“I would like to uncover forgotten bits of history, the stories that most people don’t know and save them from being lost to time.” A noble ambition from a young character in this well conceived story.
This was an absorbing tale of determination and finding true home. Walt, at near 80, is still haunted by the girl he knew on the Outer Banks before WWII. He wants to restore the lighthouse that she and her father operated before tragedy struck. His grandson Finn is being protective and hires Joey Harris to be the project manager and watch out for Walt. She finds fascinating records in the lighthouse and is intrigued by their history.
With a persuasive voice, the author takes us on a journey of discovery by the characters as they resolve issues with reconciliation and have their faith strengthened as they realise where home really is. “I’m sure going backward is never the answer. We learn what we can from the hard times and keep on moving forward.”
This was a satisfying story that shows what home is and the connections that make a family.
* A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House on behalf of the author and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

Amanda Cox has a gift for writing meaningful characters and beautiful descriptions. Between the Sound and Sea is a brilliant example of her talent in these areas.
That said, as I read, I often found myself desiring a bit more to the plot, a little more excitement and action. However, plot-driven stories are my personal preference and this does little to diminish the quality of this book.
I appreciate the historical research that went into this novel, as well as the scenic elements.
I am grateful to NetGalley and Revell for my advance reader copy of Between The Sound and Sea and look forward to many more readers enjoying its beauty in the days ahead.

Oh my goodness!! I just finished the first book I’ve read from Amanda Cox. It’s entitled, Between the Sound and Sea, set in the Outer Banks off of North Carolina’s coast. It was full of mystery and adventure, tears and laughter and precious friendships that would last a lifetime. It pulled at my heartstrings and kept me turning the pages when I should have been sleeping. Don’t miss this picturesque story!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions expressed are completely my own.

“The best gifts are the ones you can share with someone, you know.”

Amanda Cox and her beautiful lyrical voice will get me every time. Told from third person voice of Joey and Wally, there is so much nostalgia, fond memories, regret, fear and need for forgiveness wrapped around the Bleakpoint Island and its lighthouse. Joey’s compassion, tenderness, and peace-making heart is endearing and Wally’s trips into long-forgotten memories are heart-breaking and soul-bearing. I loved Finn and his methodical, practical, slightly OCD ways and his broken, searching soul that needs to escape from fear of living. I really enjoyed the history of the lighthouses during WWII on the Outer Banks.

It’s a satisfying and wonderfully written novel of faith, trust, and overcoming fears. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

1 Star
This is the first book by this author that I've read, and honestly I'm disappointed in the content this book contained and I can't recommend it.


Negative Content

The NIV translation is used some in this book.

A elderly woman tells her great-grandson a story, and it mentions a teenage girl coming in out of the rain and standing in front of a fire place, then it says that she stripped out of her sodden clothes and wraps a wool blanket around her shoulders. Then the woman thinks that that was probably more detail then a fifteen year-old-boy needed to her about a fifteen-year-old girl, and it mentions she continued, more mindful of the particulars she shared. (This was not needed as well as inappropriate.)

A elderly man tells his grandson that his comment held s*xism and ageism all in one breath, and the grandson told him that he might call it s*xist, but he called it calling a spade a spade.

A elderly man says that he figures he might as well enjoy doing whatever fool thing pops into his head as long as his body is able.

Over the phone, one woman tells another to park her truck, then march her rear end over to some men that she worked for.

A woman asked another woman, "So you're not ready to cuss me a blue streak for sending the wild idea your way?"

Someone mentions that there was a band of teenage boys some time back that ventured somewhere and was no doubt out to do mischief, and that it was unknown to the person whether or not they were tipsy on whatever they'd pilfered from their parents' liquor cabinets.

A woman breaks through a clearing to see a ring of fire around a house, and before trying to put it out, it says she stripped off her shirt and soaked it through before pulling it back on. (This info was unnecessary and honestly inappropriate.)

A mention of a elderly thinking that his heart pounded too loudly in his chest, remaining him of that horrible boxed-up heart under the floor in Edgar Allen Poe's dreadful story.

A elderly man thinks to himself that he was lured away from a place by a siren's song of days gone by.

A person tells another that a man thinks them both incompetent fools.

The main male was married before and then it is implied that they divorced, and at the end of the book he and the main female are married, and it doesn't mention if the main males ex passed away before he remarried (its not biblical for someone to remarry if your ex is still living.)

A person tells a woman that any foggy morning on the water you'll have a fisherman come back swearing up and down he saw a legendary woman.

A elderly man thinks that a woman would think him a old fool making much of nothing (for bringing her a thank you gift.)

The word "heck" is used once (1×).

Someone says its a fools errand their on.

There is a misunderstanding between a man and woman and due to said misunderstanding the woman says something that is misunderstood as a invite to stay in the same house (they do not).
Later on in the book the man is staying at the hospital overnight with a family member, and he lets a woman spend the night in his hotel room in his absence since she had a very long drive home otherwise (not a good idea because it could very easily ruin their reputations if anyone saw the woman enter the man's hotel room and not leave until morning, even if he was not there or if nothing happened.)
Her being there is mentioned later on.

A elderly man thinks that he was a fool at one point when he was a teen.

A elderly man mentioned that he was tired of not being able to do a "durn thing" about something to make it better.

A man says that his grandparents raised him, and that the Lord knew that he did not make it easy on them. (I'm not sure whether or not it was flippant.)

A man mentioned that when he was in high school he met a girl and they fell in love, and that the man didn't listen to his grandparents when they told him to be careful. To not awaken love before its time. To take things slow, but his seventeen year old self thought he knew better.
She ended up pregnant. (They weren't married.)

The man above mentioned that his grandparents had stayed by his side, even though he'd spent the last six months acting like "the north end of a southbound donkey."

A elderly man thinks to himself that his ancient rear end was alone in a wildlife sanctuary with about four hours of daylight left.

A mention of a woman putting on a over sized t-shirt, wearing it like a nightgown.

A elderly man tells a young man and woman that he was "trying to give you two young fools time enough to see what's right in front of your eyes."

A man tells his sister upon her saying their dad was coming, “I can’t deal with it if he starts in on me. Criticizing my every move.” his sister crossed her arms over her chest and said, “I know Dad didn’t handle things in the best way, but I don’t think calling you out for not showing up for work because you’d been out barhopping with your friends all night and hooking up with any girl that would have you is quite the same thing as criticizing your every move.” (while it was in the past, it still would have been better left out of the book.)

Someone tells his grand father that he's been "busting his tail" in therapy to rid himself of his walker.

A mention of a woman wearing Bermuda shorts.

........
Typos-

"All those erasure marks, traces of plans that were still on, just without her help."

"Maybe you don’t understand all my whys, Finn."

.....................

I'd heard of this author before but this was the first one I've read. I've heard that this authors older books didn't have this problem with content, and this book did have some really funny parts to it, but if her new books are like this one content-wise, then I wouldn't read any more new books by this author.

I received a complimentary e-book from Revell through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and the thoughts above are my own.

Through a redemptive story of loss and overwhelming regret, Amanda Cox once again weaves past and present together in an emotional, heartfelt tale. This one, between the sound and sea.

With characters as weather-worn as the lighthouse itself, readers take a front row seat as friends and family are providentially transplanted together to search for the truth of Bleakpoint Island and Saint Mae. Add a little wisdom, capricious folklore and a few well placed, mysterious happenings and you end up with another restored, Amanda Cox community you want to be a part of.

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.

With her incredible, wondrous knack for storytelling, Amanda Cox will immerse you into the world of Between the Sound and Sea, a gripping, emotionally charged, multi-generational, Contemporary Christian Fiction story. A semi-dual timeline told in flashbacks will keep you enthralled in this story about God’s redemption, and second chances, which are written with such vivid scenes, that I could smell the marsh of the Outer Banks.

This book has everything that tugs at one’s heartstrings in a superbly well-executed spellbinding plot, which is enhanced as each thoroughly developed character reveals their backstory of struggles with fear and regret. Cox, with grace, delves into some heavy issues, one being dementia in the 1940s. I enjoyed witnessing Joey, Finn, Walt, Cay, and Peter’s journeys as they each grew and faced the difficult situations that they endured. There is also a mystery woven throughout the story, adding suspense, keeping you guessing and turning the pages to the end. 

Overall, Between the Sound and Sea, is a remarkable story, filled with likable, complex, captivating characters, in a unique setting, with life lessons of faith all rolled into one enrapturing read which I highly recommend!

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell via NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.

Amanda Cox has written another beautiful story about second chances, starting over, and learning to let go of the past. This one focuses on restoring a hundred year old lighthouse back to its former glory. Joey needs to escape from her real life for a while, and Finn needs to care for his grandfather who suddenly bought an island with a lighthouse in a place Finn has never heard of.

This is Christian fiction so expect prayer and discussions about faith and God.

Family friendly.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to readers who love a good story.

“Regret is a strange animal, son. It makes you create alternate realities inside your head with hindsight as your guide. You long for those imaginary outcomes until it’s a sickness. But there’s also another side to regret… I knew how much it cost to get it wrong.”

Indeed, this twisty, dual-time novel of Amanda Cox, Between the Sound and the Sea, is full of regrets. Walter is desperately trying to make up for his regrets from 60 years earlier. Finn doesn’t know how to step away from his broken past into a safe life. And Joey thinks she can somehow solve her problems by proving her worth to a town who has rejected her. Can these three work together to restore an old Outer Banks lighthouse and solve the mystery of the light keeper and his daughter who disappeared years ago?

Cheers for obscure history revealed! Never would I have guessed WWII was this close to our mainland! Why weren’t we taught this in US history?!

I found myself with the characters saying in my head, “I wish this or that would happen, or wouldn’t have happened.” Or I was guilty, as I read, of saying, “Why? Why did [character] do that?!” Whether in reading or real life, it’s so easy to get caught up in the “if only” rut. You can see Amanda Cox’s background as a therapist come through as she explores the characters’ actions and feelings. “It was past time to leave behind the ‘if onlys.’ ‘I’m not sure going backward is ever the answer. We learn what we can from the hard times and keep moving forward.’”

This mesmerizing novel will have you reaching for the Kleenex more than once as Cox visits themes of regret, fear, and heartache. Is there a path for these characters I now love to find peace, forgiveness, hope, and restoration?

Because I love to spotlight secondary characters, I will name Pete as my fave such character. I loved how God used him in the narrative and also how he grew!

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher via NetGalley. I also pre-ordered a pb for my keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“But that’s the beauty of love and grace, Cay. The real kind. We don’t have to earn it.”

“God meets us right where we’re at. And maybe things in our lives get broken down and beaten up along the way. The good news is restoration work is kind of His specialty.”

”When people are hurt and scared, they aren’t always able to reason through things well. They can’t see past the pain and fear.”

“I feel like I’ve slipped and fallen into an episode of Scooby-Doo. Send help.”

This book so far has been my top read for 2024. It is a wonderfully crafted story that kept me absolutely glued to the pages of this book or should I say to the screen of my iPad since I read the eBook version.
This book pulled on my heartstrings in so many ways because in ways I knew just what Cathleen was going though with her father. And Peter you can't help but to fall in love with that young man. Each one of the characters bring so much to this story that I hated to see it come to an end.
Amanda Cox's has another award winner with this amazing story.
Thank you to Ravell and to NetGalley for allowing me the privilege to read this story before it hits the streets.

This is a near-perfect read: well written, soundly plotted, with nicely realized characters. Amanda Cox is adept at describing just enough to give the reader's imagination something to work with, without weighing down the action. Although the plot is about restoring a lighthouse in South Carolina's Outer Banks, the book is about restoring family and community. It includes some history, a bit of mystery, and just a soupçon of romance. Something for everyone, really.

So why "near-perfect"? Well, obviously it would be better with a dog!

I have always been drawn to lighthouses and the stories about their keepers. Initially drawn by the setting of a lighthouse on a barrier island of the Outer Banks of NC, I quickly fell in love with the cast of characters.

This heartwarming story is more about the restoration of relationships than it is of the lighthouse itself. This dual timeline story mostly takes place in 2007, with the 1941 storyline shared as a main character reflects on memories of the past and the journal entries of the mysterious 'Mae', a heroine that displays courage and sacrificial love.

The atmospheric setting is enhanced with the hint of legends, the folklore that surrounds the history of the Outer Banks. The story begins with "It was a dark and stormy night . . . . . .". I was hooked from that point.

Each of the main characters are burdened by regrets of the past. It initially begins with Walt trying to find peace in his golden years. But his journey quickly influenced Finn, Joey and Peter, as they all confront their own past. As they work together, solving the mysteries of the lighthouse, they realize that one can learn from the past as they move forward. This is a beautiful story of secrets and forgiveness, self-discovery and family. It is told quietly but well, one full of heart.

****I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What an absolutely beautiful story this was with just the right blend of history, romance and mystery... all with a fantastic coastal setting. I couldn't help but be drawn right into this intriguing story. As the story begins, Joey takes on a job to restore an old historical lighthouse Walt---an elderly man who has his own past with the lighthouse that are a mystery to his grandson Finn. As they start the project, she discovers some old notes and unlocks an old mystery. The mystery is definitely the star of the show in this story, and truly was very wonderfully done with bits and pieces revealed just enough to keep me reading on. I enjoyed seeing how it all would play out. We are given glimpses into the past, weaving the story together perfectly. Admittedly, Finn didn't seem like a character that I was going to like at the beginning, but the more that we get to know him and see his reasons for his actions, I found myself coming around and loved him with Joey. Truly, every single character in this story was so wonderfully written that I couldn't help but love them all. It was a beautiful story of restoration with great messages of faith and one that fans of Christian fiction are sure to want to experience for themselves.

**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Another winner by Amanda Cox! Though the first couple of chapters feel a bit disjointed, they are ultimately setting the stage, introducing the major players in our story and Ms. Cox brings them all together beautifully before the story ends. The main characters in this book are Joey/Josephina Harris, who is struggling with being an outcast in the town where she grew up, and Walt O'Hare, who is attempting to right some wrongs from several decades past, along with his grandson Finn, who doesn't understand his grandpa's new pet project. When Joey answer's Walt's ad to help restore a lighthouse on an island in the Outer Banks, she finds there is more to this project than meets the eye.

This book is very character driven, with a great deal of character growth and development. The characters are very likable and relatable though and you can't help but cheer them on. Though I tend to prefer plot driven over character-driven stories, this one still earns a full 5 stars due to the added mystery elements and plot points surrounding how the past impacts the present. Though this was not a dual timeline story, Walt's memories of his childhood friend whose dad was the lighthouse keeper play a prominent role and there are some journal entries that give some insight into the past as well. As that is the element I like best about dual timeline stories, I enjoyed that element of this story as well. The faith thread in this one was subtle, but present in the 2nd half of the book. Though there are themes of forgiveness and second chances throughout the story. And there was a strong focus on family in this book - both biological and "found" family elements that were thoroughly enjoyable. And I enjoyed that the story had a happy ending for all parties involved. All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable story and one I would recommend to fans of any genre of inspirational fiction. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

**Thank you to Revell publishing and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts are entirely my own.**

I really enjoyed Between the Sound and Sea! It wasn’t super busy plot-wise, but the characters were AMAZING! I loved them all. They were all super unique and had unique voices to match. It is multi-POV, but this book is an excellent example of multi-POV done well. Amanda Cox made sure each of the characters had very distinct voices, so I didn’t get confused or bored reading any character’s sections.

I really loved the mystery as well! It was very atmospheric, and it was written really well. I loved the faith aspects as well; they were deep and intentional. I find a lot of novels labelled as Christian often throw faith aspects in that are very shallow and seem unintentional, but Between the Sound and Sea had amazing faith themes throughout. The found family and redemption arcs of the characters were also so amazing and heart-warming. I only wish there was a little more mystery, and I wish a few parts of the book weren’t so predictable.

Overall, though, I loved this book and would totally recommend reading it!

This was a story of redemption for both Joey and Finn. Joey is running away from the bad name her hometown has associated with her and her dying business. Finn is running away from past mistakes. It also tells us about the history of WWII and how close the German U-boats were to the Eastern shores of our country.

Walt, Finn's grandfather, and Finn hire Joey to oversee the restoration of and old lighthouse on the Eastern shore. Walt has a connection with the lighthouse keepers daughter and wants it restored in her memory. Finn is against the entire project to start with. But he loves his grandfather and finally gives in. There's a little mystery to this story. This books was just an overall good book that I enjoyed reading.

I was given this book by Revell Publishing via Net/Galley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

I’m wowed by the intertwining stories of loss, love, and restoration in this book. Amanda Cox is one of my favorite authors, expertly weaving a tale that strikes at the heart, stirring up your emotions as you walk out each character’s journey with them.

Joey is stuck by her family’s past, trying to uphold their name, living their dreams, in a community that has turned its back on her. She only needs one chance to prove to the people of Copper Creek she’s good enough.

Finn is stuck by a decade of sadness and regret, looking back at his broken marriage and the loss of his child. Burying his issues deep seems to be the only way to survive. If he works hard enough, maybe he can leave them behind.

Walt is stuck by sixty years of regret. He feels responsible for leaving his friend Cay alone to deal with her father’s illness on Bleakpoint Island while he runs off to sea during WWII. Even a happy marriage didn’t entirely erase the guilt, so after his dear wife’s death, he buys the Island to restore the lighthouse.

Can one historical renovation project bring healing to three lost souls? God’s timing is perfect and the way this story is written shows his care for the details of our lives. Everything He does has a purpose, and this book is a perfect picture of His heart for us.

I highly recommend this book. I was given a copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley and Interviews and Reviews. This is my honest opinion of the book.

** “I’m not sure going backward is ever the answer. We learn what we can from the hard times and keep moving forward.” **

Amanda Cox delivers a lovely story with both romance and mystery in “Between the Sound and Sea,” a story of restoration.

Event planner Joey Harris is trying to reclaim her family’s reputation after her father sold his construction company to a swindler and their family name was tarnished. So when an opportunity to restore a decommissioned lighthouse in the Outer Banks pops up, she decides to step out of her comfort zone.

But first she has to convince Finn O’Hare, the new owner Walt’s grandson, that she can handle the project.

As she works to restore the lighthouse, she also learns of mysteries surrounding the island, Walt’s past, and the former lighthouse keeper’s daughter, Cathleen McCorvey.

Will Joey and Finn be able to solve the mysteries surrounding Bleakpoint Island, all while developing feelings toward one another?

Cox does an incredible job of perfectly mixing romance, mystery and sentimentality, all while creating relatable characters. She also fills “Between the Sound and Sea,” which is due out Aug. 6, with some great themes, like the overwhelming theme of restoration; overcoming regret; don’t let fear be your guide (“When people are hurt and scared, they aren’t always able to reason through things well. They can’t see past the pain and fear”); and God is guiding us, even through the dark times.

Five stars out of five.

Revell provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Mystery, historical flashbacks, lighthouse restoration, regret, redemption, second-chances, faith and romance.
I enjoyed the slow reveal of Walt and Cay’s story and of the mystery of what happened to Cay and her father that long ago day. The little glimpses of the lighthouse restoration steps were interesting, as well as the history of the Outer Banks during WWII. Joey and Finn’s enemies to lovers was sweet.
“Because God meets us right where we’re at. And maybe things in our lives get broken down and beaten up along the way. The good news is restoration work is kind of His specialty.”
This ARC was provided through NetGalley by the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review, rating and opinions are my own.

This is the kind of book you either wish to read again or that stays with you for a few days after reading.
The characterisation is simply perfect - Joey, Finn and Walt.
The setting is 5 stars.
The prose and the plot 4 stars.
Themes 3.5 stars