Last week I welcomed Lynda Stacey to my blog to talk about herself and how her writing has developed over the years, culminating in her winning ChocLit's Search For A Star competition. Since last week, her debut romantic suspense novel, House of Secrets, has been published and, at time of writing, has gathered fourteen 5-star and three 4-star reviews on Amazon.
Reviewers mention the book's "wonderful romantic aspect," its "involving love story" and the "sizzling romance." As for the characters, they are "real people... acting in a believable way."
For me, one of the outstanding features of House of Secrets was the house itself, Wrea Head Hall.
Here's what Lynda told me about it:
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 | Wrea Head Hall is the most beautiful hotel that I've ever been to. My husband took me there for a birthday treat around four years ago. I vividly remember walking through the huge stone archway and into the reception area. I fell in love immediately. |
I actually felt as though I had stepped back in time. I could feel the history seeping out of the walls to greet me and at that moment I knew that the house had a story to tell. I've always been a talker and I began asking questions about the family that had lived there, about the cellars, the bell tower and about its history. The story came to life before me and, as they say, the rest is history. |  |
Lynda writes loving descriptions of Wrea Head Hall, but it is more than just a building. In her novel, Lynda turns it into a place of hope and new beginnings, but also of sorrow and lost chances, and as such it is a powerful symbol of the story and its themes. It provides welcome and safety for Maddie and her young daughter and this makes it all the more disturbing when their new-found sense of security is violated. And of course, the house keeps its secrets, which are gradually revealed and explored as the dual-time narrative unfolds.
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 | Lynda's links:
Her Twitter Page Her website Amazon's Lynda Stacey page |
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