionate about reading, even if they can’t narrow it down to a favourite. Which book do you wish you could thrust into the arms of strangers and demand they read immediately?

It was thought that the Irish would have a better chance of survival if they were introduced to the climate at young age. Cromwell then sent 2,000 children between the age of 10 and 14 years. Migration to Jamaica continued through the 17th century. Giana and Declan's book is a feel-good story that leaves you with all the feelings. Declan is a professional surfer that is in Orchid City staying with his brother to recover from an injury. He rescues a sea turtle (so cute) and drops her off at a rehab facility where he meets Giana. He names the sea turtle Pop Tart! OMG, how cute is that??? This is a big book, well researched and well written in a very easy but gripping style by a young Irish writer. The family dynamic running through the story makes for addictive reading. The highs and lows of indentured servants and slaves moulded by the unremitting sun, human passion and violent beatings.Then they got together. Now I don’t mind smut but I need actual character development and legitimate get to know you conversations to enjoy the physical connection. In Giana’s POV we learned some about her history growing up but barely got anything on Declan and even when they went out to dinner and breakfast, they didn’t ask each other any questions. A lot of it was “observations”. At twenty-one years of age, Art O’Neill is made head overseer and is set to manage the estate for the next ten years at which point he will receive his promised gold coins and settle his debt levied on all prisoners from the slave ships. With freedom, plummeting property value, Art is able to buy land and with the abolition of the slave trade free villages are springing up everywhere with a society needing to learn a new type of civilisation. However, a new society learning to live without slavery, brought its own set of horrors, betrayals, crime, and greed as people were forced to think and live in a free world they were not accustomed to. This was my first novel by this author and it definitely won’t be my last with how much I enjoyed the writing and storyline. This gave me real characters I wanted to become friends with and was rooting from until the very end.