This dual timeline novel is like reading two books. Both are rather creepy which is Wright’s signature. In this novel we have mental illness combined with amnesia, kidnapping and murder. It will keep you guessing until the end as to who the murderer is. In the present day part of the book, you will read of eerie whispers in the dark, a missing child, a broken porcelain doll’s face, feeling a presence in the woods and an unsolved murder. How can all of this tie in with an bloody ax murdering of an entire family save one that escaped but remembers nothing? This book will keep you guessing as page after page unfolds. What a writer and what a book! I recommend this creepy novel to all who love mysteries. …..
I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

I wasn't expecting to love this book but I was completely captivated in the first chapter. Jaime Jo Wright does a masterful job of weaving in the spooky and dark right along with a little romance and the gospel message. This story had something for everyone and I've already recommended it to friends! Five huge stars!

The Souls of Lost Lake by Jamie Jo Wright. This is not a light fun read, it is more of a family drama that will suck you into the suspense and intrigue. It is a Christian novel with traces of a thriller or horror.

It is a dual timeline story with two female leads. Ava who as a child is thought to have killed her entire family. She is deemed an outcast most of her life. So when a new killing occurs she as an adult is the first suspect. Then the preacher volunteers to watch over her to keep her from being locked up. They were so cute together. This was my favorite of the two stories.

Wren was the present-day story. She works and lives at a church camp and a little girl goes missing in the forest. This impacts her tremendously. The best part of Wren’s story was her relationship with Patty. Patty is her best friend, Eddie’s mom. Wren’s mom passed away when she was young. Wren has a boyfriend and her best friend Eddie. I had a hard time feeling compassion for her when she was so selfish or unaware of how she treated these two characters in her life.

The best part of this book is that I did not guess the ending. I love it when an author can surprise you. If you like complete closure in your book you will be a little disappointed here. The author did not close all the loose ends.

Violence – 3 family is murdered, children go missing,
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

A pro at the timeslip novel, Jaime Jo Wright’s latest is filled with mystery, murder, danger, and love. The historical thread follows Ava as she is blamed for the deaths of two members in town and with her violent past, who can doubt their accusations? Only the handsome preacher will vouch for her and offer her shelter. As Ava digs deeper into uncovering what happened to her family on the fateful day they were all slaughtered, she grows closer to the only man who isn’t afraid of her past. In the contemporary thread, Wren wrestles with the constant feeling that she doesn’t belong. When a little girl goes missing in the woods Ava Coons once roamed, Wren feels connected to the mystery in a way she can’t explain. But someone is leaving creepy clues for her to follow, only Wren isn’t sure if they will lead to finding the girl or her own demise.
This story has a violent thread in the past tense so squeamish readers will still enjoy the mystery-horror component. The campfire story regarding Ava Coons is the perfect intro to the book and sets the foreboding vibe. Ava’s love story is slightly spicier than sweet and definitely swoon-worthy while Wren’s is more of a slow realization of something she should have known all along.
Readers will delve into Jaime Jo Wright’s latest mystery with relish as she delivers another time slip mystery that will leave you flipping pages well into the night.

Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.

Bravo!

With just the right amount of spine-tingling creepiness, this dual timeline tale had me enthralled from the very first page. I have been a fan of Jaime Jo Wright's from the very beginning. Her unique twist of the macabre is the perfect blend for one who does not enjoy horror movies. This is definitely more along the lines of the ghost stories we shared around campfires.

Ms. Wright's pen is brilliant is slowly releasing clues in both stories, keeping the reader engaged. In a dual timeline story, I am usually more engaged in one story than the other, but that was not the case in The Souls of Lost Lake. Both Ava's and Wren's stories tugged at my heart as they each unlocked the secrets of the past. Very interesting twist at the end that I did not see coming. One for the keeper shelf!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author/ publisher through Netgalley. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What I Loved: Confession: I have yet to read a Wright book that I didn't love, that didn't make me read with the lights on, and that didn't keep me guessing until the end. But somehow The Souls of Lost Lake may have been among her best work.
Now, this story does contain a rather gruesome crime and there are details in there, that while not OVERLY shocking, may still be a tad more than we're used to. It was certainly her most gruesome tale to date ... and gruesome isn't exactly my thing.
But the mystery. The mystery is very much my thing, and as usual, Wright kept my mind spinning even when I wasn't reading, trying to figure out exactly who, when, why, and how. I typically can figure out some piece of the puzzle, but never the entire thing. And The Souls of Lost Lake was right up there with the best of mysteries.
The romance ... sigh. I was greatly satisfied. It was clean. It was sweet. There was chemistry bouncing off the walls. It was perfection. Wright has the most consistent handle on brooding, silent men, and I love her all the more for it.
But even better than the romance and the mystery were the spiritual elements. While it may have been her most gruesome novel, I'd have to say that it's likely her most Christian novel. It was an absolute treat to read a variety of edifying thoughts along with the story. It would be my dream come true to see her continue to incorporate solid Christianity in all of her stories with this kind of steady, artful hand.

Rating and Recommendation: I'm giving it 5 stars. I highly recommend it to those who enjoy a good suspenseful scare, old ghost stories, mysteries, and a dual-timeline.

I received a copy from the publisher. I was not compensated for my review or required to give a favorable one.

Wow, I hate to use a cliche, but it fits so well: “this dual timeline novel grabbed me from the start and wouldn’t let go!” Ava Coons’ story was set during the 1930s. Wren’s story was during the present day. Both had hidden identities and memories that held them back from living their lives as they should. An ax murderer roams freely about in the dark woods surrounding Lost Lake in both time frames. Two little girls went missing ten years apart. What happened to them is a mystery to all the residents. So much evil lurks in Tempter’s Creek. The bloodied clothing of a thirteen year old dragging an ax behind her is the epitome of campfire ghost stories for decades. Is any of it true? Is all this fiction or is it reality? This made for a heart thumping, what’s that noise, dare I turn the page, way to spend a dark, stormy night at home. At least I wasn’t alone while I was reading…
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise. All opinions are strictly my own.

Excellent dual-time! Wow!!! Twists and turns galore and filled to the brim with intrigue and heart! Wright pens such deep, insightful stories that are as unique as they are signature to her voice. I listened to this one on audio during the day and then read in the night... although, I'll admit, sometimes I was too spooked to read in the dark! Brilliant mystery and beautiful arcs in this one. Five stars all the way :)

This book was so well written and kept me on the edge of my seat. Ava and Wren were both very engaging characters with stores that drew me in. The ending to both of their mysteries was a complete surprise to me and I will definitely be checking out more books by this author!

Jaime Jo Wright is a master at duel time novels! In The Souls of Lost Lake, we travel seamlessly between present day Northwoods and 1930’s Tempter’s Creek. The stories of Ava Coons and Wren Blythe are interwoven in a believable way even though they live decades apart.

This book will scare you to the point of looking over your shoulder one minute and crying with empathy the next. It will also challenge your faith and have you questioning how you would respond.

This has been one of my favorite books of the authors thus far! It is a must read for fans of dual time novels.

I was given a complimentary book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Jaime Jo Wright is my favorite author because she gives just the right amount of creepiness to a story and always gives the reader a surprise ending. The Souls of Lost Lake is no different and is her best story yet with her tradition of dual storylines.
Ava Coon is our 1930 protagonist who just can't shake the rumors that she axed her whole family as a child and hid their bodies. When a man is killed by an axe in her town as a grown up, the town decides she is guilty and only hope is the local pastor to get her out of trouble. Our modern character is church camp worker Wren who is trying to help find a lost child in the same woods where Ava's childhood cabin was located. People are saying Ava Coon's ghost took her. The storylines each tell a terrific story until the mysteries combine for the ending.
What makes Wright's books stand out are the unique characters she gives us in each book. In this book that character is Wren's dad who is an extreme Tolkien fan and that shows in every area of his life.
I don't usually keep any of my books due to room, but I am keeping The Souls of Lost Lake to read again in few years and am sending a copy to a good friend because I know she will also love this book.

Jaime Jo Wright is one that has quickly climbed her way up my must read list. While her stories are so often a bit darker than I typically find myself drawn to, she has such a way to telling hauntingly beautiful stories that no only draw me in, but stay with me long after the final page. As such, I could not wait to read The Souls of Lost Lake... and it absolutely did not disappoint.

With a dual timeline jumping back and forth between present day as Wren helps search for a girl lost in the woods, haunted by the ghost story of Ava Coons and back to the 1930 to the very woman that started the legends, Ava herself. Oftentimes with dual timelines like this it can be hard to be as equally invested into both stories, but that was not the case here at all. Their stories wove together masterfully, and I found myself enjoying both equally. There was so much mystery being uncovered in both stories, and I was at the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen in the end. The story was a bit slower paced perhaps, but it worked very well for this one.

Overall, I found it to be a fantastic read. If you are already a fan of Jaime Jo Wright, you certainly won't want to miss this one... and if you're not, this book may just change that.

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

Wright always packs a powerful punch with her concoction of mystery, dual timelines, Faith, and horror. This book is no different and is full of creepy moments and poignant lessons.

Jaime Jo Wright’s books always sound so good, yet they never end up being truly satisfying for me.

The Souls of Lost Lake is a dual-timeline mystery featuring two women struggling with loss. In the past, Ava Coons finds herself accused of murder when a man in town is killed in the same way her family was killed years ago. Ava has no memory of her family’s attack, but forced to hide with the local pastor to avoid the angry townsfolk, she slowly begins to remember what happened that fateful day. In the present, Wren Blythe has thrown herself into the search for a missing child. When clues connecting Wren and the missing girl with the ghost story of Ava Coons, Wren must discover the true story of the local legend to bring the child home.

As with most dual-timeline reads, I ended up liking one timeline more than the other. In this case, I was more intrigued by Ava’s story. Who had killed her family years ago, and who was killing people now? Why had the killer spared Ava, and who is hunting her now, threatening and taunting her with the past? I liked the way that Ava’s story was slowly pieced together and the various individuals who helped her find the truth.

Wren’s story was also interesting, but you know how the story is going to end, it’s just a matter of getting there. I enjoyed the creepy aspects of her story (I agree, porcelain dolls are creepy), and I liked how the legend of Ava Coons played such a role in the town’s history.

My main issue with this book was that Wren’s story sort of went off the rails at the end. Wright sort of threw in a twist that was a bit too twisty and felt totally random. And then it was just sort of unresolved? I’m not sure why the twist was included at all, and it essentially ruined what had been a fairly enjoyable book up to that point. My other issue was that Wren seemed a bit whiny and helpless compared with Ava. She didn’t really do anything except cry and get herself into situations that required her to be saved. Okay, that’s probably a bit harsh, but when her character is played next to Ava, who lost her entire family, who has been accused of murder three times over, who is being hunted by a mystery man, and who no one has truly cared for in years, Wren just seems whiny.

All in all, I enjoyed most of The Souls of Lost Lake. Ava’s story was more intriguing to me, but both storylines were interesting, and there was a good creepy factor. However, the ending went a bit off the rails, and I found myself wondering why the author chose to add in a random twist and then leave things unresolved. After another just-okay read, I think this may be the last book I try by this author.

This is such a richly layered dual-timeline, Christian saga. Filled with mystery, secrets, and red herrings in both timelines, this story will grip you until the end. There is a Christian message of God's continued presence in the time of tragedy. There is also an exploration of honesty. Are there any acceptable lies? The characters are well-rounded, and the basic legend of an ax murdering teen is built upon in unexpected ways.

The characters and setting were so intriguing, and both mysteries kept me guessing until the end. Jaime Jo Wright is a masterful weaver of stories. I can't wait to read her next book.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

Wright is the master of creepy. I have read all of her books and I continue to be amazed at how she gives me chills yet brings the plot to a realistic conclusion, current mystery solved. She does the split timeline well, including historical events as they relate to current events. The general setting is creepy dark, in the woods. The contemporary characters are believable, trying to understand how a ghost story from over a generation ago can influence people today.

Wright fleshes out the scary nature of the novel by adding relationship issues. We see prejudice and forgiveness as major themes characters must address. There are deadly family secrets. There is potential romance too.

I liked this engaging novel that is just creepy enough to not read too late at night but including enough spiritual and relationship matter to draw me in, reading it to the end.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

“…Lost Lake was a place of haunting, of almost mythical lore. Its aura, if nothing else, sucked people into the wilderness and tried to trap them.”

Murders, mayhem, mystery and romance, Jaime Jo Wright knocked this story right out of the park. Seriously, “The Souls of Lost Lake” was absolutely fantastic storytelling! Wright outdid herself with this split time novel. Wow, just WOW, I never saw most of the twists and turns that came. This book grabbed me and didn’t let go, both in the present and past storylines, which is rare! The intensity level stayed from the beginning till the end. I had no idea who the culprit/s were, either! It was just that insanely good!

“Darned if he wasn’t just the most handsome thing for a preacher, and that in and of itself was a sin akin to murder, wasn’t it? Preachers weren’t supposed to be good-lookin’.”

Ohhh, and the romance…it was so beautifully written. I fell in love with the main characters and was riveted by their unfolding pasts merging with the present. I really can’t say too much as I don’t want to give any of the mystery away. If you love a good crime mystery with a little romance, I think you’ll love this book. It had a gothic feel to me that was a bit creepy, so I wouldn’t recommend it as a nighttime read. However, it was absurd fantastic! I’d give it higher than 5 stars if I could!

I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley by the publisher. All opinions are my own and have been given honesty.

Jaime Jo Wright is one of my favorite authors and this book exemplifies why. Filled with creepy suspense, swoon worthy romance, dual time periods expertly woven together, and a message of faith which deeply resonates, this book will grab hold of you and not let go. Set in the present day Northwoods and the small town of 1930 Tempter’s Creek, two women must confront the worst faces of evil.

Ava Coons walked out of the woods as a 13 year old girl carrying a bloody ax with no memory of what happened to her family. Her cabin by Lost Lake lies burned and forgotten. Now an adult, she endures the sly remarks and suspicions of the town. When a local man is brutally murdered, Ava is the natural suspect. One handsome young preacher newly arrived is willing to take responsibility for Ava, but is he protecting a brutal murderess or a terribly misjudged young woman?

Arwen Blythe, named after the beautiful princess from Lord of the Rings, has always felt estranged from her family, especially after her mother’s death. She works at her father’s youth camp near the ill fated place where legends are told of the mysterious murderess Ava Coons who disappeared years ago. Plagued with nightmares, her only comfort is her childhood friend Eddie and his family. When a little girl goes missing, Wren does everything in her power to find her.

Usually with dual time periods, I find myself drawn to one story over the other, however with this book, I was eagerly anticipating both stories. I loved Ava’s sayings. One of my favorites is: “Darned if he wasn’t just the most handsome thing for a preacher, and that in and of itself was a sin akin to murder, wasn’t it? Preachers weren’t supposed to be good-lookin’.” Her humor and sympathetic story completely drew me in and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened to her. I loved Noah and his willingness to put her above everything to protect her. I also loved Wren and Eddie. Their sweet childhood friendship and potential for more kept me totally invested. Wren’s relationship with Patty, Eddie’s mom, brought me to tears.

While Ms. Wright is the queen of creating creepy, suspenseful situations you’ll want to read with the lights on, she also writes believable, deeply felt romances with powerful messages of faith. It’s definitely one of my favorites and I highly recommend this to Christian romance suspense fans or anyone who enjoys a good spooky tale with plenty of romance. Thanks so much to Jaime Jo Wright and Bethany House Fiction for a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

This book will have you sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next, to crying your eyes out at 4:30 of the morning because you have went through the same pain and know the exact same suffering in real life. The author knows how to describe what most people feel and can put it into words that only my heart could describe. It tells the tale of two young women searching, searching for the unknown, searching for truth, searching just to fit in and to be loved.

I think The Souls of Lost Lake is my favorite of Jaime Jo Wright's books (so far)! From the gorgeous cover to the captivating story inside, this book was almost impossible to put down. Spanning almost a hundred years, Ava and Wren's stories are woven together in an unexpected but satisfying way. Ms. Wright does an amazing job of developing the characters in both timelines into relatable, engaging characters who will immediately find their way into readers' hearts.

The suspense in both storylines kept me reading late into the night, complemented by just the right amount of creepiness as well as romance. I love a story that can keep me guessing, and all the twists and turns in this book caught me off guard! The spiritual truths about good and evil, life and death, forgiveness and redemption, give the book a richness and depth that will stick with you long after the final page.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.