My thanks to Edelweiss for the e-ARC.

I have been a fan of V.C. Andrews' books since reading her Flowers in the Attic and Casteel series years ago. I have fallen way behind and have quite a few of her books(series and stand-alones) to catch up on. Her writing created a mood. Atmospheric and foreboding. Her books were addictive and unputdownable. The releases written by ghost writers are...just not the same. Whispering Hearts is the second book I've read that was not written by V.C. Andrews herself(Silhouette Girl was the first).

Beautiful and talented, Emma Corey grew up in a family that stifled her dreams and ambitions. They considered them foolish, frivolous, and far-fetched. But, tenacious Emma would not be deterred. She took a bold step and headed to New York to try her luck. Despite of having a head start(housing in a prime location, employment, and supportive friends), life was not easy. She got a taste of the city early on and her days were an endless cycle of back-breaking work, rejection, and money shortages. Until...her landlord offers a tempting opportunity, one that is hush-hush, lucrative, and daunting. But, less daunting than returning back home defeated.

In the blink of an eye, Emma is whisked from one new world to another. Will THIS risk ultimately be worth the reward?

Overall, this book was just okay. I kept reading, hoping for a plot twist. But, there was none. It was just a story, an uncompelling one, with an ending that hints at a sequel(I found out later that this book was book 3 of 3 in the House of Secrets series and serves as a prequel). ( )