Simply put, this was a fabulous read. I don’t give 5 stars lightly but I just loved this book from start to finish.

The moment I read the synopsis - lighthouse restoration, historical flash backs, mystery - I was in! And boy did I choose well. I couldn’t recommend this book more highly. This could easily be made into a movie that we’ll hope they don’t ruin.

The author did such a beautiful job weaving the story together through modern times and inserting historical flashbacks (not in the entire chapter way I’ve grown tired of but in a beautiful, lyrical way).
The scenery was a lovely escape.

This was my first Amanda Cox book but it definitely will not be my last.

I received this book as an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This novel is multi-generational, multi-layered and so engrossing that it was hard to put it down to do anything else. I was totally invested in the story of Joey, Walt, Finn and Cay as well as the secondary characters of Peter and Kit. The author made the characters live and breathe in my imagination and I could not wait to continue the story each day, waiting for new revelations of secrets long hidden and a love that was never forgotten. Walt and Cay were friends when they were young, occupying the marshland of the Outer Banks in the time of WWII. Cay’s father was the lighthouse keeper of Bleakpoint Island and her secret about his health changed her life in unimaginable ways. Walt hires Joey Harris to come to Bleakpoint and restore the keeper’s cottage and the lighthouse. When she accepts the job, Joey has no idea of the commitment and history that she will find as she works on fulfilling Walt’s dream. The plot is mesmerizing, with layers to each character’s story that are methodically and masterfully revealed. With family secrets, unresolved disagreements and broken relationships, this book has everything that tugs at the heart in one very neat and well-crafted package. The descriptions of the setting are so realistically portrayed that I could hear the sound and smell the marsh as I read. The entire book captivated my imagination and my desire to see everyone have a happy ending. Amanda Cox knows how to write a story that pulls you into the place, the lives of the characters and the conflict, all with a compassion and love that is at the center of the story. This is one of the best books I have ever read and I cannot recommend it highly enough for its entertainment value as well as the themes of restoration, forgiveness and seeking the lost in order to find peace. Five stars do not do this masterpiece justice!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Thank you to Net Galley and Revell for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I really enjoyed this book. When Josephina "Joey" takes a job restoring an old lighthouse on a North Carolina Island, her life begins to change. She discovers strange notes tucked into the crevices in the lighthouse walls. Joey begins a quest to solve the mystery of who left the notes, and what happened to the lighthouse keeper and his daughter. I really liked the characters in this story. Amanda Cox writes clean, interesting stories that pull you in right away. This is my second book by this author, and I have enjoyed both.

This beautiful novel by Amanda Cox will be published on August 6, and I am so thankful to have had the chance to read an ARC of it!

After a lawsuit tarnishes her family name, Joey Harris is given an opportunity to restore a decommissioned lighthouse on a North Carolina island.
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.

Between the Sound and Sea was the Goldilocks of books for me when it comes to both romance and faith - just the right amount and just the right way. I loved the sweet and slow building romance in this book and how it never crossed the line of being cheesy or unrealistic. I also loved how Cox was able to weave faith into the story without it feeling forced or didactic.
Between the mystery and the setting in the Outer Banks of NC, this book checked all the boxes for a great summer read for me. Be sure to add this to your TBR or preorder!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was like a 1.5 ish ⭐️ This story was truly so dull. Honestly, most of the issues could have been resolved if Gramps just told everyone why he was trying to restore the lighthouse. I found myself skimming so many parts. Additionally, the romance between Finn and Joey felt hurried, I maybe would have liked the story a bit more if there was some more focus on that. Another thing that didn't work for me was all the religious references - which is my own fault, I should have done my research on the author before I requested this book, but I found myself eyerolling a but at every sentence that was like "it was all in the hands of Him" etc. Sorry 😬

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've loved every book Amanda Cox has written, and this one is no exception. I particularly enjoyed the Outer Banks setting since I live only about an hour from there and have visited multiple times. The author clearly did her research regarding the location and importance of lighthouses in the area. The added elements of mystery and romance that haven't particularly been present in Ms. Cox's other books were a welcome surprise.

If you enjoy inspirational stories that take place in a beautiful setting and are filled with second chances, finding love, and redeeming past mistakes, along with endearing characters you can root for, this book is for you.

*I received an advance reader copy from the author/publisher. I was not required to leave a favorable review, and all thoughts are my own.

This is hands down my favorite Amanda Cox book to date! She has absolutely outdone herself.

The plot and character development are on point, as ever, and the North Carolina setting made me want to visit in person _pronto_. (Kind of fun that I'm much closer now, having moved to the South last summer! Must...resist...urge... :D)

I was reminded at times of one of my childhood reads (Five Go to Demon's Rocks), albeit purely from the "staying in a lighthouse" component. I think many of us have dreamed of doing such a thing--and here's one way to live that out vicariously! And the familial challenges were all too poignant and visceral at times, in a good way. Cox obviously has experience both personally and professionally in life's challenges, and weaves them in here--always with hope and faith in Christ as the redeemer of all things, including (especially) the hard things.

It's an absolutely beautiful read I was sad to see draw to a close; I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the characters or the North Carolina coast!

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley, and hard-copy ARC from the author. All opinions are my own.

What an absolutely beautiful and well-written story! I'll leave it to others to provide a synopsis. The title is perfect to the story line which is full of thematic depth. The importance of family, living with regrets, having difficult conversations, making the most of the time given to us on earth, and restoration (of property and relationships) are just a few of the themes. I will be mulling this story over and over (and over?) and wish I had a book club for discussion!

“How many things in your life are placeholders holding space until whatever it is you’re waiting for arrives?”

Quotes such as this one stopped me in my tracks several times. Cox knows how to ask questions to encourage readers to take inventory of their heart and mind.

Small-town scandal in Copper Creek, Tennessee, pushes Josephina Harris to take a temporary position as light keeper of Bleakpoint Island’s decommissioned lighthouse on a remote North Carolina island. Thinking she’s run away from secrets and rumours, she soon discovers that she’s walked right into a treasure trove of hidden secrets. When restoration work begins, ‘Joey’ discovers notes tucked into the crevices of the stone walls. They’re signed by ‘Mae’ and detail harrowing rescues at sea; furthermore, they’re written on lighthouse log pages. Why were they ripped out of the log book and hidden? Why is Joey not able to find a previous lightkeeper with that name? Who were the McCorveys? Are there really resident ghosts?

“A lighthouse keeper is only as good as the records he keeps.”

I loved the legend of Saint-Mae and Walter O’Hare’s character! Joey gets more than she bargained for when she accepts the position and soon discovers that she’s an unwanted ‘keeper’ of an octogenarian who’s been haunted by his past for sixty years. Peace seems to evade him and dreams of the girl he once loved keep him bound in regret. If hugs could have ‘fixed’ him, I’d have jumped between the pages.

Things I loved:
💜reminder to be flexible when making plans
💜the power of love and first love
💜restoration story (lighthouse and characters)
💜someone willing to risk it all for happiness
💜secrets and ghosts
💜history and mystery
💜blessings in starting over and making things whole again
💜reminder to be a beacon of light for others
💜hopping down a rabbit hole with ‘Operation Drumbeat’

Cox knows how to keep mystery alive for her readers! Her complex characters have personal struggles in their backstories that affect their actions throughout the story. Cox has crafted them with the room and power to evolve, giving her story fantastic complexity. I appreciated her delicate balance between intrigue and clarity that still left me with a sense of wonder.

Let Cox sweep you back to the 1940s where two carefree kids quickly learn how the tides of war and the keeping of secrets upend any plans for the future. This heartfelt story will have you reconsidering how you deal with regret.

I was gifted this copy by Revell and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I was hooked from the prologue to the epilogue!! Beautifully written story of restoration and overcoming fear, and regrets including elements of humor, mystery and faith, rumors, and legends. Set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, this story takes place in 2007 with memories of the past in 1941. I honestly could not put it down! Between the Sound and Sea appealed to me because I've loved all this author's books and because of the setting and the storyline.

Josephina Harris (Joey) becomes a temporary keeper of a decommissioned lighthouse on a North Carolina Island when she is hired to manage the project of restoring it to its former glory.

Joey is hired by Finn and his grandfather Walt. Walt is living with a decades-old regret and is on a mission to restore the old lighthouse to atone for the mistakes he made there long ago. She finds joy "in preserving the past and giving broken-down places new life." Joey is influenced her time on this island, and it helps her figure out what she really wants in life.

A floundering teenage boy comes into the picture and finds restoration from adults willing to help him at a pivotal point in his life.

"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 His kind of specialty."

I loved this story from the beautiful setting to the lovable characters, to the meaningful lessons learned. I highly recommend Between the Sound and Sea!

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

The central setting for this book is Bleakpoint Island and the protagonist is Joey Harris. Joey leaves her family’s town to renovate a lighthouse on the island. Walt and Finn hire her to renovate and the story weaves between their relationships and solving what happened to Walt’s former friend, Cay, and her father, many years ago.

This is an enjoyable, wholesome story written in true Cox fashion. In full disclosure, I am a fan; I have read all of Amanda Cox’s books and very much enjoy every one of them. If you are looking for a great story with all loose ends tied up, this book is for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Thanks to the publisher, Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, and the author for the privilege to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thoughtful women's fiction set at a remote Outer Banks lighthouse with light faith elements. There's a tender romance with a dusting of enemies to lovers. Even though it's not central to the story, I enjoyed Joey and Finn's developing relationship and the way they communicated with each other. There's the redemption of a teenage boy by adults who are willing to invest in his life that I liked. And most of all, there's Finn's grandfather, who is living with decades-old regrets and wants to see the old lighthouse restored as a kind of apology for the mistakes he made long ago. Not everything turns out the way you expect, but I enjoyed my journey through this escape read, it's beautiful setting and lovable characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy of the book and write an honest review.

Between the Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox is a lyrical tale about past and present love and loss that captivated me from the very first page!

I love lighthouses, the Outer Banks and stories with journals, so Between the Sound and Sea was an automatic pick for me. I enjoyed the present day efforts to restore the lighthouse and how it uncovered keys to the past. Readers will be drawn into the historical timeline and the German activity along the North Carolina coast during WW2. The location and time period reminded me of Roseanna White's Yesterday's Tides. I love the setting of the historical lighthouse, the part it played during that time in history, and the rumors and superstitions that followed it into the present day. Bleakpoint Light was the perfect setting "between the sound and sea" and a fantastic metaphor for the ebb and flow rhythms of life.

Not since The Edge of Belonging have I enjoyed an Amanda Cox book so much. I highly recommend Between the Sound and Sea to readers who enjoy dual timelines with a mystery to solve, and intricately woven relationships in a fascinating story. I appreciate Revell Publishing making a copy of Between the Sound and Sea available for review. All thoughts and opinions are my very own.

Joey is a great main character, and I connected with her right away. Walt and Finn help her become the person she is meant to be and overcome her fears.

The dual timeline format works well for this story, and the mystery is compelling. The pacing is a bit slow at times, but overall this is an enjoyable read.

As a native North Carolinian, I can attest that the Outer Banks setting is lovingly and accurately conveyed.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions expressed are my own.

This is a beautiful story of growth and redemption set on the Outer Banks. The story centers around a lighthouse and the secrets it has kept safe over the years. They are slowly revealed and healing can begin. The setting was particularly prominent in this story and helped bring the whole thing to life. Highly recommended.

Between the Sound and the Sea is the latest release from Amanda Cox. Her last two books He Should Have Told the Bees and The Edge of Belonging were two of my five star reads last year, so I was eager to dive in to this new release for 2024. This book focuses on the experiences surrounding a lighthouse on a North Carolina island and a bit of a mystery surrounding it.

The lead character Joey is dealing with recent family scandal that has tainted her own opportunities with her career as an event planner. And to escape, she travels to NC to restore an old lighthouse courtesy of a job tip from one of her friends. this throws her into the heart of the mystery surrounding the old Lightkeeper and his daughter and the "ghosts" of Saint Mae connected to it. She meets Peter who is a pilot and EXTREMELY Type A in everything he does. I love that she even intentionally messes up things to watch him "fix" them (like putting spice jars or condiment bottles out of his order). She is the Type B to his Type A. and I love her pink pickup truck. LOL.

Walt is a darling. He reminds me so much of my own grandpa.

There is a lot of message relating having our pasts define our futures. Joey allows the scandal connecting to her family influence her future through fear. Peter allows his background to prevent his close relationship with his grandpa. Cay worries that her father's mistake that led to the deaths of a whole ship of men will forever taint his name so she disappears. Walt's past leads him to the various choices he's made over the years--including that of restoring the lighthouse for Cay.

This story also explores what it was like to have dementia back during the 1940s and how it was something a family would hide.

I actually wasn't as into this book as the previous too. It was still a great story, but I didn't LOVE it like I loved the others.

4 stars

*I was given this book as an ARC from the publishers and Netgalley. All views are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.

I absolutely loved this new story by Amanda Cox. One of the things I like about her writing is the way she honors her older characters. In the story, Joey (Josephina) wants to fix her broken family and restore their reputation, Walt is desperately trying to make amends for something that happened years ago, and Finn tries to protect his grandfather, Walt, while trying to find his own footing. In the midst of it all is a lighthouse and an island where hearts are healed and memories made. The story left me wanting more as I thought about how life takes its turns and God opens doors for healing. I've read all of Cox's books. Her writing style and storytelling wrap me like a warm blanket and leave me with satisfaction. I received a free copy and opinions are my own.

Joey Harris leaves the small town where she grew up and established her event planning business to restore a lighthouse in the Outer Banks. During the restoration she learns more about the lighthouse’s history, helps to reconnect the old man who purchased the lighthouse with the last lightkeeper’s daughter, and finds love along the way. This story is full of second chances for all of the characters and reconnecting with loved ones.

Overall, this book wasn’t for me. The story was slow to start and I didn’t really connect with any of the characters. Also, the book is heavy on quoting the Bible and praying which isn’t really my style. That one is on me, I should’ve done more research into the author before requesting the book, but I do think it is important to include in a review in case other reader’s aren’t big on it either!

I did enjoy the stories about the lighthouse keeper’s daughter during the 1940s and her rescue missions! I think that I would’ve liked this book more if there had been more of Cay’s stories/flashbacks from growing up on the island.

Thank you to NetGalley and Revell who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me, I didn’t connect with the book at all and had no urge to pick it back up after the first few chapters.

I am giving 3* to be fair since I didn’t read the whole book, and it likely doesn’t deserve a 1*

I love a second chance story and there were so many characters in this story that were given a second chance. I usually shy away from books that talk about ghosts and the like but thankfully there wasn't too much of that. Walt, Joey and Peter were my favorite characters. Walt reminded me of a grandpa and I just wanted to sit around and listen to his stories.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.