Happy Publication Day to Between the Sound and Sea written by auto-buy author Amanda Cox! As its lovely cover hints, this story is set on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and features a (fictional) lighthouse, its imagined history, and the people of several generations who are drawn to it.
Told in dual timeline format with a strong sense of place, its complex characters deal with a host of issues including fractured family relationships, loss of reputation, dementia, and grief. The author is a professional counselor which enables her to craft their interactions realistically yet compassionately. I especially appreciated how she included one character's decades of regret about a relationship in his youth even after a long and happy marriage.
The search for home, both literal and philosophical, is a theme throughout, and the ways the title's symbolism is woven into the novel united the storylines. The subplots of faith, mystery, intrigue, and romance added interest and meaning. Just when I thought I knew where the plot was headed, the author surprised me in the best ways. I keep almost no novels after reading them, but Ms. Cox's books have a place of honor on my keeper shelf, and I'm thrilled to add Between the Sound and Sea to my collection.
Several times while reading this story, I was reminded of Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes. These novels are each unique but also in conversation in meaningful ways.
Thank you to Revell and NetGalley for the review copy of this novel perfect for summer reading.
Told in dual timeline format with a strong sense of place, its complex characters deal with a host of issues including fractured family relationships, loss of reputation, dementia, and grief. The author is a professional counselor which enables her to craft their interactions realistically yet compassionately. I especially appreciated how she included one character's decades of regret about a relationship in his youth even after a long and happy marriage.
The search for home, both literal and philosophical, is a theme throughout, and the ways the title's symbolism is woven into the novel united the storylines. The subplots of faith, mystery, intrigue, and romance added interest and meaning. Just when I thought I knew where the plot was headed, the author surprised me in the best ways. I keep almost no novels after reading them, but Ms. Cox's books have a place of honor on my keeper shelf, and I'm thrilled to add Between the Sound and Sea to my collection.
Several times while reading this story, I was reminded of Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes. These novels are each unique but also in conversation in meaningful ways.
Thank you to Revell and NetGalley for the review copy of this novel perfect for summer reading.