I really enjoyed this book
A Mother battling to keep her daughter after addiction
Trying to get back on her feet
Her strange family who are more creepy than the house

I felt I stared it one minute and finished it the next
It as a nice steady gentle pace that draws you in

Thank you netgalley, Carissa Ann Lynch & Harper Collins UK

This is a fascinating story about the part Latimer House played in World War Two. A really involving story as there was lots of emotion.. The ups and downs of the jobs these women did and living within a war situation was brought to life. Great Read!

Norah Campbell was an addict. The loss of her fiance drove her to despair; she lost custody of her daughter, Gemma, and control of her life. Now Norah is in recovery and she wants Gemma back. But to do so she must move in with her eccentric aunt and uncle, and they refuse to give up control without a fight. When strange occurrences keep happening at the farm, and Norah's makes a gruesome discovery, she soon realises she's living with a monster.

What an intriguing book this was. There was a prevailing sense of evil and creepiness throughout. Norah's aunt and uncle have rules she must abide by, and it tells of the struggles of someone with addiction. I wasn't struck on any of the characters but I think that made this a better read. The pace is steady and I was pulled in from the first page. This is a descriptively written book that kept me guessing all the way.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #CarissaAnnLynch for my ARC of #TheSecretsOfCedarFarm in exchange for an honest review.

This isn't just a story about a creepy farmhouse and dark family secrets.
This is a powerful story of addiction and redemption.

There's a lot of creepiness in this story, but the real horror is the realities of addiction that are heavily explored. The physical, emotional and mental facets of addiction are so vividly and realistically portrayed in this novel. I used to be a substance abuse counselor at an inpatient facility and I'm a recovering alcoholic, so this book really hit home for me.
WARNING: This book pulls no punches, and if you are a recovering addict it could be triggering for you.

This book also made another powerful statement: Don't make assumptions about people based solely on their gender. With all the misandry that seems to dominate literature these days, I really appreciate the flipping of the script. It's people who are evil-not their gender.

All that being said, the middle of the book did lag and the ending was -IMO-too abrupt and rushed. Otherwise, this is another excellent book for Carissa Ann Lynch that I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Norah Campbell had fallen off the tracks. She was drinking and taking drugs. Her fiancé then died and she sank further loosing custody of her daughter, Gemma.
After a successful stint in rehab she has her addictions under control and she wants her daughter back and to be a good mum.
Her aunt and Uncle took custody of Gemma to stop her going into care. They are willing to support Norah until a court decides the custody arrangements. However, it soon becomes apparent that her relatives are not going to give up Gemma without a fight. Even if that means playing dirty.
Soon Norah becomes worried not just for her life but that of her daughter. Has Norah given into her demons again or is there something sinister going on.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an ARC.

Norah Campbell has not had the easiest roads to travel. She is a single mother of her 8 year old daughter, Gemma and her fiancé has died of an overdose, sending her into a tailspin. Miraculously, her Aunt & Uncle show up out of the blue to take temporary custody of Gemma, while Norah, ordered by court to go into rehab. When released, all she can think about is getting her daughter back on moving back home. As she arrives at Cedar Farm, Norah has vague memories from her youth there, it's a spooky place and doesn't believe her daughter is happy there either. Only too soon upon arrival, does Norah realize they are not going to give up Gemma without a fight. Norah is recalling memories there with her mother but what other secrets are hidden in her subconscious and more importantly, what is her Aunt & Uncle hiding? Norah is tested numerous times and her own mental health begins to spiral but one thing is clear, never mess with a mother and their child.

Carissa has done it again! She pulls you in and you don't want it to end. She takes you on the journey of a recovering addict trying to prove her worth as a mother, only to be met with distrust and lies. Carissa is a gifted storyteller and I will read anything she writes!

I was gifted a ecopy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Secrets of Cedar Farm is a little bit spooky, a little bit mysterious and a heck of a lot thrilling. Gemma, a young child, was sent to live on Cedar Farm with some relatives after her mom was sent to rehab for a drug addiction. Now, after a few months, Norah returns to claim her daughter. She is invited to stay with her aunt and uncle at Cedar Farm until custody is returned to her by a judge.

To her chagrin, her aunt and uncle have some rules she must abide by, one of them being that she must never be alone with her daughter. Norah does some digging around and finds that the house is a bit creepy and its inhabitants are even creepier. Getting her daughter back proves to be a daunting task.

I don’t want to give too much away because every word in this story is twisty and thrilling and I don’t want to ruin your reading pleasure. I give this book 5 stars. It kept me absolutely enthralled throughout and I was sad to see it end. You should start your year right and grab a copy as it is due to be published in January 2022.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and One More Chapter for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

Norah was a good girl until she wasn’t. In the brief time she wasn’t, she became an addict, found her boyfriend dead in the den, and lost her six-year-old daughter Gemma. When Norah gets out of rehab, she goes to her aunt and uncle’s farm with the intention of getting custody back and bringing Gemma home. But Uncle Francis and mousy Aunt Sara are making it really difficult for her to reach her goals.
The longer Norah stays in their home with them, the more she sees that just doesn’t feel right. No one will believe her, not with her drug use history. Things get testy up to the court date, then Norah has some tricks of her own to turn the tables.
The plot is fast-paced, and this is such a fun, quick, tense, and thrilling read, you’ll add Ms. Lynch to your list of “must-read” authors!
Sincere thanks to Harper Collins UK / One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date is January 29, 2022.

Very slow and not much really going on. I wanted to feel more for the main character but I never did; there was a strange and stiff wall blocking any character bonding. I liked the creepy atmosphere and mystery but it moved too slowly and subtly too keep my attention. The ending felt too abrupt.

This wasn’t a bad book, seemed to be an easy read and had a bit of tension . It didn’t contain many surprises but was an ok read . Only lost a star for me as the ending was a bit quick . I would try another book from this author as I did see potential.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, One More Chapter for the arc of this book. After reading some so-so books, I was so happy to finally read one that was really well-written that drew me into the story! It was also a little shorter than many books, so it didn't have the 'filler' of endless descriptions, which was also a relief. I really liked how there was a pervading sense of evil and dread throughout the book. Even though it took a while to figure out the actual plot/storyline, the feeling of the book really kept me reading to see where the story was going. I didn't really like any of the characters, but they were all skillfully drawn and distinct. Great book if you want an intriguing read!

Some novels are a slow burn, and some rage like a wildfire. This one is somewhere inbetween...a hidden smolder, like volcano lava lurking beneath the surface, bursting into a raging fire at the conclusion.

Carissa Lynch is excellent at misdirection. Every time I think I have it figured out, I am proven so very wrong...in the best way possible.

This novel so perfectly illustrates not only the struggle of addiction, but the struggle of the stigma that follows even when a person is in recovery. It perfectly sets the stage for everything that follows.

This novel is beautifully written...and beautifully chilling. It is one that could very easily be a true story. It is one that will stick with me for a very long time.

I didn’t care for the authors style of writing. I felt sentence and ideas were repeated over and over. I didn’t find the plot, odd couple in old house who watch a child and we’re really evil, original at all.

I was fortunate enough to receive a gifted copy and am providing a review.

I went into this read with absolutely no expectations, as I hadn’t even read the blurb … I mean, it was written by Ms. Lynch, so it has to be good right? To say this is an excellent read is an understatement. If I could give this one more than five stars, I would … yes, I thought it was that good. I was pulled in from the very first sentence. If I didn’t have to sleep, I would’ve finished this one in a day … it will definitely keep you up past your bedtime!

There is so much going on throughout this tale of addiction, love, forgiveness, creepiness involving Aunt Sara and Uncle Francis and Cedar Farm itself. That house … the way it is portrayed, it definitely reminds me of a museum we have here in California, the Winchester House where there are doors and stairwells leading to absolutely nowhere, the only difference being at Cedar Farm’s house the secret door leads somewhere. Norah, the main character, ended up in rehab and the only reason she ended up staying with Aunt Sara and Uncle Francis was because she had no alternative; as well, that is where her daughter, Gemma, was … again, having no alternative. This book definitely has a creep factor that you will not want to miss.

If you don’t have this one on your radar or in your to-be-read pile – add it! Expected to be published January 2022 – an excellent read to start the near year with!

Norah Campbell’s life is in despair! Her fiancé has died from an overdose and she has lost control of her life from her own addiction. She enters rehab and to keep her daughter Gemma out of foster care she agrees to her aunt and uncle having temporary custody. When she leaves rehab she moves into her aunt and uncles house to be with Gemma and work to get custody back. But her aunt and uncle have other ideas and intend to keep Gemma and prove that Norah is not capable of caring for her. Then she starts to have suspicions about her relatives and that sinister things have happened at the farm. As she fights control of her own mental state, she wonders if she has the strength to prove what she saw and fight for her daughter. Great book that keeps you in suspense until the end! Loved it!


Thanks to Carissa Ann Lynch and Harper Collins for the book!

#TheSecretsOfCedarFarm #NetGalley
Nice.
Norah Campbell was an addict. The loss of her fiancé drove her to despair; she lost custody of her daughter, Gemma, and control of her life. Now Norah is in recovery and she wants Gemma back. But to do so she must move in with her eccentric aunt and uncle, and they refuse to give up control without a fight. When strange occurrences keep happening at the farm and Norah makes a gruesome discovery, she soon realises she’s living with a monster. As her mental health spirals out of control and she is tempted to relapse, she begins to wonder if she is also a monster.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter for giving me an advance copy.

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Wow...enough said. Red herrings...family dynamics...mayhem....although the story moves slowly at times, the conclusion makes it worth it all. The characters are believable...I look forward to reading more books by this author who has woven a story that is difficult to put down. I kept wanting to talk to the main character and tell her to get with the program...so to speak...friendship...that is a theme that is important in this story...being good and kind to friends no matter what...thank you to Lynch for this book.