The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection

I was so impressed by this novella collection, in a way that I rarely am with novellas. This is a stellar group of authors, and while one was new to me, I knew I was in good hands because of the authors included here. I think what impressed me most was that, while romance plays a huge role in all of the stories, there is also a plethora of engaging historical details and plots that stand on their own. None of the stories fall back on insta-love, rather the romance grows organically as each plot progresses.

In the book’s prologue, Gilbert skillfully introduces readers to the special bottle that will accompany them throughout this group of stories. From its humble beginning in an Irish monastery, the bottle travels through the centuries and crosses continents, encouraging it’s bearers with a message of “spero,” that is, hope. In her story, “The Distant Tide,” a Viking clashes with an Irish princess in a quest of vengeance, but hope can reconcile them all. Ari Thorvaldsson is no stranger to Christianity, but has never opened himself to it. Britta’s kindness and acceptance of him, despite their differences, brings him a perspective that he’s never considered – one of healing and hope. I am unabashedly a huge fan of Heather Day Gilbert, especially her Viking stories. She portrays them realistically without falling back on stereotypes, and this story is no exception.

In “A Song in the Night,” Amanda Dykes takes readers to 1715 Scotland, placing them firmly in the precarious, traitorous interaction of Scottish clans. Meg is ready to sacrifice her future happiness for her clan, but before she can, rivalry between her clan and another leads to tragic results. Picking up the broken pieces of her life, Meg finds a new home with a traveling group, one that travels Scotland selling pearls. Despite her shadowed past, she is content, until a ghost from the past appears, with news that all was not lost of that terrible day two years past. Meg’s courage and willingness to sacrifice are admirable, and her fears feel genuine. If she can get past the pain of reconciling with her past, hope is within reach. I was utterly charmed by Meg’s storytelling and Duncan’s pipe playing. There is a whimsical quality to this serious story, which I think fit well in the Scottish setting. I have loved Dyke’s previous novella and short story, and this story has just reinforced that feeling.

“The Forgotten Hope” takes the bottle and its message to 1798 New York, a time when medical work is one left to men. Abigail, however, is determined to find a husband who will accept her work in medicine. Calvin is a jaded physician, interested in healing patients, but not very interested in restoring his own broken spirit. Maureen Lang touches on a time when the Revolutionary War is not a distant memory, but rather something that still tinged people’s lives with sadness. It’s not a time period that seems to be touched on often, so I really appreciated the authenticity that those details offered. The medical practices of the time are equally fascinating and somewhat appalling with what we know today. Abigail’s character highlights how women had little say in what was considered appropriate, and even though nurses played an integral role, decisions were to be left to men. While a lot of the issues between Abigail and Calvin arise from lack of communication, it feels realistic to the times and makes their understanding much more satisfying. Maureen Lang is a new-to-me author, but certainly one that I am more interested in reading after this novella.

Next the bottle travels to Civial War era Georgia, where Jocelyn Green introduces readers to the displacement of Southern mill workers by order of General Sherman in “A River Between Us.” Cora Mae chooses to become a nurse for the Confederate Army in order to stay in Georgia, with hopes of returning to her ailing mother sooner rather than later. She unexpectedly finds a kindred spirit in Ethan, a Confederate soldier, but of course, circumstances easily come between them. The authenticity of Cora Mae’s character and the intense details of a battlefield hospital captivated me. Usually authors can really mishandle a southern accent, but in this case, it feels authentic and not overdone. The bravery of the doctor’s, soldiers as well as those nursing them is highlighted by the added details of the battlefield and its aftermath.

In the final story, “The Swelling Sea,” by Joanne Bischof readers will find themselves on the coast of California, at a posh resort, crossing between the classes with Jonah, a wealthy law student, and Rosie, a resort maid with a mysterious past. The beauty of the shoreline, as well as the coastal flora and fauna drew me into this story, but even more catching was the emotional depth of the characters, who despite their different worlds, find they aren’t so very different after all. Rosie’s whimsical child-like nature and Jonah’s eagerness to accomplish his goals endeared them both to me. Something about their relationship just really captured my heart – it’s one of those unfathomable connections that I sometimes just have to a character. Bischof writes about character’s difficulties with sensitivity and excels at creating characters that are easy to love. I love the idea that sometimes life’s mysteries are unsolvable, yet even so we are not without hope.

The prologue brings readers back to the present day, tying all of the stories together, with an authentic yet subtle nod to each story. This is a quality collection, one that I feel sure I will revisit again one day. Typically, there is one or more that don’t dazzle me, but with the Message in a Bottle Collection, I couldn’t find a bad story. I think even those who are not typically drawn to novellas or collections of them will find something to savor here. Fans of romantic historical fiction will not be disappointed!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, which I chose to review. This review is my honest opinion.

“The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection” by Joanne Bischof, Amanda Dykes, Heather Day Gilbert, Jocelyn Green, and Maureen Lang is unlike any book I have ever read! Consisting of a prologue, five novellas, and an epilogue, this book follows the path of a bronze bottle from an Irish monastery as its Latin engraving and the contents inside impact five couples throughout history. The reader journeys through Medieval era Ireland, Georgian era Scotland, New Nation era New York, Civil War era Georgia, and Industrial era California.

I was captivated by every part of this book! Even though it is a collection of different authors’ works, the stories flowed seamlessly as the bronze bottle connected the five novellas. I was always at the edge of my seat, curious to see when and how the bronze bottle would appear in the story! In addition, I was enthralled by the disparate heroes and heroines from each novella as they embodied the experiences of the people from that era! Their love stories touched my heart, and I connected with so many of the characters! Best of all, I loved the faith-based messages from the book! While each novella had its own unique message about God, they each seemed to impact me just as much as they influenced the characters!

I highly recommend this book! It is such a unique treasure in my library, and I have to admit, I really wish the bronze bottle would make its way into my life!