A good collection of historical romances all set around lighthouses. I enjoyed the lighthouse theme and that fact that most of the stories contained some mystery elements. My favorite story of the collection was The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser, the mystery of that story made for an exciting read. All in all, a solid collection of stories.

These Great Lakes novellas are short. They’re barely longer than a short story, actually. I read all seven in a span of about five hours. As a whole, the stories were well written, and I only have a few quibbles with individual titles within the collection.

My biggest objection, actually, is that there were name crossovers between a few of the stories which, after reading so many in a row, became confusing. I actually think it would have been worse if I’d read one here or there. Additionally, several of the storylines had strong similarities and/or contrived plots. Add to that some info-dumping and you’d think I didn’t like the collection or the stories, but that’s not actually true.

Let’s talk about each of the stories, though.

Anna’s Tower by Pegg Thomas
It’s a toss-up between this book and the next as to which is my favorite. This story was unique, extremely well written, and full of the kinds of details you need to know without over-describing things. Characters were well-developed, a difficult thing to do in approximately twenty-thousand words. Pegg Thomas knows how to limit herself to create a well-crafted story that itself doesn’t feel limited at all. The relationship progression felt natural, and as I already stated, it might be my favorite, and I’m eager to read more by Ms. Thomas.

Beneath a Michigan Moon by Candice Sue Patterson
In a “Blue Castle moves to America and meets a lumberjack” kind of twist, this novella had all the charm of one of my favorite L.M. Montgomery novels without feeling like a cheap imitation. Ms. Patterson writes authentic, stubborn, and lovably flawed characters in a story that shows a realistic, gentle romance that satisfied—even in such a short story. As with the first in the collection, I didn’t feel as if the story was rushed or incomplete. Would I like more of either or both of them? Absolutely. But I walked away satisfied and eager to read more by this author.

Safe Haven by Rebecca Jepson
If the first two were my favorites, this was a close second/third. Once more, we had a unique story and delightful characters. One element of the story bothered me a bit—it all seemed a bit contrived—but I think that it was either necessary to make the main story work because of the shortness of the novella, or it only needed a full-length novel to make it work. I’m not sure which. Still, it was a minor annoyance of an issue rather than a big problem. I’ll definitely be reading more by Ms. Jepson. I suspect I’ll find a few new favorites from her as well.

Love’s Beacon by Carrie Fancett Pagels
After three successful novellas, I still don’t know if my less enthusiastic response to this one was because I read them all at once, if it just wasn’t my cup of tea, or if it was a combination of the two. This isn’t a bad book. I’m not sorry I read it. I liked different parts—in particular, I loved the characters of Paul and Sofia.

However, there were strong similarities in some elements of this story and the last, and then again in the next. Because of that, some details are blurring together. I did find the actual romance very sweet, and I cheered for Val in that respect. In retrospect, I think my biggest objection is that the author tried to fit a lot of elements into one very short story.

The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser
This novella had many similar elements to others, and its position as one of the middle books made it difficult not to be frustrated by it. As with the other story involving a father and daughter, they were my favorite characters in the story. I also enjoyed the influence of Aunt Ada. There were several poignant moments where the woman gave beautiful advice. I think I want to read a full-length novel by Ms. Rouser. Something about this one hints that I may really enjoy her writing in a different context.

Note: I did not dislike it, but the similarities with a couple of the other books made it hard to appreciate it as much as I might otherwise have.

The Disappearing Ship by Lena Nelson Dooley
Of all the novellas, this is the one I wanted a full-length novel of the most. I really think writing this as a novella did a disservice to what would otherwise be an excellent novel. The more suspenseful elements, the hint of mystery, and the character/relationship development that could have happened would have made this book amazing. As it is, I was disappointed. We were informed of a lot of the action rather than actually seeing it play out, and that really weakened the experience for me. So, once again, the novella made me eager to see how I’d like a full-length novel by its author.

The Wrong Survivor by Marilyn Turk
I found myself floundering as I read this one—mostly, I think, because the last novella’s main character’s name was Drake Logan, and this character is Nathan Drake. Add to that a Nathan a couple of novellas up, and I struggled with it. I kept thinking that this or that behavior was out of character until I realized I was expecting him to behave like one or the other of similarly-named people. This isn’t the author’s fault, and all I know is that I thought she did a great job of making someone able to overcome grief so “quickly,” actually plausible by her choice of people and the backstory. That isn’t easy to do, so I know I’ll be checking out her other works to see if I like them as much as I suspect I will.

Overall impression?
As I said in the beginning, I think this is a well-written collection, but the organization and extremely short length of each novella added weaknesses that might otherwise not have been a problem. Will I read other collections by this publisher? I don’t know. It seems prudent to at least try one more set to see if this was a fluke or if it’s a continuing problem.

Tell me… have you read any of the similar collections to the Great Lakes Lighthouses? Do they have problems like this? Did you enjoy them? Did you find new authors that are now favorites?

I typically do not pick up collections like The Great Lakes Light House Brides, but when I saw that all the stories took place in my home state of Michigan, I grabbed it up quick.

When I saw town names like Saginaw, Mackinaw, Manistee, and White Fish Point I was hit with flash backs of family trips to all of these locations and many others. Just a few years back, my husband and I took the kids to Old Point Lighthouse. So as the author talked about the different rooms and the tower, I knew precisely what she was describing. Anyway, it was fun reading these locations but from a historical stand point.

Each story has a common thread that I felt was very poignant for today. Strong, independent women looking to make their mark in life. These young ladies were not looking for love, but found it nonetheless and eventually, once they moved past their stubbornness, embraced it emphatically. There was even just the right amount of mystery to keep the ebook pages turning.

Overall, I found The Great Lakes Light House Brides entertaining and exciting. As I finished the last page, I was reminded how beautiful this Mitten state and all its Great Lakes truly are. The only thing that would have made it perfect is if a bride made her way all the way to the top of Michigan to Copper Harbor Lighthouse. (It is the northern most point in Michigan.)

Thank you to all of these talented ladies for writing these beautiful stories.

*** I was given a copy of this anthology so that I may give an honest review.***

Historical Romance novellas with a lighthouse theme - what's not to love! Seven stories spanning 1883 to 1911 set in Michigan surrounded by the Great Lakes. The shores hold the stories of not only love, but heartache, strife and even suspense. Each novella written about a women during a historical time period and how she overcame obstacles through faith while also building relationships. The stories are unique but weave together through the setting in which they take place. You will even learn about Lighthouse Keepers - a very fascinating job might I add! 

If you enjoy collections, lighthouses and historical fiction surrounding strong female characters, this will fill the spot! It's a beautiful collection to add to your shelf.

This book of 7 short stories was a great picture to me of the 7 Lighthouses around Michigan that they chose from to write about. I love Michigan and I love Lighthouses so this drew me right in to reading this one. I was sure NOT disappointed. The various authors in this book did a great job researching and relaying the historical side to the Lighthouses as well as penned marvelous romance stories with each one. All the shipwreck, all the heartache, and the importance of getting that light on to save lives were powerfully displayed. My heart is still tugged by one about a single woman who has no family and had just lost her father. She has to figure out how to remain the Lighthouse attendant. It’s extremely hard work and to top it off she has a medical condition. Such a fun read! One of my favorite quotes from this book is “Envy wasn’t a comfortable companion, but it had dogged her steps these last few days.” You’ll want to check this one out!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


****Also posted on CBD, B&N

This collection of novellas is super great. You have many authors who write all about lighthouses.
You will want to seek out your own lighthouse for your own adventures. How the authors put
their stories all around one main theme is incredible.

I like historical fiction, but these stories were not engaging. I found them slow, mellow-dramatic, lacking in interesting characters and good dialogue.

I love historical fiction, especially romance, so this book was a nice choice. Lighthouses are intriguing to me. They remind me of an old Christian hymn, too. I love the thought of leading someone home using a light. Sound familiar?

Most of the authors were ones I had read, but there were a few that were new to me. I enjoyed all of the stories, but of course some were better than others. The book starts in 1883 and each novella is a few years later until the last one is set in 1911.

Each author has done an exemplary job of researching and planning her story. I enjoyed learning about the different people, times, and places, even immigrants. It is obvious a lot of work was done in the organizing of this compilation of stories.

The faith message is woven throughout the book. It teaches life lessons that are still relevant today. Faith, trust, and hope as well as forgiveness are a few examples of lessons from this book.

I learned things, too, duties of a Lighthouse Keeper for one thing. Some things were common sense that I just never considered. Lightkeepers work night shift, sleeping in the day and being vigilant at night to keep others safe.

This is a lovely Christian fiction collection. Each author compliments the next one. The tales are encouraging and delightful. I would not hesitate to recommend this to lovers of historical romance. It gets a 4 out of 5 stars from me.

This is such a wonderful collection of stories. I happen to have a soft spot for Lighthouse stories, so when I saw this collection was coming I was so excited. A couple of these authors are new to me and I’m so glad I found them! Not that I need more authors on my every growing list of authors I enjoy, lol.
Each story had it’s own plot and feel to it, but the authors did a fantastic job of having similar themes flow throughout all the stories. I like it when a collection does that – you can enjoy each story separately, but the subtle themes in each work so well together. Yes there was love, but I think it was more about each woman kind of making a mark for herself. Then love could come her way, and when it did it was wonderful each time. Some in fact, were hysterical and I found myself reading some of the scenes more than once.
Not only were the heroines wonderfully written, but the setting in each story just made me want to jump into a time machine and visit the beautiful state of Michigan, historically of course. The lighthouses themselves sounded magnificent, but what captured my attention the most was the shores of the lakes. I could hear the water, feel the shore, and if I really concentrated felt like I was right alongside each character. It’s one thing for one author to be able to do that, but seven!? That was amazing to me.
Historical fiction fans are going to love this set of novellas. This is a book I can see myself coming back to for years to come! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides collections is a delightful collection of captivating novellas based on Lighthouse keepers of the great lakes from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. There was not a story among them that I didn’t enjoy. For me each story was a nice read before bed ( I have a bad habit of wanting to know what happens and have been known to stay up until I finish a book )

Among the seven novellas is The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser, the story of a lone survivor of The Mallory, a ship that sank outside of the Mackinc Point Lighthouse. Stricken with amnesia a woman can only remember one thing, the name Mallory. Cal, the Lighthouse keeper who lives with his young daughter and Aunt finds himself not only protective of Mallory, but losing his heart to her. Will her unknown past keep them apart?

I received a copy of this novel from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own

Another great and successful collection with some of my favorite authors. Each had the perfect blend of lighthouses, faith, and romance to make me swoon all weekend long.

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection is a wonderful set of seven stories of women finding love on the shores of the Great Lakes. Each story is unique with the heroines and heroes who have different challenges to overcome, such as a young shipwrecked woman with amnesia, a young woman doctor who no one wants to see professionally, a widower whose young daughter is praying for a new mother and an owner of a shipping company with a missing ship. The authors were mostly new to me and yet there were a couple of my favorites too--Carrie Fancett Pagels and Pegg Thomas. Each of the authors has her own delightful way of storytelling, some with a little humor, some with suspense and heartbreaking drama, but all weave faith in God and his grace and mercy throughout their stories of love and romance in a variety of situations. Through a time span during the 1880s through 1911 the stories take readers to the various lighthouses that are scattered throughout the Great Lakes region. Interesting tidbits of history and vivid scenes (even some swoon-worthy kisses) along with strong, evocative characters make these stories come alive and readers recognize that even in the despair and struggles of lighthouse life there is hope and goodness. Don't miss this fascinating collection of stories.
I read a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

This collection of seven historical novellas set around seven different lighthouses on the Great Lakes more than 100 years ago offer a look into life in that era and setting, making readers feel the waves and storms and yearn for the lost and lonely to find love. Shipwrecks, a woman who wants to take over running the lighthouse when her uncle retires, pain from the past, suspense, and danger all play a part in these tales from the past. These fictional accounts sound like they could be true stories. The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser was a favorite. A rich young woman washes to shore as the sole survivor of a capsized boat. She has lost her memory along with everything else she had on the voyage but comes to feel at home with the family at the lighthouse. The characters seem realistic and the drama authentic. This book offers an enjoyable getaway to simpler times but with universal problems and desires. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

Beautiful collection of novellas by a group of well established authors. They have done an amazing job crafting original stories, but all tying to the central theme. I enjoyed reading this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity.

I love lighthouses so this book was an easy pick. Inside are seven stories that make for fast reads. Overall they were good. I was frustrated that some of them are so similar that I felt it hurt the book as a whole. Don't get me wrong, they were still interesting, but it felt like a class assignment with the same topic and set fixtures. I liked them anyway, but that part was awkward. I liked the majority of the characters and the stories didn't feel too rushed. I was able to read some new authors I hadn't read before and read a story from an author I have read before. That's fun!

I have always been fascinated with lighthouses. A beacon of light high in a tower that warned sailors of danger and helped them safely guide their ships. I knew that there were people who maintained them but I had never really stopped to think about the type of person who took on this responsibility. Seven authors have joined to each write a novella about the lighthouses that were stationed along the Great Lakes between the years of 1883 to 1911. The Great Lighthouse Brides Collection offers readers the chance to imagine the lives of the men and women who served as lighthouse keepers. People who faced loneliness, hardship and danger as they kept the lighthouses going so that the journeys would be safe for the settlers who were forced to travel by ship. In each of these novellas female characters play an important part. There is an independent young woman who wants to earn a job as a lighthouse keeper, the young woman who needs to protect her secret to remain at the lighthouse, and another young woman seeking to find who left her as a baby on the lighthouse steps. One woman is helped by a male lighthouse keeper when she finds herself forced to return to the place that caused her so much misery and still another is rescued by a lighthouse keeper after losing her past memories to amnesia. Add the mystery of a shipwreck and a young woman grieving for her fiancee who died in a shipwreck and you have seven stories that will keep you engrossed. Historical fiction, yes, but there is also lots of romance and some of the stories simply take your breath away!

I am very impressed with the ability of seven different authors to create stories that worked so well together. The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection is a great choice for anyone who only has short amounts of time to read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and Christian romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but a positive review was not required.

This is a collection of 7 novellas all taking place in Michigan in lighthouses. Each of the seven books were historical romances. These were all fun to read. I enjoyed each one of them. These gave me a few new authors to look up. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I was excited to read this book because I love lighthouses. I actually collect them and they have always fascinated me. They bring light to darkness and give hope for those lost. The book contains several stories and I loved how we get a taste of each author's style of writing. The stories are short and for some of them I wish they were longer because I felt the story ended too soon. Overall I was pleased with the book and thought the stories flowed easily from one to the next. There are a few stories that had similar plots which I was disappointed in.


Anna's Tower by Pegg Thomas

The first story is set in 1883 where a shipwreck has just happened. I liked the excitement the author built up as rescuers came to help. There is one man from the ship who may find himself in trouble if it is discovered who he is and how he came to be on the ship. Anna is a wonderful character and has dreams of running the lighthouse by herself one day. I would love to visit a lighthouse and see the beauty and power it displays. I really liked Makism and his gentle way he had around others. He was eager to work and the attraction between him and Anna was a breath of fresh air. The author does a great job of wanting readers to follow these two and see what happens between them. I loved the theme in the story about overcoming fear and trusting others.

Beneath a Michigan Moon by Candice Sue Patterson

This story finds us in 1885 at New Presque Isle Lighthouse, Lake Heron. I immediately liked the light hearted banter between Ava and Benjamin. He is insisting to see Ava's father, but there is a slight problem with that. How long can Ava hide her secret before others find out? Ava is a feisty young woman determined to do things on her own. The lighthouse is so important and she resents that snoopy Benjamin keeps coming around. There were times I found their encounters to be comical while Ava tries to discourage Benjamin from coming back to bother her so much. What does he want and why is he so interested in the lighthouse? The story is good and has wonderful details of the lighthouse. What will happen between Ava and Benjamin? It's a great story and I loved the characters. I wanted to spend more time with them and enjoy their connection that grew slowly. The unexpected twist in the story was well written and brings a barrier between Ava and Benjamin. This is a story is about forgiveness and new beginnings.

Safe Haven by Rebecca Jepson

We now get to visit Old Mission, Michigan in 1892. Rose is a very interesting character and I was intrigued about her past. It was hard for her to believe that someone left her at the lighthouse when she was an infant. Why would someone abandon such a special gift as a child? I have noticed a theme as I read each story so far. In this time period of the late 1800s it was not proper for a young woman to be alone with a man if they are not married. It was a refreshing thing to have women treated with respect and how their reputations were of the upmost concern. I am a bit disappointed that this story and the last one are kinda similar in story line. Both women are on their own after losing their father or grandfather. It does make the main character stronger but I was hoping for a little more variety. I did like the mystery surrounding Rose and loved the details of a past that has haunted Rose for years.

Love's Beacon by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Our travels take us to Mackinac Island starting in 1897. Val has traveled a distance to get medicine for her ill parents. When she gets ready to return home, she is told that she cannot travel there tonight. You could feel how distraught she was worrying about her parents. She is taken to the parish to spend the night. I could sense that Val would be receiving bad news soon. There is a mystery in this story about who Val's parents are. Again the story is very similar to the previous one. It is frustrating to read a story where you feel like it is almost the same plot as one you just read. Val gets work taking care of a child while the father works. I have to say I was intrigued to see how how the author would unravel Val's past. Will Val finally find out who her real parents are? There is a bit of romance in the story but I didn't find that it added anything to enhance the story. I have read other books that this author has read and always found them to be very good. This short story seemed rushed and not as detailed as she usually writes.

The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser

This story opens up in 1899 where we find a young woman struggling to stay afloat before the waters take her away. The young woman is rescued but doesn't know who she is. I would not like to have amnesia. It would be frightening to not know who you are or where you came from. To be surrounded by strangers made the woman a bit on edge. The news that she is the only survivor of the Mallory shocks her. I adored the little girl in the story. She wants a mama so bad, she believes the sea has brought her one. Her father did tell her once that she would only have a mama if the Great Lakes coughed her up . I think her father has some explaining to do after the mysterious woman shows up from the sea. Cal is a good man and is willing to help Mallory as she calls herself. He wants to know who she really is as well ans its obvious that his daughter is starting to get attached to her. This story seemed to have a bit more mention of God and I found it be a welcome addition. The story did keep my interest and I did enjoy the ending.

The Disappearing Ship by Lena Nelson Dooley

Our journey finds us next in Upper Michigan in 1902. Norma is a female doctor who has found out that not many if anyone really welcomes a woman doctor. She feels like a failure and decides to go home to her aunt and uncle. This story was fun to read as a mysterious ship has disappeared . Did someone sabotage it or was the ship stolen because of what cargo it was carrying. Norma and Drake hit it off right away and she decides to help him find out what happened to the ship. The story is good and I loved how Drake trusted Norma by taking her with him as he looks for the whereabouts of his cargo. It's s a nice and tidy ending.

The Wrong Survivor by Marilyn Turk

We end our trip in 1911 at Au Sable Lighthouse. Jesse and Nathan go off to sea but only one brother returns. i could feel how guilty Jesse felt being the brother who survived. It reminds me of survivors guilt. You feel horrible that everyone you were with didn't make it and you wonder why you were spared. I liked how the author showed the bitterness Lydia had toward Jesse. it is a good story about forgiveness and I enjoyed reading how the characters found a way to overcome their guilt and try to become friends again.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit and Barbour Publishing. The review is my own opinion.

Each novella is set a different place in history starting from 1883 to 1911.
The seven novella’s covers a lot of history, each with a separate story surrounding a lighthouse. I learned the importance of a lighthouse and a lot of other great information about lighthouses. I enjoyed each one, especially the one with the dog in it.
I have read a few of the authors in the book and a few not. Reading a book like this one is a great way to find new authors.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley through the publisher and Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write a positive review. This is my own opinion.

This book is made up of seven romantic novellas that are all wonderfully written and enjoyable. It is a collection of novellas of faith, family, strength, courage and brave female lighthouse keepers or spouses, all taking place along the Great Lakes. Living on the edge of one of the Great Lakes, the settings are very real to me making the stories even more enjoyable. The theme of Jesus Christ being our lighthouse, guiding us to where we should be, is front and centre in each story. Each of the main characters is dealing with the weather, isolation, hard work or other situations that would challenge anyone, but for these women, putting their faith in the Lord and giving it up to God shows them the path they were meant to take.

This book is a very enjoyable read. Each novella takes just over an hour to read and make a perfect read in an evening. I was impressed with the description of the lighthouses and the areas. It is obvious that the authors did their research, although the stories are fiction. If you like Christian Romance, especially historical fiction, then pick this one up, you won't be disappointed. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas, and opinions shared are my own.