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Heavenstone #2
Secret Whispers
There's no place like home...
On the eve of her graduation from an exclusive private school, shy wallflower Semantha Heavenstone is caught in a whirl of scandal and betrayal. Now, she's returned to the grand Kentucky mansion where painful memories of her mother and her older sister, Cassie, are as potent as newly mown bluegrass. It seems no matter where she goes, Semantha is haunted by a voice from the grave -- spiteful, domineering Cassie, whose taunts and manipulations seem as real as when she was alive.
...and no end to the nightmare
Soon her father will remarry, new memories -- and a new stepmother -- will replace the past...and Semantha herself has a chance at a bright future with a career inside the Heavenstone empire and handsome Ethan Hunter by her side. But someone will see to it that Semantha never forgets the tragedies of yesterday. Will Cassie's ghostly hold on Semantha destroy her hope and drive her to madness?
On the eve of her graduation from an exclusive private school, shy wallflower Semantha Heavenstone is caught in a whirl of scandal and betrayal. Now, she's returned to the grand Kentucky mansion where painful memories of her mother and her older sister, Cassie, are as potent as newly mown bluegrass. It seems no matter where she goes, Semantha is haunted by a voice from the grave -- spiteful, domineering Cassie, whose taunts and manipulations seem as real as when she was alive.
...and no end to the nightmare
Soon her father will remarry, new memories -- and a new stepmother -- will replace the past...and Semantha herself has a chance at a bright future with a career inside the Heavenstone empire and handsome Ethan Hunter by her side. But someone will see to it that Semantha never forgets the tragedies of yesterday. Will Cassie's ghostly hold on Semantha destroy her hope and drive her to madness?
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 7, 2009
37 people are currently reading
2463 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
370 books9,103 followersBooks published under the following names - Virginia Andrews, V. Andrews, Virginia C. Andrews & V.C. Endrius. Books since her death ghost written by Andrew Neiderman, but still attributed to the V.C. Andrews name
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
March 2, 2014
Le Grand Casino in Monaco doesn't let citizens of its own country into the gaming rooms? But isn't that...prejudiced against its people? Dude, that's not cool. Mind you, I hear they're building a casino in Queensland that'll only be for foreign high rollers, and not locals, but you know James Packer and his other wealthy Australian mates will get in... But I digress. Would've thought it'd give Semantha more agency to banish Cassie in order to turn her life around, instead of after the fact. Instead, she just needed a certain character to die, and then she was fine. Huh.
Read
May 17, 2011I don't know why this person continues to write these books. They're terribly repetitive and boring.
I don't know why I continue to read these books. Perhaps I'm hoping one time a good one will come out again. But I think I need to convince myself that since V.C. Andrews' death, that won't ever happen.
I don't know why I continue to read these books. Perhaps I'm hoping one time a good one will come out again. But I think I need to convince myself that since V.C. Andrews' death, that won't ever happen.
Read
July 29, 2011I don't know why I continue to torture myself with V.C. Andrews books. Perhaps I'm holding on to a minuscule piece of hope that the next novel will be as gripping as V.C.'s original works. This book doesn't even come close. It's ridiculously dull, lacks even a whisper of a story-line, and concludes after one of the most anti-climatic death scenes I have ever read. Don't waist your time!!!!
November 16, 2017
V C Andrews
I have read every book V. Andrews has written still have some to read yet ,I fell behind now I have to catch up,all her books are very good reading
I have read every book V. Andrews has written still have some to read yet ,I fell behind now I have to catch up,all her books are very good reading
March 4, 2015
*This review may contain spoilers*
What's it about?
"Secret Whispers" is the second, and final, book in the Heavenstone series. On the eve of her graduation from an exclusive private school, shy wallflower Semantha Heavenstone is caught in a whirl of scandal and betrayal. Now, she's returned to the grand Kentucky mansion where painful memories of her mother and her older sister, Cassie, are as potent as newly mown bluegrass. It seems no matter where she goes, Semantha is haunted by a voice from the grave - spiteful, domineering Cassie, whose taunts and manipulations seem as real as when she was alive. Soon her father will remarry, new memories - and a new stepmother - will replace the past...and Semantha herself has a chance at a bright future with a career inside the Heavenstone empire and handsome Ethan Hunter by her side. But someone will see to it that Semantha never forgets the tragedies of yesterday. Will Cassie's ghostly hold on Semantha destroy her hope and drive her to madness?
Who's the author?
Virginia Andrews completed her first novel in 1972, but it was never published. More novels and short stories were completed but never published before she submitted a 290,000-word novel, "The Obsessed." She was told the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight page revision was re-titled "Flowers In The Attic." Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the best-seller lists a mere two weeks after publication. The Dollanganger series was just one of the many series Andrews published. The Heavenstone series, consisting of "The Heavenstone Secrets" and "Secret Whispers," is another.
Was it any good?
If possible, this novel is even weaker the first novel in the series. At the end of the first book, "The Heavenstone Secrets," I couldn't see how there was scope for a second book. After reading the second book, I stand by my conviction. "Secret Whispers" seemed to lack any direction or purpose; it was an opportunity to explore Semantha's life without her sister, but it wasn't a necessary installment in the series. In fact, this series would have been better as a stand-alone novel using just the first book and cutting the second completely. Not only was the book boring and mundane, but it came across as incredulous with Cassie still a prominent character, even after her death in the first novel. I was really disappointed, not only with this book but with the whole series, sadly.
Would I recommend it?
No. Not unless, like me, you have a desire to complete series and read the first book in the Heavenstone series. Otherwise, I really wouldn't bother.
What's it about?
"Secret Whispers" is the second, and final, book in the Heavenstone series. On the eve of her graduation from an exclusive private school, shy wallflower Semantha Heavenstone is caught in a whirl of scandal and betrayal. Now, she's returned to the grand Kentucky mansion where painful memories of her mother and her older sister, Cassie, are as potent as newly mown bluegrass. It seems no matter where she goes, Semantha is haunted by a voice from the grave - spiteful, domineering Cassie, whose taunts and manipulations seem as real as when she was alive. Soon her father will remarry, new memories - and a new stepmother - will replace the past...and Semantha herself has a chance at a bright future with a career inside the Heavenstone empire and handsome Ethan Hunter by her side. But someone will see to it that Semantha never forgets the tragedies of yesterday. Will Cassie's ghostly hold on Semantha destroy her hope and drive her to madness?
Who's the author?
Virginia Andrews completed her first novel in 1972, but it was never published. More novels and short stories were completed but never published before she submitted a 290,000-word novel, "The Obsessed." She was told the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight page revision was re-titled "Flowers In The Attic." Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the best-seller lists a mere two weeks after publication. The Dollanganger series was just one of the many series Andrews published. The Heavenstone series, consisting of "The Heavenstone Secrets" and "Secret Whispers," is another.
Was it any good?
If possible, this novel is even weaker the first novel in the series. At the end of the first book, "The Heavenstone Secrets," I couldn't see how there was scope for a second book. After reading the second book, I stand by my conviction. "Secret Whispers" seemed to lack any direction or purpose; it was an opportunity to explore Semantha's life without her sister, but it wasn't a necessary installment in the series. In fact, this series would have been better as a stand-alone novel using just the first book and cutting the second completely. Not only was the book boring and mundane, but it came across as incredulous with Cassie still a prominent character, even after her death in the first novel. I was really disappointed, not only with this book but with the whole series, sadly.
Would I recommend it?
No. Not unless, like me, you have a desire to complete series and read the first book in the Heavenstone series. Otherwise, I really wouldn't bother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2010
I must admit I am torn about what to write in my review of this book due to the fact that I liked it, but found it lacking at the same time. After loving the first book in this series, I was psyched about reading this one. And although I enjoyed the story and finding out what happeend to Semantha, I did not enjoy it as much as the first book. I don't know if it was because the first book reminded me alot of Flowers in the Attic (which I still love to this day) and this book reminded me of the newer books (which, in my opinion, although good don't even compare to the earlier books); and/or if the first book just appealed to me more because it felt like a book geared to both adult and YA audiences whereas this book seemed geared to a YA audience. Either way, I'm glad I read this book. The aspect I liked the most was the mystery surrounding Lucille and Ethan's characters. Even after reading the book, I'm still wondering if Lucille was genuine in her affection for Sam and her father or just after the prestige and forturne of being a Heavenstone; and if Ethan came back to Sam because he truly loves her, or if it was because Lucille offered him everything he ever wanted? Or was Sam's thoughts and feelings really those of her sister? In addition, I also liked how the story wasn't too predictable, and offered some suprises. Despite my reservations and initial comments, I would recommend this book to other readers, especially the YA audience.
April 5, 2011
This is the 2nd part of "The Heavenstone Secrets." Semantha is graduating from an exclusive private school and looks forward to a bright future in the Heavenstone Estate back home in Northern Kentucky and is excited at the prospect of having Ethan at her side. Its been rough, three years or so ago, Semantha lost two important people - her mother and her sister (Cassie) who died just months apart. She returns the huge mansion where memories of her mother and sister are still vivid and Cassie wont release her taunting hold as she haunts Semantha from the grave. Semantha learns that her father plans to remarry. The wedding is one of the biggest events KY has ever heard. Until, yet again, tragedy hits like lightning from a Summer storm yet again. It seems money can only do so much - it cant buy you love or happiness, nor does it exempt you from tragedy.
May 5, 2011
Surprisingly, I did enjoy this book a lot more than some of the other recent ones. I would even say that I would like to see a third one from this series that details the life of Semantha and Ethan's child. I could definitely see this as part of a five book series where the fifth one served as a prequel that detailed the parents' lives before they had Cassie and Semantha. I really miss those five book series because they were so interesting and gave a great deal of family history. This one was really good because it didn't have any outrageous plot line and was true to events that could have possibly happened in real life. I was waiting for Lucille to be a horrible person reminiscent of Flowers in the Attic days, but that's okay. I'm not sure what's in store for the next series. I guess the ghost writer is trying his hand in vampire tales, so we'll see how that goes.
April 9, 2010
I LOVED this book. it only took 3 days to finish. This book picks up a couple of years after the first book. Semantha Heavenstone is at a private school and getting ready to graduate. she has never made any good friends along the way and the character seems to be clinically depressed throughout the book, still seeing and hearing her dead sister Cassie.
Along the way her father remarries a control freak and Semantha meets a very nice college graduate, Ethan. You never truly figure out how these two ended up together. Was it meant to be or was it planned along the way?
Through many twists and turns in the book it keeps you reading to find out exactly what will happen with Semantha in the end. Too bad this was only a 2 book series, I would've loved a little bit more.
Along the way her father remarries a control freak and Semantha meets a very nice college graduate, Ethan. You never truly figure out how these two ended up together. Was it meant to be or was it planned along the way?
Through many twists and turns in the book it keeps you reading to find out exactly what will happen with Semantha in the end. Too bad this was only a 2 book series, I would've loved a little bit more.
July 13, 2011
This book kept my attention enough for me to pick it up at every free moment. I am glad i did not read the previous book, if there is one one, since this one pretty much covered what had happened before and how she came to be where she was and was going in this book.
It had just enough "creepyness" to keep me on guard but not enough to give me nighmares.
I was a little shocked at the R rated stuff and there was some so i would not recoomend this book in the teen section. I do not remember reading any sexual content with andrews but maybe i just missed it in the other books, but, its one of the reasons i like andrews, the books are not crude but mysterious boarding on a almost out of the teen years, like 17.5 years as opposed to full on adult content.
It had just enough "creepyness" to keep me on guard but not enough to give me nighmares.
I was a little shocked at the R rated stuff and there was some so i would not recoomend this book in the teen section. I do not remember reading any sexual content with andrews but maybe i just missed it in the other books, but, its one of the reasons i like andrews, the books are not crude but mysterious boarding on a almost out of the teen years, like 17.5 years as opposed to full on adult content.
March 19, 2010
Secret Whispers confirms for me that V.C. Andrews' novels are back in a big way. The depth of the character, the intrigue and the conflicts are vintage V.C. Andrews and what made Flowers in the Attic so special. We're really into this characters' psyche and can feel the struggles, emotions and hear her thoughts. Semantha, like Cathy in Flowers is a complex young girl who battles forces seemingly larger than life and somehow realizes her future and her strength. I particularly liked the interplay between her and her "dead" sister. It's a wonderful play of personalities and inner thoughts. What a great addition to The Heavenstone Secrets.
January 25, 2014
Like the book before this, this felt like it got back to the basics of what makes up a VC Andrews book. It felt like one of the early books, even if there were a few issues I had with it. I really miss likeable love interests, especially ones who don't come of sketchy from the start (the whole book I just wanted Ethan to go away). The author really has a messed up view on what the relationship is like between women- and not all women are vipers, like seems to be implied. The language was way too formal at times- it sounded strange, and not something actual people would say. The ending was also really rushed and I didn't think it was a good conclusion.
June 29, 2010
2nd in the series. As usual dysfunctional family stories continue. First part of it tells the story a little bit of what happened in the previous book, then goes on with the new story where she is in highschool, meets a boy who she doesn't think will contact her after graduation since he's a "college" student, graduates & goes home but her dad has met someone new and they are married. She still hear's and sees her dead sister so this poses problems. The boy contacts her, etc. Can't wait for book #3. If you have previously read any of these books you'll like it!
September 23, 2012
This was a really odd book. It all seemed pretty ridiculous storyline wise to be honest but the major weirdness is that it just ended without anything much having happened. I mean it felt like it was building up to a huge event but then it all just ended without resolving anything & without anything much occuring?! Really odd! It was like the author just got bored and mid build up suddenly wrote 'and they all lived happily ever after...The End!' This all made for a bit of a pants book. Official!
July 18, 2014
Yech
Yech
I bought both books in the series at once, so I read this one even though the first was the only V.C. Andrews that I haven't enjoyed. While this is better than the first in the series, the tragedies remain predictable. Given the genre, one expects bad things to happen. in most V.C. Andrews titles I have been surprised by when, what and how the tragedies occur and intertwine. In this one, however, there are few, if any, surprises. I guessed what would happen next. I cannot recommend this series, even to die-hard fans.
Yech
I bought both books in the series at once, so I read this one even though the first was the only V.C. Andrews that I haven't enjoyed. While this is better than the first in the series, the tragedies remain predictable. Given the genre, one expects bad things to happen. in most V.C. Andrews titles I have been surprised by when, what and how the tragedies occur and intertwine. In this one, however, there are few, if any, surprises. I guessed what would happen next. I cannot recommend this series, even to die-hard fans.
October 15, 2012
Although this book took me a tenth of the time heavenstone's secrets to read I find myself liking the first book like 20 times better. I feel like V. C. Andrews forced this book out to make a bigger profit off the series it really should have ended in the first book with maybe like one epilogue chapter. I did enjoy the book though.
July 5, 2010
I was really into this book, and then the ending happened, and so quickly. This disappointed me to no end. How can you build he plot, and then just end the book? hmmm This would have been one of my favs, of her series had she not ended so abruptly.
April 10, 2011
Many years ago I had read Flowers in the Attic and Clan of the Cavebear etc. and thought this might be fun to read. It was nothing like how I remember the other books, although I was very young when I read those. Probably not worth reading this...
April 21, 2011
After reading both books in this series I am inclined to think that the ghost writer (Andrew Neiderman)has nothing on V. C. Andrews. Stories are long drawn out and predictable. If you have nothing to do on a lazy day and you want a not so complex read, this series is for you.
November 8, 2012
Very interesting ending and unexpected as V.C. Andrews is known for. Since her death the writing has gotten a little more off the wall but this series of 2 books came together at the end but not the story line I expected. Keeps you guessing where it is going to go until the end.
March 3, 2014
LOVE IT! A little bit confusing but at the end everything makes sence. You might hate it at first, but you sure will end up loving it! Took me 1 day to read it, and to be honest I felt jn love wih Ethan!!!
September 23, 2014
An excellent follow up to The Heavenstone Secrets. I absolutely hated the character of Lucielle. I wish it was a longer series though as it would be nice to see what happens after the end of this one.
December 5, 2014
one of the best, most loved series/authors of all time. V.C. Andrews books are something so easily recognizable and new books continue to evolve to go with the times and bring in a whole new generation of loving readers
March 2, 2010
Run away, run away! Shield your eyes from this atrocity with no redeeming value and idiotic plot. V.C. Andrews is probably rolling over in her grave.
March 29, 2010
I really enjoyed the first book in the series. This one on the other hand was ok could have been a bit better.
March 15, 2010
Good, but it could have been better.
April 10, 2010
A smidgen better than the first book, but still a snore-fest.
February 29, 2012
I am intrigued w/the story so far. The 1st book took me only a few hrz. V.C. Is interesting.
May 23, 2010
This book was better than the first one, in my opinion!!
July 14, 2010
This book was really boring. I didnt even want to finish the book or read farther than i really had to.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews