Catherine Mann

“Lightning in a Mason Jar” by Catherine Mann is one of those books that grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go. It’s heartfelt, emotional, and beautifully written—a story about friendship, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds between women.

Bailey Rae thinks she’s just settling her Aunt Winnie’s estate in small-town South Carolina, but what she uncovers is so much bigger. Hidden inside her aunt’s old cookbook is a code that reveals a network of women helping other women show more escape abuse and start fresh lives. As Bailey Rae digs deeper, she not only learns who her aunt really was but also how much strength and courage can come from found family.

The story alternates between the present and Aunt Winnie’s past in the 1970s, when she and three other women rebuilt their lives, supported each other through trauma, and secretly passed on help to those who needed it most. The friendships are inspiring, the romances (both past and present) are sweet and hopeful, and the Southern setting adds warmth and charm.

I loved how this book handled tough themes like abuse and survival with compassion and honesty, without ever losing sight of hope. The female friendships in this story are the heartbeat of the book—loyal, fierce, and uplifting.

If you enjoy stories about found family, women lifting each other up, and a seamless blend of past and present, “Lightning in a Mason Jar” is a must-read. Catherine Mann delivers a powerful, moving tale that will stay with me for a long time. show less

I loved the first book in the series so much I was anxious to read Hot Zone. I finished it in two days while on vacation, and it did not disappoint. Mann has to be one of my new favorite suspense authors! This book had it all for me. Our heroine is a lawyer who ends up in the Bahamas during an earthquake while she is there helping her brother adopt a child. What totally made this book for me was the hero, Hugh Franco. Mann was able to create SO much emotional depth to this man. The pain he show more went through in losing his wife and child jumps off the page. Not many authors can create so much emotion especially in a male character while still keeping him so strong and alpha. Amelia is a strong heroine and while she has her own issues, she takes a chance on Hugh. Her love for her nephew also shines though. Everything in this book worked for me. There was the right mix of romance versus suspense, and there was enough sexy spice to keep you turning the page. I've already bought book three and am ready to read it! If you love military romantic suspense then Mann is a must read. show less

The blurb (which I realize the author has no control over) leads you to believe these two are trapped together through Christmas. There is tree trimming and present wrapping, other than that there isn’t much holiday content. As far as being trapped together, there is a storm, yet several characters came and went from Jesse’s ranch with ease, Esme does have car trouble, though mostly it seemed like she stayed because she wanted to rather than because they were genuinely stuck together. show more

When Esme shows up at Jesse’s home in the middle of a storm intent on winning his vote for her father, she’s focused on her career and impressing her dad, romance is the last thing on her mind. Jesse isn’t interested in romance either, he’s hired a matchmaker to be as matter-of-fact as possible when it comes to starting a family, love is not part of his criteria for finding a wife. But attraction tempts the pair to change their plans.

I liked the chemistry between Esme and Jesse, and the comedic interactions between Esme and Jesse’s potential matches. I was interested in Jesse’s distance from his sister and the psychology that had him so desperate for a family that he would turn it into a business deal. I was interested in Esme feeling left out by her twin sisters and I really wanted to see more of her doing her job. However, the book didn’t ultimately explore those things or dig into Esme and Jesse’s relationship, instead what little conflict they had mostly revolved around she’s a city gal and he’s a country guy, which sure, where to live could be a stumbling block except it’s not like you see Esme miserable at the ranch, there isn’t much evidence beyond her wardrobe as to why she wouldn’t fit in there, so to have that serve as a breaking point for them felt like a reach.

It probably didn’t help that there really wasn’t room to go deeper on the conflict and/or emotion in the main story when so many pages were given over to the secondary story. This is presented as Esme and Jesse’s story (in the blurb and also in the initial set-up) yet they often took a backseat to Esme’s sister Angela, Angela’s fiance, and a villain, all three had their own POV’s and were at the center of things for the second half of the book, yes, Esme and Jesse were there but more as bystanders than as active players in the action and drama (action and drama that felt more like Harlequin’s Intrigue line than Desire).

It’s entirely possible that I would have found this more rewarding had I read the previous books in the series, an earlier introduction to the sister, Angela, might have had me more invested in her story. However, this wasn’t supposed to be Angela’s story. And, Harlequin series written by multiple authors over many years tend to be structured so that you can read individual books as a stand-alone, the author even suggests as much at the front of this book. Plus, even if I had been familiar with Angela, I’m still not sure how satisfying it would have been to feel shortchanged on the main characters so the book could focus on others. show less

I really enjoyed this book. Matthew is an up-and-coming politician from a well-to-do family. He has been spending a lot of time with local restaurant owner Ashley while working on various fundraisers for his campaign. One night the growing attraction between them bursts into flame and they spend a passionate night together. But the next morning he can't get away fast enough, and only a forgotten briefcase brings him back in time to save Ashley from being trapped in a house fire. show more Unfortunately, they were also caught by a photographer, leading to a publicity firestorm. Anxious to protect Ashley's reputation as well as his own political prospects, Matthew proposes a temporary fake engagement. Though reluctant at first, Ashley changes her mind when she learns something about his political opponent.

I really liked both Matthew and Ashley and enjoyed the progression of their relationship. Matthew is a good man, whose tragic loss of his fiancée made him wary of risking his heart again. Though he came across as selfish at first, his concern for Ashley was undeniable. He won my heart with his reaction to her parents' treatment of her. I liked Ashley even better. She grew up in foster care, and with two of her foster sisters, has made a successful life for herself. She suffered from scoliosis throughout her school years, and the teasing and cruel remarks from other kids helped her build up an incredible inner strength. As she and Matthew spend time together on his campaign, their attraction continues to grow. Though Matthew stubbornly resists thinking of what they have as anything deeper, he can't deny how right it feels to have her by his side. He even considers asking her to make the engagement real. I enjoyed seeing Ashley become part of Matthew's life. It was especially satisfying to see the way that she stands up to his campaign manager just by doing what she feels is right. Ashley quickly realizes that her heart is fully involved and the thought of entering a marriage where she isn't loved back is too painful. When another potential scandal erupts Matthew, having finally realized that he loves her, is ready to do what he thinks is necessary to protect Ashley, while she wants what is best for him. I loved her big moment at the press conference as she blows everyone away with her poise, grace, and humor.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the secondary characters and the closeness of those relationships. Ashley's sisters (whose stories are told in the Beachcomber series) are there for her after the fire, and also during her engagement to Matthew. It was great to see that, though they had their suspicions, they fully supported her in whatever she did. The Landis family is equally wonderful. Though they are all wealthy, each of them has a calling to do something for the benefit of others rather than just living the lives of the idle rich. I loved Matthew's mother, Ginger, whose story was told in Holiday Heroes. She is loving, intelligent and down-to-earth. I adored the way that she accepted Ashley right away, just as she was, and helped her see her own potential. I also liked Matthew's brothers and the way that they had his back through all the trouble. There was also a good amount of realism in their relationships, as shown by their competitiveness and less than perfect lives. I have previously read Kyle's story and still want to read those for Sebastian and Josh. show less