The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection

Who hasn’t dreamed of finding a message in a bottle? Two summers ago my son fished a bottle with a message enclosed out of Salem Harbor in Massachusetts. The sender had written her contact information inside and after calling we learned the bottle had not traveled far. This was not the case for the bottle in The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection, which traverses continents and centuries with it’s secrets carried inside.

A bronze bottle forged in a monastery connects the 5 novellas of this collection. Interestingly, it never passes directly from the characters of one story to the next and each time the bottle finds a new owner, the contents inside are different — suited to the receiver. Regardless of what was inside, the bottle always brings with it SPERO (hope). Therefore in addition to the object itself, a common theme links the novellas.

I believe the stories with the most interesting settings and tidbits of history were those set in Ireland, New York, and Georgia. In The Distant Tide, Vikings invade Ireland on a mission of vengeance, but when their leader is captured, the kindness of an Irish princess leads Ari Thorvaldsson to reconsider everything. My familiarity with Gilbert’s previous Norse tale God’s Daughter, helped me to understand the warrior nature of Vikings as well as to explain how Christianity could have grown in Ari’s homeland. Set in New York during the late 1700’s, Lang’s character Abigail intrigued me with her desire to marry a man who would allow her to continue practicing medicine. Through her ministrations to her patients, readers get a fascinating look at medical procedures and superstitions we find laughable by todays standards. Finally, Green’s novella showcased the plight of Southern mill workers who were displaced in droves under the order of General Sherman. Green’s hospital scenes were reminiscent of those in her book Widow of Gettysburg (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️).

In conclusion, all 5 authors did comparably well creating/maintaining romantic tension. I was pleasantly surprised by Maureen Lang, who has earned herself a new reader. My favorite secondary characters Eugenia Bettredge and Ronan came from Dykes (also a new author for me) and Gilbert respectively. Overall, The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection was a good read with some stories possessing more depth and intrigue than others.

I loved this collection of stories by some of my favorite authors! The way they all weaved their tales using the same bottle for inspiration made me eager to keep reading so I could see how the stories all fit together. They were all beautiful stories of hope. I would definitely recommend this book to friends.

Begin with a monk in a monastery trying to save the scripture from burning from invading marauders. Then throughout history the bottle turns up and acts as a catalyst to unite couples in a way that they never thought possible. This is the premise of this collection of romance stories that are great for whiling away a few afternoons or for relaxing before bed.

The bottle has a word in Latin engraved around the mouth of the bottle: Spero or hope. Each of the couples in the novellas derive hope from the words that are written inside the bottle, or from the bottle itself. Each novella gets better as the reader goes through the book. My favorite one was the last one and hope was so much an integral part of the story.

This is a five star collection, two thumbs up, and a bottle full of hope.

My thanks to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of timeless short stories from an fantastic group of talented authors. Each of the stories tied together nicely with their own unique story surrounding a priceless bottle and the messages it contains. You begin the journey in Ireland in 834 AD and travel thru time and historical events ending in the present day.

I’ve read many various story collections and often times you find maybe two stories in the collection that you enjoy; however with this one I enjoyed each of the stories. Often times I’d wish the story would continue. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a travel thru history with sweet stories of love and gentle reminders of God’s ever present love and watch-care of each of his children.

A wonderful collection of stories spanning centuries, with a thread of hope, faith and love connecting them. I enjoyed them all! It was an interesting mix of history and characters from all walks of life. The message of hope is one we all need to hear and hang onto as trials come and go. The last story and wrap up with the connection to the Irish monastery and Vikings created a seamless storyline. Recommend! 4.5 stars

The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection has a lot of good reading, five romances written by five Christian authors. All of the five romances have an ancient brass bottle withe words Hope written in Latin on it. Somehow down through time it is washed up, passed on in the different stories with a different time era.....The first in the collection is by Heather Ray Gilbert who brings some Vikings into her story. Very good one about an Irish princess whose parents were murdered along with her only brother. She joins up with some roving Tinkers to escape and stay hidden. She finds out her friend/protector is actually from the clan that murdered her family. This story has a wonderful ending.......Then there is the story of the Scottish Weaver, the bottle with Hope written on it brings hope at a needed time.........Next a post Colonial nurse who is the same as a doctor who studied with her doctor father. A doctor from the islands joins her father;s practice during a time of a yellow fever outbreak. He has hardened his heart to all, especially to this young nurse/doctor. A dying patient gives him this ancient bottle and thus through hope he learns to care and even let love bloom in his heart.......Then during the civil war a young mill worker is captured and taken to Georgia , after her home was overtaken to be used as a hospital. A young union soldier takes her to protect her and on the journey he finds himself caring what becomes of her. A very interesting read....... The next story takes place on Coronado Island in California. A young maid from the hotel is on the beach when the ancient bottle washes up and is picked up by a young man, who is a guest at the hotel. She has lost the memory of 10 years of her life and walks the beach in hopes that she will remember something from the years she lost. A beautiful story, but to me the ending was too soon with telling too little............ each receive a message from the bottle just when they need their hope restored.

A few years ago there was the big tsunami in Japan and even to this date we can still find items washing ashore on the Pacific Coast beaches. I've walked those beaches and thought, what would it be like?
Have you ever found something and wondered where it has been and what stories it could tell?
Well, this collection of stories deals with that idea.
Found, is a bottle.....a very simple bottle with a very special message. "SPERO"...."HOPE."
Within this collection of stories there is the presence of the bottle. Each author connects with the other stories in such a way that it feels like we're following this bottle on it's journey to bring hope to anyone who needs it!
I loved how the stories cover a large span of time and different places. Each author uses colorful word pictures to bring the stories to life.
There is sadness, healing, suspense, humor, sweet moments of romance and wonderful examples of God's redeeming love and hope.
I highly recommend this book set. You won't be disappointed!

This book really, really impressed me! 5 romantic stories spanning the centuries and the stories are connected through one bottle. Spero,Latin word meaning Hope,carved into the neck of the bottle.
The stories take place in North of Ireland,Scotland,New York,Georgia and California. I loved that the stories took place in a wide variety of settings and time periods in history. It was especially interested to me to read about the Vikings in Ireland and the story taking place in Scotland. I will be looking to read more books by authors Heather Day Gilbert ( I want to read more of her Norse tales, I was fascinated) and Amanda Dykes ( both of these authors are new to me and their stories caught my attention.) Maureen Lang I have read before and her books are always interesting. Jocelyn Green, I loved reading her Civil War series and it was excellent to see another short story here about it. Joanne Bischoff, I have read her books and they are not to miss.
All the women in these stories posses integrity,strength and faith.
I highly recommend this story collection to lovers of Romantic Historical fiction.
Expected publication: March 1st 2017 by Barbour Books

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Books for providing me with a copy of the book . I have given my honest opinion here.

Message in a Bottle Romance Collection, written by Heather Day Gilbert, Amanda Dykes, Maureen Lang, Jocelyn Green and Joanne Bischof.

This collection is a book of love and HOPE spanning in time from 1170 with The Distant Tide. Gilbert takes us to Ireland...an Irish Princess finds herself in the midst of war...where could hope be found with a Viking raiding the castle?! Then we go to 1717, A Song in the Night, and Dykes takes us to Scotland! I love Scottish stories! Here's a quote I grabbed from this book by Duncan, "There is a difference between fleeing"...."and flying." Loved this! Can Meg find the hope she needs?! We then find ourselves in New York in 1798 in The Forgotten Hope. Lang introduces us a to a doctors family...namely a woman doctor and her father who wants her to stop doctoring and find herself a husband. Is there any hope she can find happiness giving up helping the sick to take care of a husband?! Next, we're into 1864 with Jocelyn Green's A River Between Us in Roswell, Georgia. This is such a moving story...South to North to South in the midst of war and uncertainty...where to find hope?! Then we finish off the book on Coronado Island, California in The Swelling Sea by Joanne Bischof. This was a challenged young woman and man both with their own medical issues...hope?!
Most of these books I found that hope that was depicted within the stories and the message in the bottle! They were well written and most compelling to keep those pages turning.
This book would be great for teen and up. Inspirational, romantic and full of hope! Recommended!
I received this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and comments are honest and my own.
4.5 stars.

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.

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!

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

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 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.

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 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 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.

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!

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!

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.

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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.**

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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!

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.

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.

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 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.*

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!