All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes transports readers to Venice, Italy.  The author’s vivid language and descriptions make readers feel like they are a part of the unfolding mystery of the story. Set in two time periods, the story follows Sebastien Trovato, the legendary baby that was rescued from the river. But years later, Daniel Goodman travels to Venice to complete the story. He discovered a book, partially written, of Sebastien and seeks to unlock the mystery.

I am a fan of the author, and Whose Waves These Are is one of my favorites.  All the Lost Places brings the scenery and characters to life on the pages. Readers will fall in love with Daniel and his quest, especially when he meets the alluring yet quirky Vittoria, who joins Daniel to search for the missing book. My only issue was that I did find it hard to switch between time periods while reading, which usually doesn’t bother me. But the author’s characters and settings make me want to pack my bags and head to Venice.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes puts readers right on the front lines of WWI. The story is told with four main points of view. Matthew Petticrew faces the harsh realities of war when he’s assigned to the front lines for his unique ability to hear enemy fire before it hits. George Piccadilly tried to avoid the war by enrolling in school to become a chaplain, but somehow finds his way to the heart of the fighting. Journalist Henry Mueller sends updates back to America from the front lines, but finds himself teamed up with Matthew and George. They discover a mysterious woman in the forest of France and she needs their help. They trudge through the battle-scarred land to ensure her safety.

I love Amanda’s unique voice in story-telling. The story is rich and vibrant. She writes characters that come to life on the page. The plot is fast-paced, yet seeped with emotions. I loved every minute of the adventures this unlikely team faced and the camaraderie that was forged with the most unlikely people. The themes of hope and honor resonated with me, and I loved how each of the characters came into their own in the backdrop of an ugly and violent war.

Despite being more of a romance novel than suspense, there’s so much packed into this story about the war and survival that I found myself hooked! It’s not sappy or overdone with the romance, the story focuses more on individual growth and the unlikely relationships that form in this difficult time.

I highly suggest the audio book. I’m not usually one to like multiple narrators, but there were four or five in this version, and I thought they all did an outstanding job giving voice to each of the characters.

Definitely check out this novel. It might bring you to tears, but it’s an outstanding literary work that will have me thinking about it long after I put the book down.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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For fans of epic storytelling, split time periods, and a magical setting

Set the Stars Alight transports readers into an unbelievable setting, with incredible characters and an enchanting story.  Lucy Clairmont searches for a long-lost ship which disappeared centuries ago.  But she stumbles on so much more as she follows a trail of breadcrumbs her father left her in the form of fairy-tale-like stories.

Set in two time periods, the story weaves the tale of the past with Lucy’s modern day search. She winds up being led by Dashel, her long lost childhood love, to Stone’s Throw Farm to search for proof of the infamous shipwreck. Amanda Dykes has a powerful writing style that creates deep and meaningful characters. I loved Lucy’s struggle to find herself as she connects with a town and people seeped in mystery. I fell in love with Dash, his quirkiness and genius bringing out the best in Lucy. The stories, both past and present, are seeped in imagery and themes of love and sacrifice.

The combination of Dash and Lucy makes the story rich. She is a maritime archaeologist, and he is a forensic astronomer. Together they take their childhood stories and piece them together to understand the legend behind the missing ship, the Jubilee. Their connection is deep as the waters and sky they search.

I will add that this story isn’t a quick read. I love to read as I fall asleep at night, but I had to stay awake and pay attention to absorb every word for the story to come together in my mind. I’ll probably be re-reading this one someday as there’s so much meaning and imagery in every word. I 100% recommend this to fiction lovers who want to be immersed in a beautiful and intriguing tale.

Overall: 5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)
Suspense: 4 stars (lots of action and suspense to keep me intrigued)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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For fans of historical fiction, heart-warming tales and small town secrets

I’ll admit that I initially passed this book by due to my love of suspense, but I’ve seen so many great reviews that I decided to check it out.

Now it’s one of my favorite books that I’ve recommended to countless people.

The story revolves around several generations of the Bliss family. Two twin brothers, one gets called to war in WWII, and the other stays home. Annie Bliss, two generations later, heads back to her roots and tries to unravel the mystery of her great-uncle and the small town behind him.

“There’s light. Right there in the dark. Because of the dark.”

Whose Waves These Are

I’ve read that this is Amanda Dykes debut novel, but the story and writing are so phenomenal you’d think she’s been writing for decades. The author has an amazing way with words that draw you into the story and overwhelm all of your senses. Set in a small coastal town of Maine, the scenery and small-town characters creates a world I want to live in.

For true suspense fans, this might be a slower-paced novel, but lots of mystery surrounds Ansel-by-the-Sea which kept me intrigued. Years of secrets give readers plenty of mystery to unravel. Definitely check out Whose Waves These Are for a heart-warming, delightful read.

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