Member Reviews
The body of an unidentified woman has been found on the property of the House on Foster Hill. The young mother had been murdered and hidden inside a hollow tree, and it's the doctor's determined daughter, Ivy Thorpe that is set on finding the murdered woman's newborn infant.
A century later, Kaine is a woman suffering enormous grief at the loss of her husband. His death has been ruled an accident, but she knows better. Kaine, a strong woman who has helped others flee abusive relationships, has no shortage of enemies and perhaps even a stalker. With hardly anyone trusting what she knows in her heart to be true, Kaine sets out on her own, taking up residence in an old house that has seen better days. Here she delves further into the mysteries of the House on Foster Hill.
When I accepted this book for review, I didn't realize it wasn't a secular novel. Religious overtones are not something I particularly like in film or books, but I enjoyed the determined female characters in this story and the way that their lives wove together across a century. I would suggest that readers consider carefully whether they are interested in books used to convey religious messages before picking up this title.
The House on Foster Hill is available today, November 21, 2017.
Need a story to get lost in? Look no further. From the early 1900s to present day, Foster Hill House is a romance, a mystery, a joining of two times in history.
Ivy Thorpe finds a body hidden in a tree. A mystery unfolds, drawing her into danger and a murder. Who was the girl and what happened?
Kaine Prescott is running away from her past, a husband who had been murdered, and she charged as a crazy person for not believing his death was an accident.
With enough similarities in both girls’ lives, Foster Hill House will keep you reading to find out what happened in this moment in time where history intersects. A note in a book-All houses hold secrets, and I am one of them- draws Ivy and Kaine into searching for the dead girl’s identity, and psychological games will keep you turning the pages into the night.
Jaime Jo Wright’s The House on Foster Hill is a must read suspense. The cover is excellent and draws you right into the story.
I received a free copy from Net Galley in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
The House on Foster Hill was a SUPER fast read and I was so engrossed in it that I stayed up until 2 AM of the same day to finish reading it. I literally couldn't go to sleep without knowing how it was going to end.
I really enjoyed that this book is told from dual perspectives and dual time periods. You get Ivy and Kaine, plus the 1900s and present time, respectively.
Kaine's story had me hooked a lot more than Ivy's did at first even though Ivy's story begins with the dead girl found on the property. For some reason Kaine's viewpoint was more mysterious for me at the beginning, but of course that quickly changed. I don't know if action-packed is exactly the right way to describe this book, but there is plenty going on, and TONS of mystery.
I didn't really connect to any of the characters, but that was OKAY. I still think you found out plenty about everyone and everything tied together nicely. I was also completely shocked by the ending, I definitely did not see THAT coming.
I think this will be great for those who love a good twisty mystery, and enjoy a fast read. Plus, the cover is 😍
Final Thought: This is a great book and I highly recommend it. One thing that I would like to note is that I was really surprised that this book had an underlying Christian theme. I don't think you often find very many creepy mystery/thrillers that blend God in so seamlessly.
The story is told from two different time periods by two different women connected by Foster House 100 years apart. Ivy in the past, who is helping to investigate a mysterious death and Kaine in the present, who is running from her past.
The two women’s tales intertwine as mysteries surrounding both of their lives unfold and lead them into danger. Their love and faith will be tested as they discover the secrets of Foster Hill.
The chapter switches between Kaine and Ivy were done really well and easy to follow and both women are very likeable and believable and the fact that you really don’t know the connections until the very end. It isn’t often that you find a book that you can’t figure out and the suspect takes you completely by surprise.
Although it is a Christian novel, it wasn’t too heavy on the religion aspect but hope and faith in God is a big part of the storyline but not pressed too much to put non religious readers off.
The House on Foster Hill has everything, suspense, intrigue, mystery, romance, and history and it certainly keeps you turning the pages as fast as you can.
I will definitely be looking forward to more from Jaime Jo Wright in the future.
The House on Foster Hill
by
Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
Christian , Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 21 Nov 2017
I am reviewing a copy of The House On Foster Hill through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:
Kaine Prescott is no stranger to death, after her husbands death two years prior she asks for a murder investigation but it's not granted. Eventually she buys an old house without even seeing it first. The house is in her Grandfather's hometown. Some say the House On Foster Hill is haunted regardless it is in bad shape. After one look at the place leaves Kaine wondering if she made a mistake.
Two women had been found at Foster Ivy was one of those women she had been left for dead. A child goes missing and is never found? What other secrets does Foster Hill hold?
A century early the house held nothing but dark painful memories, and secrets Ivy would rather forget. When Ivy discovers an unidentified woman on the property which will lead her into dangerous waters and dark secrets? Will Ivy be able to find out who this woman was with the help from her past, or will she become another victim? Find out in The House On Foster Hill.
Five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
Thank you to Net Galley and Bethany House for an e-ARC of this title. I loved this story. It's about a house, and the women who were part of the house of the years. There is a lot of suspense, which I l love. It was well done, as were the characters. I put this author on my watch list, because I'll be looking for future books from her!
In The House on Foster Hill, author Jamie Jo Wright hits a home run with her first novel. This book took me by complete surprise with its dark and twisted plots involving two women living 100 years apart. How can they both come together? Ms Wright has a wonderful imagination in her storytelling and plenty of suspects and red herrings play into the mix. The Christian portion of this book was well done without being preachy and added another dimension to the story. I was hooked from the first chapter and regretted every time I had to put the book down, that usually doesn’t happen with an author’s first book. I look forward to reading any other books this author writes to see if she can keep up the pace.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Bethany House Publishing with no obligation to review it. This is my honest review after reading
The House on Foster Hill is Ms Wright’s debut novel and I can say that I am a die-hard fan already! This is a dual timeline story and what a thriller it is! I was mesmerized by the suspense element in this story. It was creepy without gore and kept me on the edge of my seat. A few times I actually looked up from the book to make sure no one was skulking about.
Kaine, the contemporary heroine, and Ivy, the heroine from a century earlier, are both strong, tenacious women. They are each determined to solve the mysteries in their lives, no matter what anyone thinks about them. They are interconnected through the house on Foster Hill and it was fascinating to watch the story of their shared history unfold. Foster House possesses a dark secret that needs to be revealed. Will Kaine and Ivy, each in their own era, triumph over the menace that lies within?
If you enjoy stories that make you think twice about turning off the lights, then you will like this book.
I was provided a copy from the publisher through Netgalley for review purposes. No compensation has been received.
This is a suspenseful mystery told from two different perspectives. I enjoyed both plot lines and found that the author tied them together well at the end. The book was well written and interesting. There were however a couple of issues I had that knocked off a few stars from my review. First, the book suffered from a few too many plots. The book could have easily been simplified a bit to tell a more cohesive story and I think it would have been better for it. I also felt like some of the relationships developed a bit quicker than seemed realistic to me. I was also hoping for a little bit more of the house renovation in the story but that’s probably just me. All in all, not a bad read and I will be keeping an eye out for future books from this author.
This book kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat the entire book. What happened to the girl found in the tree? Who was she? The suspense aspect is definitely written in these pages. In both the present timeline and the past timeline. You have Mysteries to solve and wonder about that are connected with both Ivy and Kaine. And each of the women have men to help them get it accomplished, Joel and Grant. In a lot of suspense books I have been able to guess the ending, but not this one. Well written debut novel! I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.
Dual timelines set a century apart, following two women that share similar stories of lose and two mysterious deaths all come together to make one amazing debut novel. There are so many twists and turns that keep you wanting to read.
From the description I was expecting some sore of paranormal plot line but that was not the case. However, the plot line that was written was perfect and way better than the paranormal idea I had in my head.
This book has a lot of hard hitting topics: domestic violence, rape, adoption, murder and human trafficking to name a few. All were done perfectly with the right amount of compassion and information to leave you more inform and touched without disrupting the flow of the story.
I highly recommend this for those that want a thriller that will take you for a ride through time to bring justice and leave you entertained and wanting more from this debut author.
Jaime Jo Wright burst onto the scene with the delightfully mysterious The House on Foster Hill. If you’re read Wright’s novellas, this book is a departure. In the best kind of way.
Seamlessly combining the past and present; a headstrong and courageous heroine with another who is grieving and trying to make sense of her life; and a murder and a stalker with the threads of a creepy house surrounded by superstition, The House on Foster Hill kept me turning the pages to find out how the stories connect. And who is behind the crimes.
Add in a couple of romances, and there’s a lot going on in this book! But write masterfully juggles each of those items to give readers a robust and compelling story that is hard to put down until the satisfying conclusion. And I, for one, am anticipating more fabulous books by Wright in the future.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
In this masterful suspense novel, debut novelist Jamie Jo Wright knocks the genre out of the park. Two years after Kaine Prescott’s husband dies in a mysterious accident, Kaine has had enough of police indifference. She knows she has a stalker and she believes a person or persons lie behind the mystery of her husband’s death. She buys a house in a new state sight unseen, and travels across country to escape her past and heal from all that haunts her.
When she arrives, it seems as if her stalker knew her next step before she took it. Determined to stick it out, Kaine makes friends in the small Wisconson community and starts working on the house—along with the mystery of her great-grandmother, Ivy, who grew up in the same area. Will she discover the truth about her stalker, her great-grandmother, the house on Foster Hill, and herself before it’s too late?
Ivy Thorpe, a doctor’s daughter, spinster, grieving sister, and keeper of the stories of the dead, becomes obsessed with finding the truth about a young woman found dead in a hollow tree trunk. The author skillfully weaves Ivy’s story with Kaine’s story—leaving the reader breathless with suspense both past and present.
Fans of Colleen Coble, Cara Putnam, and Dani Pettrey will love this book.
The House on Foster Hill was OUTSTANDING. I don’t say that often because there has to be something that distinguishes good from GREAT. This is one of those books. Jaime Jo Wright does something exceptional by writing a timeslip romantic suspense all in one. And she does it well.
I loved Ivy Thorpe, the strong-willed, big-hearted woman who sees the beauty in each person’s story. But her desire to honor those who’ve passed on is the one thing that places her in danger. Still, in righting another’s wrong, she finds the courage to live again outside of her own heartbreak.
Kaine Prescott has no trouble fighting for another but her own broken soul isn’t something she can fix alone. Her humor and drive make her such a wonderfully relatable character. And she’s a dog lover. That alone gave her favor with me. An example of her personality is found in this quote from The House on Foster Hill. “If I scream,” Kaine spoke aloud to only the mice, “it’s probably a gargantuan spider eating my finger, so go get help.”
The House on Foster Hill has everything, suspense, intrigue, mystery, romance, and history. A must read I highly recommend.
There were several elements of this novel that I appreciated. I appreciated the character development in both Ivy and Kaine; though I personally enjoyed Ivy more. I appreciated the premise of the novel being told from two similar characters separated by time centering around a "haunted" house. I also appreciated the pace at which Wright moved the novel.
The elements I struggled with the most were character voice and authenticity. I felt like the nuances in language, behavior, and customs that you would expect from the 1900s were underdeveloped in Ivy's character. She easily could have switched places with Kaine and would not have seemed out of place in the present. Those items are sorely missed when you are expecting a historical fiction piece, and the attention to details would have added an additional layer to the story. Likewise, the interjection of faith for both characters felt like an afterthought.
I would recommend this book to someone looking for an easy read with elements of mystery without being scary.
This story is a perfect blend of mystery and suspense! I liked how the two story lines were separated by time but connected in a very unique way and I did not find them to be confusing at all. This author may be fairly new, but her writing style, creative plot, and suspenseful story craft a novel that speaks of an experienced writer. I had a hard time putting the book down! I really enjoyed the tasteful romance and sprinkles of history as well. There is definitely enough spooky suspense enough to keep you up at night. I highly recommend this novel and look forward to more from this author!
First time author ? Get out !!!! Loved this book ! Just the right amount of creep and suspense. Characters to fall in love with ( for me, especially the dogs ) Took me a day to read this book. I can honestly say I did not know who the culprit was til the very end. I love when I can't figure it out and it is someone you would never suspect. Great book ! looking forward to reading more by this author !!!!
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC,
i really like the writing of this author. Its fluid and nicely written. I don't like scary, I'm a chicken. But i was hoping that this book would be a tad more spooky or mysterious. This story line was easy to follow and it was a slow burn book, but it was necessary i think (a lot of character development). I like Ivy more than Kaine but i did not dislike her.
This book is categorized as christian. I hoping it was not laced with religion and what not but it was present. It was more how the girls believed or did not believe in. I did not feel like certain religious beliefs were pushed onto me.
Overall i think it was a good first book and looking forward to reading more from this author.
This first time author has a true gift of writing. Love the parallel stories about the house. Since the two were set about a hundred years apart, this novel offers both historical and modern links to the house and characters. Anyone that is into genealogy will love the aspect of searching for clues to uncover a family history. Lots of twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing. Highly recommended!
This is the story of two different women, separated by over 100 years. In the early twentieth century, Ivy assists her father, the local doctor, in the autopsy of a young woman found murdered. It becomes obvious that the woman has recently given birth, and Ivy becomes obsessed with finding the infant. In modern times, Kaine believes she’s being stalked by a killer, the same person who caused her husband’s death. But the police don’t believe Kaine and deem the death an accident. Kaine decides to get a fresh start and buys a decrepit house in her ancestor’s home town. The house needs a lot of work and Kaine starts to think she’s bitten off more than she can chew. And is she really safe from the person she believes killed her husband. This was an atmospheric, spooky read. Wright creates her frights from atmosphere, not gore and builds a subtle, yet intense read