my cozy book nook

Genre: Christian Fiction | Mystery | Thriller | History

Star Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Chills pebbled my arms time and again as I read The Souls of Lost Lake, and I’ve decided that I just can’t have a favorite Jaime Jo Wright book. I still identify with Heidi of Misty Wayfair the most of all the heroines, but somehow my heart keeps expanding to love these new characters Wright sends my way.

Loss, grief, searching, and finding all happen around Lost Lake in northern Wisconsin. Ava and Arwen both crave a place to belong, where they’re understood, and begin to see the beauty of what’s right in front of them—or what lies ahead.

Every twisting path through the cypress grove allows you to lose yourself in the story and then come up for air—a fresh breath of grace laced into every tale. I truly wanted to keep learning about and from the four main characters of Lost Lake.

Though Wright only shares from the heroine’s perspectives, I felt like our heroes got to shine a little more in this book. We saw more of their hearts, their fears, their needs, and their humanity than we may have with some of Wright’s other heroes. Or maybe these heroes are just fresher on my mind.

If I had to sum this book up in one word, I’d choose heart-pounding, from the mystery to the romance, though Wright always keeps things graciously PG.

I adore Wren’s heart as well as her relationships with Eddie, Meghan, and even Trey. Ava’s simple words and actions and the way we see her heart through them gripped me. Her unique way of relating to Jesus through a painting on the wall and how a simple faith grows from those interactions was such a neat take on the myriad ways people come to faith in Jesus. It’s stunning in its simplicity. And Eddie’s stalwart faith throughout the book reminds me so much of my husband’s—it’s a faith I admire and want to grow into myself.

While the romance was a bit more passionate in this book, the sweet moments got me. Like pinky finger’s barely brushing, or softly tracing a finger across the back of someone’s hand, or just being held by someone who loves you deeply. I think many romance novels and movies fail to highlight this enough. There’s so much freedom in a love that builds, softly, slowly—and retains all the kindness and gentleness of those early days.

WARNINGS

This one is a bit darker and deals with issues of mental instability, narcissism, and psychopathy as well as murder and abduction.

QUOTABLE 

His eyes told stories that rivaled her own and held secrets that could wound a thousand souls.

Ava, p. 38

It was the nothing she felt that scared Ava the most.

Ava, p. 109

Some things couldn’t be captured but through the experience of pain. It was a wicked but essential way to understand the depths of perfection, the depths of God, more intensely. Pain either magnified faith or disabled it.

Wren, p. 190

In grief, a person was never fine, they were just there. Standing there. Alone. In the memory of the one who had taken their heart and flown away.

Wren, p. 255

ONE HUNDRED WORDS OR LESS LESSON

We often see people as we want to see them, as we imagine them to be, rather than as they are—for better or worse. And sometimes, there’s just too much trauma to stay.

I’d love to hear from you! What Jaime Jo Wright book is your favorite? What were your thoughts on this one? Have you read another history, mystery, thriller you enjoyed? Or what are you reading right now that you really love? Drop a comment below!