With powerful authenticity and deep realism, author Amanda Cox takes readers on an emotional and highly compelling journey to discovering the true meaning of family and finding true love in her debut novel, The Edge of Belonging. This time-slip novel follows the present-day storyline of Ivy Rose Lashley as the death of her grandmother leads to answers about the mysterious circumstances of Ivy’s adoption many years earlier. The second storyline takes readers back to 1994 when Ivy was born and how decisions made by a homeless man named Harvey change Ivy’s young life forever.
This extraordinary novel demonstrates how our family is the people who love us, not necessarily those who are related to us by blood. I absolutely loved everything about this book! The last 25% of the book had me in tears and touched me so profoundly like no other book has done in a long time. Even though The Edge of Belonging deals with some heavy topics, the romance in the novel balances out the storyline perfectly. Reese, Ivy’s childhood friend, is one of my favorite characters in the novel, and I know readers will fall in love with him, just like I did.
The Edge of Belonging is highly recommended for fans of dual timeline novels, women’s fiction, and readers who enjoy contemporary romance. The Edge of Belonging is sure to be on my top ten list of books for 2020.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
PAULA'S REVIEW:
Amanda Cox tells an exquisite tale of finding home and family. The story is about Ivy Rose and is told from two perspectives. Present day Ivy yearns to know her beginnings. In flashbacks we see baby Ivy from her first day. Four seemingly diverse people are brought together by a tiny baby.
This is an achingly beautiful story of growing faith and living out the love of Christ despite difficulties. The characters are real and relatable. They have their flaws but Ms. Cox shows us that compassion can bring healing. We struggle along with Miri, Thom, Harvey and Pearl as they battle their own inner demons and rejoice when they find their purpose again.
This is an exceptional debut novel. I will be glad to read another offering from Amanda Cox. * I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*I give this 5 stars. Strong faith thread.
BackCover Blurb:
When Ivy Rose returns to her hometown to oversee her late grandmother's estate sale, she soon discovers that the woman left behind more than trinkets and photo frames--she provided a path to the truth behind Ivy's adoption. Shocked, Ivy seeks clues to her past, but a key piece to the mystery is missing.
Twenty-four years earlier, Harvey James finds an abandoned newborn who gives him a sense of human connection for the first time in his life. His desire to care for the baby runs up against the stark fact that he is homeless. When he becomes entwined with two people seeking to help him find his way, Harvey knows he must keep the baby a secret or risk losing the only person he's ever loved.
In this dual-timeline story from debut novelist Amanda Cox, the truth--both the search for it and the desire to keep it from others--takes center stage as Ivy and Harvey grapple with love, loss, and letting go.
About the Author:
Amanda Cox is a blogger and a curriculum developer for a national nonprofit youth leadership organization, but her first love is communicating through story. She holds a bachelor's degree in Bible and theology and a master's degree in professional counseling. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. Amanda lives in Tennessee with her husband and their three children.
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