by Lynda Stacey
* The End *
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Thank You
Thank you so much for reading my second novel Tell Me No Secrets.
This novel will always be my book baby, it’s the second book of mine to be published, however, it was the first one I ever wrote and even though it’s changed dramatically since it was first written, it will always hold a very special place in my heart.
I really hope you enjoyed following Kate’s journey, through the smiles and heartache that both she and Ben shared during their search to find true love and I’m sure that you’ll agree, that by the time they got it, they really deserved it.
I always get really excited (yet nervous too) when I know that someone is reading my work and I doubt that I’ll ever tire of that feeling when I hear that someone has not only read it, but also that they’ve enjoyed it. They’ve taken the journey with my characters, empathised with them, cried with them, loved or hated them and more than anything else, believed in them.
As an author and like all other authors, I’ve been on quite a writing journey that has taken many years and I still find it surreal that my novels are now real, that they are ‘out there’ and available for readers to buy. With that in mind, I’d love to know your thoughts and I’d be delighted if you’d take just a few moments to leave me any feedback that you can. Reviews are so important to an author, they’re a lifeline that not only helps them to improve, but inspires them to do better, to be disciplined and to keep going at times when it would be very easy to do other things.
If you do have the time to leave me a review on the retail site where you purchased this ebook, Goodreads or any other reviewing platform, you’d make my day and I’d be forever grateful.
Please do feel free to contact me anytime. You can find my details under my author bio, or come and look for my author page on Facebook. I’d always be happy to hear from you and I always respond.
And … if you enjoyed Tell Me No Secrets and want to read another of my stories, then maybe you’d like to read my debut novel, House of Secrets, which is also available on all eBook platforms and in paperback (from June 2017).
Once again, thank you for reading my second novel, it was a pleasure to write it for you!
With Love
Lynda xx.
Read more about Lynda and her novels next ...
About the Author
Lynda, is a wife, step-mother and grandmother, she grew up in the mining village of Bentley, Doncaster, in South Yorkshire.
She is currently the Sales Director of a stationery, office supplies and office furniture company in Doncaster, where she has worked for the past 25 years. Prior to this she’d also been a nurse, a model, an emergency first response instructor and a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor … and yes, she was crazy enough to dive in the sea with sharks, without a cage. Following a car accident in 2008, Lynda was left with limited mobility in her right arm. Unable to dive or teach anymore, she turned to her love of writing, a hobby she’d followed avidly since being a teenager.
Her own life story, along with varied career choices helps Lynda to create stories of romantic suspense, with challenging and unpredictable plots, along with (as in all romances) very happy endings.
She lives in a small rural hamlet near Doncaster, with her ‘hero at home husband’, Haydn, whom she’s been happily married to for over 20 years.
Lynda joined the Romantic Novelist Association in 2014 under the umbrella of the New Writers Scheme and in 2015, her debut novel House of Secrets won the Choc Lit’s Search for a Star competition.
Read about Lynda's novels next including a preview of House of Secrets.
For more information on Lynda visit:
www.lyndastacey.co.uk
www.twitter.com/LyndaStacey
More Choc Lit
From Lynda Stacey
House of Secrets
Book 1 - Secrets
A woman on the run, a broken man and a house with a shocking secret …
Madeleine Frost has to get away. Her partner Liam has become increasingly controlling to the point that 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 in Yorkshire. There, she meets Christopher ‘Bandit’ Lawless, an ex-marine and the gamekeeper of the hall, whose brusque manner conceals a painful past.
After discovering a diary belonging to a previous owner, Maddie and Bandit find themselves immersed in the history of the old house, uncovering its secrets, scandals, tragedies – and, all the while, becoming closer.
But Liam still won’t let go, he wants Maddie back, and when Liam wants something he gets it, no matter who he hurts …
Winner of Choc Lit’s 2015 Search for a Star competition.
Read an preview here.
Purchase from your eBook provider or visit www.choc-lit.com for more details.
House of Christmas Secrets
Book 2 - Secrets & Sequel to House of Secrets
This year we’re just going to have a nice, normal Christmas…
Last year’s Christmas at Wrea Head Hall didn’t quite go to plan which is why Jess Croft is determined this festive season will be the one to remember, for the right reasons. And she has plenty of reasons to be hopeful, she’s going to marry the man of her dreams, Jack Stone, seven days after New Year’s Eve.
However, as family secrets are revealed in hidden letters and two unexpected guests turn up on the doorstep, Jess is left wondering whether her life will ever be the same again.
Can Jess and Jack still experience a peaceful festive season that they had imagined or are there some problems that even Christmas can’t fix?
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READ ABOUT CHOC LIT NEXT ...
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Where heroes are like chocolate – irresistible!
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Preview
House of Secrets
by Lynda Stacey
CHAPTER ONE
Madeleine covered her eyes in an attempt to shield them from the early morning sun. It burst in through a tiny slit in the bedroom curtains and shone directly at her. She lay for a few moments, waiting for her eyes to become accustomed to the light before peering across to where Liam slept.
She took a deep breath and inched her body between the crisp white sheets towards the edge of the bed in an effort to widen the gap between herself and her naked lover. Then she lay as still as she could, not daring to move, as she watched him sleep. She used to love watching the steady rise and fall of his
chest, his deep, slow, untroubled breaths and the way he slept on his back with his arms spread outward, as though surrendering in a childlike, unconscious state. But he’d changed. Now, she didn’t know whether to love him or to hate him, at any given moment.
Holding her breath, she noticed his eyes flicker and knew that as soon as he woke, she’d have to quickly judge whether he was in a good mood or bad. Whether he’d want to make love or argue and, right now, she was tired and didn’t feel in the mood to do either. Closing her eyes, Madeleine lay back against the pillows, only to feel Liam’s hand pushing the sheets down to uncover her.
‘You awake, Maddie darlin’?’ his soft Irish tone mumbled in her ear.
Liam’s hand started to move over her body in soft, gentle, caressing strokes. Madeleine felt herself relax. This was Liam in a good mood. For a moment she enjoyed the simple feeling of tenderness, along with the feel of his hand moving sensuously over her body. It was what she’d enjoyed so much at the beginning of their relationship and a small part of her wondered if he could change, if they could both change, and if once again she could have the loving and caring Liam, without the nasty side she’d experienced of late.
She inhaled deeply and then caught her breath as Liam’s hand travelled down to her thigh. There had been a time when she’d have felt waves of excitement, times when she’d wished for him to be closer and, more often than not, it had been her that had instigated their lovemaking. But that was before. Before she’d moved into his house with her daughter and before he’d taken control of everything she did. Madeleine thought back to when she had first met him, how generous, caring and loving he’d been, which made her wonder why he had changed, if the arguments were her fault and whether it was her that made him angry. Maybe he regretted allowing her to move in, or perhaps he simply didn’t like the fact that she was a mother, with a very young daughter.
Madeleine glanced up, staring directly into Liam’s sleepy green eyes that were now just centimetres away from hers.
He flashed her a cheeky smile and then lowered his lips brushing them gently against hers. He lingered tenderly and savoured the moment. He then paused and pulled away. Once again, his eyes searched hers, studying her in a seductive, yet thoughtful way. And then he smiled again, the slight gap between his two front white teeth giving him a cute, mischievous appearance.
‘You got something on your mind there, Maddie?’ Liam’s voice broke through her thoughts, just as she felt his fingers brush lightly against her face, making her jump.
‘No, not at all,’ she lied. ‘I was just enjoying the moment.’ She moved away from him, but felt his hand grab at her wrist.
‘Hey, not so fast. I have something for you,’ Liam whispered as he pulled her hand towards him, placing it firmly against his arousal which was more than apparent.
Madeleine took a sharp, inward breath and allowed her gaze to fall upon his mouth, just as he lifted his hand to move a strand of hair away from her face. Their eyes met again as his mouth descended upon hers. She wanted him to be happy, wanted him to stay in a good mood and responded as passionately as she could to the kiss. Her lips parted and she allowed his tongue to delve repeatedly into the recesses of her mouth. His hands tentatively roamed over her breasts and down to her stomach and in one firm and unambiguous movement, he pressed his fingers deep inside her, making Madeleine relax into the lovemaking.
‘Are you ready for me, Maddie?’ he whispered between kisses. His body moved over hers, but then he eased away momentarily as he tugged roughly at her silk nightdress, pulling it up and over her head, tossing it to the floor, discarded.
Liam’s lips grazed her neck, his tongue drew circles on her skin, gently at first but then quickly and ardently his mouth fell upon her breasts, making the blood flow through her veins at speed. She had loved him, had enjoyed making love to him and wondered again if it was possible to return to the relationship they’d once had and for her to get back the Liam that she’d first met.
A soft creak on the staircase made Madeleine freeze. The noise could only mean one thing and her stomach tied in knots, knowing that if Poppy was out of bed, Liam would get angry. Madeleine listened intently for any further evidence that the three-year-old was up and about. For a moment she heard nothing more and started to relax, but then another creak, quickly followed by a timid murmur, which made Madeleine jump up and out of Liam’s clutches.
‘Mummy,’ the young voice beckoned. ‘Mummy, I need you. Are you there?’
‘Poppy, stay where you are, baby girl. Mummy’s coming,’ she yelled as she grabbed at her robe, finding herself suddenly eager to cover her naked body from Liam’s angry gaze.
‘Damn it, Maddie,’ he shouted as he leaned out of bed. He rummaged around in search of the boxer shorts that he had discarded the night before and pulled them on. ‘I can’t remember the last time I got to the end without hearing that stupid, whining little voice behind that bloody door. Can’t you control her?’
Madeleine felt her blood boil. ‘Control her? She’s a child, Liam. Not something you bloody control.’ Madeleine glared at him as she got out of bed. He’d taken one too many digs at her daughter and this time she had no intention of letting it pass.
‘Why Liam? Why do you do this? Why do you go from being nice Liam one minute, to being a really shitty, nasty Liam the next?’ She paused and stared at him, knowing that her daughter was just the other side of the door and no doubt listening to every word. ‘I have no idea why the hell I stay.’
She meant every word. When Liam was nice, he could be kind, sensual, generous and even romantic. But then his mood could turn on a sixpence and he’d turn mean without warning, and when he did this to Poppy she hated him with a vengeance. How dare he be cruel to her daughter?
She stared into the green eyes which had now turned cold and piercing, watched the indecision in his gaze and waited for him to challenge her in return. She knew his mood would and could go either way, and then, just as though someone had flicked a switch, he smiled, got off the bed and walked towards her.
‘Oh, Maddie, I’m sorry, forgive me.’ His arms were suddenly around her, his lips grazed her forehead and once again he was ‘nice Liam’, gentle and loving. ‘It’s just that, you know, I was so turned on. I mean, come on, Maddie, what am I supposed to do with this?’ He gripped her wrist and pulled her hand towards him. She could feel the erection beneath his boxers, still proud and throbbing. She closed her eyes and thought carefully about her next move.
‘Liam, let go of my hand. Now. My daughter needs me.’ A shudder ran through her, unsure of what he would do next and she looked back at the closed door, more than aware that Poppy would still be standing on the other side, clutching a teddy bear, waiting.
Liam pushed Madeleine towards the bed. She unbalanced and landed heavily. He then stamped across the room and snatched open the door to reveal a small girl, crouched on the corner of the landing, making a soft whimpering sound and with her teddy bear pulled up in front of her to hide her face.
‘Get gone to your Mammy,’ he snarled as he stepped past the frightened child, down the landing and into the bathroom. To Madeleine’s relief, the shower burst into life.
‘Morning, precious girl,’ Madeleine whispered as she watched a terrified and timid Poppy creep towards her, dragging her teddy bear behind her with one hand, the thumb of the other firmly clamped in her mouth. ‘You want to snuggle?’ Madeleine asked as she climbed back into bed, threw back the quilt and watched as a huge smile came over Poppy’s face. She squealed with delight and immediately raced over to where her mother lay, jumped under the covers and nestled in, clinging to her like a small and over-enthusiastic chameleon.
‘I take it you’ll be working from home today?’ Liam asked as he straightened his tie and took a swig of his tea. The question was more an order than a question and Madeleine felt her stomach flip with nerves.
‘Actually, I’ve arranged to go shopping with Jess.’ Madeleine smiled at the thought of spending
the whole day with her sister, lifted the kettle and made herself a coffee. ‘That is okay, isn’t it?’
‘Maddie, it’s Monday. You work on a Monday. We agreed.’
‘Come on, Liam. Don’t do this. It’s just a day out with Jess. I haven’t seen her for months. Don’t spoil it.’
He looked up in the air, thinking. ‘Oh, oh, okay. It’s okay for Poppy to spoil my fun, is it? But not for me to spoil yours.’ The words were cruel and once again directed at Poppy. Madeleine looked around for her daughter, who, as always when Liam was around, had taken herself off somewhere else in the house to play.
Madeleine looked down at the floor, turned towards him and swallowed hard. ‘She’s a baby, Liam. Just a baby. Please understand, she needs me.’
He picked up his almost empty mug and drained it. He then threw it at the sink where it shattered against the tiles, making her jump. He turned around at speed, he was so close that Madeleine could feel his breath on her cheek. ‘Understand? Oh, okay, Maddie, I’ll understand her, just as soon as you learn that I need a woman in my bed, not a nursemaid to a needy child.’ His eyes were cold, fixed. They stared deep into her soul and Madeleine felt herself weaken. ‘Besides, it’s Monday and you need to work on a Monday. We agreed.’
Madeleine felt tears form behind her eyes. She’d been looking forward to spending the day with Jess and didn’t need the extra stress of wondering what mood Liam would be in when she returned home. She tried to choke back the tears, didn’t want him to know how much he hurt her and carefully prepared her reply.
‘Didn’t I tell you? I’ve finished my latest book. I’m just waiting for Bridget to get back to me with suggestions for the edits.’ She thought the mention of a finished project might please him and watched his face as it visibly softened.