I've been reading some of my book reviews at Amazon, Goodreads, The First Wild Card Tour, etc. What I'm happiest to note is that readers are "getting it." I don't mean buying it although that's good too. I guess I wasn't sure if I'd done a good enough job. But since it is my first novel in the series I'm pleased that readers like it because I wasn't at all sure that they would. Here's why:
- Secrets of the Heart explores some of the history of mental illness.
- My hero Lord Ravensmoore inherits his title yet stays true to God's calling to become a physician.
- My heroine struggles with loss, grief and depression.
- Although it's a romance the book harbors deep psychological suspense and explores the inner workings of the lunatic asylums of the day.
I've been a student of the mind and of human behavior since I was a little kid. Let's just suffice it to say that I grew up in less than ideal circumstances. No wonder when I went off to college that I ended up majoring in Sociology and Psychology rather than Journalism which is what I had planned. I don't regret it. I got my Masters Degree in Social Work, traveled to England, Scotland, Wales, and Austria and have worked both in the fields of medical social work and mental health counseling.
Over the past thirty years I've seen the prejudices against those with mental health disorders and the serious dangers that ignite ignored mental health disorders. I'm sure you can think of a few. I want people to take steps to conquer these issues. It's my greatest hope that perhaps someone home schooling or teaching in a public school system will put this book on their students' summer reading list or even use it as a book to learn from during the regular school year in Social Studies or Psychology and Sociology classes. Secrets of the Heart, Chameleon, and Mysteries of the Heart are the books that I've felt led to write. They are fascinating, romantic, and informative all at the same time.
I recently heard about a book called, The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry by Jon Ronson. I've downloaded it to my Kindle to read the first chapter. I already know that I'll buy it because of the subject material. One of the books that's been helpful to me in my research is: Andrew Scull's, The Masters of Bedlam. It's a book about the early practice of psychiatry, what was better known then as The Mad-Doctoring Trade or The Lunacy Trade.
One of my college friends gave me the best compliment this past week. She said she'd read my book because I wrote it. She didn't expect to like it because she thought Inspirational Fiction would be preachy. I was thrilled when she told me she'd loved it and said, "I will never judge a book by its genre again." I hope that readers will happily lose themselves in Secrets of the Heart. There will be surprises in this book and I hope you'll enjoy every moment.
Blessings,
Jillian
