I passed over The House on Foster Hill three times before the staircase and it's intriguing back cover copy convinced me I had to read it! A haunted house type story is really not my cup of tea but curiosity got the better of me. How was Jaime Jo Wright going to work God into this kind of story?

I doubted my choice upon reading the opening line: "Death had a way of creeping up on a soul, and Ivy Thorpe was determined that when it visited her, she would not be surprised." and at the house description I just about put the book down: "Cavernous windows opened in a silent scream on the face of the Gothic house that tilted on the crest of Foster Hill. Its gables towered as if to mock her, and balconies curved in permanent, evil grins. The front door gaped open with a black shadow, evidence that somewhere, at some time, it had been opened and never closed. Abandoned." The writing is compelling though, snuggled under my duvet and my large German Shepherd near to hand, I flipped the electronic pages swiftly!

The hook that ensured I wouldn't stop until the last page wove the past, Ivy's story, and the present, Kaine's story, together just before Chapter Ten. To share it would break the weaving of an intricate mystery, but, it is a wonderful line that just kept me reading...late into the night! God is throughout the book, whilst a difficult storyline full of fear and pain, the overarching sense is hope and love prevailing. The twists are surprising but well-thought out - it's a five out of five for me and I can't wait to see more from Jaime Jo Wright.

I requested this book because I love gothic novels. I have read tons and tons of them (Rebecca by Du Maurier being of course the standard). I had never heard of a Christian gothic novel and thought this could be fun. My thoughts:

What I liked

The author does hit the gothic notes. I was worried the book wouldn’t. Never fear. You have the creepy house that’s a character unto itself. You have the narrators whose mindset you can’t quite trust. You have the strange town and townspeople. And then there are all the gothic effects: dark and stormy nights, unseen danger in the shadows, centuries old mysteries.

Two stories. I’m not always a fan of two stories, but I thought it worked nicely here (even though this is not a typical gothic feature). You have Ivy’s story which is playing out the old mystery at the same time that Kaine is trying to solve that mystery along with a new one. I thought the balance between both stories was nicely done. I also really liked the tie between what was happening then and what was happening now. It added a touch of modernity to the gothic novel that really worked nicely.

Spiritually, the novel deals with believing and trusting God’s promises even when it is difficult. Faith in God gives you hope.

What I Didn’t Like

Gothic novels almost need to start with a light touch of the eerie and crescendo toward the end…otherwise it’s too melodramatic all the time. This book crossed into the line of too melodramatic. Kaine, the main character, arrives at the property already half-scared out of her mind. Everything was scary all the time to the point where almost nothing was. I appreciated the gothic notes, it just got to be a bit ham-fisted (a female character named Kaine?…I guess…).

I also didn’t think the Why questions were answered well. They were answered, but I was so skeptical the entire time I was reading the book. When I finished it I was still like why did this happen or why did that happen.

(Spoiler Warning) Why did the hero after meeting Kaine for five minutes drop everything he was doing and put her first? Why did the hero not have a life? Why did the hero have exactly the skills Kaine needed? Why did Kaine, having PTSD problems, decide to buy a house with a creepy background in the middle of nowhere? Why were people randomly helpful? Why didn’t Kaine leave the creepy house and come back when she was in a better mindset? Why did Ivy and Joel become so invested in this mystery to the point where they put their lives at risk? Because these why questions weren’t answered very well (we were just supposed to accept it), I found myself not the least bit invested in any of the characters. For me the book dragged a bit and I found myself skimming.

Romantic scale: 5.5

Overall, not bad, but it also didn’t quite draw me in.

**I received a copy from BethanyHouse. My opinion was not affected in anyway.**

This writer shows promise but perhaps needs more writing experience in terms of characterization, plot, and dialog. There is a good story in there, but there are too many distractions as is. I don't want to be critical - she is clearly a talented writer! It's just that the characters in the past seemed so much more compelling and more detailed than those in the present-day story, who seemed too much to be imitations of their "predecessors." I did enjoy 1906's main character Ivy, whose story might better have been told without the inclusion of Kaine's modern-day parallel. Also, minor characters were sometimes given too much attention while main characters were sometimes given too little - this made it hard to understand actions and motivations at times. And finally, one thing that really just bothered me was having such a strong evangelical Christian message that was not quite properly framed within the story. I sometimes felt that the author was using character dialog to preach directly to the reader and that the evangelical talk was there as a matter of principal rather than as a natural part of the characters' conversations. It was constantly forced into the dialog and the characters' conversations often suffered as a result. This was distracting as a reader, because it was far less subtle and far less relevant to the story than it should have been; but arguably with better character development, this would have been a more integral element of the story.

Jamie Jo Wright's The House on Foster Hill is a stunning novel! Before I read it for myself, I saw rave reviews on line from readers who had loved it. Often times, the novel does not live up to the hype. This time, there was no trace of disappointment as I devoured it! If I had not read that this was her debut novel, I would have wondered why I never came across her novels before now.

Wright's writing style easily pulls the reader in. The premise of the plot, a young woman purchasing an historic home out of state that has some connection to her ancestors, is interesting enough. But as you finish each chapter, the plot expands. Wright expertly shifts point of view from one woman (generations earlier) to the modern woman with the dream of fixing up the historic, yet neglected, house.

The protagonist from the present has many unresolved issues from her past. As she researches to learn about her own family tree, she encounters many of those issues plaguing the women in her family line who lived a century before her. Through learning about her family, she finally faces what she has spent her life avoiding, and escaping.

Wright had plenty of plot twists. As soon as I thought I had figured it all out, another twist would come, and I would be reading furiously until my next guess. This made the story more exciting, but the thread of hope, and God's presence, was constant until the very end. It reminds us that, as one character says, "God's promise is fulfilled in spite of our circumstances, not instead of our circumstances."

In the midst of unraveling the mystery, and cheering for Kaine as she embraces courage and healing, we also learn about an injustice that exists today, and even existed in the previous century. Though that is a subplot, she brings to the surface an issue that remains a problem today.

This novel was a thrill to read -- I read it in only two evenings. I rarely finish a book that quickly; my life as a full-time high school teacher, and a wife, and a mom to three boys don't leave me with much time or energy at night. But I could not put this one down. I am sure my family is happy I finally finished and they will have my attention once again.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. These are my own opinions and thoughts.

I have heard nothing but positive things about this book. That always makes me a bit nervous because I wonder if I will enjoy the book as much as other did.

I did.

This book will pull you in from the first page and won’t let you go until the last. You will be dropped into the dark and mysterious world of Foster House and it’s secrets. I had to keep reading to find out who was the girl who died, what happened to her?

But even more I wanted to find out what happen to Ivy and Joel, did things work out for them or did something keep them apart?

If you like books with a creepy side to them then I have no doubt you will thoroughly enjoy this book.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own.

I got a Darcy Coates vibe at the start of this book. I liked that beyond the old house with the history story that we also got the story about Kaine's husband. I don't feel that the the POV of Ivy was necessary throughout the book where it could've been contained to the prologue and possibly even an epilogue.

Holy cow!!! Electrifying. Fast paced. Edge of your seat. I could not put this book down. I found myself reading faster and faster just to get to the next page! This is a time hop novel between early 1900s and today. The stories are interwoven beautifully. It’s easy to follow because of the way it’s written. Wright has such a way with words and plot and characters. She draws the reader in from the beginning and doesn’t let them go! Her writing is captivating. Suspenseful in a mind blowing psychological thriller type way. Love the added romantic elements. It eases the story a bit and gives the reader a little reprieve from the intensity! This book propels you along at such a quick pace. I started the book and 20 minutes later I was 35 pages in! The writing flows. I hate when you have to read and reread passages of books. This book had NONE of that! Awesome. Loved it.
I received a digital copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Thoughts:

HOUSE ON FOSTER HILL by Jaime Jo Wright tosses us into danger from the beginning while we find a fresh grave, an unknown woman, and a deadly past centering on this estate.

In 1906, Ivy Thorpe did not want another death to remember, but she never expected one like this. It comes too close and brings forward a past that she would rather not face. Reopening a hole deep in her heart that she’d rather not feel, she eyes the one who hurt her.

She believes why cannot always come before whom.

The living seems to have fading memories of those who are gone, and Ivy tries to change that in her own way.

Meanwhile, a historic tract becomes a deathtrap, and we find danger still hovers even today….

Kaine Prescott runs away from her life, her past, and her husband’s death to start anew. The write up on this house makes a charming fixer-upper sound like what she needs until she arrives. A dilapidated structure stands alone, open and neglected, and memories assault her once her eye lands on what else awaits her!

Can anyone outrun the past?

***This opinion is my own.***

Preview:

In HOUSE ON FOSTER HILL by Jaime Jo Wright, Kaine Prescott is a widow facing life after loss, but her struggle is not just grief, as regret and fear stalk her. Desperate for relief, she opts for a change and moves to Wisconsin. However, the house that just needed some work turns out to be an abandoned eyesore with a horrid past, adding to her present troubles by bringing jeopardy even closer.

Does death follow her?

Previously, Ivy Thorpe faces loss at Foster Hill, and death visits again once a woman with no name is found on the acreage. In her determination to give this woman the peace of her lifetime remembered, Ivy faces another mystery and puts herself in the danger zone!

Just the right amount of suspense, mystery, romance, and creepiness......to satisfy the bookish mind!

I am not typically a "suspense" reader (and DEFINITELY not a suspense movie type of person at all). But when word about this book started circulating around the bookish world last year...I just knew I HAD to read it!!! I mean just look at that cover...It screams "YOU MUST READ ME! You MUST discover the secrets that I hold within these pages!"

Be prepared for a lot of emotions that will be brought to the surface while reading The House on Foster Hill. Jaime addresses some very difficult topics in this book. And I am SO glad she does. It is not easy to read about, but the TRUTH must be shared. The secrets, the pain, the shame, must all be brought forward for healing, restoration, and freedom.

With a dual timeline, the author alternates between the present and the past with flawless accuracy. Secrets and shame hide behind the walls of Foster Hill House. What will be revealed? And what will be lost to history forever?

I received a complimentary copy of The House on Foster Hill. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Note:  This book was provided free of charge by Bethany House Publishers.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

It is difficult for me to be a fair judge of this book but I will do my best.  Ultimately, while I found much to appreciate in the skill and insight of the author as it related to the fictional but plausible action of this novel, this is not the sort of novel for me, about dark crimes and a creepy house and characters who are subjected to a great deal of psychological terror and violence [1].  That is not to say that this is a bad book, but rather that it brought me no pleasure to read it.  The book is written to increase suspense to a high degree and portray deathly peril for the protagonists as well as rape, murder, and sex trafficking.  The story also has a complicated family history full of secrets and violence at its heart, with people willing to kill to preserve the dark secrets of a small Wisconsin town viewed as part of a sex trafficking ring from Chicago to Canada and where the voice of women was not well-respected or well-regarded, making even the sexual politics of this novel deeply unpleasant if not repugnant.

The story of the novel, without too many spoilers, has dual female protagonists who share a close connection.  Ivy is a memory keeper in a small Wisconsin town who takes it upon herself to memorialize the dead so that they are not forgotten, and she finds herself caught up in a sensational murder mystery when a young woman who has recently given birth is found dead in a hollow tree.  Needless to say this mystery is dangerous and leads her into a relationship with a man she loved but lost faith in after the death of her brother when he was absent from the funeral and for the next twelve years.  Meanwhile, in the present day a young woman named Paige whose husband was murdered but who got nowhere with the San Diego police goes back "home" to Wisconsin to buy a fixer-upper house with a dark history related to the past and where creepy things keep happening to this day and where she meets a handsome man who helps to protect her and fix up the house.  The two plot lines are obviously related and female relatives with changed last names become increasingly important to make sense of how everyone is connected.

There is a great deal that is admirable about the story.  The author makes a lot of notes about the redemptive and healing power of love, the way that places and people become magnets for trouble over the course of generations over and over again, and the complicated links between violence and family.  The author has clearly done her homework on the logistics of sex trafficking and makes use of that insight in unraveling the mystery of the titular creepy house.  The author also has strong beliefs of divine providence that work their way through this book in surprising ways.  I did not find pleasure in reading this book, but I did find much to admire and if you have a higher tolerance for Christian horror novels than I do along with themes of sisterhood and patterns of violence against women, you will likely find much to enjoy here.  I am clearly not the ideal reader of this book as someone who is both afflicted with PTSD from my own past as well as someone who is deeply offended by feminism as it is frequently portrayed, and this novel manages to trigger both of those sensitivities simultaneously, by no means an easy or praiseworthy achievement.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016/04/30/book-review-unusual-chickens-for-the-exceptional-poultry-farmer/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014/08/06/book-review-the-little-stranger/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017/07/15/book-review-battle-town/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017/03/16/book-review-treasured-grace/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017/07/05/book-review-beloved-hope/

I had a good feeling about the book when I first picked it up - an interesting blurb that promised an intertwined story of two women who are mysteriously connected through an abandoned, old house in rural Wisconsin.
Without giving too much away - I wasn't disappointed. The book holds its promise and offers some twists and turns that I didn't see coming.

'The House on Foster Hill' is foremost the story of said house and its impact on the life of two very different women. There is Ivy - assistant to her father, the local doctor, and writer of a very special book. After a painful loss in her past, she collects the story of those who die around her. Of course, this particular hobby doesn't make her too popular with the local people and she leads a rather secluded life. This suddenly changes when a dead girl is found on the grounds of Foster Hill.
A century later, Kaine decides to leave her old life and stressful job behind as she moves to a small town in Wisconsin. Still dealing with a terrible loss and hurtful aftermath, she bought an old house to renovate and resell. Of course, we are talking about the same house and slowly Kaine is sucked into its history.

Comparing the two timelines, I liked Ivy's story more. Her character was easy to relate to and I loved to read about her quest of collecting the stories of the death.
Kaine, on the other hand, was an interesting character but her story contained too many overused topics. Having read quite a lot of mysteries lately I wasn't too surprised by the course of her actions as well as the final solution.
The final solution was maybe the only real letdown in the book. I believe the story deserved something better and it felt kind of rushed but, all in all, it was okay.

I haven't heard of the author before but I'm always curious to discover new names. Wright actually did an awesome job of using different writing styles to present a hundred-year-difference between two storylines. The writing, in general, was great - in fact, I already looked up the next book she will publish and hope to read it when it comes out.

In the end, I'm really glad that I came across the book by mere chance and I would recommend it to fans of historical mystery novels. You also might like it if you are into contemporary mysteries. All in all, great book.

Have you ever read a book that makes your heart rate speed up, and you try too read faster as the scene gets more intense... this was chapter two for me, and it just kept getting better as I got further into the book.

I really enjoyed this one, but it wasn't really an easy read. There were some parts that were almost down right scary, creepy, and thought provoking. Jamie is a great author! She did such a good job keeping my attention and grabbing my emotions. I was caught up in the lives of the characters.

Ivy was probably my favorite, but Kaine was also one of my favorites as were Joel and Grant. These men were brave, smart, thoughtful and heroes in my eyes.

I can't say enough good stuff about this book! Pick it up and give it a read. I bet it will surprise you to the very end!

I was blessed with a copy of this book by the author and Bethany House. All opinions are my own.

I have to admit that the cover attracted me to this book but I stayed because of the story. I've read books similar to this but I wasn't expecting the twist at the end. Thank you for the copy Netgalley. Full review is on my blog

Kaine Prescott is no stranger to death. When her husband died two years ago, her pleas for further investigation into his suspicious demise fell on deaf ears. In desperate need of a fresh start, Kaine purchases an old house sight unseen in her grandfather's Wisconsin hometown. But one look at the eerie, abandoned house immediately leaves her questioning her rash decision. And when the house's dark history comes back with a vengeance, Kaine is forced to face the terrifying realization she has nowhere left to hide.

A century earlier, the house on Foster Hill holds nothing but painful memories for Ivy Thorpe. When an unidentified woman is found dead on the property, Ivy is compelled to discover her identity. Ivy's search leads her into dangerous waters, resurrecting painful memories and forcing a reunion with the man who broke her heart. Can Ivy unravel the mystery and find a renewed hope before any other lives--including her own--are lost?

The House on Foster Hill by Jamie Jo Wright was an interesting and engaging read. The switch between centuries was quick and kept me reading to what happens next. I liked that how the author took some current issues and wove them into this story. While I felt the characters could have been developed more, over all it was a very well written debut novel.

The House on Foster Hill was the debut novel of Jaime Jo Wright. Kaine flees her life to start anew in her ancestoral small town by buying a desolute and haunted fixer upper. Prompted by the memories of the murder of her husband and a stalker who intends to make her life miserable, she believes this will be a new start. However, her stalker follows her, and Kaine fears for her life. Meanwhile, she discovers her ancestor, Ivy, was part of a mystery of her own and finds clues within the house that will solve it. This mystery involves solving the murder of a woman found dead in a tree on the property. However, the resolution seems a little out of place historically and unexpected for such a small town. This was a solid effort for a debut novel, and great for anyone who enjoys parrallel times novels.

I'm basically a mystery-person, which is why I requested The House on Foster Hill. Houses with a dark history? Definitely gonna read that. It turns out that this is a Christian mystery, so it's not as scary as I assumed it would be, but it was still pretty interesting.

After the suspicious death of her husband, Kaine decided to renovate a house because that was his dream that she never got to do. The house she chose is related to her great-grandmother. But when she moves in, she finds that her stalking issue has increased.

For the second plot, which takes place in the past, Ivy becomes obsessed with solving the murderer of Gabriella. Who was she and what happened to her baby? And can she work with Joel, the man she thought she loved (until the Tragic Event). The dual plot lines of Kaine and Ivy mirror each other as the danger and tension increases. Along the way, both women have to confront their loss of faith.

Personally, Kaine and I got off to a rocky start when she said that “she never liked Dickens. He took four pages to explain one setting when he only needed a paragraph.” Well, I actually hold the works of Dickens in higher esteem so...

And there was one odd head-hop moment just past the 25% mark.

But the characters grew on me after these hiccups and the pacing increased in a way that I was rushing through the last quarter of the book to find out who the culprits were.

I thought the Christianity in the book was rather heavy-handed (or at least, I noticed it, and I don’t normally do unless it’s Christian-Christian fiction). I’m completely okay with that since this is my faith, but if you don’t like that sort of thing, you may want to avoid the book.

Overall, I thought this was a decent mystery. The dual plotlines came together nicely and I was invested in the characters by the end of the book.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.

"Death had a way of creeping up on a soul. . . lives lost in the passage of time. Unremembered." (9)

Haunting is the first word that comes to mind when thinking of Jaime Jo Wright's The House on Foster Hill. Haunting, yes, but also beautiful. It's beautiful because of how intricately the details of the past and the present are woven together. The author did a fabulous job in keeping readers interested and in suspense.

"All houses hold secrets, and I am one of them. . . You shouldn't have come here. . ." (43, 44)

In honesty, I started reading The House on Foster Hill in the wee hours of the night, thinking I'll get a head start. Well, big mistake for two reasons. One, the tension is high from the start, stirring a suspense that I anticipated on the edge of my bed. Secondly, I'm so into it I couldn't let go until the last page, and that was hours later. There should be a warning label of how compelling a story it is!

"Hope. I need to find the hope to live again. A reason to move on with my life." (203)

The House on Foster Hill is a great story of seeking life, of connecting lives, of finding a need to fill the void. It's about hope amidst trials. How two individuals, Kaine and Ivy, a century apart and one old house connects, are as fascinating as it can be. There's more than one mystery at play here. Then double the romance and a secret that harbors such human evil, The House on Foster Hill will captivate your senses, but also bring a certain level of warmth.

"I've never found any sense in not seeing the humor when going through a trial." (229)

So smile, and be spellbound by it!


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.

The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright is a Christian mystery novel. Ivy Thorpe lives with her father in Oakwood, Wisconsin. In March of 1906, a body has been found in the hollowed tree on Foster Hill near Foster Hill House. Who is the young woman and why was she killed? Ivy wants to find out the identity of the woman along with who harmed her. However, the one person who can assist her is also the individual who left her when she needed him the most. Then it is discovered that the victim had recently given birth. Ivy is determined to get justice for the woman and locate the missing child.

Kaine Prescott has decided to relocate from San Diego to Oakwood, Wisconsin. She lost her husband, Danny two years prior and Kaine is certain his death was no accident. The police, though, will not investigate further nor they believe that Kaine has a stalker. Kaine bought Foster Hill House (unseen and without an inspection) in her grandfather’s hometown. When Kaine starts work on the home, she finds clues to the century old mystery. Will Kaine be able to discover what happened to the young woman who died in 1906?

The House on Foster Hill splits time between 1906 and the present. I felt the author did the story a disservice by splitting the focus. The story felt muddled. The first two chapters of the novel felt creepy and mysterious. However, it soon fizzled into humdrum (especially the contemporary sections). I found Ivy more interesting than Kaine. The romance (for both characters) was more prominent than the mystery. The only reason for the mystery was for the two women to find love. The author tried to put too much into one book (needed editing and a major rewrite). I found the story slow-paced (paint dries faster) and lacking in flow. Ivy kept a journal in which she wrote stories about the people who died (made up stories). She was determined to solve the murder and kept running off which put her in danger multiple times (reckless). Kaine buys a house that needs massive renovations in a town she has never visited. She has no DIY skills or tools. She overreacts each incident. There was a repetition of information, and I never felt the suspense (or tension). The mystery is one that plays out (another disappointment) with the details being revealed in the final 10%. The ending felt incomplete. I found The House on Foster Hill to be a tedious book to read (felt like I was slogging through a mud pit).

This is a Christian mystery set in two separate time periods. Both stories center around the house on Foster Hill and with a gradual disclosure of the clues, the story merges into two interesting and connected endings. Very enjoyable mystery with a different spin on the cozy mystery genre.

I obtained this book through Net Galley and have left an honest review.

The novel was suspenseful and kept me guessing as to what would happen next. I was quite impressed that I did not guess what the ending would be. The author tackled a subject that I very rarely see in fiction. Unfortunately, I can't go in to too much detail without giving away the big reveal! I will say that the topic she covers is near and dear to my heart based on prior work experience, and it was nice to see someone show that the topic is not a new topic, but that women have been effected throughout the centuries by the same troubles. While disheartening, it was really well written.

My one major critique of this novel is that the way Wright introduced the main character's back story, it made it feel like this was a second book in a series. I actually had to go and research the author and her other works to see if I was missing a book where Kaine was already introduced. Much of the premise of this novel was predicated on Kaine's history. When the author added in these tidbits of history, the flow of the novel was disrupted. I did not like feeling that I missed out on something along the way.

Overall, I would recommend the novel. The author kept me guessing as to what was causing the mysterious goings on in Foster Hill House. I did not see the twists and turns that the novel took and that was very enjoyable to me. There was a romantic twist to the novel, but it didn't over power the story, something I'm always concerned about when reading books that are labelled by others as romance. And yes, for all of you who wondered after reading this, people in Wisconsin really do wear wedges of cheese on their heads.