Marin Machado's perfect life is destroyed in an instant when her young son is kidnapped during a Christmas shopping trip in a busy market. It's been a year and the FBI trail is cold when she hires P.I. Vanessa Castro to find Sebastian. Instead of the boy, she finds evidence of a months' long affair her husband has been having with a much younger graduate student. This rips the scabs off of whatever wounds had been healing and sends Marin down a path where she'll do anything to protect what little she has left of her fractured family.

This book was a quite a ride. It goes to some very dark places, but it was ultimately a tightly paced thriller that explores the depths one woman would sink in her grief. Though some of it was a bit implausible, I was more than willing to overlook this because I was so hooked on the story. The twists were good and I liked where the story ended up at its conclusion.

I also loved the characters Hillier gave us in Marin and Kenzie: you never know what to think about them and their actions. You want to like Marin and root for her, but... You want to hate Kenzie, but... There was just enough complexity to make me second guess my feelings all the time.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with this review copy. I'd definitely recommend it when it comes out.

I did like this but found parts just a little too implausible. I know Marin is grieving but for her to jump to the decision she made re: Kenzie (trying not to spoil) seemed insane. It was also obvious who was involved in the kidnapping as soon as we were introduced to one of the outside characters. I still enjoyed it but it had some issues.

I was iffy on this book when I started reading. It started a bit slow but once the pace picked up the wheels started turning. The suspense and twists kept me turning pages. Even though some parts were a bit predictable, it is still a worthwhile read that you should definitely check out!! I will be checking more by this author.

I love Jennifer Hillier and each of her novels seem to get better and better. The character development was so on point that the reader can't help but share each of the characters emotions. This was also the first domestic thriller by Hillier and she took the genre to an all new level but taking it in a direction that most seasoned readers would not expect. Although I had my suspicions as to "who did it," it in no way diminished the ending. In fact, the twists and revelations had me going back and rereading just to make sure. What a fabulous ride. I cannot wait to see what this author has in store for us next. I'm a huge fan -- just in case you had any doubts.

Depression and the darkness that encompasses it has a way of swallowing you whole. Soundgarden said it best with, “I’m only faking when I get it right.” Marin understands darkness; she’s lived it. In a mere two hundred and forty seconds her young son, Bash, was ripped out of her life - abducted by a stranger. Yet, was the person dressed as Santa, who took her son truly a stranger? As Marin, continues to search for her son, yet trying to go on with her life she begins to question all that she thinks she knows. She begins to question who she can trust.
To give you better perspective, she said it best with, “Who would have thought who you love and who you feel safe with might not be the same person.”

Yet another - mind f$ck of a book. It’s every parents nightmare delivered in a Santa suit! I’m happy to give this one 5 stars

Wow! All chores, tv watching, went out the window so I could practically read non-stop. This was not just a thriller, but a THRILLER. This is a story about child abduction but the main emphasis is behind the scenes, on what is happening within the family. The story is full of deceit and betrayal but has so many unique twists that it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I loved it and was sorry when I finished but I loved that ending!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bravo! Jennifer Hillier writes an outstanding narrative portraying all the raw, ugly faces that grief can take. The story is dark, twisted, and utterly gripping. Hillier creates characters that spark immediate emotional engagement with a level of angst that is palpable. The final reveal is one that will leave the reader’s head spinning for days. Truly one of the best reads to come! 5 stars.


Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #LittleSecrets which was read and reviewed voluntarily by Tarrah Marie (@wayward_readers).

This book was sooooo good....I was in a reading slump and I have been lifted! At each twist and turn, my guesses were proven to be wrong, and the ending was so satisfying.
Marin and Derek have a picture perfect life, until their son Sebastian is kidnapped. What happens when your world collapses? Can it get any worse than not knowing where your child is? Marin is about to find out.

This book blew my mind. I was absorbed into the story from the first pages, and the ride that Jennifer Hillier takes the reader on is such a roller coaster. The characters were well-developed, and not until all the pieces begin to make sense near the end does the story take your breath away. I can't imagine the depths this author had to go, emotionally, being the mother of a small child herself.

Her other book, Jar of Hearts, is in my top five all-time favorites; this ranks up there just as high.

Well done!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC and finally getting me out of a book slump! I did not want to put this book down until I was finished! I am new to this author and will be running out to pick up her other titles. From the first chapter when a child goes missing through all of the plot twists and turns, you won’t want to stop turning the page to see what happens next! While the main characters are incredibly rich, beautiful and seemingly have it all, their tale is full of trauma, disaster, lying, cheating, and deceit. A must read!!

Being a fan of Jennifer Hillier for some time, I had no doubt that I would enjoy this book as well, and wow, was I right. This was such a page turner that it absolutely captivated me for the last 4 days; every time I wanted to put it down, " just one more chapter" whispered into my ear.

This book follows the twists and turns that little secrets can cause in people's lives - particularly in Marin and Derek's lives, after their 4 year old son has been kidnapped. Everyone has secrets and when Marin comes up with a plan to fix everything, her plan brings to surface more secrets than she could have ever expected.

A huge thank you to Jennifer Hillier for writing another wonderful story, I truly enjoyed this and cannot wait to read another one of her books in the future. Also a big thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for giving me an advanced e-copy, for an honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this review opportunity.

Little Secrets. Everybody has them. But, some are not so little.

It just takes a second. A second of distraction leads to a parent's worst nightmare.

It's "the most wonderful time of the year" but not for Marin and Derek. Their four-year-old son Sebastian aka "Bash" has been abducted from a bustling Seattle market. The worst part : the authorities have zilch. Suspect's identity unknown, not even gender. No vehicle identification. No helpful camera footage.

The first 48 hours after a child goes missing are critical, yet frantic. As time goes by, the trail goes cold and the chances of the child returning home safely grow slim. Life must go on for the loved ones of the missing. Or a semblance of it anyway. They go through the motions. There are good days and bad. They blame themselves. They are judged by others, even family and friends. Just like that, all is forgotten, and they are labeled "bad parents." Their affluent status(Marin owns a chain of high-end beauty salons frequented by wealthy clients and Derek is CEO of his own successful business, PowerOrganix) is of no help. Rather, they take flak for getting special treatment.

Marin and Derek deal in their own way...separate, but together. Their self-medication techniques disparate and, to a great degree, destructive. The college sweethearts' and golden couple's seemingly perfect relationship and life in ruins. When a child is harmed, it is often the kiss of death for a relationship.

Hillier has done it again with this absorbing thriller. Only when I was almost to the end did what appeared to be mismatched pieces of the puzzle start coming together.

Review by 2shay..........🌟🌟🌟.....

First, let me say that miss Hillier’s previous book, Jar Of Hearts, is one of the best, possibly the very best, psychological thriller I’ve ever read. Maybe I expected too much of this one. The first two chapters of this book are distressing. I came very close to apologizing to the publisher and not finishing or reviewing what turned out to be an okay read. I am glad I finished.

What made this just an okay read was the characters. They’re too rich, too entitled and too ostentatious. A Maserati? Really? The only sympathetic character, for me, was Sebastian, the kidnapped  4 year old. His parents, Marin and Derek, are both cheaters and liars. Yeah, yeah, I know they had been through a lot, but they were secretive a$$holes. As the secrets are slowly revealed, it turns out that they are both a little blind and stupid, not to have figured out who was behind their worse problems.

My recommendation is to not expect the thrill ride we had in Jar Of Hearts. And, prepare to be distressed by the first couple of chapters. The kidnapping of a child is always hard to bear. If you start this book, I truly hope you...

Enjoy! ARC graciously provided by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.

I enjoyed reading Hillier's Jar of Hearts in 2018, so when I saw that she had another book coming out in 2020, I was excited to get the chance to preview it. Little Secrets did not disappoint! I enjoyed the twists and turns along the way and found myself hating to put it down each night. There was part of the story that I thought was far-fetched but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book.

Wonderful wonderful book! Was absolutely glued to each page and the ending was excellent and totally satisfying. Great writing, and. Highly recommend this one. Best ever mystery!

A mystery about a missing child and the effect it has on the mother, father and family friends. At times the story moves too slow with the author repeating too many times the mothers guilt and hopelessness. However I kept reading because there were lots of twists and turns that shocked me a long the way. I didn't see the ending coming till it did!!

Many books claim to "take your breath away," "keep you up all night," and "have plot twists you didn't see coming." Many make these claims, but nothing is more disheartening than when you start to read and come to realize that many of those claims are not going to be fulfilled. I can honestly say that this will not be the case with Jennifer Hillier's "Little Secrets." I can unequivocally tell you that you will stay up all night reading, and that this is one of the best suspense thrillers to come around in a long time.

The tragedy of this novel will take your breath away, but before you can wrap your head around one horrific event, many more start to unfold and you realize you're not reading the story you think you are. The writing, pacing, plot and characterizations are magnificent. By the time I came to the very last page, I felt that I had experienced each and every moment of heartbreak they all went through. I haven't been this satisfied by a read in a long time. Just when you think you've reached a impasse in your reading material and that the current offerings have become stale and repetitive, do yourself a favor and grab Jennifer Hillier's latest, and immerse yourself in "Little Secrets."

5 stars!
I really enjoyed this book by Jennifer Hillier. I read Jar of Hearts not long ago and really enjoyed it, but this story resonated with me more. Marin is mother to a young boy who goes missing while they are out christmas shopping.
I love the way this story delves into the cracks in the marriage that follow. Does her husband blame her for their son going missing? She certainly blames herself. Is that why he's off comforting himself with some young side piece? And what does this girl know about the son's disappearance?
The juicy parts of this story certainly revolve around the things they are keeping from each other following their son going missing.
Although I had some stuff pegged pretty early on, it really didn't detract from the story.
Highly recommended!

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a crazy and brilliant thriller. A Mother's worse day is happening. Sebastian is missing. Taken in a busy market. From the lies, deceit and corruption is all revealed. I was hooked right from the start. Highly recommend!

All it takes to unravel a life is one little secret...

Marin had a perfect life. Married to her college sweetheart, she owns a chain of upscale hair salons, and Derek runs his own company. They're admired in their community and are a loving family—until their world falls apart the day their son Sebastian is taken.
A year later, Marin is a shadow of herself. The FBI search has gone cold. The publicity has faded. She and her husband rarely speak. She hires a P.I. to pick up where the police left off, but instead of finding Sebastian, she learns that Derek is having an affair with a younger woman. This discovery sparks Marin back to life. She's lost her son; she's not about to lose her husband, too. Kenzie is an enemy with a face, which means this is a problem Marin can fix.
Permanently.
This was one brilliant book. You think you have it figured out, and nope. A little secret can be a very dangerous thing to keep. I would highly recommend this book.