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House of Secrets #1
The House Guest
A woman on the run… Madeleine Frost knows she has to get away from her partner Liam. His behaviour has become increasingly controlling and Maddie fears for her safety and that of her young daughter Poppy. Desperation leads Maddie to the hotel owned by her estranged father – the extraordinarily beautiful Wrea Head Hall. The reunion is tense, but Maddie’s father agrees to her staying as his guest for as long as she needs. Maddie’s whereabouts must stay a secret; but as she spends time getting to know her new home, she discovers the house has its own shocking past and secrets of its own. Secrets that could cost her dearly… And when Liam makes it clear he wants Maddie back, she has to reassess everything. Because when Liam wants something, he gets it - no matter who he hurts…
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
July 15, 2024
Slow and rather boring. Nothing about this was a psychological thriller. Poor character building, frequent short stories randomly thrown in making the plot all over the place but still highly predictable.
July 17, 2016
I truly loved this story. I have had my nose buried in a book for the better part of 34 years and the plot to this book is one of my favorites. While I felt that conversation didn't always flow amongst the characters, they developed well and I loved all the ones I should and hated the one I shouldn't. Bringing in the past and tying it to the present was a stroke of genius and Lynda Stacey wove that cloth expertly. I've always wanted to find an old diary - tie that into hidden tunnels and forbidden young love and this story was just what I needed to end my weekend.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Choc Lit, and Lynda Stacey for an advance copy of this book to review in exchange for an honest review. I'll be keeping an eye out for future books, Lynda!
Many thanks to Netgalley, Choc Lit, and Lynda Stacey for an advance copy of this book to review in exchange for an honest review. I'll be keeping an eye out for future books, Lynda!
September 3, 2024
1.5 stars
We have stupid, infatuated, self centred Maddie who gets upset when her boyfriend expects her to work 1 day a week, but instead she wants to hangs out with her sister. She constantly complains about things that were absolutely her choice. Plays the victim role to a teeth.
Also, despite having lost her husband and having a very new born, she finds a new boyfriend in 5 min. Introducing Liam.
Then we have Liam who is, as we all suspect, the perfect killer, cause he takes out half the city yet no one suspects.
When Maddie gets tired of Liam ( cause who wouldn’t when he was expecting her to work so hard) she goes about her way and finds another man in less than 5 minutes hahhaha.
We have stupid, infatuated, self centred Maddie who gets upset when her boyfriend expects her to work 1 day a week, but instead she wants to hangs out with her sister. She constantly complains about things that were absolutely her choice. Plays the victim role to a teeth.
Also, despite having lost her husband and having a very new born, she finds a new boyfriend in 5 min. Introducing Liam.
Then we have Liam who is, as we all suspect, the perfect killer, cause he takes out half the city yet no one suspects.
When Maddie gets tired of Liam ( cause who wouldn’t when he was expecting her to work so hard) she goes about her way and finds another man in less than 5 minutes hahhaha.
July 6, 2024
This was an ok read, but it was advertised as a psychological thriller - and it was definitely not that! It was more of a romantic suspense, and I read those years ago and tired of them. This book was well written and the story did get better as it went along, but I was expecting and looking for something more - like a psychological thriller as advertised. If you like romantic suspense then this is probably for you, just wasn’t for me. I have read another book or two from this author that were good in the PT genre.
September 6, 2018
I was a bit disappointed in this. The story was okay but I found the diary sections slowed everything down. Couldn’t make my mind up about Maddy. Wasn’t convinced she’d have stayed with Liam when he was so unkind to Poppy. The two male characters were superficial – couldn’t see the point of the change in viewpoint as it gave the game away. Bandit was a wasted opportunity. I expected much more of him.
March 4, 2024
I rate this 2.5 stars.
This story had potential to be excellent; however, the execution was fragmented. Moreover, I couldn't buy in to any of the characters presented. Nobody was overly likable and there were too many side stories that ended up overshadowing the main storyline. There were plot holes and Liam, a killer, wasn't terrifying or cunning, but rather whiny and unbelievable. It just wasn't for me.
This story had potential to be excellent; however, the execution was fragmented. Moreover, I couldn't buy in to any of the characters presented. Nobody was overly likable and there were too many side stories that ended up overshadowing the main storyline. There were plot holes and Liam, a killer, wasn't terrifying or cunning, but rather whiny and unbelievable. It just wasn't for me.
July 5, 2016
With so many self-published authors vying for contracts with publishers, new and unpublished authors can find it increasingly difficult to find opportunities to break through. The Choc Lit and Whole Story Audiobooks Search For A Star competition was set up to address that problem. With Choc Lit as one of its two sponsors, the shortlisted books - and the eventual winners - are guaranteed to feature a well-written story with romance at its heart, together with a gorgeous hero.
Earlier this year I was enthralled by the previous winner, Jan Brigden, and the excellent As Weekends Go. And now it's the turn of Lynda Stacey, the 2015 winner: House of Secrets (isn't that just another gorgeous Berni Stevens cover?) is published for kindle on 19th July, and I just couldn't wait to read it.
I really did enjoy this book a lot, even though it turned out to be something totally different from what I initially expected - this isn't in any way the sweet straightforward love story with a country house setting that you might be predicting in the first quarter.
The author's excellent at creating characters. Liam really is a superb anti-hero - something about him sets your teeth on edge from the time you first meet him, and as time progresses his "Maddie darlin'" sends shivers up your spine. He was never really going to smile and let Maddie just walk away, was he?
I'm not the world's biggest fan of children in books, but young Poppy is really well drawn and I really liked her interactions with everyone - she brings out the soft side of Bandit, and Maddie's love for her warms your heart. I liked Maddie's feisty sister Jess too - there's an excellent scene with some golf clubs early in the book that brings out her character, and the whole back story about why the sisters are so different adds an interesting extra layer to the story. I really felt for Maddie's father too - I struggled to get a clear picture of him at first, but really liked the scene where he talks with Jack about his feelings, and the ice skating scene was beautifully done and very touching.
And as for Wrea Head Hall, it's almost a character in its own right, brilliantly drawn and a perfect setting for the unfolding story. There are some excellent bits of description that bring it to life - the Christmas scenes, Halloween, the grounds, and the detail of the interiors.
Maddie's arrival at the hall and her first encounter with Bandit is very well done. Bandit is a great romantic hero - I really liked his vulnerability, his background story, the gentler side he shows with Poppy, his thoughts as he runs through the woods, and the way he becomes Maddie's protector. I must admit I was a tad less keen on Maddie herself - some of her actions seem really badly thought through, and I wanted to give her a good talking to. The putting herself in danger is totally inkeeping with the best gothic tradition - but it didn't stop me wanting to throttle her at times.
As the story progresses, the tension cranks up to a level that makes the book difficult to set aside - scene after scene, every one vividly drawn, sometimes quite chilling (that breakfast scene!), some edge-of-the-seat writing when I had no idea where things were going. The book's climax is really excellent, and I read it through my fingers, with dry mouth and pounding heart.
But if I was surprised by the way the story turned really rather dark and tense, I was more surprised by the historical thread after the diaries were found: but the way it all worked through was very good, and added more emotional depth to the story. My only small criticism was that I wasn't entirely convinced by Emily's "voice" for someone living in the 1940s - she seemed over modern in some ways, but also a bit Victorian. I did, though, really like the way the story threads all tied together at the end.
To sum the book up? I really enjoyed it. In some ways it wasn't the book I expected, with its darker edge: but in other ways it most certainly was, and totally satisfied - even exceeded - my expectations as an involving love story (several, in fact) with a very different twist. The author writes really well - albeit with a few minor quirks to be expected from a first-time novelist - and I'm really looking forward to seeing what she tackles next. If only Goodreads allowed half stars - this one was a definite 4.5 for me.
My thanks to Choc Lit, netgalley and the author for my advance reading e-copy.
Earlier this year I was enthralled by the previous winner, Jan Brigden, and the excellent As Weekends Go. And now it's the turn of Lynda Stacey, the 2015 winner: House of Secrets (isn't that just another gorgeous Berni Stevens cover?) is published for kindle on 19th July, and I just couldn't wait to read it.
I really did enjoy this book a lot, even though it turned out to be something totally different from what I initially expected - this isn't in any way the sweet straightforward love story with a country house setting that you might be predicting in the first quarter.
The author's excellent at creating characters. Liam really is a superb anti-hero - something about him sets your teeth on edge from the time you first meet him, and as time progresses his "Maddie darlin'" sends shivers up your spine. He was never really going to smile and let Maddie just walk away, was he?
I'm not the world's biggest fan of children in books, but young Poppy is really well drawn and I really liked her interactions with everyone - she brings out the soft side of Bandit, and Maddie's love for her warms your heart. I liked Maddie's feisty sister Jess too - there's an excellent scene with some golf clubs early in the book that brings out her character, and the whole back story about why the sisters are so different adds an interesting extra layer to the story. I really felt for Maddie's father too - I struggled to get a clear picture of him at first, but really liked the scene where he talks with Jack about his feelings, and the ice skating scene was beautifully done and very touching.
And as for Wrea Head Hall, it's almost a character in its own right, brilliantly drawn and a perfect setting for the unfolding story. There are some excellent bits of description that bring it to life - the Christmas scenes, Halloween, the grounds, and the detail of the interiors.
Maddie's arrival at the hall and her first encounter with Bandit is very well done. Bandit is a great romantic hero - I really liked his vulnerability, his background story, the gentler side he shows with Poppy, his thoughts as he runs through the woods, and the way he becomes Maddie's protector. I must admit I was a tad less keen on Maddie herself - some of her actions seem really badly thought through, and I wanted to give her a good talking to. The putting herself in danger is totally inkeeping with the best gothic tradition - but it didn't stop me wanting to throttle her at times.
As the story progresses, the tension cranks up to a level that makes the book difficult to set aside - scene after scene, every one vividly drawn, sometimes quite chilling (that breakfast scene!), some edge-of-the-seat writing when I had no idea where things were going. The book's climax is really excellent, and I read it through my fingers, with dry mouth and pounding heart.
But if I was surprised by the way the story turned really rather dark and tense, I was more surprised by the historical thread after the diaries were found: but the way it all worked through was very good, and added more emotional depth to the story. My only small criticism was that I wasn't entirely convinced by Emily's "voice" for someone living in the 1940s - she seemed over modern in some ways, but also a bit Victorian. I did, though, really like the way the story threads all tied together at the end.
To sum the book up? I really enjoyed it. In some ways it wasn't the book I expected, with its darker edge: but in other ways it most certainly was, and totally satisfied - even exceeded - my expectations as an involving love story (several, in fact) with a very different twist. The author writes really well - albeit with a few minor quirks to be expected from a first-time novelist - and I'm really looking forward to seeing what she tackles next. If only Goodreads allowed half stars - this one was a definite 4.5 for me.
My thanks to Choc Lit, netgalley and the author for my advance reading e-copy.
August 23, 2024
I did not finish this book, the writing was so bad, reminded me of a poorly written play. The converstaions between characters was so bland and unremarkable. The entire plot was so easy to see and know what was coming. The only think I could not figure out is why if your husband, mother, father and possibly your publisher all die or disappear in such a short time no one thought a crime was committed. I figured it out before the father died.
February 26, 2024
First half of the book is very blah, and I almost put it down and didn’t finish it but the second half takes quite a turn the characters in the story in the writing in the plot, which was the opposite in a more positive way compared to the first half. The ending was beautiful too.
July 8, 2024
What a load of old rubbish, didn't bother reading the last 20%, was a cross between mills & boon and the famous five, really old fashioned writing for a supposedly modern book
November 5, 2016
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.
Anyone who knows me, or follows my blog, knows that contrary to the old phrase "You can't judge a book by its cover", I often do. I love covers, and this one called out to me. Then, when I read that the book was set in a huge country house in Yorkshire, my fate was sealed.
Madeleine has had a life filled with loss. Her mother, then her beloved husband, Michael have all died. She is vulnerable and when Liam enters her life she is susceptible to his Irish charm and good looks. (I pictured the character of Ciaran McCarthy from Coronation Street) Little does she know that when she and her three-year-old daughter, Poppy, move in with him, her life will change irrevocably for the worse. Liam is a possessive, cruel, volatile, controlling bully. After only a few months she is driven to leave him, fearing for her daughter's and her own emotional health.
A novelist, with income only when she receives an advance from her publisher's, she has little choice but to run to the father she barely knows. Her mother had led her to believe that he didn't want her in his life, but nothing could be farther from the truth. He welcomes Madeleine and his granddaughter Poppy into his home with open arms.
And what a home! Madeleine's father owns and runs Wrea Head Hall, a country house hotel in Yorkshire. There Madeleine meets many wonderful people who nurture her and her daughter as much as they do the old house.
After a few short days, she faces loss in her life once again... With the aid of her half-sister Jess, and the wonderful people who live at the Hall, she is left reeling with the knowledge that she is now the owner manager of the fantastic house. And, of course, there is Madeleine's new love interest. The gameskeeper/handyman of the Hall is Christopher Lawless (nicknamed Bandit), an ex-marine, who has strong family ties to the hall and shows more than a passing interest in Maddie and Poppy.
Madeleine and Bandit find an old diary written by the daughter of Wrea Head Hall. She writes about what life at the Hall was like for her in 1942. The entries of this diary are interspersed throughout the novel. Her diary mentions aspects of the house that Maddie and Bandit did not previously know.
The pace of this debut novel moved along well, and the setting was spectacular. I'm not usual a fan of romantic fiction, but this one did have enough of the suspenseful elements that it maintained my interest throughout, even though I found the plot quite predictable with any twists there might be, unsurprising, at least to me.
I cringe sometimes when a romance story makes the heroine just a little bit two unaware. Madeleine was unaware that Liam was a monster, unaware that she was falling for Bandit, unaware of the many coincidences and clues that she should have picked up on...
Yes, I guess you know, I'm not a huge fan of romance. But as I mentioned, this one did hold my interest to the end. I guess I just wanted to read the 'happily ever after' for myself. Thus, I'm rating this debut romantic suspense novel quite highly. The reason being that I believe (from my many years of working in a public library) that this book will be very well received by readers who enjoy romantic fiction. It had a trace of a 'Harlequin' feel, but that was laced with enough suspense that it was lifted up from the everyday romance. The historical diary entries added enough respite from the current day narrative to add extra interest. It was an entertaining and easy read.
Thanks to Choc Lit via NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel in consideration of a review.
Anyone who knows me, or follows my blog, knows that contrary to the old phrase "You can't judge a book by its cover", I often do. I love covers, and this one called out to me. Then, when I read that the book was set in a huge country house in Yorkshire, my fate was sealed.
Madeleine has had a life filled with loss. Her mother, then her beloved husband, Michael have all died. She is vulnerable and when Liam enters her life she is susceptible to his Irish charm and good looks. (I pictured the character of Ciaran McCarthy from Coronation Street) Little does she know that when she and her three-year-old daughter, Poppy, move in with him, her life will change irrevocably for the worse. Liam is a possessive, cruel, volatile, controlling bully. After only a few months she is driven to leave him, fearing for her daughter's and her own emotional health.
A novelist, with income only when she receives an advance from her publisher's, she has little choice but to run to the father she barely knows. Her mother had led her to believe that he didn't want her in his life, but nothing could be farther from the truth. He welcomes Madeleine and his granddaughter Poppy into his home with open arms.
And what a home! Madeleine's father owns and runs Wrea Head Hall, a country house hotel in Yorkshire. There Madeleine meets many wonderful people who nurture her and her daughter as much as they do the old house.
After a few short days, she faces loss in her life once again... With the aid of her half-sister Jess, and the wonderful people who live at the Hall, she is left reeling with the knowledge that she is now the owner manager of the fantastic house. And, of course, there is Madeleine's new love interest. The gameskeeper/handyman of the Hall is Christopher Lawless (nicknamed Bandit), an ex-marine, who has strong family ties to the hall and shows more than a passing interest in Maddie and Poppy.
Madeleine and Bandit find an old diary written by the daughter of Wrea Head Hall. She writes about what life at the Hall was like for her in 1942. The entries of this diary are interspersed throughout the novel. Her diary mentions aspects of the house that Maddie and Bandit did not previously know.
The pace of this debut novel moved along well, and the setting was spectacular. I'm not usual a fan of romantic fiction, but this one did have enough of the suspenseful elements that it maintained my interest throughout, even though I found the plot quite predictable with any twists there might be, unsurprising, at least to me.
I cringe sometimes when a romance story makes the heroine just a little bit two unaware. Madeleine was unaware that Liam was a monster, unaware that she was falling for Bandit, unaware of the many coincidences and clues that she should have picked up on...
Yes, I guess you know, I'm not a huge fan of romance. But as I mentioned, this one did hold my interest to the end. I guess I just wanted to read the 'happily ever after' for myself. Thus, I'm rating this debut romantic suspense novel quite highly. The reason being that I believe (from my many years of working in a public library) that this book will be very well received by readers who enjoy romantic fiction. It had a trace of a 'Harlequin' feel, but that was laced with enough suspense that it was lifted up from the everyday romance. The historical diary entries added enough respite from the current day narrative to add extra interest. It was an entertaining and easy read.
Thanks to Choc Lit via NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel in consideration of a review.
December 29, 2023
There are many factors as to why I gave this book a two-star rating. One is that I had expectations for this one, not high expectations but not low either. It had so much potential yet the plot was all over the place. Some things just didn't make sense and I saw some plot-holes in this. The first part of the book felt completely disconnected with what the book was trying to say. I didn't know where to focus, there were so many things going on at once and yet the MC still has room for romance??? It just felt off, way off. Also, the villain was very annoying, not the kind you'd be terrified of, or maybe it was the way it was narrated. I'm not a fan of the audiobook narration. Another thing is the MC's lack of action even though she knew really irked me. She was not a heroine at all. She's just a character, that's it.
The integration of the past with the present deserved more justice, it could have been told better. If it was the backbone of the story instead of the MC's relationship with the villain, I think it would have been a better story.
The integration of the past with the present deserved more justice, it could have been told better. If it was the backbone of the story instead of the MC's relationship with the villain, I think it would have been a better story.
January 1, 2018
Wow, this was an amazing book!
Very fluently written story that I could not put down. Families being reunited, suspense, love stories, if you are looking for this kind of mixture, I can say this is the book for you. Make sure you already have part 2 in your possession. I can assure you, you will want to read it as well, because the author knows how to make you wanting more.
Very fluently written story that I could not put down. Families being reunited, suspense, love stories, if you are looking for this kind of mixture, I can say this is the book for you. Make sure you already have part 2 in your possession. I can assure you, you will want to read it as well, because the author knows how to make you wanting more.
August 7, 2021
The idea was good but not well executed. The interaction between the charachters seemed unrealistic. One of the charachters was called Bandit Lawless, hmmm ridiculous. The ‘bad guy’ in the book was just not believable enough. The first half of the book seemed to drag on, then it picked up a bit. However towards the end I found it really boring and didn’t care if I finished it.
July 6, 2024
Treacle
The writing is adolescent and the characters are caricatures. There is someone screaming on every page and the plot is full of cliches. But it's a quick summer read where you don't have to think but just drift along on a sea of inane sentimental tropes. Kind of a waste of time when all is said and done.
The writing is adolescent and the characters are caricatures. There is someone screaming on every page and the plot is full of cliches. But it's a quick summer read where you don't have to think but just drift along on a sea of inane sentimental tropes. Kind of a waste of time when all is said and done.
July 21, 2016
House of Secrets by Lynda Stacey was a great book to fall into! She kept me entranced with strong characters, a strong plot, and a great setting.
I liked how I felt like I was immediately immersed in the plot, with Maddie as her relationship with Liam quickly escalates to frightening. Maddie was at her most vulnerable when she met Liam, and their relationship quickly grew. Soon she and her daughter Poppy were living with Liam, but their situation was quickly becoming frightening and out of control. I really liked Maddie. It was easy to forget how young she really is in House of Secrets because she is such a mature character who has been through a lot. Her character is well defined and is an admirable, very likable heroine. She is scared and not sure where to turn, but she does what she knows she needs to do while she still can. Maddie's daughter Poppy is an integral part of the plot, because without her I think things might have turned out a lot differently for Maddie. Poppy is a great example of how children can be such good judges of character...not only with Liam, but with other characters in House of Secrets.
"Bandit" is a strong character also. A former marine, he hides a lot, and suffers as well. I loved how Bandit and Maddie first meet, and I really liked watching a relationship between the two of them grow. That relationship encompasses a lot more than just the two of them, and I liked how everything and everyone was woven together from past to present.
But even as Maddie and Poppy are moving on, Liam just can't let go. There is a lot about him that Maddie doesn't know, and Lynda Stacey did a great job of building tension through out the plot. I liked how she wrote Liam's character. It was suspenseful with a lot of unknowns, and without being too graphic, Lynda did a great job of keeping me nervously on edge.
House of Secrets is filled with emotion. I was entertained, but I could also feel the tension, the love, the hope, the fear, and sometimes just overwhelming sadness. Family dynamics and the past play a huge role in House of Secrets, and I liked how this was done. I might have liked to know a bit more about Maddie's mother and those circumstances, but that did not take away from the plot for me.
House of Secrets flows at a great pace that kept me glued to the pages. I found it intriguing and exciting. There is a little of something for everyone in House of Secrets...women's fiction, romance, and suspense. I'd highly recommend House of Secrets to any reader who enjoys any of those!
I liked how I felt like I was immediately immersed in the plot, with Maddie as her relationship with Liam quickly escalates to frightening. Maddie was at her most vulnerable when she met Liam, and their relationship quickly grew. Soon she and her daughter Poppy were living with Liam, but their situation was quickly becoming frightening and out of control. I really liked Maddie. It was easy to forget how young she really is in House of Secrets because she is such a mature character who has been through a lot. Her character is well defined and is an admirable, very likable heroine. She is scared and not sure where to turn, but she does what she knows she needs to do while she still can. Maddie's daughter Poppy is an integral part of the plot, because without her I think things might have turned out a lot differently for Maddie. Poppy is a great example of how children can be such good judges of character...not only with Liam, but with other characters in House of Secrets.
"Bandit" is a strong character also. A former marine, he hides a lot, and suffers as well. I loved how Bandit and Maddie first meet, and I really liked watching a relationship between the two of them grow. That relationship encompasses a lot more than just the two of them, and I liked how everything and everyone was woven together from past to present.
But even as Maddie and Poppy are moving on, Liam just can't let go. There is a lot about him that Maddie doesn't know, and Lynda Stacey did a great job of building tension through out the plot. I liked how she wrote Liam's character. It was suspenseful with a lot of unknowns, and without being too graphic, Lynda did a great job of keeping me nervously on edge.
House of Secrets is filled with emotion. I was entertained, but I could also feel the tension, the love, the hope, the fear, and sometimes just overwhelming sadness. Family dynamics and the past play a huge role in House of Secrets, and I liked how this was done. I might have liked to know a bit more about Maddie's mother and those circumstances, but that did not take away from the plot for me.
House of Secrets flows at a great pace that kept me glued to the pages. I found it intriguing and exciting. There is a little of something for everyone in House of Secrets...women's fiction, romance, and suspense. I'd highly recommend House of Secrets to any reader who enjoys any of those!
December 22, 2016
Madeleine knows she should leave Liam as soon as she can. Her daughter Poppy is everything to her and Liam is a mean bully. He was sweet before they moved in with him, but he changed as soon as he had them with him the entire time. Madeleine doesn't have anywhere to go though, but getting away from him is the most important thing there is. Her sister Jess lives in a one bedroom apartment, which is too small for the three of them. Madeleine has no choice but to ask her father if she and Poppy can live with him. She hasn't seen him in years, but her father is happy to have them and in exchange for their stay Madeleine promises him to work in his hotel.
Madeleine thinks she and Poppy are safe at her father's hall and she immediately notices the change in her daughter. Poppy can be a happy carefree child again. Everyone at the hotel is welcoming and Madeleine immediately feels like they're part of a big family. She spends a lot of time with Bandit, the gamekeeper. They find an old diary and learn something about the history of the family that used to live in the hall. While Madeleine tries to make a new start Liam is doing everything he can to get her back and he's willing to do anything to get what he desires...
House of Secrets is a gripping novel that kept me on the edge of my seat for several hours. It's obvious from the start that Liam can't be trusted. While there's relief at first that Madeleine managed to get away from him that feeling soon turns into fear. Lynda Stacey has written a creepy story that will haunt my dreams for a very long time. At the same time there's also a wonderful romantic aspect. Lynda Stacey's descriptions of both parts are equally good and I really liked to read her versatile story.
House of Secrets is a book about loss, secrets, old houses, traumas and grief together with love, friendship, forgiveness, happiness and joy. I liked that combination very much. I immediately loved all the main characters except one, Liam is truly terrifying. Lynda Stacey's compelling writing style and fast-paced story made me fly through the pages. She's in control of the suspense and knows exactly when to deliver cliffhangers, that are always followed by calmer scenes, which made me want to keep on reading as quickly as I could. I absolutely loved this scary story and recommend it to anyone who likes to read romantic suspense.
Madeleine thinks she and Poppy are safe at her father's hall and she immediately notices the change in her daughter. Poppy can be a happy carefree child again. Everyone at the hotel is welcoming and Madeleine immediately feels like they're part of a big family. She spends a lot of time with Bandit, the gamekeeper. They find an old diary and learn something about the history of the family that used to live in the hall. While Madeleine tries to make a new start Liam is doing everything he can to get her back and he's willing to do anything to get what he desires...
House of Secrets is a gripping novel that kept me on the edge of my seat for several hours. It's obvious from the start that Liam can't be trusted. While there's relief at first that Madeleine managed to get away from him that feeling soon turns into fear. Lynda Stacey has written a creepy story that will haunt my dreams for a very long time. At the same time there's also a wonderful romantic aspect. Lynda Stacey's descriptions of both parts are equally good and I really liked to read her versatile story.
House of Secrets is a book about loss, secrets, old houses, traumas and grief together with love, friendship, forgiveness, happiness and joy. I liked that combination very much. I immediately loved all the main characters except one, Liam is truly terrifying. Lynda Stacey's compelling writing style and fast-paced story made me fly through the pages. She's in control of the suspense and knows exactly when to deliver cliffhangers, that are always followed by calmer scenes, which made me want to keep on reading as quickly as I could. I absolutely loved this scary story and recommend it to anyone who likes to read romantic suspense.
July 27, 2016
I received a copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers, Choc Lit, in return for a fair and honest review
This book really had a mix of everything and I wasn't expecting that at all! Thought it was just going to be a thriller, but it had elements of mystery, historical, romance and the darker side of human behaviour too and it all combined beautifully to keep me excited, scared, intrigued and hooked right to the end!
The story revolves around Madeleine and her daughter Poppy. She's had an awful time as Poppys dad died 9 days before she was born, so she has always been on her own with Poppy struggling. But Liam came along at the right time to 'rescue' them and it felt like a safe option for Madeleine to move in with him. But his personality soon changed when they did, and she now is in constant fear as he is extremely controlling and threatening. Ghastly character!!
Soon she is pushed too far by his behaviour and has no other option but to leave, so she gets in contact with her father who she hasn't seen much over the years as her mother stopped all access, but he's been eager to have contact with his daughter and granddaughter. they move in with him at the hotel he runs and life starts to become normal for them all again, and safe! They soon settle into their new lives and the world seems a happier place for them all, but you always get the feeling that Liam isn't ready to give up that quickly on Madeleine who he's been obsessed with since school. And reading the book you find out just how scary a character he is, and what lengths he will go to, to get her back in his life.
The pace of the book worked so well as it built up the tension slowly and then was breathless towards the end. The mix of characters worked extremely well together and added to the suspense as you waited to see what was in store for them all next on Liams' path to get back what he thought was his.
Really looking forward to reading more from this author and highly recommend this book for those who like a little bit of everything in one story!
This book really had a mix of everything and I wasn't expecting that at all! Thought it was just going to be a thriller, but it had elements of mystery, historical, romance and the darker side of human behaviour too and it all combined beautifully to keep me excited, scared, intrigued and hooked right to the end!
The story revolves around Madeleine and her daughter Poppy. She's had an awful time as Poppys dad died 9 days before she was born, so she has always been on her own with Poppy struggling. But Liam came along at the right time to 'rescue' them and it felt like a safe option for Madeleine to move in with him. But his personality soon changed when they did, and she now is in constant fear as he is extremely controlling and threatening. Ghastly character!!
Soon she is pushed too far by his behaviour and has no other option but to leave, so she gets in contact with her father who she hasn't seen much over the years as her mother stopped all access, but he's been eager to have contact with his daughter and granddaughter. they move in with him at the hotel he runs and life starts to become normal for them all again, and safe! They soon settle into their new lives and the world seems a happier place for them all, but you always get the feeling that Liam isn't ready to give up that quickly on Madeleine who he's been obsessed with since school. And reading the book you find out just how scary a character he is, and what lengths he will go to, to get her back in his life.
The pace of the book worked so well as it built up the tension slowly and then was breathless towards the end. The mix of characters worked extremely well together and added to the suspense as you waited to see what was in store for them all next on Liams' path to get back what he thought was his.
Really looking forward to reading more from this author and highly recommend this book for those who like a little bit of everything in one story!
September 16, 2024
I thought it was a good book. Liam was a pos and killed everyone he loved just bc he had mommy issues and that his mom loved his sister over him. Maddie also had her own problems but handled it well. Especially seeking help with her father who they hadn’t seen each other in forever (which wasn’t even her fault but her mothers). The relationship between Bandit and Maddie was a slow burn. He was her protector since the start. Jess support in looking after Poppy when Liam was doing secret stuff. All the signs pointed to Liam which was obvious but was in a way that wasn’t too like “it’s him”. It was a sweet story to add in the journal which turned out that the journal was written by Emily who was Bandits grandmother and his father was in love with her at the nursing home. The two different stories about the same house was cool you got to see two different sides of the story. The tunnels, the fire, the war, the drama! Some of it was kind of boring like the writing when Maddie and her dad met was like “oh gosh I am so happy you’re here” like every sentence at one point started with “oh” and that was kind of annoying. But could just be me. It was a cute story and how everyone got to eat dinner together was adorable, Maddie, Jess, Jack, Bandit, his father, Emily, Poppy, and Nomsa. And how they got to keep the house in Bandit and Maddie name was also sweet. It was like half a wtf is going to happen , half a love story with a sweet ending. But Liam’s death was confusing just because when they rescued Maddie it was like “we have one dead male” but he was alive two seconds before they rescued her?? But didn’t explain the death of him but I’m glad he’s dead! Over all a pretty good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2017
Book 67 of my Goodreads Challenge
Reading this story I cried tears of anger, sadness and joy, but being totally honest the opening pages really did not appeal. I found myself shouting at the page, ‘What the hell Maddie, why stay with a guy like Liam?’ He is a character that I took an instant dislike to. Yet this was probably the intention of the author. My sister-in-law had read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it so I carried on. I am really glad I did.
I have to admit I even fell a little bit in love with Christopher Lawless although I was not a great fan of his nick name ‘Bandit’ but it fit the story, and Maddie’s little girl Poppy amused me calling him ‘Mister Bang’it’.
Buddy the dog was a big favourite of mine too but the story really came into its own when it stepped back in time. I loved when we got to find out about Emily Ennis and Eddie via the lost diaries. Then slowly some of the secrets of the house were revealed.
One of my favourite parts from the diary of the 1940's is as follows;-
Emily’s diary 1942
‘My darling, Emily. If I counted every grain of sand on the beach and multiplied them by every fish that swims in the sea, you’d have some idea of how very much I love you. It would be impossible to count, which only goes to show that there would be no number on earth that could quantify my love.’
When the book stepped back in time, was when this book became a real page turner for me.
Very Highly recommended
Reading this story I cried tears of anger, sadness and joy, but being totally honest the opening pages really did not appeal. I found myself shouting at the page, ‘What the hell Maddie, why stay with a guy like Liam?’ He is a character that I took an instant dislike to. Yet this was probably the intention of the author. My sister-in-law had read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it so I carried on. I am really glad I did.
I have to admit I even fell a little bit in love with Christopher Lawless although I was not a great fan of his nick name ‘Bandit’ but it fit the story, and Maddie’s little girl Poppy amused me calling him ‘Mister Bang’it’.
Buddy the dog was a big favourite of mine too but the story really came into its own when it stepped back in time. I loved when we got to find out about Emily Ennis and Eddie via the lost diaries. Then slowly some of the secrets of the house were revealed.
One of my favourite parts from the diary of the 1940's is as follows;-
Emily’s diary 1942
‘My darling, Emily. If I counted every grain of sand on the beach and multiplied them by every fish that swims in the sea, you’d have some idea of how very much I love you. It would be impossible to count, which only goes to show that there would be no number on earth that could quantify my love.’
When the book stepped back in time, was when this book became a real page turner for me.
Very Highly recommended
July 7, 2017
When Madeleine decides she has to keep her daughter safe and leave her boyfriend- she seeks out her estranged father to see if she can live in his hotel. She loves getting to know her father again and it seems that Liam, her ex partner had meddled in the relationship to make it strained.
Poppy reverts back to a happy child wrapping everyone round her little finger. She likes 'Bandit' the romantic interest for Madeleine!
This book has everything- a historical link via a diary that is found that they are keen to explore, a chilling thriller aspect as Liam proves to be someone to fear, romance with Bandit and family relationships. So in turn you are on the edge of your seat and then relaxing into more sedate scenes at the hotel. I will be really keen to read more by Lynda Stacey.
Poppy reverts back to a happy child wrapping everyone round her little finger. She likes 'Bandit' the romantic interest for Madeleine!
This book has everything- a historical link via a diary that is found that they are keen to explore, a chilling thriller aspect as Liam proves to be someone to fear, romance with Bandit and family relationships. So in turn you are on the edge of your seat and then relaxing into more sedate scenes at the hotel. I will be really keen to read more by Lynda Stacey.
January 15, 2025
This book may lean more towards a romance/suspense classification rather than a PT but otherwise was quite well written. While it started out slow, included several small side stories that could sometimes get confusing, and somewhat lacked in character development, the book got better each chapter and was an easy quick read.
The second half of the book included more twists with the subsequent chapters quickly picking up on the previous cliff hanger, avoiding a lull between events and making the book difficult to put down. I look forward to reading more from this author!
The second half of the book included more twists with the subsequent chapters quickly picking up on the previous cliff hanger, avoiding a lull between events and making the book difficult to put down. I look forward to reading more from this author!
September 1, 2024
An easy read, I always enjoy a side story along with the main story.
January 16, 2025
Hold on while reading this one! Intrigue, mystery, murders and love! All in here!!
Great story about this beautiful Victorian hotel that unites a father and daughter but not very long. A sinister Liam is obsessed with Maddie who becomes a victim of so many heart breaks but still finds love. There is a lot of predictable outcomes in the story but still has some twists, some bad, some good. Would LOVE to stay in this hotel.
Great story about this beautiful Victorian hotel that unites a father and daughter but not very long. A sinister Liam is obsessed with Maddie who becomes a victim of so many heart breaks but still finds love. There is a lot of predictable outcomes in the story but still has some twists, some bad, some good. Would LOVE to stay in this hotel.
October 23, 2024
I really enjoyed the writing style of this and the plot however I found it quite predictable, it does however make me want to visit the house the book is based on 🙂
June 15, 2025
4/5 ⭐️ (audiobook) i really enjoyed this book! i've seen people complaining about how slow the writing was, i guess i was just thankful that i listened to the audiobook instead. anyways.. it ended perfectly, can't wait to read the next book in the series.
July 18, 2016
House of Secrets, not only looked an interesting read but i really loved the cover too.
Here we meet Madeline Frost, after losing her husband Michael in a car accident, Madeline was left to bring up their now, 3 year old daughter Poppy alone. Having met her current boyfriend Liam, Madeline is beginning to feel uncomfortable around him and doesnt like his controlling behaviour. When Liam starts to show a nasty side towards Poppy, and then finds him having sex with his boss in the hallway when he thought she was out, Madeline decides its time to leave Liam. But will it be that easy?. Madeline's sister Jess doesnt have room in her flat so Madeline's only option is to contact her dad, who she hasnt seen for years. With this being the only place she can think to go, Madeline arrives at Wrea Head Hall, which is a hotel run by her dad. Pleased to see their arrival, he welcomes them with open arms. It is here that Madeline meets the hotel handyman Bandit, he lives alone in the lodge house, that once belonged to his dad until he got too sick and needed to go into a nursing home. As Madeline and Bandit get to get to know each other and spend more time together, Madeleine begins to feel safe in his presence and trusts him fully with Poppy. They find a diary one day dating back to the 1940s, with this revealing many secrets and hidden tunnels throughout the hall. They then go on a mission to bring the diary to life and learn more about the people who were contained in the diary. Will Madeline finally be free of Liam and start to lead a normal life or will Liam return and cause more trouble for Madeline?. As he has a dark side which we uncover throughout.
Its hard to believe this is Lynda Stacey's first book. I was captivated from the off. I fell in love with the charaters and had a feel about their life and backgrounds. There were a lot of tales to tell and it all just fitted and pieced in well. It had an air of history added to it by including the diary of Emily Ennis, although i am not that keen on history fiction, lynda added just enough to keep you intrigued and interested. Every page stood out to me as the book got more and more gripping. A lot is happening in this book and with lots of twists and turns, you wont want to put this down. I just had to get to the end. This also left me wanting to go and vist the 'real' Wrea Head Hall in Yorkshire one day. I am looking forward to more from Lynda Stacey in the future.
Here we meet Madeline Frost, after losing her husband Michael in a car accident, Madeline was left to bring up their now, 3 year old daughter Poppy alone. Having met her current boyfriend Liam, Madeline is beginning to feel uncomfortable around him and doesnt like his controlling behaviour. When Liam starts to show a nasty side towards Poppy, and then finds him having sex with his boss in the hallway when he thought she was out, Madeline decides its time to leave Liam. But will it be that easy?. Madeline's sister Jess doesnt have room in her flat so Madeline's only option is to contact her dad, who she hasnt seen for years. With this being the only place she can think to go, Madeline arrives at Wrea Head Hall, which is a hotel run by her dad. Pleased to see their arrival, he welcomes them with open arms. It is here that Madeline meets the hotel handyman Bandit, he lives alone in the lodge house, that once belonged to his dad until he got too sick and needed to go into a nursing home. As Madeline and Bandit get to get to know each other and spend more time together, Madeleine begins to feel safe in his presence and trusts him fully with Poppy. They find a diary one day dating back to the 1940s, with this revealing many secrets and hidden tunnels throughout the hall. They then go on a mission to bring the diary to life and learn more about the people who were contained in the diary. Will Madeline finally be free of Liam and start to lead a normal life or will Liam return and cause more trouble for Madeline?. As he has a dark side which we uncover throughout.
Its hard to believe this is Lynda Stacey's first book. I was captivated from the off. I fell in love with the charaters and had a feel about their life and backgrounds. There were a lot of tales to tell and it all just fitted and pieced in well. It had an air of history added to it by including the diary of Emily Ennis, although i am not that keen on history fiction, lynda added just enough to keep you intrigued and interested. Every page stood out to me as the book got more and more gripping. A lot is happening in this book and with lots of twists and turns, you wont want to put this down. I just had to get to the end. This also left me wanting to go and vist the 'real' Wrea Head Hall in Yorkshire one day. I am looking forward to more from Lynda Stacey in the future.
March 21, 2020
Maddie doesn’t know where to go, all she knows is she has to take her little daughter and leave – now. She finds shelter in her estranged father’s hotel in Yorkshire. There, she finds many things. What the love of family really means, but also what true romantic love feels like. She also uncovers scandals, tragedies, and old secrets. However, her old enemy won’t let go, and Maddie and her new-found happiness is more in danger than ever…
I was stunned. I was gripped. I was captivated. I was close to tears at some points, deeply shocked at others and had a happy warmth in my tummy sometimes too. When I picked this book up, I couldn’t put it down again. And I was probably the most shocked about that, because I usually don’t pick up thrillers. But – to my own surprise – I was COMPLETELY HOOKED!!! It has everything that makes a good book: suspense you can hardly endure, mysteries you’re trying your solve, secrets you’re trying to uncover, characters you love, characters you hate, characters you get suspicious off. There is murder, death, secret tunnels, refound family members, love…
Head on over to my blog to read my full review!
https://theartsyreader.com/book-revie...
I was stunned. I was gripped. I was captivated. I was close to tears at some points, deeply shocked at others and had a happy warmth in my tummy sometimes too. When I picked this book up, I couldn’t put it down again. And I was probably the most shocked about that, because I usually don’t pick up thrillers. But – to my own surprise – I was COMPLETELY HOOKED!!! It has everything that makes a good book: suspense you can hardly endure, mysteries you’re trying your solve, secrets you’re trying to uncover, characters you love, characters you hate, characters you get suspicious off. There is murder, death, secret tunnels, refound family members, love…
Head on over to my blog to read my full review!
https://theartsyreader.com/book-revie...
March 16, 2020
First and foremost, how can you not fall instantly in love with a book that has such gorgeous book cover? I have always been a sucker to books with gorgeous mansions on its cover and having a woman and child facing it just sealed the deal for me. There I go, push every other book that has a deadline to be finished and pick this debut book by Lynda Stacey. And happy to say that I wasn’t disappointed.
House of Secrets is a dual time line story of Madeline and Emily. Madeline is in need of a refuge for herself and her 3-year-old daughter Poppy to escape the abusive clutches of her lover Liam. Left with zero options, Maddie approaches her estranged father, owner of Wrea Head Hall, a gothic Victorian mansion converted to a beautiful hotel. Maddie and Poppy feels safe and begins to settle down slowly and Maddie also begins to repair her relationship with her father from whom she had been separated first coz of her mother and then Liam’s abusive and controlling schemes.
Christopher Lawless aka Bandit serves as the gamekeeper and all in all for the hotel staying in the hotel’s cottage in the grounds but his stint as a marine in the army has given him severe PTSD that leaves him with severe nightmares and sleepless nights. During a stormy night, Maddie sees Bandit replacing the broken glasses of the green house and decides to help when they stumble upon a diary of the former owner Emily Ennis.
Emily’s life, her forbidden love, the trauma of the war years everything gets described beautifully in her diary. The alternating chapters of Emily and Maddie begins to evolve, each of them going thru pain and grief of loss before the light shines thru’.
But it is not just the secret of the past being uncovered that holds prominence in this story, Liam and his delusional love for Maddie and his killing spree adds intrigue to this wonderful story of the past and the present. The sibling love between Maddie and Jess was touching. The only point of strain in the House of Secrets was that there seemed to be a loss of connection between events in the story. There was a lack of smooth flow which honestly doesn’t take away any of its flavor but would have made it much more brilliant. Eagerly looking forward to the next part in the series.
House of Secrets is a dual time line story of Madeline and Emily. Madeline is in need of a refuge for herself and her 3-year-old daughter Poppy to escape the abusive clutches of her lover Liam. Left with zero options, Maddie approaches her estranged father, owner of Wrea Head Hall, a gothic Victorian mansion converted to a beautiful hotel. Maddie and Poppy feels safe and begins to settle down slowly and Maddie also begins to repair her relationship with her father from whom she had been separated first coz of her mother and then Liam’s abusive and controlling schemes.
Christopher Lawless aka Bandit serves as the gamekeeper and all in all for the hotel staying in the hotel’s cottage in the grounds but his stint as a marine in the army has given him severe PTSD that leaves him with severe nightmares and sleepless nights. During a stormy night, Maddie sees Bandit replacing the broken glasses of the green house and decides to help when they stumble upon a diary of the former owner Emily Ennis.
Emily’s life, her forbidden love, the trauma of the war years everything gets described beautifully in her diary. The alternating chapters of Emily and Maddie begins to evolve, each of them going thru pain and grief of loss before the light shines thru’.
But it is not just the secret of the past being uncovered that holds prominence in this story, Liam and his delusional love for Maddie and his killing spree adds intrigue to this wonderful story of the past and the present. The sibling love between Maddie and Jess was touching. The only point of strain in the House of Secrets was that there seemed to be a loss of connection between events in the story. There was a lack of smooth flow which honestly doesn’t take away any of its flavor but would have made it much more brilliant. Eagerly looking forward to the next part in the series.
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