I really enjoyed the Message in a Bottle Romance Collection of novellas; it has been one of my favorite novella sets that I have read. I liked how the stories were tied together across centuries and countries by a single bottle and the message it carries to future generations. Usually I feel that novellas are rushed, but I was drawn in to almost every novella in this set, and I looked forward each time to the next time to see what happened with the bottle next. I highly recommend this collection!

The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection was very good. I loved how all five of the stories connected via the bottle. It was interesting to see each author's different way of using the bottle. I really liked all the stories and I don't think I can pick a favorite. They were all unique in their own way and I recommend this collection if you enjoy historical romances.

*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Linked by the premise of a bottle with the inscription "spero" (hope) as set up in the prologue, these are novellas of faith and love set in different historical times. As the bottle is found and the inscription deciphered in each novella, the meaning of it's message becomes clear.

Heather Day Gilbert starts the collection with a story set in the time of the Normans with a bookish and devout Irish princess, Britta, and Ari, the Norwegian Viking who is seeking revenge against her father. As first Ari is at Britta's mercy, and then Britta is at the mercy of Ari's fellow Vikings, it is Britta's hope and faith that shines through while the devotion of another is tested.

Meg McNaughton, a Laird's daughter, is to marry into a warring clan in Amanda Dykes' story set in 1700's Scotland. Keeping watch for her, serving her family, ever living in hope is the piper, Duncan Blair. As they travel with Tinkers, his devotion becomes clear to Meg.

In Maureen Lang's story we meet Abigail Van de Klerk of New York in 1798, who at 20 has been trained in medicine by her father. It is only after spending a summer learning to be a young lady that she meets Dr. Calvin Slattery, who sees her as a flirty and shallow young lady. This story reminded me of Pride and Prejudice in some ways, and I absolutely loved Abigail's father.

Jocelyn Green moves forward in the timeline to 1864 in Civil War era Georgia. With her pa and brother dead and her ma sick, 20 year old mill worker Cora Mae Stewart is having to give consideration to the proposal of the 40 year old loom boss, Horace Ferguson, a friend of her father. General Sherman's orders to move the mill workers to Marietta, however, bring her to the notice of Sergeant Ethan Howard of the 72nd Indiana Cavalry and exposes her to situations she never would have imagined, where hope seems a very fragile thing.

Jonas McIntosh suffers from asthma, but is determined to be a champion rower as he practices with his team at the Hotel Del Coronado on Coronado Island in Joanne Bischof's story of 1890 California. While there he meets Rosie Graham, who was washed up on shore and raised by local lighthouse keepers, and he encourages her to meet with him despite it risking her job as a maid.

As so often happens when I read these collections, I find that the stories by the authors that attracted me to it are quite good, but that some other author whose name and writing I am unfamiliar with somehow manages to have contributed my favorite of the novellas. While each of the stories is well constructed and engaging, it is Maureen Lang's The Forgotten One that just barely edges out the others.

This is a solid, enjoyable set of connected novellas that will be gratifying reads for those who enjoy Historical Fiction with themes of faith, love, devotion, and of course, hope. While I found that waiting for and wondering about how the bottle would be incorporated in each story was a bit of a distraction, I did enjoy the conceit and find myself wishing I had a print copy on my reread shelf, complete with French flaps and deckled edges.

This review refers to an e-galley read courtesy of the publisher, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I'm not always the biggest fan of novella collections, they often seem too short, too spacey, or too quickly written. But this collection had me pleasantly surprised. I was familiar with some of the authors which is why I was interested in the collection, but now they're all going to be on my "to-read" list.

Each novella is set in a completely different time period (and location!) than the others, but they all have one common little thread, the bottle. While this is woven in more strongly in some novellas than others, it's still there. This was a fun theme that I enjoyed through each work. At the end of each novella I ached for that story to continue, the characters and plots were that good!!

If you're a history fan, a romance fan, or just a fan of shorter stories, this is a great book to check out! Enjoy.

** I received this book from the authors. All my opinions are my own.

by Andrea Renee Cox

Overall, this was an enjoyable collection of stories. I found that the bottle was inconsistent from story to story. I thought it was supposed to have been carried down from generation to generation, but it didn't appear that way once I dove into the novellas.

I've lost my notes on the first story (that notebook ran out, and I'm not sure what happened to it), but here are my thoughts on the others:

<i>A Song in the Night</i>
This might have been my first book by Amanda Dykes, but after seeing the complexity, faith, and hope she masterfully stitched together, I am certain it won't be my last. I liked that Scotland and bagpipes were featured. That added a fun flair to this story. The characters were well developed and easy to root for. One tiny thing that tugged my attention from the story line for a few moments was the use of the modern slang term "cuppa." This detail didn't detract from the richness of this story.

<i>The Forgotten Hope</i>
Though I appreciated Cal's desire for serious rather than frivolous conversation, he often came across as rude, which did not make for an enjoyable leading man. As for the leading lady, I was disappointed that she became a flirt when she had begun as a smart, serious young woman. The last couple of chapters were more enjoyable, but by that point, I already had lost interest in the characters' journeys.

<i>A River Between Us</i>
Only the second Civil War-era book I've enjoyed (just not my era, I guess), this book was an emotional journey worth taking. I adored June, and characterization was a strong point in this story. The gruesome war surgeries were realistically portrayed (caution advised for those who easily pass out or get squeamish). There were plenty of high tension and twists in the plot. Though I enjoyed this one, there were a few drawbacks for me, which included: profanity, alcohol, and a joke about a chaplain drinking alcohol.

<i>The Swelling Sea</i>
As always, Joanne Bischof shared a story of hope wrapped up in flawed characters a person can root for. Rosie was amazing, particularly for her innocence. What a refreshing character! The only things that interrupted my experience were a few clunky sentence fragments and a sudden flashback that unnecessarily detracted from the climax of the story. Those things don't change how delightful this sweet romance was.

I wish I could find my notes for that first story! I remember enjoying that one, but the details are escaping me now.

I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, authors, and sites like Netgalley, Litfuse Publicity Group, and Blogging for Books. They do not require me to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I really enjoy novella collections and this was a fun one. Each of these authors write great stories on their own, having them together just makes the book that much more enjoyable. I would love to read another collection by these authors.

I don’t read a lot of these novella collections, but I mostly requested this for one short tale in particular. Each one of the short stories (less than 100 pages), were well written and cute, my problem is that I don’t really care much for American Fiction. Since 3 out of the 5 stories were set in America, you can see how that might be a problem.
Don’t get me wrong, they were interesting, it’s just that I don’t know enough about the American Civil War, or turn of the (20th) century California, and I don’t really identify with the setting. The third story, about the Doctor’s daughter I enjoyed and the second one with the Scottish girl and the loyal piper who led her through everything

The first story, set in 12th century Ireland was good, but it was also the one I was most disappointed with, as I did not feel it was historically accurate. There were just too many mistakes: one scene mentioned a character eating a potato pie, and another using a table fork. Neither were introduced to Europe until centuries later.
The Castle and Vikings also seemed out of place, although they were essential to the story. It’s a shame in a way because as stated above, it was a great story with a clear gospel message, but I think the historical setting could have been different.

Overall, The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection would appeal to anyone who enjoys historical romances spanning different times and geographical regions but united by a common thread.

I requested a copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

I just love how the message in the bottle which was translated to the word hope,helped the characters throughout this book.
And they were all in different circumstances and in different era's throughout this book. There is always hope,even in the darkest of times.

Join the journey as one word etched in Latin on an ancient bronze bottle travels through the centuries to reach five young women who are struggling to maintain their faith in God and love. An Irish princess, a Scottish story weaver, a Post-Colonial nurse, a cotton mill worker, and a maid who nearly drowned each receive a message from the bottle just when they need their hope restored. But will the bottle also bring them each to a man whose love will endure?

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!

What a wonderful collection of stories from all of my favourite authors....thank you for the honor of reading...and sharing....this beautiful book.

What happens when five incredibly talented author get together to write a book? A promise to poor delight!
This is a deeply thought, carefully written and breath taking book!
Follow the journey among generations, and, alongside the characters, find your true self in the process.

The message in a Bottle is a book of love (where you have a Viking who is taken prisoner but is kept taken lovingly care of by an Irish princess.), romance ( Abigail wanting to fall in love and marry a man that would let practice medicine), adventurous(General Sherman had tons of Southern mill workers were displaced what did they do?)., boundless (the stories of geography and time period), enlightening (the superstitions and ideas that the people had for medicine and for their beliefs in each of their time periods.) and all of it floating in a bronze bottle going from Scotland, New York, Georgia, and California. Starting in 1715-1890. This book is awesome and each story is better than the last. It is so worth it.

I received a free copy from NetGalley; this is my honest review.
Usually, when there is a collection of multiple authors there is always one or two stories not to my liking; this is no exception but I was pleasantly surprised to only have one of those. Hope is the theme and each author brings it forward in their own way. Well done.
1. Prologue ****: Nice intro as to how the bottle first appeared. Short and suspenseful.
2. The distant tide ****: Touching enemies to lovers romance. Many references to either a prayer or a thinking towards the Bible but nothing out of place nor overwhelming. Loved it.
3. A song in the night ***: A bit too much of prayers, songs and/or verses, like the author had to make her quota of words and couldn't. Still, good spun story of grief, regrets, joy, and love.
4. The forgotten hope *****: Overcoming grief, leading to unexpected love. Touching. Loved it.
5. A river between us *****: Heart-rending believable story between a Yankee and a Rebel. Not too many verses/prayers. Hope, honor, commitment. Loved it.
6. The swelling sea *****: Hope. Hope at its highest. Hope for love, for the future, for the accomplishment. Hope. The author didn't use any verses/songs/prayers but you know they both believe and that's enough for me. Completely loved it; it's my favorite.
7. Epilogue ****: Good wrap-up to this collection. The bottle is finally put to rest but it's still sending hope.

The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection is a great compilation of five love stories that begin with a brass bottle created in a monastery and tossed into the sea. The bottle travels from century to century and continent to continent and then city to city. Always with the same message of hope to those who find it. An Irish princess, a Scottish lass, a New York healer, a Southern mill worker and a hotel maid in California each find the truth of God's Word in her life. Revenge, restoration, and romance. Sorrows, sadness and yet through it all the solace of Hope. Each of the five authors has created characters of strength and tenderness, characters that are realistic and touch the reader's heart. The various settings are vividly described and add so much to the drama of each story. I enjoy these books that are collections of related stories from different authors as it allows the reader to enjoy favorite authors and be introduced to new authors. And this collection brings a message of hope...even if the vessel is battered and scarred. Hope can still live within.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a review and the opinions are my own.

This book began a little confusing, the whole opening with the monk and then it going into the story collection, I admit I was incredibly lost for a while. But soon it became the usual quality I've grown to expect from these romance collections!

This romance collection is sweet and inspiring and fun to read. It is five stories by different authors about the same bottle. This small bronze bottle was stolen by Vikings from a monk during a raid in 834 AD and the centuries have carried it along to the present day. The bottle is inscribed with the Latin word SPERO, which means hope. Not only does the bottle bring hope to the people who have it, it might also bring love.
The first story is The Distant Tide by Heather Day Gilbert and takes place in 1170 in Ireland. Britta is a princess in a small Irish community. When her father leaves on a voyage, she and her maid and a small contingent of warriors are left behind. Ari is a Viking, bent on revenge. He believes that her family killed his brother long ago. He attacks the castle while Britta’s father is away. When his attempt fails, Britta imprisons him while awaiting word from her father. As she treats his wounds and learns who he is, attraction blooms. But will her father allow it? And when their community comes under attack, will Ari help the attacked or the attackers?
The next story is A Song in the Night by Amanda Dykes. Meg is set to wed a leader from an opposing clan as a truce offering to bring peace to her family and home. But, when the wedding turns out to be a trap and all she loves is taken from her, she goes on the run with a band of travelling singers. She finds herself as their storyteller. She wanders the countryside with them for two years, believing everyone she loves to be dead. When she returns to the land she once called home, hope arrives in the form of their song leader, who has waited all this time for her. Can they reach someone dear to her? And will they find love along the way?
The third story is The Forgotten Hope by Maureen Lang. Abigail Van de Klerk has worked at her father’s side for as long as she can remember, helping with the wounded and sick. She loves the work and feels it is her calling. Her father, however, wishes her to marry and have a family, so he sends her to live with friends for the summer and learn how to be a proper lady. He has another young doctor assist him during this time. Dr. Tallery is sure that Abigail is simply another flighty young woman, until sickness takes hold of everyone around them, including her father, and she must work tirelessly to save them. Will the doctors find love and hope together?
A River Between Us, by Jocelyn Green, is a story about two people from different sides of the Civil War. Cora Mae is a displaced southerner while Ethan Howard has been assigned to take her to her new home, away from her family. Along the way, romance blossoms, though both fight hard against it. Circumstances deem to keep throwing them together, however, until both must acknowledge what is building between them. Will they be able to overcome the barriers between them?
In The Swelling Sea by Joanne Bischof, Rosie is a young lady with no memory of her childhood, having lost her recollections in an accident. Jonas is from a privileged background and comes to stay at the hotel where Rosie works. They meet when they both discover a bottle washed up on the beach. As they get to know one another and discover the stories behind their individual lives, romance rides in on the same waves that brought the bottle. However, with her limited memories and his expectations from home, will they be able to make it work?
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance and happy endings. It is a delightful story that will make you smile and laugh and shed a few tears too! I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

I've read several of these novella collections from the publisher and this one impressed me the most. A book of novellas is somewhat difficult to review since the authors' skill with words, character development, and storyline varies so much. I can confidently say that this collection of novellas is top-notch in writing, character development, and pace and detail of the plots.

I've only read one novella by Maureen Lang prior to this book so most of the authors were new to me, though I have been eyeing Heather Day Gilbert, Jocelyn Green and Joanne Bischof's books for awhile now. It was a great introduction to their writing.

The book is tied and bound together by a bronze bottle which first makes its appearance in 834 AD in an Irish monastery. The bottle travels to Norway and makes its way back to Ireland in 1170 AD, travels to Scotland in 1715, then is picked up in NYC in 1798, goes to Georgia in 1864, and ends up in California in 1890. The book ends with present day epilogue in California. The bottle has the biggest presence in the prologue/first novella and last novella/epilogue. It was wonderful to see and experience how each author weaved her story around the bronze bottle with the Latin inscription SPERO ("hope"). The stories it carried, the lives it touched.....I don't think I'll ever look at another museum artifact the same way again. Every surviving historical artifact must have a similar past like this bottle had, illustrated in these novellas....

I was given an ARC by Barbour through NetGalley. I was not required to give a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

I enjoyed reading about the bottle and it’s message of Hope throughout time. Each story was interesting and sweet. I thought each author brought their own flare to the collection. The character’s were believable. I don’t have a favorite because it’s too hard to choose. I thought the romance was sweet. I’m not a big short story fan because I often feel like the story is too quick or lacking the depth a full length novel has. However, each author did a good job creating a complete short story. I didn’t feel like it was missing anything. The bottle and it’s message of hope was mentioned throughout each story. Some more then other’s. I would have liked to have the bottle mentioned more throughout the story. This book is a good reminder of the HOPE we have in Jesus. When all seems lost, we can turn to Jesus. He is our hope. My grandpa passed away last month unexpectedly. It’s been a hard month but I am reminded of the hope of the cross. My grandpa lived his life sharing this hope we can have in Jesus. Without Jesus, there is no hope, no assurance of heaven. This hope is a promise from the Lord. I am so thankful that I know 100% that my grandpa is in heaven and I have the hope and promise I will see him again. I know the stories are fiction but the message of Hope the character’s experience is something the reader can learn from and be an encouragement.

I recomend this book to all my family and friends!