Two women from different centuries searching for answers about their families intersect in this story. I found the story hard to follow at times. The apparitions of ghosts and hidden asylum were disturbing. I felt sorry for Heidi who had felt unwanted for so many years. I couldn't understand Vicki's reasoning and she was my least favorite character. In all, this novel was too dark for me.

I first discovered Jaime Jo Wright with her debut, The House on Foster Hill and absolutely loved it. So I wait in eager anticipation for her new releases. The Curse of Misty Wayfair is her 3rd book and releases in a couple weeks.

Thea and Heidi are 2 completely different characters and yet so similar, over a hundred years separate them but they are both searching for purpose, who they are and boy do they get more than they bargained for.

I LOVED this book! It was mysterious, suspenseful and kept me on my toes. It was beautifully written with authentic characters that battled issues relevant in both time periods but where society's views differed drastically. I loved that I didn't read the blurb and dove in blind, it added to the creepiness.

Dual time periods, yea my favorite, where it's the past storyline I usually love more, the historical part where I can learn more of the past. And I loved that here, the stigma of mental illness and the treatment along with covering up scandal. Throw in a ghost or two, some weird characters and it's great. But it was the current day plot I really enjoyed. The author created some interesting characters, they were authentic, those who suffered from real human issues - whether it was the dysfunctional family dynamics, again mental illness, loneliness, trust issues and more. It was the searching with no idea what to look for... now I should stop before I start giving away too much of the story.

The ended was perfect and really that's about all I will say about it. This is one of those books I want someone else to read so we can talk about it.

Suffice to say that my first read of 2019 was awesome! The Curse of Misty Wayfair is Christian fiction at its finest. This is definitely a book I highly recommend.

My thanks to Bethany House for an ARC (via Netgalley).

“Every creation was intended for a purpose. In broken places, beauty could be found.”

I’m going to be coming back to this quote and its purpose in the book, but first I want to tell you about this story. Jamie Jo Wright has written an incredible book. The storyline is seamless as it flows back and forth between Thea and Heidi, who live a century apart. Every detail is important and finds its place perfectly in both their stories. This book is riveting, and by turns it’s heart-rending, compassionate, and hopeful. It’s also spooky. The story involves a ghost, and the author keeps us guessing as to whether it’s real or imaginary. Much of this book is devoted to both Thea and Heidi finding out about their true family, and even though they live in different time periods, the legend of this ghost has an impact on their search for the truth. This book is certainly a page-turner. Several of the characters can only be described as “creepy” and that only adds to the overall mood as you read.

Now, back to the quote. There are several characters in the book that society would consider “broken”. Jamie Jo Wright has done some good research on mental illness and the horrific ways that people who suffered from this were treated in the past. One of the characters is autistic and another has panic attacks. All are treated with great compassion by the author. The spiritual /inspirational theme of this book is that God has a purpose for each one of us. Even if our lives are beautiful, God shows us the beauty in our brokenness.

Although this book does has its scary factor, I came away from reading it with a sense of compassion and purpose. This one well deserves a five star rating.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Curse of Misty Wayfair
By Jaime Jo Wright
5 Stars

In this gripping mystery split time line novel we focus on two characters; Thea in the early 20th century and Heidi in current time. Two women connected to a small town in Wisconsin where there are shadows, secrets, and ghosts. Both are running from and towards the cries of an asylum that should have never been there.
Though this novel is "spooky" the author shines a light into the darkness about finding identity in our Creator and running towards Him when we question who we are.
Brilliant writing!

"Why do people dismiss the dead so easily? Once you're passed, you're no longer important?'

Jaime Jo Wright has brought us another extremely intriguing novel, this one a bit creepy, too. Written in her signature dual time line, it held me completely enthralled. Here's why:

Thea Reed----photographer of the dead, orphan, searching for her story
Simeon Coyle---groundskeeper of a mental asylum, photographs the patients for the records
Heidi Lane---unwanted, anxious, always looking for somewhere to belong
Rhett Crawford---rescuer of those who don't realize they need rescuing.
Misty Wayfair---wrongly murdered, still trying to punish those responsible?

With a character cast like this, how can the reader not be captivated with what lies within the pages of the book? Thea Reed was left on the steps of an orphanage as a small child and has come to Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin in 1908 desperate to find her mother. Everything she hears leads her to a mental asylum, where, if truth be told, all is definitely not well. She agrees to help Simeon Coyle, groundskeeper, photograph the patients for record keeping purposes. It doesn't bother her because her job is to photograph the dead.

The legend of Misty Wayfair has been brought to life again in both timelines. Misty, who was murdered and now haunts the area and death follows in her wake.

Present day: Heidi Lane gets a cryptic letter from her mother, a victim of dementia, that begs her to return home to Pleasant Valley at once. A letter that speaks of voices, ghosts and things that need to be fixed. Heidi sees a ghostly woman at her window shortly after settling in at her sister's lodge, and finds a hundred year old photograph album with a dead woman's photo who looks exactly like her. The woman at the window haunts the grounds of the now abandoned asylum. And the legend of Misty Wayfair is once again resurrected as Heidi now has reason to fear for her life.

Can these two women, over 100 years apart, find the answe3rs they seek and disprove the original curse that link them?

Jaimi Jo Wright brought us her debut novel two years ago and it was amazing. Now she is proving that she is only getting better! This book completely captivated me! Completely intriguing, it was, and all through it, my mind kept casting about trying to figure out what was going on. Never once did I guess, either. Wonderful writing, engaging characters and a plot that just grabs the mind, this one is one for the keeper shelf. Highly recommended.

*My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Another thriller by Jaime Jo Wright! She tackled the tough issue of mental health weaving it into an edge of your seat suspense thriller. From postmortem photography to asylums deep in the woods to ghostly appearances, you are caught up in the story as it takes you from Thea’s life in the 1900’s to present day Heidi’s life with heart pounding action.

Both Thea and Heidi are diverse, unique characters in their own right that you are quickly endured too. While each travel a different journey with its own challenges, their lives are effected by the same past. I felt the way the stigma of mental health issues including anxiety and depression were exposed in a beautiful way. It is a tough issue to tackle but if we are honest, touching all of us in one form or another.

My favorite quote from the book is “This place-this life-will break us. But from above, our Creator reaches into the depths, and He will carve us into something new.” Throughout the stories of both Thea and Heidi, each grapple with their faith, past, and present. We are able to walk with them as they struggle and find where our true hope lies in the Creator.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and the author, Jaime Jo Wright, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I’m a fan of Jaime Jo Wright and not every author can write a story in two time periods and pull it off flawlessly. The Curse of Misty Wayfair follows the intertwined stories of Thea Reed and Heidi Lane. Thea is a photographer from the turn of the century who is searching for the truth about why her mother abandoned her. Heidi experiences a similar quest in present time as she tries to find her identity through her roots in Pleasant Valley. Both take the reader on a journey of self-discovery while revealing dark secrets from the past.

The author writes characters you’ll fall in love with. Heidi’s quest to find her true identity resonated with me. I love stories that aren’t superficial and have a deeper, spiritual point. The author weaves a deep and beautiful message through both characters’ struggles. The only reason I gave this four stars instead of five is because it took me a while to get into the story. Once I did, I was hooked. The suspense and creepy mystery of the secrets of Pleasant Valley kept me reading to the end, but it’s the characters that eventually drew me in to this intriguing story line.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A legendary curse is the key to the secrets that haunt two women in this eerie timeslip tale. A mysterious photo, cryptic messages, an abandoned insane asylum and a legendary ghost play a role in just a few of the many delicious spine-tingling moments as Heidi's search for answers parallels Thea's quest a century before. Each individual story's threads are masterfully woven together to create a hauntingly beautiful tapestry. Ms. Wright's ability to build the suspense equally between both stories keeps her readers invested in both story-lines. While the ghost of Misty Wayfair held me spellbound, it was the story of brokenness, the story of healing and finding purpose from our Creator that spoke to this reader's heart.

Since her debut novel, Jaime Jo Wright will remain one of the authors whose books will always be on top of my TBR.

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

This book was creepy and suspenseful. I enjoyed the split time format and was familiar with Jaime Jo Wright as she hooked me when I read The House on Foster Hill. This is not my usual reading genre as I am generally an uptight person but her writing style and ability to tell an interesting story keep me coming back.

Ever wonder what goes on in an author's mind that enables them to create such intricate webs of suspense? Once again Jaime Jo has knocked it out of the park! Her stories are so well developed and the suspense is woven so deeply that you're both afraid to continue and you need to continue. Whew, now I can go back to sleeping at night!

Mental illness is a sensitive and difficult topic to approach. It's haunting how horribly it's been handled historically. Some of the "tests" and "experiments" patients experienced are nothing short of torture. Not wanting to be labeled as "crazy," many suffer in silence. This story is split in two timelines--Thea in 1908 and Heidi in modern time. Heidi suffers from crippling panic attacks. Her sister often calls her "crazy" and you can see what it does inside to Heidi. What's noteworthy is that often what is described during an attack is the physical side-effects.  When someone says "it's just in your head" it's clearly coming from someone in ignorance. Heidi experiences dizziness and changes in vision before her mind even has the chance to slow her racing heart. Sometimes she has warning when one is coming on, and others appear to hit her out of nowhere. In my opinion Jaime handled this topic realistically with both honesty and sensitivity.

As with many suspense stories, this story had a whole slew if tiny little pieces that needed to be put together by the end. How she was able to weave it all together is nothing short of masterful. I won't share too much about this because I obviously don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that as someone who is averse to paranormal activity in stories I was satisfied with how it all concluded.

Another piece I love about Jaime's books is how she is able to weave the hope of Christianity in the midst of the chaos characters are walking through. Her books are a perfect option to share with unsaved friends because they approach the need for Christ in a way that is real without being overly cheesy. Words of hope and encouragement are shared in tangible, heartfelt ways instead of impersonal Sunday school answers.

If you haven't gotten your hands on one of Jamie Jo's books yet you should go remedy this immediately. They are so incredibly written and are sure to grip you from start to finish. If you're looking for a book you can't put down--go ahead and pick this one up!

*I received a copy of this book from the author through NetGalley. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

There is nothing better than discovering new authors, especially ones that can amaze you with both excellent writing and an outstanding story to tell. I am happy to say that Jaime Jo Wright is author to add to your "To Read" list right away and "The Curse Of Misty Wayfair" needs to be read right away! Jaime Jo Wright seamlessly weaves together two tales (one from 1908 and one from present day) and it was a pleasure to watch these stories unfold and collide into a mind-blowing ending that is sure to stick with you long after the last page has been read. I spent most of the book with no clue on how this book would end. And even at the one point where I thought I had an inkling what would happen (I was close on figuring out one thing!), I was surprised by how there are multiple things concluded that I didn't see coming, which is the ultimate compliment for an author.

The story is so many things all at once: part ghost legend, part period piece, and part thriller. All the while, the story slowly builds and builds while you are on the edge of the seat longing to know how the story will end. I appreciated the Christianity experts throughout the book as well as the depth of many thought provoking elements Jamie Jo Wright delivers. This was unlike most Christian books I have read and it also features many of the marginalized that both Christian and secular authors choose not to tackle. Jaime Jo Wright does a great and respectful job talking about asylums, depression, melancholy, and mental health in general.

As I said before, this is my first book I have read by Jaime Jo Wright. But it will most certainly not be the last.

I received this book free from Netgalley and publisher Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.

I consider this to be the best book I've read all year! This book is a creepy and intriguing ghost story with a Gothic feel. Author, Jaime Jo Wright, fabulously twines together a mystery of the past with a story of the present. There is a touch of romance and memorable characters. A message of hope and faith clearly shines through. I found this book to be refreshing in that it is scary without being full of blood and gore. Readers are in for a treat!

“The Curse of Misty Wayfair” by Jaime Jo Wright is a time-travel novel. This book jumps back and forth between something that happened back in 1908 to modern day. Thea Reed is the character from long ago. She is a photographer who is trying to find her mother. Heidi Lane is the modern day character. Heidi comes back because her mother, who has dementia, sends her a letter to come back to town. Heidi finds some interesting connections with her and Thea.

Truthfully, I had a hard time getting into this book. I have read Jaime Jo Wright’s other books and loved them. But for some reason, this one was a little harder to get into.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Every time I start a new Jaime Jo Wright novel, I always think it can't possibly be as good as the last one was, and yet she always proves me wrong. In her most powerful story yet, the reader is treated to a spine chillingly scary timeslip novel that focuses around a mental asylum with plenty of unsolved mysteries and legends surrounding it.

In 1908, we follow the story of Thea, a photographer who's grown up traveling to take photos of the recently deceased with the people who took her in after her mother abandoned her. A rumor that her mother resided in Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin has caused her to travel to this small town, and she's soon drawn into scary stories surrounding the town mental asylum, and the legendary spirit who's said to haunt both it and the town. In the present day, we follow Heidi, a young woman who's been estranged from her family for many years after their failed acceptance of her for who she is. Strange circumstances have caused her to finally visit Pleasant Valley, the town where the rest of her family came to settle. Soon the rumors, superstitions, and mysteries surrounding the long abandoned mental asylum have Heidi questioning everything she thought she knew about herself, and like Thea before her, she's determined to get to the bottom of whatever is going on.

Like Jaime Jo Wright's previous two novels, The Curse of Misty Wayfair is a deliciously thrilling novel with a mystery unfolding in two separate time periods that's all tied in together. However, this novel goes even a step further than her previous releases in the way it tackles the complicated history of mental asylums, and the stigma and stereotypes that continue to to be attached to mental illness. While it's always assumed that we've made such strides towards truly understanding mental illness, Jaime Jo Wright perfectly showcases the struggles that those who are suffering face even to this day with the negative stereotypes and circumstances surrounding such diagnosis.

Right from the first page this hauntingly beautiful novel had me pulled into its pages and the spooky story unfolding within them. It's without a doubt Jaime Jo Wright's best work yet, and the reader will feel like they're experiencing everything right along with Thea and Heidi. I've always appreciated when an author can make the romance in a novel a secondary element to everything else unfolding, and yet still have the story remain interesting to the reader, and that's the case with this one. While Thea and Heidi both have a love interest, it's kept secondary to the mystery, the familial drama and secrets, and the rediscovery of God's never ending love for His children.

This novel is honestly unlike any Christian fiction work I've ever picked up before, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a Christian recommendation that dives way further below the surface than is usual. I can't recommend this one enough, and as always, I will be anxiously awaiting Jaime's next book.

Thanks so much to Bethany House and NetGalley for the chance to advance read this!


I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher (Bethany House) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was extremely intriguing. I have come to thoroughly enjoy Jamie Jo's dual time mysteries. They are original and fresh and unlike any other books I read which makes them so much fun. Her latest "The Curse Of Misty Wayfair" kept me guessing at the threads of the mystery during the entire book and even though I had my suspicions of how it would end, it kept me guessing till the end. I adored the character of Emma and I am mighty fond of Rhett(swooning shall commence here!) The story had several surprises and a few really creepy moments(reading at home while my kids slept and my hubby was at work really added to the dramatic effect!!) had me devouring this book. One for my keeper shelf!

I was provided this book by the author through NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

I had a hard time getting into this story to begin with, but that got better as the story unfolded. I enjoy timeslip novels, but this one wasn't quite up to par with some of the others I've read in the past. It was interesting to learn the story of Misty Wayfair, however. I liked the diversity of the characters (including some with autism, anxiety, and other mental illnesses). There is just a touch of romance., as the mystery is certainly the key focus.

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

Like all Jaime Jo Wright previous two novels this one involves a dual timeline also. You have Thea Reed in the past in the early 1900s and the present is Heidi Lane. The story starts out a little creepy as Thea Reed goes to the home of the recently deceased and takes photos of the dead woman. This may seems ghoulish for people today but it was a common practice then for people to take memory photographs of the dead.

Misty Wayfair plays a part in both stories. In the first story the death of Misty Wayfair happened quite a few years previously. The legend of Misty Wayfair continues even to the modern story. Who was Misty Wayfair and how was she connected to both women? I had to keep reading to find out the mystery of who Misty Wayfair was and her influence on the people of the town.

This story deals with mental illness in both stories, mental illness and the institutions that are supposed to help heal these people.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The Curse of Misty Wayfair is due to be released on January 22, 2019.

As with other Wright books, this one takes place in the past and present as two women return to Pleasant Valley because of a letter each received. They have similar struggles of identity and finding their place in the world.
Thea is a postmortem photographer in 1908. I didn’t know such a thing existed. It was a fascinating look at this unusual profession. This book also highlights some of the sad realities of care in early asylums. It was sobering to read about.
The thing I appreciated most about Heidi from the present is her relationship with Emma, an autistic woman. Heidi treats Emma as an equal, learns from her, and envies her. The whole Crawford family was pretty amazing although I would have liked Rhett’s character to be a little more filled out.
There are several key families between the two generations. It was sometimes hard to keep straight how they were connected and who belonged with each family. I thought about writing out a family tree as things were revealed. It would have been helpful.
Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a complimentary e-copy of this book. I enjoyed it. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

~~Jaime Jo Wright's most powerful work yet~~

The Curse of Misty Wayfair is another incredible timeslip novel jumping between the stories of Thea, a postmortem photographer in 1908, and Heidi, the family black sheep coming to visit her mother who's in the last stages of dementia. As the two attempt to settle in to life in Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, they both begin seeing the specter of a woman who haunts the asylum at the edge of the woods, and learn the story of Misty Wayfair.

In with the thrilling ghost story and the rest of the plot, Jaime Jo Wright takes on the massive enigma of the history behind asylums, mental health and insanity, tackling superstitions and stigmas. Characters with autism, anxiety, and other mental illnesses play key roles in the story in an empowering and respectful manner.

Highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery/thriller, but also to readers looking for a little more depth than your typical Christian fiction read. Jaime Jo Wright's writing stands out on its own level of greatness.

Jaime Jo Wright is making a name for herself in the Christian fiction genre. She has won a number of awards for The House on Foster Hill. Wright creates historical time-slip suspense novels. Her latest book, Curse of Misty Wayfair is a beautifully written suspense novel showing the importance of every created person. With rapid succession, the story begins like a ghost story and kept my rapid attention. Asylums are uncertain and scary places, so Wright to create a story centered around one gripped my attention. There is a soft romance included, but nothing to forceful. This original and completely unpredictable story filled with fascinating characters kept me spellbound. I really liked the Curse of Misty Wayfair and am glad the Christian fiction genre took a gamble and printed this story. It is timely and important for the world we live in. I pray the Christian publishing world keep printing stories like this. Fans of Steven James, Carrie Stuart Parks, and Lynette Eason might enjoy this novel. Definitely a great book to start 2019 off with a bang!

I received a complimentary copy of Curse of Misty Wayfair from Jaime Jo Wright from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.