When I sat down to read THE HOUSE OF SECRETS by Elizabeth Blackwell I was confident I would be reading something I would totally enjoy. What was unexpected was to find a book that had a nice blend of contemporary romance and historical flashbacks.

Alissa Franklin is in a dying relationship with Brad, but when she falls in love with a dilapidated historical home it finally finishes off the relationship for good. Alissa knows people will think she is nuts for buying the ancient home, quitting her job, and giving up basically everything she knows to restore the home to its former grandeur, but to Alissa it's a project full of love, and she hopes a new beginning.

It's not long before Alissa is in need of a handyman to help bring her dreams to fruition. The realtor from whom she bought the house recommends Danny Price, and how Alissa envisions her future handyman is not how he turns out to be. As they restore the home not only does their business relationship grow, but so does their personal one.

There are a few stumbling blocks for them though, because as we know is true love ever a smooth road? Alissa is nearly obsessed with finding out the history of the Brewsters, the first couple who owned the home, then there is the idea of whether or not she is truly over her relationship with Brad, and finally can she put aside her ideas of not mixing work with pleasure?

Here is the meat of the story, and Ms. Blackwell does a superb job of mixing the past with the present and in making one feel for Evelyn Brewster the young woman who born on the wrong side of the tracks finds herself in a marriage beyond her understanding.

I don't recall reading Ms. Blackwell before, but I know I will be looking for her future works. I hope you enjoy The House of Secrets as much as I did.