Boldwood Books are currently repackaging and reissuing the earlier books of L.H. Stacey – and I’m really delighted they’ll be out there and readily available for a whole new set of readers to enjoy. In October, I re-shared my review of The Fake Date, first read in 2018 (you’ll find my post here) – and in November it was the turn of The House Guest, originally published by Choc Lit in 2016 as House of Secrets (you’ll find my updated review of it here). And today sees the release of yet another – The Safe House, originally published in 2017 as House of Christmas Secrets, now available as an e-book, in paperback and audiobook, and with a great new cover.
Let’s take a closer look…
No place left to run…
After the shocking events of last Christmas, Jess Croft is determined this festive season will be the one to remember, for all the right reasons.
But when a stranger turns up on her doorstep claiming to be her estranged father, Jess is shocked. More so, when the man claims that the little girl with him is none other than Jess’s sister – a child she knew nothing about.
Jess isn’t sure she wants these strangers to stay, but she can’t turn them away, especially when she learns that their lives are in danger.
Now Wrea Head Hall isn’t just Jess’s home, it’s the only safe place for her new family to hide.
Perfect for fans of Teresa Driscoll, Sue Watson, Jackie Kabler and Kendra Elliot.
Once again, I’m going to share again my original review, unchanged from 2017, but with the lightest of edits so that it makes sense in a different context…
If you read The House Guest, you’ll remember Jess (Maddy’s sister) and the lovely Jack who are the focus for this story – but if you didn’t, this is 100% a stand-alone story, with any background gaps very well covered. And if you’ve read anything from the author before, you’ll already know that this isn’t going to be a light Christmassy read.
You will get the lovely descriptions of Wrea Head Hall in the festive season, complete with tree and carollers – and the story does start quite slowly with great sadness touching everyone. But then the unexpected guests appear, and we get a totally different story – an unexpected and rather lovely love interest, family complications, but also a breakneck thriller with tremendous pace and an edge of quite unexpected violence and evil.
I know I’ve mentioned before that I’m rubbish at reviewing thrillers – I want to say “there’s this great bit when…”, but know that if I do I’ll give away the whole story. But should you be expecting everything to be rather genteel given the story’s primary setting, the parallel story that unspools is dark and distinctly disturbing, and as for the fireworks when the story lines come together – oh my goodness! There’s a good depth about the whole book too, as it looks at family and what it really means – and not just by focusing on those that have rather forgotten the meaning. Very nicely done – I enjoyed this one.
And I’m sure it’s one that others are going to enjoy too…!
About the author
L. H. Stacey is the bestselling psychological suspense author of over seven novels. Alongside her writing she is a full-time sales director for an office furniture company and has been a nurse, an emergency first response instructor and a PADI Staff Instructor. She lives near Doncaster with her husband.
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I just read The Fake Date last month. It was the first book I’ve read of hers. I really enjoyed it and hope to read more.
Delighted you enjoyed it as much as I did – all Lynda’s books are excellent reads…