Review: Dawn Patrol (Tidewater #1) by Tami Veldura

A Tidewater Short Story. Contemporary, Stand alone, HEA.

Elias lives for the waves. He's been surfing off the Tidewater coast since he could crawl, and the connection he's forged with the ocean is fundamental. Every morning he shares a ritual swim with the local pod of dolphins. Elias is desperate to find a way to express what the sand and the sea mean to him, and local artist Theo could be just what he needs.

Theo's art has helped him move mountains. It granted him freedom from abusive family and supports his quiet lifestyle. He's ready for more. So when muscle-bound Elias commissions him for a mural on his bedroom wall, Theo has more than one reason to take the job. It's time to reach with his heart, an easy thing when Elias is so eager to share what's in his.

Water is essential when painting, and color is what brings the ocean to life. Elias and Theo were made for each other. It's only a matter of time before Tidewater brings them together.


This story was short and sweet. I really enjoyed the easy flow of the writing, and the uncomplicated characters.

Elias lives to surf and has found himself a Dolphin pod to play with early in the morning when he’s out on the waves. He wants to capture it somehow and coincidentally there is an artist on the beach sketching madly that he thinks may be able to put his vision on a wall in his home.


Theo is a little obscure. His past is hinted at but it doesn’t go much deeper than the reader being told he has used his art to get him away from his abusive family. This story is light, so that is as heavy as it gets.

The length of this story doesn’t really allow for depth of character building, but the glimpse I got was enough for me to enjoy both men in the moment.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the beach, and the connection Theo and Elias had during the short time I spent with them.

Short stories are a bit of a tease. I’d love for this to be longer. It was a nice refreshing reset for my tired mind, and I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and the setting.

The author captured the beauty of the ocean, the freedom that comes with surfing, the wonder Elias had when the Dolphins joined him on his swim, and the way an artist’s mind works while capturing a scene.

If you like quickies with zero angst and an easy connection, then this is one I would recommend.




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