I’m so sad to say I was not a fan of this book not enough action or suspense, I just wasn’t interested in at all.

I enjoyed reading this novel, it was interesting and I definitely became invested and wanted to find out more. Not quite as addictive and gripping as I would perhaps have preferred but a decently solid enjoyable book

Ooo this one definitely had a twist that I was not expecting! Go ahead and read this one for yourself because trust me it will keep you guessing until the very end. I loved it! Writing style was fantastic as well.

This was a decent read, but wasn’t what I expected based on the synopsis. It centers on Anna, who has finally found happiness with Guy, but can’t seem to break free from her past and what happened to her missing twin sister, Birdie. Anna and Birdie grew up in the foster care system (note- these parts are often graphic and sad) and the experience has shaped who she is today.

The book pings back and forth between Anna’s childhood and the current time- I found this engaging and easy to follow. We get to know the things that happened to Anna as a child that shaped the decisions she makes today.

I did find Anna a little difficult to like; I didn’t know why she continued to torture herself by visiting places that brought her terrible memories. I also was turned off about how she didn’t let anyone get close to her, though this is somewhat understandable based on her upbringing. I also felt that the book left a lot of unanswered questions related to what was going on with social services.

That being said, the book held my interest and though I had an idea of how it was all going to turn out, it succeeded in the attempt of giving the reader bits and pieces of childhood traumas to understand where Anna is coming from today. Not my favorite book, but a decent read. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Anna and her sister Birdie were failed by the care system. They were sent to many foster homes and then moved onto care homes. Birdie couldn't cope and fell in with the wrong crowd. Moving forward 15 years Anna is teaching at a college that helps under privileged kids. She lives from one wage to the next until she meets Guy and swiftly moves in with him. This book promised so much from the sypnosis, but was quite long winded with lots of mindless writing about how much Anna liked shopping, and then i felt the ending was very rushed. I would have liked to have known the final outcome.
I received this book from Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review

I was a bit disappointed with this book personally, it was well written and the characters were good.

I just found it hard to get into the storyline and it didn't really 'grab' me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This book was not what I thought it would be. When I read the synopsis I was intrigued but as I kept reading it it became more and more disturbing! I thought at first I would not finish it but it did keep me engaged enough to want to know what happened! It is difficult to read in certain parts but again I wanted to see how it turns out!!! Some of the content is very graphic and does go into child abuse, but if you can read through it, it’s not a bad book! You have to decide if you you can stomach some of it!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Crazy good. This story tells of an incredible bond between twin sisters who end up in the care system. Ups and downs throughout and an absolutely heartbreaking ending. I loved it.

Okay, I was totally blown away by this book. I thought it was going to be your run of the mill mystery. Did she do it? How did she do it? Who will figure it out? Wow, I was wrong, this is a amazingly written book, if you think you can figure it out, well good luck to you, because you will not. This book will be recommended to most people I run into. I will be bringing this book up every chance I get. Great story!!!!

This was a real slow burner of a book but utterly compulsive reading. I found the subject matter harrowing but so well written and well researched that it drew me in to the dark underbelly of society that is the home of many fostered children. The story of Anna and her twin sister Birdie broke my heart. : a mother dead from a drug overdose, a loving but incapable father, abandoned to the "care"system , tossed about from foster family to foster family, each worse than the last. Anna tries desperately to protect her more vulnerable sister but sadly watches helplessly as she is absorbed into a life of abuse, prostitution and misery . Anna resolves to bring the seemingly pillars of society involved in the debasement of Birdie, to justice and this entails complicated forethought and planning. In the process , the frost that encases and protects her heart, is in danger of melting, as she learns what it is to know the gentle , all consuming love of Guy . In trying to avenge her lost sister, will she have to sacrifice her own happiness?...I'll leave the reader to find out. I feel I need to read something light hearted after this dark book but I can highly recommend it, though it makes for uncomfortable reading. Sadly , for many young people, this is a reality and one that society as a whole, needs to address .

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Secret Sister is an interesting read. Anna is keeping secrets from her husband Guy and is unsure she can trust him. Odd right? Married but not sure if he can be trusted?
This book has some intense twists and turns that kept me on edge.
Be warned there are some graphic scenes as well.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 **TRIGGER WARNING** There is child abuse, some graphic scenes and drug abuse.

I want to tell my husband, Guy, everything about my past. He's been so wonderful, providing me with with a life of comfort and love. He deserves the truth. But if he finds out who i really am, the perfect life i've built will come crashing down. I can't tell him until i reveal the truth about what happened to my little sister.

Anna was a teacher struggling to survive from week to week when she first met Guy, a wealthy lecturer. The attraction between them was instant. Anna is also trying to find her sister Bridie. The story flips back to the time when Anna and Bridie were brought up in foster care to the present day and Anna's luxurious life. The story is hard to read in places, in fact it's actually heartbreaking. I also felt the book dragged on longer than necessary. I did enjoy this book.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Canelo and the author #MMDeLuca for my ARC #TheSecretSister in exchange for an honest review.

I found it hard to be gripped by this story of Anna who has so many secrets she wants to tell her husband Guy. But she cannot until she finds out what's happened to her younger sister. A very disturbing and I am sorry to say, I did not like this book at all. Not my cup of tea.

This book had such a raw storyline. I really enjoyed it. Would recommend this to every person wgo asked me.
I didnt take long to read it

Thanks NetGalley, Canelo and M. M. Deluca for an Arc to review.
An unsettling, disturbing, heartbreaking book, but so is life sometimes.
But does that mean it's not a good book?
I really liked the book but I didn't enjoy reading it, the book didn't shy away from digging deep in the dark sufferings of those poor souls and the dark depths of those perfectly disguised wicked souls with their deceptive layers. I pray books like this could raise enough awareness to cause a change, to save someone who it is not too late yet.
The writing style is engaging though I wouldn't recommend it to readers who would be triggered by graphics scenes and child abuse.

I was drawn to this book because of some of the Authors other work and I'm glad I was. Although it is a tough subject matter, it is very real and the author covered it very well. From living in foster homes - the good, the bad and the ugly - to surviving and succeeding and helping others to succeed along the way, is something that shines in the story of Anna and Birdie! Even though the story is set in Minneapolis, it could be your town, as I certainly felt that I recognized it as being "my town". The story very much helps us to walk in someone else's shoes, thereby helping us to be more considerate and tolerant in our daily interactions. Thank you.

A heart-wrenching clash of past and present which is not for the feint hearted. It is rare for a book to make you feel so many strong emotions, but The Secret Sister does this throughout the book and beyond. A struggling teacher Anna meets a wealthy lecturer called Guy, who takes her lovingly into the heart of his family. Anna's troubled past continues to haunt her as she tries to piece together the story of her missing sister, Birdie. Although some of the story was uncomfortable to read, with discussion of sexual exploitation and drug abuse of children who have slipped through the care system, there never failed to be a sense of hope within the book. The descriptive language was captivating and intriguing, meaning I couldn't put the book down. A real insight into the dark depths of society and the gruesome side of human nature. This has been the most memorable book I have read in a long time.

Disturbingly dysfunctional are how I'd describe this book. Anna, a teacher of troubled youth, stalks her future husband, also an educator, online. Her terrible childhood really influences and molds her future and she makes unwise choices. Guy also comes from a dysfunctional family full of deception and makes up for it in his way. It is psychologically interesting how their family failures manifest.

The secret sister premise is intriguing indeed but Anna's stalking, his family dynamic, her past (and present!) and that of her sister are just too many levels of disturbing. Not only that but the adult language and situations are pretty graphic which detracted from the story. Not all books are written to be happily enjoyable, I get that (and often gravitate towards those without that neat tidiness) but this made me feel too discomfited. Unfortunately, the idea got lost for me. Such a shame as it had huge potential!

The cover and synopsis of this book were intriguing. Unfortunately, I had to force myself to finish it as I found this novel disturbing and the plot, although suspenseful at the half way mark, didn't hold my attention.

It begins with Anna, a local teacher and fraternal twin, who has had a tragic and heartbreaking past. Poor and alone, she stalks a local educator and snares him into a whirlwind romance that ends in marriage. Anna knows how much she’s keeping secret from her too perfect husband, but she never stops to wonder if he’s keeping any secrets from her. You’ll probably guess that her past collides with her present, but you’ll be shocked. It’s gripping and intense and there’s a twist.

My teacher heart ached. I can’t recommend this one. I really didn’t enjoy it.

Thanks to M. M. DeLuca, Canelo and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy and share my honest review.

Anna is a struggling teacher trying to make ends meet when in walks Guy to give a lecture at her school. Their eyes connect and the attraction is instant. After only a few weeks Anna finds herself moving into his luxurious apartment. Even given a credit card to use however she wants which delights Anna as she is shopping obsessed due to her childhood of poverty.

We also know that Anna is trying to find out what happened to her missing sister, Birdie. We flashback to their childhood and the several families the girls lived with throughout the foster care system.

Her tragic history and her new found pampered life style are about to connect in explosive fashion.

This started off really strong and I was enjoying it. Until I wasn't any longer. First of all this book is much too long and so much could have been left out. Also the subject matter, I feel, wasn't taken seriously enough. I loved My Dark Vanessa and Putney both works of literary fiction that seemed to really shine a light on pedophilia and grooming while breaking your heart into a million pieces. My heart never broke For Anna or Birdie once and it certainly should have. All in all I didn't really enjoy this one much. There will be no fear of missing out if you skip this. 2 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for my digital ARC.