This was an atmospheric summer read that I enjoyed. The narrator executed the story well and enjoyed listening to her southern accent that brought you into the story. A perfect beach read.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this ALC.
3.5 Stars

This was a beautiful story woven together between multiple time lines. I loved getting to know Winnie piece by piece as we were slowly offered up little nuggets and gems of information of what life was like for her as a younger woman. This book would make an excellent addition to any book club and would give patrons plenty of thought provoking discussion points.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance audio and Cathrine Mann for the chance to review this book!

EXCERPT: PROLOGUE - 1971
Changing my identity and leaving behind everything familiar should have been difficult. Traumatic, even. Except it wasn't. Because from birth, we women aren't tethered to our names. Marriage may turn a Jane Smith into a Jane Brown or Jane Jones. Or into Jane Smith Brown Jones through widowhood or divorce, followed by remarriage.
Even the connection to a first name is tenuous when spoken. "Introducing Mrs. John Smith" would be followed with a whisper like a distorted echo . . .
"Her husband's a doctor."
"Her baby d-i-e-d."
"She's barren."
As if a woman's entire worth, her sum total sense of self, were tied into her ring finger and uterus. A Mrs. or a mom.
Could those hushed voices be that oblivious to the world exploding with marches and rallies, bra-burnings and sit-ins? I wasn't. I cheered those women on from my living room, images flickering across my new color television set, the wooden cabinet kind that dominated its own corner where once a tiny black and white had rested on an antique tea cart.
This was more than simply incinerating cotton and lace. It was like a broken bottle being melted and reshaped by an emerging sisterhood, a revolutionary sorority.
The world was changing, and that bigger, brighter screen gave me an expanded peek. Decorated with family portraits and silk flowers on top, the Magnavox invited me on a nightly news date to watch them and all they were battling to achieve. I was also thankful for my safe life that protected me from being them. What a comfortable place to exist, in that cottony swaddle of complacency.
So yes, I expected the changes that began when my father gave away the bride. Giving me away to Philip, as if I were a possession passed over to a neighbor like a handsaw or a charcoal grill - or the tiny black and white television - he no longer needed but still thought of fondly. Although, if I'd been a brighter color TV, I might have been wanted. Still objectified, but not discarded.

ABOUT 'LIGHTNING IN A MASON JAR': Since Bailey Rae Rigby’s adoptive aunt Winnie passed, Bent Oak, South Carolina, doesn’t have much of a hold on her anymore. So it seems.

Bailey Rae aims to settle the small estate and, armed with her aunt’s inspiring personal cookbook, buy a food truck with an ocean view in Myrtle Beach. Everything goes awry when a distraught young mother arrives in town clutching a copy of that same cookbook. Embedded inside is a code that promises a safe place in Bent Oak for desperate women on the run. For Bailey Rae it opens up a world of questions. Who really was the beloved aunt she’s known most of her life?

Winnie Ballard’s story reaches back fifty years—one of a Southern debutante’s harrowing marriage, of her escape and reinvention, and the galvanizing friendship of three resilient women who overcame their traumas, created a shelter, and found purpose. But there’s more to Winnie’s deliverance and long-held secrets than Bailey Rae imagines.

With each revelation, Bailey Rae draws on her aunt’s courage to find purpose herself. For now, whatever threats may come, Bailey Rae isn’t going anywhere.

MY THOUGHTS: I am at a total loss for words . . . two stories spanning two timelines. But these two stories contain many other stories; stories of women and children escaping abusive situations to make new lives elsewhere. Stories of violence and terror, of fear and hope, of people willing to provide help and safe places.

Although she has been rescued herself, Bailey-Rae knows none of this about her 'aunt' Winnie. It is a journey of discovery involving hundreds of cookbooks, money in unexpected places, a woman with dementia, a Parks and Reserves Officer with endless patience, and her aunt's best friends.

Lightning in a Mason Jar is a story of friendship, loyalty and love, of hope and second chances. It made me cry. It made me laugh. It made me want to be a part of this group of women who used their own experiences to help others instead of fading quietly into the background of life.

I was able to combine reading with listening to Lightning in a Mason Jar, written by Catherine Mann and superbly narrated by Shannon McManus and Ann-Marie Gideon. Although the narration of the audiobook was excellent, this was one of those occasions where I preferred the written word, where I could stop, ponder, reread and ponder some more.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#LightninginaMasonJar #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: CATHERINE MANN is a South Carolinian at heart. After years of moving around the country Catherine has settled back in her home state with her Harley-riding husband. Empty nesters, they have a blended family of nine children, nine grandchildren, two dogs, and three feral cats, who all provide endless inspiration for new novels.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing an e-arc and Brilliance Publishing (Brilliance Audio) for providing an audiobook of Lightning in a Mason Jar, written by Catherine Mann and superbly narrated by Shannon McManus and Ann-Marie Gideon, for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

This was a cozy, reflective story - very different than what I typically read. I think I was expecting it to be a little less predictable. This book really does have a great message even if I wasn’t as emotionally invested as I would have liked. I fully understand why many people would love this story of survival, triumph, and the effects of trauma. This was a very well written book, and I recommend it to my friends that enjoy a heartfelt Southern novel with an impactful message. The narrators were great! Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for providing me with this ALC for an honest review.

Lightning In A Mason Jar is about Bailey Rae, cleaning out and selling her late "Aunt" Winnie's items at the Farmer's Market. A women came up saying she needed help to get her and her daughter away from her abusive husband. She was led their by Aunt Winnie. Bailey Rae was confused but willing to help. Her confusion made her think about her own intro to Winnie when her mom left her with Winnie. And how others came through...

Lightning in a Mason Jar is a timely novel that handles real-life traumas with sensitivity and heart. When Bailey Rae’s adoptive aunt Winnie dies, she returns to Bent Oak, South Carolina, to sort through her estate and follow what she believes was Winnie’s dream—buying a food truck by the ocean. But as she cleans out her aunt’s house, she stumbles upon certain items sparking questions about Winnie’s past.

The novel alternates between Bailey Rae’s quest to learn about her beloved aunt and flashbacks to Winnie's younger self. I loved discovering Winnie’s story piece by piece, and uncovering the lives of her loyal “posse” of friends who became her chosen family.

Despite the weight of topics like domestic abuse, addiction, and interracial struggles, the book avoids graphic detail, keeping the narrative heartfelt rather than heart-wrenching. I don't mean to sound flippant about these themes—instead, I appreciated the restraint: the book respects its subject matter while still being engaging.

The pacing is brisk, with just enough suspense to make you keep turning pages and I really fell for all of the characters! The narrators did a wonderful job! Thank you to NetGalley and Brillance Publishing for providing me with an ARC.

"Lightning in a Mason Jar" is a women's fiction novel told in dual POV (alternating between the 1970s and today) about a young woman whose aunt's cookbook is actually a secret for women who need respite from abusive situations. It's a story about the strength of women and connection/found family. Beautiful character development and highlights difficult topics, including interracial relationships (difficult for the '70s) and domestic abuse. Love the setting of the south--I had the pleasure of listening on audio and the narration was wonderful! *I received a complimentary audio ARC from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Sweet, small-town vibes with a touch of Southern charm, this story had all the cozy ingredients for a heartfelt read. I loved the second-chance romance and the emotional threads about family, grief, and forgiveness—even if some moments felt a bit predictable. Lightning in a Mason Jar by Catherine Mann hits that sentimental note without getting too sappy, and I appreciated the layers beneath the love story. It didn’t blow me away, but it left me with a warm, satisfied feeling.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars
Rated PG-13 for emotional content and mild romantic themes.

Thaaaank you, thank you Brilliance for the approval to read!!!

I adored this story! Great narration and heartfelt story!

I loved the characters in this story. They were central and drove the storyline. Their relationships with each other were a favorite part of this for me.

This is told in dual timeline from when Winnie arrives in Bent Oak as well as current time with Bailey Rae preparing to leave Bent Oak. There are two narrators for each of the two timeline POVs. I loved both narrators. They've both got pleasant voices, inserted the perfect amount of emotions and brought each of the two characters to life beautifully!

Towards the end there were some bittersweet moments but they really made the story feel complete, even though the parts were sad. The ending brought the entire story full circle.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion. Shannon McManus and Ann Marie Gideon do a fantastic job narrating this story and really make it come alive.

This is a dual timeline story alternating between the 1970s and present day about domestic abuse, a network of women helping women, and a great exploration of the evolution of domestic abuse laws. A great ending ties this one up. Recommend.

The narrators were spot on great. They did each part like they were made for this book. They made it that much more interesting and alive.

This book was a pleasure to read. It had a tough subject matter but overall it was a beautifully written story of women, friendships, being there for each other, and moving past abusive relationships. It is in two different time periods that eventually meet. I enjoyed this book so much. Even the hard parts were good. Not hard to read.

Back in the early seventies women were still predominantly reliant on men. To have a home. Money. Children. Everything. Who wants to go back to that? Uggg

When Winnie goes missing and is presumed dead Bailey Rae is devastated. Winnie had been the best thing to ever happen to Bailey Rae. Even though they were not blood relations they loved each other like they were. Bailey Rae was like the daughter Winnie never had.

Winnie had fled an abusive marriage. Her husband had put her in an institution. Not because of losing a child. Not because she was mental in any way. Because he could. She was just in his way. When she managed to escape she faked her death and went to South Carolina. Once there she was able to get help to start her life over. She met several ladies who had come there for the same reason. Made some friends. Deep friends. Ones that understood what she had endured and why she fled.

This book will make you shed some tears. It will also have you rooting for the women. For them to get past things that happened. These women had gone through so much. Some way worse than others. But still it was the ultimate sacrifice to lose your name and start over with a whole new identity. To leave behind all that you once thought would be such a good and happy life. To make new memories. New dreams. A whole new life. And in most cases, never look back.

This book was tough but also it was filled with so much love. I throughly enjoyed reading it. I loved getting to know the women and the dog. Yes I loved that dog. When it grabbed that bullies leg I cheered.

Great book. Well written. A real page turner with lots of intense scenes and, yes, a love story too.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #BrillanceAudio, for this ARC.

Five huge stars and a big recommendation.

First off, let me give kudos to the voice actors: Shannon McManus and Ann Marie Gideon. Perfect for the roles, perfect for the cross-generational vibe, perfect for the emotional undercurrents.

I had trouble getting into this one. Definitely a matter of "it's me, not you." I loved the southern backdrop and time-slipping. There's a hint of a mystery, and a dash of social justice, and a lot of heart. But I honestly found it a bit boring. Maybe I'm just too jaded or just not into this kind of tale.

I found this to be slow to start, it did draw me into the storyline then. A look into a network that helps women escape traumatic situations.

Since Bailey Rae Rigby’s adoptive aunt Winnie passed, Bent Oak, South Carolina, doesn’t have much of a hold on her anymore.

Bailey Rae aims to settle the small estate and, armed with her aunt’s inspiring personal cookbook, buy a food truck with an ocean view in Myrtle Beach. Everything goes awry when a distraught young mother arrives in town clutching a copy of that same cookbook. Embedded inside is a code that promises a safe place in Bent Oak for desperate women on the run. For Bailey Rae it opens up a world of questions. Who really was the beloved aunt she’s known most of her life?

Winnie Ballard’s story reaches back fifty years—one of a Southern debutante’s harrowing marriage, of her escape and reinvention, and the galvanizing friendship of three resilient women who overcame their traumas, created a shelter, and found purpose. But there’s more to Winnie’s deliverance and long-held secrets than Bailey Rae imagines.

With each revelation, Bailey Rae draws on her aunt’s courage to find purpose herself. For now, whatever threats may come, Bailey Rae isn’t going anywhere.

LIGHTNING IN A MASON JAR
By Catherine Mann

I paired the book with the audiobook, narrated by Shannon McManus and Ann Marie Gideon. Their performance was okay, but I found I preferred reading the print version for this story.

The quiet strength of women…

Set in a small South Carolina town, this women’s fiction novel uses dual timelines—from the 1970s–1980s and present day—to explore themes of resilience and female empowerment. Catherine Mann does a nice job weaving the timelines together, and I liked her simple yet descriptive prose.

The character-driven narrative had some touching elements, though it didn’t feel as impactful as I hoped. I just didn’t feel as emotionally invested in the story as I wanted to be. Still, I appreciated the message and can see this resonating with readers who enjoy quieter, reflective stories. I’m open to reading more from this author in the future.

This is a heartfelt story of resilience, presented through a dual timeline.
The narrative alternates between Winnie’s experiences in the past and Bailey Rae’s life in the present.
Throughout the years, Winnie, Libby and Bailey Rae build profound and supportive relationships that form their chosen family, providing them with emotional connections and a sense of belonging in the small Southern town of Bent Oak.
While the novel addresses the significant issue of domestic violence, it's also about friendship and self-discovery.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to listen to this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a fascinating and well written book. We delve deep into the lives of a group of women in the south who help to network other women who are in danger. The work that those women did to help others is inspiring. The characters are very likable and I don’t think there were any I disliked. There is a casual romance like entwined into the book as well but it doesn’t distract from the main theme.
Great narration and beautifully written.