What an absolutely beautiful story this was with just the right blend of history, romance and mystery... all with a fantastic coastal setting. I couldn't help but be drawn right into this intriguing story. As the story begins, Joey takes on a job to restore an old historical lighthouse Walt---an elderly man who has his own past with the lighthouse that are a mystery to his grandson Finn. As they start the project, she discovers some old notes and unlocks an old mystery. The mystery is definitely the star of the show in this story, and truly was very wonderfully done with bits and pieces revealed just enough to keep me reading on. I enjoyed seeing how it all would play out. We are given glimpses into the past, weaving the story together perfectly. Admittedly, Finn didn't seem like a character that I was going to like at the beginning, but the more that we get to know him and see his reasons for his actions, I found myself coming around and loved him with Joey. Truly, every single character in this story was so wonderfully written that I couldn't help but love them all. It was a beautiful story of restoration with great messages of faith and one that fans of Christian fiction are sure to want to experience for themselves.

**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Another winner by Amanda Cox! Though the first couple of chapters feel a bit disjointed, they are ultimately setting the stage, introducing the major players in our story and Ms. Cox brings them all together beautifully before the story ends. The main characters in this book are Joey/Josephina Harris, who is struggling with being an outcast in the town where she grew up, and Walt O'Hare, who is attempting to right some wrongs from several decades past, along with his grandson Finn, who doesn't understand his grandpa's new pet project. When Joey answer's Walt's ad to help restore a lighthouse on an island in the Outer Banks, she finds there is more to this project than meets the eye.

This book is very character driven, with a great deal of character growth and development. The characters are very likable and relatable though and you can't help but cheer them on. Though I tend to prefer plot driven over character-driven stories, this one still earns a full 5 stars due to the added mystery elements and plot points surrounding how the past impacts the present. Though this was not a dual timeline story, Walt's memories of his childhood friend whose dad was the lighthouse keeper play a prominent role and there are some journal entries that give some insight into the past as well. As that is the element I like best about dual timeline stories, I enjoyed that element of this story as well. The faith thread in this one was subtle, but present in the 2nd half of the book. Though there are themes of forgiveness and second chances throughout the story. And there was a strong focus on family in this book - both biological and "found" family elements that were thoroughly enjoyable. And I enjoyed that the story had a happy ending for all parties involved. All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable story and one I would recommend to fans of any genre of inspirational fiction. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

**Thank you to Revell publishing and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts are entirely my own.**

I really enjoyed Between the Sound and Sea! It wasn’t super busy plot-wise, but the characters were AMAZING! I loved them all. They were all super unique and had unique voices to match. It is multi-POV, but this book is an excellent example of multi-POV done well. Amanda Cox made sure each of the characters had very distinct voices, so I didn’t get confused or bored reading any character’s sections.

I really loved the mystery as well! It was very atmospheric, and it was written really well. I loved the faith aspects as well; they were deep and intentional. I find a lot of novels labelled as Christian often throw faith aspects in that are very shallow and seem unintentional, but Between the Sound and Sea had amazing faith themes throughout. The found family and redemption arcs of the characters were also so amazing and heart-warming. I only wish there was a little more mystery, and I wish a few parts of the book weren’t so predictable.

Overall, though, I loved this book and would totally recommend reading it!

This was a story of redemption for both Joey and Finn. Joey is running away from the bad name her hometown has associated with her and her dying business. Finn is running away from past mistakes. It also tells us about the history of WWII and how close the German U-boats were to the Eastern shores of our country.

Walt, Finn's grandfather, and Finn hire Joey to oversee the restoration of and old lighthouse on the Eastern shore. Walt has a connection with the lighthouse keepers daughter and wants it restored in her memory. Finn is against the entire project to start with. But he loves his grandfather and finally gives in. There's a little mystery to this story. This books was just an overall good book that I enjoyed reading.

I was given this book by Revell Publishing via Net/Galley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

I’m wowed by the intertwining stories of loss, love, and restoration in this book. Amanda Cox is one of my favorite authors, expertly weaving a tale that strikes at the heart, stirring up your emotions as you walk out each character’s journey with them.

Joey is stuck by her family’s past, trying to uphold their name, living their dreams, in a community that has turned its back on her. She only needs one chance to prove to the people of Copper Creek she’s good enough.

Finn is stuck by a decade of sadness and regret, looking back at his broken marriage and the loss of his child. Burying his issues deep seems to be the only way to survive. If he works hard enough, maybe he can leave them behind.

Walt is stuck by sixty years of regret. He feels responsible for leaving his friend Cay alone to deal with her father’s illness on Bleakpoint Island while he runs off to sea during WWII. Even a happy marriage didn’t entirely erase the guilt, so after his dear wife’s death, he buys the Island to restore the lighthouse.

Can one historical renovation project bring healing to three lost souls? God’s timing is perfect and the way this story is written shows his care for the details of our lives. Everything He does has a purpose, and this book is a perfect picture of His heart for us.

I highly recommend this book. I was given a copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley and Interviews and Reviews. This is my honest opinion of the book.

** “I’m not sure going backward is ever the answer. We learn what we can from the hard times and keep moving forward.” **

Amanda Cox delivers a lovely story with both romance and mystery in “Between the Sound and Sea,” a story of restoration.

Event planner Joey Harris is trying to reclaim her family’s reputation after her father sold his construction company to a swindler and their family name was tarnished. So when an opportunity to restore a decommissioned lighthouse in the Outer Banks pops up, she decides to step out of her comfort zone.

But first she has to convince Finn O’Hare, the new owner Walt’s grandson, that she can handle the project.

As she works to restore the lighthouse, she also learns of mysteries surrounding the island, Walt’s past, and the former lighthouse keeper’s daughter, Cathleen McCorvey.

Will Joey and Finn be able to solve the mysteries surrounding Bleakpoint Island, all while developing feelings toward one another?

Cox does an incredible job of perfectly mixing romance, mystery and sentimentality, all while creating relatable characters. She also fills “Between the Sound and Sea,” which is due out Aug. 6, with some great themes, like the overwhelming theme of restoration; overcoming regret; don’t let fear be your guide (“When people are hurt and scared, they aren’t always able to reason through things well. They can’t see past the pain and fear”); and God is guiding us, even through the dark times.

Five stars out of five.

Revell provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Mystery, historical flashbacks, lighthouse restoration, regret, redemption, second-chances, faith and romance.
I enjoyed the slow reveal of Walt and Cay’s story and of the mystery of what happened to Cay and her father that long ago day. The little glimpses of the lighthouse restoration steps were interesting, as well as the history of the Outer Banks during WWII. Joey and Finn’s enemies to lovers was sweet.
“Because God meets us right where we’re at. And maybe things in our lives get broken down and beaten up along the way. The good news is restoration work is kind of His specialty.”
This ARC was provided through NetGalley by the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review, rating and opinions are my own.

This is the kind of book you either wish to read again or that stays with you for a few days after reading.
The characterisation is simply perfect - Joey, Finn and Walt.
The setting is 5 stars.
The prose and the plot 4 stars.
Themes 3.5 stars

"Between the Sound and the Sea" is an excellent addition to your library if you've read and enjoyed other books by Amanda Cox. This is a book that had a slow build for me but once I was halfway through it, it started to pull me in more and more and the ending brought some twists and turns. I stayed up late finishing this one because I was wanting to see how the WWII mystery was all tied up.

The cast of characters in the WWII and modern timelines were excellent and well thought out. I liked seeing different generations being portrayed in both timelines. There is a lot of heart in the story and I love seeing how they all come together at the end. I wish the book was a bit faster at the beginning since I know some readers want to be gripped right from the beginning but if a reader does push through they are rewarded with an excellent finish.

This book has an intriguing mystery, historical detail about the outer banks during WWII, talks a lot about different family dynamics and a bit of romance - though I feel the book is more about the mystery and various family storylines than romance so this one is for people looking for something light on romance.

Thank you to Revell Fiction for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

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.

Between the Sound and Sea is a sweet story filled with mystery and love lost. It had a dual-time vibe, aided by stories shared and long-lost letters found. 

When Joey accepts a position to revamp a decommissioned lighthouse, she jumps at the chance. Once there, she meets Walt and his grandson Finn. Walt is easy to love (Finn, not so much). Walt has surprised his grandson and Joey with the news that he bought the island along with the lighthouse for personal reasons.

As the story develops, we learn about lost love, WWII battles at sea, a ghost, and, of course, the real reason Walt bought the island.

While I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the lighthouse keeper and his daughter, the romance between Finn and Joey seemed a bit forced and unnecessary. Walt’s story was the most interesting. If you like mysteries, you will probably enjoy Between the Sound and Sea.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley for my honest review.

This book simply warmed my heart.
In an attempt to put her problems behind her, Joey Harris takes a job restoring an old lighthouse that seems to be full of mysterys.

As the restoration process starts and the mystery of the lighthouse unfolds, its clear that a lot more than the old lighthouse needs to be healed.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

What a beautiful, moving story! The story grabs you from the opening pages and doesn’t let go until the last page is turned. This is one of the those books that I finished with a smile on my face and a contented heart because it exceeded every expectation. It has all the elements that make a great book- a great setting, lovable characters, mystery, drama, and romance.

Joey Harris finds herself reeling and needing a fresh start after her hometown turns on her due to no fault of her own. Wally O’Hare finds himself needing to resolve past regrets from his youth after the passing of his wife. Wally’s grandson, Finn, is concerned about his grandfather’s future and still struggling with his own past failures. As the three come together to restore an old lighthouse, they discover not only things about themselves, but also unearth mysteries long hidden.

This book is excellent! It captivated me and tugged at my heartstrings. I cannot recommend it enough.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Overall rating 3.5 stars. The story of breakpoint Island was interesting but for some reason it felt a bit redundant at times to me. Like there wasn't a lot of side character plots or anything extra to keep me invested.
Joey was a likable enough mfc. Finn did kind of irk me but I think that was his role to play. Walt was pretty adorable. I probably liked him most of all.
Interesting to imagine the history of war world two and how it impacted the local beaches and lighthouses.
Overall the story was about healing from past hurts and fixing/making right what's broken while time still marches on. Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read early. This is my honest opinion.

I loved how the author wove this story. From lost loves to new found romance. From throw away teens to long sought answers, yes, this is a page turner!

We are given an 81 year old seasoned gentlemen, he has recently lost his wife of over 60 years, and just bought a light house! Not the usual!

Enter a young woman that has experience in restoring, but is working as an event planner. Joey is not what Walt's grandson was thinking of when they decided to have an overseer to the restoration. Nothing here is what you expect, but oh, what a great read this makes!

The epilogue is wonderful, will bring tears to your eyes!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

Thank you to Amanda Cox, NetGalley, and Revell for this #gifted book!*
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Title: Between the Sound and Sea
Author: Amanda Cox
Genre: Christian Contemporary Fiction
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Synopsis: “And to work on a light house, of all things? A beacon that stood through wind and storm to guide people safely home. Being part of making a place like that beautiful again could be the perfect respite.” Joey’s event planning business is falling apart due to a family name scandal and she’s not sure it will ever be successful again. But when presented with the opportunity to restore a lighthouse, Joey realizes her future and passions may lie elsewhere. As the project goes on, Joey is drawn in by the history of the lighthouse, the secrets of the family who hired her, and the dreams of a future with the man working alongside her.

Analysis: Amanda Cox pulls you into the coast of North Carolina with little known history, family pressures, and lost love. I absolutely loved the characters in this book. Joey is a strong woman fighting for a spot in the construction world. Finn is a man with a tough past. And Walt is an elderly man sorting through old regrets. Each of the characters is dealing with real-life issues and learning slowly to face them head on. The themes of forgiveness and restoration flowed organically throughout the story in this beautiful tale. If you’re looking for a moving mix of contemporary, romance, and historical fiction, Between the Sound and Sea is the perfect summer escape.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions ťexpressed in this review are my own.

Amanda Cox has a way of not just writing an amazing story but also weaving a heart moving tale of faith, forgiveness, and love.

You will lose sleep turning the pages to see what happens next, and be filled with a desire to check out your local lighthouse.

Joey is a refreshing character, full of drive and determination. I love the way the story unfolds in modern time with flashes of the past.

With mysteries left to reveal, forgiveness to yourself and to others, loveable characters, and finding love when you least expect it, this has it all.

This is another must-read by Amanda Cox.

This story was ah-mazing! The mystery element is so good and I LOVED the characters. I was surprised by a couple of twists that I thought would go a different way and there were multiple laugh out loud moments for me which is always my favorite. This is definitely a top favorite for 2o24 and in my top 3 reads thus far for 2024. A fantabulous read! I read an ARC of this book and after finishing it, I have already preordered a final copy for my keeper shelf. This has reread written ALL over it!


I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

I really loved this book. It follows two different timelines and both are interesting and intriguing. Joey and the disaster that she left behind in her hometown was sad, but her new life in NC was a great move. I love the blossoming romance and the reuniting of the Walt and Catherine. It was a great story. I loved it!

This is a timeless novel from a multiple Christy award winner, Amanda Cox. I am marvelled at her plot of story that want to risk everything for a chance in happiness. I hope I have that courage in my own life.