Shocking, heart-pounding, emotive, suspenseful, and deliciously creepy. Thus describes The House on Foster Hill—a novel with as many twists and turns as the spiral staircase in this eerie, abandoned old house. A house consumed with dark, buried secrets, connecting two women who lived a century apart. Kaine Prescott is a crusader for battered women, but is falling apart in her personal life. Ivy Thorpe, who lived 100 years before Kaine, is consumed by the death of her brother and a young woman found murdered at Foster Hill House. What horrifying mysteries could possibly tie these two women together?

I never guessed who the bad guys were. I stretched my brain throughout this whole book and started to wonder if even the author knew. (chuckle) The story line was so intricate, intertwining dual timelines, two different heroines, double the romance, more than one mystery...whew! How did Ms. Wright keep it all straight? Jaime Jo Wright is a new-to-me author and what a brilliant one she is. I could hardly put this book down and only did so out of necessity. Highly recommended for all suspense lovers.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bethany House Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

Before I picked this book up, I had the chance to read some other blogger's reviews, and I basically knew going into this book that it was going to be spine tingling scary, but beautifully written, and I was excited for the chance to jump into it. After finishing it, I can honestly say that The House On Foster Hill is unlike anything I've ever read before, and it took me a few days to organize my thoughts well enough to be able to write this review.

Right from the start, this well paced, well written novel pulled me in with it's spooky setting, dual story line, and strong female characters who aren't afraid to fight for justice, and for what they believe in. It doesn't matter if it's in the past or in the present, something strange and sinister is surrounding the deserted house on Foster Hill, and it'll take two women in different time periods to get to the bottom of what's truly wrong with this house rumored to be haunted.

In 1906, Ivy is considered strange by her town's people, ever since her brother's death left her quiet and withdrawn into herself, and obsessed with remembering every deceased person in her "death journal." Her obsession turns a new light when a dead body of a young woman is found in a tree trunk by the mysterious house on Foster Hill, and Ivy can't shake the desire to bring justice to who committed this hideous crime, and fight for this young woman who's no longer capable of doing so on her own.

In the present day, Kaine Prescott is dealing with her own terrors, convinced that her husband's death wasn't an accident, and that the man who's stalking and tormenting her must have had something to do with it, she leaves San Diego for the town where her ancestor Ivy Thorpe resided close to a century before. However, the horrific events that plagued her in California seem to follow her to her new destination, and soon Kaine, like her great ancestor before her, is convinced that there's more to the sinister house on the hill than anyone could ever truly believe.

The House On Foster Hill is a spine tingling, make sure all the lights are on in the house, type of novel, and the dual story line was weaved in so perfectly that I never felt lost when it jumped from one story to the other. As well, while it doesn't have a lot of supporting characters, I really enjoyed the ones that were featured, especially Joel, Grant and Joy. The faith element is really tied into the story in exactly the right way, and I was really impressed with how well this was handled considering the scarier aspects of the book's plot line. Both Ivy and Kaine are struggling with their faith due to the harsh circumstances that life has dealt them, and both find inspiration from an unexpected source, which I don't want to spoil here for anyone but it was definitely one of the most heart wrenching parts of the book for me personally. As well, I was a little nervous about how the "haunted house" rumors were going to be handled in an inspirational novel, and I was worried this was going to be sensationalized, but this was definitely not the case, and I still ended up being quite surprised with how everything wrapped up at the end

Overall, I can't say enough about how much I loved this debut novel by Jaime Jo Wright, and I definitely think she's established herself as an author to watch for in the future. This book provides a great mystery, two beautiful developing romances over the different time periods, but most of all it focuses on hope, and how God always has a plan, no matter what our circumstances are. Two of my all time fave Christian authors are Colleen Coble and Dani Pettrey, and Jaime Jo Wright's debut novel is right up the list with theirs for me personally. I gave this one four out of five stars, and I highly recommend pre-ordering this one ASAP! This is one novel you're definitely not going to want to miss, and I'm anticipating it being a huge book to watch out for once it's officially released in November.



Thanks so much to Bethany House and NetGalley for the opportunity to have read this!

Excellent debut for Jamie Jo Wright. Although suspense is not my normal genre, the writing is evocative and beautifully atmospheric.

This is Jaime Jo Wright’s debut full-length novel. It features two linked stories set a century apart. There are a few twists along the way, but the plot is a bit hard to follow overall. The characters are likeable enough, but some things aren’t as developed as they could have been, such as the mystery angle. Parts feel a bit convoluted at times, so it was hard to feel invested in the characters. The Christian elements occasionally felt forced. I really loved the cover and thought I’d feel the same about the book. Sadly, that just wasn’t the case.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn't required to provide a positive review.

Two strong women, Ivy & Kaine, are the main characters, but a century apart. I was drawn into each woman’s life very quickly. Their storylines kept me intrigued and the secret of the house kept me wanting more.

Despite both having some very difficult life situations, they both came to an understanding that God is sovereign no matter what. They realize how truly strong they are and why — God was with them through it all.

I loved that I didn’t have it figured out like I do with most books. I wanted to keep reading. It’s an intelligent book with layers of secrets and mysteries. The ultimate secret ties into a relevant issue in today’s world. The two lead characters also reveal personal struggles, questions, and doubts that many of us struggle with and can identify with.

It’s hard to believe that this is a debut novel for this author. I look forward to future novels from her, and I know there will be more.

I was given a free advanced copy of The House on Foster Hill in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic debut novel from Jaime Jo Wright she manages to capture your attention from the very beginning and keeps you enthralled all the way to the end.
Two stories set a century apart but which are somehow linked........ Ivy Thorpe a doctors daughter is a strong willed young woman who together with a childhood friend, now detective, is set to unravel the mystery of a young mothers death when she is found inside and old tree outside Foster Hill House. 100 years later Kaine Prescott a young widow who although convinced her husband was murdered and not the victim of an accident as ruled by the police escapes from her native Chicago after buying ,sight unseen, Foster Hill House over the internet. She was convinced she had a stalker in her hometown has he really managed to follow her ??
Full of unexpected twists and revelations you won't want to put this down.

An absolutely riveting debut from an author I have fallen in love with. If you are looking for a book written with great skill, characters with a lot of depth and a riveting story line than this book will not disappoint!
At first I wasn't sure what to think of this book but I quickly fell in love with the characters and could hardly put the book down! I loved the clear Christian message that had so much depth to it.

I picked this book up on a whim, and was sucked into the story immediately! It was so hard to put down, since it was the perfect blend of suspense and mystery, with an interesting combination of past and present. While parts of it are creepy, since neither Ivy or Kaine know what they are up against at Foster Hill House.
This book has some great quotes, and I especially appreciated the thought provoking dialogs on where we put our hope and where it should be. I highly recommend this one!
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

I need this book to become a movie. Because #GrantJesse for starters. But also because of the incredibly deep romantic suspense plot that would NOT let me stop reading. The creepy house, the geneology, the stalking, the plot twists, the multiple tenacious heroines. The healing of dispair with the light of God's hope. I will be recommending this book. Fans of historical romance, contemporary romance, and romantic suspense will unite fandoms after reading this story. I have some friends who are going to love this. Can't wait to tell them about it!

I really loved this debut. It had a great characters and edge of your seat suspense. I loved the dual timelines and was equally interested in both stories. There were mysteries in both story lines that kept me guessing throughout the book. If you enjoy the mystery/thriller genre, I highly recommend this book.

I received this book for free for the purpose of review.

I was hoping this book would be a good murder mystery. My hope didn't last long. The book jumps back and forth between the distant past and present, trying to link happenings to the spirit realm, like a bad spirit following a family. The backstory of each of the main female characters were not very compelling, and Kaine's especially seemed overdramatized. The book could've been a lot shorter. Especially since Ivy's reasons for being angry with Joel were pretty pathetic. When the whole story was finally revealed I felt let down. So many interactions between characters seemed ridiculous and I found myself rolling my eyes and skipping entire pages without having missed anything. It was all just too implausible for me, and the relationship between Grant and Kaine was annoying. I just didn't care for the book or any of the characters in it. I would probably not read another by this author.

The House on Foster Hill simultaneously chronicles two mysteries. : one set in 1906 and the other in present day.
Kaine fleas her life in California after her husband's death in an effort to connect with her roots and to restore a house that has mysterious connections to her pat. But Kaine's life isn't cut and dry. she believes her husband was murdered and she has a stalked but the police don't believe her. She hopes to create a new life away from everything but quickly becomes entangled in a mystery of the past.
When a body is found in a tree close to Foster Hill House, Ivy becomes obsessed with solving the murder. A young girl was strangled and their is evidence she had a baby. But where is the baby? The answer brings Ivy to the brink of death.
As seems to be typical for me, I was more enthralled in the period drama than I was in what was going on in everyday life. While there is nothing wrong with Kaine's story, I love historical fiction and really like to immense myself in the world. Jaime Jo Wright does that well as I also felt entombed I'm the creepy house on Foster Hill.
This was an engaging read with some Interesting twists and turns. The writing kept me reading until I got to the bottom of the mystery.

This mystery spans a hundred years – tying together a mysterious death in 1906 with a murder and stalker in the present day. Wright takes the reader on a wild ride as she ties the 2 storylines together. A creepy house, a stalker, a little romance—what a fantastic debut novel! I highly recommend it!

Gripping! This book held me spellbound. The only thing that kept me from reading this in one sitting was the obligations of work and family.

Debut author, Jaime Jo Wright, demonstrates skill one usually finds in a more experienced author. Her ability to tell a story with dual timelines is remarkable. The suspense skillfully builds in both story-lines, keeping this reader invested in both Kaine and Ivy's stories. The common link between both stories was not forced, unfolding naturally. Two strong women find their lives in danger as they seek to solve the mysteries hidden in Foster House in their respective time periods. Not only does this book provide a great mystery, it is also a story of hope, a hope that heals, a hope that God's promises will be fulfilled in spite of our circumstances.

Be prepared for a few spine-tingling moments as you immerse yourself in this mystery. I will definitely be watching for more releases by this author.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

It was the cover of the book, with a piano at the bottom of it a beautiful winding staircase, that had drawn me into this book, and it was the cozy mystery that invited me to stay. I was intrigued to find out how the lives of Ivy Thorpe and Kaine Prescott were connected a hundred years apart.

The book is written in the third person past tense point of view of Ivy Thorpe a hundred years ago, and that of Kaine Prescott in the present day. Both these women have been affected by past tragedies, and their sadness is aggravated on coming into contact with Foster Hill.

Ivy assists her father, Dr Thorpe, in medical emergencies and post mortems. She lost her brother in a tragic accident twelve years ago. At that time, she also lost touch with their chidlhoood friend, Joel Cunningham, an orphan. Since then, she has developed a morbid fascination with death. Joel has since returned to the town as the Sherriff’s deputy.

When an unidentified woman is found dead in a hollow in an oak tree near Foster House, Ivy feels very distressed on her account. Learning that the dead woman had given birth just weeks before, she returns to Foster House to find the baby, and is savagely attacked. Determined to find and save the baby, Ivy puts her own life in danger.

Kaine lost her husband, Danny, two years ago, in an accident in which he lost control of his car. Investigations revealed that he had narcotic substances in his blood. Kaine insists that her husband was never a drug user, and that it is therefore a murder. Meanwhile, she is also being stalked. The police believe that she suffers from trauma, and refuse to open Danny’s case, dismissing it as suicide.

Scarred by her tragedy and suffering badly from depression, she decides to move across states to her hometown in Wisconsin, where an unscrupulous realtor cons her into buying Foster House, a dilapidated house that is reputed to be haunted, and that has was the scene of a crime 100 years ago.

The body of an unidentified woman had been discovered there and Ivy, who had become more than a little interested in the life of the ill-fated woman, had been severely assaulted there.

When Kaine gets there, she realizes that the house is unlivable, dilapidated, and worse, it seems, haunted. Plus, the stalking continues, and Kaine wonders why she seems to attract trouble. In her grandfather’s hometown, she is befriended by Joy, a woman who manages a local store, and Grant Jesse, the romantic interest for Kaine.

Their parallel lives meet when Kaine finds a copy of Dickens’ Great Expectations under the floorboards of the house. The book contains a woman’s writing in the margins.

The text seems to suggest that the woman was in deep trouble and was calling out for help. It is the same copy that had propelled Ivy to invest in the predicament of the dead woman.

Both women become aware that there is someone out there who will go to any extent to hurt them. Even as their lives are in danger, they are determined to solve the mystery of Foster Hill House. But time is running out, and their unnamed enemy is getting closer. Will it be too late for them, as it for the unidentified woman who was killed in Foster Hill House?


Love enters the lives of Kaine and Ivy in the person of Grant Jesse for Kaine, and Joel Cunningham for Ivy.


Ivy is an unconventional character. She is courageous, prone to unorthodox exclamations and helps her father in post-mortems. I found Ivy more interesting than Kaine, especially since the house was creepier in her day.

Besides, I felt that Ivy had been actually assaulted. The stalking that Kaine experiences pales in comparison.

By association and on his own strength, Joel felt much stronger than Grant Jesse who doesn’t appear to be a strong character, even though the author tried hard to speak of his strength and bravery. Grant is supposed to have some experience as a counsellor, which is why, Kaine surmises, he can see through her and he knows exactly what is happening to her. Trouble is, we're not convinced.

The dead Danny doesn’t come alive as a character. Even when he was alive, he was rather lifeless. Of course, the only time we meet him is in Kaine’s memories and even then not so often or so vividly either. You don’t get any impression of deep love between him and Kaine.

Even stranger, she hardly meets Grant and her heart seems to pound. I couldn't understand why. Grant was thoroughly uninspiring and insipid.


There were some errors. In one place, there was the word, emblazed, instead of emblazoned. Kaine is said to have heralded from San Diego, instead of hailed from. In one place, Detective Tamara Hanson is referred to as male in one paragraph.

Patti, the librarian, is referred to, quite unnecessarily, in my opinion, as a gargoyle, while Mr Mason, the curator of the local museum, is described as adorable, in a curator sort of way. What is that supposed to mean?


The writing was okay, rather tepid, I would say. It would have greatly improved in the first person points of view of both women.

The pace was slow and repetitive. The Gothic effort that the author strove to achieve didn’t quite come off well.
Even the element of Christian faith came out as totally forced. Neither Joy nor Grant seemed convincing when they spoke about their beliefs. Their talks on faith appeared unreal. It seemed as if they were either talking in a trance, or reading from a script. No conviction at all.

I can understand Joy never reading her grandmother’s diary scribbled on the pages of Great Expectations, in deference to her wishes, but for Kaine to refrain from reading through the unidentified woman’s diary, when there could have been clues to explain the mystery there, seemed foolish.

The mystery took far too long to get resolved. The book could have been shorter and tighter. Ivy spent an excessively long period of time in feeling upset with Joel even after knowing the compulsions that had driven him away. Her personal drama kept getting in the way of the solving of the mystery.


I was rather disappointed with this one.

The House on Foster Hill is a captivating debut novel by Jaime Jo Wright. In her first full-length novel (she’s previously published several novellas), Wright captures the heart of Gothic novels, using a time-slip plot to mysteriously tie past events with more contemporary ones.

Wright’s novel follows two heroines as they circle the mysteries shrouded in an old abandoned house in Wisconsin – the house that sits on Foster Hill. With the town murmuring of ghost sightings, mysterious music in the night, and other perplexing events (both in 1906 and the present), Wright’s heroines seek answers to the mysterious happenings while also battling demons from their own pasts.

This is a story that grips you at the beginning, and doesn’t shy away from darkness as its protagonists each search for hope and light. Ultimately, past connects with present after several turn of events, most of which were unpredictable. Wright manages to keep readers interested from page to page, and largely maintains clarity throughout the jumps back and forth between years.

The novel’s characters are written well, hinting at Ivy and Kaine’s similarities while also maintaining the autonomy of each. As in any time-slip novel, the characters receive only half of the book’s attention (half to Ivy in 1906, half to Kaine in the present day), but the book still manages to give adequate development to each.

This debut is a fresh offering, one that relies heavily on Gothic themes while also directing audiences to remember the hope eternal that is found through faith, even in the face of dark circumstances that may seem unable to be redeemed. This one kept my attention until the end, as connections between the past and present were slowly revealed. An intriguing read I didn’t want to put down.

Jaime Jo Wright is an author to watch.

Oh, a new author to follow! :) I wasn't sure what I was getting into, with the spooky tones, but I really, really loved the mystery that is strewn through the story, parallel in the two time frames as each character (Ivy and Kaine) probes into the mysterious secrets surrounding the deserted Foster Hill house. A murdered girl was found in a hollow tree a hundred years ago. Ivy, in the early 1900s, is the doctor's daughter and the keeper of the book of deaths, her way of writing obituaries for townspeople.

Ivy is considered odd after her brother's early death leaves her pensive and quiet. Her quick intuition leads to town rumors of a "second sight" and leaves her even more alone. At the young woman's mysterious death and unknown identity, Joel re-enters her life: her brother's best friend who disappeared years before and left her to face her grief alone. He's just returned as the new sheriff's deputy and is soon in the midst of the attempt to solve the crime.

Kaine, the modern-day heroine, is also doubted by her community after no real evidence shows up for a stalker she knows she has. The person who caused her husband's fatal car accident, she's sure, must still be after her. Problem is, the death was ruled accidental. Only her sister believes she's telling the truth, and isn't simply overly forgetful or suffering from some form of PTSD. Unable to stand the sinister tricks any longer, she quits her job, buys a historic home in her ancestors' hometown, and heads off to an adventure. Trouble is, the realtor's pictures were overly kind, and she finds herself in a world of hurt trying to make her new home livable. And things begin to happen there...things like what her stalker did, only more aggressive than before.

There are quite a number of creepy passages, melodies from an abandoned house, "ghosts" in the halls...but it's not sensationalized. The focus remains on the house's mysterious past rather than the creepy phenomenons. I liked having an engaging mystery with a touch of the shiver-y to keep it compelling, and I actually enjoyed both timelines equally.

Thanks to the publisher for a free ebook for review. A positive review was not required.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.

The House on Foster Hill brings two women, two time periods, and one house of secrets together. There are numerous twists and turns that keep the reader engaged. You really do not know the underlying connections until the very end. You ultimately realize the societal significance of events and how they relate to issues which continue today.

Wow! That sums up the whole book in one word!
I like suspense and mysteries and old houses. Add some great characters in the past and present, intertwine their stories, and it certainly makes an intriguing storyline. Add to that an author who can truly write and you’re in for a treat. The House on Foster Hill is all this and more!
I was hooked from page one and had no idea what the outcome would be. The author kept me guessing till the satisfying end.
Great story! Great writing! On my favorites list of 2017!

A fantastic debut novel! The dual storyline was equally enjoyable with lots of twists and unexpected turns. Absolutely a must read!