Dear Reader,

You don't know me yet, but in a few hours that's going to change. You see, I'm inviting you to my home and my town of Cedar Cove because I want you to meet my family, friends, and neighbors. Come and hear their stories -- maybe even their secrets!

I have to admit that my own secrets are pretty open. My marriage failed some years ago, and I have a rather . . . difficult relationship with my daughter, Justine. Then there's my mother, Charlotte, who has plenty of opinions and is always willing to share them.

Here's an example: I'm a family court judge and she likes to drop in on my courtroom. Recently I was hearing a divorce petition. In Charlotte's view, young Cecilia and Ian Randall hadn't tried hard enough to make their marriage work -- and I agreed. So I rendered my judgement: Divorce Denied.

Well, you wouldn't believe the reaction! Thanks to an article by Jack Griffin, the editor of our local paper (and a man I wouldn't mind seeing more of!), everyone's talking.

Cedar Cove -- people love it and sometimes they leave it, but they never forget it!

See you soon . . .

Olivia

Macomber paints wonderful and evocative word pictures of the Washington landscape and the personalities of her characters. The dialogue and honest interaction of the characters draws you immediately into the storylines and keeps you reading in spite of the fragmented structure of the book.

Ian and Cecilia Randall, the young newlyweds struggling with the death of a child and separation because of his Navy career, appear in her courtroom. Jack Griffin, newly arrived editor of the Cedar Cove Chronicle, and love interest. Her busybody mother Charlotte Jefferson, who collects recipes at funeral wake. Tom Harding, stoke victim and mysterious new resident of Cedar Cove Convalescent Home, who gives a key to her mother. Grace Sherman, the best friend whose husband keeps disappearing; and Justine, her daughter, in a relationship with a man twenty years her senior. All endearing characters that capture your heart.

Switches between the stories and her believable, engaging characters will keep you turning the pages to see how each saga ends, but you do long to spend more time with them. Or, perhaps re-visit with them in a sequel. After all, we never do learn what happened to Grace's husband!


Could have been better....   December 1, 2002
 9 out of 11 found this review helpful

16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber

16 Lighthouse Road is a series of subplots within one book, where not one single subplot takes the lead. There are several stories found in this Macomber title. Olivia is a 50-something judge who presides over a divorce hearing and refuses to grant the divorce. The couple in question is Cecilia and Ian Randall, who have gone through their own private hell - loss of a baby which leads to their mess of a marriage.

Olivia herself is the focus of a subplot. She has been divorced for many years but has not remarried as her ex-husband has. Then, she meets Jack Griffin, newspaper editor of the local paper, and she finds herself interested. The feeling is mutual.

Another subplot is Charlotte, Olivia's mother, who is involved with many social groups including helping out at the hospital, where she meets an elderly man who cannot speak, because of a stroke.

Yet another subplot is the story of Justine, who is dating a much older man, and her mother is Olivia. She has no desire to settle down, but then starts to have conflicting emotions when she meets up again with an old high school mate, Seth.

There is nothing wrong with having several subplots in one book. The problem was that there was no main story, and the book reads like a soap opera. Debbie Macomber can write, but I have a feeling the fault here is her editor. There are repeated passages all over the book, where things could have been nicely condensed. Transitions from one scene to another are not very smooth. I would have enjoyed this book a lot better if someone had taken the time to proof read the book and do it right!

I have the second book in this series of books, 204 Rosewood Lane. I am hoping to find this book a much better edited book. There was nothing wrong with the story content of 16 Lighthouse Road. It kept my interest despite the irritating problems with the writing. Because of these problems, I will have to give the book only Three stars.


Satisfying Introduction to Macomber's Cedar Cove Series   September 11, 2006
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

16 LIGHTHOUSE ROAD satisfies the soap-opera lover in us with a charming little town peopled with problem-ridden residents. If I had not known ahead of time this was a continuing series, I would have been disappointed that so many storylines were left dangling at the end, but knowing there are more books, I am eagerly anticipating the rest of the series.

Judge Olivia Lockhart resides in the title address and we first meet her as she denies the divorce of Cecilia and Ian Randall. The young couple, obviously deeply in love, has not dealt with their grief over losing their infant daughter and has rushed headlong into divorce proceedings. The Judge herself is a divorcee who knows what it means to lose a child and still love your ex-husband. Meanwhile, the town's new newspaper editor, a man with a secret to hide, is hotly pursuing her.

The lustiest part of the story involves Olivia's daughter Justine who is dating a man old enough to be her father while having deeply sexual feelings for a high school friend she becomes reacquainted with while planning their tenth reunion.

Olivia's friend, Grace Sherman, plays a pivotal role in the book, as the deserted wife who endures grief and humiliation before deciding life on her own is really quite pleasant.

Olivia's mother, Charlotte Jefferson, provides many comedic moments as she attempts to track down the grandson of a stroke victim she befriends.

All together, an inviting look into a friendly town where problems are encountered and overcome with the help of good neighbors and good friends.



16 Lighthouse Road   September 23, 2005
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

Loved this book. Am now looking for the rest of this series. Characters are believable and sympathetic. Situations realistic. I'm anxious to meet the rest of the neighborhood.


Pleasant contemporary novel   April 2, 2005
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

I was going to say romance but there isn't really a lot of romance in this book. No passionate scenes, hardly more than a bit of chaste kissing. Oh, well.

The book revolves around the lives of five women who are related, one only tangentially, to each other and who each face crises related to a love relationship. The characters are well written and the plots evolve to logical, predictable conclusions. There is nothing unique or memorable about them.

If you are looking for a light read for when you are sitting in the doctor's waiting room or on the train commuting to work, this book is a good choice. If you want excitement, characters you are passionate about and a story where you can't wait to see what happens next, this isn't it.