Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes

Book 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.

My thoughts:

I’m not sure I can find the words to adequately describe just how beautifully written this novel is.  If you have had the pleasure of reading any of this authors work, you already know she is truly gifted.  In this dual time line novel she has crafted an amazing story with incredible characters.  This book should be read slowly because you do not want to miss one single word that she has written. That was difficult for me to do because I am a fast reader but I truly had to slow down or I found myself going back to read certain paragraphs again.

I loved the strong sense of family and friends throughout but what I loved most of were the finely crafted characters that will stay with me for a long time  This was a perfect book to read to escape the heat and everything that is going on in the world right now.  Amanda Dykes is an incredible storyteller and one of my must-read authors.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley.  All onions are my own.