Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes is a rare gem, a novel that will stay with you long after you read it. This is a novel about war and grief, complicated family relationships, love and hope. All of these themes are weaved together so beautifully and with such beautiful writing. The descriptions in this novel really bring Maine to life while not seeming too lengthy or getting in the way of the story. Instead, the story just absorbs you instantly and you won't be able to stop reading. I highly recommend this novel. I received a digital copy of this novel from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Every now and again I read a book that is exceptional in every way. Whose Waves These Are is one of those books. Let me share with a you a quote from the prologue, because, honestly, the publisher’s synopsis above didn’t capture my interest half as much as these short lines did.

“Every wave in that big old blue sea is a story.”

Bob told me this a long time ago, his voice brined with wind and water.

I laughed and focused on the cresting peaks from his old dock. They disappeared faster than a ten-year-old could count.

“Too many waves,” I said. “It can’t be.”

His smile pushed wrinkles around blue eyes as he squeezed my hand tight.

“So many waves, Annie. You remember that.”

It would be decades before I’d learn the truth of that. So many stories. In this pocket of a harbor where broken lives, like waves on the shore, are gathered up and held close. I never imagined then that it would be my breaking place, too.

Nor how beautiful the breaking could be.
Prologue – Whose Waves These Are – Amanda Dykes

This book caught me off guard in the best kind of way. The writing was captivating. Every page seemed to come alive before my very eyes. There are a number of powerful stories out there, but powerfully written stories are harder to come by. Whose Waves These Are exceeded all my expectations.

The depth of the characters impressed me. The author clearly knows people and she wrote real characters with real souls. I loved the attentiveness that was present on every level of the tale. I’m not normally a fan of stories that shift between the past and the present, but the way that this novel flowed it was like uncovering secret surprises along the way, the very act of discovery bridging the gaps in time.

The plot was imaginative and compelling. The links between WWII and modern day, the impact of lives across generations, the mystery of the rocks and the renewal of broken relationships were all engaging themes.

Yet, perhaps, my favorite thing about the book was that it was truly a Kingdom story. It didn’t just mention God or dabble in truth, but it breathed it. A vision for what God was up to permeated every word of the story, as beautiful and natural as a sunrise, weaving a message of hope that left me with a lump in throat and a light in my heart in a way that few novels do.

I’ll leave you with some of my favorite words of wisdom, spoken in the midst of war, from one of the characters. “Don’t get stuck in the dark…. There’s a whole lotta light…Go there instead.”

Whose Waves These Are is well worth reading and has risen to the top of my Best Books of 2019 list. I would highly recommend it to you.

There is also a (currently free) kindle prequel, Up From the Sea, that takes you back in time in Ansel-by-Sea. It is also well worth reading, but it is short and more of a snack, compared to the meal of Whose Waves These Are.

I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Whose Waves These Are
by Amanda Dykes


Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers

Christian

Pub Date 30 Apr 2019


I am reviewing a copy of Whose Waves These Are through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:







Amanda Dykes has weaved a beautiful story that transcends space and time.


A grieving fisherman submits a poem to a local newspaper rallying a cry for hope and rocks in the memory of those they lost in the wake of world war 2!





Several decades later Annie Bliss learns she needs to go back to Ansel by the Sea, to help her Great Uncle Robert who had helped her during the toughest summer of her youth. It is now he who needs help though and Annie is going to help him. The one thing she was not expecting was finding a wall full of hidden heavy boxes. Annie becomes intrigued by long ago memories of stone ruins, igniting a fire in her anthropologist soul, to find the answers these ruins may have.



Soon Annie finds herself joining forces with the handsome and mysterious postman. All of her hopes of healing her family seem to point to those ruins. But with her great uncle failing fast, her search for answers battles against Time.


Whose Waves These Are is a book I would recommend to anyone who likes stories of hope and history!


Five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes. Bethany House Publishers, 2019.

Of several family stories woven together in this wonderful book, one is of four generations of the Bliss family from Ansel-by-the-Sea, Maine. We meet Savannah and her identical twin sons Robert and Roy in 1944, Roy’s son William in 1962 and William’s daughter Annie in 2001.

Robert is asked by Annie’s mother to take care of the very young Annie when her parents’ overlapping duties call each away from home. Years later, Annie is called back to Ansel-by-the-Sea when the aging Robert is hospitalized.

Readers will be intrigued and fully engaged as they fit together each smallish-chunk of these individuals’ stories, each one rich in imagery and emotion. The story that emerged was, at least for me, completely unpredictable; somewhat like a 3D jigsaw puzzle without a box. I am not sure that I noticed it was labelled a Christian book before, during or after I read it.

This is an exceptional book with wonderful writing and compelling characters. I loved it!

Disclosure: I received a review copy of Whose Waves These Are via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a sweet and syrupy saga of 3 generations of life and tragedies off the coast of Maine! With each tragedy came loads of guilt causing the survivor to leave and not return for 20+ years, even foregoing all contact with family members during that time and leaving the loved ones in Maine to grieve over the loss of the guilt ridden one as well as the victim.

The story took place in 3 time periods: 1944, 1962 and 2001. And of course, these time periods bounced around throughout the book. In this little tiny lobster village, there were an excess of characters populating the book, many just wandering in and out, so that it was difficult to keep everyone straight. And with so many tragedies, it was difficult to keep straight just who had died and who was maimed and who was whose 2nd wife and/or children.

It appears that this is the first in a series about this village. I don’t plan to read any more from this author.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for an honest review.

"So many stories. In this pocket of a harbor where broken lives, like waves upon the shore, are gathered up and held close."

Set in Maine starting before WW2, on the coast, in the uppermost corner, near Canada. A rugged, weather worn area of strong people. This is a story that grabs you right in the first few lines, and gives you a perfect image and feeling of what is to follow. Layer upon layer of beautiful life, heartbreak and again beauty. Such depth of feeling. Weaving through time - back and forth together. Perfectly woven. A story so richly told that you can almost see God's hand around them. Christian Historical.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
#WhoseWavesTheseAre #AmandaDykes #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #NetGalley

Thank you to Bethany House for the free review copy. All opinions are my own. 

What a refreshing novel set after WWII. I am so glad that Dykes decided to focus more heavily on the time after the war. I think that this added so much originality to this book. The book is also set during 2001, which was great to read about. I liked how this dual timeline setting helped add to the richness of the plot. 

Both characters were relatable. I loved the story of Robert or Bob, and his courage. Annie struggles with knowing what her purpose is, which is something I could relate to, and I'm sure others could, too. I think that this town had a unique array of characters that added so much life to the story. Each one added a needed quality that helped to really make this story special.

Oh my, I started this book and was swept away to Maine, to a small town where regular folk live with the rhythm of the ocean. I was with them, as they tended their lobster traps, as they ate Gretel cakes in the local diner, and as they celebrated the Fourth of July. And I was also with them, praying with them as they faced hard decisions, searching with them as they peered through the fog and storm clouds to find a light, and giving thanks with them when they found their miracle. I am not a crier, but I cried with them, too.

This is Christian Historical Fiction. It’s not preachy though- it’s both profound and practical. Sometimes people do just need hope, a good meal and a purpose. Someone to remind you to “Lift your head.” when you can’t.

The book tells the story of twin brothers Robert and Roy and their families and friends, through chapters that alternate from World War II, the 50’s and 60’s to 2001. It’s also a story about rocks, waves, and hazelnut pie. Most of all it’s a story about hope, home, a poem, and a guiding lighthouse. The author writes with beautiful, poetic word pictures. Romance featuring the heroine Annie and a brooding sailor, are one of several tales of love in this book.

In the author’s notes at the end, Ms. Dykes shares interesting observations. I highlighted this part, “And to our nation’s brave soldiers, past and present. Thank you, to you and to your families. A novel-or a thousand of them- is insufficient thanks. With all my heart, thank you for what you do.”

I highly recommend this incredible debut novel. Thanks to Net Galley and Bethany House Publisher

'She looked straight into him and just settled right into his soul.'
This novel is based on the lives of twin brothers, one called to World War II, the other not. Robert Bliss stayed home, but his life was and is profound. Told in a dual time slip, this novel is deep and rich, full of generational relationships that delve down into the reader's heart. All set in Maine, a state I'd love to visit. These folks just get into you as you read. Recommended.

*My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinion stated here is entirely my own.

Out of all the different elements that come together to create a wonderful reading experience, evocative writing that transports you effortlessly into the world of the story would have to be my favourite. The gentle lyricism of Amanda Dykes’ writing did just that—despite the use of third person present tense, my least favourite narrative tense. And when that gorgeous prose tells a story of love and loss, pain and healing, separation and reconciliation, all wrapped up in a poignant mystery, you have story gold.

And the characters… Every one of them has layers that are gradually peeled back as the story unfolds, and I would be lying by omission if I didn’t admit that Jeremiah Fletcher had me captivated from the moment he walked onto the page. I don’t know what it is about the quiet ones that seem aloof at first glance, but they’re like catnip to me. It’s so true, what they say about still waters running deep, and I absolutely loved the way each scene allowed us to glimpse just a little bit further into Jeremiah’s still waters. Amanda Dykes is also one of those authors who lets things rumble around in the subtext until the moment is perfect, and that scene toward the end, with the letter, and the sunrise… One of the most perfect moments EVER! Tears, heart bursting, the lot!

But Robert’s story, the one that really holds this book together, is just as affecting, and this was one of those time-slip stories where I was thoroughly engrossed in whichever time period I was reading at the time. I loved that the setting was not only a vividly described reality—a character in its own right—but also a beautifully rich metaphor that was explored throughout the story. I didn’t just need the tissues for the moments of mourning; I needed the tissues for the moments of beauty!

If you are a lover of evocative writing and stories that cannot fail to leave you moved, make sure you don’t miss this one.

Deep happy sigh. Fat tears. Pure contentment.
Amanda Dykes has undone me <3

This was more than a story. It was an experience and I couldn`r praise this masterpiece enough.
It's surely one of those stories I will never forget.

Annie Blyss (can we just start talking about how cool this last name is?) cherishes Ansel-by-the-Sea like no other place. Even more, she cherishes one fisherman with all the depths of her heart. But family secrets have kept her from visiting this old soul who was a refuge to her in such a tender moment.

Now, twenty years later, he's slipping and she can't imagine herself anywhere but near him.
As she uncovers boxes and rocks and ruins and stories, can she find that will bring it all together and prove that love is stronger than all? Can she risk to fight for those in need again? Risk her heart?

But it's in the risking that we find living :)
And in the giving we find forgiveness.

Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous.

This book is magical, and I love it. I cannot define it as a single genre as it is multi- layered. It has been a while since I read a novel so poetically descriptive that it tears at my heart. This is definitely a winner and I can’t wait to read more of Ms. Dykes work.
Many thanks to Bethany House and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Y’all! This story is not just a good story, it’s a GREAT story. I was completely captivated by this book. It’s hard to believe that this is Amanda Dykes’ debut novel. This story reads as if it’s been written by a well-established author. Her writing is so expressive. The way she describes the scenes in this story, especially her description of the sea, made me feel that I was sitting in the boat traveling through the water. The characters’ personalities spring to life and by the time I finished the book, I wished that I could travel to Ansel, Maine, and meet them. Even the secondary characters rise to the occasion and find their perfect place in the defining chapter near the end of the book.

This is not a typical summertime romance novel. This is a story about family love and loyalty; holding each other up through great tragedy and having faith to believe that God places individuals in our lives for specific times and purposes. The character of Robert Bliss is the heart and soul of the story. His deep love for his family and his faith in God guides every circumstance all throughout the book. The final two chapters had me in tears—not because of tragedy, but because of the triumph of Robert’s faith and the impact it had on those around him. The theme of this book could be “Beauty comes from brokenness”. It’s a welcome message to all of us who have experienced brokenness in our own lives.

This story is multi-layered, and switches back and forth from years past to present day. Don’t let this discourage you from continuing to read at the beginning of the book. Those layers come together to make one of the best stories I’ve read this year. Well done, Amanda Dykes. If this is your first book, I can hardly wait to see what you have next for us.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This is a special book. It moved me to tears several times. It’s a story of loss and hope, grief and joy. It pays homage to those who have fought for our country and given the ultimate sacrifice. It points to the One who is with us in the storms of life and holds us throughout. It is a book that celebrates life.
Bob and Eva are both amazing characters. When hardships strike, they just keep going. They keep living. They pour their lives out for others. They lean on the Lord. I want to be like them. The citizens of Ansel-by-the-Sea also take care of each other and it is beautiful.
Annie and Fletch have been profoundly affected by the people here and it changes them. When Annie finds boxes of rocks in Bob’s home, she and Fletch go about uncovering the story. It was so meaningful, I was ready to mail a rock to Ansel-by-the-Sea myself.
I loved the story, the characters, the writing. This is a fabulous debut novel by Dykes. I will definitely keep an eye out for more from this author. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Have you ever read a book that just requires you to savor it? Aren’t those the best kind? Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes is exactly that kind of book—one that draws you in and makes you want to sit with it for as long as you possibly can. One so beautifully and poignantly written that you immediately want to start it all over again. And what makes this even more impressive is that this book is Dykes’s debut novel.

Welcome to Ansel-by-the-Sea, a tiny town in Maine where secrets are shared within the community but held from the outside world. A town surrounded by the Atlantic. A town I will visit again.

Dykes sets her story during World War II and in the early 90s and the way these two threads weave together is so seamless, there were times I forgot this is a dual time story. Annie, Bob, Fletch, William, and everyone else left an impression.

If this is what Dykes starts with, I anticipate even more fabulous reads from her in the future.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Whose Waves These Are kept me turning pages from the minute I opened the cover to past my bedtime, Set in the small town of Ansel-By-The-Sea, Maine in 1944, this dual-timeline begins here with the Bliss brothers, Robert and Roy who are twins…… This book has it all. Depth and emotion, loving friends and neighbors so ready to help one another. Danger, romance and selfless sacrifice. I loved visiting the Maine coastline through the words of the author. Dykes is definitely an author that I will follow and I look forward to her next book…..
This copy was received from the author and Bethany House Publishers. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own

If you love descriptive writing and atmospheric settings, you will love this book. I loved the character growth and the slow burn romance. I'm always up for a good dual time novel and this one really checked all my boxes. It had a depth to it that I find lacking sometimes in the inspirational genre. And that ending...Wow! I can't wait to see what this author is going to write next! Highly recommended!



I received a copy of this book for free for the purpose of review.

CAPTIVATING!

You read a novel for several reasons — to be educated, entertained or escape. Once in a while, you’re blessed to be completely enveloped in a story and discover it gives you a guideline for the future. WHOSE WAVES THESE ARE is one such novel.

Amanda Dykes is a brilliant storyteller. Her descriptions use beautiful imagery and character depth to make you feel as though you are bystander in the novel. This appeals to me because I’m an observer by nature. I just came that way! I like to observe others as they face many differing circumstances to see how they handle life. Dykes’ story is beautiful, deep, challenging, and resonates with imperfect people trying to find a way to correct the wrongs of their pasts and find a clear path for their future.

The next time you’re at the beach or see a gorgeous photo or scene of a beach, consider these words from one of my favorite quotes from this book:

“And if God can keep the tides comin’ and goin’, if he can use the sky itself”—he leans forward, elbows to knees, truncating the last three syllables into exclamation marks—“to pull back an entire ocean, just roll it clean away twice a day, easy as pie . . .” He whistles down like a waterfall. “Why, then he can walk us through this life. Did it at the Red Sea. Does it for us now. One step at a time.”

Dykes concludes her inspiring novel with this beautiful quote in the Afterword. To me, it’s the perfect summary of this fantastic novel!

“Lift your head, brave one. This life is a storm, no doubt about it. But oh, the One who holds those waves, who holds our hearts. What it is, to think of facing this storm in His hands, wrapped in a love that is fathoms—infinite fathoms—deep!”

I was provided an ARC of this book by Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

Whose Waves These Are is the fabulous debut full-length novel by Amanda Dykes. The author is a gifted storyteller who is adept at sharing the stories of her characters. They are well-developed, demonstrated primarily through their actions and conversations. The history and beauty of this coastal Maine setting are described in such a was as to lead the reader into the story – well, both stories, as this is a complex, multigenerational novel that includes the life of a young man during WWII and thereafter and his grandniece in 2001. It is thought-provoking, leading the reader to consider their own lives and priorities.

Emmanuelle “Annie” Bliss works in Chicago and learned that great uncle Bob needed her in an unusual manner, through an ad in Rusty Joe’s Swap and Sell. Second only to his Bible, this is his reading material in Ansel-by-the-Sea. Ann is the only family member Bob has left other than her father, who hasn’t wanted her to write to GrandBob since the men had a falling out. She and Bob communicate through ads in the Swap and Sell, and Ann has copies of every post they have shared.

Annie met Bob when she was an adolescent; her parents were deployed overseas at the same time and she needed a place to stay for the three-month overlap. Annie’s mother knew about Uncle Bob but had never met him. He was their only living blood relative, so her mother took her there to stay. They grew close during those months, and much of Annie’s strength of character, and the abilities to dream as well as pick up the pieces and go on came from Bob’s heart to hers. Now he was in a medically-induced coma, and there was no guarantee he would awaken again.

When Ann went back to Ansel-by-the-Sea, she realized she hadn’t felt at home anywhere for a very long time, possibly not since that long-ago summer. She became reacquainted with some of Bob’s friends, Bess, Ed, and Arthur, and a new friend, Jeremiah “Fletch” Fletcher. Fletch took Annie out to Seaman’s Rest, the family home. When going through the home, she found the most curious thing – a closet full of boxes and wrapped containers that had been mailed to Bob. Opening on that fell, she finds a rock. She could tell from checking a few more parcels that he had an enormous collection of all kinds of rocks, from all around the country. Then a man shows up, Spencer T. Ripley, who arrived to celebrate and give an honorary award to Bob for his most famous poem. Poem? Rocks? What has GrandBob been up to all these years? She realizes she knows little about him.

I love the author’s writing style. Her characters are unique and three-dimensional, people we grow closer to throughout the novel. Bob’s wisdom came at a high price; his scars are not visible for most to see. Annie learns more about Bob than she ever imagined possible as he is not an average lobsterman. Reflections on faith of each character show how each person grows and changes, and just how much Ann left behind in Ansel-by-the-Sea is evident. Watching how the town looks out for Bob during this crisis just as they had many years ago is refreshing. This novel is full of surprises, there is very little that could be considered predictable. It is full of faith, love, grace, and ultimately, the triumph of a man who had suffered much and had a wealth of experience to share with others.

From a thankful heart: I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley; this is my honest opinion.

Some books are hard to define. This one doesn't fit cleanly into any genre--it's partly historical, partly contemporary; not a romance (though there is some romance in it), and I definitely wouldn't call it women's fiction--Robert's journey is truly the focus, more so than Annie's. But I would definitively say, if you're looking for a story to tug at the heartstrings, look no further. Like in real life, there's a lot of loss and hurt, but hope too. It's a beautiful tale of both building and release.

As other reviewers have mentioned, the author truly does have a beautiful writing style (even if most of this book was written in present tense, which I would always swap out for past if I could). Lyrical and lovely. And it's clear a great deal of thought has gone into it--in the metaphors of the sea and all its changeableness, of light in the darkness, of shelter in the time of storm. It's an inspiring tale.

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.