A ★★★★★ Book Review of Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes, a Christian Fiction Novel
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts below are my own. Also, this blog post includes affiliate links which means I will receive a commission based on sales generated via these links.
A SOUL STIRRING DEBUT NOVEL FROM A MARVELOUS AUTHOR!
This deeply emotional novel ties two time eras together in a beautiful and spellbinding way. With captivating characters and melodic words, Amanda Dykes draws readers into the fictional world of Ansel-by-the-Sea where a story of love, honor and hope takes root in readers hearts and minds. A novel so well written, it deserves more than five stars!
Image courtesy of www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
★★★★★ | When author Amanda Dykes reached out to me on Instagram and asked if I would be interested in reading and promoting her debut novel, I immediately agreed and felt a kinship to her on a soul level. Fast forward a few months to when her novel, Whose Waves These Are, landed on my doorstep… I couldn’t wait to dive in to this story! What I didn’t anticipate was the way my very soul would connect to her novel - the characters, the story, and how it and they would be forever written on my heart.
Whose Waves These Are is captivating, soulful, emotional and layered but not overwhelming. Rather, it is a beautiful tale that evokes joy, laughter and hope amidst the trials life deals. The characters’ stories are real and heartrending, yet triumphant. I’m certain readers will find a piece of this story that they relate to and empathize with.
The pages of Whose Waves These Are stirred my soul, filled my heart and brought tears to my eyes. The characters and their unique stories, the way the book split history and present day, plus the way Amanda Dykes masterfully pulled it all together into one novel is extraordinary. It is so well written and so beautiful…
When I finished this story, I sighed. An audible, tear filled sigh that the story had come full circle. Love won, redemption was found and my heart was full. Now, as I write this review, I fear my words aren’t going to do justice for this novel. Instead of revealing the plot or mentioning the characters by name, I’ll simply leave my review at this - I recommend you read this book. Allow your heart to feel the writer’s words, absorb the narration and embrace the characters. When you’re finished, you won’t be the same.
“In the wake of WWII, a grieving fisherman submits a poem to a local newspaper: a rallying cry for hope, purpose . . . and rocks. Its message? Send me a rock for the person you lost, and I will build something life-giving. When the poem spreads farther than he ever intended, Robert Bliss's humble words change the tide of a nation. Boxes of rocks inundate the harbor village on the coast of Maine, and he sets his callused hands to work.
Decades later, Annie Bliss is summoned back to Ansel-by-the-Sea when GrandBob, the man who gave her refuge during the hardest summer of her youth, is the one in need of help. But what greets her is a mystery: a wall of heavy boxes hiding in his home. Memories of stone ruins on a nearby island ignite a fire in her anthropologist soul to uncover answers.
Together with the handsome and enigmatic town postman, Annie uncovers the story layer by layer, yearning to resurrect the hope GrandBob once held so dear and to know the truth behind the chasm in her family's past. But mending what has been broken for so long may require more of her and those she loves than they are prepared to give.” - Synopsis from Whose Waves These Are
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Image courtesy of www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Amanda Dykes (www.amandadykes.com) is a drinker of tea, dweller of redemption, and spinner of hope-filled tales who spends most days chasing wonder and words with her family. Give her a rainy day, a candle to read by, an obscure corner of history to dig in, and she'll be happy for hours. She's a former English teacher, and her novella, Bespoke: A Tiny Christmas Tale, was met with critical acclaim from Publishers Weekly, Readers' Favorite, and more. She is also the author of a novella in The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection. Whose Waves These Are is her debut novel. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Lastly, pick up your own copy of Whose Waves These Are or borrow it from your local library. Then, I'd love to hear YOUR thoughts on the book in the comments below!