I enjoyed this book. I have never been to Mackinac Island, but now I really want to go. This book also makes me want to watch the movie Somewhere in Time again. Not much of a Christian romance reader, but this one I enjoyed. ( )

On the surface this is one of a million "Christian romance" books, and I found the title almost off-putting because it seems too cookie-cutter (endless sequels could be written with people finding love in Toledo, Scranton, Des Moines, oh my!) but I gave it a chance and it turned out to be a pleasant, easy read with a likable, intelligent heroine and a few well defined side characters who mostly turn out to be flawed but redeemable. The writing is fairly natural and not strained, as sometimes happens with a period setting.
I would read this author again. In fact, I probably will!

** The GoodReads synopsis is inaccurate on a number of counts. Chase does not even pretend to be a fisherman, he doesn't invite Elena to the lighthouse because it's already been her private haunt for years, they're not looking for ships, they don't really talk about the "mystery" until near the end, and it actually doesn't matter that much to the story. ( )

I love the "Love Finds You" series. This novel by Melanie Dobson was wonderfully written. I really enjoyed the historical detail in this sweet, humorous, historical romance. Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. ( )

Elena wants nothing more than to be able to marry for love. She is feeling pressure to marry for money though. Her once wealthy family is now teetering on bankruptcy, and this may be her last summer in the beautiful Mackinac Island, Michigan. Elena's mother is pressuring her to try to gain the attentions of the very rich entrepreneur Chester Darrington. On an nighttime escape to her favorite lighthouse though, she meets the mysterious Chase. Chase and Elena feel an immediate draw to each other. Will Elena follow her heart or her head?

This was a really sweet book. This was a great combination of history, romance, and even a little mystery. Elena is a bit "modern" in sensibility, and you can relate to her struggle between heart and head. The fact that she gives so much consideration to trying to meet Chester Darrington proves her devotion and love for her family. This made her struggle with her attraction to Chase even more difficult. Elena was overall a very compassionate and loving individual, and this makes you really cheer for her to get everything she wants and more. I also loved the idea that she had a place to go and be herself in the lighthouse. Sometimes I think we all wish we could have a place like that. The fact that she met Chase there made it seem even more apparent that they were meant to be.

There was some side mystery with the journal that was found in the lighthouse. I admit to being the tiniest confused at the resolution of that story. I did like the way it showed the history of the island in an interesting way though. This was the perfect book to relax with. It kept my interest, and I found it to be very entertaining. Lovers of romance and history will find a lot to enjoy in this book. It made me want to check out other books in this series also, so I definitely found it enjoyable.

Book provided for review. ( )

This is such a sweet tale of a society lost to time. Perhaps for the best as at least as portrayed in the book it was a time of pretense and social climbing and gossip - oh, not much HAS changed. But I digress.

Elena Bisette is a child of privilege who is about to have it all crumble around her as her father's business empire is slowly falling apart in the economic crisis of the time. There is enough for one last summer on Mackinac Island where the family has a cottage. Her mother plans and plots to marry her off to a rich man so to maintain the family way of life with apparently little regard as to what Elena may want. Her father does not agree with his wife's machinations but does little to stop her except to tell Elena to hand it off to God.

Elena wants to marry for love, not money and has little pretense. She encourages the relationship between her maid - who is her friend despite her mother's admonitions - and her friend Parker. But the two lovebirds know that society would not accept them as a couple. Elena's mother seems to forget that she herself was once of a different class.

The book covers a variety of issues such as the class issue so seemingly important at this time in history. Women's rights and the just plain fair treatment of all people play important roles as well. The story is well written with enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and the main characters are quite winning. You are really rooting for them to fall in love despite the setbacks placed in their way. Ms. Dobson has a way with a sweet, charming historical romance bringing both period and place vividly alive. ( )