The Edge of Belonging

Amanda Cox

Sep 2020 · Revell

About this ebook

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.

Ratings and reviews

The Edge of Belonging By Amanda Cox Ivy Rose Lashly outwardly seems to have a perfect life - loving parents, attentive fiancee, and a great job. But appearances can be deceiving - and her life is about to start unwinding after her grandmother's death. Ivy Rose needs to know her past; she feels that her worth depends on what she does not know. Harvey James exists but doesn't truly live, at least, not until he finds a newborn abandoned near the highway bypass he called home. Finding this baby awakens a feeling in him that forces him to step out of what he knows and into the unknown. These two stories, set approximately twenty-four years apart, are integral to one another. Told in alternating chapters, the reader is on a journey of discovery. Who are Ivy and Harvey? And how do they fit into each other's stories? The Edge of Belonging is a journey of the heart and the mind as two very different people try to discover where they belong in the world. Both are so much more than the events that shaped their lives. But realizing one's worth is harder than it seems. Random comments, rumor, and innuendo have lasting impacts and often not in the way one means. But hurting wounded hearts are easily deceived by the lies they hear. This book is a story about the power of family, friendship, and love. Some stories need to be told, and this is just such a one. If you are looking for a good read, this is one book you do not want to miss. Would make an excellent book club selection. I was provided a complimentary copy with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

What an absolutely beautiful debut! Amanda Cox weaves a perfectly complicated tale of intersecting lives and how each person affects others. The story of Ivy Rose trying to find the truth about her roots is told in the present time. In the past, we have Harvey, Miriam, Thom and Pearl, a group whose lives are forever touched by their choices and their kindness. Harvey is homeless. Thom and Miriam are childless. And Pearl is a good soul, the widow of a former pastor who just wants to make a difference in the lives of others. This story was told in a totally captivating, engaging and easy-to-read way. There is mystery, sacrificial love and romance, all within the pages of this wonderful book. I cannot say enough good things about it. The characters are well-developed and seemed to speak to me personally about their desires. The plot was complicated, but the author’s method of going back and forth between the current times and the past, unraveled the plot perfectly. It was like a well-woven tapestry, completely awe-inspiring when I read the conclusion. I highly recommend this book and hope that all who are looking for an uplifting book that offers hope and light will read it! Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from #Revell as part of the #RevellReadsBloggerProgram. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

4.5 stars Fantastic debut. Beautiful story and cover. A tendency to overuse the words roiled/skittered but that is a minor flaw. Moving, gentle story but with many issues about different kinds of broken people.

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.