This was a fast paced, can't put down, psychological thriller.
Holly and Zach have a picture perfect marriage, but of course looks can be deceiving. Behind the marriage doors Zach is manipulative and controlling, often making Holly have doubts about her own sanity. When Zach is accused of killing a young woman, he needs Holly to be his alibi. But, she needs him to keep her own secret. Can they both survive?
Captured me from the start, just started to get to be a bit too much last 1/4 of book. But overall a great read.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review;

This book was amazing it started off very strong and while I was greatly impressed I was also worried because when you are already at the top where do you have left to go? However this book just continued to get better and better. This book starts out with our main character Holly just about to give birth to her first child with her husband. To the world her husband Zacc is a very tentative and loving husband however nothing can be further from the truth.
He is constantly gaslighting Holly being super sweet and caring on second and the unimaginably cruel and violent the next. Things continue down a dark path even after their child is born. Zacc starts to mess with her mind and becomes very controlling with everything about her money, her clothes, her schedules and even makes her question things about herself. This leaves Holly to try to protect not only herself but also her newborn daughter from what could possible happen with the turmoil that is Zacc. I really liked how this book was told through Holly's perspective because you saw the craziness as it was being unfolded. This book has everything that a perfect thriller needs, a story line that keeps you guessing, characters you love and love to hate, and last but not least the desire to want to finish the book to see how it ends but at the same time the feeling of never wanting the book to end at all. Great read and I'm so glad that I got the chance to check it out. This is one that will be the talk of the year I'm sure and I'm so glad that I get to be a part of it. If all of Carey Baldwin's books are even half as good as this one is then she has just got herself a new fan for life and I can't wait to see what else she has in store for her fans.

This was such a good thriller. I had never heard of the author but the writing style was so good and it was one of the most eloquent ones with the most prose I’ve read and omg the ending was off the chain!!

This book was not what I expected, and I'm not sure if it's in a good way or bad. I was looking for a suspense/women's fiction read, but the story turned out to be a full-on psychological thriller/murder/crime mystery. There is so much I want to say about this book, but I'll start with the good. I'd say that the first 60-70% of this book was quite juicy, but then it started going downhill. Up till then, we see Holly (the MC), her husband Zach, mother-in-law Frances, and her best friend, Tamara. For most of it, I enjoyed the depiction of Zach as the narcissist villain, Frances as a conflicted mother/mother-in-law, and Tamara as a supportive friend still grieving for a lost one. I appreciate Baldwin's talent to keep the reader hooked till the very last page, with little twists that kept me reading. I loved how they bought in subjects of custody, alibis, and having the upper hand, which is an underlying layer in most thrillers, but this book helped me understand what was behind. The revelations that came in left me breathless and unable to grasp the story, but that was more of a negative impact on my reading process than a good one. What I hated the most was the obvious plot hole. The author, editor/s, beta reader/s, and publishers have not even attempted to ground the story in reality. I don't think this is worthy of being called a psychological thriller, as the final twist has zero logic and is full of fantastical nonsense. Holly was a surprise package with many layers, but she behaved like someone with a split personality disorder. At one point, she is incredibly naive and unsuspecting, and the next, she is protective, daring, and planning the most outrageous things. For the record, I love Bookouture, the publisher, and there weren't many reviews out there when I requested this book. If it weren't for this, I probably wouldn't have gotten it in the first place. {I got this book courtesy of NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.}

You know it’s an excellent thriller when your mind is reeling and you’re trying to process what you just read!! Whoa! There were so many intense and unbelievably shocking moments in this book. My anxiety was in overdrive and it had my heart racing! You won’t believe how everything unfolds. From the very first page I was invested in the story. and the momentum builds and builds throughout with shocking moments left and right.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced reader copy.

I'm a late bloomer when it comes to reading books in between the genres of thriller and suspense. But this book is one of the books that made me regret not devouring suspense-thriller tomes in the past. Told in the different characters' perspectives, the book will get you hooked and make you feel a lot of emotions.

Holly and Zach's marriage is the kind of marriage everyone envied. It is perfect and so it seemed until one looked into what they are going through in the relationship. Zach became manipulative not only to Holly but to his mother as well. He became overly possessive with their baby, Jolene. So, when a young woman was murdered, Holly's suspicions of Zach's innocence can't be ignored. Zach has an alibi. He pushes Holly to stand by him and his alibi. Will she do it? Will Holly still believe that the Zach being questioned for murder is the same man she married years ago?

The twist was unpredictable. It was fast-paced. The feeling of fear will linger even after the last page has been turned.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Marriage Secret by Carey Baldwin is an explosive domestic thriller full of twists and turns! The story revolves around Holly, whose marriage to her husband Zach looks perfect on the outside. At the beginning of the story, Holly is heavily pregnant with a new baby girl. Everything should be perfect. But why has Zach suddenly changed into a major control freak? Is this the same man she married? What secrets is he hiding, and what secrets is Holly hiding?

Here is a chilling excerpt from Chapter 1, which is from an unnamed point-of-view:

""No, darling! You shouldn't spoil me," you say.
No, he shouldn't.
You've done nothing to deserve any of this.
Nothing.
And yet you take your charmed life for granted.
Wake up and smell the coffee, my dear.
Just because you don't mean any harm to anyone doesn't mean they don't mean any harm to you.
I want what you have, and I'm coming for it."

Overall, The Marriage Secret is a domestic thriller that will appeal to fans of B.A. Paris and Darby Kane. One highlight of this book is the nonstop suspense. I'm always annoyed when domestic thrillers are slow-moving, and thankfully, that is not the case here. From the very beginning, there were plenty of suspenseful moments that made me slightly scared for Holly and made me want to keep reading. Another highlight of this book was the ending. There were a few twists that I did not see coming., and I enjoyed reading this book a lot. If you're intrigued by the excerpt, or if you're a fan of domestic thrillers, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in February!

This book made me so uncomfortable. The husband was over the top sketchy & controlling from the start. I just cringed over and over at the situations. Was there psychological thriller-likes events? Yes. But this story has already been played out multiple times in other books. I didn’t love this one and I didn’t hate it. Maybe I read too many thrillers

The Marriage Secret by Carey Baldwin is a twisty turney thriller about a woman in an abusive relationship, a woman who has confidence and self esteem issues due to a tragic incident in her past. For me, I enjoyed the first half of this book very much and it was well written about how women can question whether or not a man is actually being abusive and controlling when the man gaslights her. But the second half of the book was a bit too far fetched for me. It just felt too unrealistic. Though, to be fair, many readers may well like the twists and turns it takes!

The writing is good and it is well paced but the second half of the book was a tad too far for me. Worth a read if you like a psychological thriller with alot of surprises.

When Holly and Zach got married she trusted him with her secret. Now they seem to be the happy couple with a baby-daughter to complete the picture.
But Zach starts to control every part of Holly's life and this is getting wirder and wirder.
Until a young woman is found murdered and Zach becomes a suspect. He asks Holly to give him an alibi. Will she cover for her man? Even if it was just for him to keep her secret?
This is a domestic thriller that was a very satisfying read for me!

Thanks #NetGalley #Bookouture for an ARC

Wow this book was amazing!! It started out with behind closed door vibes but unraveled to be so much more! I loveee that Holly wasn’t your typical damsel in distress and actually had a brain which you don’t see often in this genre. I loved this one so much and give it an easy 5 stars!

Amazing.
The story captivates you from the first page. As I read, I felt what the character was experiencing.

The writer created this character Zach so creepy because he was so cold, calculating and controlling that I don't know how Holly endured so much.

And how the story unfolded that surprised me so much who was the bad guy behind it all!!.

I thought that Holly was living the worst in her life... but I was wrong and I loved it!

I love that I was so surprised. 100% recommende

This is more like a 3.75 star read for me. I really enjoyed the first 2/3s of this book. The plot was good and I was definitely engaged. It would have been a 4+ star review for me if Baldwin had been able to keep the momentum going, but at the 70% mark things started to get a bit unbelievable and silly.

However, the ending had some good twists that I didn’t see coming until late in the game. Overall, a nice easy and suspenseful read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a free digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review!

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review -
This was a great read!!!
Zach is accused of murdering a young woman. They have a baby and a beautiful home so the wife chooses to stand behind his alibi.... but Zach has changed so she must do what she needs to to survive because Zach isn't the same as the man she married.
A gripping psychological mystery!!!

Oh my days what a read this book was I loved it and everyone I put it down I physically felt as though I was being pulled back towards it.

Holly meets Zack they quickly fall in love and get married. On the day of their wedding Holly confides in Zack her deepest and darkest secrets. Zack tells Holly none of this changes the way he feels about her and together the couple settle down into married life and have been blessed with a beautiful baby girl.

To the rest of the world Zack and Holly look like the perfect couple and with their daughter the perfect family however little does everyone else know about Zack controlling way and the power he is holding over Holly by using her past against her to manipulate her into doing as he wants when he wants.

Holly desperately tries to leave Zack however the more she tries the more trapped she finds herself until one day the police knock on her door. Zack is a suspect in a murder and in a spur of the moment decision Holly gives him an alibi in return for a divorce, her freedom and her daughter.

This book was a brilliant domestic thriller which shows the power one person can hold in a relationship that’s not quite so perfect as it seems. Zack had all these nasty tricks up his sleeve to make Holly believe she was going crazy and also making people from the outside think she was mad and then punishing her for her “mistakes”.

This book was fast paced and had so much to keep the reader interested it was a fantastic read finished off with an unexpected twist. This was my first book by Carey Baldwin and I will certainly be looking out for more of her books.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance soot of this book in exchange for an open and honest review.

This was a quick and easy read. I felt awful for the character of Holly, for being so trapped and alone. And to have the person closest to you taking advantage of you when you are so vulnerable after having a child is so sad. There were several twists and turns that I did not see coming and while they were exciting, they were also a bit unrealistic. The second half of the book had way too much going on for my liking - plans that were changing and all over the place. However, all’s well that ends well and I felt satisfied with how Holly’s story wrapped up. Even though she was isolated and betrayed, she found her inner strength and ever gave up. Thank you to Carey Baldwin, Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC! This review will be published on my Instagram blog (books_by_the_bottle) as well ☺️

This book releases on February 11th!

I was very excited to see this new book by author, Carey Baldwin.
Immediately I was drawn into the book by the very first page. Those are the very best books in my opinion. If you get hooked as soon as you open the book, you will finish it, no matter the flaws you may see.

Holly is a woman who married the man of her dreams. Zach. In the beginning he’s absolutely wonderful and lives up to the idea of what a doting and caring husband should be. I Don’t want to give anything away about whether or not this stays or changes.

The story and plot are fantastic. The only thing I would like to have seen is would be a better transition over time. The chapters either were too fast or far apart. At times, I felt confused where I was in the book.

I will say, even though that minor issue was there, it didn’t keep me from reading the book.
It’s definitely a thriller. At times you will wonder why Holly makes the choices she makes, but in the end, I once it’s all revealed it’s worth it.

I had really high hopes for this book as I really enjoy domestic thrillers, particularly husband and wife storylines.

This one started out really well, it was fast paced, husband was a bit of a prick, small amounts of abuse....it laid a good foundation to what could have been a great story.

But then it all just went a bit OTT and unbelievable. The story ended up quite juvenile. It was all over the place, lots of daft plans that were so basic.

I found myself rushing to finish it trying to find the spark and excitement that I felt at the beginning of the book.

Instead it was an over the top ending that left me feeling unsatisfied.

2 stars

The Marriage Secret by Carey Baldwin

Published: February 11, 2022
Bookouture
Pages: 302
Genre: Women’ Psychological Fiction
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Carey Baldwin is a dedicated pediatrician by day. By night she's a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of edgy suspense. In addition to her MD, Carey also holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She loves reading and writing stories that keep you off balance and on the edge of your seat. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and chasing wildflowers.

“You’ll change your mind; just wait and see.”

Holly thought she had a perfect life, married to a successful doctor, a baby on the way. Sure, Zach, her husband, gets upset with her sometimes, and sure, he gives her the silent treatment… but he would never hurt her. Right?

The twist in the book gave me serious whiplash! I enjoyed the buildup and the plot, the characters, and the writing style.

Holly is sweet, soft, charming, and seems like the kind of person you’d want as a friend. Becoming a mother changed her, and her love for her daughter was fierce.

Zach is a complicated character. He can be charming and sweet when needed and volatile and cruel seconds later. He had the ego of someone very wealthy, which I found well done.

Detective Denton was a fantastic side character, and I enjoyed his interactions with the various characters. He was so well thought out and well developed.

Overall, this was a fast-paced novel that was hard to put down. The storyline grabs you from the first chapter and doesn’t let you go until the end!

The intensity continues rising as the story wears on, and when the explosion happens, you find yourself reeling for a moment until the twisted clarity settles.

Secrets, they can be detrimental to relationships… and deadly in marriages.

Wow! I really enjoyed this domestic psychological thriller! This a fast-paced book, I couldn't put down! The book begins with a journal entry and finishes with a journal entry...the in between is a wild ride that you aren't expecting! Everyone is guilty and everyone is a suspect!
Holly has a perfect life, happily married and pregnant with her soon to be born daughter. However, things begin to change and her husband, Zach starts to mess with her head and become controlling over every aspect, her clothes, her credit cards, her schedule... and makes her doubt herself. As doubts about her marriage start to unravel the one thing that is constant is that she will do anything necessary to protect her daughter! Many characters are introduced and add to the story and suspense. The ending is brilliant and the whole story very well done!
This was the first book by Carey Baldwin and it won’t be my last! If you enjoy fast-paced domestic psychological thriller, then this needs to be added to your reading pile!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.