By Jaime Jo Wright

I couldn’t sleep after finishing this book. Not because it was scary (though it was), but because it was SO GOOD! The twist at the end was… just phenomenal.

Set in the Porcupine Mountains on Lake Superior, The Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse is a split time mystery alternating between modern day and 1874. Though it has gothic undertones, it is a clean Christian romance that’s not too Hallmark-y.

1874: Something terrible has happened and she must run. That’s all Rebecca knows when she wakes up next to the grave of Annabel. Her memory is gone. Taken in by the kind lighthouse keeper, Rebecca struggles to heal, and grapples with the loss of her memory. But while the lighthouse seems to be a refuge from the upheaval in the nearby mining town, the legend of Annabel’s ghost is alive and well – and somehow, Rebecca is connected to her. As her memory begins to return, Rebecca is thrust into a world of abuse and impossible choices. Will she let her heritage and the ghost of her past set her course, or will love win out in the end?

Modern Day: Shea Radclyffe is in search of her next best selling story – and in search of a break from her listless marriage. Booking a stay at a reportedly haunted lighthouse, she is immediately drawn into the place’s tangled backstory and more recent alleged suicide. Is the place haunted by Annabel’s vengeful ghost, or is there more to the story? Just as Shea dives into her research, a visitor arrives, throwing Shea’s plans into disarray and causing her to question everything she thought she knew about love and loyalty. Solving Annabel’s mystery might now come at a cost. But is the cost too steep even for an author?

Pros: I know I said Jaime Jo Wright’s last book was her best book, but this one tops that! I was equally invested in the modern day and 1874 storylines. The romance was extremely well done – and actually surprised me. But, my favorite part of all was how the author twisted my expectations. There were moments in the first third where statements and beliefs of the characters made me rather nervous. Shallow, self-centered Christianity was held up as the example. As I read, I began to grit my teeth with disappointment – until the author turned everything on its head. The book ended with a profound Christian example that blew me away.

Cons: This was one of those books that I wish I could read again for the first time – so, I guess you could call reading it a con.

Bottom Line: Come for the split-time scary mystery and stay for the profound storyline.