Jesse Lawson was never afraid of the strange and unusual dreams he had. But lately, they were becoming darker leaving him with a need to discover why he was having them. He believed he would find answers at the site of logging camps in The Great Smoky Mountains. His great grandfather had lived and died there, and Jesse was sure it was Jackson Douglas haunting him.Carter Thompson never knew his … knew his great great uncle George Thompson, but he inherited his land, home, and money. George had come here to America to find work in the lumber camps. Meeting Jesse Lawson was about to turn his world upside down. Jesse’s dreams somehow involved Carter, and the more they searched the closer they became.
George left journals that could clear up many mysteries, including Jackson Douglas’s death. Now it seemed that something was trying to destroy Carter and Jesse’s growing attraction to each other. Whoever it is will stop at nothing to keep them apart, even if they have to repeat the past to do it.
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A ghostly romantic story! This is a new to me author and I am completely happy with this story. The author does a fantastic job of weaving an incredible history into this beautiful story. Jesse has been having some weird “dreams” or “visions” of the past and goes to investigate the source. He meets Carter who runs the museum. These two have a wonderful connection that is so sweet and sincere. As they both start looking into the past they find that Jesse’s great grandfather and Carter’s great great uncle knew each other and were lovers, which was completely unheard of back in that time. As Jesse and Carter spend more time together their attraction grows as well but is jeopardized by Carter’s ex and some forest animals that all seem to have been possessed. They find that the only way to help each other and their grandfather and uncle is to find out the truth about their deaths and to be sure their story was told correctly. Things get super creepy throughout their encounters with the paranormal but these two do prevail. It’s a powerful story with a beautiful HEA. I look forward to reading more by this author.
4 Stars!
Smoky Mist is book 1 in The Legend of the Ghost Train series by CJ Baty and I can already tell it’s going to be a great series!
The book is set in the Smoky Mountains, where Jesse Lawson comes to do some research on the logging camps and the place where his great-grandfather died, after some strangely vivid dreams he’s been having lately. There he meets Carter Thompson, to whom he’s attracted to almost instantly and who helps him out in his quest, and who strangely enough is the spitting image of his late great-uncle, from whom he inherited enough properties and money to live comfortably for the rest of his life. It turns out Jesse’s great-grandfather, Jackson Douglas, and Carter’s great-uncle, George Thompson, had been involved in the past, but now Jesse and Carter are rallying to find out not only the truth of their involvement but how Jackson died while fighting with Carter’s scorned ex and some very weird animal and paranormal encounters.
Okay, so other than some flow and editing issues that I’m sure were solved in the final copy, the book was very intriguing and kept my interest until the last page. CJ Baty did a fantastic job weaving past and present through Jesse’s dreams and what they found out in George’s journals and giving us enough information about Jesse and George to make me invested in them finding some sort of HEA in the afterlife. And of course, I adored both Carter and Jesse, who just fit so well together and had amazing chemistry, both in and out of the bedroom, or the cabin, or Jesse’s motel room. LOL
Anyway, the only thing that could’ve made this book better for me was having a bit more closure with the bad guy. I know this is more of a matter of personal preference than anything else, but I felt like it was left a bit up in the air. Still, I have no trouble recommending Smoky Mist, it was riveting and fast-paced and I can’t wait to find out more about the Legend of the Ghost Train in the following books.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement. ***
Ms. Baty’s first entry in her latest trilogy is a definite must-read! The historical data entwined within the story is well-researched and only enhances the storyline as it leads the characters to the information needed to figure out the mystery and be able to get to that happy-ever-after. Looking forward with great anticipation to the next installment!
CJ Baty creates quite an eerie tale for the first installment of “The Legend of the Ghost Train” series. This story is built on a legend passed down through generations of the Thompson and Douglas’ families.
George Thompson worked in the hills of Tennessee in Townsend Valley as a lumberjack in the 1920’s. Even though the life of a lumberjack was very lonely, George had a friend in Jackson Douglas. Jackson not only worked alongside George but they lived together and became very close. As the story is passed on through generations it reveals: decisions made, hurt feelings, jealousy and tragic endings.
Jesse Lawson, great-grandson to Jackson Douglas, has been having strange dreams about the past, which leads him to search out information from “Little River Railroad Company Museum”. Not getting an answer he decides to visit Townsend, Tennessee. One thing Jesse can’t do is ignore his haunted dreams.
Carter Thompson stayed true to Townsend, Tennessee. With his inheritance and knowledge, he restored and built places that created a town that was just right for the people who lived there. Tourist came and went but what mattered was keeping the town serene. Carter volunteers at the museum in Townsend and has tried to ignore a letter from Jesse Lawson. When Jesse arrives at the museum Carter is more than surprised. As Carter and Jesse gradually make a connection, they find themselves caught up in some very ghostly situations that lead them into the midst of danger and evil.
CJ Baty did an outstanding job with her new endeavor in the historical/paranormal genre. “Smoky Mist” has a very well constructed plot that makes the storyline flow easily. The story consists of just the right amount of eerie happenings, with mystery, danger, evil and romance both past and current. She provides an in-depth look at two very likable characters: Carter and Jesse. Plus, a very clear understanding of tragedy and love in the 1920’s between George and Jackson. CJ Baty did her homework, which makes “Smoky Mist” an interesting read. She provides readers not only with “The Legend of the Ghost Train” but “Family Lineages” for both the Thompson’s and Douglas’. The most important information is the historical facts and references provided in “Author’s Note and Acknowledgement”.
This was a page-turner for me and I highly recommend “Smoky Mist” for readers who enjoy romance and historical/paranormal or anyone who likes a good story. I’m excited to hear that there are several more stories to come, “Cannon Fire”, is up next.