Review: The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox

 

About:

When Ivy Rose returns to her hometown to oversee her late grandmother's estate sale, she soon discovers that the woman left behind more than trinkets and photo frames--she provided a path to the truth behind Ivy's adoption. Shocked, Ivy seeks clues to her past, but a key piece to the mystery is missing.

Twenty-four years earlier, Harvey James finds an abandoned newborn who gives him a sense of human connection for the first time in his life. His desire to care for the baby runs up against the stark fact that he is homeless. When he becomes entwined with two people seeking to help him find his way, Harvey knows he must keep the baby a secret or risk losing the only person he's ever loved.

In this dual-timeline story from debut novelist Amanda Cox, the truth--both the search for it and the desire to keep it from others--takes center stage as Ivy and Harvey grapple with love, loss, and letting go.

My Thoughts:

This was a wonderful read and probably the most heartfelt story I have read in a long time. There were so many lessons that a lot of us could use on our own walks in life. 

This was a story about family, enduring love, and most of all the grace of God. Sometimes we get so caught up in what we do not have, and completely miss the gifts we already do possess. Each member in this family have had their hurts. I was awed by how they came together, even though there was no blood relation between them.

Author Cox tackles a whole host of hurts from infertility, death of loved ones, suicide, all in a gentle storytelling way. What really impressed me was how all the pieces fit together for everyone to have a second chance. To be blessed once again after a time of mourning. My favorite part was the unfolding plan of this family and of the love that pursued Ivy even when she felt so unworthy.

There was some sadness, I  got choked up about some of the plots, but even in them there was a purpose and the sadness was not waisted.

This is the first author Cox book I have read and she is an author that has won me over with her first book. You do not want to miss this story, it is one for the keeper shelf with memorable characters and storyline.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author:

Amanda Cox is a blogger and a curriculum developer for a national nonprofit youth leadership organization, but her first love is communicating through story. She holds a bachelor's degree in Bible and theology and a master's degree in professional counseling. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband and their three children.