Whose Waves These Are

Whose Waves These Are #1

by Amanda Dykes

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 hands to work, but the building halts when tragedy strikes.

Decades later, Annie Sawyer 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.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Romance, Contemporary, Historical

364 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2019

About the author

Amanda Dykes 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. She's the winner of the 2020 Christy Award Book of the Year, a Booklist 2019 Top Ten title, and the winner of an INSPY award for her debut novel, Whose Waves These Are. She’s also the author of Set the Stars Alight (a Christy Award finalist), Yours is the Night (recipient of the Kipp Award), All the Lost Places (starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Foreword), and three novellas. Find her online at amandadykes.com.

Reviews

[Melissa Tagg · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHY CAN'T I GIVE THIS TEN STARS? Or twenty or thirty or basically ALL the stars ever. This is hands-down one of the best books I've ever read. Like, EVER. I love it so much there's no way I can review it intelligently right now, so I'll come back later and try to somehow do it justice in a longer review but for now...I am spoiled for all other books. For real. I finished it Saturday morning and haven't been able to pick up another book since! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

UPDATE: Literally for weeks (months?) I've been trying to figure out how to write an actual review for this book...versus the paragraph of gushing I did previously. And I really don't think I'm any closer to being able to write a review that does justice to Whose Waves These Are. Instead, I'll just list some of the things I loved:

-The writing. It's just plain gorgeous. It is! I told a friend as I was reading it that it felt wild and free...I wish I could explain what exactly I mean by that. But it's completely unencumbered and lilting and just beautiful.

-The characters - obviously! I mean, that should be a given, I guess. If I don't like the characters, I won't like the book, no matter how well-written or how well-plotted. But there's something extra special about these characters. Robert Bliss...oh my goodness, have I ever read such a heart-tugging character? Annie Bliss...so very relatable. Jeremiah...I think I'm basically just in love with him. (That moment when he writes on his shirt... 😍😍😍)

-Ansel-by-the-Sea - it's cute and charming and quirk and believable and everything I want in a setting that's as much a character as the people are.

-The history. The story of the rocks. The creativity of it all! Honest-to-goodness just in awe of how the various threads of this story laced together to form one all-encompassing, emotional, poignant, at times heart-wrenching and other times heart-warming story. This story made me cry multiple times...and while I'll admit that sometimes I'm a bit of an easy cry when it comes to good books, this one is beyond "good" and my crying went far beyond a few tears. :)

Yeah, so basically I'm still gushing! This is truly one of the best books I've ever read and I know I'll reread it many times. Cannot wait to see what comes next from Amanda Dykes!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

“These are the waves that have brought her home. To these people, this place…and to life.”

Well, I did it. I closed the final page of Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes, and it happened. I hugged the book. Now, this may seem silly, but it’s just a thing I do, have always done. If, and only if, I connected to a book on a heart and soul level. I’ve read three of Dykes’ novellas, and they were so good, so I admit I had high hopes for her debut novel. My expectations were blown away. Lyrical and poetic, whimsical and full of heart, this story had me captivated from the first page.

Whose Waves These Are is one of those novels that defies genre a bit. It’s contemporary, but not too recent. It’s also historical, a bit romantic, a bit whimsical, yet full of depth and emotion. The dual timeline spans decades and generations of the same family, intermingling stories together in a seamless fashion that had me engaged in both time periods. The story is quite layered, but I never felt overwhelmed by it. Dykes deftly ties each piece of the story together in a way that is pure joy to read. I loved getting to know these characters, these friends, Annie, Jeremiah, and Bob. Their stories are tragic, triumphant, and messy, full of that real-life-ness that all good characters need to make them shine.

Sometimes a setting takes on a character-like quality, and that’s how I feel about Ansel-by-the-Sea. With the quaint locales and quirky, endearing residents who have found respite by the sea, it’s a restful, whimsical place of history and a simpler time. The author’s descriptions are gorgeous, painting a beautiful picture of this place and its inhabitants.

Whose Waves Are These celebrates and commemorates life. It reminds the reader of the power of story. We all have one, and there’s power in sharing our own story and listening to that of others. Truly my words are inadequate to describe the beauty and magic I found while reading this story. It is a favorite of the year, and I am so excited to read whatever Amanda Dykes pens next. Highly recommended!

The prequel novella, Up From the Sea, is offered as a free ebook. It’s a lovely little story all it’s own and sets the stage nicely for this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher for review purposes. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness this book tore at my heartstrings. I have not read Ms. Dykes before, but I will definitely read any book she writes from now on, as soon as it comes out. This book had me crying before I was even halfway done, which is not a good sign of what is to come and how many tissues I will be using. Just for the record, I resorted to paper towels by the end of the book.

This is the story of identical twins Roy and Bob Bliss and their bond with the ocean off the coast of Maine. With Roy going off to fight in WWII it is up to Bob to stay back to "take care of the family" as Roy and Jennie are expecting the next generation of Bliss. But when tragedy strikes, it is up to Bob to show the light home and help those who have lost. With the pen of a little poem, Bob starts what spans decades and helps to heal those who have lost. With the help of his love Eva, and then his nephew, William, Bob almost completes his task until one fateful night. When Bob falls ill, it is up to his great-niece, Annie, to come back and discover the mystery, history, and loving meaning behind this light home.

This was a wonderful book to read. I would say it is my favorite of this year. I would highly recommend it to other readers.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers for this advanced copy. Review and all opinions are my own.

[Jayna Baas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The word that came to mind when I finished this story was beautiful, and that's still the case as I write this. The themes, the imagery, the truth, the emotion, the writing. Sorrow and hope, darkness and light, pain and healing. So many layers and emotions. I wanted to rush through it and find out what happened, but I made myself slow down and savor it. Once I got used to the third-person present-tense narrative style, I really enjoyed it. The almost omniscient feel fit the storytelling style of the book. The only times it jarred me were when a verb slipped into past tense for no apparent reason.

I rarely engage with both timelines of a dual-timeline book, but in this case, it would be hard to say which storyline I liked more. And the characters. Robert, Roy, Eva, Annie, Sully, Ed, William—and Jeremiah. I don't think I've ever enjoyed a silent, enigmatic hero as much as I enjoyed Jeremiah. There was no annoying "man of mystery" drama, and while it was obvious that he had a painful past, his heart was even more obvious, evidenced in the most caring, unexpected ways. Following Annie with a bucket of gravel. Writing on his shirt. Being the first to see the sunrise. I loved his gentle teasing and his tendency to "blurt first, explain later," as Annie puts it. The romance hit high on my list of favorites. Slow, gentle, a friendship that gradually developed and deepened and kept on deepening.

Speaking of romance, this might seem a small thing, but it spoke volumes to me about Robert's character: his response when Jenny married his brother. Instead of continuing to moon over his brother's wife, he chose to love by letting go and determined to cultivate a brotherly affection for Jenny, even though it hurt. And he succeeded. It was a great example of doing the right thing and making your feelings follow. Is it possible to love a book for all the places it didn't go? There were times when I thought, Oh no, that's going to be a really irritating relationship arc. Oh no, this is going to be an awkwardly romantic scene. Oh no, that's going to turn into a mystery that we already know the answer to. Oh no… But none of those fears came true! It made me so happy to be wrong! Yes, some things were sad, but not without hope. Never without hope.

But what I loved most was how Christ was woven throughout the story. Christian fiction doesn't have to have a salvation scene to point people to the Redeemer. The Christian message was never preachy, it was just so there. Christ is our Light, our Rock, our Hope. As Roy says, "Life is big. And God is bigger." This book reminded me of who my God is and what He's done for me. That's what made Whose Waves These Are truly beautiful, and that's why it continues to linger in my mind. I will definitely read more by Amanda Dykes, and I highly recommend this!

[Sarah Sundin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book everyone will talk about all year—lyrical, lovely, full of heart and heartache, secrets kept and revealed. These characters, this town, and their stories will seep into your soul and leave you wanting more. A novel of hope and reconciliation you won’t forget for a long time, probably not forever.

[Rachel McMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

from endorsement:

With a gorgeously inimitable voice, Dykes sets herself apart with a debut novel as timeless as its themes of redemption and everlasting love. I dare you not to be swept into a yarn of age-old tales and seaside secrets deftly penned by a lyrical pen that pliantly shifts between contemporary and historical frames. Romantic, spell-binding and wonderfully unique, Dykes’ sense of setting and emotional resonance are nearly unparalleled. A book world to be savoured and returned to again and again.

[Alysha (For The Love of Christian Fiction) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[Sarah Monzon · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread Nov 2022 - “…and watch as the Light shines in a dance, a light pattern all its own…” The audio of this is just wonderful. And the story….it never fails to renew hope within me and breathe life to my soul no matter how often I read it. There is light within these pages…reminding us of Home and the One Who is ever walking by our side, through even the roughest waves. When you know Whose waves these are…hope is so much the easier. 💛

***

This book, y'all. Oh my stars, I loved every single bit of it! I loved the characters, especially Annie. And all her uncertainty, grief, fears, and fierce desire to do right by her beloved Uncle Bob. Her journey to understanding her own story by searching out her uncle's was just lovely. I loved Ansel-by-the-Sea and all the people who populated it, especially Jeremiah Fletcher. Discovering his story bit by tiny bit alongside of Annie was delightful as well! I loved the backstory which took place during WWII. I loved the finely held tension that gripped me as I was sucked into this amazing story of love and all that people will do in honor of it. Love is so multifaceted and Ms. Dykes delves into several of those facets here. From family relationships, to romances, to friendships, to grief, ah all the emotions are here, people! I was fully invested in both storylines going on (past and present) and couldn't wait to get back to each one. I held my breath so many times hoping what I foresaw wasn't going to be true or hoping it would. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! :)

Ms. Dykes' writing just flows so beautifully and I kept having to pause and reread glorious sentences that made me look twice. Her lyrical way of writing perhaps won't be for everyone, but I am definitely a fan! This story is simply worth checking out and I don't think you'll be disappointed. There's a depth here that you need to dive into for yourself, trust me.

[Sharon Loves to Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

"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." (Author's Note p. 358)

Amanda Dykes is a fabulous story teller. When she created Whose Waves These Are, she created a story that drew me in in almost every way possible. Her use of language was beautiful; the characters were authentic and deep; the story was heart wrenching, poignant, and redemptive; and the faith elements were foundational yet not didactic. I can honestly say that it was one of the best books I have read in a while. (I have been doing a LOT of rereading this year, in part because of not finding a lot of new options that have satisfied. This one definitely satisfied.😊)

My reasons for 4.5 versus 5⭐? I felt the pacing was a bit slow in the beginning. It took me a fourth of the book (maybe less) to feel totally invested. I also felt that the "falling in love" happened super fast. In one month's time, 2 characters were "in love", and per the epilogue, were already married within 10 months of the end of the book. A bit of a whirlwind, and despite me really rooting for their relationship, I wish the author had indicated that more time had passed to help me feel it was more realistic. Also, one character is known for having a temper, but I don't think I remember ever seeing an example of it.🤔

Piddly things compared to the wonderful story told within these pages. Highly recommended!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so this book is so amazing that it gets ten stars. However, the writing style is maddening at times, especially the verb tenses and the past/present hops even within the same paragraph. I almost DNFed it. So I have to cut the rating in half...and it’s still.....five stars! 🤣

I’ve read Amanda Dykes before, and because of how well I like her novellas I was willing to push beyond the 25% mark where frankly the writing style was driving me batty. After about 30% it smooths out a bit and I was able to get in a rhythm of the present tense. I really couldn’t put it down after that. The suspense of what’s going on in present, the fun of watching Annie connect and find a family of sorts in the town and with the friends of her beloved Grandbob (her great-uncle Bob).

You WILL need a box of Kleenex at your elbow when you read this one. You’ll be weeping over folks in the story and over all the heartache and all the hope...trust me, this book is just overflowing with emotion! Friendship, brotherhood, romance, love and loss—and that STORM at the end...WOW.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

[Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first word I thought of to describe the vibe of this book is otherworldly. Not in a sci-fi way, but in a beautiful hazy way like waking up and remembering what you just dreamed. The historical and contemporary stories are woven together and draw curiosity out of the reader as layers of the plot and characters are revealed and new questions arise. There is heartbreak that is inevitable from the war-time era, but healing and growth as well. The strength of Robert, Roy, their family, and the community members of Ansel is evident and I felt like Annie- like I don't quite belong but I want to because it feels like home. Her journey of discovery is lovely as her heart turns more fully to her family and really knowing them and what drives them, their motivations, their past. I loved the way the elements of the story worked together to bring a satisfying conclusion to the book.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched time-split novel that will pull on your heartstrings .
Pub Date 30 Apr 2019 .
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Gray Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

~Read full review on my blog here: https://graymariewrites.blogspot.com/... ~

WOW. Wow, wow, wow, wow,,,, just WOW. 😭😍😍😍

I'm not usually a fan of historical novels, but I decided to give this one a try, and I'm so thankful I did!

With a beautiful writing voice and an even more beautiful plot, Amanda makes a promising debut with this heartwarming tale.

The characters: Lovely, real, and likable.
The plot: Will bring tears to your eyes.
The setting: Breathtaking.

The contemporary part is set in 2009 and brought me back to the world of flip phones, which was super nostalgic. It's also historical with just a hint of romance. Full of heart and whimsy, this tale will draw you into its depths easily.

The two timeline stories are written and tied seamlessly together in such an effortless and beautiful way, it's also easy to keep up with and written at an enjoyable pace.

This book brought tears to my eyes, it broke my heart and then put it back together again, Whose Waves These Are is a MUST read.

I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with this sweet village on the coast of Maine and the lovely characters who lived there.

[Andrea Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and won a paperback copy on Goodreads. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.

If I’m going to weep this much, it better be a five-star story!

Wow. The romance in these pages… I don’t mean the boy-meets-girl kind (although that was spectacular and sweet too). I’m talking about the romance between humans and nature… the call of the Rock of Ages upon our souls… the way these characters bridged pain and time and broken vessels to find healing in the One Who controls the raging sea… This book and the heartbreaking (and heart-healing) stories it shares are the most romantic story I’ve read all year (surpassing its own sequel, Up From the Sea, which was my previous most-romantic and favorite story of this calendar year [2019]).

In the early pages, I really struggled with the present-tense verbs. This did not follow the tone set with the prequel (another five-star read!). However, though I think Mrs. Dykes shines better with past-tense verbs as used in her previous novellas, this story (bevy of stories, really) washed me away with the full force of hurricane-sized waves. My eyes kept leaking, flooding, the farther in I got. These characters, the town, the heart behind it all… They broke me open upon the rocks and stitched me back together with the mortar of complex plot, gentle yet fierce hope, and the Light that offers the greatest peace.

I might be a landlubber, but this story somehow still felt like a long-awaited homecoming.

I’m definitely eager to read whatever story next leaps from the pen of Mrs. Amanda Dykes.

Content: one profane word (most don’t consider it to be one, but by origin and current definition, it is)

[Christine Indorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

After this book received book for the year at the Christy award I had to see what this book was all about? I do not like dual time period books, which this one is. At first I wasn't so sure but this book is wonderful. It never leaves you confused and the book explains the characters so well that you will follow right along and really understand where this book is trying to lead you. The books takes place around WWll and about 10 years after the war and then it takes you to 2001. Each characters in this book is so well written that you feel like you know them personally. The story is just beautiful. Rob loosing his brother to war, he feel likes he needs to make a lighthouse in his honor. In 2001, Anne, Rob grand niece, comes back to Maine to help when your great uncle falls sick. Both story lines have you enthralled. The ending is amazing. Will Anne fall in love with Jeremy? Will they ever build and use the lighthouse, will Anne father ever come back to the family? I can see why Whose Waves These Are won best book of the year at the Christy. I feel honored to have been able to read this great work. I am looking forward to reading more of Amanda Dykes works. Five stars and I highly recommend this read!!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, wow. I don't know that I have words eloquent enough to follow such a masterpiece of a novel. And my vision is still blurred, my eyes stinging. But I must say . . . something . . . even if it is only to implore you to open the pages of this beautiful book and see for yourself - there is magic here. Truly. I loved every moment of this reading experience. This book raises the bar for Christian Publishing, and I applaud that. Whose Waves These Are is one not to be missed.
Highly recommended. Do yourself a favor and read this story!!
Well, well, done, Ms. Dykes. Next, please!

[Lacey Yoder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book !! definitely recommend!!!🥰😊

[Jacquelyn 💐 {This Rapunzel Reads} [Jesus Christ, my Living Hope] · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hooked me from the beginning and pulled me in. Waves are so beautiful and I love being at the beach and on the shore! Even though I’m not a huge fan of boats or sailing, this book grabbed my attention and pulled on my heart strings! This book was extraordinary and beautiful! Oh my goodness! Jeremiah Fletcher is a character! 😂 I fell in love with him almost instantly! Annie was great too! Jeremiah and Annie combined were wonderful and just perfect for each other! Robert and Eva dancing on the snow dusted sidewalk. *happy sigh* It was just perfect! I loved the story about the rocks and the meaning behind it! It was fascinating! I was so excited for Robert and Eva! I also really enjoyed Liesl and Luka’s part in the story! I loved the scene with Spencer pushing Bob in the wheelchair! Ahh, the ending was absolutely perfect! I loved it! Amanda Dykes is very good at describing! I felt like I was there the whole, watching, feeling, hurting, living and loving. Beautiful, Beautiful story! Another stunningly breathtaking story by Amanda Dykes! 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Quotes I liked: (And there’s a lot once again! 😂)

🌊 There's a piano on the wall by the door, and sandwiched between bookshelves, her window seat. It had been her ship, taking her to a thousand shores those hours she lost herself in books when she was too afraid to step on a real boat. But Bob had coaxed her even from that fear, eventually. Mostly.

🌊 "Hey," she says. "I'm not the one who's late here." “Nope," the man says, arms crossing in front of his gray-and-white baseball T-shirt. "I'd say you were about two hours too early." Indignation rises in her, and she clambers up until she's standing right in front of him, arms folded to match his. "You heard me?"
He shrugs. “You could've said something." “Didn't think you'd hear me above all that hollering you were doing with that shawl thing around you." His mouth pulls up on one side into a dimpled half smile.

🌊 "Just... try not to break my boat?" He nods at her fists, which grip the railing for dear life, despite the smile she's plastered on.

🌊 If she asked the right questions, the other person would talk, and talk, and talk. And she could listen. She fell in love with listening, marveled at the magic of the things she found out, just by asking a few questions. Treasures buried in every conversation.

🌊 And there on the banks of the Charles-with the soldiers and girls all jitterbugging in a dance hall across the city— the fisherman slowly, perhaps not so smoothly, but deliberately, pulls the woman close in his sea-hewn arms. When she, in her grease-streaked dress, places a hand on his un-uniformed shoulder, it feels for all the world as if she's given him some medal of honor. And they dance. Snow-dusted sidewalk for a dance floor, stolen strains of music coming in snatches on the December wind.

🌊 She turns her back on Robert and starts to lift his jacket from her shoulders. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he leans forward ever so slightly. “Keep it," he says. He has no need of it, not when she's given him something that brought far more warmth tonight. “I will," she says. "For a time. I'll find you, Robert Bliss."

🌊 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. “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking
sand...” Words reaching through her dark, gripping truths she could not see. On the cliff top he continues until his arms are full of rocks. This gathering up makes no sense, and yet it makes all the sense in the world. It's an urging-on so strong and sure, he cannot dream of resisting. And so he continues, stone by stone, memory by memory. Each one a weaving of light, of rock, of sacrifice and strength, until he can carry no more.

🌊 “It is as my husband used to say, just what our Yeshua did for us, giving life through His death. And we wish to honor His life with ours."

🌊 He would never forget the impression of that voice on his heart. It was the voice of the man who, king of the universe, stooped to wash His own disciples' earth-crusted feet. Who rubbed spit into dirt and used the mud to make a blind man see. Whose royal day of birth was enrobed in dust, right there with the animals in a barn. That man was accustomed to doing great things in humble places, and it usually involved dirt. Or rocks, as it were. The same God who told a solitary man to build a boat to prepare for a flood when no one had so much as seen a drop of water fall from the sky in all their lives.

🌊 "Stand here" —he puts his hands on her shoulders, places her at the bow-"and you'll be the first person in our entire country to be touched by that light when it comes up."

🌊 Don't miss the sunrise too much. I mean, I know you love your sleep, but just once in a while, would you meet the new day for me? Meet it. Be the first one to see it, if you're feeling really crazy. And remember that it's not over yet. This beautiful, messy, hard, glorious life is not over for you, and I'm so thankful. The world needs you, Fletch. I'll be waiting for you, sitting in the light of a different Son. And He'll meet you at sunrise, even when I can't.

🌊 "This is why you come out here every day."
He nods. "To keep a promise." Of course. The sunrise. Her heart soars and shatters at the same time— for him to move clear to the far corner of the country, just to be closer to the sunrise. To be the man who first greets it each day, all for a love like this...

🌊 P.S. —Fletch. I mean it about the laughter. When you find someone who can laugh right into you and who sees every layer of you and loves you, you'd better promise to not let her go. It's going to happen. It's easier than you think to fall in love with Jeremiah Fletcher.
I should know. So don't let her go, okay? Promise me that, too. Go get her.

🌊 Spencer looks at the steep incline and back at the wheelchair. Without missing a beat, he plants his Oxfords in the slick mud and begins to push.

🌊 Here, in the middle of the dark abyss with no land in sight, the Rock of Ages offers himself to her.

🌊 These are the waves that have brought her home. To these people, this place... and to life.

🌊 The strength of the storm does not change whose waves these are. There is One mightier still.

[Joleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow, wow! What a beautiful book. Had I been alone I would've been weeping. But I was in a waiting room working hard to not let the tears flow. Later at home, when it came to several chapters before the ending, I let loose. Good cleansing cry, not an ugly one.

Did I say this was beautiful? Stunningly beautiful! Oh, and Amanda Dykes has a true gift. Phenomenal word pictures so original that I had to smile.

Long grasses and weeds brush against Annie's knees, as if whispering hush...hush...in sacred anticipation.

Ms. Dykes' faith woven throughout the storylines was so far beyond throwing in an occasional verse or prayer to attain the Christian Fiction title. This author knows the Savior so intimately she can't help but have Him center stage, working in the characters' lives.

It came from a place of being held. A place where God gathered up all of me in my brokenness in a time of deepest grief and just closed His grip around me tight, holding me close to His heart. There in the dark was a pair of nail-scarred, love etched hands that stopped to gather up and tend each broken piece, His heart aching right with mine. Hands and heart whose way is to cherish, to take that brokenness and somehow, with tenderness and strength, summon forth light. Hope.

A book has to be exceptional for me to re-read it, but that's what I'm going to do before I return it to Overdrive!

I wasn't a fan of present tense verbs throughout, but it was not going to make my star-rating go down. Nope, too good a book for that.

I absolutely recommend this to anyone. Tremendous love, courage, tenderness and healing.

Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He said he loves you, that it'll be all right, that life is big . . . and God is bigger."

"Whose Waves These Are" clears generational speed bumps with the ease of a stallion; its poetic prose is enchanting, the spiritual depth and metaphorical descriptions compelling the most seasoned of readers to take pause.

Using the lives of twin brothers as a foundation stone, the author builds her story; and it's a story like none other, for Robert and Roy Bliss are unparalleled. Their lives diverge from the tiny town of Ansel by the Sea when the call for war beckons one and not the other. In the end, or it could be viewed as the beginning, it's grief that completes what life could not accomplish.

Years later, a granddaughter reappears in the tiny Maine town, apparently her beloved GrandBob needs her. As Annie Bliss uncovers the fascinating layers of her family history, she learns that "every wave . . . is a story" and "there's a whole lotta light . .. when the Lord makes His face to shine upon Thee"; yet, Annie can only wonder what kind of stories the waves will write for her.

"Build".

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

[Toni Shiloh · Rating 4 out of 5]

*sigh* Whose Waves These Are is a book like no other. From the style of writing to the content on the pages. I was enthralled from chapter one and was compelled to continue. I just had to know how the story unfolded and see if the characters would get their happily ever after. I never thought I'd say this, but they all got something better than a HEA, hope.

I will be reading Ms. Dykes in the future.

[Jocelyn Green]

A lovingly woven tale. Climb into these pages and be buoyed by this story’s journey, alternately rocked and lulled by its waves. Full of heart and poetry, Amanda Dykes proves why she is such a beloved voice in lyrical fiction.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

In lyrical prose, Amanda Dykes invites us to visit the Maine coastal world of GrandBob, Fletch, Eva, Roy, Jenny, and so many 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 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.”

[Kellyn Roth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I really did. But ... I got so bored in the modern parts. I honestly remember nothing about them, and I skim-read to the end.

I didn't like it much at first, and the writing style was too melodic for me. I also felt that the POV wasn't well-managed, and I'm not a fan of present tense. I feel like only The Hunger Games really did it well.

Plus, present tense in the "flashback" scenes was just ... frustrating. Like, y'all, the past is in the past, right? *my brain does not equate*

I was just ... disinterested. In the modern setting. In the "quaint" little town. In the characters' emotional arcs. In anything that wasn't related to the historical story arc.

I found that I couldn't care less about Annie. She had the typical boring Hallmark story - she just didn't interest me.

I didn't like Jeremiah much at first, but I did once I got to know him, after which I found him somewhat sweet - but not enough that I was particularly interested in his story beyond the moment of, "Aw, that's too bad." Still, he had a sweet moment or two.


The story that started in the 1940s onward was fascinating and emotional and ... awesome. I loved the characters. Robert, Eva, and Liesl were my favorites! Especially Eva. Eva is the literal bomb.

However, that wasn't enough for me to give this book a high rating, so I settled on 3/5 stars.

[Natalie Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this one in paperback but I got distracted and set it down. A couple of months later I decided to listen to the audio version and I'm so glad I finished this story. First, the audio is FANTASTIC! The narrator did a phenomenal job with the accents and just gave this already great story the perfect amount of flavor to really hit it out of the park. This story has great impact and I grew emotional three times but only because I was so touched by the characters and plot. Such a beautiful story.

[Celestria]

Dnf on page 190

I'm sorry to everyone who loves this book, but I'm not gonna finish this one. I recognize that Amanda Dykes is a talented author and I'm in LOVE with this cover, but it's just not for me, I'm kinda bored and I don't care enough to see how it ends. Probably won't try any of her other books either.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda Dyke’s voice is as powerful as the waves and as deep as the ocean in Whose Waves These Are.

...full review/endorsement to come! Add this to your Goodreads!

[✝✝ Ⓓaisy ❣ ✝✝ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried but this book and writing style wasn't my cup of tea!