Oh my gosh I loved this book! I give it 10 stars. I read a lot, and I put this on my top ten list for keepers.

It opens in Ancient Ireland with a Monk under attack - trying to save manuscripts, putting a message in a bottle. Beginning in Ireland is a great way in itself to hook me - then each tale is so very well written. They all have a strong Christian message and although they share the same bottle with a message (added to along the way), each is unique with a journey of its own. I would love to read a continuing story of each one. There is a big gap between the timelines and we don’t know how the bottle got from person to person. It’s not a short read so you’re given lots to get lost in. This was one that I did not want to end!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Barbour Publishing - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have 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 Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

As the Latin word, 'spero' is etched on the bottle that tied the stories in The Message in a Bottle, the meaning of hope ties through generations. I was truly inspired and encouraged by each of the stories in this Romance Collection. I've thoroughly reflected each time a story close, and wondered - just wondered how we see hope today. As these stories are set many years ago, can they still relate?

When we think of hope, or visualize it, many will think of brightness, light, early morning..etc. Even when I googled images of hope, there's bound to be a picture of the sunrise. Yet, I think for man, it is when the sun sets, when darkness settles in, that's when they need a little hope. And I hope that you'll take a chance to pick up this collection for you or someone that needs a little of it.

Revenge and hope. Now those words you don't see together often, yet it was from the spark of revenge that led to the type of hope that one can't see, but feel. In The Distant Tide, Heather Day Gilbert brilliantly present so much angst and hope in such a short story! The journey of one Viking warrior to an unknown land, coupled with an Irish princess with a missionary heart, the vast difference in background, personality and culture is surprising, yet stunning. I love how a silly thing like language doesn't contain the Truth and Hope in our Lord. His words will continue on. The Distant Tide also is my first Viking story, but it didn't hinder my understanding of the story. The author managed to put in culture, language, romance, suspense, battle and the submission of one who is thirsty for more, and as a reader, you'll drink it all. Perfect length, perfect start and perfect all around. "One sacrifice, lasting through the ages. One sacrifice that inspired others to give more of themselves..." (76)

A Song in the Night by Amanda Dykes in The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection continues to carry the bottle of hope, "Spero" to another dry land, pouring much of what it's meant to do for those that search. This second story of the collection gave us a sad story of lost. Yet, among the ruins, there are more than meets the eye. As Meg find courage to "spread her wings and fly," to recover what she lost, and to open her eyes and heart to what was always there. A Song in the Night was poetically written, affectionately received and enthusiastically shared. The image of white heather and green grass continues to soothe my soul.

"Seems to me your wings were made to fly. Your heart was made to beat. . . Ye fly, sure and true, for that is what you were made to do. Ye never need forget your friend, but neither must the life ye shared disappear." (108)

As we come to the third story The Forgotten Hope in The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection, author Maureen Lang brings us to the midst of the yellow fever outbreak and where traditional gender roles are at the beginning of change, at least one hopes. And there it is again, hope. At a time when the pain of lost wasn't far, and then the various medical epidemics that caused widespread fear, we are thrown into the thoughts of society, and what we need most. I really enjoyed the historical details, especially when it comes to how the medicine was viewed and administered. The authenticity brings forth knowledge and gratitude of how far we've come in treating illnesses that were once fatal.

In terms of the romance, the setting brings about misunderstanding that in turn create a background for readers to relate to and a couple for us to root for. Our main character, Abigail is beyond her times when she wants to practice medicine, and continue even after marriage. The idea of career versus marriage does seem to ring a bell even at this age. All in all, from the poignant setting to the matters of the heart, hope is again the theme that thread these stories together.

"That word - hope - was reminder enough from God himself." (249)

In A River Between Us by Jocelyn Green, we are in the midst of the Civil War in 1864, when our country seems more broken between the Confederates and the Yankees. Each see the other as enemies that deserve a worst fate than theirs. Enemies. A time when someone from the south shall hate those from the north, and vice versa. Yet, in A River Between Us, we truly see what it means to "love your enemies." And when what you thought was right, despite circumstances that turns back to you, when you thought hope was lost or when letting go is the hardest thing, you continue to hope. Reading this story, I thought of kindness. I thought how a smile spreads, whereas a frown dejects. I thought of hope and its blessing even when "the vessel is battered and scarred."

"Even if the vessel is battered and scarred. Hope can still live within." (322)
It's stories like these that inspires and encourages. The romance is almost second to the theme that closely tied them together.

There's a sweet innocence with The Swelling Sea by Joanne Bischof, but there's also a fierceness when you encounter the breaks, the waves, the swelling sea. I enjoyed the story of Jonas and Rosie, with their encounter, with their struggles, each in their own way and what their station in life meant. There's a little of forbidden love, but we know that love prevails. Always. When I started this story, I had a little reverence of what it takes to live your life to the fullest. I was even a little fearful that though the message will be shown, the end may not be what we had hoped.

". . .enjoy the life that you've been given. Exactly as it is...we've only got one turn at this life, and while you're waiting for your past to return to you. . .be sure and enjoy the very special future that's ahead of you."
(372)

Then we come to a close - of the bottle - of how each story shown a little wear on it, and not to mention the many generations we don't get to read about, it became real to me. Yes, I know it's a work of fiction, but the message in and of the bottle isn't fiction. It's what passed on to the offspring of each of these characters, and the descendants that knows a bit here and there carries on to modern day. So imagine, be creative and be inspire to carry the message of the bottle in life.

"While I breathe, I hope."

The message of hope, of God's love and the abundance of it, it beyond what we can fathom. I end this again with this verse, my hope for you.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Romans 15:13


This review first appeared on Just Commonly blog.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.

What a wonderful collection of authors and stories! I've enjoyed the works of the individual authors so I was pretty sure that I was going to have an interesting read before me. I was right!

The prologue begins in a monastery in Northern Ireland in the year 834 AD. That is where the bronze bottle first appears and the stage is set for a wild adventure involving that mysterious bottle. Each of the stories that follow take us through time and travel. While the individual stories are unrelated the bronze bottle appears in each.The epilogue was a fun ending in present-day California and it neatly tied the whole thing together.

I really like that the stories were stand-alone titles. It's hard to keep a continuity of character traits and voice when different authors are writing for the same characters. By changing stories completely it made the book a delightful collection that could be read over several afternoons. With five different novellas the book as a whole is quite hefty but the layout makes it reader friendly.

I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite story. I liked each one of them in different ways. Each of the stories had a strong message of faith. Due to the talent of each of the authors the characters really came alive. I was left wondering about what happened after the story ended. How did they live out their happily ever after? That's a nice feeling at the end of a good book.

The genres in this book are a mixed bag. Romance winds through each of them but there is history and mystery mixed in as well. I believe it would appeal to a wide audience.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

I had highly anticipated this collection since it contained novellas by two inspirational authors whom I've followed for several years now, and it did not disappoint! Historical novels are my second favorite (behind mystery novels), and this book features several settings that are near and dear to my heart as well as some less familiar. Each character's story is tied loosely together by the theme of Hope introduced through an ancient bronze bottle.

Over the past several years, I've discovered that reading novella collections is one of the best ways to introduce myself to new authors and new settings. The shorter story lengths also fit well into my busy lifestyle.

I highly recommend this particular collection for its beauty both in story and in message. The book itself features a gorgeous cover and textured-edge pages. The love stories are graciously presented and appropriate for a variety of ages. I believe that The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection would be a very good choice to gift to your favorite bookworm.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

I always have loved books like this and use to have a huge collection of them. I like that they are quick and to the point. I always fall in love with the characters and wonder about them later about how their lives went on.

An absolutely lovely collection of romance novellas.
This is a beautifully crafted set of stories based around a bottle which was first thrown into the sea in 834ad. The bottle top has been inscribed with the word steroids - hope. Many of the stories requiring just that hope. It was lovely to see that love is not just for the rich and handsome with some of the characters having disabilities including asthma and an arm lost in battle.
I loved this collection of stories and intend to follow many of the writers. This is one book I was given and will not be deleting any time soon.
I was given this book by Netgalley and the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

5 stories connected by an ancient artefact are telling their stories of courage, love and hope.

This is one lovely collection, and one of a quite good quality! To be honest, sometimes I am quite suspicious about the novella collections because more than often the stories are not top-notch, as far as my requirements go. But this one contains some very good readings in both the message and the quality of writing!

I very much loved "The Swelling Sea" by Joanne Bischof and "A River Between Us" by Jocelyn Green.
As for "The Swelling Sea" - I have a soft spot for this one because the novel is dealing with a heroine who is considering herself "damaged" - she was found on the shore unconscious as a child and due being under water for a long time there are some issues with her mental capacities. I so much love the tender story about finding being worthy of love!

"A River Between Us" - this novel is special to me because it made me feel in love with the authoress's writing. I read a novel by her before and was not happy about it. But I am so happy about this novella!

"The Forgotten Hope" by Maureen Lang is another one lovely read.

And the motif of an old bottle with the writing of "Spero" (Hope) - what a lovely, attractive idea! Seas and bottles with messages is one of my childhood imaginations - thanks be to the authoresses for bringing it alive.

My Thoughts: A timeless message of Hope reaches five couples in their time of need. At first, I was a bit skeptical about how a message, on paper, would survive for so long or how those who came later would read it. I thought it would be one of those stories where I would need to ignore logic in order to enjoy the stories, but I was pleasantly surprised. While the bottle carried messages from time to time, the message wasn’t written inside so much as it was outside. Hope was written on the outside for all to see and understand. But whether or not they would accept it…that’s another story.
And speaking of stories, you’re in for a treat with this collection. All five stories are set in vastly different eras, making this one of my favorite collections. The Message in a Bottle collection gets 5 stars from me. Here are my thoughts on the individual novellas.

The Distant Tide: The set kicks off with Gilbert and her Viking tale. This was my first Viking story, but I can promise you it won’t be my last. She really wet my appetite for this gripping era. Although, I was in a new territory with new customs, I didn’t have any problems understanding the story and I enjoyed every minute of it.

A Song in the Night: This was certainly a favorite of mine. Again, I found myself in a new land and era. I really enjoyed a look at the different customs. And I couldn’t get enough of this couple and their dangerous journey.

The Forgotten Hope: While I struggled a bit with connecting with characters and setting, I still found the story to be entertaining. The setting didn’t leap off the page as authentic, but I thought it was an interesting plot and it ended on a strong note for me.

A River Between Us: My heart was overflowing by the time I made it to the Civil War era story. It was everything I wanted in a single novella and then some. This was a story that I couldn’t put down. I loved watching these two enemies become lovers. And as always, Green’s settings are so realistic.

The Swelling Sea: What a solid ending to a great set! Joanne has a way of endearing the characters to the reader and this was certainly one of those times. Parts of the story moved a little slower for me, but I still found myself enjoying it overall. And I was treated to a very happy ending.

~I received a copy from the publisher. I was not required to give a favorable review. All thoughts are my own.

Before I get into my brief thoughts on each individual story, I have to say this is certainly one of my favorite novella collections that I have come across. The stories in this book offer a variety of settings, both in location and time in history, but within each story is such a tale of hope that the book itself is just a blessing to read. Plus, I loved that the same brass bottle with spero (latin for hope) kept showing up. It was a moment that I anticipated and found so sweet. It was a unique way to tie together these five very different stories.

* * * * * *

The Distant Tide by Heather Day Gilbert

1170: County Kerry, Ireland

When a Viking bent on revenge mistakenly raids the castle of a bookish Irish princess, will she cast her fears aside to befriend the enemy, finally realizing God's plan for her life?

This was the first time I have read something by Gilbert (and I plan to read more in the future), and I quickly adored this story. Written in the fascinating era of Viking invasions, Gilbert transports readers to Ireland. Never once did I feel like this was a novella. The story was well-developed and hard to put down. There were twists and turns and altogether wonderful!

A Song in the Night by Amanda Dykes

1715: Scotland and England

When a Scottish story-weaver loses her family in a clan war, she finds herself aided by a handsome, secretive bagpiper in a race against time to reunite her with someone she never dared hope she'd see again.

If any of these stories truly immersed you into another time and place, it was this one. Both in the dialect and customs, Amanda Dykes did a wonderful job of making me feel like I truly was in Scotland with these characters. Amanda Dykes was another "new to me" author and one that I'll probably be looking for more books by her to read.

The Forgotten Hope by Maureen Lang

1798: New York

As a champion of the sick, a young New Yorker never doubted her worth until a new doctor arrives to work with her father, one who believes her to be nothing more than a social butterfly. Can she gain his respect--and his love?

This story was so charming! I loved this story of a woman pretending to be something she isn't really. But loved experiencing this story unfold as characters realized how much they really need to learn who someone else is. In the collection, I felt like this one was a bit more of a faster read.

A River Between Us by Jocelyn Green

1864: Roswell, Georgia

When a Georgian cotton mill worker is arrested and sent North, the Union officer who tries to protect her is the last person she wants to forgive--and the only man who can bring hope and healing to her heart.

Having read a number of novels by Jocelyn Green, this was one of the stories I was most looking forward to. And I was not disappointed! This story brought to life so much Civil War history. While this was certainly one of the more difficult stories to read, because war is hard and certainly not pleasant, the story was well worth it.

The Swelling Sea by Joanne Bischof

1890: Coronado Island, California

After washing ashore on the California coastline, a young woman's yearning to discover her past leads her to the courageous oarsman who helps her find the key.

What a story to end on! Joanne Bischof's story was probably the hardest one for me to put down when I needed to take a small break from reading. The young woman in this story was so charming and she had me so intrigued about who she was. The simple relationship that grows between her and the oarsman was so sweet.

* * * * * *

Overall, from prologue to epilogue, I can't say enough how wonderful this collection is. Each story offers so much, both in the entertainment of a well-written tale, but also in the message that each story has to share. If you are looking for a collection to pick up, I highly recommend this one.

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.**

I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

“The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection: Hope Reaches Across the Centuries Through One Single Bottle, Inspiring Five Romances” begins in Ireland in 834 AD where a monk is fighting to hide a bronze bottle from invading Vikings. What is special about this bottle? It is filled with scripture and has a message in Latin engraved around the neck, “spero” which means hope. The bottle shows up throughout all five stories reminding the characters at their darkest hours to always have hope.

First, an Irish princess encounters a Viking warrior bent on revenge and teaches him to love your enemies! The details of Viking warriors and their ways of life were intriguing!

The second story, “A Song in the Night” is set in Scotland. One of the main characters was a bagpipe player. I would love to see that one made into a movie! Super scenery, music and characters. I could hear the bagpipes playing as I read!

New York in 1798 is the setting for “The Forgotten Hope” by Maureen Lang is the story of a young lady who longs to continue to work beside her father as a doctor rather than become the doting wife that society deems she should be. The story follows her as she assists during a yellow fever outbreak remind us to always rely on God and to not distance yourself from others in an attempt to not be hurt by life’s tribulations.

“A River Between Us” by Jocelyn Green is set in 1864 Georgia, during the Civil War. It is a sweet reminder to love your enemy! If you enjoy historical romances, check out her “Heroines behind the Civil War” series.

“The Swelling Sea” by Joanne Bischoff is set in 1890 California at the lovely Hotel Del Coronado and reminds us to never give up.

The epilogue is also by Joanne Bischoff and ties all the stories up nicely. Very happy with the ending. Love that the prologue and epilogue are both mini stories themselves!

If you enjoy uplifting, romantic short stories, I highly recommend this book. All five stories were well written and engaging. They all remind the reader that no matter how dark or troubling your life is, there is always hope in God and His word!

I think every novella in this book is filled with a Hope that is lovely! Each character is well thought out and each story is written so well! It was such an enjoyable series of novellas! From Vikings to Scottish Highlander's, to New York City on to Civil War Georgia and then finally the coast of California! I truly couldn't get enough of this book and when the last page turned I was sad the journey was over. But truly it wasn't because the Hope talked about within the pages continues within the reader!

This collection raises the bar to new heights! I am digging deep to create a review worthy of the experience held between the covers of this book. The prologue and epilogue are powerful mini-stories in their own right yet the journey of the bottle weaves them and the five stories together into one inspiring adventure. This book consistently summoned blissful sighs, book hugs, and happy tears which eventually evolved into a blubbering book hangover at the end. I will be telling everyone about this book and the timeless message etched on that bottle! Bravo, ladies! BRAVO!

I requested the opportunity to read and review this title through the authors and NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

The Message in a Bottle Romance.

This is a great book with 5 novellas. Each story contained a message in a bottle. The first book by Heather Day Gilbert, is a story about a Viking trying to get revenge. Adventures right from the first page and characters that you will fall in love with.
The second book by Amanda Dyke starts with an "almost wedding" and war between clans in Scotland. I enjoyed the characters and their different personalities. A mystery, adventures, and a love story makes an interesting story.
The third book by Maureen Lang is a love story plus a love for helping people from the heroine Abigail. Her love for helping people overpowered any kind of love she thought she had for a man. "Oh to feel that way, at least once, As if her heart had wings". (Abigail) Well finally when love came she understood that feeling.
The fourth book by Jocelyn Green is about the Civil War. Cora was torn away from her home and Mother but God had put in place good men that tried to protect them both. Many sorrows they faced but God always wins. A very good story. I love the Civil War Era.
The fifth story by Joanne Bischof tells of a young girl being washed ashore and trying to recover the things she lost when she was found not breathing. Now grown and trying to put the pieces together of what happened in her young life, a young man comes and tries to help her. Falling in love with someone he shouldn't (according to his family) he follows his heart.
Each of these books has the message of Hope from "The Bottle". These books do not read like short stories. They were just good novels under one cover. I loved each character and felt their heartbeat of love and hope as I read. They didn't seem to end abruptly and had great nuggets of truth in each story.
If you love Historical Fiction you need to read this book. Please don't pass it up.
I was given a digital copy of this book through NetGalley and a paperback by the authors. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

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.

this book is fabulous and beautiful. The stories featured are enthralling,inspiring and enticing at the same time. I especiallyloved the ones by heather day gilbert and jocelyn green. The authors featured in this book now how to entertain and affect readers at the same time. I loved this collection and strongly recommend it to everyone.

I enjoyed this novella collection so much! With an overarching theme of hope, each story drew me in and captured my heart as I watched various characters learn to embrace hope regardless of circumstances.

I loved that these stories were all set in different time periods, with characters and situations that varied with each novella. Yet, even still, that theme of hope was woven through each story by way of a bronze bottle as it traveled through history.

I enjoyed every single novella in this book. The prologue and epilogue both started and ended the collection nicely. I truly loved the variety in the different novellas! The fact that the stories covered such a wide range of history, from Viking times to late 1800’s America, made for a very enjoyable experience.

If you enjoy historical fiction, I definitely recommend The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I was absolutely enthralled with this book for so very many reasons! The five highly talented Christian authors who corroborated on this collection brilliantly combined their efforts to tell the story of a ancient bottle from the Ballyfir Monastery in the North of Ireland in 834AD that was tossed into the sea by a monk who gave his life so that The Living Word would endure. Through each authors' imagination I was immersed in stories of true faith and inspiration that engaged every single one of my emotions and embraced my joy of reading by taking me to places that I had never traveled to through my books before. To Ireland amongst revenge seeking Vikings, to Scotland's shores amid feuding clans, to New York City after the American Revolution, the Civil War and then to present day California. Each story has interesting and inspiring characters who act selflessly time and again to change their fate while teaching me about the true meaning of faith and the strength that faith employs. My favorite story, by far, was A River Between Us by Jocelyn Green because I have always been fascinated by the history of the Civil War though I never could have anticipated how harrowing the lives of her characters could become. With every page of this collection I was engrossed in these stories featuring everyday people in extraordinary circumstances who find love and the empowerment of hope. It's a journey that I will never forget. I read a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.

I would give each of the stories in this collection 5 stars if I could. I loved the different time periods through the centuries.
The prologue begins in 834 A.D. the Ballyfir Monastery, the North of Ireland. A bronze bottle inscribed with the Latin word Spero (Hope) holding a bit of the “Living Word” is tossed into the sea, saved from fire.
I very much enjoyed how each story was of an unlikely pair, being brought together in unusual circumstances.
The message of Hope reached the hands of the owner of the bottle at just the time they needed it most.
I highly recommend this book to all lovers of Inspirational historical fiction. As well as those who need a reminder to "Hope

As someone who is not generally inclined to pick up novella collections, I am so glad I made an exception for this one! Having read three out of the five contributing authors before, I was fairly certain I would enjoy the collection, but it ended up exceeding even that expectation. I genuinely loved it!

The collection begins with a prologue set in a monastery in Northern Ireland in AD 834. A monk, desperate for the Living Word to endure as they are attacked by Vikings, prays: “Please, Father...If we perish, may hope yet live.” A bronze vessel and the single parchment he manages to secure inside are that legacy of hope, and the five novellas that follow trace a small part that bronze vessel’s journey through the centuries, closing with an epilogue in modern-day California.

For me, the most attractive part of this series was the different settings, each so vividly brought to life. If I was pressed to nominate a favourite, I would still have to give two: A Song in the Night by Amanda Dykes, and The Swelling Sea by Joanne Bischof.

Amanda Dykes was one of the new-to-me authors in this collection, and not only did I love the Scottish setting (my own ancestry and a setting not frequently seen in Christian fiction), but I fell in love with her writing and her characters. As an extra bonus, the original performance of Handel’s Water Music features in the story! My music- and story-loving hearts united!

Joanne Bischof’s heroine, Rosie, is one of the sweetest heroines I have come across—a young woman who nearly drowned at the age of ten and still exhibits certain mannerisms that are considered childlike. Couple that with Joanne Bischof’s beautifully sensitive writing and you have a captivating story.

But I would only single those ones out if I was REALLY pressed to nominate a favourite, because this is truly a stellar collection. Even if you are not normally a novella reader, I highly recommend this series. If you are a novella reader, put this one at the top of your list. You’re in for a real treat!

Across centuries, miles, and oceans, one bottle spreads the truth of the one word etched into it.
A Viking intent on revenge and an Irish princess who longs to change the world discover that love knows no barriers. Neither the past nor language barriers can dim the promise of Spero.
After tragedy strikes, a Scottish Laird’s daughter and the clan piper, who kept his promise to always watch, are reunited.
While one woman is torn between her heart’s desire to help her father and societal expectations, she meets a doctor determined to remain detached from anyone after too much loss.
A confederate mill worker and a union soldier discover love is greater even than the war that separates them.
And a college student set on making a childhood dream reality who meets a hotel maid who is missing vital piece of her childhood memory.

The bottle finds its way into each of their lives when they need a reminder of the message. The power of Spero is intended for everyone and given freely to anyone who believes. Because hope is timeless and limitless.

I love these romance collections because it gives me a glimpse into authors I’ve not read yet, and I usually find another or two to add to my list. The Message in a Bottle collection is no exception to this. While each story is set in a different time and written by a different author, the message flows throughout the story seamlessly and in a beautiful way to keep the promise of hope flowing through present-day.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required 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.