Whose Waves These Are is nothing like the books I normally choose to read and was everything I needed to read this summer.
Dykes blends historical and contemporary fiction, romance and mystery to provide a plot that is both engaging and complex.
The plot itself was a joy to read, I was concerned when I realized that the story itself would jump between WWII and contemporary settings that plot threads may go unaccounted for or that the time jumps could feel sloppy, However, Dykes is masterful at incorporating her thoughts and ideas into a cohesive story that flows well and often had me in wonder at the twists and details she includes.
This is in part due to the strength of her anchoring characters. Annie Bliss is relatable both in her insecurities as well as in her returning to her place of safety in Ansel as she tries to determine her next step in life. Annie has flaws, fears, and failures that give her depth yet still presents the strength and determination that make her easy to root for.
Alternately Robert Bliss anchors the historical sections with ease as he walks through the afternath of the war, what it meant to survive, and how to work through his grief. In many ways GrandBob felt like the most fleshed out character and quickly became my favourite part of the book. Dykes really took the time to point out the moments of Bob's life that gave shape to the man Annie knows and that progression really allows Dykes to have an impactful and emotional conclusion that just wouldn't hit home without the time and effort she spent introducing Bob the way she had.
Actually between Annie, Robert, and the mysterious second male lead of Jeremiah, it wouldn't be a far stretch to say that Whose Waves Are These centers upon a theme of learning to move forward and live after loss, a topic Dykes handles with sensitivity and realism. Dykes takes care to give her characters room for an emotional response and certainly was able to bring about a response from me (yep, this was definitely a book I shoved in hubby's face asking if he could believe it . . . in a good way).
As I said, Amanda Dykes was not on my radar before this book but I'll definitely be taking the time to look her up from now on.
4.5 stars out of 5
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."
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