Wednesday, April 12, 2017
The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection ~ Joanne Bischof, Amanda Dykes, Heather Day Gilbert, Jocelyn Green, Maureen Lang, © 2017
Hope Reaches Across the Centuries in One Single Bottle, Inspiring Five Romances

My Review:
You are in for a treat when you begin reading the stories of hope traveling in the different time periods.

A sprinkling of hope that ignites hearts to believe again ~ beyond their limited scope. How narrowly do we keep our boundaries?

A new voice seemed to penetrate his heart––a truthful voice that seemed older than time itself. The voice said only one word, but he heard it very clearly: hope.
--The Distant Tide, 41.
1170: County Kerry, Ireland

Join Princess Britta as she finds a foe is a person who is not a threat to her ~ only to his memory of past confrontation with her kingdom home.

~*~
Long days have maneuvered between what was and what is today...

And there--just in the very depths of her eyes––he saw it. A flicker of hope––distant and elusive as a will-o'-the-wisp light upon the loch. If she could dare to believe...
--A Song in the Night, 115.
1715: Scotland and England

Could it be all that her heart desired? Meg MacNaughton sought a touch of home, strength enough to bolster courage. Longingly, the messenger.

"I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search."
Psalm 77:6

Peace to renew strength.

~*~
Miss Abigail Van de Klerk has been sent to the home of her friend by her father for the summer season to entertain proper decorum away from his medical practice.

"...Age is only important as it relates to experience."
--The Forgotten Hope, 187.
1798: New York

It is so important to be who we are, and not to emulate another for societal expectations. Frivolity does not match solidity in character when misrepresented, especially on first impressions. For in being ourselves we find out who we truly are intended to be. Beloved.

~*~
Miss Cora Mae Stewart had a decision to make to be able to continue care for her mama: By settling for her pap's parting request, now including care for young June, herself needing a mama. Or... upturned by war, the dispatch of Union soldiers removing her from her Southern mill work drawing patterns for Confederate uniforms. This second decision wasn't hers to make.

Hearing her talk had been like looking at his own reflection, the recognition so complete, it was like coming home. The woman he captured just this morning was now seizing his heart instead.
--A River between Us, 293-4.
1864: Roswell, Georgia

Following orders does not cover the courage of a longing to care for another protectively. Dreams, faith, and hope, not lost amid uncertain travel to destiny as it seemed.

Dare to imagine a different life than the one you got used to expecting.
--Ibid., 296.

Is that beautiful, or what!

"Hope is on the inside. Even if the vessel is battered and scarred. Hope can still live within."
--Ibid., 322.

You will indeed cry with this story!!

~*~
"I write things down that I mean not to forget. Notes for remembrance."
--The Swelling Sea, 379.
1890: Coronado Island, California

Rosie Graham meets Jonas McIntosh on the beach as he frees a bottle from the salt-laden sand near the edge of the water. Insistent that it is hers, she attempts to have it. A story of encouragement, understanding, and a hope without boundaries.

I know I will be starting back to the beginning as these stories are interwoven with a single word on a bottle that is cherished and sent forth to a further generation who will realize its message at just the right time.

Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.
Psalm 139:10

***Thank you lovely authors for gifting me with this beautiful volume. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.*** ( )

I so enjoyed these five books of hope. Each of these five novellas centers around hope. I read these at a good time because I wasn't feeling well myself. These center around a bronze bottle that a monk flings into the ocean in the year 834 AD. It begins in Ireland, then goes to Scotland, then New York, then Georgia and finally gets to California. In each novella the characters are well developed and I love each story. This book was very hard to put down. Each author wrote beautiful stories of hope. I received a copy of this book from the authors for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )

I really enjoyed getting to read this book and one of the great things was the book itself. I loved the way the pages felt and it added to the atmosphere of the book. I loved the story of faith that was interwoven throughout the book It was interesting to see how the bottle made its way to all of the main characters and how it filled a need that they all had. Each of the characters is strong her her own way, but facing some type of battle that they need hope and courage to get through.
As an enjoyer of history, I also liked seeing how the stories depicted the customs and ways of the time period as the journey takes place over around 700 years. It was interesting to see how some things are the same over time, while at the same time progress is made.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but the review is my own. ( )