In the wake of WWII, a grieving fisherman submits a poem to a local newspaper: a rallying cry for hope, purpose . . . and rocks. 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 tiny, coastal Maine town, and he sets his calloused … calloused hands to work, but the building halts when tragedy strikes.
Decades later, Annie Bliss is summoned back to Ansel-by-the-Sea when she learns her Great-Uncle Robert, the man who became her refuge during the hardest summer of her youth, is now the one in need of help. What she didn’t anticipate was finding a wall of heavy boxes hiding in his home. Long-ago memories of stone ruins on a nearby island trigger her curiosity, igniting a fire in her anthropologist soul to uncover answers.
She joins forces with the handsome and mysterious harbor postman, and all her hopes of mending the decades-old chasm in her family seem to point back to the ruins. But with Robert failing fast, her search for answers battles against time, a foe as relentless as the ever-crashing waves upon the sea.more
The best way to describe Whose Waves These Are is this: each chapter is a treasure you as the reader get to open. It takes a few chapters to get to the heart of the gift you’re opening, but once you discover the beauty inside, you can’t stop opening each new treasure (chapter).
The writing is what everyone says–lovely, sumptuous, sometimes so BIG in emotional scope you have to stop and process what you just read. It’s unique and wildly suited to the ocean waves the story is about.
The story and characters dig deep into your soul as you unwrap each chapter, and I can promise you’ll still be thinking about them long after you close the book. They’re so…real.
I adored this author’s writing in her novella in the Message in a Bottle collection two years ago. Like, I couldn’t stop thinking about the romance in it, and I’m now an official Amanda Dykes Fan Club Member. (ADFCM)
Please, read this time slip. Unwrap the gift of story and words the author shares with us, and count down the days until you can get her next book, as I am.
A few years ago I was blessed with a digital review copy of Amanda Dyke’s Bespoke. I was enchanted by the story and by her marvelous, lyrical writing style. At some point I also read her Tin Can Serenade and loved it also. I was excited to have a chance to read this author’s first full length novel Whose Waves These Are. With a cover that beautiful the story inside had to be beautiful too, especially given the previous experience I’ve had with her work.
It is somewhat difficult for me to capture all the impressions this book left on my heart. At times it was almost unbearably heartbreaking and other moments made me want to jump up and cheer. It is a story that will take your emotions on a roller coaster ride and leave them wanting another ride. Characters were vividly portrayed in a plot that pulled me in and made me feel a part of it. The author’s poetic style and so many quotable passages were such a pleasure to read.
This book made me yearn for relationships such as described in its pages and made me want to be more like Annie and her GrandBob and Fletch as well as all the others who worked together and made this book such a profound experience.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Bethany House. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
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.
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A beautiful story
My rating is 4.5 stars
Where to start?
There was a wonderfully rich assortment of characters peopling this story. So many stories to tell of lives touched by war. Bob, a man of courage who had longed to go fight in place of his twin yet denied that right by the government and by Roy. Annie, Bob’s grandniece who was afraid to live her life fully after making a costly mistake. Jeremiah, the EMT/postman, with his mysterious past. And the countless others touched by these lives. Despite a large number of people inhabiting this story, I didn’t find it difficult to keep track them, most likely because I was made to care deeply for them, even those with only brief appearances.
I was impressed at how the story covered such a long period of time, yet it did not feel shallow and didn’t drag. The pace was just right and the way Bob’s secret was slowly revealed kept my interest until the end. I was surprised in a number of places and enjoyed the many types of love that were displayed.
The storyline itself and the lovely descriptions deserve a full five stars. although, despite my very emotional connection with the story, the first-person present tense narration distracted me throughout. Perhaps it would have improved things had the author chosen to use this perspective for just one character or just one time period.
I do recommend this book for those who enjoy historical fiction. I am looking forward to reading more books by Amanda Dykes.
Read my review of Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
“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.
Y’ALL! I felt SOOOO many emotions reading this book.
I cried happy tears, I cried tears of grief, I cried for heartwarming moments and I cried for heart-wrenching moments.
I felt A LOT of things. It is VERY rare that an author can get me to cry, let alone SOB while reading. The fact that this author got me to do it on multiple occasions for different reasons says a lot about her writing style.
It’s amazing. Plain and simple. It was a gripping story of grief, loss, healing, and learning to lean on the Rock of Ages.
This story rocked me, it had me thinking of the past and the future. There was so much grit to this story!
I really enjoyed the time-slip aspect, the author did a really good job separating the timelines while keeping the storylines perfectly intact. Though I had a few questions about character timelines and connections in the “modern day” storyline, it personally didn’t take away from my experience while reading the book.
The characters were so real and raw, they came to life right off the page. All of their thoughts and emotions built them into wonderful characters.
All the little romances really held the book together. They were all so bittersweet, but they really enhanced the story.
I truly don’t think I’ll ever be able to put into words my thoughts about this book. I am pumped to see where this author goes next! I think every person ever should read this book.
5/5 stars!
Wow! How can I share with you this amazing novel that really defies description? Just as the tides of the ocean come in and then go out, I found my heart coming up in my throat many times and returning to a settled place as I read other parts of this story. As I approached the end, the climax and my heart being pulled into the moment was so strong I couldn’t put the book down!
The minute one opens the cover is the moment the person will be captured by the opening scene. It’s WWII and a man in Marine receives his draft notice. His identical twin brother opens the draft notice and his heart drops to his stomach. There are other factors in these twins’ lives that are going to affect the decision these two men make and the rippling effects last for more than just their generation.
While I am in no way revealing what comes next nor how the plot progresses, it is the heart of the reader that will be touched very deeply. Seeing how a fictional small town and its people in Maine are changed by the war isn’t all there is to the book. I was engrossed with the various characters’ background life experiences and how that played into who they became, how they lived, etc.
It was very easy to visualize in my mind what was happening, and I could almost hear the sounds or smell the ocean. The conclusion brought tears to my eyes and it is one I won’t soon forget. I have already told my friends and family members this is a must read for a whole slew of reasons. So, I am asking others to grab a copy, read it, feel it, and share it with people they know. Even though it is fiction it touches on the truth of the greatest generation’s sacrifice!
Whose Waves These Are will impact those who read it, share it and talk about it for days to come. We need reminders written in fiction of the past events, people and repercussions both good and bad so remember who we are and how we became a strong nation. Well done Amanda Dykes for writing such a moving story and thank you to the greatest generation who blessed this generation with their love, sacrifices and patriotism!
What a stunning and riveting debut novel Amanda Dykes has crafted! I was quickly drawn in and completely captivated with the exquisite, descriptive prose and the magnificent, complex characters. The story revolves around Robert Bliss, a small-town fisherman in Maine, and various members of his immediate and extended family. With a dual time-line split between World War II and the year 2009, the author has masterfully unfolded the story layer by layer until it melds together perfectly into a powerful ending.
The carefully crafted characters are realistic, beautifully drawn, and so endearing. Robert is caring, courageous, and deep, and he glues the story together flawlessly. I loved Annie Bliss and her heart for helping Robert. And Jeremiah Fletcher is a wonderful, broken and hurting, yet kind-hearted hero. (I must admit I was swooning a bit over him).
The author infused a great spiritual depth and beautiful metaphors into this book. When I finished it, I immediately wanted to go back and read it again to find the hidden layers. As a warning–this story brought out all the emotions in me—a real roller-coaster ride! Keep some tissues handy. It’s definitely a book for the keeper shelf and easily one of my top reads of the year! Kudos to Amanda Dykes for a completely captivating read. I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the author/Bethany House. All opinions are my own.
Whose Waves These Are is the debut novel by Amanda Dykes.
This novel is a dual time story with many facets. Ms. Dykes writes with heart, just the right words on every page. It is a story of love and loss and hope, packed with emotion. Fascinating details are effortlessly meshed to tell an amazing tale. It unfolds like a beautiful flower with many layers.
“Every wave in that big old blue sea is a story”. This opening line spoken by Bob Bliss to his niece, Annie epitomizes this whole book. There are many stories here, delicately told by this gifted author. Stories that are intricately woven together in a tapestry showing how God weaves circumstances to build something worthwhile. “Sometimes the past has a whole lot of treasure to mine.”
This is a book to be savored for excellent prose that is sheer poetry.”The moon is high and new, its pale sliver of light slips into the vertical crevices of the cliffs like liquid silver.” Savored for lessons we can learn from days gone by in another era when love of country and respect for those who fought for our freedom was commonplace.
Annie Bliss is conflicted about her chosen path in life, the one she has given her all for. Can she find her own story by uncovering the stories of her family’s history, especially that of her great uncle Bob?
A woman talks about Bob’s brother saving her life: He submerged into the pain. And he gave himself into it. It’s as my husband used to say, just what our Yeshua did for us, giving life through His death. And we with to honor His life with ours.” Amanda Dykes pen is as mighty as any sword, cutting deep into the emotions. She depicts so many nuggets of ordinary but profound pieces of life and they come together flawlessly on the last page. This book is a treasure trove.
She is an author to watch closely.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
‘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.
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.
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
This book surprised me. I hoped for a good story but was drawn into a wonderfully deep and complex tale of the human condition plus a stark reminder of where our true hope comes from. 4 1/2 Stars – Full review is at my website.
I received this book as a member of the author’s launch team. I was not required to give a positive review. All of the opinions I have expressed are my own.
Whose Waves These Are is an epic story that spans decades. The author pulled my heart all over the place as I turned the pages. This novel has a dual timeline. The connections and stories that are woven together throughout the years are only slowly revealed in tiny bits to the reader. I was amazed by the way the author intertwined so many different tales from both the past and the present together.
There was a lot of pain that various characters went through in the novel, yet it was balanced well with hope and lessons learned. The setting was beautiful and I truly felt as if I was experiencing living life in Ansel-by-the-Sea.
The author’s writing style is very poetic and beautiful. She doesn’t simply tell a story, she paints it for the readers with her words.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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.
Amanda Dykes debut novel Whose Waves These Are is a time-slip novel taking place during and after World War II and the present era. Dykes novel really doesn’t focus on the horrors of World War II, which most novels written about World War II, instead she focuses on the destruction of the war on the people left behind after someone dies during the war. Bob is quite a character and wants to remember his brother by building a lighthouse. The present time storyline is Annie’s story. She is looking for home and comes back to see her sick great-uncle. Usually in time-slip novels, either the present or the historical strike me as better written than the other, but Dykes actually wrote both of them really well. I enjoyed reading both sections. The story is unique and filled with fascinating characters. I really enjoyed this story, and I can’t wait to see what comes next for Dykes. I think she might be around for a while.
I received a complimentary copy of Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
When I read the prequel Up From The Sea I knew I had to read Whose Waves These Are. A heart touching emotional read. The twin brothers touched me immensely. I know that twins are close but reading their story was emotional.
There were so many wonderful quotes from this book that I loved but this was one of my favorites,
“A thing redeemed from a place of brokenness is an humbling honor.”
This author wrote stories in this book that I won’t forget. Each character’s personalities and the sceneries were so vivid. The characters she wrote about you didn’t just see the outside but the inside, the heart and mind. Oh! How can we ever look at waves in the ocean and not think of this book and the people?
Part of the prologue, “Every wave in that big old blue sea is a story.” And it was folks, it was!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher/author. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This story is mesmerizing! Amanda Dykes’ lyrical writing is achingly beautiful and makes each and every word mean something. Nothing is wasted! This book will stick with you long after you finish the last page…and just may beg to be picked up and read again. Never have I ever wished more that a setting was a real place! I want to visit Ansel-By-The-Sea. I want to visit the shops, breathe in the salty air, hear the waves crashing, meet these intriguing characters, and have myself an order of Gretel cakes!
In this dual-time novel, Annie Bliss is called to visit her dearly beloved Great-Uncle Bob who’s in the hospital in a coma. While staying in Ansel-By-The-Sea, she will need to dig up a long-buried story in order to heal old wounds. It will not be an easy journey. For me, the theme of this novel is love. Familial love between brothers, parents and children, an uncle and his niece. Friendship love between lifelong neighbors, newcomers, mentors. Romantic love between a man and a woman. Each character had a beautiful story to tell and each one was woven together perfectly.
This story gripped my heart strong! I teared up and down-right cried more than once. I felt their pain, their loss, their joys, their achievements. I laughed, and smiled, along with the tears. Whose Waves These Are is a story that will stay with me for a very, very long time. I cannot wait to see what Ms. Dykes has for us next!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own.
From World War II to contemporary times, you’ll enjoy this story set in coastal Maine involving three generations of people! Whose Waves These Are takes you from twin brothers in love with the same woman to a simple poem written by a fisherman. Robert Bliss is a kind, forgiving fisherman who put others first and has great wisdom. His great niece, Annie Bliss, finds a mystery in boxes in Bob’s home! Life isn’t always how it appears and we have to forgive ourselves for mistakes and grab hold of life. It’s hard to believe this is Amanda Dykes debut novel! I recommend the book to others. I received an advance copy of Whose Waves These Are. This is my honest opinion.