I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A fun mystery thriller paranormal Novel. Perfect for Halloween Month 🎃.

I really enjoyed this book. I don’t tend to go for horrors as I mainly read at night. But I made an exception for this one and I’m glad I did. It was exciting. Very well written. The plot was great. Highly recommend

This book had promise but kind of lost me in all the minutiae. A bit hard to believe in spots making the message get lost along the way. 2.5 rounded to 3.

DNF - Did not finish. I did not connect with the writing style or plot and will not be finishing this title. Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher for the early copy!

Book 75 for 2022! 3/5 stars for this mystery/horror read. However, nobody told me it was going to be a crying book. I was not prepared. Thought I was getting a good scary read and end up in tears :-p A really good story, I just wouldn't label it as horror. Love the cover, it's perfect. Narration was a little quiet, but still good. Recommend if you love general fiction, and need a good cry.

Unfortunately I think I'm in the minority with this one as I just couldn't finish it after picking it back up a few times.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. Other readers may enjoy it more, but I could not get into it and ultimately did not finish it.

To begin, a warning: This book is not a true gothic novel, and is very different than a lot of author Wendy Webb’s haunting gothic horror.

Though it has some suspense and ghosts, this is by no means horror, gothic or otherwise, and it doesn’t even truly follow a gothic structure.

But none of that means it isn’t a good story. It absolutely is, and though I was surprised by where it went, I greatly enjoyed it.

This is set in the same place as Daughters of the Lake, though this is a much better story and is more about home than haunts. The backdrop is a (sort of) eerie lakeside town and more specifically a possibly haunted inn, but none of that is really the point.

Webb has written a lovely novel about grief, found family, and learning to start over. Though it has some wrenching moments, the story is largely heartwarming and hopeful, populated by a lovely cast of characters (some of whom you’ll recognize if you read Daughters of the Lake).

Webb’s best work remains some of her early gothic horror, but this is a great book in its own right, and allowed the author to very successfully demonstrate some diversity of focus.

The Haunting of Brynn Wilder was a surprising read for me as paranormal themes are not usually my thing. Set in the lakeside town of Wharton, this book tells the story of Brynn, who relocates to the quaint town after a loss. She makes friends with many of the other summer guests staying in town.

Although the book has paranormal and spooky elements sprinkled throughout the story, it leans more toward romance. The book description was a little misleading, but I was so enthralled with the author’s description of the town and surrounding area that I didn’t care. My book club chose Webb’s earlier novel, Daughters of the Lake, for our next pick, so I’m excited to travel back to Wharton once again!

My gratitude to Netgalley, Wendy Webb and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of the book.

Wendy Webb has fast become a favorite author of mine. Her books are the perfect blend of history, strong characters and a compelling storyline. The Haunting of Brynn Wilder takes place in Wharton, which is also the setting for one of her earlier books, Daughters of the Lake. While Brynn is clearly the main character of this novel, we do see some familiar faces. This book has just the right level of suspense and spookiness. I was a little disappointed with the ending - it seemed a little far fetched, even for a story of this nature - but it’s still an engaging and entertaining read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review .

I read Daughters of the Lake a few years ago and loved it, so I had high hopes for Brynn Wilder with returning to the town of Wharton.

I will always love books that center around Lake Superior; it's one of my happy places. However, this book just missed the mark for me. I didn't overly care for the main character and some of it felt rushed and just not completely fleshed out to me. I did enjoy how the mystery revealed itself in the end though.

Trigger warnings: Cancer, dementia, loss of a parent, loss of a loved one

The Haunting of Brynn Wilder by Wendy Webb initially attracted my attention because I had read the author's previous book Daughters of the Lake , and enjoyed both the writing style and the story. The atmospheric artwork on the cover also intrigued me and I was sure I was in for a creepy tale perfect for a stormy winter's evening.
The book tells the story of Brynn, who relocates to the lakeside town of Wharton following a devastating loss. She feels it is time to re-evaluate her life and her priorities, and this beautiful town seems like the perfect place to do it. She makes friends with some of the other summer guests, most notably Jason and Gil, a gay couple who have returned to the area to care for Jason's ex wife Alice, who has developed early onset Alzheimer's, and the mysterious " illustrated man" or Dominic , a handsome tattooed stranger who is both mysterious and yet familiar.
The book does have some paranormal elements woven into the story, but it leans heavily into the romance genre, and for me it suffered from not committing itself more fully to one genre or the other. Brynn's strange visions and Alice's moments of prescience were where I wanted the story to go, instead the relationship between Dominic and Brynn got top billing. I did enjoy the book, and I stand by my opinion that the author can certainly paint a scene and create compelling characters, but I feel like the description in the publisher's blurb mis sold it .
I read a review copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher , all opinions are my own,

Thank you for the chance to review this book. I also received a copy from Amazon.

I think this book's cover/title is a bit misleading, but nevertheless, there is some grounding in the paranormal within the storyline. However, it is more of a romance/general women's fiction type of storyline in my opinion. The storyline one receives despite this is one akin to a soap opera or romance movie. Not a big fan of the execution, but then again, I probably wouldn't have selected this book if I wasn't thinking that it would be more of a thriller/suspense or paranormal story than a romance which is my least favorite genre.

I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley. I was so excited to get approved for this one. I love spooky stories and this one did not let me down. I loved it. The writing was fantastic and I loved the story. It was creepy and everything I love in a book. I will be looking for more books by this author in the future. Thanks again to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was nothing like what I expected. The title and first few chapters had me thinking this was a gothic,creepy, ghost story. Nope. This was more a Nicholas Sparks style romance with a paranormal twist and a couple spooky moments thrown in for effect. That being said I enjoyed the book although I was disappointed it wasn’t more of what I was expecting. The big “twist” at the end was pretty obvious really early on. I do like the idea of a sleepy simple town with some modern life conveniences thrown in where people don’t bat their eyes at ghosts or weird dreams. I felt like the town was the most interesting “character” in the book. The rest of the characters fell fairly flat for me. I felt like Byrne had potential to be a better character as there were glimmers of a like able character but for most of the book I just didn’t see it.

“Not bad, but could be better” is my verdict. I liked the heroine Brynn, who after the period of loss and exhaustion to heal in the quaint boardinghouse for a summer. And there she meets a couple of interesting, loving characters and among them handsome Dominic, to whom she instantly feels a kind of...bond. And it seems he feels it too. And the magical summer begins, accompanied by nany kinds of love. And friendly ghosts and paranormal activities (have no fear, nothing scary).

Which sounds exactly my alley. Yet, while the authoress can write and her descriptions are vivid and characters are sweet, the novel world's build-up is lacking the depth. This environment could be used in much more complex way! Instead we are given a mix of paranormal and religious/esoteric symbolics and without much internal logic behind it. Feelings are there, but more precisely planned world could do wonders here - and it is a pity, because this novel truly is sweet.

Also the best love relationship is the side one - when a gay man and his partner decide to care for his ex-wife with Alzheimer. While I do not like the modern easiness to leave the lifelong partner for the sake of being himself/herself (what about commitment and loyalty?), the difficult and tender decision of both men to care about Alice is a touching, inspiring choice.

So - while the side topics are good, the main topics could be much more complex and better evolved. Just take them as "eternal, never-changing and never challenged love" is too simple, too unsatisfying take on love and life.

I enjoyed this book the setting I personally found lovely the bookshop with old books another great favourite and the characters and their differences added to the story

This book was not what I expected, it took me on quite the ride. I enjoyed the writing style and it was a quick read for me.

Everyone is haunted by something. A road not taken. A hurt, carried deep inside. Harsh words that echo long after the sting of them is carried away on the wind.
Some of us are haunted more literally. We’ve seen and felt and heard what simply cannot be, but is. A low moan coming from the corner of a darkened room. A glimpse of an ethereal shape. A tangible encounter with... something. A passer-through.
As I sit alone with my thoughts in this empty house, in the dark, a fire crackling in the fireplace and snow falling outside, it all comes back to me. And I’ll let it come.

Wow! Those words, after finishing the book and going back to the beginning have a whole new a stronger meaning.

This book was not what I expected. I'm not a scary reads/movie type of person. But a friend and several other reviews said it wasn't scary and the story idea intrigued me. So I requested a copy and pt off reading it for a little while. I finally picked it up and just, I don't know how to describe my thoughts. Shocking, I know! Lol! There were things that I didn't quite like in the book, but overall I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the characters and I enjoyed how the author wove the story together.

I really don't want to say much in this review because I don't want to give anything away. Because there's so much, as I said, woven into this story. Woven is a great word to describe the characters and story. There's so much that you don't see until the end when all the strands are revealed to make the whole. And wow! I know, I keep saying that. Especially that I've looked at those opening words again and have them running through my brain.

I kept guessing at some aspects of the story and I was right. But I don't think it's obvious, I think I've just read a lot. Lol! These characters have had heartaches and sorrows and I love how they've come to find joy in life. I loved Brynn recognizing herself waking up from just going through the motions after struggles and sorrow and loss, and finally starting to feel joy. Loved that! Dominic, well how to describe him, a gentle knight.

Content: There is the use of mild swear words throughout the book. References to alcohol and drinking. A couple of the characters in the book are married homosexuals. The book deals with cancer, Alzheimers Disease, saying goodbye, death. Some Paranormal aspects but not scary. There are some mild innuendos and a couple fade to black intimacy scenes. I wouldn't say it's squeaky clean, but a very mild heat level.

I received a copy from the publisher, Lake Union Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book. This book was not what I thought it was going to be, it was even better. This author writes really good books, they’re always very interesting and have great, unique story lines. The times I found this very emotional book for me, but it was lovely.

Brynn Wilder is taking this summer to recharge your batteries at a seaside town where she has some happy memories; she has just had a very traumatic couple of years and needs to get her life back on track. She stays in this little in the very eccentric owner Luann, whom I just loved. This town is very special and is this is the second book to have taken place in this town. The inn is hosting a few others that are there for the whole summer, Jason and Gil, a couple at the end of the hall whom are lovely and add so much to the story, and of course the enigmatic, mysterious, tattooed Dominic. I absolutely enjoyed the story, I was scared that I wasn’t going to like how it ended but I loved it.