Tempest at Annnabel's Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright

 Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright

4 Stars

Another great autumnal read from Jaime Jo Wright! A very haunting book starting out on the shores of Lake Superior into a dual timeline mystery to present day......a very emotionally charged book. The ending TOOK ME OUT. I did NOT see that coming. We follow Rebecca who is a battered woman in 1874 who wakes up with no idea of her past. Then we follow Shea in modern day who is an author seeking refuge from her crumbling marriage. Both women find themselves drawn to the isolated lighthouse with a lingering presence of Annabel.

This had a theme of gothic suspense because you have a tie in with Edgar Allen Poe as it's inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's haunting poem of Annabel Lee. I loved that because I knew nothing of Edgar Allen Poe and it caused me to research a bit about the history of that poem.

I can't say a ton because I don't want to spoil anything, but wow, what an ending. 

Trigger warning: suicide mentions, harassment, semi-detailed violence, abuse and death.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7160984537
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4qX9a0T
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780764243790_tempest-at-annabels-lighthouse

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright

 Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright

3.5 - 4 Stars (4 on Goodreads)

I have read so many Jaime Jo Wright books! She is known for her haunting, Gothic dual-timeline mysteries/suspense style with good Christian content, combating the supernatural with the reality of the Christian faith. She usually has a good romantic sub-plot too. This one is set in 1901 and present day for our timelines. 

Jaime Jo weaves together the lives of Effie James and Norah Richman, two women connected by tragedy, secrets, and an eerie house at 322 Predicament Avenue.

I think my favorite timeline was the present day because of the crime podcast stuff. 

My favorite part of this book is honestly the atmosphere and the strong writing I’ve come to expect from Jaime Jo. I do struggle to stay fully invested this time but honestly, I listened to the audio and think I just wasn't as invested because the timelines and mysteries felt a bit too similar at points, and I found myself having to stop and remember which story I was in and who we were talking about. It’s totally a ME thing. I’m also struggling to connect with stories right now for some reason so I probably forced reading when I should have taken a break. 

Even still, this is one that if you love a good gothic mystery, check this out. The ending reallllly surprised me!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7160979239
Amazon: https://amzn.to/42KOmiN
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780764241451_night-falls-on-predicament-avenue 

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Buried Wilderness Secrets by Jaime Jo Wright

Book Review: Buried Wilderness Secrets by Jaime Jo Wright

3.5 to 4 Stars - 4 stars for the entertainment factor 

This is a love inspired Christian romantic suspense and I enjoyed it. Look at Jaime Jo with the ROMANCE haha. 

We follow Montana park ranger Aaliyah Terrence and she finds a serial killer's burial ground. She ends up getting attacked right after finding it. The burial ground is tied to an old cold case that detective Wade Marlowe comes into town about. He explains to Aaliyah that her birth mother was the murderer's first victim and it becomes clear that Aaliyah is in the eyes of the killer as the next target. 

I liked it pretty good. While the romance wasn't exactly my favorite, the plot was very interesting. I love the adoption storyline and how they were trying to track everything down. Overall a quick read, good pallet cleanse. As one of my other friends mentioned though, Wade not having a gun but having bear spray gave me the WHAT YOU DOIN SIR without your weapon LOL *kidding only a little bit* haha

My favorite bits were seeing her dog, Peaches, them figuring out the mystery bits and the questions getting answered about her family.

One I would recommend if you want a quick read with fast romance and suspense.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7875061098
Amazon: https://amzn.to/45Zuo4A

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright

🦋Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright🦋
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

5 BIG STARS

I am working my way through Jaime's books in my goal to read her to zero this year and Specters in the Glass House is now my 7th Jaime read -- and a NEW FAVORITE. She once again skillfully weaves two timelines that is bound to keep you engaged and on the edge of your seat! 

🦋Atmospheric Setting
🦋Butterflies
🦋Focus on Mental Health
🦋Gothic Style
🦋Greenhouse
🦋Beautiful Faith Thread
🦋Dual Timeline 1920s and Present Day
🦋Romantic Subplot 
🦋Quick Read

Set in 1921, the historical timeline follows Marian Arnold, an heiress struggling with the weight of her family's brewing empire as Prohibition threatens its future. She is isolated in her Wisconsin estate’s glass butterfly house and she becomes plagued by visions and a series of murders marked by dead butterflies.....a chilling signature of a serial killer. She turns to her childhood friend, Felix. He is a war veteran battling his own ghosts...but he helps Marian in unraveling the darkness that haunts her home.

Then we cut to present day with Remy Shaw, who is investigating Marian's life and the long-unsolved murders tied to her family's estate. She meets Marian's great-great grandson and they discover the truth beneath the glass house. 

I loved this book so much. It's filled with atmospheric suspense, emotional layers and some great faith based reflections all of us can related to. This was  a very immersive reading experience. Both timelines keep you engaged the entire time and she tied this storyline together so well. I always love how Jaime can tell a multi-generational family story as well, with the family looking back at the past and trying to learn their stories, and how it's shaped them today.

Additionally, I appreciate Jaime's discussion on mental health here. I don't want to the specifics as I feel like it is a spoiler for the book, but Jaime sensitively addresses psychological struggles, adding such emotional depth to the story. It was very well done. (scroll to the bottom if need to know trigger)

Overall, another great Jaime Jo read and I highly recommend it!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6737927863
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/579798
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3FXq38H

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

*trigger for schizophrenia 

The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright

Book Review: The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright 4 Stars 

This one was very spooky, gothic and eerie, as usual for Jaime Jo! It took me a bit to get invested in this one as the audio wasn't the best option. But around chapter 10 I was invested in the story and the house on Foster Hill itself. Jaime just has a great way of making these settings come to life and be a character in itself in a way. Duel Timeline in Jaime Jo fashion, we follow two ladies, Kaine Prescott and Ivy Thorpe. Both women are separated by nearly a century, whose lives are intricately tied to the mysterious Foster Hill house. Ivy is in 1906 drawn into a murder mystery when a woman's body is found near the house and Kaine is a modern day widow seeking refuge and answers after her husband's suspicious death. Kaine purchased Foster Hill hoping for a fresh start, but instead finds herself entangled in this history....

I really enjoyed the story overall, Jaime always keeps you guessing and interested. I feel like I was a bit confused at first in the timelines but that could have been because of the narrator on the audiobook. The faith content stood out well as always in her books. Light in the darkness thread. So glad I read this because the ending was great!

This would be good for people who like Christian Suspense or Gothic Mysteries. 

Content warnings: I tried to see what other reviewers shared regarding the content warnings because I didn't want to miss anything. I agree with this: As another reviewer, Daniella, stated from her review here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4524772608 -- "I do believe it’s worth noting that this novel does deal with intense and possibly triggering topics like trauma, sex trafficking, rape, murder, assault, abuse, ptsd, depression, anxiety, and stalking. However, none of these issues are spelled out in graphic detail nor romanticized/glorified. They are dealt with in, what I believe to be, a godly manner."

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6925876252

Baker Book House (Recommended): https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/38481
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3YFVQlq

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

 

The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright

 The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright  3.5 Stars

Another atmospheric Jaime Jo read. Jaime blends gothic mystery, historical fiction and psychological suspense in this one. If you love a good haunting story with depth and emotion, check this out! I enjoyed it overall. The only downside to this one for me was I was a bit confused keeping the timelines apart and I don't think I still understand the genealogy stuff at the end, but this could be due to me only reading this by listening to the audio. 

This is a dual timeline story following Thea Reed in 1908 and Heidi Lane in present day. Both timelines are in the town of Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin. In 1908, Thea is a traveling post-mortem photographer, who comes to town searching for clues about her birth mother. Her journey leads her to the asylum on the outskirts of town, where she gets wrapped up in the ghostly tale of "Misty Wayfair". In present day, we see Heidi Lane, struggling with anxiety and mental health issues, drawn to the same town by a mysterious letter from her mother. She starts to unearth family secrets and gets involved in a mystery she can't ignore. The story kicks off here as we follow both timelines in each character's journey. 

I loved seeing the mental health and autism representation shown in this book too. As an Autism Mama, I love that in books and it always stands out to me. The greatest strength in this book is character development as I feel like they were beautifully fleshed out, each on their own quest for identity and understanding. 

I think this is a good read for the fall spooky season and perfect for fans of gothic fiction or psychological thrillers. An eerie read but also hopeful as Jaime always has that layer of faith added to explain the situations. 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6867500938
Amazon:  https://amzn.to/4f7T2n7
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/38483

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

The Premonition at Withers Farm by Jaime Jo Wright

 

The Premonition at Withers Farm by Jaime Jo Wright 
5 Stars 

WHAT A GREAT STORY YALL! Jaime Jo does it AGAIN! I am always so invested in her stories. She knows how to write a great book to keep the reader engaged, and I love that. The Premonition at Withers Farm is a great blend of mystery, suspense and historical intrigue. She seamlessly weaves together two timelines that keep you hooked from page 1. Jaime Jo always has dual timeline in her stories and I LOVE how she interconnects the characters in each timeline. I also love how she combats the supernatural type elements with faith in God in her books. Very well done here!

In this story, we have present day - Molly Wasziak - who, alongside her husband Trent, moves to a remote farm in the countryside, hoping for a fresh start after a series of miscarriages they have experienced. However, the Withers Farm holds dark secrets and Molly's discovery of a connection to a series of unsolved murders from a century ago sets the stage for a chilling exploration of the farm's history. 

Then in the other timeline, set in the early 1900s, we follow Perliett Van Hilton, a self proclaimed rural healers. Her mother claims to be a "spiritualist" but the local doctor is convinced they are bother involved in quackery. We see Perliett become involved in a string of murders at Withers Farm. Her character is fascinating as she straddles the line between skepticism and belief. 

The story goes on from here and Jaime Jo pains a haunting and eerie atmosphere, creating complex characters who grapple with deep emotional wounds, making their journeys feel raw and authentic. The exploration of grief and faith in this book was phenomenally well done. 

Overall, this book is perfect for lovers of Christian suspense stories with eerie backdrops that aren't too scary but just the right among of mystery, history and faith. Highly recommend!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6522441041
Baker Book House (Recommended): https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/433715

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3BGhe0O

 

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

*content warnings for miscarriages, grief with the loss of a child, grief with the loss of a parent.

The Lost Boys of Barlow Theater by Jaime Jo Wright

The Lost Boys of Barlow Theater - Jamie Jo Wright - 4.5 Stars 

Wow, Jaime Jo does it AGAIN! This is a haunting and intricately woven novel that seamlessly combines elements of mystery and suspense. We have richly developed characters and a storyline that spans generations. This book is going to keep readers engaged from start to finish! 

Set in the eerie backdrop of the Barlow Theater, this story is told through dual timelines - one in present day and one in the early 1900s. In 1915, we see Greta Mercy, who is skeptical of the theater as her brother died there in an accident during its construction. When her younger brother goes missing after breaking into the building, Greta hopes the local police can help her solve this mystery of where he is. Plus, early on in the story, Greta caused quite the uproar when she says she saw a child fall from the theater balcony during one of the productions...yet no child was found. Was she seeing things or is there more to this theater than meets the eye?

Decades later during present day, we follow Kit Boyd, whose best friend Madison goes missing at the Theater when TV ghost-hunting host and skeptic, Evan Fisher, is there with their crew filming episodes of their TV show trying to catch secrets of the theater on film. Evan and Kit work together trying to piece together the puzzle and find Madison before it's too late. 

I am so glad I read this! It explored so much in both timelines and Jaime Jo always weaves the timelines and generational families together SO well! I can't say which timeline I liked better because I genuinely wanted to keep reading both! There were some parts that dragged a little for me but this is truly a 4.5 to 5 star read and I think if you are looking for a good, gothic fall read, this is for you! The content was not triggering for me in any way, the opening is a little unsettling with the thought of a possible child that fell from the balcony, but we soon question if that even truly happened or not. 

I loved Evan and Kit together most of all - he was just an awesome guy and I loved how he combated the "medium" or "psychic" in this story and explained how the supernatural world we "think" of today is most likely an illusion from the devil making us see what we think we want to see and how many of these things are things God doesn't want us even dabbling it - preach it Evan! The faith in this book is also weaved in very naturally and isn't preachy - it's beautiful to see how Evan reminds Kit that God hasn't abandoned her yet and he still won't. Jaime Jo may have had some details with psychics and mediums in here but she made sure to debunk what they were doing and point it back to God!

In conclusion, The Lost Boys of Barlow Theater will grip readers as an engaging and eerie fall read and I highly recommend! Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5882194710
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tqWLsJ
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/516373
Vlog and YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt-U-nf5HX8

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright

 

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau - Jaime Jo Wright - 5 Stars - A mysterious castle, a long kept secret and an ending that will leave with you with so much hope!

Wow, loved this book so much. 4.5-5 stars! Jaime Jo’s endings always have such a big reveal and leave you with such hope. This quote made me cry… “a sisterhood that is greater than fear, and a holy strength that conquers evil.” If you like mysterious castles with secrets, gothic vibes, dual timeline, a century-old mystery….great characters with a little bit of romance sprinkled in- read this!

This is a multi timeline, primarily dual timeline. We have 1801 with short updates here and there from a perspective called “the girl”. It appears to be those that originated in the castle. Then we have 1870, where orphaned Daisy Francois takes a job as a housemaid at the castle. She meets a Gothic authoress who appears to be hiding things about the castle so Daisy starts trying to piece everything together to figure out the castle’s secrets. She also has a small romance here start to bloom. Then we have present day, where Cleo Clemons is hired by this woman’s grandson who lives at the castle- he wants Cleo to help his grandmother with her hoarding tendencies throughout the castle. But there is more to meets the eye for Cleo at Castle Moreau….With a romance blooming for Cleo, secrets of her own to hide and a mystery uncovered at the castle, Cleo may get more then she bargained for in this new job…

The two timelines are tied together by the generations of people who built the castle leading up through present day, while these generations are keeping the secrets of the castle hidden and a lady in each timeline comes in trying to figure everything out with their own little romantic interest.

Some parts were a bit longer for me then others but this is so close to 5 stars for me because of the ending. That last 25% when everything was revealed….my heart. I loved what Jaime Jo did with the ending of this yall! I didn’t see it coming. Completely shocked.

This also wasn’t too creepy for me. Some parts are a little unsettling but nothing too bad. There are mentions of past child abuse but it’s off page and not detailed. The creepy level really just reminds me of stories from mysterious castles like you might see in an episode of “Are You Afraid of the Dark” 😁 Nothing too scary! Maybe some shadows lurking in the dark or someone rattling a door knob but we don’t know who/no one is there type stuff 😁

Overall, I can’t wait to dive into more of Jaime’s books as this was amazing!

Goodreads Review:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5549976325
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pmExqM
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/465107
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNfiPar0nxE

Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright

 

Echoes Among the Stones - Jaime Jo Wright - 4.5 Stars - A surprising read for me! Loved this!

What a surprising read for me! I picked this up when trying some of my friend's favorite books and this was SUCH a surprising book. I listened to this mostly on audio and read the last 25% on kindle. 4.5 rounding up to 5 stars.

The narrator pulled me in immediately. I think if I physically read the beginning portions, I may have not been so interested but the narrator did such a great job with the two timelines.

This is a Christian fiction mystery-thriller but this wasn't creepy in any way to me. I felt like it leaned more mystery then thriller.

We have Aggie, who travels to Wisconsin to visit her grandmother, Mumsie. She is dealing with the loss of her mother and still learning how to grieve that loss. Aggie sees her grandmother obsessing over an old, unsolved crime scene - recreating it in a dollhouse - and you as the reader start to wonder how is she connected to the past timeline....

In the past during 1946, we see Imogene Grayson coming home to discover her sister has been killed. She sets out to try and solve the murder but the case grows cold fast. We follow her journey as she tries to figure out what happened to her sister Hazel.

I personally loved the alternating timeline and seeing how her grandmother was connected to the past timeline. I really liked some of the faith at the end surrounding grief. "Don't let grief tie your years up into a lifetime of regrets. Let the good Lord take care of your aches and heal you. So that you don't miss out on the good - on the blessing He hides in the middle of all that hurting." Jaime did a wonderful job explaining how we struggle with grief and how she handled it was beautiful and heart-breaking at the same time.

I did NOT figure out who the murdered was the end - this book sure did keep me on my toes and guessing the entire time.

Def a fav of 2023 for me. The only reason its 4.5 and not 5 fully -- is I wanted a little more romance but overall such a good read.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5460598874
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rwn9AB
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/38654
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mHWHokCowI&t=103s