ABOUT THE BOOK:
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.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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.
MY REVIEW:
This is a super book full of complex characters and a story-line that pulled me in from page one. Winner! I always love when I don't have to read through a few chapters to be fully engaged.
This book encompasses several generations and the love and loss that they encounter along the way. I love how the author describes things in such a beautiful way that you feel you are right there with the characters. You feel each emotion that they feel. I have never been to Maine, but feel like I have since reading this book.
Despite the different eras represented - WWII to present day - it was not hard to follow along and she wrapped it all together to bring the story full circle. I loved that the faith of these characters comes through showing that they could navigate the difficult times because of it. The heartache they survived was at times difficult to read but the beauty brought forth was lovely.
I absolutely loved this debut novel by Amanda Dykes and am hoping that she writes many more books! The depth of the story and the characters was just wonderful. I highly recommend this book and give it 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me by Bethany House. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book.
Blessings - Julie
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