I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I struggled with the beginning of this book and the actions or Raine and while I didn’t care for the beginning or her family heartbreak the romance part was on point.

I also enjoyed the ending and the resolution of the hardships of their relationship.

Three stars for me.

This is a Romantic Suspense, and this is the fourth book in the Tennessee Cold Case Series. I have read the first book in this series before picking up this book, but I do think you can read this book as a standalone without any problems. This book had me guessing from the beginning, and I loved the crazy ride this book took me on. I love the characters in this book. I did not see the ending happening how it did, but I liked it. The only thing I did not love about this book is not I felt there was a little ton much going on at times. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Intrigue) or author (Lena Diaz) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

In The Secrets She Keeps (Tennessee Cold Case #4), by Lena Diaz, Raine will do anything to stop her brother’s rapidly approaching execution, including kidnapping PI Callum Wright. Diaz deftly develops her complex, relatable characters with intensely emotional and snarky interactions that soften them. Her vivid descriptions drew me in from the opening scenes and kept me turning the pages until the thrilling conclusion. She explores the criminal justice system and how prisoners on death row are treated with nuance, offering a different perspective on the content from any I’ve read before.

PI Callum Wright’s the only person Raine thinks can help convince the Governor to stay her brother’s execution. Raine offers Callum and his team a lead on a killer they are pursuing. However, she chooses to keep a fundamental secret from Callum. In a race against time, Callum and Raine work together to discover the truth before her brother dies and another man kills again.

From the moment her brother went to jail for murder, Raine devoted every moment of her life to proving his innocence. She even studied law and became a lawyer. Raine has no friends and no social life—only her job and the quest to get her brother off of death row and out of prison. Beautiful, loyal, intelligent, stubborn, and proficient investigator, Raine gathers and analyzes information that enables her to detect a serial killer that the police were unable to find. A handsome former police detective who worked on the case upon which the murder conviction was based, Callum lacks technological skills and know-how and doesn’t like lawyers. He works for a company that solves cold cases and helps law enforcement agencies without resources solve cases.

My favorite parts of the novel are Raine and Callum’s interactions and the suspense elements, which Diaz skillfully developed with vibrant descriptions. Raine and Callum and the novel’s secondary characters are as intriguing as Diaz’s multilayered, affecting story. Although the novel’s primary focus is its well-developed suspense elements, Lena Diaz transitions Callum and Raine’s relationship from an unlikely antagonistic partnership to a believable romance by the novel’s end. A full-blown romance within the novel wouldn’t have made sense for Raine’s character. So, focusing mainly on the suspense makes sense. I liked Raine and Callum’s characters a lot, though I may have disagreed with some of their choices and found their behavior frustrating at times.

Diaz balances the novel’s shifting tones nicely without affecting the novel’s pacing. The Secrets She Keeps is a thrilling, funny, intense, angsty, suspenseful, and emotional read recommended for fans of dark suspense and themes such as serial murders, cold cases, criminal justice, and the prison system.

An advanced review copy was provided by HARLEQUIN - Romance via Netgalley for review.

Raine is willing to do just about anything to prove the brothers innocence including kidnapping a private investigator Callum who may be her only hope now that his days are numbered being on death row. Callum works with his team on cold cases and after the incident with Raine she offers him possible leads on the case he's on and he's intrigued enough to help her.

I really enjoyed this book it was interesting seeing the depth on which Raine would take to prove her brother's innocence. Seriously that lady is a bit crazy but she did make a pretty good impression. Anyway her brother is the only person she has left and she it's pretty desperate to keep him alive and find out who the true killer was. I enjoyed following along in the case and seeing as they follow plenty of leads. There was a bit of romance and we could see really see the attraction they both have for each other. There was plenty of things going on to keep any readers hooked and I really enjoyed reading this book

Lena Diaz doesn't always work for me with her cliché story lines but yet this time she hits it out of the park with characters and story line that keeps readers wanting more.

Thank you to Netgalley

Good book that kept me hooked from start to finish. Raine is a desperate woman. Her brother is two weeks away from being executed for a murder she is convinced he didn't commit, and she will lose the last member of her family. She takes that desperation to Unfinished Business - a firm that investigates cold cases. When they turn her down, she accosts one of their investigators, Callum, and kidnaps him at gunpoint to get him to help her. Callum was also the junior detective on her brother's case when he was arrested.

Callum didn't plan to help Raine, but she had information on a serial killer case he had been working on, so he promised to help in exchange. They work together, looking for anyone who might know who really killed the victim. Matters become complicated when another case crosses paths with their investigation. Are the two connected, and who is behind the threats? I did not expect the twist that came along with the second case and the danger Sienna experienced. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I was on the edge of my seat until it was over. The ending was unexpected, and it took me a little while to believe it.

I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Callum and Sienna. Their chemistry was intense. I also liked seeing them get to know each other and respect each other's jobs and integrity, though there was some doubt about Sienna when she revealed her secret. I laughed at Callum's reaction, as he'd already had suspicions. I was impressed by the self-control both had in keeping their attraction in check while they worked together and while their feelings for each other grew. There was a rough patch at the end, but love eventually won the day.

I love a good police procedural so I snagged The Secret She Keeps right away. I also LOVE a wrongful conviction story. So, when Raine sets out to prove her brother is about to die for something he might not have done, she needs help. Callum is an investigator who gets sucked in to the case and Raine. But, in trying to find the real killer in her brother's crime, another case comes up and takes their attention.

Fans of cold cases will really enjoy this. It is a good blend of romance and suspense (its very low heat but good chemistry). I'm not gonna lie-I was surprised by the end. I almost always see twists coming, but not this one. Overall, this was an enjoyable read with plenty of suspense and questions to keep you guessing.

I enjoyed this romance. It definitely started with a bang and then kept going with the murder mysteries. I loved the unique angle of a brother on death row. This book did not follow the paths I expected it to take which was pretty awesome. This was not a steamy romance though we could definitely tell the characters wanted it to be. This is my first book from this author and I’ll be interested to read more.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The Secrets She Keeps was a phenomenal Intrigue! Lena Diaz is such a talented writer, and she puts you right there next to the characters as they make bad decisions while trying to do the right thing.

Raine is desperate. Like break the law desperate, and considering she’s a lawyer, that’s saying a lot. But she’s only got two weeks until her brother faces the executioner for a crime she’s convinced he didn’t commit. If she can’t clear his name or get a stay of execution, she will lose the last of her family.

Enter Callum. He’s an investigator for Unfinished Business, an investigation company that focuses on cold cases. He just didn’t expect to meet Raine the way he did or to fall so deep down the rabbit hole of the case.

Raine and Callum work together, seeking anyone who might know who really committed the murder her brother is accused of. During the course of their investigation, another case crosses paths with their case, and that’s when everything goes off the rails for Raine and Callum.

I really wasn’t expecting the ending! I loved it, but it took me completely off guard, so kudos to Ms. Diaz for pulling that off. The Secrets She Keeps is a can’t miss Intrigue if you love cold cases, serial killers, and family drama. A solid six out of five stars for this one! An extra star for the amazing ending!