The Bookshop of 99 Doors by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

  

This dual-timeline novel tells the story of Ambrose Fields, a home built not long before the American Revolution, that survived the Civil War, and was now an historic site. Minnie Tipton moved to Ambrose Fields twenty-five years after the Battle of nearby Gettysburg. Minnie had lost her mother at seventeen, and could not understand why her father had uprooted them to move to this estate which was home to a gruesome past and the ghost stories that generated. Triss Billamy moved to Ambrose Fields in current times in an effort to flee her family and their joint livelihoods focused on the supernatural and paranormal. She was on a quest for truth and to know God. Her part in her family's profession had left her frightened and confused. At Ambrose Fields she would be among her favorite things, books, as the manager of the sites's bookshop and having been tasked with cataloging the library as well. When Triss' brother and his crew show up to investigate the paranormal sightings at the estate, Minnie's and Triss' worlds collide.

Jaime Jo Wright has once again successfully guided readers through a spine-tingling tale filled with things that go bump in the night and people who behave in unexpected ways. As things begin to fall in place, she reveals insights into God and how one may come to know Him. There is another prominent theme, but revealing that here would classify as a spoiler. So, I will leave that to my fellow readers to enjoy discovering that for themselves.

I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Bookshop of 99 Doors from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.  

The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

  

Eeriness to the max, Jaime Jo Wright's signature style, The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall is loaded with it. The mystery of Traeger Hall spans over one hundred years. The stories told here include the years leading up to its closing, and the years leading up to and just after its opening. The question is, will anyone ever know the true stories, stories that include ghosts, treasure, abuse, betrayal, secrets, and murder.

Once again Jaime Jo Wright thrills her readers, leaving them on edge, reading far too long into the night, and then wishing away that spooky feeling with the confidence that all will be made right in the end. She also leaves them longing for her next release. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Buried Wilderness Secrets by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

  

If you pick up this book because you are a fan of the books published by Love Inspired Suspense or the romantic suspense genre in general,you won't be disappointed. The story is well written. The author's protagonists are very well developed, and empathy is easily felt for each of them. The romance is sweet and believable. The suspense is good, but not too difficult to solve. Even though the book is short, the author does a wonderful job of avoiding an abrupt ending.

If you are picking this book up because Jaime Jo Wright is the author, please set that thought aside. Authors, I am sure, dread being pigeon-holed as much as actors do being type-cast. Both should feel free to spread their wings and try new things. If you join Jaime Jo Wright on this flight, you won't be sorry.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Buried Wilderness Secrets via Love Inspired Suspense via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

  

I have been a Jaime Jo Wright fan since The House on Foster Hill was released in 2017. I have read each of her books released since then, each eerie in its own way. Specters in the Glass House has a mood reminiscent of The House on Foster Hill and The Curse of Misty Wayfair, two of my favorites.

This latest book has dual-timelines. Marian Arnold came to live in the Müllerian Manor near Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1921 after her father's death and bankruptcy, the home in which her mother had died. Remy Crenshaw came to live in the manor in present time having taken a job as research assistant for a famous biographer who wants to write Marian's story. Specters and disembodied voices also populate the manor, a manor where long-ago murders are yet unsolved, and new murders seem likely to occur.

I don't want to spoil the story by revealing the deeper themes, but I assure you that this is no simple ghost story, but rather a tale with weighty matters to ponder. As with each of her books, the reader comes away with a fresh insight or an affirmation of a facet of God's character.

Specters in the Glass House will hold readers captive from the first page to the last. They will find themselves, as I did, repeatedly adjusting their predictions of who the culprit or culprits might be. I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this wonderful book from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

   

This is the eleventh Jaime Jo Wright book that I have read, and it is my very favorite! Both the 1901 tale and the present day tale get five stars for eeriness and suspense. They are filled with things that go bump in the night, dark secrets, unsolved murder, and fear. One would definitely have to think about the wisdom of reading this book late into the night. While Jaime Jo Wright always serves up a wonderfully spooky story, she also provides fodder for thought at a deeper level. In this novel it is on the theme of fear, not the type of fear her stories ignite, but the fear associated with death, and with living, fear that can cripple. I truly appreciate Wright's mastery of blending entertainment and life changing messages, but if you are in it just for the entertainment, don't worry, the message won't bog you down. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy and plan on purchasing a copy for my husband. Bethany House provided my complimentary copy via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

  

This was the perfect book to read over an overcast, chilly, fall weekend. This dual timeline story has plenty of not-easily-explained-away ghostly sightings and sounds, and tales of missing people, both in the past and present. Greta Mercy was a single woman of the working class doing her best to care for her orphaned brothers in 1915. Circumstance after circumstance seem to be stacking up against her, and most of them lead back to the owner of the Barlowe Theater, the hub of most of the unexplained apparitions. Kit Boyd struggled with having trust and faith in humans, an issue rooted in her feelings of abandonment by her birth parents. Now her best friend is missing, and even though Kit believes Madison to be innocent of any wrong doing, she struggles with wondering about the possibility that her best friend has also abandoned her. As Jaime Jo Wright leads readers along the path of solving these mysteries, she allows them to enjoy shivers running up their spines while readying them to accept the truths that are to be revealed.

As usual, Jaime Jo Wright has provided hours of reading pleasure with a very satisfying ending, and I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. I hope others will enjoy this spine tingling tale as much as I did. 

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

  

Women have been vanishing at Castle Moreau for over one hundred fifty years, never to be seen or heard from again. Obviously the same person could not be responsible for them all. Was it a generational curse that led to the Moreau-Tremblay family's involvement in these disappearances or was someone or something else lurking in the hidden passages of Castle Moreau?

As always Jaime Jo Wright takes us through a haunting tale, one that makes the hairs rise on the back of our necks, one that leads us near the supernatural, and ends at the foot of the throne of God. The Vanishing at Castle Moreau may not lead quite as far down that supernatural path as some of Wright's past books, but it does have its fair share of spookiness, and it does leave us with a significant message of God's strength to conquer fear and evil, and His desire to use us to care for one another.

I highly recommend this book as well as any among Wrights' oeuvre. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

 

The Premonition at Withers Farm by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

  

A few chapters into The Premonition at Withers Farm, I told my husband that if I didn't trust Jaime Jo Wright so much I would have put this book down due to concern as to whether it was appropriate Christian reading. Having just finished the book, I am so happy that my trust was well-placed. Jaime Jo Wright writes the creepiest of tales,but in the end the message at the root of the story is true to the Word.

The Premonition at Withers Farm is a perfect chilly fall evening read, although you will want to be prepared for it to keep you awake well into the night. The dual timeline ties together the Withers and Wasziak families in both the current times and the early 1900s. Both stories involve apparitions and murder, chills and thrills!

While I give this book five stars, I must state one caveat. If you have dealt with miscarriages, be aware of your tolerance for books that make this experience part of the storyline. While Jaime Jo Wright handles this with tact and sensitivity as one character deals with intense grief, readers must decide if this is the best read for them at the time.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Premonition at Withers Farm from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own 

The Souls of Lost Lake by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

   

Fans of Jaime Jo Wright know to expect a certain eerie, haunting quality in her tales. The Souls of Lost Lake is beyond even what we would normally expect from Wright. She is the only author I know who can include ax murders and still maintain the integrity of the Christian fiction genre. I must say here that even those who enjoy an incredibly spooky campfire tale who don't identify as Christina will love this story.

This split time story tells us of Ava Coons, accused of being a type of Lizzie Borden, and Arwen Blythe, a twenty-six year old secretary at a large Christian camp who has felt lost most of her life. Discovering how their stories intertwine will keep readers up late into the night. Maybe, just maybe, readers will be inspired to reach out to those they encounter who feel lost, for whatever reason.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Souls of Lost Lake from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.  

 

On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

   


Jaime Jo Wright's books are always worth the wait, and the desire for the next one always comes as soon as one finishes the last page of her latest release. On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor, like Wright's other books thus far, has a dark side, but would the light shine as bright without the contrast? This time slip story is set on an old, isolated estate in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on the shore of Lake Superior, both in current times and in the years just following the Civil War. Both protagonists, Adria and Kailey, get caught up in the hunt for pirated Confederate gold, legended to be hidden somewhere on the estate. Gold that others are also searching for, others who are not beyond killing for what they want. Wright develops this story with an unpredictable plot, one of my favorite characteristics of her writing. It is a tale that grabs hold and won't let go.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Haunting At Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

   

I am giving The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus five stars, but I will say that if I had not been familiar with Jaime Jo Wright's books, and had not trusted that she would be true to Christian values, there were places I would have closed the book and moved on. My trust was not misplaced, and I am very glad that I read on. The book takes place in Bluff River, Wisconsin, home of the Bonaventure Circus and the Watchman. Pippa Ripley is the protagonist in 1928, as Chandler Faulk is in the present day. In 1928 the circus was still in its hey day, but animal rights activists were already bringing attention to the circus. The Bonaventure Circus and the Ripley family were being plagued with unsettling events and circumstances. In present day, Chandler Faulk, as a representative of her uncle's company, is stirring up the past as she seeks to renovate and repurpose Bluff River's old train depot, one that was home to the circus train, and the circus owner's office. Her attention is divided between her career and parenting her son, Peter, while trying her best to reflect confidence and bravery.

Jaime Jo Wright is a wonderful author. Her plots are unique and edgy. I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Echoes Among the Stones by Jamie Jo Wright - A Book Review

    

I am a couple of days past this book's release date with my review, but this book just could not be rushed. Jaime Jo Wright is definitely one of my most favorite authors. This book, like her others, has a haunting quality to it that is difficult to describe. Her writing has a way of wrapping itself around your soul allowing you to live within its borders. Deep themes, this time pertaining to grief, are essential elements to Wright's works. No lighthearted beach reads here. These books are best read curled up in your cozy spot with a warm drink nearby and time to immerse yourself in reading and pondering undisturbed.

Echoes Among the Stones tells the tale of Imogene Grayson's efforts to solve the mystery of her sister's violent murder in 1946. It also tells the tale of Aggie Dunkirk's efforts to solve the cold case of that same murder in the present day. Someone is manipulating Aggie to pick up the case while at the same time thwarting her efforts. With the help of of archaeologist Collin O'Shaughnessy, Aggie perseveres as she feels that solving this case will also help explain things she has never understood about her persnickety grandmother. Serendipitously, it may also help her to come to grips with consuming life circumstances that would seem totally unrelated.

I am very grateful to have received this book from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

 

This is the story of two women's journey to discover their identity, their family connections as well as what defined them. The story's theme of finding one's self through discovering one's Creator is logically and artistically developed in the dramatic and intricately intertwined stories of Thea Reed in 1908 and Heidi Lane in present times. The Curse of Misty Wayfair is the stuff of legends and ghost stories,but something or someone very real is behind the threatening events of Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin.

If you have never read any of Jaime Jo Wright's work, reading this book will have you immediately looking for her previous releases. Each is haunting in its own way, and each reveals well-thought-out and important themes. If you are already familiar with her writing, the latest release will not disappoint. I am grateful for having received this book from Bethany House through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

The Reckoning of Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

 

     The Reckoning of Gossamer Pond is a story of grace. Both Libby Sheffield's journey to grace in the early 1900's and Annalise Forsythe's in current times were painful but necessary. They had to learn to forgive themselves for their past mistakes, but first they had to bring them into the light and face them. This was made much more difficult by living in a town which was keeping more than its own share of secrets.

     Jaime Jo Wright has once again demonstrated her prowess in writing time split novels. The smooth flow with which she transitions between time periods, and the intricacies with which she ties them together make her a standout author in this genre. Wright has given her readers historical romance, contemporary romance and suspense all together in one delightful package. She has created characters that are intriguing and that have depth. The reader can easily identify with the circumstances of their lives and the difficult choices set before them. Wright puts forth an honest picture of the church with its beauty that God intended as well as its ugliness caused by our fallen natures. As was previously stated, this novel is a story of grace. Who among us doesn't need that?

     I thank NetGalley and Bethany House for providing me with a copy of The Reckoning of Gossamer Pond in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

    

     The theme of this book is hope, hope in knowing God’s promises are fulfilled in spite of our circumstances, not instead of them. An unidentified murder victim, who becomes known as Gabriella, leaves behind a diary of sorts that encourages that type of hope in Kaine, a victim of emotional abuse, many years later.  

     The House on Foster Hill is Jaime Jo Wright’s debut novel (She has had work printed in collections of stories.), but it reads like the work of a seasoned author. Fans of Christian mysteries will be interested to know that she was encouraged to write this story by well-known author Colleen Coble. Wright tackled the challenge of a time-split novel, and did so with great success. The connection among character and the smooth transition between the two time frames was well done. The mystery of Gabriella’s murder set in the early 1900s and the mystery of Kaine’s stalker and her husband’s murder set in present day are both intriguing, well-paced, and suspenseful. I will be on the look-out for Wright’s next novel scheduled to be released in July of 2018.

     I recommend this book to mystery fans, especially to those who like a little romance intertwined with the mystery. I thank NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a copy of The House on Foster Hill in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation.