All the Lost Places

Author: Amanda Dykes
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: December 13, 2022
Publisher: Bethany House

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.

---

Reviewer: Deanne Patterson

This book deserves many more than five stars.

I am not sure I have ever read a book quite like this one before. Some books come into your life, are read, and quickly forgotten, but not so with this one. It will be remembered by myself and many other readers for quite some time.

I feel spiritually fulfilled after reading this. The descriptions are so vivid that I feel as though I was experiencing this with all the characters in the time periods portrayed.

All the Lost Places is a real gem. The words are clear, concise, and fluid. I am really looking forward to reading more by this author.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews.

---

---

Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

Have you ever finished a book and then turned back to the first page to read it all over again immediately after finishing the last page? That is what I did with All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes.

I was first introduced to Amanda's writing with her book Set the Stars Alight. I was enchanted by that book and expected to feel the same with All the Lost Places. I wasn't disappointed. Amanda's writing is a combination of magic and lyrical beauty. She has managed to capture the essence of Venice and wrap it up in a story that is heartfelt, mysterious, and intriguing. I might have to read it for the third time.

The theme of finding oneself and the importance God plays in our identity as humans are presented in a way that is not preachy. We all experience feelings of being inadequate or not living up to our full potential. In this story, Daniel Goodman is plagued by his past and is trying to make things right. He meets "the Garbin," also called Vittoria, who literally blows into his life and changes it for the better.

We also meet Sebastien, who has a story of his own to tell and asks the question, "Who am I?" As both men try to find who they are, the author helps readers understand what it means to be lost and find hope again.

"A person never knows how far their life might reach." He paused, deep in thought, as he often did. "Courage keep, and hope beget...the story is not finished yet."

"Broken things, harvested as treasure and pieced together into something entirely...different. Old, but new. Broken, but whole."

"Perhaps you are becoming a tool for a new work. God is not bound by the way things used to be, Daniel. There is great hope in that."

This book encouraged me so much. It helped me realize that even in my broken places, God can rebuild something new. It was exciting to know that someone like me, who has an incurable disease that almost killed me last year, could still be used by God for something else. My story isn't finished yet, and I would like to thank Amanda Dykes for reminding me of that. I cannot recommend this book enough. 

I received a review copy courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley.

---

---

Reviewer: Diana Varela

Wow! I'm in awe of this book. It was such a beautiful book. It's a captivating story of finding who you are. We all have those questions, especially the one of "Who am I?" Amanda Dykes does a fantastic job of portraying that while telling a beautiful story. It has mystery, redemption, and hope all loved into it. I loved the different timelines. I loved the poetry of Amanda's words. It was refreshing and new. 

What I really loved was Daniel's story. He couldn't live with his past. He had so much guilt for what he had done. He didn't feel he deserved love, especially his mother's love. It was like God and his children. Some can't live with the past, but it will always be there. What matters is the future. I love this book, and I liked the content about God. It really showed His love. 

I requested and received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews. All the opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.

---