I had a hard time getting into this one, but once I did, I really enjoyed these characters. You won’t be able to put this one down once you get into what happened to Jess and what will happen to her now that she’s met Troy.
That’s all you are getting from me - go into this one blind. You won’t regret it!

This was the first book I have read by Stina Linenblatt and OMG did she blow my mind!! I didn't realize this wasn't a standalone . So I was shocked by the cliffhanger. This book wove two stories together. One of Jessica in the present, and another from the journals that Jessica found about Angelique the SOE agent during World War II. I absolutely love these kind of books. This is a must read for anyone looking for an excited read with action, mystery, romance, friendship, and self discovery. I felt like this was a well written book and I am looking forward to the rest of this series. I would definitely recommend this book!


Thank you NetGalley and Stina Lindenblatt for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

So this book is binge worthy and I wish I had the other books in the series to dive right into next. But be warned this had a massive cliffhanger…

I lived Jessica’s character and the strength she exhibited through the story. I don’t want to give anything away but this was a ride for sure! Highly recommend.

I loved how this book started. It kept me hooked and wanting all the answers to the secrets. But as I kept going I lost interest and it didn't keep me as engaged as I hoped it would. I did purchase this book after it was released so maybe it's one I will dnf for now and make my way back to it when the timing is better. I hope others continue to enjoy it. Thank you to netgalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me an arc of this book. This is my honest review and it will only be shared here on netgalley.

Warning: Cliff-hanger. But you will be looking for the next installation. This was my first book by Stina Lindenblatt, but won't be my last!

After being wrongfully imprisoned for the death of her abusive husband, all Jessica Smithson wants is to start a new life where no one knows her true identity. Maple Ridge is the perfect place to hide from the media circus battling to know who really rid her of the man. A question she can’t answer.
The last thing she expects to find in the small idyllic mountain town is the good-looking and very persistent Troy Carson. From the moment he sees her, the ex-Marine is determined to help Jess with her anxiety attacks and to get to know her better. He’s determined to help her renovate the old house she bought—a house with secrets hidden behind the walls.
Heat simmers and grows between the pair, but Jess can’t risk getting too close to Troy. Can’t risk her own secrets being revealed.
So much is at stake if the truth gets out.

This book was EVERYRHING! 5 ⭐️! Well developed characters, amazing plot that alternates between past (Angelique’s story during Hitler’s time) and present (Jessica’s story). I can’t belive Angelique’s story ended on the only CLIFFHANGER 🫣😩! Jessica is a Domestic Abuse survivor who suffers from PTSD, was wrongfully convicted of a crime, which forced her to serve 5 years in prison and give up custody of her only child 😡! Jessica & Troy 😍 are super cute. Hoping in the third book we will see how their relationship progresses. This book gave me all the feels and the tea was piping Hot! The ending has my stomach in knots, filled with worry! The third book in the series will relase January 2024, I don’t know if I can wait thst long 😢🥺😔🫣!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

Amazingly written, the author is very talented and iMm surprised the written isn’t highlighted elsewhere. The story itself was pretty typical and fair warning to all readers - this ends on a cliff hanger! Overall, good read and something I’d recommend to others as long as you aren’t an ending driven reader. Now I have to read the next book!

This was my first time reading something by this author, and it definitely won't be my last. Such a heartfelt story that will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Make sure you have a tissue box handy! Jessica was wrongfully accused of killing her abusive husband and served time in prison and has now been released. All she wants is to start fresh in a new town, so she moves to Maple Ridge, where no one knows her or anything about her past. She prefers to stay low and keep to herself, but Troy befriends her and includes her in his circle of friends. Troy is an ex-Marine, and recognizes Jessica's anxiety as PTSD and is determined to help her. He is gentle with her and tries to get Jessica to open up to him. She has built up walls that are iron hard, but Troy is determined to tear them down and help her get through her pain.
I was completely pulled into the story from the very start and engaged till the last page. The author did an amazing job of bringing the scenes and characters to life. The story is so emotional it will really pull at your heartstrings. The plot was well-written with a smooth storyline, and the characters were simply amazing. Such a beautifully written story I just could not put down!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I´ve read other books from Stina Lindenblatt and loved all of them. Maybe this one just wasn't for me.

Troy and Jessica’s story so far has been awesome. A great story of angst, heartache and survival. I really can’t wait to read more!!!

I tend to go into book blind and this OMG I have not read book one but I don't even care. I so need all of these NOW!! I fell in love with the characters and the story and this is now an auto read author for me!!

This book made me laugh, cry, squirm, everything! But you left me on a cliffhanger 😫 and now I need the next book like NOW! Aha. Seriously though, this will be a series I continue to read!

Not my last from this author i hope

4 stars

One More Secret by Stina Lindenblatt, book one in the Hidden Secrets:Carson Brothers trilogy, is a very emotional, sizzling, dual-timeline romance about a survivor of domestic abuse starting her life over in a small town and the protective ex-Marine determined to save her. Jessica Smithson has just been released from prison for a crime she didn’t commit and has settled in small-town Maple Ridge, Oregon. Although she would rather keep to herself, or hide from everything and everyone, she's befriended by ex-Marine Troy Carson. Troy is determined to be there for Jess, even when she pushes him away. These two have a real connection that is hard to ignore. Jess is soon welcomed and included by Troy and his group of friends. When it becomes clear to Troy that Jess is suffering from PTSD, he does what he can to help her. He wants nothing more than for Jess to open up to him and trust him, but her walls are sky high and impenetrable. Troy is a natural hero and protector with a heart of gold. He's amazingly gentle and careful with Jess, while she's wrapped up in the pain from her past; having difficulty seeing beyond her past to the wonderful man patiently waiting right in front of her. While she is cleaning out rooms and closets Jess finds a secret room behind the bookshelf and she finds journals from the owner; who, it turns out, was a spy during WWII.

Though Jess slowly starts to make friends and find herself, there is something that seems to always be holding her back from truly letting go of her past. What she can't figure out is if it is just the memories, or is someone out to get her? Between Jess's past that will surely come to light, her reasons for constantly looking over her shoulder to be revealed, and the completion of the journals from a young woman who, I can’t wait to find out what happens next after that major cliffhanger at the end. Heartfelt, emotional, compelling, and fascinating, you definitely do not want to miss this masterful romantic suspense. I highly recommend One More Secret to other readers and am impatiently waiting for part two.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

two in one
This book combines two different storylines and both have captured my interest, I just couldn´t put the book down. Reading the blurb I knew I had to read this book since it promised so much: dealing with trauma, finding new friends and building trust, an attractive protector with a chance at romance. I was pleasantly surprised about plot no. 2 and I can´t wait to read the sequel.
I received this book as a review copy.

This is such a real and powerful story. You don’t often read the many affects of PTSD or read a story of someone with complex PTSD. I was completely drawn into Jessica’s story. I wanted to cry at all the things she’s been and cheer for any little bit of progress she makes. The ending is definitely enough to keep me on the edge of my seat until the next installment.
I would have liked to have a prologue of Jess’s backstory. Maybe the murder of her husband and the loss of her daughter. There’s also a story within the story that I haven’t seen the value of, yet. Maybe that’s yet to been seen. I’m super excited to see what happens next, though!!
5 stars!!!

Y'all, this is part of a series, and you're going to have to wait for the next one. I'm just putting that out there.

This story is a work of art. The real, raw representation of PTSD and anxiety, the trauma, and the work to fight your way out of it. My heart breaks for Jessica, who is just trying to find a place to hide and try to get back to her life. Ex-Marine Troy finds her and makes it his mission to help her.

This book is full of all the feels, and it will tug at your heartstrings in more ways than one. Beautifully written, phenomenal characters. Stina, please send me the next book already! 😂❤️❤️

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

(This review is based off of an uncorrected e-galley of this novel)

First off.......that cliffhanger. I nearly threw my kindle at the wall because of it. I don't know if it will be that dramatic in the final version, but it's definitely on the level of season finale of your favorite show when you don't know if it's getting another season.

I liked the structure of the novel, even if some of the relationships have not been made clear yet. I really want to know how Iris is related to this story other than being the former owner of Jessica's house. I have lots of questions that I need answers to, so I can't wait for the next two novels in this trilogy.

If you've read any of my other reviews about timelines of DV survivors, you know that I'm always complaining about how it's moving too quickly. I appreciated that the author included in the notes at the beginning that she took creative liberties to keep the story interesting aka she addressed the elephant in the room and said that Jessica's journey is basically at warp speed. Overall, I liked the way mental health and PTSD were addressed.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an e-arc of this novel

This book pulls you in the first chapter. I absolutely loved the characters and the storyline. Troy is a hardworking man who loves helping others. He truly loves spending time with the retired vets and working at his construction company. He never thought that he would meet a woman that takes his breath away, but when he sees Jessica on the beach looking sad things change in him. Jessica has so much past and trauma in her life she is just looking for a new beginning. She never bargained for friendships and relationships after her past history, but she soon finds she can’t live without them either. This book ends in a cliffhanger that will have you reading the second book in this series when it comes out, I was given an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had a lot of issues with this one unfortunately. Everything felt forced. It was really hard to get into, the writing structure itself I wasn't a fan of, and it really was drug out way further than it needed to be. I don't even mind the ending but everything else was unfortunately a no for me.