(Inspirational Contemporary Fiction with History and Mystery at a North Carolina Lighthouse)
REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Regret is a strange animal, son. It makes you create alternate realities inside your head with hindsight as your guide."
Regret was a shadow leaning heavily over Finnegan Walter (Walt) O'Hare's shoulders, much like the ghosts rumored to be meandering among the ruins of the Bleakpoint Light. It was time he did something about it, and so he did . . . Walt purchased the entire island that was home to the historic lighthouse and proceeded to convince his grandson Finn that hiring a project manager to oversee its restoration was a wise use of his money (Finn wasn't exactly convinced, but after all . . . it was Walt's money). When Joey (Josephina) Harris shows up to interview for the position, Walt gets the feeling that life's greatest blessings can seldom be planned.
Joey Harris needs as much of a do-over as the lovely, dilapidated old lighthouse along the coastline of North Carolina's Outer Banks. Due to an unfortunate case of guilt by association, her event planning business in the quaint town of Cooper Creek, Tennessee is all but destroyed. With a construction business background, Joey has the skills that Finn and Walt need, but will they trust her to handle what seems to be a very personal endeavor for Walt. His childhood memories of the island and the young light keeper's daughter seem both wonderful and terrible, leaving Joey to wonder if the island was capable of giving up its secrets.
"It was a dark and stormy night . . ."
Who hasn't felt like a barrier island at one time or another, constantly shifted by the sands of time . . . caught between the storms of the sea and the refuge of the sound . . . feeling alone, misunderstood, and forgotten. Just as you finish this story, don't be surprised if it begins all over again while the implications of restoration, reunion, and remembering settle deep within your heart. There's hope to be found on this island, along with the everlasting promise that, "You keep track of all my sorrows, You have collected all my tears in your bottle, You have recorded each one in your book". Psalm 56:8
Wonderful, complex characters . . . wonderful, unique setting . . . wonderful, inspiring life lessons . . . wonderful, wonderful book!
*I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. I also purchased a copy. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
KIM'S REVIEW:
I really enjoyed Between the Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox. As with all of her books, this story is full of wonderful main and secondary characters and an interesting and well developed storyline. It also has a sweet romance, which I loved.
Joey and Finn were my favorite characters. I really liked their relationship and how it developed. All of the secondary characters were wonderful and added so much depth to the story. I felt that the mystery surrounding the lighthouse and what happened there so many years ago was interesting and I loved how things turned out in the end. The epilogue was the icing on the cake! I love epilogue’s that are set a bit into the future so we can see what our main characters are up to.
I was pulled into this story from the very first page and my interest was held until the very end.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. The faith thread is light.
PAULA'S REVIEW:
“I would like to uncover forgotten bits of history, the stories that most people don’t know and save them from being lost to time.” A noble ambition from a young character in this well conceived story.
This was an absorbing tale of determination and finding true home. Walt, at near 80, is still haunted by the girl he knew on the Outer Banks before WWII. He wants to restore the lighthouse that she and her father operated before tragedy struck. His grandson Finn is being protective and hires Joey Harris to be the project manager and watch out for Walt. She finds fascinating records in the lighthouse and is intrigued by their history.
With a persuasive voice, the author takes us on a journey of discovery by the characters as they resolve issues with reconciliation and have their faith strengthened as they realize where home really is. “I’m sure going backward is never the answer. We learn what we can from the hard times and keep on moving forward.”
This was a satisfying story that shows what home is and the connections that make a family.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House on behalf of the author and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*5 stars and a solid faith thread.
BackCover Blurb:
Every family has its secrets. Josephina Harris wouldn't mind if her family still had a few of their own after a lawsuit tarnishes their name. When an opportunity opens to become a temporary keeper of a decommissioned lighthouse on a North Carolina island, she jumps at the chance to escape her small town to oversee its restoration.
As the work begins, "Joey" discovers strange notes tucked deep in the crevices of the old stone walls--pages torn from a lighthouse keeper's log signed by someone named Mae who recounts harrowing rescues at sea. Fascinated by a woman lighthouse keeper, Joey digs into the past only to discover there's never been a record of a lighthouse keeper by that name.
When things start to go amiss on the island, locals are convinced that it is the ghost of the lighthouse keeper and his daughter who were lost at sea during World War II. As Joey sifts through decades of rumors and legends and puts together the pieces of the past, what emerges is a love story--one that's not over yet.
Multiple Christy Award winner Amanda Cox is your guide upon the raging seas of young love, heartbreaking loss, and learning to risk it all for a chance at happiness in this timeless novel.
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