Lightning in a Mason Jar

A Novel

De: Catherine Mann

Narrado por: Shannon McManus, Ann Marie Gideon

In South Carolina, a woman discovers her aunt’s profound secrets in an emotional novel spanning decades about trauma, survival, and the bonds of female friendship by a USA Today bestselling author.

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.

©2025 by Catherine Mann. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Brilliant story of women helping women....

Heartfelt, moving performance of a brilliantly well told story.

There are so many wives (from years gone by and most definitely in the present today) who have suffered at the hands of both obviously abusive husbands and the ones who parade as upstanding citizens and often intellectually gifted Bible teachers, who at home are criminally abusing their wives both emotionally & psychologically. (Those two go hand-in-hand)

This book tells the tale of how women in our past have been pillars of strength in aiding, in supporting many of the helpless wives and children who have suffered in these ways yet found no relief in our communities, except to run into anonymity, leaving all else behind to save their lives & those of their children.

Beautiful Story of Woman's Strengths

I enjoyed this story of friendship and triumphs together. loved the duel time 1970s and 2025. Reminds us that we have to stay strong for none another.

A very heartwarming story

Loved how this book pulled at the heartstrings. Narration was very crisp and the southern accent was nice to listen to. Great connection between characters

Loved Everything About This Book

The story was intriguing and I was totally immersed. The characters, setting, narration..well, everything was great. Highly recommend!

Wonderful Story

I truly enjoyed this story. Stories of women’s survival that are full of love are sometimes hard to find. This was a wonderful combination of emotions. I look forward to reading more by Catherine Mann.

Veggiegrower

Fun listen, very predictable. The readers did a good job of maintaining character voices. Enjoyed it.

Lighting in a Mason Jar

Lightning in a Mason Jar by Catherine Mann
Contemporary women’s fiction. Dual time line 1970’s, 2025. Secondary romance.
Bailey Rae Rigby (2025) is cleaning out the contents of her aunt’s home in preparation for leaving Bent Oak, South head to Myrtle Beach to own run a food truck. Prepared to live her aunt’s dream. But the more Bailey Rae clears out, the more memories she has of her aunt and her friends. Why so many copies of the same cookbook? Why so many women and children passing through the small town, there one day, gone the next with supplies and clothing that Winnie had stored in her barn? The more questions she asks, the more Bailey Rae realizes the depth of her aunt and the hidden town secrets are special.

Winnie Ballard’s history is revealed from the 1970’s with a troubled marriage and an escape from being involuntarily institutionalized to the small town of Bent Oak, a new name and job. Three additional woman arrive in Bent Oak at the same time and become fast friends as they rebuild their lives and then secretly pass on the help to others.

Friendship. Loyalty. Love.
It’s an emotional story and for me, a cryer. These women survived so much and yet help others unconditionally. The friendships are strong and supportive. They didn’t let the bad defeat them and came out stronger and then reached out to help the next woman. Winnie’s romance is heartwarming and beautiful. Bailey Rae’s new romance is hopeful and sweet.

A heartfelt and uplifting story.
Narrators Sharon McManus and Ann Marie Gideon performed the story with discernible emotions and engaging performances.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I also purchased a copy to keep.

The beauty of friendships; the sacrifice involved in doing good.

I liked the story of the women finding their way to joy and peace after trauma. I preferred the voice of Bailey Rae to that of the person reading for Winnie. Winnie sounded monotone and a forced southern accent.

Subject of escaping domestic abuse

I was bored at times because that the story line was rather simplistic and predictable too often

Story of Women

Love the multigenerational story and the historical aspect of what women have been through to gain their rights, their safety and their careers.