Outstanding Debut Novel from an Author to WatchKaine Prescott is no stranger to death. When her husband died two years ago, her pleas for further investigation into his suspicious death 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 … 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 and, even as she works together with a man from her past, can she unravel the mystery before any other lives–including her own–are lost?
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This was a dual timeline mystery that kept me guessing, and the writing was very good.
LOVED this book 🙂
This book kept me turning the pages. Can’t wait to get the next one.
5 Reasons to Read the House on Foster Hill
1. As a reader, I’ve experienced the whole range of emotions, but never have I had an author give me goosebumps. I was driving and listening to a scene midway through the book where Kaine is sitting in her car outside of the Foster Hill house. While imagining myself in the car with her, a full body, head-to-toe chill came over me.
2. In a recent Facebook chat, another reader described this book as haunting. I had to ask for clarification because I am not a fan of paranormal or horror stories. She assured me it was not horror and after reading the book I agree with her assessment–this story is haunting: remaining in the consciousness; not quickly forgotten.
3. Often in a time-slip novel, one period will outshine the other. This is not the case with Ivy (early 1900’s) and Kaine’s (present day) storyline. In the beginning, you may gravitate towards one or the other, but as Wright unpacks their backstories and fleshes out what drives them I found their lives so intertwined that it was difficult impossible to choose a favorite.
4. For this to be Wright’s debut full-length novel I am astounded by the intricacy of her writing. Her characters are deep, the dialogue is rich, and her writing style engages all of your senses.
5. When you click on my about page (https://christianshelfesteem.wordpress.com/about) you will find a list of the types of Christian books I enjoy the most. #1 is Books with strong Christian themes. Although neither protagonist ever spoke with Gabriella, the testimony of her hope in Christ played out in her actions before death and the words she scrawled in the margins of a novel. Jaime Jo Wright handles, what is to me, the most essential element of her story with subtle boldness. This is to say that unbelievers who read this book are not going to feel like they’ve been taken to church, but the hope believers cling to for this life and the life after is boldly presented.
I really liked this book. Lots of suspense and thrilling moments. I really liked the mystery…both present day and in the past and how the two are linked together.
I didn’t mind the back-and-forth chapters between the present and the past. There were times, however, when I had to stop and think about which time period I was reading. But other than that, it flowed really well.
I have to say that the pieces of the puzzle slowly came together. While you might suspect who was doing what, you’re not certain until the very end. And the mystery from both time periods is revealed at the end. So you’re left wondering through the whole book. That’s something I really like in a mystery!
I will definitely be reading more of this author’s books.
This was a good story. It was full of intrigue about a house shrouded in mystery. The author used dual timelines to show a generational story.
I noticed a couple of minor inconsistencies like Ivy’s hands being tied behind her back and then in front of her without the abductor stopping to change it, but nothing too distracting.
The romances were sweet and clean and there was the faith element showed character growth as the main characters learned to better understand biblical promises in a fallen world and what they would mean in eternity.
The cover perfectly embodies the look and feel of the house that the story unfolds in. Set during two time-lines in Wisconsin, the story twists and turns through the generational lives of two women, Ivy and Kaine. Each woman has her own sets of trials they must endure that sets their emotional, mental, and physical limits to their reaches.
Murder and death lead to mayhem and the feel of fear, sadness, and joy that were some of the emotions that ran through me as I read and felt how each woman lived through everything they did and must do to retain their sanity and justice for others. I noted that the writing was geared towards Christian beliefs and ensured each character lived and embodied their faith. I liked how the book was written with women heavily being the heroes, protagonists, and as a multitude of characters throughout.
I found it easy to follow along on each woman’s time-line; written in such a way that nothing was missed and everything that occurred was linked to each woman. It was a fast-paced, yet a quick read for me, watching everything intertwine and, finally, unraveling the dark, mysterious histories.
I do wish a bit more was written of each woman’s endings and how lives were lived after. It was, all-in-all, an amazing debut novel and I truly am looking forward to more works from her. I received an autographed copy of The House on Foster Hill from Bethany House and chose to write the review on my own accord.
Jaime Jo Wright is a refreshing voice in the world of Christian fiction. “The House on Foster Hill” hooked my attention from chapter one and maintained it until the end. I could not put this page-turner down! The story is rich, deep, and intriguing, and the characters are worthy of a reader’s affection. Highly recommend!
This time-slip novel (a story with parallel contemporary and historical plot lines) blends beautifully romance, suspense, historical, and contemporary into a gripping story with complex characters and an intricate plot line that will keep you reading long into the night. And though it deals with several touch topics, it handles each one with sensitivity and realism, as it shows us that there is hope, even in the midst of the most difficult situations.
This is such a great book! I love how the author, Jaime Jo Wright, weaves story lines of past and present in her intriguing gothic fiction novels. This one kept me reading late into the night and I cannot wait for her next novel, as Wright is now one of my go-to authors!
The House of Foster Hill is one that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The past and the present clash when Kate decides to buy an abandoned house sight unseen. The only thing she knows about the house is that it is in the town where her grandfather once lived. She soon finds out that she has a much deeper connection to the house.
The connection comes through Ivy Thorpe who, a century earlier, kept a death book. It’s not as bad as it sounds! Her father did post mortems on the deceased and Ivy felt that it was her calling to write about those who had passed. She didn’t want them to be forgotten. This gave her quite the reputation in town, but Ivy didn’t care what people thought of her.
Kate and Ivy are alike in that they are tied to the house on Foster Hill, and they are both curious about the goings-on there. Ivy is trying to find out what happened to the dead girl found in the tree on the property, and Kate is trying to find out why someone seems to have followed her there….someone who she believes killed her husband.
The House on Foster Hill is definitely a book Christian suspense lovers are going to want to read. It is filled with great characters, mystery and some romance.
Liked the characters. Liked the who done it. Liked the two eras in time. Very surprised at the ending.
I’ll admit I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this novel. I thought it’d be easy to get confused with the different storylines, and maybe that’s a concern for other authors, but Jaime Jo Wright wove the storylines together seamlessly. I mean, it’s amazing.
One of the things I loved, but also hated, was how Wright drops a bombshell in Ivy’s storyline and then switches over to Kaine, making you wait to find out what’s going on. But what I thought was truly masterful was how Kaine will then discover something that somehow fits in the puzzle that Ivy is trying to put together. Wright drops a little clue in Ivy’s storyline then one in Kaine’s and then another in Ivy’s that answers a question Kaine’s asking that left me so excited I wished I could yell into the book and tell Kaine what I’d discovered.
Truly masterful. Best mystery I ever read. Although, if you’re fond of sleep, you may not like it because it will keep you awake. I was up until about 2 am.
For my full review, check out my blog at https://justjenniferpurcell.com/2019/03/29/just-read-the-house-on-foster-hill-by-jaime-jo-wright/.
Wow, talk about one intense ride! I’ve read Jaime Jo Wright’s other novels and LOVED them so I was happy to finally get my hands on her award-winning debut. I’m pleased to share that her writing has been masterful right from the beginning!
I was really impressed with the narrator. Her voice matched the energy and intensity of the story and really made it come to life. This was a very entertaining book to listen to. Although I was able to listen to it over two nights at work, even at home this wouldn’t be an easy one to press the pause button.
I love that Jaime Jo’s books are incredibly unpredictable. When you open the book you can expect to go on a wild (and often scary) ride of mystery and suspense from two timelines that weave together into the perfect masterpiece by the time you reach the conclusion. I really appreciate that she is able to share suspenseful stories that have conclusions that don’t compromise on Christian values. Each book has a part where the characters talk about a heart change and/or message the Lord has taught them through their ordeal. her books aren’t overly “preachy” but the moments where she shares Christ are perfectly written to get people thinking.
This story really got my heart pumping. It was realistic and suspenseful. The characters and setting were well developed. I was quickly sucked into the world of Foster Hill and held captive to the very end. I felt like I was on the same journey right alongside Ivy and Kaine. This is a story that’s sure to stay with me for a very long time.
*Just a big of a content warning, but I think this book has some elements that may be triggers for PTSD and sexual assault. Part of this story talks about human trafficking and there is some stalking and domestic abuse that can be difficult for some readers.
A must read!
Remember to breathe and be prepared for goosebumps!
I absolutely loved this story! It has everything a person could want: history, romance, suspense, drama, faith, and it’s extremely well written! Jaime Jo Wright weaves a tale in this slip time novel that is difficult to put down, whether it be because you can’t wait to find out what happens or because you are so drawn into the story you lose track of time…and maybe a little sleep. This is definitely a book I’ll be reading again and I look forward to seeing what’s next from this “to-be-watched” debut author!
I received a complementary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
I enjoy a good mystery. Especially a story that takes me for a ride with a number of twists and turn, throwing me for a loop around every corner. With The House on Foster Hill by author Jaime Jo Wright, I definitely received that. Her story kept me on my toes, which is what I like.
The story is a time-slip novel, which means the novel has a story set in the past and a story set in the present that are connected by something. In this instance, it is the house on Foster Hill. The writing is very descriptive. I had no problem picturing the house with its aging appearance and the abandoned eerie feeling. Wright draws me into the mystery surrounding the dead girl in the tree right away and leaves me mystified alongside Ivy.
The plot is definitely unique. I really enjoyed how Wright uses the house as another character in the story. Because of all the horror that happens in the house, Wright uses the outside appearance to capitalize on the turmoil raging through the characters. While the past story focuses in 1906, the present story takes place today. To be honest, when the story started, the plot moved really slow, and I had a hard time getting into the plot. There many internal dialogues and regrets from the past, but Wright wasn’t really showing us any action to move the story along. About fifty-two percent into the story, it became really interesting, and the plot started to move a lot faster and more to my taste. I didn’t put the book down and finished it in two hours. I enjoyed the last half of the book better than the first.
The characters were different. Kaine, a broken woman from San Diego, who is trying to move away from her past, but learns to find God in the process wasn’t my favorite character of the two. I preferred Ivy, the protective and brave woman from 1906. She didn’t take the murder of the woman in the tree sitting down. She was determined to find and uncover the secret of what happened to her. I really liked her.
The House on Foster Hill is an original story with an unpredictable ending. I didn’t see the bad guy coming. I was glad. I liked to be surprised sometimes too. Since I didn’t catch it, it makes me want to re-read the story and see if I could find the clues that somehow I missed.
Overall, The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright is a unique time slip novel that centers around a timely issue that I didn’t know occurred about in the early twentieth century. Wright delivers a fascinating cast of characters and a second half to the book that had me flying through the pages. I think fans of Rachel Hauck’s time slip novels might enjoy this book, but if the suspense novel is more your taste, than fans of Lynette Eason and Carrie Stuart Parks might enjoy this novel too.
I received a complimentary copy of The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.
There’s just something about that chill a gothic novel can give you. About their somewhat poetic writing appealing to our senses and keeping us on the edge of our seats…
Yep, I do enjoy these novels mostly because as creepy as they can seem, there’s usually nothing otherworldly about them, there’s always an explanation, the unveiling of secrets and hidden treasures. And it’s in these moments that, in my opinion, the craftsmanship of an author is highlighted.
From the cover, I was expected all of this to be found in this novel. Even though I picked up a book from a Christian editor, the faith aspect completely blew me away. It was very much appreciated and somewhat unexpected!
Jaime Jo Wright has just found herself a new fan. I was completely captured by her voice and by the characters. From the achingly sweet romance to two heroines fighting to find the stories hidden within an old abandoned house, believing against all odds what only their intuition whispers to be true.
I didn’t even try to guess what was going on since I had the carpet pulled from under me many times when twist and turns made the story take an unexpected detour. This is a very relevant and challenging book that looks into the depths of grief and faith, urging us to look to truth, which goes far beyond our vision. Yep, I’m so looking forward to Wright’s next book.
Wow, what an incredible debut novel by Jaime Jo Wright! This romantic suspense novel tells the story of the house on Foster Hill in a wonderfully written dual timeline/ time-slip format. Wright tells the present day story of Kaine Prescott who moves to her grandfather’s hometown in search of a new start after her husband died under suspicious circumstances. Kaine’s purchase of an old abandoned house brings up mysteries and secrets from the past. As Kaine searches for answers in present day, the readers find out clues along the way as the other part of the storyline takes place in 1906 and follows the mysteries and horrors that happened back then as they were unfolding. This is such a wonderfully well-written story. This story is not for everyone and has some dark aspects to it, but fans of Christian suspense will thoroughly love it! It is definitely a page turner and kept me guessing until the end! I also loved the bit of romance included in both storylines and the fact that the characters had faith in God and hope for the future despite the tragedies they experienced. I can’t wait to read more books by Jaime Jo Wright! I definitely recommend this book!
Loved this story. It’s easy to see why she won an award for this!