The Mother's Secret by Kate Hewitt is a heartfelt touching story of one woman’s struggles when accusations are made against her. It takes a while in the story to get to what the accusations actually are. Much background is given on the new move, the new home, and the new situation that Laura finds herself. Emotionally intense with a subplot that is just as interesting.

I have read many of Katie Hewitt’s book includes wonderful historical fictional as well as romantic fiction. This story is more in line with That Night at the Beach, contemporary women’s fiction from beginning to end. There are many unanswered questions that you must keep reading to see what the truths really are in this story.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book to review)
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When the call finally comes, my life as I know it is over—my job as a teacher, my marriage, my family are all gone. In a heartbeat, I’ve lost everything that ever mattered to me. All because of one secret, and what someone thinks she saw…

As I sit in the school’s office, listening to the accusations being made against me, I wonder how I got here. As they discuss what they think I did, words begin to jumble in my mind: “a video,” “blurred figures…” I don’t know how to explain that they’ve got it all wrong. Instead, I think back over the last few months and try to pinpoint the exact moment when I allowed a secret to ruin my life.

I squeeze my eyes shut. I’ve been so stupid; I can see that now. Because I know who told them I did this. But it’s just not true, I would never cross that line. So why would she do this to me, after all we’ve been through? What possible reason could she have to shatter my life into a million pieces?

When I open my eyes, my colleagues stare at me, waiting for answers. I take a deep breath. It’s time to tell them what really happened. It’s time to tell them the truth.

Is the playground the structure outside or itis the duplicity of the co-workers and others who would profit from the crime? I don’t think that there is a single person that you can or should trust in this book as this is a book full of people madder than a box of frogs. Revenge may be sweet, but this is just cruel intentions from these horrible people you want to see suffer who what they did.

Highly recommended to lovers of thrilling books! #shortbutsweetreviews

Wow. Just WOW.

This will be a hot one for book clubs come mid-September!

I’m a teacher and this one had the pencil in my messy teacher’s bun quivering. LOL.

At first, I wasn’t sure about my reaction and I stopped reading. I honestly wasn’t prepared to pick it up again…and then, the author’s reputation overshadowed any doubts I was having. Am I ever glad I continued reading.

“What is it about other peoples’ misfortune that makes us turn into the worst versions of ourselves?”

This is the basic question author Kate Hewitt asks as she examines the life of Laura Haile and Rachel Masters. In doing so, she spotlights ‘schadenfreude’ a German word that means the opposite of sympathy. Both women, teachers, are catapulted into an intense situation that neither could predict nor expect. Their response produces a captivating read.

We’ve all felt like proving we could do something on our own when we knew deep down that we couldn’t, right?

Watch Laura and Rachel spiral out of control when they fail to admit that they are out of their depths and need help.

One of these ladies is a tired, stressed mother of a three-month-old baby and is struggling with postpartum depression. She feels invisible and this drives her to take her future into her own hands … at the risk of everyone she loves.

The other is the wife of a new principal and takes on a role she hadn’t planned on taking - a role that ends up putting everything she holds dear into question. She can’t believe that a person she counted as a friend could betray her. Looking back, she realizes that she should have asked for help sooner.

Hewitt examines
1) how a close-knit community in a remote setting can be both positive and wonderful and at the same time so 2) threatening and divisive.
3) the difficulties of motherhood
4) the consequences of mistakes
5) the opportunity to grow
6) silver linings and second chances
7) how innocence and guilt go hand in hand
8) how appearances can be really deceiving
9) the push and pull of desire and fear

“I feel like I’ve lost everything.”

Been there? Then you’ll love this investigation into the teaching profession and what we can all learn from making mistakes.

Once again, Kate Hewitt, you write a book that works its way into my subconscious and won’t let go! I’m still thinking about this one weeks later. STILL. This was a perfect read for me as I head back to teach this September. Know this, I’m on high alert.

I was gifted this copy Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Kate Hewitt is a favorite author and I enjoy reading her books immensely. The Mother’s Secret was a ok read for me though not a favorite read. I have to say, I had a hard time getting into The Mother’s Secret. The main character, Laura, just irritated me. I guess trying to relate to how she was behaving just didn’t set well with me.
I will go back and reread this one day soon.
With that said, the story did have some good points to it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Moving to a new town for her husbands new job she finds herself feeling alone. She connects with the lady who is on maternity leave. She too is struggling with loneliness and caring for a new baby. When a sub position for English teacher opens she takes it. Ben a boy in English class comes from foster care and he too feels alone. There is a chemistry between her and this student. How will she handle this?
A book that will tug so many emotions in you— you. Will want to read it!

Kate is such an accomplished author and is not afraid to tackle sensitive subjects. I felt for Laura and Rachel for different reasons, with Kate weaving a skilful plot around them both. I read it in a day, such an excellent novel,

Laura‘s husband has accepted a job as headmaster for the wilderness school… To me, right there I would’ve said no lol

I don’t understand why she leaves her daughter behind but anyway she leaves her daughter behind so she can finish her school year and her husband and her son moved to this wilderness school

They are accusations made… And Laura is questioning everything

I enjoy this author they’re always emotional, heartfelt, looks into family, relationships, and secrets

I absolutely love Kate Hewitt, her books are so addictive and the Mother's Secret was no exception, I really felt so sorry for Rachel, and all the challenges that she faced.

THE MOTHER’S SECRET is another great novel by KATE HEWITT. I have read many of this author’s books and have enjoyed them all, and The Mother’s Secret is no exception.The story of two women, Laura Haile and Rachel Masters, with their loneliness and longing to be understood by their husbands and to succeed in the tasks laid before them, is emotionally stirring.
When Laura’s husband Allan becomes headmaster at an all boys’ school in Northern Maine, practically on the Canadian border, she does her best to support him, leaving her daughter, parents and friends in Connecticut. Being an English teacher she alleviates her boredom by filling in for Rachel who is on maternity leave. She gets drawn into something that terrifies her. Full of guilt, she shares her secret with Rachel……
Rachel’s husband Kyle takes a logging job up north, leaving Rachel alone to care for their tiny and very demanding baby son, Nathan, having no idea how difficult things are for her…….
There is friendship and betrayal. There is also criticism and backbiting by some very officious members of staff at this school in which corners are cut due to dwindling funds…..
I am not going to tell you any more as I do not want to spoil things for you.
I highly recommend The Mother’s Secret as an excellent read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Laura is moving upstate with her husband Allan as he begins his new role as Headmaster at a boarding school. Laura is apprehensive about the move as she's left her daughter behind and has no job of her own now. Although supportive of Allan a life as Headmasters wife isnt really what she wanted. Finding herself in a temporary teachers job covering maternity leave seems an ideal situation until she meets one of the older students and ends up in a difficult situation.
If I'm totally honest this isnt my favourite of Kate's books, I found Laura's behaviour annoying, she knew what she had to do for the best but found reasons and excuses not to report the issues she was having. However I did enjoy the storyline.
3.5 rounded up

Wow! I just finished reading "The Mother's Secret" and all I can say is "wow!" What an emotional read that I couldn't put down! I loved both of the main characters and how their challenges, while completely different, were so similar in some ways. I felt connected to both of them and was sad when the book was done.

This was the first book I've read by this author, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. As stories about scandals go, it was very tame. I expected a lot worse and believe most readers will, also. Laura is the wife of a new headmaster, Allan, in a tiny boarding school in Maine and much later in the book than expected, is accused of inappropriate behavior with a student. Seriously, it's way past the halfway mark when it happens, and since it's right there in the story summary, you'll wonder what took so long to get to that point. That's one of the key issues with the book. If you're going to give away the scenario to the reader ahead of time, why wait so long to get there? You don't need that much backstory, and there was quite a lot of filler. And then it happens and you're like, that's it? When it's too mild for even a young adult story, you might consider spicing it up a bit.

At the same time, there’s another plot involving Rachel, an English teacher on maternity leave whose husband is away for work and who is struggling to bond with her newborn. She becomes friendly with Laura, as they are both lonely and averse to the gossip and scrutiny of the school’s close-knit faculty. They end up with more in common than they ever expected.

I enjoyed the story, and the ending was satisfying, but feel that if you center the plot around one specific occurrence, then it’d better be good! It’s just a bit too underwhelming otherwise.

Love this author and that night at the beach was a book that previously stood out for me so was excited to read her new novel all about friendship and betrayal…,,,I highly recommend this book Well where do I begin? I have been so excited about this one and it has delivered on every level. I have been so caught up in it that I devoured the whole thing in just one sitting.

So this book actually kind of has two mothers' secrets. Laura and her husband move to upstate Maine so he can run a school. Laura ends up with a substitute teaching job. She finds herself in a bad situation when a young man in her class makes a move on her. Meanwhile, the teacher she is subbing for is really struggling while on maternity leave. Then she deals with a husband working out of town and child abuse allegations. These two women become involved in each other's lives. I guess not as exciting of secrets as I thought. Book was ok overall.