I am impressed with Dykes debut novel. Her writing is a pleasure to read. She brought me into the story and the setting and I felt I was there experiencing the scene along with the characters. The characters were well crafted and I felt emotionally connected to them over time.

The novel covers two generations and the narrative alternates points of view. It takes a while to find out how the man from WW II and the current young woman are connected. The story is revealed little by little as people in the Maine village share their memories.

The strength of this novel is its emotional impact. Hurts festering for years, fed by fear and shame are finally confronted. Locked hearts crack open. The emotional events happen in a Maine seaside village where the people have long memories and tough inner strength. When the sea is rough or one of their own is in some other danger, the community comes together to help.

This is a good novel for readers who enjoy being immersed in a great setting with well crafted characters and a plot that touches the heart. Be sure to have your tissues close by when you near the end. There may have been a couple unrealistic scenes but all in all a good book. I look forward to more from this accomplished writer.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

To me, school was stressful because I wanted the best grades, but fun because I loved leaning. Now that I have been out of school for a long time, I find myself missing parts if it; not the tests and papers but the constant learning of new subjects. I think that's why I love when I finish a book and realize that I have learned something. In my latest read, I learned quite a bit from Whose Wave These Are by Amanda Dykes.

First, I learned that I want to visit the New England coast. I've never been anywhere in New England. After reading the gorgeous descriptions of that area, it's moved high on my list of places I want to visit.  The people and their accents, the lobster fishing, the quaint towns away from the touristy areas- all of these details are so clearly described in this book. 

Second, I learned that words are beautiful. I'll be honest (since this is supposed to be an honest review), that at first, I had a hard time getting interested in the book. The writing style seemed to be written in a different tense than most books. But, as I continued reading, the beauty of the way the words flowed together made me forget about the writing style and focus on the story itself. It truly is a beautiful story and Amanda Dykes definitely is talented in how she puts words together.

I learned many other lessons from Whose Waves These Are, but instead of reading about what I learned, maybe you should go read the book for yourself.  I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical and contemporary fiction.

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

#WhoseWavesTheseAre # NetGalley

This story was one that is beautifully written and has, wo different time periods. Two bothers-identical twins, who are separated by one going to war and one staying home as a lobster fisherman. In the modern time period, Annie is trying to find out a puzzling secret.The two time periods mesh together and tells the story in a way that will touch your heart. A book about family, love forgiveness, set in a little town in Maine. I loved quite a few of the quotes in this book, here's one quote:"sands nothing but little rocks. And rocks are nothing but little earth. Solid ground, no matter what waves are thrashing around you. Get on your rock and let's get on with living. I so enjoyed reading this book.

With prose as lilting as the sea, Whose Waves These Are is a sparkling novel brimming with life, poignancy, and hope. In the pages of Dykes’ debut novel are the heartaches of war, the strong bonds of family that reach across generations and distance, and the hope and comfort of the Savior that hold them all. I loved all the characters and was endeared by the love and care they held for one another. I adored the fictional town of Ansel-by-the-Sea, Maine and would love to spend a summer there. This book has not only earned a spot on my list of favorite books of 2019, but also on my all-time favorites shelf. I highly recommend this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

My! Oh. My! Whose Waves These Are has moved me. Profoundly. I can’t begin to count how many times it made me cry—from sadness, joy, beauty.

I adore time-slip novels. Especially when both time periods pull me in equally. As I began reading, I sank into Robert’s story during WWII and its aftermath. I didn’t want to leave this side of the story. I was certain the contemporary layers couldn’t possibly be as intriguing. I was wrong. Annie’s story equally drew me in.

Every single character adds to the fullness of this story. Each one grabbed firmly to my heart and became unforgettable. I truly can’t pick a favorite. I love every last one.

This is the first book I’ve read by Amanda Dykes, and she just became my must-read author. I am so drawn in by her writer’s voice. She effortlessly submerged me into the past and made me feel part of this wonderful Ansel-By-The-Sea community. Ayuh!

I wonder if I’ve ever read a novel that spoke to my soul so deeply. This story displays fathomless love in so many forms—beautiful, yearning, searching, pure, complete, and eternal.

My tears are spent. My soul is full. And I am changed.

#whosewavestheseare
#awholelottalight
#booklove
#2019favorite

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Author: Amanda Dykes
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Pages: 368
First Line (Chapter One): One minute a guy is splitting wood in the northeastern corner of the country, stomach rumbling and heart afire with ambition in the wake of his eighteenth birthday, and the next minute he’s pumping water from the old kitchen sink to clean the work off his hands and pick up a letter from the president of the United States of America himself.
Source: I was blessed to receive an advanced copy of this book from the publisher.

Wow. This book was so good.

I'm not a lover of contemporary stories, or even stories that span both modern-day and historical times, but I was in the mood for a good contemporary story at the time I picked this book up. I'm glad. Not only was this book an inspiration, but in itself it was a beautiful story of family and love and legacy-- three things that I love to seek in any tale.

This book is told in the alternating point-of-views of Robert Bliss and his grand-niece Annie Bliss. Robert's story spans from the day his identical twin brother, Roy, left to join the U.S. army during WWII to years later, when he is steadily building up a legacy for the brave and the lost in his hometown, Ansel-by-the-Sea. Annie's chapters take us back to the Maine town when she returns to Ansel to uncover her grand-uncle's secret project. Through two pairs of eyes we watch a beautiful, heartbreaking story unfold.

Whose Waves These Are was a grand tale. I loved every moment of it, every rich detail of the entwined stories within. The characters were so much fun, each and every one of them. Dykes is a master storyteller; the way she wove every detail of past and present back into one loop of a crown is amazing. The way she portrayed God's light in the storm is amazing. This story, all in all, every part of it, is amazing.

Now I'm going to have to get myself a physical copy to put on my shelf. Apparently, this is the first of a series, which means that I might possibly have more touching stories to look forward to in the future...

Whose Waves These Are is absolutely the most impressive debut novel I have ever read. Hands down the absolute best! This dual time line novel is heart-stirring and so beautifully written that it has stayed in my mind since I finished reading it.

The author begins her story in Ansel-By-The Sea, Maine in 1944 and transitions to Chicago 2001 and to be honest I almost didn't want to leave Maine but I soon discovered I would be returning with Annie Bliss to visit GrandBob. Oh how I loved all of the characters in this coastal town. Every single one of them held a special place in my heart. Ms. Dykes certainly crafted characters that I became emotionally attached to. I am quite sure that I have never shed so many tears while reading a book but some of my tears were happy ones because I clearly felt a connection to the characters.


This superbly written novel of love and healing is perfectly paced and will have a permanent place in my home. I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book and if you haven't had a chance to read the novella, Up From the Sea (Whose Waves These Are 0.5) you should definitely read that, too.
After reading the novella and novel I can honestly say I am a huge fan and cannot wait to read Amanda Dykes future work.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley and was under no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.

Amanda Dykes' debut novel, Whose Waves These Are, is a time slip (dual timeline) story that takes place during WWII and shares how deeply the war affected the family of Robert Bliss when his identical twin brother was drafted and sent off to fight in the war. The contemporary storyline begins in 2001 with Robert's great-niece Annie returning to his coastal town when she receives word that something is wrong.

This was an emotional story, and I found myself in tears several times throughout the novel. Both storylines were well written, but I preferred the historical storyline in the novel. I look forward to reading more from Amanda Dykes in the future. Well done!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

WHOSE WAVES THESE ARE is AMANDA DYKES' debut novel, and in her penetrating writing style, she tells a poignant tale of lives touched by waves and memorialised by rocks. It is a story of love and life lived to the full, of loss and rejection, of sadness and joy, of light overcoming darkness, of incredible courage, and of redemption.
Starting in 1944 in the little town of Ansel-by-the-Sea, with the twin brothers Robert and Roy Bliss, and moving through time to the present with Annie Bliss going back to the place that holds so many childhood memories for her, we come to know so many amazing characters, many of them broken by war or by circumstance, each of whom have a story to tell.
We are reminded throughout of the Rock of Ages who is the One who makes a person whole and who is in control of the winds and the waves.
It is a well written book in which the author shows such insight into human nature and gives us an unforgettable cast of characters, making Whose Waves These Are well worth reading.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This is one more terrific read. Author Dykes is the queen of the slow boil in this amazingly intricate story. Themes of family, relationships, home, death, and, ultimately, faith, are waves in the sea of this amazing novel. The sea itself is a major actor in this book which also includes complicated, genuine human characters and an equally complex plotline. The story is oh-so-slowly revealed, each piece fitting into the next so that the tale itself becomes a metaphor for the mysterious thing being built on the island, made of rocks sent in memory of fallen warriors. The book moves back and forth in time, place, and among several characters as the reader finds the story rooted in WWII, but continuing to grow through the Bliss family and others over decades. This is no beach book, so give yourself time to read and absorb it. Several times, I found myself highlighting a section and then just stopping to contemplate. This in no way detracts from the story, but is illustrative of Dykes' kind of writing, which triggers memories and introspection for the reader. Five well-deserved stars from me.

It is hard to believe that this book is Amanda Dyke's debut novel. This novel is breathtaking! From the opening line I was hooked. The eloquent prose of this stirring tale will haunt readers long after the final page has been read.

When Annie is summoned back to Ansel-by-the Sea to help GrandBob, she finds that she will need to uncover secrets from her family's past in order to mend the chasm that is felt through three generations. This is a wonderful story of the ties that bind us: that of a parent, a child, a sibling and a spouse. It is a story of grief and brokenness, but also one of courage, love and hope. In my humble opinion, it also has one of the most romantic 'first kisses' I have read in awhile.

This is a story filled with stories, ones that tugged at my heart. Amanda Dykes skillfully pens the separate stories of Robert, Roy, Willliam, Annie, Arthur, Ed and Jeremiah and weaves them into a unforgettable masterpiece. As I read this book, I kept thinking this would make an excellent movie. But immediately, I realized the screen could never capture Ms. Dykes beautiful and fresh voice she brings to fiction. This is a book for the keeper shelf! It is definitely one of my top reads of the year!

A few of my favorite quotes:

"Every wave in that big old blue sea is a story."

"Sometimes the past has a whole lot of treasure to mine."

"...he can't deny that something beyond himself was leading, guiding. He was nothing more than an instrument."

" A thing redeemed from a place of brokenness is a humbling honor."

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book wasn't what I'd expected, but it was still a very interesting read. It's messy, it's complicated, and it plays out beautifully. The main characters have created a web of secrets, dating back to World War 2, and so the text goes back and forth between modern-day and the past, but it has different tones and is not hard to follow. The author does a great job of setting up the scene and using sensory-descriptive language to suck you in so that you experience the raw emotions alongside the characters! One thing that was a little different for me was the perspective - it's written from third-person, rather than having a narrative, so that took some getting used to. It wasn't what I'd expected -- it was so much better.

In lyrical prose, Amanda Dykes invites us to visit the Maine coastal world of GrandBob, Fletch, Eva, Roy, Jenny, and so may more. It’s a “pocket of a harbor where broken lives, like waves upon the shore, are gathered up and held close.” There, we become a regular, along with Annie Bliss, who “never imagined then that it would be [her] breaking place, too. Nor how beautiful the breaking could be.”

Though Annie’s journey starts out with “a key. A closet and a boathouse full of rocks,” she ends up unlocking the secrets of her own heart as she builds relationships with and learns the stories of the townspeople—especially one taciturn young man. He’s a “typical” New Englander—close-lipped, prickly & with well-guarded heart—but thaws into a strong, good, tender companion.

This is story of love, loss, healing, redemption, and forgiveness. I found it to be a true celebration of life. And, of course, I loved the portions set during & after WWII, when GrandBob himself—the true bedrock & heart of this story—was young.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bethany House for giving me the opportunity to read this beautiful, poignant novel! What a treasure!

Before you pick up this book, you might be wondering—what’s so special about this island world? A time-honored inhabitant lets us in on that secret: “It’s not the isolation that’s medicine for the soul. No, ma’am. See, an island is a world unto itself. And if God can keep the tides comin’ and goin’, if he can use the sky itself . . . to pull back an entire ocean, just roll it clean away twice a day, easy as pie . . . 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. There’s little here to get in the way of seein’ that, and boy, did I need to see it.”

QUOTES I LIKED:
“Sometimes the best way to love is to choose to let go.”

“He said courage looked like you. Reaching out. Pulling him up. And he said that’s what you’d always do, because it is just in you.”

“‘Every wave in that big old blue sea is a story.’ Bob told me this a long time ago, his voice brined with wind and water.”

“At his side, she studies his face etched in kindness, and she knows those etchings did not come easily. She does not fully know the stories but has heard rumblings enough to know this man has lived through loss deeper than she can imagine. And yet it’s his laughter that echoes in her mind.”

“And they dance. Snow-dusted sidewalk for a dance floor, stolen strains of music coming in snatches on the December wind. He feels how she is like him. They are the same—lonely souls beating against the walls of war, asking in, being denied. But tonight they find a home together. The chill in the sky thickens the falling snow, and together they look up. They still. There’s something about this moment completely outside him—a sense they are standing in the calm before a coming storm.”

“Unseen sinews unfurl in the dark, reaching over the black shimmer of water and gripping him.”

“That boat was carved by time. It’s not like the rest of these.” She sweeps her arm out over the harbor, encompassing the fleet of warships. “They were churned out in a hurry, all for utility and speed and power. Sure, we need them right now. But that? . . . That one tells a story that’s taken time. And it’s one that’ll be around long after this war is over. No less needed, either. Just as important and courageous as the others.”

“When first light began to ease the dark, he’d heard his mother’s voice. She had a lovely voice, like silver—but that night it had been raked over grief. Yet the song she offered up was all the more beautiful in its wavering and brokenness. Courageous, an offering. The laying out of her broken heart before her God.”

“It never ceased to amaze Bob how a rock from one corner of the world, broken and cleaved by time or trauma, held just the right angles, curves, ridges to fit side by side with a stone from the opposite side of the world. The boy marveled at this, too, and made Bob’s science of it into an art form. Checking colors, patterns, light-catching properties for the strongest, most breathtaking effect possible. Watching him was like witnessing a rebirth. His fervor was contagious.”

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.

I really enjoyed this book. The mystery, the lovely Maine town, and the sorrow and depth of character displayed. Everything was done amazingly well.

Simply stunning. Whose Waves These Are, with its beautifully descriptive and emotive writing style, characters who are brave, relatable, and so very loveable and story of family, love, loss and miraculous reunions, drew me in and refused to let go. Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, Whose Waves These Are is so very beautiful and a book that is simply a delight to read.

When Annie learns that her beloved grand-uncle Bob has fallen ill, she drops everything to return to Ansel-By-The-Sea to be there for him as he was for her in the time she most needed someone to understand and care for her when she was just a girl. As Annie learns what befell her uncle, reunites with the townsfolk and meets the standoffish newcomer, Jeremiah, she also learns of a story of loss and love that her uncle has guarded for years. Annie is determined to uncover the story and in doing so reveals not only the secrets of the past but a chance for reconciliation in the present.

Amanda Dykes crafts words with care and beauty. The writing in Whose Waves These Are is emotive and descriptive. It deserves the reader’s full attention and I found myself completely immersed in the story. The book contains chapters from the mid 1940s and early 2000s, split into sections and woven together. The way the two sections reflect and loop into the other, bringing to life the story both past and present and with some surprising reveals, is magic.

This is a powerful story of family and love, set against the hardest of losses and grief of wars and forced separation. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Whose Waves These Are is an ode to community and friendship, the bond between brothers, the love between man and woman, and the relationship between parents and child - broken and healed again. Honestly, I simply do not have the words to convey the magic of this book, the way it stole into my heart, and had me crying tears of grief and joy at the end and rejoicing in a story that has its own soul.

I can very highly recommend Whose Waves These Are. It is a beautiful and delightful story.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Not at all what I expected, but oh so beautiful! Amanda Dykes takes the reader to painful places in this tale, but then using her gift of sharing a sweet story brought it to a place of such beauty and hope and healing. Highly recommended.

“Every wave in that big old blue sea is a story.”
A wonderful quote from this amazing book and this book is full of these nuggets.
From the very first page to the end, this book had me captivated and wanting to read more. I didn’t want to put it down. It really was a book I kept thinking, “just one more page!” and hours later realizing I needed to go to bed.
My heart was touched deeply with the story of Roy, Robert, and Jenny. The wonderful fun young lives, and yet, the deep pain of how war interrupted those lives. Then also the story of William, Annie, and Jeremiah, and the struggles they each dealt with as well as how so much of their stories all link together.
This story brought many fresh thoughts regarding WWII to my mind. You may have someone in your life who was touched by that war. For me personally, it’s my in-laws. They also have their own stories. When I think of all they lost and all the struggles they went through, I can see how it has shaped them and made them who they are today.
Amanda Dykes has written a beautiful story of many peoples lives all intertwined and deeply touched by loss and the waves of life.
One last quote I want to leave you with is one which touched my heart:
“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.” WOW! Thank you, Amanda Dykes, for sharing this deep love of God with us!
I highly recommend you pick this book up. It is Beautiful and deeply touching.
I was given this book by the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

There are plot-driven novels, and character/driven novels, but is there such a thing as a descriptive-driven novel? Not in setting, but in...life. Amanda Dykes doesn’t describe what people see in when the look out at the world, its like she’s giving all of her readers a pair of X-ray vision glasses to put. Ones that peel away at the artifice and shine a light on the heart. This is a story that you will ruminate over and will stick with you for a long time after it’s end.

These aren't simple five stars.
I mean them with all my heart.

I never doubted Amanda Dykes was going to tug my heart big time with this book. Her novella is one of my favorite stories ever and I still get teary when reading it (ie: I basically became a waterfall reading her first full-length novel).

Amanda is a wonderful storyteller and she gave me all the feels with her debut.
I shall come back to write a proper review when intelligible words return to me. My heart is simply overflowing and there aren't appropriate words to describe this book.

Let me tell you one thing. We are all given gifts, and they are to be shared and nurtured to bless others. This book talks about said gifts and said sharing and community.
That messy, beautiful, wonderful place to be.

No one writes as Amanda Dykes does. And this is not an exaggerated compliment or a criticism to other authors. It's stating her uniqueness and just how through this story she aims to show us our individuality and how we are loved for it, I aim to point out her gift that she has shared with us.