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.
