Sometimes the books I read are good and sometimes they are great, but it is rare that I read one and realize that the book goes beyond great. Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes is beyond great! The book follows a family from WWII to present day, but with the love and insight of someone who knows sorrow and knows love. The novel reminds us of the strength of love and life, and love of life, and belief in something greater than ourselves.

Annie Bliss has returned to Ansel-by-the-sea for her great uncle Bob. She only had one glorious summer to spend with him when she was ten, but the bonds were those of a lifetime. Bob is in a coma in the hospital and Annie, while waiting for him to heal and come back to them, is trying to find the story of their family. Bob is a lobsterman, a man of the water and few words with calloused hands and strong heart. He has been part of something larger than himself if Annie can just figure it out.

The book is told in the present by Annie and in the past by Bob. Each portion moves chronologically forward in time as their stories unwind. Whose Waves These Are is in part, a memorial to the numbers of men and women who have given their lives for the country in times of war and have not returned. It is the story of a great love and heart. I am afraid my mere mortal words cannot do the book, the justice it deserves. Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes is a testament to life.

It took me a bit to get used to the switching back and forth between narrators and perspectives. Once I got used to it, it was wonderful. And what a shocking twist ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

What a great book! I love Maine and history and this drew me to this book. WWII has some amazing stories to tell. And this is a wonderful story. I read all day to finish it. I love the characters and how the story all comes together.

“Every wave in that big old blue sea is a story.” With these words, young Annie’s great-uncle finds a way to unlock some of her fears and turn them into something beautiful. But when she returns to Ansel-by-the-Sea as an adult, will she have the key she needs to unlock her adult fears and turn them to confident love and purpose?
Amanda Dykes may be a name I had never heard before, but by penning Whose Waves These Are she is rapidly garnering attention in the Christian fiction world. I predict this novel will win an award for a debut novel in 2019.
A time-slip book, the reader is tossed like the sea between young Annie as she grows up, a mature Annie of the present, and a young Robert Bliss whose twin is drafted in 1944.
Annie is a great heroine. One can’t help but root for her as she returns to look for her great-uncle. Will she grow enough to fit in and find her place in this seashore town? The pieces to this puzzle are more numerous than I expected and definitely include Annie’s parents. A story like this, told chronologically, would have been interesting. By creating a time-slip out of it, and adding the unexpected twists, Dykes produces a work nothing short of amazing!
Some favorite quotes:
The first and most important to me-
“Life is big. And God is bigger.”
“You’re a good man. Let me try to be one, too.”
“He wasn’t the oldest, but they both knew he was the one who had the fury of a nor’easter inside him, a fury he could use to fight.”
“She imagines people as combination locks, each bit of information a tick on the dial as she works to build up their story in her mind, to unlock them.”
“...if everything around you is broken, it’s time to unbreak something.”
When Annie is trying to figure out her purpose:
“‘The microbes,’ he says, ‘only have a single cell. And they use it to capture sunlight all day— their sole purpose. At night, when danger comes, ...they don’t run. They don’t shrivel up or hide. They release the sunlight they’ve been storing up, right into the darkness. They fight it back by lighting up.’”
Expect a small town, big hearts, sweet romances, tragedy, and miracles. Expect a blessing in this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinions, which are solely my own.

This moves slow but it’s a heartwarming tale of community ties, family love and the power of faith.
Thank you for the advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

“God is not bound by time. He could make as much of a second as He could an eternity.”

This book felt like an epic novel to me, so rich and full and so much crammed into it. The story from the past seamlessly met the story from the present, with no space in the middle. The character of Bob was the thread that wove it all together. I am not usually a historical novel fan. But this book was so beautifully written and dealt with so many issues so touchingly.
I recommend it highly. I will not soon forget this book. One of my favorites ever!
Bravo Amanda Dykes!

“The strength of the storm does not change whose waves these are. There is one mightier still.”

I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House through NetGalley. All opinions are entirely my own.

This is such a beautiful and touching book about forgiveness, redemption, and moving beyond your past mistakes.
I was drawn into this story from the beginning and did not want it to end. The writing was so vivid, I got enveloped into this story and I felt like I was there.
It seems crazy to me that this is Amanda Dykes debut novel, I think she definitely has a long career ahead of her.

This was a delightful maritime story. I was pulled in immediately by the dialogue and wanting to know more of the outcome. I enjoyed that it was time-slip and offered a resolution of all the interwoven stories. The characters are a bit rough and gruff, real, and I fell in love with them immediately. Dykes created a place in my mind that I truly want to visit; I want to see the rocks and the small museum created to honor all those men, women, and families. Wonderful debut novel and well worth the time and emotional investment to read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This debut novel by Amanda Dykes has a depth that very few first novels obtain. The story combines history of the area and historical events from the main characters lives. I was drawn into the story line from the very beginning, although it takes a few chapters for all of the characters and stories to unfold. The entire novel continues the line of combining past and present in a very interesting and intriguing story. I can't wait to read more by this author!

I can’t say enough about this book. What a wave of emotions. Beautifully written. I can’t wait for the next book by this author.
Thanks netgallery for an advanced copy.

Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Amanda Dykes offers a story of loss, grief, hope and redemption that will have readers coming back to reread this quietly amazing story again and again.

I did not like the beginning of this story. Yes, that’s right, I didn’t. It was slow, written in third person and just seemed a little depressing. But something told me to finish it. So, I gave it a few days break and then I did finish it. And, wow! Am I very glad that I did. While the first one hundred pages were not my favorite, the other one hundred forty three were just wonderful. Ms. Dykes begins her story in 1944 in the middle of World War II, as a young man is called up for the draft. But its his twin who was hoping for that news to come for himself. Roy Bliss is a recently married Maine man, content to work the family lobster business. His twin, Robert, is hoping to serve his country and get away from his broken heart. But as God would have it, a draft notice comes for Roy, not Robert. Upset, Robert tries to convince Roy that he could go instead but Roy’s sense of honor will not let him do it. When tragedy strikes, Robert struggles to make Roy’s death meaningful. A poem breaks into his mind and he anonymously submits it to the paper for printing – intending that it should be a tribute to all who have lost family or friends in the war. He also has an idea of a tangible way to honor the fallen and requests that people send a rock to remember their loved ones. Fast forward a few decades and to the city of Chicago. Annie Bliss is working as a consumer trends expert and wishing for a more meaningful way to live. Her attention is quickly grabbed by an ad in the newspaper she has sent to her from Maine that reads “Come Home, Annie. Bess”. Knowing something has happened since its usually her great uncle placing the ad – a running joke for the two of them – Annie quickly makes arrangements to head to Maine. Fearing the worst, she heads directly for The Galley and Bess to find out what has happened. While the news isn’t great it also isn’t the worst, Bob has had an accident and is in a coma. The doctors believe he will come out of it but they just don’t know when. Annie determines to stay until Bob is well and sets about to make her way to Bob’s home. Jeremiah Fletcher is a rather new addition to Ansel-By-the-Sea but has become a good friend to Bob and the rest of the town. Reluctant but knowing Annie’s history with Bob and the town, he agrees to help her go between the hospital and home and ensure she is caught up on all the happenings. He might even find a way to help Annie see herself as more than her past mistakes. When they find the boxes of rocks in the shed near Bob’s house and the almost completed tower near the water, both are curious as to the reason. Working together to solve the mystery of Bob’s project, Annie and Jeremiah will also find a way to move past their hurts and “into the light”. And as the story of Bob and his rocks is revealed, an incredible history of love and loss is given a chance to reach others once again. I cannot tell you how much this story impacted me. I laughed, cried and hurt for the people whose lives were so affected by the losses they experienced. But the healing of each one was powerful, whether physical, emotional or spiritual. And although I was a bit put off by the third person style of writing I eventually moved beyond that to the real story. I could tell that Ms. Dykes has known loss herself and has also experienced deep healing. You cannot write what you do not know and it was clear that some of the happenings of this story were personal experiences. Having recently lost a beloved grandfather, I understood the anxiety that Annie felt about and the deep loss experienced by Bob, Jeremiah, Annie, William and others in the story. Additionally, I loved how each character was very real and very distinct – you could tell who was speaking just based on the phrases used. The addition of the local Mainer dialect was a nice touch too and lent authenticity to the story. The descriptions of Ansel-by-the-Sea were perfect as well, with just enough to spark your imagination without becoming boring. I will certainly be recommending this story to others and hope they will find it as impactful as I have. Well done, Ms. Dykes!

I received this E-book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best books I've read so far this year (out of 38 books). The writing and story-telling draws the reader in without giving everything away. It wasn't until the end that I understood what the title truly meant, and that meaning (along with a few other lines from the book) will stay with me.

I cried. I laughed out loud. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from Amanda Dykes.

I couldn't get interested in Ann's life and how it would intercept with the past and make a difference in people's lives.

Wow!!!! This book was amazing. I didn’t want it to end. It is a story of love, loss, and redemption. I love how everything in this story tied together. I have read a lot of books in my lifetime and this has to be one of the best I’ve ever read. I immediately became part of the story and I could see the little town of Answl by the Sea. I love that Annie helped bring her family together and she found healing and love along the way. I read the prequel and have to say I loved the history in both books. Please, write a sequel and let us know how Ann and Fletch are doing. Would love to read more!!! Five stars!!!!

Absolutely stunning. I don't even have the words to describe this book. There was so much depth to the story and the characters were amazing. I didn't anticipate liking Dyke's writing style, as it is very unique, but I really enjoyed it and if fit the story well. Dykes explores some deep themes, such as redemption and forgiveness, and there were several times the story had me in tears. All in all, Amanda Dykes is an author to watch! This debut novel exceeded all of my expectations. This is a book I will be reading again and again!

A dual-timeline debut that combined family intrigue and romance to good effect.

*Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and won a paperback copy on Goodreads. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.

If I’m going to weep this much, it better be a five-star story!

Wow. The romance in these pages… I don’t mean the boy-meets-girl kind (although that was spectacular and sweet too). I’m talking about the romance between humans and nature… the call of the Rock of Ages upon our souls… the way these characters bridged pain and time and broken vessels to find healing in the One Who controls the raging sea… This book and the heartbreaking (and heart-healing) stories it shares are the most romantic story I’ve read all year (surpassing its own sequel, Up From the Sea, which was my previous most-romantic and favorite story of this calendar year [2019]).

In the early pages, I really struggled with the present-tense verbs. This did not follow the tone set with the prequel (another five-star read!). However, though I think Mrs. Dykes shines better with past-tense verbs as used in her previous novellas, this story (bevy of stories, really) washed me away with the full force of hurricane-sized waves. My eyes kept leaking, flooding, the farther in I got. These characters, the town, the heart behind it all… They broke me open upon the rocks and stitched me back together with the mortar of complex plot, gentle yet fierce hope, and the Light that offers the greatest peace.

I might be a landlubber, but this story somehow still felt like a long-awaited homecoming.

I’m definitely eager to read whatever story next leaps from the pen of Mrs. Amanda Dykes.

Content: one profane word (most don’t consider it to be one, but by origin and current definition, it is)

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This is a tale that needs to unfold as you read it. You shouldn’t know too much about it before reading, so no spoilers here. Which makes it doubly hard to write a review, but here goes!

The story begins with twins Roy and Rob Bliss in Ansel, Maine, right before one is called to duty in WWII. Fast-forward to present day, and Bob (Rob) is in the hospital, and his grand-niece, Annie Bliss, leaves Chicago for Ansel. We are then told the Bliss family’s story in alternating timelines, and there are so many themes: community, duty, romance, love in all its forms, family, loss, grief, hope, redemption and faith. There are love stories, but these are not your typical romance tales (thankfully!).

Dykes’ writing style is fluent and natural, her words conveying mood and images effortlessly. There are secrets that unfold slowly, sometimes too slowly. While tempted to just put the book aside, at the same time I was drawn into the story and needed to know the secrets. The writing is lovely, and in the end I decided to slow down, take a break from the hectic world and savor the present. With that mindset, I began to read it leisurely and savored each sentence of the story. And what a story! A quote from the book: “Every wave in that big old blue sea is a story.” All the pieces will eventually fit together, and you will come to know and love all the characters.

This was a gem of a book, and I highly recommend it.

Although the story starts out a little slow, it's to the reader's delight to continue, as it becomes quite beautiful and inspirational. It was a little confusing at first (probably just me) but soon tied in together. What a legacy Uncle Bob left to all who knew him! When Annie is summoned to his hospital bedside and discovers boxes of rocks at his home, she could never have imagined why on earth her great-uncle was collecting them. So much power and emotion in this author's words. I understand it's her debut novel (hard to believe), but what a talent she has! I'm grateful I had a chance to read this one!

The first word I thought of to describe the vibe of this book is otherworldly. Not in a sci-fi way, but in a beautiful hazy way like waking up and remembering what you just dreamed. The historical and contemporary stories are woven together and draw curiosity out of the reader as layers of the plot and characters are revealed and new questions arise. There is heartbreak that is inevitable from the war-time era, but healing and growth as well. The strength of Robert, Roy, their family, and the community members of Ansel is evident and I felt like Annie- like I don't quite belong but I want to because it feels like home. Her journey of discovery is lovely as her heart turns more fully to her family and really knowing them and what drives them, their motivations, their past. I loved the way the elements of the story worked together to bring a satisfying conclusion to the book.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)