Echoes in the Walls (2) (House of Secrets)

Let's be absolutely fucking clear here - V.C. Andrews did not write this book. The book cover might claim she did, but it's a bold-faced lie by the publishers to try to push these new books. The crap Neiderman writes has gotten worse and doesn't sell as much as it used to. Now, whether or not THIS book is crap remains to be seen as I have not read it yet, but I am posting this because V.C. Andrews has been dead for THIRTY years now, and her notes were long used up. It's 100 percent Neiderman now, and it befuddles me that the publishers and family keep pushing this even though V.C. left behind several manuscripts which any fan would LOVE to read (like the Obsessed)

As a V.C. Andrews fan, I want to see a book come out that was actually show more written by V.C. Andrews herself, not a lazy ghostwriter who knows her name sells better than his own, and is trying to see what kind of crap he can get away with under her name (Secret Brother, Whitefern, anyone?)

If the ghostwriter wants to keep writing - then by all means, let him do so under HIS own name, and have the REAL VCA's unpublished manuscripts finally out for us VCA fans! The publishers would make a lot of money off that, which makes me wonder why they insist on passing Neiderman's crap under VCA's name but not releasing her actual manuscripts! And releasing a bunch of books ONLY in e-format instead of doing the smart thing and i don't know, releasing all titles in BOTH paperback and e-format?

If you're unhappy with the publishers and the ghostwriter, make yourselves heard.

Actual review as of 4/29/19 - Holy Christfuck, the book was boring as fuck. Like, super slow-paced and boring, but if you're familiar with Neiderman's work, that's nothing new. Neiderman likes to drag shit out and repeat it. A LOT. But again, that's nothing new. You could skim through this book and not miss anything worthwhile.

This book and the first book in the series could both have at least 50 percent of their contents cut out, and the reader would not miss a single damn thing. (same can be said about anything Neiderman wrote in the last 15-20 years)

It's pretty clear that he's just filling these books with repetition to make three books where one would do, for the sole purpose of milking readers out of their money. It's become pretty blatant in recent years. The plot twists in here are super unconvincing AF (Fern's mother marries Ryder's dad. So now Fern and Ryder are both siblings AND step-siblings. Or some shit like that) but Ryder has amnesia and Fern wonders if he still loves her. Blah blah.

Things get pretty much wrapped up at the end of the book but there's supposed to be a third book in this series, and cing I can't help but wonder what the story for that is supposed to be. Likely some weird, unconvincing "surprise" twist shoehorned in, Neiderman-style. show less

The grand, gothic Wyndemere House is a labyrinth, containing as many secrets as it does corners obscured in shadow. Home to the Davenports, a wealthy and distinguished family, Fern Corey and her mother have lived there as servants for Fern’s entire young life. Despite their difference in station, Fern and Dr. Davenport’s son, Ryder, have always been extremely close. Which was never a problem… until they came of age.

An intimate encounter following a high school prom brings the pair near-tragic consequences, and the forces of fate, arrogance, and class prejudice gather to crush their warm relationship. Still, the real threat to their happiness is something no one can control: the past, and the unspoken truths that lurk there.

Fern show more and Ryder’s parents suffer with empathy, they themselves caught in the emotional maze the house creates. When the slow revelations of Wyndemere's secrets finally unfold, everyone party to them will become entangled in a treachery more complete than any could have imagined.

For the past is never really past, no matter what age you are show less