First book by this author and other books are half as good I will definitely want to read them. A real page turner this one will captivate the reader for sure. A domestic thriller revolving around Holly and her successful OB/GYN husband Zachary. Holly had the perfect life. Perfect husband. Beautiful home. When their daughter is born Holly begins to question Zach's behaviors. He's telling her she's just exhausted and not remembering correctly. She is worried she just might be going crazy. Then someone close to Zach is murdered and Holly's isn't so sure she knows her husband as well as she thought. The control, manipulation and abuse escalate when she returns home and he takes the baby to his mother's house unknown to Holly. The mind games, abuse and control Zach uses over Holly get worse over the next six months. Slowly but surely Holly decides she needs to get away from Zach. She will get the upper hand, she thinks, until everything starts to unravel. Holly will try to keep her daughter safe as she puts a plan into action. This story has many twists and turns. You will need a scorecard to keep track of who is on which side as no one is as honest as they appear. 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.

My thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Carey Baldwin for an ARC.

**please note due to low rating I will not be leaving a public review for this book as I have not paid for it.**

Narrator 5 stars

First half 1.5 stars / Second half 3 stars

I absolutely HATED the first half of this book (to the point that I was going to mark it DNF twice but a friend read it and her review made me keep going)
I felt that the gaslight, emotional abuse/manipulation was so obvious and over the top that it was just not possible for a strong women to tolerate these things. Lucky though that this book is fast paced.
Overall I didn't enjoy it, but would definitely try this author again

Sucked in from page 1… this was a heart-pounding thriller that continued to deliver twisty punch after twisty punch. I can usually predict how much I will love a book by the time I am 50 pages in. I started this book last night as I lay in bed knowing I would probably only make it a few pages in before falling asleep. Not the case! I made it to 40% before I forced myself to close my kindle!!!

This is the perfect example of how an author introduces readers to characters that you either love or hate… or love to hate! Baldwin, almost subtlety at first, introduces readers to Holly and Zach. They seem like the perfect couple. Zach, loving, doting husband and soon father-to-be… Holly, dedicated, loyal wife and mother-to-be. Well it isn’t long before readers will know Zach’s true colors! (In sing song-y voice… Controlllllll freeeeeaaakkk) 🤯

Truth in a marriage is a two-way street, and if only one person plays by the rules, it puts her at a disadvantage.

Things go from bad to worse and the most unthinkable scene (well one of many but just one of the first in the story) happens on the day Holly gives birth to a beautiful baby girl. Like… “what the hell just happened there?” No way did Zach just do that… say that… I can’t even tell you how badly someone needed to punch him in the face. 🤬 Oh… and if that wasn’t bad enough…wait until they all come home from the hospital 🤮.

“If you didn’t want to stay until death do us part, you should never have told me your secret.”

Little did I know… one unthinkable scene turns into another and another! I kept saying… “if Holly doesn’t grow a spine and get rid of him, I’m not going to keep reading”!!! Ugh!!!! The question is, does Holly really know her husband, her friends, his friends? Is Zach really as crazy as readers may think?

Then she straightened her shoulders. Not this time. No freakin’ way was she going to let him do this to her again.

This story is twisty and twisted! I loved every minute of it and my heart was pounding as I learned about the most twisted pieces of how events from the past and present weave together and deliver an ending that took my breath away! Just FABULOUS!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A dark, domestic thriller that will keep you fully engrossed.
Holly had the perfect life. Perfect husband. Beautiful home. New baby. However, upon the arrival of her baby, things change. Her life is not as it was before. Holly no longer feels she can trust those around her. Especially, her husband. Worse still, Holly begins to question herself. Has her world shifted or simply her perception of it?
I really enjoyed this book. The opening scene was haunting! I could feel Holly’s panic. The story was fast paced and kept me interested from beginning to end. Some of the decisions made by the characters might infuriate you, but you will enjoy the ride.
I listened to the audiobook version performed by Stephanie Cannon. She did a fantastic of telling this story. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook book. Overall, a solid enjoyable book!

Holly and Zach have the perfect marriage, or do they? He’s become controlling since she had their baby, Jolene. The police come calling about the murder of one of Zach’s students but Holly gives him an alibi… there’s a secret she has too… (that’s really not a secret, but no spoiler here).

There are more secrets and lies … and she employs her best friend Tamara to help her… oh dear.

This was a very fast read and things aren’t quite what they seem. I did suspect the “bad guy” but wasn’t sure of the reason. This was a pretty good story and I would recommend it. 4 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy.

I enjoyed this novel, it was well written, excellent twists and tuens. The only thing i didn't care for was the sexual content (I prefer when it is implied, readers don't need the acts detailed). If that doesn't bother you and you are looking for a rip roaring psychological domestic thriller, then give this one a try. I would read more by author (first time i have read here).

Much thanks to #Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.

This was a fantastic book. The story kept you intrigued and definitely guessing. The ending wasn’t what I saw coming, and it wrapped up nicely.

Well I didn't expect that!!
This was a real psychological thriller, there is no way you can drag yourself out of this story once you start.
What seems to be a horrible domestic situation, takes some incredible turns.
I really felt for the main character Holly, in what at times feels like a totally powerless position.

This audiobook was very well done, and the narrator did a great job.


I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Marriage Secret' by Carey Baldwin.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Carey Baldwin, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 11th February 2022.

This is the second book I have read by this author. I have also read 'Her First Mistake' which I would also recommend.

I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis. I am a fan of Carey and if this book is as good as 'Her First Mistake' it is bound to be a good read. It also stated in the synopsis that this book is 'A completely unputdownable and twist-filled psychological thriller from USA Today bestselling author Carey Baldwin. Fans of The Wife Between Us, The Marriage and Gone Girl will be totally addicted to The Marriage Secret.' I am a huge fan of 'Gone Girl' so am looking forward to see if it lives up to this. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 41 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Arizona, USA 🇺🇸.

This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonist being Holly Bancroft. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

'The Marriage Secret' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Carey discusses/includes domestic abuse and the death of a child.

WOW!! JUST WOW!!! I WAS MOT EXPECTING THAT EXPLOSIVE ENDING. WHAT A TWIST!!!

This book is very well written and the vivid descriptions completely absorb the reader from beginning to end. The cover and synopsis work well with the storyline.

The storyline is absolutely captivating as well as realistic. Throughout the storyline I kept questioning myself on what I thought was going on and was completely blown out of the water when I discovered who was actually behind what. A huge congratulations is in order to Casey, its getting harder and harder to shock me and just when I thought I had sussed it all out BANG I was completely blind sighted! I enjoyed the first book I read by Carey which was 'Her First Mistake' but I absolutely LOVED this one!!! The storyline was packed full of mystery, suspense, lies, love, friendship, twists and was an excellent psychological thriller. The storyline was quite unique and I would be interested in reading more of Carey's books. It is also quite thought provoking and makes you wonder what you would do in Holly's position. This book brings up the subject of domestic abuse and is extremely well written and researched. So many people think domestic abuse is just physical but so many times it can be mental and hopefully anyone going through that and reads this book will realise and get the help they need. It is so easy for someone not in that position to say to just leave but it is never that easy, especially when a child is involved. A huge congratulations to Carey for tackling this subject and bringing light to the fact that domestic abuse comes in all shapes and sizes.

The characters were strong, well defined and realistic. I really felt for Holly with everything she was going through. Having been in a few relationships that involved domestic abuse in several forms I knew some of what she was going through. There were times I really felt sorry for her especially with everything else that was coming out of the woodwork. She went from being this strong woman who I praised for her strength and determination and then thanks to her husband started doubting herself but I'm so glad she pulled through for herself and her daughter. Do I think that the ending was deserved? Personally yes!!! However it really does make you think throughout the book. I did really feel sorry for Frances who was not only treated badly by her ex husband but also by the son that she adored and as a mother myself my heart really went out to her.

Congratulations Casey on absolutely page turning thriller with an absolutely EXPLOSIVE ending that I would never have seen coming!!! Here's to your next success 🥂!!

Overall a page turning, intriguing psychological thriller that will keep you up late at night with an explosive ending you will never guess.

Genres covered in this book include Psychological Fiction, Thriller, Suspense and Psychological Thriller amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Girl On The Train', 'Gone Girl' and anyone looking for an action packed psychological thriller with an explosive ending!


309 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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A Game and A Gambit Fit for a Queen

🧡 This plot is not a game of cat and mouse. It is a chess match between two worthy opponents. When Holly’s husband flips from charming to controlling and abusive, the new mother uses her wits in her fight to escape. And I love her for it.

💚 Holly is the smart, powerful female protagonist we all need in a domestic thriller. She is the perfect antidote to those of her fictional peers whose actions have confounded me in my literary journey. The heroines whose sole barrier to a happy resolution is an inexplicable, infuriating refusal to tell one other person - a n y o t h e r p e r s o n - what’s going on.
__________________________________________________
SOUNDBITE

🎧 This is an entertaining, well-produced listen. Stephanie Cannon has a light, nuanced voice that switches from sweet to sultry at a moment’s notice.

🎧 The subject matter prevents this from being called an easy listen - I actually had to stop at times when things got too tense - but it’s compelling and moreish.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing me with an ALC in return for an honest review.

One fateful night, a young woman is found murdered and Zach is a potential suspect. Turning towards me, a look of warmth returning to his eyes, he swears he’s innocent, and I realize there is only one solution. If I agree to be his alibi, he will keep my secret and our daughter can grow up in a loving home. In that moment, I do what any faithful wife would do: I stand by him. I listened to this as an audio book and felt the narrators really helped bring the story to life. The narrator narrated the book beautifully, and I loved the depictions of the different characters.

THE MARRIAGE SECRET had my mind jumping from one conclusion to another until the final pages. Carey Baldwin understands the recipe for suspense, and she serves it to her readers in this book!
Zach and Holly live a charmed life. To an outside observer, their mansion, vacations, and growing family seem ideal, but each of them have secrets, and those secrets touch everyone they know.
Is Zach possessive of his wife, or is he being cautious because she has "pregnancy brain?" Why is Holly worried that she won't be a good mother to her child based on a secret from her past?
At first, I kept reading the story because I was mad. I was angry with Zach, and my opinion of him didn't improve. In the middle of the story, I discovered there was something deeper to the plot than Zach and Holly's marriage, even though that's the focus of the story.
Stephanie Cannon did a great job narrating each character's voice. She found a gentle balance that produced a range of voices, from spirited young women to elderly adults.
I recommend the book to mature readers (due to some violence and sexual scenes) who enjoy suspense.
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley, and the book will be published on February 11, 2022. This is a great book, and you're not going to want to miss out on it!

The Marriage Secret starts off as your typical heart-wrenching story about a trapped woman looking for a way to leave her abusive husband. If she divorces him she will likely lose custody of her newborn, so she has to get more creative.

While this plot is definitely one I have read before, Holly’s character kept it fresh. Despite Zach’s intentions, she was no doormat. She realized very quickly that Zach was gaslighting her, and immediately made a plan to get out. Her scheming was the best part of the story.

The ending was very abrupt. The jump from a steadily advancing plot to a series of rapid twists was jarring, and the reveal felt very rushed and unrealistic. It felt like the author was throwing everything at the reader in the last 20% just for shock value, without much thought to the feasibility if this were real life.

The audiobook quality was great--I would give the production five stars. It is narrated by Stephanie Cannon, who has read a few of Riley Sager’s books as well as The Holiday Swap, which I loved. Her voice was the perfect fit for Holly’s personality, and I definitely think listening to the audiobook enhanced the reading experience for me. She spoke clearly enough for me to speed the book up to the max to fly through it in one sitting.

Well I definitely didn't see that end coming at all! This is a dramatic well written psychological thriller with unexpected plot twists throughout. This book is fantastic and it held my attention until the very end of the epilogue. In particular, I like that Holly had a bit of grit and determination and that she realised quickly that she was being lied to; and I enjoyed her plotting and planning to get out of her untenable marriage. In fact, there wasn't much about it that I didn't love. This is a gripping book that will keep surprising you and which will keep you engrossed until the very end.

Many thanks to NetGallery and Bookouture Audio for approving my request for this book. It truly was a joy to listen to and I look forward to reading more from this Author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Carey Baldwin for this Audio-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback and review.

Holly and Zac seem like the perfect married couple. Zach is a successful doctor, the head of the OB/GYN department. Holly puts her career on hold so they can have the perfect child, a daughter they named Jolene. Zach's behavior changes the day Jolene is born. Holly wants to take her daughter far away to protect her but Holly's past is keeping her put. As secrets and deceptions continue to come out when Zach is suspected of murder Holly will stop at nothing to protect her child.

While some of this story seemed to be a little far fetched to me I actually really enjoyed this domestic thriller. A few of the subplots seemed to be overdramatized for the sake of "shock value". Overall it worked and kept me very entertained as I listened to this audiobook over the course of one day. The narrator did a great job of keeping the characters voices different so I was never confused as to who was talking. I'm giving this book a 3 out of 5 stars because it did entertain me and I do recommend anyone interested to read it.

This book is filled to the brim with unlikeable characters. They're entitled, whiny, deeply flawed, and don't fit together. However, there was a good deal of intrigue, particular when it comes to what Holly's secret is. I mean, it's not even as bad, so I do feel a bit cheated by that, but the rest of the twists and secrecy kept me interested.

Wow, this is a great domestic psychological thriller. It made me feel very uncomfortable, since Holly is being mentally and emotionally abused by her controlling husband Zach. They seem the perfect couple to anyone looking in on their marriage, but behind the scenes, there is a different story. I found it really creepy the way Zach would be all sweetness and light to Holly, and then in an instant, he would be controlling her and gaslighting her. When they had their baby girl, he got very jealous, and became more controlling. I am glad she eventually cottoned on to what was happening to her. Just when she thought she had some things figured out though about Zach, there was always another twist popping up to disarm her. Does she find her way, and get to where she needs to be? With abuse, cheating, murder and secrets, this makes for a riveting read.

The narrator of the book was superb, and she did a great job, with a sensitive subject.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. I loved the twists and turns of this book. I finished this in one day. It kept me hooked from the start. If you want to have a good mind games book this is it.

This is a cleverly plotted story of toxic relationships entangled in a web of lies and I just didn't know who to trust as the story unfolded. It has to be one of the twistiest books I have ever read and it felt like the story took a new turn in direction in every chapter! It was fast paced and shocking from the first chapter to the explosive epilogue and the ending was completely unexpected. This is a story of power, control, jealousy and secrets which I highly recommend for anyone looking for a dark and devious and compelling read.

A fantastic read, deserves a 10-star rating!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Holly's character who knew how to follow her instincts and stand up for herself always!

Zach & Holly are an ideal couple, they are happy and expecting their first child – Zach married Holly knowing what she did when she was 16, that secret binds them together.
Holly has found a husband who is extra caring, nurturing as well as controlling – in the beginning they are small things like what should Holly wear, where she is allowed to go – slowly Zach also starts blaming Holly that she has been doing unexpected things due to her baby brain.
Everything starts when Holly finds an unsigned note "I took the baby, will be in touch"!! Holly panics and calls 911!
Eventually Zach is questioned when a dead body of a young woman is found – Zach’s only alibi is Holly, who has a choice whether to agree to being an alibi in exchange for what she wants!
When the investigation continues, more surprises are in store for us readers and that kept making me go back for more in this audiobook! I loved Stephanie Cannon’s narration a lot.
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for approving the DRC in exchange for my honest review