Books Historical Fiction

A Tide of Dreams

October 15, 2024October 15, 2024 by onemoreexclamation

Welcome to the Tide of Dreams by Carey Keefe Audiobook Tour hosted by Suzy Approved Book Tours.

About the Book

Title: Tide of Dreams

Author: Carey Keefe

Narrated by: GM Hakim

Length: 9 hours, 24 minutes

Release Date:January 30, 2024

Find it: Amazon (ebook, audiobook, physical books)

When the U.S. declared war on Japan after Pearl Harbor was bombed in December 1941, the dreams of young men and women across the nation were sidelined. So, too, were the plans of Coaches Paul “Bear” Bryant, Carney Laslie, and Frank Moseley, a dream team of coaching talent who had plans to coach football together.

Their plans upended, these three friends and ex-teammates from the University of Alabama, instead join the Navy, among an elite group of 800 coaches selected out of 20,000 who applied from around the country, to be part of a contingent of ace coaches trained in a fast-tracked officer training program at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. Known as a “90-Day Wonder”, these coaches turned into naval officers implemented a merciless military-style team conditioning at the newly installed Navy Pre-Flight Training Centers. The revolutionary new training regimen used sports to prepare WWII aviators and was credited for US fighting forces being known as the toughest in the world.

Post-war…

…the three reunite in their first coaching job together, bringing their brand of coaching to collegiate teams and transforming them into national champions. Spanning the 1920s until 1961, A Tide of Dreams is not so much about the game of college football as it is about friendship and loyalty, aspirations and dreams, and the intriguing blend of three personalities who loved the game, told against the backdrop of the history of the sport and the nation.

Author Carey Henry Keefe, granddaughter of Carney Laslie, weaves this poignant and personal account from a treasure trove of their personal letters, diaries, interviews, and newspaper and university archival research, creating an inside and fascinating look at the sport and what it cost for those who became the face of its success.

About The Author

Carey Henry Keefe grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and attended the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia, graduating with a B.S. in Business Management. She has written one novel, a mystery thriller loosely based on her twelve years as a medical practice administrator in Las Vegas. A humorist at heart, she has had numerous personal essays produced on NPR-affiliated stations. She now writes narrative non-fiction full time, drawn to research and the telling of undiscovered and compelling tales of historical events and the people behind them. She speaks regularly to groups about the remarkable group of men known as the “90-Day Wonders” and the history of the Navy’s WWII Pre-flight Training program, a relatively little-known piece of WWII history that used sports, and in particular football, to help win the war.

Tidewater Virginia is home and when she’s not doing research or writing, she enjoys time with family, which includes six grandchildren, and watching the sun set each evening with her husband of forty-three years.

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Blurbs for Tide of Dreams

“Fabulous football and human interest stories!”

“I’m not particularly interested in college football, but this book had me from the first page!”

“…brings the reader inside the fascinating machinations of this highly charged world during the glory days of the sport.”

Tide of Dreams Review

It’s college football season and the perfect time to get my ears on this audiobook. And, for the first time, my husband loved listening along with me in the car. The story of friendship behind the scenes of this story is remarkable. The history of college football while focusing on these three legendary coaches is worthy of a W. Great job combining football with the coach-war link, using football mentality to train soldiers, and the parallels of sacrifice. A remarkable story I’m grateful to have listened to.