Amanda Cox’s debut novel, The Edge of Belonging, is definitely one of the best stories I’ve read so far this year. The dual timeline story, which takes place in both the 1990s and the present day, explores multiple themes through the experiences of two protagonists: Harvey, who grew up in the foster system and is homeless by choice (the 1990s storyline), and Ivy, whose idyllic childhood provided a strong foundation yet didn’t prepare her for the heartache she’d experience as an adult (the contemporary storyline).

Amanda shares her unusual writing journey–she came to an editor’s attention during a Twitter #FaithPitch event–and secured a contract before signing with an agent!

As a professional counselor, Amanda is skilled at reading body language and uses tiny gestures to give life to her characters. Her writing is strong and fresh. I was pulled into this story from the first sentence and had a hard time closing the book when other duties needed my attention.

Connect with Amanda on Facebook and on her website.

Purchase Link: The Edge of Belonging

The Edge of Belonging

When Ivy Rose returns to her hometown to oversee an estate sale, she soon discovers that her grandmother 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-time 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.