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Review of “Set the Stars Alight” by Amanda Dykes

Description

Lucy Clairmont’s family treasured the magic of the past, and her childhood fascination with stories of the high seas led her to become a marine archaeologist. But when tragedy strikes, it’s Dashel, an American forensic astronomer, and his knowledge of the stars that may help her unearth the truth behind the puzzle she’s discovered in her family home.

Two hundred years earlier, the seeds of love are sown between a boy and a girl who spend their days playing in a secret sea cave, while the privileged young son of the estate looks on, wishing to join. As the children grow and war leads to unthinkable heartbreak, a story of love, betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption unfolds, held secret by the passage of time.

As Lucy and Dash journey to a mysterious old estate on the East Sussex coast, their search leads them to a community of souls and a long-hidden tale that may hold the answers–and the healing–they so desperately seek.

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My Review:

Every now and then, I read a book that captivates me.  At those times, as a book reviewer, it’s difficult to find the words to write a review that would do justice to such a wonderful story.  This is that kind of book, and I’m struggling to find the right words to describe how I feel about this story.  So I’m borrowing a word the author used in her notes at the end of the book:  Wonder.   Reading and watching these two stories unfold and then come together in such an amazing way towards the end of the book filled me with wonder. I felt as if I were a ten year old again, hearing a classic story from the first time.  How Amanda Dykes could give us such beautifully written chapters is amazing to me, and I’m so glad she shared her talent and imagination with us.  

I loved how the themes of friendship, love, sacrifice and redemption are woven all throughout this book.  In many subtle ways, the reader is pointed back to Christ and His sacrifice for us.  You’ll love joining Lucy and Dash on their quest to find the truth of what’s been hidden for many years, and in the process, how God’s truth lights the pathway of our lives.  

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

About Amanda Dykes

Amanda Dykes is the author of Bespoke: A Tiny Christmas Tale, the critically-acclaimed bicycle story that invited readers together to fund bicycles for missionaries in Asia. A former English teacher, she has a soft spot for classic literature and happy endings. She is a drinker of tea, a dweller of Truth, and a spinner of hope-filled tales, grateful for the grace of a God who loves extravagantly.