Review: House of Silence by Linda Gillard
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 13, 2014
I bought this from Amazon.com. I never purchas books from any other  source:. I am completely happy with the service they offer.This is a novel that will hold your interest from the beginning. It is a stoty about the dynamics of relationships. Something that so many people struggle with today. They spend a great deal of time in a quandary about how to proceed. Whether what they are doing is correct or not. Or maybe they aren't coming across as sincere as they should. Or perhaps they are  being too direct or putting on too much pressur. Good grief! Well this is all  about secrets, romance, love, hostility and bitterness long over due to be laid to rest. In the case of gwen and alfie they each bring baggage to the mix.Their relationship suddenly goes off in another direction completly as the Christmas Season approaches. Gwen has the idea that the two can do something on their own. Go away for a week and get to know each other a little better. But Alfie shoots that down right away. She is terribly disappointed. Alfie explains that he has obligations to his family and has no other option but to go  home to Creek Hall. She begs him to take her so she won't have to be by herself. He insists that he can't take her. That it is quite complicated therefore out of the question. She finally tells him the reason she doesn't want to be alone. After listening to her he finally capitulates but warns her she will see a side of him she has never seen before and may not like.Gwen has, up to this point, pondered a great deal about why  she and Alfie were drawn to each other.. they seem to be complete opposits. She was an only child and fantasized belonging to a family with many siblings, lots of aunts and uncles and, of course, loving parents. She believes, from what Alfie tells her, this is the kind of family he has. He also gives her the notion that it is more of a burden than a blessing.  At times he speaks of them with derision which irritates her.Alfie tries to explain as nicely as he can that going to Creek Hall is s pain in the neck but he is obliged to go. Gwen doesn't pay much attention to him and happily goes about getting her things together and buying small gifts for each member of the family. She is as happy as a child at the thought of a Christmas Tree, Christmas dinner and exchanging gifts. All the things she missed as a child.what awaits her at Creeke Hall is both revealing and touching. She has a wonderful  time until all his family secrets come to light. She is appalled by all the deceit and all the anger. However she also finds real love where least expected and from persons least expected. Sit in front of a cozy fire and lose yourself in this touching novel...Bookwormetc