This is a beautiful story of growth and redemption set on the Outer Banks. The story centers around a lighthouse and the secrets it has kept safe over the years. They are slowly revealed and healing can begin. The setting was particularly prominent in this story and helped bring the whole thing to life. Highly recommended.

Between the Sound and the Sea is the latest release from Amanda Cox. Her last two books He Should Have Told the Bees and The Edge of Belonging were two of my five star reads last year, so I was eager to dive in to this new release for 2024. This book focuses on the experiences surrounding a lighthouse on a North Carolina island and a bit of a mystery surrounding it.

The lead character Joey is dealing with recent family scandal that has tainted her own opportunities with her career as an event planner. And to escape, she travels to NC to restore an old lighthouse courtesy of a job tip from one of her friends. this throws her into the heart of the mystery surrounding the old Lightkeeper and his daughter and the "ghosts" of Saint Mae connected to it. She meets Peter who is a pilot and EXTREMELY Type A in everything he does. I love that she even intentionally messes up things to watch him "fix" them (like putting spice jars or condiment bottles out of his order). She is the Type B to his Type A. and I love her pink pickup truck. LOL.

Walt is a darling. He reminds me so much of my own grandpa.

There is a lot of message relating having our pasts define our futures. Joey allows the scandal connecting to her family influence her future through fear. Peter allows his background to prevent his close relationship with his grandpa. Cay worries that her father's mistake that led to the deaths of a whole ship of men will forever taint his name so she disappears. Walt's past leads him to the various choices he's made over the years--including that of restoring the lighthouse for Cay.

This story also explores what it was like to have dementia back during the 1940s and how it was something a family would hide.

I actually wasn't as into this book as the previous too. It was still a great story, but I didn't LOVE it like I loved the others.

4 stars

*I was given this book as an ARC from the publishers and Netgalley. All views are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.

I really enjoyed reading this and thought it worked with the plot of the book. It had that overall feel that I was looking for and thought the overall story worked with everything that I wanted. Amanda Cox has a great writing style and thought the characters were wonderfully done. I enjoyed the use of rumors and legends.

I absolutely loved this new story by Amanda Cox. One of the things I like about her writing is the way she honors her older characters. In the story, Joey (Josephina) wants to fix her broken family and restore their reputation, Walt is desperately trying to make amends for something that happened years ago, and Finn tries to protect his grandfather, Walt, while trying to find his own footing. In the midst of it all is a lighthouse and an island where hearts are healed and memories made. The story left me wanting more as I thought about how life takes its turns and God opens doors for healing. I've read all of Cox's books. Her writing style and storytelling wrap me like a warm blanket and leave me with satisfaction. I received a free copy and opinions are my own.

Joey Harris leaves the small town where she grew up and established her event planning business to restore a lighthouse in the Outer Banks. During the restoration she learns more about the lighthouse’s history, helps to reconnect the old man who purchased the lighthouse with the last lightkeeper’s daughter, and finds love along the way. This story is full of second chances for all of the characters and reconnecting with loved ones.

Overall, this book wasn’t for me. The story was slow to start and I didn’t really connect with any of the characters. Also, the book is heavy on quoting the Bible and praying which isn’t really my style. That one is on me, I should’ve done more research into the author before requesting the book, but I do think it is important to include in a review in case other reader’s aren’t big on it either!

I did enjoy the stories about the lighthouse keeper’s daughter during the 1940s and her rescue missions! I think that I would’ve liked this book more if there had been more of Cay’s stories/flashbacks from growing up on the island.

Thank you to NetGalley and Revell who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me, I didn’t connect with the book at all and had no urge to pick it back up after the first few chapters.

I am giving 3* to be fair since I didn’t read the whole book, and it likely doesn’t deserve a 1*

I love a second chance story and there were so many characters in this story that were given a second chance. I usually shy away from books that talk about ghosts and the like but thankfully there wasn't too much of that. Walt, Joey and Peter were my favorite characters. Walt reminded me of a grandpa and I just wanted to sit around and listen to his stories.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

This was a well-written past-and-present historical novel with interesting characters and a unique premise. I found the storyline really hard to get into at first, but that eased up as I went on!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and publisher, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Joey has taken on a new job as a project manager on a restoration of a decommissioned lighthouse.
The daughter of former lighthouse keeper had gone missing many years before and this mystery has Joey investigating what happened to her.
I enjoy this story and the interaction between the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Revell Publishers for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am planning a trip to the Outer banks next week and this book was a perfect read. Set on a barrier island of the coast of North Carolina, an older man buys the island that houses a deserted lighthouse. Step back in time during the years preceding WWII, amd meet this character as a young man and his relationship with the lightkeeper and his daughter. Jump to the present and we meet the character who has been tasked with rennovating the lighthouse . What secrets are found here brings together the past and the future. An enjoyable read for fans of Nicolas Sparks's book, The Notebook.

I really enjoyed this story soooo much that I didn't want it to end.
The characters are so awesome!
Especially Joey whom I found was quite like me. Afraid to step out and do the right thing for herself. I enjoyed watching her grow into the person she's supposed to be with her two new best friends Walt and Finn.
I adored Walt.
His son not quite so much but like anyone else he's just human.
The mystery was fantastic! It was what kept me turning the pages.
Subjects like dementia is a hard thing to face for loved ones. I'm glad I never had to experience that but I pray for the ones who do. It can't be very easy. I'm sure it's heartbreaking. To know that you are here for your loved one but them not realizing that you are. I cried at that.
There were times ol Ida made me laugh and times I just wanted to shake her ugh! Seems like you gotta have one in every crowd.
I believe this story will be my favorite by Cox. Lighthouses are fascinating and beautiful!
The way she describes people and the Lighthouses I felt like I was on the Outerbanks. Lots of history there my friends! I didn't know about it until I finished this book and one other one.
I hated to say goodbye to Walt, Finn and Joey and yes even Ida. I feel like they're family!
The cover of this book is simply gorgeous! It and the author was what made me want to read it.
I loved every minute of it. Especially the mystery involved.
5 stars for this well written book and history of the Outerbanks. I highly recommend!
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.