Whenever I start a Jaime Jo Wright book, I want to put a sign on my forehead saying "Go away I'm reading"!! Not to be rude, but I love her can't-put-it-down, meaningful page-turning suspense, and once I get that book in my hands my family will see me when they see me!

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus is a dual timeline past/present story with Pippa Ripley who is searching for her birth family from the circus after being left on the doorstep of and being raised by the owner of the circus. Present-day real estate project manager Chandler Faulk and her 7-year-old son come to town and Chandler needs to make a case for keeping the historic old circus train depot.

I love that I am kept guessing and never see it coming. Those are my favorite types of books!

Themes of identity, being seen, belonging, solving decades-old murders, being labeled as a serial killer's family for generations, effects of Lymes disease-causing difficult autoimmune issues, second chances, and family. You really don't want to miss The Haunting At Bonaventure Circus!

Some of my favorite quotes:
"She's a French Fry short of a Happy Meal, God love her "
"Revenge is an evil in and of itself. In it we seek to find ourselves, but more likely than not we become more lost than we ever were before."
I cracked up when Chandler calls Hank "Sasquatch", and "a presumptuous walking Chewbacca"
"I am seen and loved by God. I was created for a purpose. I need no other truth."
"The circus flowed through Peppa like vengeance flowed through him. That insatiable need to attach themselves to a cause, to justice, to protecting what they loved. To have someone fight for them. To be seen."
“We all need saving.” He smiled just a bit. "It's the idea that we don't that makes us fools"

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Wow! This book is amazing! I was hooked immediately! For being a Christian fiction book, this one had me freaked out a little bit. If you get freaked out easily, I would recommend reading this during the day. I couldn’t put this book down though. I was so wrapped up in Chandler and Pippa’s lives! I just had to know their stories! This is one that I know I will read again!



I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I have to admit I had a hard time getting into “The Haunting of Bonaventure Circus” by Jaime Jo Wright, but after a few chapters, I couldn’t put it down! Jaime Jo Wright has her own style of writing, and I have always loved that style with all her books.

This book centers around two women from different eras who both have a disability. Both of their stories intertwine, eventually. The novel goes back in the past and then in the present. This story definitely had a twist at the end. I never saw the ending coming!

I recommend this book to all who like a good, clean, mystery. I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Award-winning author Jaime Jo Wright creates another fascinating dual timeline novel with an abandoned train depot, a serial killer, and a thrilling circus storyline. The past and present storylines in The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus collide as the mystery and suspense increase with Jaime Jo Wright’s trademark “creepiness.” Although the beginning of The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus moves at a slower pace, the two equally compelling storylines will capture the readers’ interest throughout the novel. Enjoy your journey to Bonaventure Circus!

Throughout the novel, Jaime Jo Wright emphasizes that we are born with a purpose, and we are seen and loved by God. Her faith elements are always beautifully integrated into her storylines despite the darkness and mystery throughout the novel. For readers who want something different than the typical romantic suspense novels available, Jaime Jo Wright is the author you are looking for.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

There's something about a circus that never fails to captivate isn't there? On the one hand, it brings about the sense of joy, laughter and childhood with it's over the top and larger than life performances. Still on the other hand, it brings a sense of mystery, fear and darkness. Both of these are certainly very real parts of the history of the circus, and this book encompasses that history in a beautifully written dual timeline novel that I was unable to put down.

In this story, we meet two women from very different times. Pippa is the daughter of the Bonaventure Circus' owner Richard Ripley, having been left on his doorstep by a member of his own circus as an infant. As such, she has always struggled with her identity and where she belonged. We follow her as she learns more about her past and mysterious goings on surrounding the circus in 1928. During the present time, we meet Chandler- a single mom who is working to renovate the old circus train depot and finds herself being haunted by these mysteries of the past. Both of their stories intertwine in this fantastically written novel filled with wonder and mystery.

Jaime Jo Wright is a fairly new to me author. I had only read one book from her before this one, but it was enough to make me want to pick this one up by name alone. If there was any doubt in my mind that she was one I needed to read more from, this book certainly solidified that for me. She has such a unique writing style that I cannot help but love. The dual timelines are filled with such great mystery that truly is unlike any others I have read. I absolutely, positively cannot wait to read more.

If you love a book filled with long ago secrets and mysteries, this is definitely one to check out!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishing for a gifted review copy of The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright. All opinions in this review are my own.

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus is an interesting combination of mystery and Christian fiction. There is mystery, missing persons, and a serial killer. There are mysterious sounds and events. Is it possible there is a ghost or ghosts haunting the circus grounds? The story is a dual timeline. Pippa tells the story of the past in the 1920s while Chandler shows the reader the present day.

Pippa was adopted by the owners of the circus when she was left on their doorstep as a baby. She has never felt like she belonged with the Ripley family but she also did not feel she belongs with the circus. Chandler feels alone and pushes her family away for fear they will try to take her son. Both women struggle with insecurities and have to learn to trust themselves and the people close to them.

I enjoyed the mystery and suspense in the past and in the present. Pippa's story felt like it started in the middle and took a little longer for me to feel a connection to her a main character. There were enough twists and turns with the plot to keep me wanting more with each chapter.

Christian
Release Date: September 1, 2020

I have long adored Jaime Jo Wright’s deliciously creepy style. But I have to admit I was hesitant to pick this one up until I knew there were no creepy clowns in it 🤡

Happily there aren’t and the story surrounds two young women who struggle with disabilities and their place in the world. It’s sure to entertain those who love twisty mysteries.

And the baby elephant is to die for!

Congratulations to Jaime Jo Wright for another insightful dual timeline mystery.

Jaime Jo Wright has done it again! She is the queen of masterfully weaving dual timelines into a story that readers won't be able to quit.

Oh, I wish I could talk about everything about this book! I can't even form coherent thoughts. It's basically just one big fangirl session, so here we go:

•I dearly loved the characters, even the baby elephant!
•The creep factor was intense--so intense that I started watching for circus ghosts at work. 😳
•I'm a romance girl through and through, so I'm always partial to the romantic bits. And they were FANTASTIC. All the stars, all the heart eye emojis.
•I did not see *anything* coming. Am I just really bad at puzzles or is Wright really that good? I don't know, but either way, the plot is smart and the writing is top notch.
•After finishing the book, I closed it and said, "That was really beautiful." 'Cause it was. ❤

I highly recommend this one, friends. It's all of the right things and has become one of my favorites from Wright.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. All expressed opinions belong to me.

I have been a big fan of Jaime Jo Wright every since reading her debut The House on Foster Hill. She writes dual time period story’s that don’t just have a great mystery but tackles issues that are relevant and usually affects me on a personal level.

The Haunting of Bonaventure Circus is no exception. I’ll confess that circus books are not my thing but because of who penned this one I dove right in. Between the 1928 story line and present day this is a book about courage, of taking a stand but also having the courage to accept assistance.

There is everything that makes for a great mystery - unsolved murder, an old haunted train depot, secrets disappearances and suspicious characters, including a serial killer. All in Jaime Jo Wright fashion everything clicks into place with a satisfying conclusion.

Anyone who loves a good mystery should give her a try. This is what I call Christian Fiction at it’s finest, meaning it isn’t overly preachy but the message of faith, love and finding acceptance is predominant.
“Remember, what to us seems like God’s biggest errors, to Him they are His largest promises.”
My thanks to Bethany House (via Netgalley) for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have waited so long for this book! Sometimes, that works to the detriment of the book. Not so here. Pippa and Chandler were everything I hoped they would be in this dual-timeline suspense.

In a world where broken and often neglected people are considered less-than, The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus is the epitome of pulling yourself up from the lowest pieces of your heart and learning to love and appreciate who you are FOR who you are.

Deliciously creepy, I could not stop reading once I began. Jaime Jo Wright has such a wonderful ability to pull me into her story worlds, and this tale was no different. Pippa and Chander, along with the men who truly love them, are forces to be reckoned with as they traverse this crazy life.

Circus life has always fascinated me, and the depth of character and detail in this book satisfied a deeply rooted itch.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Jaime Jo Wright does a fabulous job at crafting a story that makes readers beg for the rest of the story in a hurry. While Wright crafts the two timelines from 1928 versus the present day, she somehow wraps the story up by the end. It makes total sense and captures my attention. I was really excited when I started to read about a serial killer that was killing innocent woman at the circus, but it seemed not to be about the killer. It was more about the people and their change. The plot is different and unique. I really liked it. But my overall complaint is that it was hushed down a lot with the mystery element. I wanted more. Romance seemed a little downplay too. It made the plot seemed cheapen with the romantic elements. I wish they were there. I do enjoy Wright's style. Her writing is delightful to read. I love her word choices, and as an English Major, I love how she structures her sentence. It is a delight to just reread sentences for their pure beauty. Overall, The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus may not be my most favorite book of Wright's, but I definitely have been recommending Wright's stories to everyone who enjoys a clean, safe mystery.

I received a complimentary copy of The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Oh goodness, Jaime Jo Wright's books just seem to get better and better! I may or may not have made the mistake of reading some of this in the nighttime. Maybe one of these days I'll learn my lesson haha. I don't know how she manages it but just as with her others, Wright has done a masterful job of creating suspense that causes readers' minds to spin wildly as they attempt to put all the pieces together. And no longer shocking, the ending still managed to be full of surprises.

Pippa was such an easy character to love and the deeper I got into her story, the more I hoped for her to find love and a place to belong herself. My heart also went out to Lily the elephant and it warmed my heart to see the connection she had with Pippa. I've seen others make comments about wanting to pray for a fictional elephant and now I get it!

It was very easy to see that a whole lot of heart and soul went into Chandler's character and that of her son Peter. The mother-son bond was powerfully written and there's no question that real emotion went into their creation.

I do believe I've found my new favorite Jaime Jo Write novel and now I must sit impatiently waiting for what she comes up with next. Her books are ones you don't want to miss! Just read during the daytime... you'll thank me later ;)

*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

I really enjoyed this mysterious, dual time period novel.
I requested this book through @netgalley, and @bethanyhousefiction were kind enough to let me have a copy to review.
In 1928 the story follows Pippa, who was adopted by owners of the Bonaventure circus. She searches for the truth of her past in the circus and its performers. Then in the present day, Chandler is hoping to restore the old circus train depot, when she finds herself investigating the unsolved murders of a notorious serial killer connected to the circus.
This book is a combination of historical romance and murder mystery with a touch of the paranormal woven in. It gets quite dark on occasions but is also full of warmth from the characters and the colour provided by the circus setting.
I found the mystery both compelling and chilling. The story was well-paced and jumped between the time periods keeping the story moving forward, particularly towards the end.
I loved the romance elements and the brooding male protagonists. Both the female leads developed throughout the book but in different ways. I particularly enjoyed watching Pippa discover her own voice.
I enjoyed the Christian element to the book as different characters within each story, voiced their faith.

“Life was not unlike the wisp of fog that curled around the base of a grave marker, softly caressing the marble before dissolving into the violet shadows of the night.” And so, Jaime Jo Wright begins spinning her chilling web of mystery, wonderment, and deceit in The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus.
At first, it seems like there might be a lot of unrelated information we are given. Like Alice in Wonderland, we just never know down which rabbit hole Ms. Wright will take us, or what to do with the scenes we see. With a dual timeline story, Wright alternates chapters between past and present. Double the rabbit holes; add a baby elephant, a Sasquatch-like man, a self- proclaimed medium, and a pit-bull, in no particular order. We see young Pippa Ripley, the adopted daughter of the circus owner, who longs to know her people and find value in her life. Before we can discover too much about Pippa, Wright pulls us out of the mire and thrusts us into the quagmire that is Chandler Faulk’s story. As we sort through her present-day needs to survive, excel and raise a child on her own, we are again uprooted and thrown back into the circus world, or as close as Pippa is allowed to venture. Actually, Wright does a wonderful job of feeding us just enough information about each young lady, both searching for belonging, significance, and love. Then, like a crazy carnival ride, we are tossed back and forth between the two narratives, hanging on for dear life, and trying our best to hang onto our wits as well. When I finished the book, I looked back in astonishment, amazed at the wild ride I’d been on, helpless to change it (I tried, but Pippa wouldn’t listen).
What a slowly-building whirlwind adventure that turned out to be! The book is finished but the repercussions will live on in my mind. Dare to read the book and leave it unfazed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through NetGalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own

There's something about books with a circus theme that always end up appealing to me, and I couldn't wait to see how Jaime Jo Wright was going to tackle a novel with this setting. Ever since her first release, I've been impressed with how well this author pulls off dual timelines, and in The Haunting of Bonaventure Circus, my attention was grabbed right from the start, and I had a hard time wanting to put it down.

Jaime Jo Wright has an evocative writing style that truly draws the reader right into the story, and I loved how this one focuses around two women in drastically different time periods who are both fighting to find the place they belong and be there for the people they care about. While the mysteries in the different timelines don't seem to be connected at first, the plot twists and turns in ways I never could have seen coming, and the final reveals completely blew me away. I thought I had a good portion of the story figured out, but as always, this author still managed to genuinely surprise me with the direction she took the story in, and I never saw it coming.

The circus setting is spot on throughout the entire story, and I loved how it added an extra eerie overlay to an already spine chillingly scary story. I also loved though how the circus setting was used to emphasize the faith elements that God made us all exactly how He wants us to be and that He sees all of us no matter what we're currently going through.

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus is another amazing story by the talented Jaime Jo Wright, and I will definitely be recommending it. I read quite a few books each and every year, and I have yet to find another author that writes the way she does. Her writing style and story lines are always completely original and showcases what a master storyteller she truly is. My only complaint with this entire story was that I felt some of the questions that had been raised for me throughout the story weren't really answered before it wrapped up, but I still ended up loving it.

Final Rating: 4/5.

Definitely go ahead and pick this one up if you're looking for a scary suspense novel to read during the fall months.

Thanks so much to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this!

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

This book will win awards. I know it. This is why:
1. Jaime Jo Wright knows how to put words together. The opening paragraph alone was so well crafted, it pulled me right in.
2. Typically, when I read a dual time period story, I significantly prefer the older timeline over the contemporary one. Not so here. I thought both storylines progressed well, had a good balance of mystery and suspense, and contained characters I was invested in. I also thought both stories contained well thought out parallels that went beyond the mystery itself. Artfully done.
3. The story line was not predictable. I was guessing, and second guessing, who the real antagonists were up until the end. This is why a stayed up until 3am last night reading to the very last page.
4. Jaime Jo Wright really came through in this story. Not just with her gift of story telling, but with aspects of her own (real life) story (e.g. Chandler’s battle with PTLDS). I appreciate her boldness in doing so.

After all these strengths, there is one aspect I wish was a bit different and is the reason for my 4 star rating. It has to do with some of the darker elements that were part of this book, knowing this is a Christian fiction novel. I am fine when these sorts of themes are included in a story, as long as evil is not glorified. And it wasn’t, so that is not an issue here. However, there were some aspects of sin/evil that were left open, in my opinion, and not explicitly concluded as such. I would have liked to see a clearer biblical line drawn on these items.

All that being said, I highly recommend this book and encourage readers to think through these topics.

This is my first book by Jamie Jo Wright and I was not disappointed. This time slip shows the Bonventure circus in its heyday in the 1920's with all the thrills and curiosity of the circus. As well as the darker inner secrets that make up the circus. The intrigue and mystery that continues to build as you follow Pippa, the adopted daughter of the owner of the circus. She is a child of the circus but raised to be strictly obedient to her adoptive father. Even so, Pippa is pulled toward the circus and more accurately, The Watchman. The Watchman has watched over her, kept in secret contact with her. But is The Watchman the protector she thinks he is? The story is a time slip from the 1920's to present day and the abandoned circus depot that Chandler Faulk would like to restore. But that intrigue and mystery that was building in the 1920's isn't done. It's coming full speed down the tracks into present day. The people of Bluff River believe the depot is haunted. A woman, part of the Bonaventure circus was murdered there. Or was it the Costume House? Either way, ever since, there have been strange happenings at the place and it plays a big part in the lives of those in Bluff River even after all this time.
The two time periods come crashing in a way that makes this book one you don't want to put down. You have a need to know answers to so many questions. And those answers came as a surprise yet.....they makes sense and the story, the two time periods, wrap up together.

I first started reading Jaime Jo Wright’s books in 2018. The premise of writing a mystery/suspense story set in two different time periods yet intricately tied together throughout decades (or more) intrigued me. That fascination hasn’t let up. In The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus, Ms. Wright once again pens a tale that kept me on the edge of my seat and tugged at my heart and spirit at the same time. Set in both 1928 and present day, it’s a story involving characters like Pippa and Jake and Chandler and Hank who struggle with their own self-worth and who yearn to be loved and accepted just as they are. What better place to find such characters than a historic circus town? The author layers mystery within mystery so that you enjoy peeling away the layers trying to discern who did what and how it happened. I was engrossed and invested in the setting, the story and the characters from the first page until the final page. I highly recommend picking up The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus as soon as you can. You won’t regret it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, but all thoughts and feelings are my own.

Pippa, a kind soul who was adopted by the owners of the circus the Ripley's. She longs to be at the circus but her father forbids it. She befriends a baby elephant named Lily, and other circus people. She gets messages from the Watchman! Why is he watching her and does he have clues to who her real family is?
Present day
Chandler a single Mom who purchased the Circus Train Depot for her uncle to restore and then sell it. She finds out from the Townspeople that it is haunted and that a murder took place there and The Watchman.

A surprise ending, Creepy, Twist and turns, Secrets,Murder.
Loved it!! Jaime Jo Wright is one of my favorite authors and this book will not disappoint you. Who wouldn't want to read about a Haunted Circus. It would be a great movie

Jaime Jo has done it once again, captured me with one of her stories. If I could give this book more stars I would! As the secrets buried deep with in Bonaventure Circus begin to surface life for Pippa and Chandler change forever. These two women seek the same truth in 2 different centuries. This story is just like that of the circus. Enthralling. Eerie. Exciting. Beautiful. And sometimes sad for humans and animals alike. Read it. You wont be disipointed. And if your like me you will be a Jaime Jo reader for life