Bright Lights

by Lisa Phillips, Andrea Christenson, Rebecca Reed

Eight summer novels across 2 volumes.
From Christian fiction’s hottest contemporary romance authors.

Finally Home - Lisa Phillips
Ashlynn Monroe knows she has a reputation as the Ice Queen, but being the police commissioner's assistant that rep serves her just fine thank you. When her Aunt Ruby comes to visit from Last Chance County on the anniversary of Ashlynn's mom's death, neither realizes it's a week that will alter both their lives in ways they never imagined.
Fire Chief Greyson Frayer followed in his father's footsteps. Saving lives is who he is, but the burn scars he earned along the way seem to have kept him from the life he wants...until he sees a familiar face as if for the first time. Is Ashlynn the future he's been looking for?
With a romance brewing between Russ and Ruby in the background, Adelynn and Greyson discover the future they've always wanted. And the chance to finally come home.

Summer at Trillium Lake - Andrea Christenson
Privileged Athena Vassos is banished to the family’s lake property near Sunset Falls, WI, to “think about” her place in the family’s multimillion dollar business. She isn’t sure what she wants with her life now that she has finished her graduate degree.
At the rustic Trillium Lake Bible Camp, Sean Campbell is overwhelmed. He was only supposed to be the deputy director, not much more than a glorified handyman, not running the whole show.
When a devastating tornado rips through the camp, Sean and Athena need to work together despite their differences.

Loving the Rodeo Queen - Rebecca Reed
Quinn Mulroney, former rodeo queen, lost it all. Now, she’s dreaming of becoming a veterinarian while caring for her daughter. She’s never forgotten the one man she called hero.
Tiago Vargas is seeking his passion, hoping to prove himself to his exacting father. When fate brings Quinn back into his life, he sees a second chance at his first love and offers her a job.
But she’s not the same woman he rescued. She carries a secret, and if Tiago discovers it, will he still be her hero, or will her hidden life destroy her last shot at happiness?

Anxious for Love - Gina Conroy
Event planner Charlee Lovelle, with a talent for creating perfect moments, except her own, is fed up with online dating games. Australian dating coach Maxwell Adams just wants to help people find love and take his business to the next level, not play the dodgy Love Doctor. Both frustrated with the superficiality of modern relationships, Charlee and Maxwell engage in an emotional game of tug-of-war as they embark on separate paths of self-discovery. In a whirlwind of humor, heart, and unexpected connection, they navigate the complexities of romance and relationships, but will they recognize the pull towards each other or will their own inner struggles keep them apart?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction

882 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2024

About the author

Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of over 80 books that span Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line, independently published series romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.

Lisa is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London and attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). Lisa is a worship leader, tea aficionado, and dog lover of two crazy Airedales.

Reviews

[Helen]

Bright Lights is a compilation of four stories written by Lisa Phillips, Andrea Christianson, Rebecca Reed and Gina Conroy. The stories are well written and enjoyable to read. They have wonderful characters and the theme of faith runs through them.

Finally Home is the story of Ashlynn, the police commissioners assistant and Greyson, the fire chief. I enjoyed seeing how their relationship would develop and how protective he was of her. It’s inspirational to see how events from previous years has affected them now. I also enjoyed the similarities between her boss and her aunt.

Summer at Trillian Lake take place in Wisconsin at a bible camp Athena’s family is trying to purchase. This is an inspirational story. I enjoyed how down to earth Athena is and how quick she is to help at the camp. I enjoyed the mention of characters from another book of the authors. It felt like visiting old friends.

Loving the Rodeo Queen is about moving forward after bad things happen. Quinn was brutally attacked and has a young daughter as the result. She and her mother live together and she sees a different side of her mother than one from her childhood. She is working towards becoming a veterinarian when Tiago comes back into her life. Tiago is struggling to be the person he feels his father wants him to be. I enjoyed when the parents reveal to Quinn and Tiago things from their past.

Anxious for Love is a cute and sometimes funny story of dating coach Maxwell, and event planner Charlee. This is a cute story of two people trying to find true love. It is interesting to see how Maxwell coaches Charlee on the proper things to do and what not to do with online dating and meeting the men. It’s easy to see, dating is not easy.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bright Lights is the first anthology I have read in quite a long time. I was quite surprised with the volume. I wasn’t expecting it to be so long. It is a really great value. All the authors in Bright Lights are new to me.

Normally I break things down, but I don’t want to write a whole book as a review. So, I won’t break it down by story, but as a whole. Overall this is a great summer read.

Throughout the book there are some really great characters. The character development is well done across the book. Diving into each character and their struggles. Each one was unique and gave me some different things to think about.

They settings were all unique. I loved the variety from summer camp on the lake, small town, police station, it is enough to keep you going and engaged in the story.

The romance aspect was throughout the different stories. There was nothing too crazy.

The Christian element is fantastic and intertwined throughout all the books. It was really encouraging.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a gifted copy of this book. Thank you to the author and publisher! All thoughts and opinions are my own!*

Review originally posted on The Calico Books

The A Summer to Remember series is made up of eight novellas separated in to two volumes: Bright Lights and Starry Nights. I read the first four novellas that are found in Bright Lights.

I really enjoyed this collection! I am very much someone who reads with the vibes of the season and now that summer is underway, Bright Lights was the perfect book to start off my summer reading! All four novellas were very enjoyable. Each story has just the right amount of witty banter, sweet romance, and genuine characters. They are also all closed-door romances.

While I enjoyed all the stories, my favorite was Summer at Trillium Lake by Andrea Christenson. The summer vibes were absolutely top tier in this one. I absolutely loved the summer camp setting! I also thought it was cute how each cabin at the camp was named after a person in the Bible. I really loved Sean and Athena’s relationship. I found their particular story to be relatable and I loved watching their characters grow and develop over the course of the novella.

Overall, Bright Lights was such a enjoyable book. I am looking forward to reading the next four novellas in Starry Nights very soon. Filled with a fun, summer aesthetic, sweet romances, and relatable characters, you need to add Bright Lights to your summer TBR! I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a summer romance to add to their list!

[Erin Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Four different stories and authors in one volume. None of the stories are connected so one could jump from one story to another without missing anything. My favorite story was “Summer at Trillium Lake” which was set at a Bible camp in Wisconsin!

[Cathy R Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally Home (Lisa Phillips) - Ashlynn has been struggling since the death of her mother and has coped by keeping almost everyone at arm's length. But when one day Greyson really notices her, will it be the start of bringing her out of her shell - or is there too much between them?

Summer at Trillium Lake (Andrea Christenson) - Athena has spent her life trying to earn her father's approval and her place in his business - but when sent away from the city for a while, she sees a new side of life and starts to wonder whether what she's been working for is really what she wants... Sean isn't sure he can trust this city girl - but he wants to! And maybe she's what he really needs after all?

Loving the Rodeo Queen (Rebecca Reed) - Quinn walked away from rodeo success to care for her baby, but it's been a struggle. When the man who saved her comes back into her life, it might be a second chance - if he can cope with her past. Tiago's dad wants him to find his passion - but what if it's been there all along?

Anxious for Love (Gina Conroy) - As author of bestselling books on relationships, Maxwell's rocky relationship with his girlfriend puts him in an awkward spot. A trip to visit her and take up a short-term matchmaking role in LA could fix things - or blow his whole career sky-high...

I really enjoyed the first three of these - which included a new-to-me author, Rebecca Reed. They're all different but well done, with characters I cared about, interesting storylines and inspirational messages. I hope to read more by all of the authors. The exception was the last story, which really wasn't my cup of tea - it felt like it was written by a psychologist who liked applying their craft to everything. However, overall I thought it was a great set, with something for everyone.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

How great to have four full length novels in this collection! I am reviewing two of the stories from the Bright Lights collection.

Finally Home by Lisa Phillips

I really enjoyed this story! I have read a few of the Last Chance Fire and Rescue books, however I haven’t yet read the original Last Chance County or Benson First Responders series that are connected to this novel. But I had no problem at all jumping into this book and loving it.

Whereas those other connected series were romantic suspense, Finally Home is a contemporary romance. It was fun that there were actually two couples who found happiness together. None of the characters were particularly looking for romance, but they found it anyway. Both storylines were sweet, but I especially enjoyed Ashlynn & Greyson’s story. It was wonderful to realize that Ashlynn saw beyond Greyson’s scars to the amazing man that he was. And Greyson was pivotal in Ashlynn being able to learn to lean on God and trust Him again. They were such a sweet couple.

(5 stars)

Summer at Trillium Lake by Andrea Christenson

Although Athena Vassos is the cousin to a character from another book that I have read by this author, this is a stand alone story. Both Sean and Athena had some growing to do and some decisions that needed to be made throughout the course of this novel. Sean really suffered from thinking he wasn’t as capable as his brothers and doubted his ability to run the Bible camp. Athena had confidence in her abilities, yet was questioning whether her family’s business was actually a good fit for her.

These two were definitely attracted to each other, yet butted heads quite a few times as they learned to work together and trust each other. I liked their growth throughout the story and the way they worked through things together and asked forgiveness of each other at times when things went sideways. It was a fun story.

(4.5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

You can read these reviews on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[Allyson Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bright Lights, volume 1 in A Summer to Remember, is a fantastic contemporary romance collection. Each of these stories have a faith thread, wonderful plot, and incredible characters.
Finally Home by Lisa Phillips is a great read that focuses on 2 couples. One of them is of Fire Chief Greyson Frayer and the police commissioner's assistant Ashlynn Monroe. The other relationship involves Police Commissioner Russ Franklin and Ashlynn's aunt Ruby from Last Chance County. Both of them had to wait until they were older to find love because Russ and Ruby were single for most of their lives and raised their nieces respectively. Finally Home has some family dynamics, and the main characters have some future decisions to consider.
Summer at Trillium Lake by Andrea Christensen focuses on Athena Vassos who has to make a decision if she wants to continue to work for her family's company or not. Will volunteering at a Bible camp and assisting Sean Campbell, who is thrust unexpectedly into the camp director's position, help Athena realize what's important? I loved the nicknames they had for each other and the chemistry between them as they encountered some setbacks at the Bible camp.
Loving the Rodeo Queen by Rebecca Reed was a great read involving 2 people having to find their passions. Quinn, once a rodeo queen and now a mother of a toddler, has a secret of her own, one that she's afraid to tell Tiago. Tiago has a strained relationship with his father and has to mend their relationship. I enjoyed the chemistry between them.
Anxious for Love by Gina Conroy was an adorable story between Charles, an events coordinator, and Maxwell, a dating/relationship coach. Due to miscommunication and a misunderstanding, the two of them partner up to include matchmaker into Maxwell's business. The chemistry between Charlee and Maxwell was well-written as they had so much to learn about relationships and romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Gretchen Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of four contemporary romance shorter novels with inspirational leanings. I enjoyed all of the books but will review and rate each one individually. This is certainly a great read for summer.

Finally Home - Lisa Phillips
"It was far easier to pitch in at home with friends, and friends who felt like family. Afterward, she could go home rather than get tangled up in the emotional part. With Ashlynn, it was all a tangle of painful emotions. Soul deep loss that had forever connected Ruby to a twelve-year-old girl."
Both Ashlynn Monroe and Fire Chief Greyson have faced their share of loss and hardships. One surface, they may not seem to make sense. But they understand each other. Can they get past obstacles and find a way to be together?
I think this book connects characters from two different series by Lisa Phillips. I have not read all of those books, but I was still able to enjoy this novella. There is also a bonus storyline. 4.4 stars


Summer at Trillium Lake - Andrea Christenson
"She groaned and lay back on the plush leather seats of her dad's Barletta Corsa pontoon boat. The same boat that now sat dead in the water on Trillium Lake in Sunset Falls, Wisconsin. Dead in the water. And wasn't that a metaphor for her life? Twenty-seven years old and nothing to show for it."

Athena is so close to achieving her dreams if only she can find a way to toughen up. An unexpected encounter resulted in her being involved in a rustic camp that was far different than her affluent lifestyle. Sean Campbell did not plan on directing the camp that made such a difference in his life. In fact, he feels fully incapable. A tragic event does not help. Can the two of them find a way to find their calling and make a difference in the lives of others?
Summer camp has a place in my heart as I was a counselor and so are two of my kids. So, I loved this story setting. The two characters seemed unlikely to connect as they grew up in different situations. But I loved how the author made it all work. This book loosely connects to the author's previous books, but I was easily able to follow along. 5 stars.

Loving the Rodeo Queen - Rebecca Reed
"Odd, his memories painted her as bold - even overly brash. The Arena Queen. This hesitancy was new but not altogether unwelcome."
Quinn faced a horrible situation but is thankful for the small blessing that come as the result of pain. Perhaps the rodeo is no longer a part of the plan, but she can still work with animals. Tiago felt a connection with Quinn and never forgot her even though a few years have passed. He wants to figure out how to keep her as a part of his life. Does it have to be so complicated?

This book is all about learning how to get over past hurts and even trauma. There are many bright spots along the way. Part of the focus is the rodeo, but an emphasis is more on relationships. 4.5 stars.

Anxious for Love - Gina Conroy
"I lean back giving her space, totally aware she took the first available exit off the highway of discomfort. Oh, I'm intrigued by the complexity of this girl. The level of comfort she has with expressing emotion, then suddenly withdrawing is a paradox I want to explore further. Could she possibly possess the rare combination of both anxious and avoidant attachment styles that only appear in a small percentage of the population?"
Charlee wants her happily ever after. Why are there not any decent guys out there? Perhaps the Love Doctor can help her, or maybe she needs to avoid him. Maxwell Adams knows relationships. At least he thinks so. Why is he struggling with his own heart? Can the two of them learn how to fall in love the right way?
While this is a romance, the focus is more on being healthy for relationships. The opening chapter quotes were really insightful. I appreciated the fact that both characters realized they did not need to find the right person as much as they needed to become the right person. Lots of insight with this one. 5 stars.

I did read an early copy of this book. This makes a great summer read since it comes with four novellas. I wanted to read and review them. All opinions are my own.

[Tina Lowery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Lisa Phillips craftily penned the book Finally Home, which focuses on a path of love and hope for Fire Chief Greyson Frayer and Police Commissioner, Russ Franklin. Greyson begins to appreciate Franklin’s Assistant, Ashlynn, through all her missteps as he sees her as she is, through the loss of her mother. As Greyson and Ashlynn reconcile the past and embrace a future that could embrace them both, they realize that they need to forgive themselves individually before they can move on with one another. Russ and Ashlynn’s Aunt Ruby are also struck by the love bug. Both couples are just following their dream that they can move forward together and embrace all that life has to offer.

Summer at Trillium Lake offers peace, laughter, and a side order of unexpected love in its location. Author Andrea Christenson weaves magic with love and hope on the tail end of a tale loss, unworthiness, fear, and letting go of the past. Sean Campbell is a handy-man at the Christian Summer Camp, where he is turned into a director of a Christian Summer Camp, due to the director’s heart attack. Athena Vassos is a rich heiress who experiences loss at her father’s company and is seeking redemption and the meaning of life. Christenson reveals through her words and setting that the loss that we often experience in life can be found in the rich love of our Heavenly Father. Yet, with a heart of love from Him, we can be led to find a love that will last a lifetime no matter what we face in our lives.

Loving the Rodeo Queen by Rebecca Reed is a tantalizing read with a past full of rodeo, spirit, hard work, and sport. Tiago Vargas and Quinn Mulrooney have seen each other around the Rodeo for years yet have never spoken to each other two years ago, nor have they kept up with what has happened in each other’s lives. Tiago searches for Quinn and finds her, but he also wants to recruit her back into the limelight of rodeo, as a graduate student. Together, they take a road trip to his family’s home in Tennessee. There, they pick up his horse and return to entheir current hometown. I loved this book, even though Quinn is hesitant up to the end. The story is amazing with its tale of truth, healing, love, hope, and forgiveness.

Anxious for Love by Gina Conroy hits the spot as an unusual romance with some comedic moving pieces. Charlotte Lovelle is searching for love – but in all the wrong places. Her unknown “anchor” through a trial of dates is none other than Maxwell, the Australian “Love Doctor” attempting to find redemption for his own failing romance and a friend’s betrayal. Conroy has me nearly in tears in some parts of this story, while I laughed out loud in other parts of it!! This is not my normal type of reading. However, I enjoyed the genuine back and forth, the attempt at avoiding romance with each other. I liked the style that Conroy took this tale and the shared emotional ride that it offered. It felt real and I loved that.
I truly enjoyed reading this book and loved all the emotional responses that I had reading these stories. I was given this ARC to read for my honest opinion on the works within and no expectation of a favorable rating. I give this book 4 stars out of 5 and really enjoyed reading the stories overall.

[Randi Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of the books included in this first volume were absolutely fantastic! I could try to choose a favorite, but honestly, they each have something unique to offer and I loved each and every one for different reasons. Finally Home by Lisa Phillips was first up. I have read and enjoyed several of her suspense reads and was pleasantly surprised to see that she does contemporary romance just as wonderfully. I immediately found myself drawn into these characters, and I loved that we get not just ONE romance, but a secondary one (with a later in life couple) going on in the background too. Such a wonderful story all around. Next up, Summer at Trillium Lake by Andrea Christenson. Having attended church camp every summer as a teenager, this one definitely won me over with the summer camp nostalgia... and while it may have been that nostalgia that drew me in, it was the great story that kept me intrigued from start to finish. Sean and Athena both had some issues they had to work through throughout the story and I loved seeing them grow... and get their happily ever after too. Then we come to Loving the Rodeo Queen by Rebecca Reed. Oh goodness, this one was an emotional roller coaster--- in the best way possible. I loved the rodeo aspect of the story, but there was so much depth to Tiago and Quinn's story that kept me captivated throughout. This definitely has a beautiful message of healing throughout, but readers should be aware that a previous assault is mentioned and could be triggering for some readers. Finally, we come to Anxious for Love by Gina Conroy. This one was such a unique read and one that I really enjoyed. Following the heavier themes of the previous book, I really appreciated the humorous moments that this one brought in, though it also had a great message of healing too. These characters won me over very quickly, and while it was certainly a bit of a slow burn, the payoff was absolutely worth it.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Summer at Trillium Lake by Andrea Christenson and loved this summery read! Athena is trying to follow in her father's footsteps but she has a different mindset than he does. Her father sees money and opportunity and Athena sees a way to help these families keep their properties and what they've built as families. Giving her some time off to think about what she really wants, Athena heads to a cabin for some down time. Needing help when her boat runs out of gas, Sean from the local bible camp comes to her rescue but knows she is far from the city and maybe shouldn't be out here on her own. Athena's family name is well known around there, and not for any sort of good. Her father and uncle have continuously tried to get their hands on the land that Trillium Lake Bible Camp is on. It would be a goldmine for a resort but this camp is not about making money, but memories. When a storm blows through, this just might be what does the camp in. Barley making ends meet and now this destruction will take thousands to fix and that is just to fix what got damaged. Athena knows this is her chance to shine, and decides to help as she knows how - with spreadsheets and a fundraiser. Can she pull this off and save the camp and prove to Sean and others she is not like her father and uncle? I did really enjoy this read and I always love a story set in my home state! I loved the characters and the setting of the camp. Thank you to Just Read Tours for the invite. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this ebook which I received from the authors. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[DevotedToHope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bright Lights by Lisa Phillips, Andrea Christenson, Rebecca Reed, and Gina Conroy is an anthology that captivates with its love stories, delightful wit, and meaningful spiritual insights. Each novella in this collection invites readers into a unique journey filled with love, redemption, and the promise of new beginnings, making it a perfect summer read.

Each novel in Starry Nights radiates with a genuine portrayal of Christian faith, seamlessly woven into the fabric of each story. These spiritual undertones enrich the reading journey, offering not only entertainment but also moments of sweet spiritual insight.

Here are a few impactful quotes from this anthology:

“Ruby wanted to be the one to hand that joy to her. But the truth was, it could only come from God. Otherwise, it would only be happiness. Never be true joy.”

“He needed to pray, read his Bible, and spend some time seeking God.”

“That’s what God does for us. He takes all our broken pieces, our lost and messed up selves, and makes us into masterpieces. His grace shines through us. Even right now, He is taking your shattered parts, the ones that hurt, the ones that you don’t want anyone to see. And He is cleaning them up and piecing them together. He is making something new. Something beautiful.”

I am so thankful I read the four beautiful stories in Bright Lights!

I was blessed to receive an eARC Bright Lights via JustRead Publicity Tours LLC. Additionally, I purchased Bright Lights. It's important to note that I neither had an obligation to craft a favorable review nor received any compensation for my words. My review focuses on the writing style, the pacing, and the story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.

[Kendra Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian Contempory Romance is a favorite genre of mine. I also really enjoy Books that are a collection of Novels. Bright Lights by Lisa Phillips, Andrea Christenson, Rebecca Reed, Gina Conroy is Book 1 in the Summer To Remember collection of 8 stories. It contains 4 of the stories in this book. I had the honor of reading Book 1.

Summer is my favorite season of the year, so that fact that all the stories in this book are set in Summer really made me happy. I really cannot pick a favorite from the 4 Stories in this collection, they were all mesmerizing. I wanted to grasp the storyline for each novel, so I took my time and read one story a day over the course of a few days. The authors did a GREAT job with highlighting the main characters for their novels. I really LOVE that each novel wasn't just about a "Summer Romance" but an everlasting romance. Russ and Ruby and Adelyn and Greyson in Finally Home, Sean and Athena in Summer at Trillium Lake, Quinn and Tiago in Loving the Rodeo Queen and Charlee and Maxwell in Anxious for Love all have great "Romance" stories, though sometimes complicated, that kept me captivated as I read each Novel in the Book! I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Contempory Romance! FANTASTIC BOOK!

[Meagan Myhren-Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Summer to Remember is a two-book series, each featuring four stories. The first book, Bright Lights, includes stories by Lisa Phillips, Andrea Christenson, Rebecca Reed, and Gina Conroy.

I really enjoyed Finally Home by Lisa Phillips, which has a fun link back to her Last Chance County books. Ashley Monroe has been working for the Police Commissioner and has a reputation for being an Ice Queen. So when Ashley plays a bit of defense, keeping someone out of the commissioner's office, everyone is more than a little surprised, and she becomes the hot gossip topic around town.

Ashley's new notability brings her to the attention of Fire Chief Greyson Frayer, who has his own issues to deal with following an on-the-job injury that left him with scars.

With a loving aunt on the scene, could these two hurting people find a lasting and healing happily ever after in their futures? Or will the hurts of the past keep them from stepping outside of their comfort zone?

A contemporary romance that will delight anyone who enjoys Hallmark's Romance movies.

I was provided a complimentary copy with no expectations, all thoughts expressed are my own.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were quite a variety of stories here, something for everyone to enjoy! I'd heard of 2 of the authors before and read a few stories by them and they did not disappoint! It was fun to see prior characters or places mentioned that were in their other books, though all the stories worked well as stand-alones. I enjoyed the humor and the romance. Some had more of a faith element than others, with one barely mentioning it while a couple others wove it throughout in a natural way. There were some great godly guys in these stories; however, one of the women frustrated me with her choices. There was also a lot of great dating and relationship advice, too! I recommend this book if you like romances.

I received a free kindle copy of this book from the authors. I was not compensated for my review. All opinions are my own.

[Barbara Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bright Lights is a collection of four heartwarming romances, each with a unique plot, fascinating story, and individual author style. I especially enjoyed Loving the Rodeo Queen by Rebecca Reed. I loved the way the author showed Tiago’s Argentine heritage and gave us glimpses into the dynamics of his family. Tiago is a hero worth trusting. Steadfast, stoic, and seeking his true passion. And of course he’s gorgeous. Exotic Quinn is deeply wounded and mistaken. She’s lost everything she values in the material world. Her’s is a beautiful story of healing. And being a horse lover myself, I enjoyed the author’s accurate portrayal of everything equestrian. This collection is an enjoyable summer read.

[Emma Walz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable novellas that hit the spot! Humor, banter, and real world issues come together for enjoyable and light reads. Specially enjoyed Anxious for Love! Charlee and Maxwell were so much fun to read and I love how readers get to watch her opinion of him change from a scam artist matchmaker to a man worth spending her life with.

Thank you to the authors for giving me a complimentary copy of this anthology. All opinions are my own and I wasn’t paid in any way for a positive review!

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing collection of books that are so well written, easy to read and full of good clean romance. With a wonderful mix of interesting and vibrant characters, these stories tugged my heartstrings, made me laugh, smile, swoon and fall in love. So many fun, sweet and touching stories to read for hours of reading entertainment and enjoyment. A truly great read by some fantastic authors. I received an advance copy and this is my honest review.

[Vicki Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Know Your Own Heart

Each author tells a different story but the one thing that shines through in all of them is that before you can love someone else you must first know your own heart and who you really are. This is especially true in real life. Chemistry and emotional attraction can fade but if you know your own heart and values you won’t settle for anyone who isn’t like minded or cherish you for who you are.

[Jesus Beach Girl Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bright Lights compilation is a great way to start the summer. I was especially impressed with Lisa Phillips rendering of Finally Home. With this story, she has proven that she can write any genre. This entire compilation is truly well done.

I received an advanced readers copy from the publisher. Opinions are my own.

[Appalachianbooknook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bright Lights -
Novellas by some of your favorite authors

Admittedly as an avid suspense reader, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop lol.
I couldn't tell you the last time I read a purely romance novel but these are some sweet novellas. If you enjoy good, clean romance, check them out!

[Connie Felkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Every story is a step into a world of possibilities. You will feel connected to each character and they are well written. You will feel you have made new friends when finished.

[Marylin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun collection of stories by various authors to read.
Each of these stories is delightful in its own way.
The authors all wove into their stories something to do with bright lights.
Each book has a flair of its own, and each author is skilled in storytelling. The stories will bring a chuckle to your heart and soul and a smile to your face.
These stories were so sweet and captivating. They had drama, fun dialogue, quirky moments, deep, touching life lessons, and tender romance.
There were a couple of “new to me” authors which I truly enjoyed getting to know. Now I have more authors to read! YAY!
I highly recommend you pick this book up to read. It will touch your heart in many ways.
The publisher gave me this book, but this did not influence my review in any way; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Joni Truex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book with 4 authors sharing their stories. I enjoyed these stories and recommend this book. Like me, you may find a new author or two to follow and read their books.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

All were sweet romance except book 3. The romance was sweet but the characters dealt with heavy topics. Overall well done and an enjoyable summer read.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I LOVE reading! A Summer to Remember gives me 8 new novels to read! Though I’ve only read three so far, I’m diving into the fourth one now! They’re all Christian contemporary romance, and each of the three I’ve read so far share the gospel and God’s love very clearly. I love this! It’s not just like, “Oh, hi, I saw you at church last week,” and that’s the extent of Christianity in the book. No. The messages are clear and very moving, and I’m sure you will find one (or more) that resonates with you.

I read the first two in Bright Lights and the first one in Starry Nights. As I read more, I’ll add to my review, so stay tuned!


In Finally Home by Lisa Phillips, two couples find love. The first, Ashlynn Monroe and Greyson Freyer, have “seen” each other frequently without really noticing that the other exists. The other couple are in their early 60s and have just met. I loved that Ashlynn works for the police commissioner and that the author makes a reference to Blue Bloods (though she doesn’t name the show!) because I love that show! And, I love how Ashlynn and Greyson pass by all of the time without really seeing each other, but then one day, boom, they do. God’s timing is always perfect as both couples discover. Though Ashylnn’s Aunt Ruby and Police Commissioner Russ just meet, they find joy in each other and decide to see exactly where God takes them.

Finally Home was both heartwarming and heart wrenching. There are so many adorable, swoonworthy scenes, yet there are sad, contemplative ones too. As a mom, I felt for Greyson’s mom who will be moving out of state to be near her daughter and grandchildren because I’d want that too. However, it would be so hard to move away from my son. I cried for her and for Greyson. (I’m a crier.)

I give this 5 stars!



In Summer at Trillium Lake by Andrea Christenson, Athena Vassos’s dad sends her to their family’s summer home at Trillium Lake, so she can think about her role in the family’s hugely prosperous company. On her first day there, she is stranded on her family’s boat in the middle of the lake when Sean Campbell comes to her rescue. It turns out, Sean is the handyman at the Bible camp across the lake. He’s good with that job and enjoys it. But when he has to step up as camp director, he’s completely overwhelmed. Athena volunteers her help, and this sweet love story takes off from there.

I really enjoyed the beautiful setting even though I remember being mad (as a 12 yo) when my family went to a lake instead of the ocean for vacation! It was even in Wisconsin (where this story is set)! I loved Athena’s bubbly personality and Sean’s willingness to accept her help (even though that’s really hard for guys!). We all have different strengths, and God made us that way. We’re not all math people! (Are there really math people out there? Kidding.) And we’re not all handy at fixing things. However, being opposites can be hard in a relationship (and it can be great!). Relationships are hard! Athena and Sean definitely had some issues to work through individually and later as a couple.

One of my favorite parts of this was when Sean had to lead devotions when the scheduled speaker got sick. This is a quote from that scene: “That’s what God does for us. He takes all our broken pieces, our lost and messed up selves, and makes us into masterpieces. His grace shines through us.” How often we forget! We’re broken, but we can’t fix ourselves. Only God can take our brokenness and insecurities and turn them into something beautiful.

I give this one 5 stars too!

[Holly Bleggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a good Contemporary Christian romance anthology set during the summer. I liked how each of the stories were unique and that there was something for everyone. I also liked reading stories by some authors I have never read before and reading some by some well loved ones. I thought the settings and characters in each were good and that the authors did a good job of making us care about the characters and want to know what happened to them. I also liked that each story could be read in an afternoon and that you have four stories to read that can be spread out over a few days. I thought this anthology was good and would be great for anyone who just wants to read an uplifting story to get away from things for a little while.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

[Suzanne Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four contemporary romances from four different authors offer a great summer read. While entertaining and humorous, each story also explores deeper issues that often prevent real love from blossoming. Damaged self-image, overbearing family expectations, and unresolved trauma are a few of the major hurdles the protagonists had to overcome. Each novel was well written with relatable characters and after a series of unexpected twists and turns, a satisfying ending.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally Home by Lisa Phillips

Summer at Trillium Lake - Andrea Christenson

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

good story if you like clean stories you will want to read the book