Braving Red Waters is another awesome book in the Time Sailors series by Sarah Hanks. I have been enjoying this intriguing take on time travel very much. Like the first two books there is time travel, plus we get a dual timeline story as we get to see the story through the eyes of the characters in the time that the FMC traveled to, plus we get to see the point of view of the characters that were left behind. And each of these books has been connected through different characters who show up in previous books.
Phoebe and her mom are in Mexico for a relaxing whale-watching vacation when Phoebe suddenly gets transported to Civil War era Saint Louis, arriving on a boat that is being fixed up to be a hospital boat. As with the other books, the time sailor has to complete a mission to be able to return home, but she has to figure out what it is. She figures it has something to do with the hospital boat, seeing as she is a nurse. As with the other books, there is a Mr. Duncan who can help answer questions. However, she also meets up with Miles, a fellow time sailor who we met in the previous book, Braving Fiery Waters. I admit, I had forgotten about poor Miles, though when I reread my review of the book, I realized that I had written that I was excited to see more of his story. What can I say, I'm forgetful these days.
Miles has found work on the docks, but also has another job which is discovered on the first page. He is also a spy. So, of course, he has his secrets, so he can't be completely honest with Phoebe, which leads to mistrust on her part. I really liked them together, so I was rooting for them to be able to figure out their relationship. Though, it was even more complicated because if she completed her mission, she'd have to go back to her time. Especially because she wouldn't want to abandon her mother. How was the author going to work this out?
Back in modern times, Phoebe's mother Erica has her own Mr. Duncan to help her come to grips with her daughter's sudden disappearance. Will she be able to relax and enjoy this whale-watching excursion that her daughter planned for her?
I loved getting to know Phoebe and Miles, and also Erica and Rodney Duncan. I loved seeing their relationships evolve, and was really invested in finding out whether each couple would end up together, and what kinds of obstacles they would have to overcome. I also loved learning more about whales during the whale-watching cruise and learning about the hospital boat during the Civil War. Plus some other interesting little historical tidbits. But, most of all, I loved the lessons about faith that were learned by the characters, learning to lean on God's strength and listen for His voice.
I loved this quote:
"'Yes, you can't see Him, but you can hear Him in the depths, in the secret place. He speaks to us in a way that rattles our very core. We only have to get quiet enough to listen.'
Interesting. That hadn't been her line of thought, but it was a good one. She hadn't heard God speak to her on a soul-deep level for a long time. Maybe her spiritual hydrophone was too weak to pick up His frequency."
I also love how it is brought up that we can look at nature and see how it is designed by God.
I absolutely loved this book, and I can't wait til book four, especially because the author sort of ended the book leading into something I wanted to see happen in this book. Waiting patiently, waiting patiently. . .
