Miquel Reina

A lovely story about choosing, and pursuing, what you want in life before it is too late.

The novel started out as part fairytale (in a lovely, romantic language kind of a way) combined with something akin to Disney's "Up" (a movie I loved). From there, the story could get bogged down quite a bit in technical details that I felt distracted from the story. (Neat info, but not necessary for enjoyment of the tale.)

Yet, despite this, it is a lovely story about hope, love, loss, longing, and the meaning of life. Our main characters Harold and Mary Rose embark on some amazing adventures - they see the Northern Lights for the first time, have an encounter with a dolphin, and other fantastical experiences.

As for general reading, I would rate this as 3 stars for "I liked it", however, the theme of the novel, as well as the lyrical potential of the author's writing, can't be beat - I therefore am granting 4 stars for "I really liked it". It's definitely worth a read when you're in the mood for something a little different.… (altro)

This is not a genre that I normally read but I found that I really enjoyed this book. It was a fable about life and regrets for past mistakes when you are close to the end of your life. It was full of good thoughts and lessons on how to forgive yourself and others.

Mary Rose and Howard Grapes are being forced to move from their house on top of a cliff due to the danger of where it is located. They will be moving into a retirement away from the sea that they have always been close to. During the night before their move, the house falls into the sea intact and floats away from Mary Rose and Howard inside. As there past lives fall away behind them, they learn to love and forgive each other for the death of their son 35 years earlier.

Wildly imaginative, deeply poignant, and entirely unexpected, Lights on the Sea sweeps readers away on a journey of fate, acceptance, redemption, and survival against the most rewarding of odds.

It's a beautifully told story about love and forgiveness and changing your life and attitudes no matter how old you are. It made me cry in parts but the overall feeling at the end was of redemption and not sadness.… (altro)

In his debut novel, Lights On The Sea, author Miquel Reina weaves a wonderful fantasy / adventure tale that takes the reader on an emotional journey.

For thirty-five years, Mary Rose and Harold Grapes have been living an isolated life in a house built high on Death Cliff overlooking the ocean above the seaside town of San Remo de Mar on Brent Island. This self-imposed isolation came about from the grief and loss of their eight year old son Dylan, who had drowned in the ocean during a terrible rainstorm. But now the retired couple are being forced to leave their house due to the erosion of the volcanic rock foundation that leaves the house precariously sitting on the edge of the cliff. The night before the Grapes were to leave the house, a terrible rainstorm occurs just like it did thirty-five years ago, and a thunderous lightning bolt strikes the house, causing the house foundation to break free and free-fall into the ocean. This bolt of lightning would set off an unexpected chain of events that would cast the elderly couple on a personal journey as their house floats to unknown destinations on the sea. What will become of the terrified retired couple lost at sea?

I generally do not read fantasy / adventure books as they are not one of my favorite genres to read. But I was pleasantly surprised to find myself drawn into the Grapes' story, and their harrowing journey as their house floated on the open sea. The reader will experience an emotional gamut of feelings as they follow the horrific challenges and trials and tribulations that the Grapes dealt with as their house floated through a variety of weather conditions, you can't help but wonder how they were able to survive. The author does an amazing job of describing their journey in a way that makes you sit on the edge of the seat and keeps you turning the pages to see what will happen next. While I found myself really engrossed in their incredible journey, I couldn't help but come to realize that the author wrote a tale that is so much more than your normal fantasy / adventure story. It is a complex story with many layers that has a powerful message that will make the reader pause for a moment and ponder the lessons that the Grapes learned from their personal journey, and how it may relate to their own lives. The author interweaves the Grapes' past memories with the present, and as the details of their life story are revealed, the reader will come to understand the most important life lesson the Grapes had to learn: that life is a journey that should be lived to the fullest, and no matter how easy or hard times may get, never give up, always strive to make your dreams come true, because in the end the only reason we are given life is to live it!

This is a beautifully well-written and poignant story from beginning to a very unexpected and surprising ending. I would definitely recommend everyone read Lights On The Sea, you won't regret it!

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2019/01/lights-on-sea-by-miquel-reina...… (altro)