Month: September 2026

Posted in Historical Fiction

Why I Love Emma M. Lion

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

I’ve never really been part of a movement. I kind of live my life on my own terms, and apparently, that applies to my reading life too.

Since returning to Bookstagram, I’ve loved seeing what everyone else is reading. I enjoy being part of the current conversations, discovering what people are excited about, and occasionally adding yet another book to my already ridiculous TBR pile.

The problem is, I never seem to have as much time to read as everyone else does.

I don’t know how you all do it. I’m sure many of you have regular jobs, homeschool your children (which, in my opinion, is basically a corporate job and then some), run households, raise families, and somehow still manage to read approximately 47 books a month.

Meanwhile, I have a corporate 9-to-5 job.

That’s it. Of course, I’m a mood reader. Much like my crochet projects, I read according to what I feel like creating, or in this case, escaping into, on any given day. So, yes, I often have several books going at once.

But I digress.

So, Why Emma M. Lion?

I’ve listened to all eight volumes of The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, and I’m now going back through the books and actually reading them on my Kindle.

And I have to tell you something.

It’s been a VERY long time since I’ve been this obsessed with a book series.

Outside of the Bible, I’m not sure I’ve ever been this invested in a collection of books.

Which naturally led me to ask myself:

What is it about these books that keeps pulling me back? Why do I find myself combing through Bookstagram, looking for other Emma M. Lion fans to talk to about these stories?

As an introspective reader, I keep coming back to the same question:

Why Emma M. Lion?

I think I’ve finally figured out at least some of the answer.

1. I See My Daughters in Emma

As a woman with two grown daughters, I admit I see a little bit of each of my girls in Emma.

She’s caring and innocent, but she’s also a bit daring. She’s fiercely loyal and loves the people around her deeply. She doesn’t crave the spotlight, but she’ll step directly into it when doing so might help someone else.

There are little pieces of my girls in her, and maybe that’s part of why I feel so protective of her.

2. Perfectly Imperfect

Emma isn’t self-absorbed, and she certainly isn’t perfect. In fact, it’s her flaws that I’ve come to love and appreciate most.

She’s constantly learning, growing, making mistakes, and trying to do better.

And after almost 58 years on this earth, I can relate to that. I’m still learning too.

None of us has it all figured out.

Emma just happens to have a particularly entertaining way of figuring it out.

3. She Gets Me

This one still surprises me. It’s not every day that I find myself relating to a young fictional character.

I’ve lived some life at this point. I’ve raised children, navigated relationships, experienced loss, made mistakes, started over, and learned a few things along the way.

And yet, somehow, Emma gets me. Maybe it’s because, like Emma, I can’t help but believe my best years are still ahead. That part feels especially familiar.

4. Emma Is Compassionate

Emma has compassion even for people who haven’t necessarily been kind to her.

We’ve seen small glimpses of it in her relationships with Archibald and Parian, and we’ve seen it in much bigger ways with Victoria Braithwaite.

That kind of compassion matters to me. Not because Emma always gets everything right, but because she keeps choosing to care.

I think the world could use more of that.

5. And, She’s Funny

Emma is funny. And I love that about her. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, and I think we could all use a little more of that.

Life can get heavy. Sometimes you need a book that lets you laugh at the absurdity of things for a while.

Emma does that for me.

6. These Books Are a Light Read

Now, y’all know I love a good ghost story.

I love historical fiction. I love Christian fiction. I love books that give me something to think about.

But sometimes those books get a little too far into my brain. And once they’re in there, they tend to bash around and wreak havoc.

Sometimes I don’t want that. Sometimes I want something calming, lighthearted, and amusing.

That’s when I reach for Emma M. Lion.

These books give my brain somewhere pleasant to go without requiring me to recover emotionally when I get to the last page.

7. The Alchemy

Need I say more?

There’s something precious happening here.

Emma is part of this wonderful friendship without everything immediately becoming complicated by romantic entanglements.

Of course, we know about Emma and Pierce. I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about the writing. The relationships feel meaningful without turning every interaction into a romantic circus.

And I appreciate that more than I can say.

It’s something that is done exceptionally well.

8. The Supporting Cast

I mean, come on.

Part of us, while we may be loath to admit it, even loves Cousin Archibald.

“What? What!”

You know exactly what I mean.

The supporting characters add so much personality to these books. They aren’t simply there to move Emma’s story along. They have their own quirks, personalities, relationships, and moments that make St. Crispians feel like a real place populated by real people.

Even when those people make me want to shake them.

9. I’m Here for Emma’s Journey

There’s something wonderfully comforting about getting to sit beside someone else’s life for a while.

Emma’s life has a little bit of everything: chaos, calm, friendship, humor, loss, and all the ordinary moments that make a story feel lived in.

And then there’s the storytelling. I love nothing more than imagining myself sitting beside Emma with a cup of tea in my hand while she prattles on about her day. It feels almost like listening to a friend tell me what happened over the weekend.

And I’m invested in that friend.

10. The Setting

I believe there’s an anglophile lurking somewhere inside many of us who love to read.

Speaking for myself, I’m naturally drawn to stories set in Victorian England.

I’m certainly not naïve enough to ignore the very dark side of that period. History wasn’t nearly as pretty as the books sometimes make it feel.

But I’m also romantic enough to enjoy the pretty parts.

The gowns.

The balls.

The manners.

The properness of it all.

There’s something about that world that draws me in.

And St. Crispians gives me just enough of that atmosphere to make me want to settle into my chair with a cup of tea and stay there for a while.

So, What Is It About Emma M. Lion?

Of course, there are other reasons I love these books.

They’re clean reads, which matters to me. They’re funny without being ridiculous. They’re full of interesting characters and relationships. And once I stepped into the world of St. Crispians, I found myself wanting to stay there.

But I think it goes deeper than that.

Maybe I love Emma because she reminds me that being imperfect doesn’t mean we stop growing.

Maybe it’s because she reminds me of pieces of my daughters.

Maybe it’s because she’s compassionate, funny, flawed, curious, and still convinced that there’s more life ahead of her.

Or maybe I just really like sitting down with a cup of tea and listening to this particular fictional woman prattle on about her life.

Whatever the reason, I’ve been hard-pressed to find another series that has captured my attention quite like The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion.

May these books never end.

Posted in Other Drinks

A Cozy Sip for Echoes Among the Stones: Hot Spiced Apple Cider

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

Not every book calls for coffee or tea. Some require something a little more…atmospheric.

Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright is just that sort of book; warm, spicy, and just a little bit mysterious.

If you’ve read my review of Echoes Among the Stones, you already know this book has a serious creep factor. There’s a decades-old murder, a cemetery, family secrets, a creepy dollhouse complete with a recreated crime scene, and enough suspicious characters to keep you guessing.

So naturally, I needed a drink to go with it.

And because the story takes place in Wisconsin, I couldn’t think of anything more fitting than a steaming mug of spiced apple cider while the weather starts doing that wonderful thing where summer finally gives up and fall takes over.

The Perfect Fall Reading Companion

There’s just something about apple cider and a creepy mystery.

The cinnamon and cloves make the whole house smell like fall, while the warmth of the cider makes you want to curl up under a blanket and keep turning pages.

Add a candle, your favorite reading chair, a cozy blanket, and maybe some atmospheric background music. (Although, if you’re reading Echoes Among the Stones, you might want to skip the spooky music.)

You know. If you’d like to sleep tonight.

Hot Spiced Apple Cider

This simple version is adapted from Ina Garten’s Hot Spiced Apple Cider recipe. Her original recipe serves 5 to 6 and uses apple cider, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, black peppercorns, and orange peel.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups fresh apple cider
  • 2–3 cinnamon sticks
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 1 star anise
  • Peel from 1 orange

Directions

  1. Pour the apple cider into a medium saucepan.
  2. Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and orange peel.
  3. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes.
  4. Strain out the spices and orange peel.
  5. Pour the warm cider into mugs.
  6. Garnish with an orange slice and cinnamon stick.

Then grab your book.

Pour, Read, Repeat

I love the idea of pairing books with drinks because it turns reading into a whole little experience. Echoes Among the Stones is creepy, atmospheric, emotional, and very much a fall-night mystery.

A mug of hot spiced apple cider? Perfect.

Just remember: if you hear something creaking in the hallway while you’re reading, it is probably the house settling.

Probably.

Happy reading, friends. And may your cider be hot, your blanket be cozy, and your mystery be just creepy enough.

Posted in Ghost Stories

Echoes Among the Stones

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

By Jaime Jo Wright

In the past, I’ve talked about the top three things every haunting story should have:

A rocking chair.
One of those cymbal-clanging monkeys.
Creepy dolls.

Well, let me add one more to the list:

A dollhouse.

Especially one with a recreated murder scene, complete with blood splatters.

Creep-y.

This book may not have the rocking chair or the clanging monkey, but the creep factor is HIGH. In fact, when talking about ghost stories and haunting stories, I may have to start including a creep-factor scale.

What do you think?

Because once again, Jaime Jo Wright managed to keep me up way past my bedtime, living out the “just one more chapter” life of a reader.

And yes, I know better.

Two Timelines, One Mystery

One of the things I love about Wright’s books is her use of dual timelines, and Echoes Among the Stones is another great example.

It’s one thing to have a present-day character tell us what happened in the past. It’s another thing altogether when an author takes us there and lets us experience it for ourselves.

That’s exactly what happens here.

In the present day, Aggie Dunkirk arrives in Wisconsin after the end of her career and returns to the home of her eccentric grandmother, Mumsie. Mumsie has been obsessed with an unsolved murder from decades earlier, going so far as to recreate the crime scene in a dollhouse.

Aggie takes a job helping restore the historical section of a cemetery damaged by flooding, where she is paired with archaeologist Collin O’Shaughnessy. Before long, the work begins uncovering secrets connected to the old murder, and Aggie finds herself pulled into a mystery that someone is still very determined to keep buried.

Then we travel back to 1946.

Imogene Grayson comes home to discover her younger sister Hazel has been murdered. Imogene is determined to find justice for her sister, even though the investigation is taking place in a time when forensic science is still developing and women aren’t exactly welcomed into the process.

As Imogene refuses to let Hazel’s murder become a forgotten cold case, her story begins to connect with Aggie’s in ways neither woman could have anticipated.

And that is where things get really interesting.

The Suspects Kept Me Guessing

The character merry-go-round had me guessing.

Of course, years of watching British cozy mysteries have taught me to suspect everyone, so I was right there with Imogene questioning just about everybody.

I did eventually figure out who the murderer was, but not until much later in the book. And then there was the character who came completely out of left field and left me a little speechless.

I love when a mystery makes me think I have it figured out and then politely taps me on the shoulder and says, “Nope.”

Wright does that several times here.

Spoiler Alert

Okay, we’re getting into spoiler territory now.

If you haven’t read Echoes Among the Stones yet, stop here, go read the book, and then come back.

Seriously.

You’ve been warned.

And Then There’s Mumsie

In the present-day storyline, I absolutely loved, loved, loved finding out that Mumsie was Imogene.

That was such a brilliant move.

It meant that I wasn’t simply hearing someone tell the story of the past. I was watching one of the main characters live through it, and then seeing how those experiences shaped the woman she became.

Seeing how Imogene’s past affected Mumsie in the present, her relationships, her marriage and the way she interacted with Aggie added an entirely different layer to the story.

I will admit, though, that I was slightly disappointed by her husband’s identity. I wanted it to be someone more significant. And yet, once I understood why it couldn’t be, I also understood the choice.

I suspected quite a few people in Imogene’s family, including her mother, so apparently no one was safe from my suspicion.

Nobody.

Aggie’s Story Is About More Than a Mystery

Then there’s Aggie.

Aggie Dunkirk is a strong female character, but what I appreciated most about her was that her story isn’t simply about solving a murder.

She’s grieving the death of her mother while also grieving the loss of her career. She returns to Mill Creek and to her grandmother, Mumsie, with whom she has a decidedly adversarial relationship.

At first, that part of the story gave me a little bit of a “Hallmark Christmas movie” feeling. And listen, I love a good Hallmark Christmas movie.

But Wright doesn’t leave Aggie there.

It’s clear pretty quickly that Aggie has unresolved grief of her own, and those unresolved issues have affected her life in some pretty significant ways.

The mystery gives her something to chase, but underneath that mystery is a woman who needs to confront her own grief.

A Romance That Actually Makes Sense

And this is where Collin comes in.

I really appreciated that Collin isn’t there to be a one-size-fits-all Band-Aid for Aggie’s grief.

He doesn’t magically fix her. Instead, he walks alongside her. He reminds her of God’s love for her. He reminds her that God doesn’t cause bad things to happen, but He is always near to those who are hurting.

That distinction mattered to me.

Their relationship feels less like Man Meets Broken Woman and Fixes Her and more like Two People Walking Alongside Each Other While One of Them Learns How to Heal.

And I much prefer that.

My Final Thoughts

Echoes Among the Stones has everything I want in a Jaime Jo Wright mystery: a creepy atmosphere, an old murder, a dual timeline, a whole collection of suspicious people, family secrets, unexpected twists and just enough romance to keep things interesting without taking over the story.

But underneath all of that is a story about grief, forgiveness, redemption and what happens when we refuse to let our grief have the final word.

And, as usual, Wright gives us plenty to think about after the mystery is solved.

Just maybe don’t read this one alone in a dark house.

Especially if you have a dollhouse.

I’m just saying.

Cozy Sips: Hot Spiced Apple Cider

For this book, my drink pairing has to be Hot Spiced Apple Cider.

There’s something about reading a deliciously creepy story set in Wisconsin while the weather is finally giving up the last of summer’s heat and ushering in the cool of fall.

Give me a blanket.

Give me my book.

Give me a steaming mug of apple cider.

And then add an atmospheric YouTube video with some spooky music in the background.

You know what?

Maybe don’t.

Because I have to sleep eventually. And if you’re reading Echoes Among the Stones on a cool fall evening?

That is about as cozy as creepy gets.

Posted in Reading Life

Why I’m Glad I Found My Way Back to Bookstagram

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

I stepped away from Bookstagram for several years.

There were things about the community at the time that just weren’t good for me, so I quietly walked away. I didn’t stop loving books. I didn’t stop reading. I just needed some distance.

But eventually, I found my way back.

And I’m really glad I did.

Finding My People Again

What I’ve come to love most about being back isn’t even the books, although let’s be honest, the books are a pretty significant perk.

It’s the friendship.

Real, Godly friendships.

The laughter. The encouragement. The creativity. The people who can make me laugh with a book post I never saw coming.

There is so much fun here.

And I never quite know what I’m going to discover next.

Like The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower.

I discovered this series through the Bookstagram community, and let’s just say…

CLEAN GHOST STORIES. FINALLY!

If you know me, you know exactly why this made me happy.

I’m also finding clean historical fiction, clean romance, and so many other wonderful books that I can actually recommend without having to give someone a list of warnings first.

And that is a beautiful thing.

So Many Books, So Little Time

I’m discovering authors I might never have found on my own, and I’m loving the opportunity to follow their work and learn more about the people behind the books.

But what has surprised me most is how generous so many authors are with this community.

They share their love of writing. They share advice. They share their experiences. They talk about what they’ve learned, what has worked, what hasn’t, and what it actually looks like to pursue writing.

That is such a huge blessing to someone like me who is also trying to find her way as a writer.

I love discovering authors who don’t just write but really give their all to their craft after giving it all to God first.

There is something special about watching someone pursue a creative calling while keeping God at the center of it.

And then there is the encouragement.

So much encouragement.

People cheering each other on. Sharing what they’re reading. Celebrating new releases. Talking about characters they love. Recommending books. Sharing their writing journeys.

And, of course…

There are BOOKS.

So. Many. Books.

My TBR List Has Grown

I’m especially excited that I can finally start dipping my toes into Regency romance without wondering when the story is suddenly going to take a turn I didn’t sign up for.

I want the gowns.

I want the estates.

I want the ballroom scenes.

I want the slow-burn romance.

I want the longing glances across the room.

I just don’t need the open-door, graphic scenes that so often come along with romance.

Being able to find books that give me the story without giving me the stuff I don’t want to read is honestly wonderful.

And I love that I can recommend those books to other people with confidence.

Sharing Books With My Girls

One of my favorite parts of all of this is being able to recommend books to my daughter, Emilie.

She is the person who got me into reading in the first place.

Years ago, she introduced me to the wonderful world of books, and now I’m finding myself discovering books that I can turn around and recommend to her.

The funny part is that Emilie stepped away from Bookstagram for many of the same reasons I did.

So coming back and finding this side of the community again has been especially fun.

It’s like rediscovering something we both love and finding that there is still a place for us here.

And then I think about my granddaughter.

That makes this even sweeter.

I’m discovering books and authors now that I may someday get to share with her.

Maybe I’ll have a little granddaughter sitting beside me someday, and I’ll be able to hand her a book and say, “You have to read this one.”

I really love that thought.

Books Can Be Part of My Faith, Too

I think this is probably the biggest reason I’m enjoying my time here now.

Reading has always been an escape for me. It’s entertainment. It’s relaxation. It’s something I enjoy at the end of a long day.

But I love that I can enjoy it without feeling like I’m setting my faith aside to do it.

I can discover books that align with my values.

I can encourage authors who are using their gifts for God.

I can have conversations about books with people who understand why clean content matters to me.

And I can spend my downtime doing something I genuinely enjoy while still engaging in something that honors God.

That doesn’t mean every book has to be explicitly Christian.

It simply means I have become much more intentional about what I allow into my mind and what I choose to spend my time reading.

And finding a community where other people understand that has been such a gift.

I’m Glad I Came Back

I don’t know exactly what Bookstagram will look like for me going forward.

I do know what I love about it now.

The friendships.

The laughter.

The creativity.

The authors who are willing to share what they’ve learned.

The encouragement.

The clean reads.

The discovery of books I might never have found otherwise.

And the possibility of someday sharing some of those books with my daughter and my granddaughter.

Maybe that’s why coming back feels different this time.

I’m not looking for perfection.

I’m just looking for good books, good people, meaningful conversations, and a little corner of the internet where I can enjoy something I love without compromising what matters to me.

And apparently, I’ve found it.

Books, friendship, creativity, encouragement, clean reads, and a whole lot of cozy reading?

Yeah.

I’m pretty happy to be back.

Come find me on Bookstagram at @cleanreadsandcozysips. We’ll talk books, cozy drinks, good stories, and probably get a little distracted along the way.

Posted in Tea Time

London Fog

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

Cozy London Fog Recipe for Book Lovers

Looking for an easy London Fog recipe to enjoy with your next cozy read? This simple Earl Grey tea latte combines fragrant Earl Grey tea, warm milk, vanilla, and a touch of lavender for a comforting drink that’s perfect for chilly afternoons, quiet reading time, or a little gothic mystery.

This simple London Fog as the perfect cozy drink to pair with Jaime Jo Wright’s The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall. The book’s eerie setting, mysterious bell tower, and gothic atmosphere practically begged for a warm cup of tea.

If you’re curious about the book that inspired this cozy tea pairing, you can read my full review of The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall, including my thoughts on the characters, mystery, faith, and all those deliciously creepy gothic vibes.

So grab your favorite mug, steep some Earl Grey, and settle in. You might even want to keep the lights on.

Ingredients

  • 1 Earl Grey tea bag
  • 8 ounces boiling water
  • 1/2 cup milk of your choice
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons honey or sweetener, optional

Instructions

  1. Place the Earl Grey tea bag in a mug and pour in 8 ounces of boiling water.
  2. Steep for about 5 minutes.
  3. While the tea steeps, warm the milk until hot and lightly steaming. You don’t need to boil it.
  4. Remove the tea bag.
  5. Pour in the warm milk and give it a gentle stir.

Posted in Ghost Stories

The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

By Jaime Jo Wright

As a fan of anything Jaime Jo Wright writes, I went into this book with high expectations.

I was not disappointed.

In all my years of reading spooky stories, I’ve come to two conclusions:

  • Some books are creepy because of what happens in them.
  • And then there are books that are creepy because of the atmosphere they create.

The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall is definitely the second kind.

There’s a creepy house, a dark bell tower that tolls whenever someone’s life is in danger, weird family secrets, and dead bodies being laid out in the front parlor for far longer than they need to be.

Yes. I was thoroughly invested.

The story follows two women living decades apart whose lives become connected by the mystery surrounding Traeger Hall. And because this is Jaime Jo Wright, you know you’re going to get an atmospheric setting, complicated characters, family secrets, and twists that keep you guessing.

Spoiler warning: This review discusses plot details and character arcs from the book.

Book Details

Title: The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall
Author: Jaime Jo Wright
Genre: Gothic Mystery / Christian Fiction
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 out of 5

Content Note

This book contains themes of abuse, family trauma, death, grief, murder, and the mistreatment of deceased bodies. There are references to verbal and emotional abuse, including an abusive parent.

Synopsis

In the past, Waverly is left behind after the brutal deaths of her aunt and her cruel, narcissistic uncle. She is expected to keep vigil over their bodies for far longer than anyone should have to endure.

As she begins uncovering the secrets surrounding their deaths, the local undertaker comes to her aid. Together, they begin piecing together a mystery that reaches much deeper than either of them expected.

In the present day, Jennie inherits Traeger Hall following the deaths of her mother and her abusive father.

With the help of Zane, a local man, and his non-verbal son, Jennie begins uncovering the secrets surrounding Traeger Hall as she reopens the house, much to the dismay of the people of Newton Creek.

And Newton Creek has plenty of secrets of its own.

Cozy Vibes Check

Calling this book “cozy” may be stretching the definition a little.

This is gothic cozy.

In fact, the atmosphere is one of my favorite things about this book. Traeger Hall feels like a character in its own right, and I absolutely love that element in a gothic novel.

The town of Newton Creek also feels almost like another character. It watches. It remembers. It holds onto its secrets while Jennie slowly begins pulling them into the light.

It’s dark, atmospheric, mysterious, and just a little unsettling.

The Creep Factor

There is one particular element that really increased the creep factor for me:

The bodies.

Waverly is forced to keep vigil over the bodies of her aunt and uncle for far longer than necessary.

In the midst of a recent family loss myself, this hit differently.

I cannot imagine the elongation of grief that would come from having your loved one’s body laid out in your living room day after day while you’re still trying to process the fact that they’re gone.

It made me very grateful for funeral homes.

And it added an entirely different layer of horror to the story.

Two Women, Two Timelines

Dual timelines are something I’ve come to expect from Jaime Jo Wright, and she does them so well.

Waverly and Jennie are separated by decades, but their stories become increasingly connected as the mysteries surrounding Traeger Hall begin to unfold.

Both women have experienced tremendous trauma. Both have been hurt by people who should have loved and protected them. And both have to figure out what it means to move forward.

But their journeys are not identical. And I’m glad they aren’t.

Jennie’s Journey

This may have been my favorite part of the entire book.

Far too often, stories about abuse give characters a very predictable path to healing.

  • Tell your story.
  • Have a good ugly cry.
  • And suddenly, everything is better.

Wright doesn’t do that with Jennie.

Jennie is skeptical. She’s guarded. She’s carrying years of abuse, and she doesn’t suddenly become a completely different person because she’s uncovered the truth about her past.

Instead, she becomes willing to open the door.

And for Zane, that’s enough.

As someone who survived a verbally and emotionally abusive marriage, I appreciated this more than I can really explain.

I didn’t readily jump into the arms of Jesus when I got divorced. Healing took years. I was grateful for the people who surrounded me with love and patience while I worked through what had happened.

That’s why Jennie’s journey felt so honest to me. She wasn’t magically fixed. She was willing to keep going. And sometimes, that is what healing looks like.

And Then There Is Zane

Zane brings such a steady presence to the story. I especially loved his perspective on trauma and faith.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is:

“I believe God helps those of us who experience trauma so we can discover the path to keep going in spite of the pain. To have faith and find strength outside of ourselves and hopefully find beauty again.”

That quote really captures what I appreciated about this story. Faith isn’t presented as a magic eraser for everything that has happened. Sometimes faith is simply finding enough strength to take the next step. And then the next one. And eventually discovering that there can still be beauty after the pain.

Did the Mystery Keep Me Guessing?

Absolutely.

The mystery kept me guessing until the very end.

There were twists I suspected and twists I absolutely did not see coming. And even when I thought I’d figured something out, Wright managed to give me another piece of the puzzle to consider.

That is one of the reasons I keep coming back to her books. I’ve only read a handful of Jaime Jo Wright’s novels, but I look forward to each one. She uses familiar elements: dual timelines, haunting settings, family trauma, complicated characters, and shocking twists.

Yet somehow, she never makes them feel repetitive. She remakes them with every story.

And I’m absolutely here for it.

Cozy Sips Pairing: A London Fog

If you’re going to spend an afternoon at Traeger Hall, you might as well have something warm to drink while the bell tower is doing its thing.

I’m pairing this book with a London Fog, a classic Earl Grey tea drink made with steamed milk. The combination feels almost too perfect for this book: Victorian atmosphere, Earl Grey, steamed milk, and just enough mystery to make you wonder what exactly is happening in that bell tower.

Final Thoughts

The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall gave me exactly what I hoped for: an atmospheric mystery, a creepy house, complicated characters, a little bit of faith, and enough twists to keep me turning pages.

But what stayed with me most wasn’t the mystery.

It was Jennie’s journey.

Healing doesn’t always happen in a straight line. Sometimes it isn’t dramatic. Sometimes it doesn’t look the way we expect it to look. Sometimes healing is simply deciding that you’re willing to take another step.

And sometimes, that is enough.