Cedar Cove #1: 16 Lighthouse Road
by Debbie Macomber
I watched all three seasons of Hallmark’s Cedar Cove and absolutely loved them; in my mind, there was no possible way the original books could hold a candle to the television show. My parents bought me the complete set of books for Christmas—what a thoughtful gift! I decided to read one book a month, so that they’d last a year. Here we go!
From the first paragraph, 16 Lighthouse Road is riveting. A young couple is going through a difficult divorce, and Debbie Macomber writes their struggles and feelings so vividly I started to envision their scenes as played out on the television show, even though most of their scenes weren’t included! I don’t know how she does it—this is my first of her world-famous books—but she writes incredibly realistic characters and relationships. The men are afraid of disappointing others so they pull back in advance; the women are left on their own for the first time and discover their strength. It’s truly remarkable, and much different than the interpretations Hallmark shows. While the basic storylines and characters are the same, the book delves into much heavier themes, such as abandonment, pregnancy difficulties, and impotence. This book is a drama!
Every single character, no matter what mistakes he or she makes, is likable and relatable. I found myself relating to some characters when I didn’t think it was possible, and the realism of their thoughts and feelings is startling and thought-provoking. I couldn’t put this book down, and I anxiously await starting the second in the series. The ending of 16 Lighthouse Road flows so beautifully, it brought a lump to my throat at the naturalness and tenderness—when you’ll read it you’ll understand why it’s imperative to start reading 204 Rosewood Lane very shortly after!
More Cedar Cove reviews here on Hot Toasty Rag!
From the first paragraph, 16 Lighthouse Road is riveting. A young couple is going through a difficult divorce, and Debbie Macomber writes their struggles and feelings so vividly I started to envision their scenes as played out on the television show, even though most of their scenes weren’t included! I don’t know how she does it—this is my first of her world-famous books—but she writes incredibly realistic characters and relationships. The men are afraid of disappointing others so they pull back in advance; the women are left on their own for the first time and discover their strength. It’s truly remarkable, and much different than the interpretations Hallmark shows. While the basic storylines and characters are the same, the book delves into much heavier themes, such as abandonment, pregnancy difficulties, and impotence. This book is a drama!
Every single character, no matter what mistakes he or she makes, is likable and relatable. I found myself relating to some characters when I didn’t think it was possible, and the realism of their thoughts and feelings is startling and thought-provoking. I couldn’t put this book down, and I anxiously await starting the second in the series. The ending of 16 Lighthouse Road flows so beautifully, it brought a lump to my throat at the naturalness and tenderness—when you’ll read it you’ll understand why it’s imperative to start reading 204 Rosewood Lane very shortly after!
More Cedar Cove reviews here on Hot Toasty Rag!