A Gathering of Light

by Amanda Dykes

Genres: Christmas, Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical

62 pages, ebook

Published December 22, 2020

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

[Alissa J. Zavalianos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to give Amanda all the stars. This short story brought me to tears. She has the ability to find wonder if every little thing, and the idea of evergreen trees soaking in light all year round, providing light even in the dark, moves me beyond measure. This story touched all the places in my heart, and I honestly think it’s my favorite short story I’ve ever read.

For those of you who have read Whose Waves These Are, please please please read this! It adds so much to the sweet town of Ansel-by-the-Sea.

[Jayna Baas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, sweet little story in the tradition of The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey—the transforming power of love to heal brokenhearted old codgers and grieving families. I enjoyed the nod to Robert and Eva. There were a lot of little typos in the version I read, but Amanda Dykes's lyrical writing shone through nonetheless. I'm so glad she shared this with her newsletter subscribers again this year!

[Faith Mathewson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! Everything Amanda writes is just so beautiful! She has such an incredible way of bringing light out of darkness.

And the little snippet of a scene with Eva and Robert? I love when stories like this make nods to characters in related stories—especially when it’s a scene like that 🥰

[Heather Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, as always.
Bonus points for Robert/Eva scene and the boat's concert. 😄

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fall in love with everything Amanda writes! It’s poetic and lyrical, deep and heartwarming, full of light and hope. Maggie’s Christmas story was truly beautiful, and I loved returning to Ansel (plus getting to see more of Robert & Eva!)!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet novelette that takes readers back to Ansel-by-the-Sea, the setting of Whose Waves These Are.

[Rochelle Saldaña · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly sweet Christmas story of love, healing, and the power of family.

[Jeanne Alfveby Crea · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEAUTIFUL short story of hope and healing by Amanda Dykes! It was so wonderful to visit Ansel-by-the-Sea again from Whose Waves These Are, my all time favorite book. Author Amanda Dykes has this amazing way of drawing the reader into her beautiful heartfelt and healing stories! I highly recommend anything written by Amanda Dykes.

[Emma Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Typically, when I think of a Christmas book, I usually picture a Hallmark patented, somewhat cheesy novel where the characters live care-free lives. But this- this is real. This is raw. This shows that although the story we write often has many errors, we can still have the happy ending that only seems possible in fairy tales.

I am so glad I waited until this year to read this lovely novella because it gave so much more meaning to the connections it has with two of her other novels.

I adored all the characters. Ms. Dykes portrays them in such a way that they are nearly impossible to dislike.

"But I learned a long time ago that sometimes fear is best handled – at least sometimes – by taking a step toward its source and seeing that source up closer."

[Janet Sketchley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart-warming novelette, beautifully written. I liked how it included an excerpt of what we needed to remember from Whose Waves These Are (I've read a lot of books since that one!) and also suggested what chapters of that book we could revisit for maximum appreciation of this one. If you don't have access to Whose Waves These Are, it won't matter if you don't have that deeper connection with the one relevant scene. But go find Whose Waves These Are anyway because it's a fantastic book.

[Velma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Amanda Dykes for providing her newsletter readers with this beautiful story. I have absolutely loved every story I have ever read by Amanda Dykes. The only word I can use to describe her lyrical writing is exquisite. This story pulled at my heart strings and had me wishing for more of the story. I loved returning back to Ansel-by-the-Sea, and the surprise glimpse of Robert and Eva was precious. This story shows how love can conquer all. I loved how Maggie and Angus' story was a story of love, but not in the romantic sense. It is reminiscent of the love story we have with Jesus. Again, thank you Amanda for your beautiful story and sharing your gift of the written word.

[Paula Shreckhise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful extra scene compatible with Yours is the Night by this author.
A lonely hermit and a widow with two children share a time together near Christmas and discover what makes up a true family.
Just right to read for Christmas. I love the lyrical way this author gives us word pictures. A heartwarming story.
*A complimentary copy if this ebook was provided by the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*

[Joan Arning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Gathering of Light is a touching novella of healing which is set in Ansel-by-the-Sea. The main characters, Maggie and her children and grumpy older Angus Krause have suffered losses in their past but learn to make a new family group. Amanda Dykes writes sensitive, caring stories. I recommend this novella to others.

[Heidi Gorecki · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to have an off shoot story between Whose Waves These Are and Yours is the Night. But I’ve re-read over the epilogue and last chapters of Yours is the Night a few times trying to find Maggie and it only talked about the 2 sons, even tho her age would put her at about 1919?

[Ellia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing short story! It choked me up a bit near the end because it's so sweet and touching. I loved that we got to see more of Robert and Eva in this! I also enjoyed the nod to "Yours is the Night." I'm so glad Amanda Dykes included this for her newsletter subscribers this year!

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Enjoyed returning to Ansel-by-the-Sea.

[Kailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful short story! I loved it!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story! Some laughter, some tears. I loved it.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet novelette by one of my favourite authors. She has a beautiful way with words.

[ᝰ.ᐟ ⓅⒶⒾⓈⓁⒺⓎ ᝰ.ᐟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `
➕ Absolutely enchanting.

[Claudette Kilby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely

[┊ ♡ Cordelia ♡┊ · Rating 5 out of 5]

┊ WHAT AN ENCHANTING STORY. THE WRITING STYLE IS BEAUTIFUL, AND THE STORY ITSELF REMINDS ME OF Silas Marner AND The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. ┊