★★★★★ Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright, A Ghostly Haunting of a Northern, Great Lakes Lighthouse
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.
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About This Book:
Where the lighthouse no longer illuminates, ghostly lore and legends emerge . . .
1874
A battered woman awakens atop a forgotten gravesite by Lake Superior's southern shore. Identified only by the locket around her neck inscribed with the name Rebecca, she seeks refuge with an elderly lighthouse keeper. But as Rebecca struggles to remember who she is, she finds herself haunted by the lingering memories of Annabel, a mysterious woman who perished in the lake's unforgiving waves years earlier. With the spirit of Annabel seemingly reawakened, and an unknown adversary on the hunt to silence Rebecca once and for all, more is at stake than reclaiming her own memories. Rebecca must reclaim Annabel's as well.
Present Day
Author and researcher Shea Radclyffe escapes to the lighthouse outside a historic Michigan mining town to seek clarity about her failing marriage. Instantly drawn to the lighthouse's landlord, Shea contends with the legend of Annabel's vengeful ghost and a superstitious community that has buried the truth about a current murder. As the secrets harbored around Annabel's lighthouse unravel, Shea must navigate a fight between torn loyalty, self-discovery, and the haunting forces of love.
. . . demanding vengeance for secrets that should have drowned a century before.
MY REVIEW: ★★★★★ 5/5
Jaime Jo Wright NEVER disappoints! I loved this haunting, twisted tale of greed, complacency, and the power of love.
Using Edgar Allan Poe’s “Annabel Lee” as a catalyst, Wright crafts a dual-timeline novel—set in 1874 and the present day—centered around a mysterious, northern Michigan lighthouse. Her atmospheric writing draws readers in from the very first page, setting the tone for a story that’s both chilling and hopeful, with mellow undertones of intrigue and suspense.
Though the faith thread is almost non-existent compared to some of her other books, the authentic characters evoke deep emotion and charisma. I was especially drawn to the compelling, historical timeline. The present-day story is full of angst and tension, adding a fresh layer of suspense that kept me turning the pages. And, when the ending delivered a punch I never saw coming, I closed the book feeling the weight of a broken world—but also the beauty of redemption and the transformational power of love.
Overall, this novel is subtle yet powerful, with masterful storytelling on every page. I 100% recommend it—a standout read that crosses beautifully into both Christian and mainstream fiction.
Content and Trigger Warning: PG13. Abuse on page (light descriptors), murder
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About the Author:
Image courtesy of Baker Publishing Group
Jaime Jo Wright is a three-time Christy Award finalist and the author of thirteen novels, including Christy Award-winner and ECPA bestseller The Vanishing at Castle Moreau, Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill, and Carol Award-winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. Jaime has also written two Publishers Weekly bestselling novellas. She lives in Wisconsin with her family and fabulous felines. Learn more at JaimeWrightBooks.com.
