A Secret. A Bicycle. A Promise… through one final gift in his last days.
On the tiny Isle of Espoir, only one man can help in her quest: James Shaw, the village blacksmith… and the lost friend of her childhood.
Will they be able to overcome the tragedy that separated them before it’s too late?
Written to slip easily into the stolen moments of the busy holiday season, this enchanting novelette delves into the miracle of second chances, the gift of God’s healing redemption, and the joy of the unexpected.more
A little story with a big heart, Bespoke captured me with its polished, intelligent prose and characters both winsome and layered, and held me in its spell with a poignant yearning—to uncover the painful secrets of the characters’ past and see the unfolding of a future shining with the promise of joy. Amanda Dykes is a fresh voice in fiction and Bespoke, A Tiny Christmas Tale sings with a timeless song of rebirth.
Aria St. John, the daughter of a famous composer, learns early what loss means. Her deep-rooted gift is uprooted by a tragic accident. But she’s not the only one who bears the scars.
James Shaw blames himself for the silence that now reigns in the St. John house on the Isle of Espoir. Friends once, can Aria and James put the past behind them for a future they both desire?
Bespoke holds a deep message of forging a new path through tragic circumstances. Though a shirt novella, this beautifully wrought, Christmastime story full of meaning delves heavily in the heart of forgiveness and hope.
I thoroughly enjoyed this tale and look forward to reading another story by Dykes.
Fans of Christmas romance, Christian fiction, and historical fiction, will be enraptured by this sweet but deep tale of hope.
Fantastic read!
Very compelling story that draws you right in. The storyline is very original and the characters pull you right into their hopes, their fears, their dreams. Wonderfully written. I just loved it!
When I first picked up Bespoke, I was a little hesitant to start it. I mean, the cover is gorgeous, but an author I’d never tried before? I was almost scared to see what was inside, haha! Not to mention that I’m not much of a seasonal reader (I only have a handful of Christmas books on my shelf)!
So. Bespoke started out slow and sweet. The prologue thoroughly confused me, but it was written so beautifully—the entire book was, really! And then we get even more confusion in chapter 1. . . in a blacksmith’s forge. But to read about James watching Aria exit her father’s cab, their brief glance at each other, the hint of tragedy in their past . . . it made me so frustrated not to know what happened, but yet it made me so excited to read the rest of the story.
Have I mentioned how beautiful the prose was? Oh my goodness, y’all. And the plot line? GUYS. MY HEART. It is so, so sweet, but the ending wasn’t one big kiss (thank you for that, Ms. Dykes)! I’ll try to refrain from mentioning spoilers here, but . . . y’all . . . that ending . . .
Let me back up just a bit and talk about the plot. Aria wants desperately for James to help her with a gift to her father—give him his ninth symphony. (and if you don’t read the book, this won’t make sense to you.) James, convinced that the aforementioned tragedy was all his fault, wants nothing to do with her for fear of ruining everything once and for all. The secrets and backstories were woven so well into the story, it was like peeling back one layer to find something better and more beautiful underneath.
Y’all, have I mentioned how much I loved the plot?? Gahhh, just . . . just go read it! Executed beautifully, and a book that made me want to go back and reread it immediately after finishing it. I can’t recall the last time a book made me want to do that.
I absolutely adore this story! It’s so simple but so full of depth. A song of redemption. Of remembrance that promises are for keeping and that when a Father once promised to redeem His people He did it in the most humblest of ways.
It’s a short and quick story. The type that wraps around your heart and makes you wish it were longer. But at the same time makes you know it’s perfect the way it is.
The quiet setting of this story fills us with awe and hope and joy.