All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes

About the Book

When all of Venice is unmasked, one man’s identity remains a mystery . . .

1807
When a baby is discovered floating in a basket along the quiet canals of Venice, a guild of artisans takes him in and raises him as a son, skilled in each of their trades. Although the boy, Sebastien Trovato, has wrestled with questions of his origins, it isn’t until a woman washes ashore on his lagoon island that answers begin to emerge. In hunting down his story, Sebastien must make a choice that could alter not just his own future, but also that of the beloved floating city.

1904
Daniel Goodman is given a fresh start in life as the century turns. Hoping to redeem a past laden with regrets, he is sent on an assignment from California to Venice to procure and translate a rare book. There, he discovers a city of colliding hope and decay, much like his own life, and a mystery wrapped in the pages of that filigree-covered volume. With the help of Vittoria, a bookshop keeper, Daniel finds himself in a web of shadows, secrets, and discoveries carefully kept within the stones and canals of the ancient city . . . and in the mystery of the man whose story the book does not finish: Sebastien Trovato.

About the Author

Amanda Dykes’s debut novel, Whose Waves These Are, is the winner of the prestigious 2020 Christy Award Book of the Year, a Booklist 2019 Top Ten Romance debut, and the winner of an INSPY Award. She’s also the author of Yours Is the Night and Set the Stars Alight, a 2021 Christy Award finalist.

Purchase Links

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS

My Thoughts

Amanda Dykes has such a way with words!  She writes stories that are told in a beautiful manner, with words that jump off the page and capture you instantly.  Her prose is stunning and gorgeous!  I loved the setting of this novel.  It was remarkable how the setting (the canals of Venice) almost became a character in and of itself.  The descriptions of the scenes make it easy for me to be transported to the two historical timelines.  The characters are equally well written and I was instantly invested in their stories and their romance.  The Christian truths are unique and integrated flawlessly; I found myself reflecting often on the deep questions the characters ask themselves.  The struggle with identity is something most of us have also struggled with and these realistic thoughts made the characters more authentic.  Reading this novel is like reading beautiful poetry.  I cannot recommend it enough!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers, courtesy of Austen Prose Tours with Laurel Ann Nattress.  Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Favorite Quotes

Thanks for stopping by!

All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes

Thank you for joining me today as I feature All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes on my blog, on tour with Austen Prose Tours!

Book Details

• Title: All the Lost Places: A Novel
• Author: Amanda Dykes
• Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Inspirational Fiction
• Publisher: ‎Bethany House Publishers (December 13, 2022)
• Length: 400 pages
• Format: Hardcover, Trade paperback, & eBook 
• ISBN: 978-0764239502
• Tour Dates: December 5 – December 19, 2022

Book Description

When all of Venice is unmasked, one man’s identity remains a mystery . . .

1807
When a baby is discovered floating in a basket along the quiet canals of Venice, a guild of artisans takes him in and raises him as a son, skilled in each of their trades. Although the boy, Sebastien Trovato, has wrestled with questions of his origins, it isn’t until a woman washes ashore on his lagoon island that answers begin to emerge. In hunting down his story, Sebastien must make a choice that could alter not just his own future, but also that of the beloved floating city.

1904
Daniel Goodman is given a fresh start in life as the century turns. Hoping to redeem a past laden with regrets, he is sent on an assignment from California to Venice to procure and translate a rare book. There, he discovers a city of colliding hope and decay, much like his own life, and a mystery wrapped in the pages of that filigree-covered volume. With the help of Vittoria, a bookshop keeper, Daniel finds himself in a web of shadows, secrets, and discoveries carefully kept within the stones and canals of the ancient city . . . and in the mystery of the man whose story the book does not finish: Sebastien Trovato.

About the Author

Amanda Dykes’s debut novel, Whose Waves These Are, is the winner of the prestigious 2020 Christy Award Book of the Year, a Booklist 2019 Top Ten Romance debut, and the winner of an INSPY Award. She’s also the author of Yours Is the Night and Set the Stars Alight, a 2021 Christy Award finalist.

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Exclusive Interview with Amanda Dykes

Advance Praise

• “This lyrical dual-narrative historical from Dykes (Set the Stars Alight) dives into the histories of Venice, Italy, and Venice Beach, California.”— Publisher’s Weekly 
• “Introspective, surprising, and achingly beautiful.”— Booklist starred review
• “Dykes’s pen is fused with magic and poetry. Every word’s a gentle wave building into the splendor that is All the Lost Places, where struggles for identity and a place to belong find hope between the pages of a timeless story.”— J’Nell Ciesielski, bestselling author of The Socialite
• “Luscious writing, authentic characters, and an ending that satisfies to the core of the spirit, this novel is another winner from Amanda Dykes.”— Heidi Chiavaroli, Carol Award-winning author of Freedom’s Ring and Hope Beyond the Waves

Purchase Links

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS

My Thoughts

Amanda Dykes has such a way with words!  She writes stories that are told in a beautiful manner, with words that jump off the page and capture you instantly.  Her prose is stunning and gorgeous!  I loved the setting of this novel.  It was remarkable how the setting (the canals of Venice) almost became a character in and of itself.  The descriptions of the scenes make it easy for me to be transported to the two historical timelines.  The characters are equally well written and I was instantly invested in their stories and their romance.  The Christian truths are unique and integrated flawlessly; I found myself reflecting often on the deep questions the characters ask themselves.  The struggle with identity is something most of us have also struggled with and these realistic thoughts made the characters more authentic.  Reading this novel is like reading poetry.  I cannot recommend it enough!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers, courtesy of Austen Prose Tours with Laurel Ann Nattress.  Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Thanks for stopping by!

Your Is the Night by Amanda Dykes

About the Book

The trenches of the Great War are a shadowed place. Though Platoon Sergeant Matthew Petticrew arrived there with a past long marked by shadow, the realities of battle bring new wounds–carving within him a longing for light, and a resolve to fight for it.

One night, Matthew and his comrades are enraptured by a sound so pure, a voice so ethereal, it offers reprieve–even if only for a moment. Soon, rumors sweep the trenches from others who have heard the lullaby too. “The Angel of Argonne,” they call the voice: a mysterious presence who leaves behind wreaths on unmarked graves. 

Raised in the wild depths of the Forest of Argonne, Mireilles finds her reclusive world rocked when war crashes into her idyllic home, taking much from her. When Matthew and his two unlikely companions discover Mireilles, they must embark on a journey that will change each of them forever . . . and perhaps, at long last, spark light into the dark. 

My Thoughts

Whenever I read a book by the talented author Amanda Dykes, I prepare myself for an epic adventure and some very late nights staying up reading a phenomenal book.  This novel is no exception!  I love the way she tells a story so effortlessly; it makes it so easy for me to get lost in the history and the present circumstances and crave to know the connections and the surprises.  I found myself highlighting so many quotes in this book because the way the author crafts sentences is truly an art that makes me pause and reflect.  The spiritual truths are interwoven so wonderfully and applicably.  I found myself crying at several points in the story as I became so invested in the novel.  I loved the characters and their journeys so much!  I most highly recommend this novel and seriously cannot wait for her next one!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The Kissing Tree by Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Amanda Dykes, and Nicole Deese

“Broken Limbs, Mended Hearts” by Regina Jennings

Bella Eden would like to forget the embarrassment that happened at the old oak tree in town just before her eighteenth birthday.  But when the man who witnessed her humiliation comes to town 3 years later, Bella is mortified that he remembers that day.  Furthermore, he is determined to introduce an invention to the town that threatens her job.  Bella desperately hopes that she can prove her worth and overcome her fears despite her past.

What a delightful novella! I love that this short story allowed the characters to fully develop and grow despite the shorter amount of pages. I enjoyed getting to know Bella and Adam and liked that they had a past first before reconnecting several years later. There was realistic conflict and unpredictability to the plot that was interesting and kept my attention.  I liked the incorporation of the spiritual theme of trusting God to work out the details.  I definitely recommend this novella!

“Inn for a Surprise” by Karen Witemeyer

Phoebe Woodward is determined to build an inn that caters to couples, despite the fact that many do not believe in her vision.  Her father sends a property manager to assist her, but Phoebe finds Barnabas’s practicality stifling to her dream.  As she and Barnabas spend more time butting heads and discussing options, Phoebe begins to feel love tug on her own spinster heart.

Karen Witemeyer is a gift storyteller, no matter the length of the book!  This novella has fun characters that I found myself immediately invested in, there was spunky conflict that strengthened the plot, and, as with all her books, the romance was sizzling yet clean.  I greatly enjoyed reading this novella and loved the small connections to the first novella in the series.  I liked how Phoebe grows in her faith too as she learns to rely more on God and His plan.  I read through this story quickly as it was hard to put down.  Another highly recommended novella!

“From Roots to Sky” by Amanda Dykes

Luke Hampstead is comforted during World War II by letters he reads from the sister of a lost compatriot. He travels to Texas to thank the mysterious woman only to find that she is not what he expected.  Despite obligations elsewhere, Luke begins to question if the connection he has to her may be worth staying in Texas to explore further.

Amanda Dykes has a lyrical voice in fiction and reading her stories is always delightful.  I love how she is able to craft a deep and moving story in a short novella as well.  Her characters in this story are captivating and their relationship and interactions were easy to become invested in throughout the novella.  I loved their camaraderie and their romance is believable. The growth of the characters both in their relationship with God and with each other is sweet and touching.  I greatly enjoyed this novella and definitely recommend this story!

“Heartwood” by Nicole Deese

Abby is determined to preserve the old oak tree in her town.  She soon realizes that the only way she is going to save the tree is to join forces with a man she is determined to dislike after he left town years ago.  As Abby struggles with her past and maintaining the history of the tree, she begins to recognize that perhaps her future will not be quite as she predicted.

I have not had the pleasure of reading anything by Nicole Deese until this novella and her enchanting writing was a delight to read!  I found myself engrossed in the story and read through the novella in one sitting. I liked the characters a lot and enjoyed their romance throughout the story.  I enjoyed the spiritual theme of connecting God’s nature with the people living in the town and loved reading about Abby’s growth in the novella.  I am excited to read more by this author and recommend this novella!

Overall, this collection of novellas was a joy to read.  I loved how the stories all connected with The Kissing Tree and truly enjoyed each one of the individual novellas.  I highly recommend this collection!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes

Thanks to treasured memories of her father’s stories as a child, Lucy Clairmont has a wild imagination, so when she finds an artifact under the floorboards of her London flat, her interest is immediately peaked.  She enlists the help of her childhood friend and now forensic astronomer, Dashel, and together they dig into the past of a mysterious estate on the East Sussex coast.  Two hundred years earlier, a wealthy young boy becomes entangled in a war that leads to love and sacrifice.  As the two stories intertwine over time, the characters seek redemption and peace.

Oh my goodness!  This story is beautifully told, the settings, history, and characters coming alive with each sentence.  I love Amanda Dyke’s writing and her unique ability to pull readers into the novel with such ease.  I don’t think I have ever highlighted so many great quotes in one book! I cried in the first chapter (and several chapters thereafter!) as the characters became so authentic to me almost immediately.  I love their achingly realistic backgrounds, their human-like flaws, and their genuine growth in the story.  I also really enjoyed the creativity of the storyline and the way the plot flowed together and eventually connected several unique pieces.  There are so many layers in the novel and I was easily lost in the tale late into the night as I unpacked its storyline.  The spiritual themes and truths are deep and applicable. I loved this book so much and it will definitely be in one of my top reads this year!  I highly recommend this novel and cannot wait to see what this author pens next!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.