Book Review / The Winter Folly by Lulu Taylor

The darker the lie, the deeper the secret . . .

In this house there are many secrets…

It is 1965 and young Alexandra Crewe obediently marries the man her father has selected for her. But very soon both she and her husband Laurence realize that their marriage is a disaster. When real love finds Alexandra, plucking her out of her unhappy existence, she is powerless to resist. Her home becomes Fort Stirling, a beautiful Dorset castle, but Alexandra fears that there will be a price to pay for this wonderful new life. When tragedy strikes, it seems that her punishment has come, and there is only one way she can atone for her sins . . .

In the present day, Delilah Young is the second wife of John Stirling and the new chatelaine of Fort Stirling. The house seems to be a sad one and Delilah hopes to fill it with life and happiness. But when she attempts to heal the heartbreak in John’s life, it seems that the forces of the past might be too strong for her. Why does John have such a hatred for the old folly on the hill, and what happened to his mother when she vanished from his life? As Delilah searches for the truth, she realizes that perhaps some secrets are better left buried . . .


Published:     5th December 2013
Publisher:  Pan Publishing
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source:  Owned

MY REVIEW

This book was so addicting, I just could not put it down!   This is the first book I have read written by this author and I certainly will be picking up more really soon!

This story is split between two time lines.  In the past, we are following Alexandra who marries because her father tells her to not for love but that all changes when she meets the man of her dreams.  In the present, we follow Delilah who has just married and moved into Fort Sterling but it seems there is more to Fort Stirling than she realised. 


What I loved the most about this book was definitely the suspense.  You have two story lines running alongside each other, each with its own highs and lows.  What kept me reading was wanting to find out what was going to happen next and how the two story lines would somehow connect together.  There is also great character development in this story which just made me route for certain characters all the more and hope that things work out ok for them. 

A great mix of historical fiction and suspense.  I would highly recommend!