The Man in Cabin Number Five

The Guest Book Trilogy #1

by Chrysteen Braun

When Annie Parker discovers her husband’s infidelity, she doesn’t let it destroy her. She packs her bags and heads to Lake Arrowhead, California, the mountainside town where her family used to summer. Immersing herself in the restoration of seven 1920s era cabins, Annie begins to put the pieces of her life back together. But starting over is never easy.

Alyce Murphy needs closure. When she discovers her father did not die from a heart attack, as she’s been led to believe for the last 30 years, but in a murder/suicide, she is determined to uncover the truth of his death. But when she visits the cabin where her father ended his life, Alyce has to accept she may never know the true story.

Annie is looking towards her future while Alyce needs to put the past to rest. In parallel stories, both women are drawn to the rustic mountainside cabins as they search for the missing pieces—but they soon discover that the cabins have their own stories to tell.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Womens Fiction, Literary Fiction

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 10, 2022

Reviews

[Kellie O'Connor · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a huge disappointment. I really was looking forward to reading it and the only thing that I liked was the cover. The characters were flat, unrelatable and there was no development. There wasn't enough of a plot and there was profanity on nearly every page! It took a long time to get to the mystery and when I did, there wasn't any real mystery at all. I read what I could of it. It stayed on my table for weeks at a time and I could care less about reading it.

After reading reviews for The Last Word I was leary about the one star ✨ rating, but I'm sure that I will be safe!! It can be read as a stand alone.

Now it is off my list and table...on too much better books!! 😃📚📚

[Tahera · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you read the blurb of this book it sounds very interesting and I myself began reading it looking forward to a good dual timeline mystery.

The problem with the book, however, is that what is promised in the blurb comes to pass only towards the end of the book (in the last 2-3 chapters + the epilogue). The dual POV chapters of Annie Parker and Alyce Murphy are also not evenly distributed with Annie's story covering the chunk of the book, interspersed with Alyce's story in between. We only get to know the complete picture behind the mystery of Alyce's father's death in the epilogue which is told in John Murphy's POV. Annie's story reads more like a day to day diary/autobiography of a woman who is starting out afresh after her divorce with detailed descriptions of her interior designing business. If this book had been solely a fiction about a woman's journey of building her life and career after a personal setback, Annie's story would have been good to read about but since there is a mystery involved, it just drags the story.

This is book 1 in a trilogy which will consist of plotlines based around the mountainside cabins that Annie buys and restores into a B&B. I hope that in the next two books the plot focuses more on the secrets/mystery connected with the cabins and the characters introduced and less on Annie.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher BooksGoSocial and the author for the e-Arc of the book. This is the author's first book and I had no issues with her writing style, only the uneven intersection of the two stories.

Rating: ⭐⭐✨💫

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It's really good. Great character development.
This is a story of two women whose lives intertwine by fate. Annie and Alyce live in two separate worlds but eventually meet in the cabins.
I can't wait to read her next book!

Thank you so much, Chrysteen Braun, your Publisher, and NetGalley for
giving me the chance to read and review this excellent book!

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

One woman's future and one woman's past collide in an intriguing story.

Annie Parker thought she was married to a hard-working attorney. David has been hard at work keeping his affair a secret. Annie has found solace in returning to Lake Arrowhead, California, a mountainside town she remembers with fondness from childhood. Will Annie's temporary cabin accommodation become her new home?

Alyce Murphy thought her father died of a heart attack when she was young. Alyce's mother protected her daughter from the truth of her father's suicide and an even darker secret for almost 30 years. How will Alyce move on from the past with so many unanswered questions?

Two women. Different family history. Different family drama. I was captivated by wondering how the lives of Annie and Alyce, once parallel, would intersect. Would their interaction be brief, or would the experience draw them together in friendship?

Drawings at the end of the novel complement the reader's experience. The "Author's Note" provides an interesting background to the writing of the trilogy, a brief overview of Books 2 and 3, the setting of Lake Arrowhead, California, and more. It was delightful to read about the author's professional and living experiences, which authenticate Annie's profession and the setting. As the author suggested, I was delighted with visiting the author's website, especially the photographs gallery.

My only disappointment was reading pleasure diminished as the number of needed copy edits rose.

[nancy schumacher · Rating 3 out of 5]

The man in cabin number five

Somewhat hard to follow. Two women with first names similar, long breaks between their stories., not clear what the issues really were. Odd conclusion also.

[Avid Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

There Are Better Books!

I normally love duel time line books! I hated this one! Boring, and loaded with the unnecessary to move the story. I almost quit reading several times. I wish I had. There will be no books 2 and 3.in my future I invested too much time in this one and could care less about what happens. Do yourself a favor - don't bother!

[Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic start to the trilogy it definitely made me want to read the whole set of books. This book was a really page turner. I loved how the story had a great female protagonist and I loved how her character became stronger throughout the story. This book had a brilliant storyline that had me throughly engaged throughout not to mention the wonderful edge of your seat moments. I loved the theme of the story as the main character is an interior designer this was a winner with me as I love reading the development of the house she develops. This definitely kept my interest peaked throughout. This meant I just couldn't put the book down as I was always excited as to what was going to happen next so I basically had to stay up late to finish this book. The main point of this book is that when one door closes another more exciting one will open and that jumping in with both feet when you gut is telling you go with it. This really gave me confidence in my own life decisions. Hence this book was very relatable. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who loves a strong female protagonist development book and those who love those lighthearted feel good books with a hint of romance. I definitely will be looking out for more books by this talented author. I have my fingers crossed they show up to be read and reviewed.
I just have to Mention the ending and how it left on a brilliant cliff hanger for the next book.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishing team for creating this fantastic debut novel that I am sure you will really enjoy. This book just has to become a big hit .

[Sarah [ Page.Turning.Thrills ] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do ever feel the need to escape?  It could be for a vacation, a fresh start, to run from your problems, or maybe to dig up the past. 

🍨 The Scoop 🍨
Annie's childhood was spent at her family's summer house in the mountains of Lake Arrowhead.  Now Annie, an interior designer, is starting over after discovering her husband's infidelity.  She purchases and renovates seven 1920s-era cabins in the Lake Arrowhead area.

Alyce Murphy was only twelve when her father died.  She was led to believe he was found alone in a cabin dead from a heart attack.  Thirty years later she discovers the truth of her father's death and travels to Annie's cabins for answers and closure in this parallel story. 

💁‍♀️ My Thoughts 💁‍♀️
The Man In Cabin Number Five is the first book in a trilogy.  It is a beautiful story that takes the reader through two different women's lives from childhood to the present which is written in a parallel narrative.  I enjoyed reading about these two women beginning the story as children because it gave me an adequate understanding and I was able to connect to them on a deeper level.  We learn about their upbringing, family life, relationships, friendships, love life, struggles, and accomplishments.  I also thoroughly enjoyed the Author's descriptive writing style which gave me the ability to visualize the beautiful Lake Arrowhead region.
I recommend this story to anyone that appreciates women's fiction. 
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

Thank you Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and @
Chrysteen Braun for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. 

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply the most compelling women's fiction on the market today. The author conveys the trials and tribulations a woman deals with beautifully. Emotive and powerful, readers are just swept up in the storylines.

A real-life tale that evokes memories for those who lived in those periods. The seminal point here is just because someone is related to you doesn't mean you have to like them or spend time with them. If someone is a total jerk sober then their substance abuse doesn't excuse them for being a waste of space.

The two female characters featured seem like two ships that pass in the night. Truly one is an ocean liner crossing a vast sea and the other is the little tugboat. The ocean liner is alone on a 4-week voyage and only meets the tug for five minutes as it docks.

If there is an issue with this book, it is with the last 8%. For this reader, the imposition of that section was nothing short of jarring and didn't come off as being part of the natural flow of the book.

Recommended to fans of women's fiction. Recommended to fans of women's saga writing. An excellent addition to this genre. The second book in this series will be much awaited by readers of the first.

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it. My thoughts are all my own.

My Rating: 4.75 stars

Reviewed by: Mr. N

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...

[Peta Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying I waited until all three books were out to start the first.

This book was a slow start but just kept getting better. I kept thinking what was meant by Cabin Number Five, and it was nearly until the end that I found what it was.

Annie Parker is a young lady growing up in a family with a Taiwanese Father and a German/Norwegian Mother and an older sister Loni. Alyce Murphy was an only child. In her early childhood she lived with her parents and Grandfather until her Father went to war and returned a very different man.

Annie and Alyce's stories are told in parallel to each other. It took me until I figured out about Cabin Number Five and when Annie and Alyce met to fully understand the story of these two women. Annie being very docile until her life took a dramatic turn and she fully started living the life she was meant to and Alyce much the same.

Two women and the sad lives they both led, one so much stronger than the other but also very dependent on themselves to finally live a life to fullfilment.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to starting the second book "The Girls in Cabin Number Three".

Thank you to Netgalley, Books Go Social and Chrysteen Braun for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Rebecca Blasco · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was difficult for me to empathize with the main character, Annie. It is hard to understand some of the choices she makes. On the other hand, it does not necessarily mean I did not enjoy the book. I liked it a lot. I found the character development to be quite good, people evolve in the right direction and I absolutely adored the atmosphere around the cabins. I could picture myself being in one of them, using the quietness and the magic described in the book. I felt like a place I would like to visit.
We can find different narrative storylines happening at the same time or other moments in the past, but they seem to be intertwined together to create a unique plot that circles around itself. Alyce was an incredible character that gave me strength to comprehend my own feelings.
The one problem for me was that I thought the end was quite abrupt, it all ending quite soon and leaving me wanting to know a bit more about certain characters or plots. Knowing that this is a trilogy, I will be waiting for the next books.
I received an advance review copy free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is about over when the title finally made sense. The book has several stories intertwined. Annie is the one that I found most interesting. She had made a life for herself before her marriage falls apart and she moves to the mountains. There is meets Sam, Noah and Laura who become her main friends. She also finds a way to fit into the mountain town full of homes for people escaping big city life. For an interior designer that is a huge thing when city life is just down the hill a hour or so away. The remodels she does is interesting. Her marriage drama sure dragged out tho and it was amazing Noah stuck around. The Murphy part of the story was a bit sad. The book started out reading like a memoir but turned out to be a good story. It helped that I liked the cast of characters..well not David but the rest of the cast.

I read the book on NetGalley

[Melissa Crismon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Man in Cabin Number Five by Chrysteen Braun made me feel emotions like a women’s fiction novel does. The story is mostly about Annie and we see her go through her childhood and convenient marriage like many women. She goes to Lake Arrowhead, California and does some soul-searching. I love all the details of Southern California, the history, and Annie’s focus on her interior design career. And if you love romance, Annie finds a new younger man in the mountains, Noah, who is very cute and sweet. I look forward to the life Annie and Noah build together in the next two books and see what Annie discovers in the other cabins.

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was not my usual type of book. I can say now after reading it, it's a good story that I'm glad I read. And now I'm going to read the rest of her books. It's not exactly a mystery; but, since I was never sure what was going on, it became one. It's difficult because there are several viewpoints of the narrator. I suspected that it was going to work out as it did in the end. It kept me interested and entertained right up to the end and then everything made sense. What a ride! Recommended.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the book seemed to start off slow the way the author wrote the book made me to want even more & anticipated reading more of this book, this book was intriguing and it was very unique and very well written not to men written in a way I never would have thought would peak my interest but what I found funny and not funny ha ha if you know what I mean Reading about the secondary characters like John, Sam, Alyce and Noah well they all intrigued me. I'm definitely hooked on Series and anticipating the conclusion
I highly recommend this book and will read again

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more Women’s Fiction than the genres I normally read but it turned out to be an okay read. I did like the dual narratives by the time I finished but really didn’t know why there were two until close to the ending of the book. I figured there had to be a reason for the second narrative but because it didn’t tie in until the end I would normally have preferred to have skipped the Alyce sections.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Man in cabin number Three us Book 1 in The Guest Book Trilogy by Cyrus teen Braun. Annie faces infidelity head on… she packs up and leaves to restore 1920 era cabins. Alyce is facing her past. In my opinion, this author wrote very strong ladies who are the main character. Will each lady find answers? or, Will problems defeat them? I received an arc for free but am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Kay Ehret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book very much. Wondered how much was a memoir of the author. Seldom is a book written about places I grew up in Southern California. Liked the way the two main characters both women come together in the end. Usually do not read romantic novels, but this book was more than that. Good story line.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good solid book. It tells 2 different stories and is a little hard to know how they connect, but it does at the end nicely. Could have used a little more proofreading, did find several grammatical errors, but it did not take away much from the book. A nice, easy read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kim Ligon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the authors stream of consciousness writing and the fluid changes between narrators. The descriptions of the mountain lake and the cabins transport you into the middle of the scene and I loved how everything came together at the end. Definitely recommended for anyone wanting to read about second or third chances and hope for the future.

[Tracy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope Is Eternal

While I enjoyed most things about this book, I didn't enjoy everything because I felt like a lot of detail was put into things that didn't necessarily need as much detail while some more important things were skimmed over. I'm hoping that the 2nd book in this series improves upon that aspect.

[Virginia L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A move to the mountains!

This is an interesting story. The characters are quite interesting along with the plot that involves a woman who is disillusioned with her marriage and getting a divorce. She gets away to the mountains to sort things out. She makes some major decisions that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

#netgalley #themanincabinfive #booksgosocial publication date 19 April 2022
An intriguing story perfectly set to curl up with a blanket on a winter night. I enjoyed this book alot,it is a story of love, betrayal and mystery all rolled in 4/5 stars

[Mary Ann Gallis Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it is set in our local mountains at Lake Arrowhead. I also like the story of a woman who overcame a breakup and divorce to recreate her life. It has romance as well as mystery. A good read.

[Raewyn Sangari · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story kept getting better

I was invested from the first moment I started reading it, but I just kept getting deeper and deeper into the story. Watching the two characters’ lives unfold and reflect, I enjoyed every part of it.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for The Man in Cabin Five by Chrysteen Braun. The blurb sounded interesting, but this book was not for me. Overall the book was well written with good character development.
Thank you to Chrysteen Braun, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nestor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Southern California Realism

Interesting story with real characters. I loved the inclusion of real places in Southern California. Chrysteen Braun must have done a ton of research for this. 5 stars!

[Amanda]

This book was ok. The imagery and descriptions of Big Bear Mountain and Lake Arrowhead were very well done. I can picture the cabin that the main character was living in and trying to renovate but the characters were little one dimensional and the storyline felt a bit rushed/ predictable.

[Kimberley H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Instantly engaging story told in past and present form, with a mystery built in. Love, loss, renewal, and growth. Descriptive and entertaining throughout. Enjoyed learning about interior design and renovation. This is one series that I may keep on reading.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Man in Cabin Number Five

This was a strange but good story. Annie tried to better her life after her divorce from David and she bought several cabins in Lake Arrowhead. The strangeness of Cabin five comes out during the story. Very interesting.