An easy read that kept me engaged for the most part. I thought it was a little slow and more of a drama than a thriller but overall it was still okay!

This wasn’t my favourite book of the year - story was ok but really struggled to get hooked which was as frustrating as it could’ve been such a great book.

To me, this book wasnt as much of a thriller as it was interesting. It was just a good book, not great not awful, just good. It was an easy read and it kept me engaged the whole time. I have not been annoyed by a character like I was with Rose in quite some time. She is a doormat and her inner dialogue is exhausting. 80% of her problems would have been resolved if she had only asked questions and confronted people instead of playing things over and over again in her head. Don't get me wrong, I completely understand the thoughts racing in one's mind overtaking her because my brain is a scary place to live too. However, the level to which she did that was pretty extreme. And maybe she was meant to be portrayed that way. Family first, never feeling like she measured up, no one sticking up for her.

Loved the start, great plot and characters. Love a book that includes DNA so this was a winner for me. Lots of drama going on to keep you interested. Highly recommend.

Well written with interesting twists, I finished this book in 3 sittings, desperate to know more, the author has done a great job.

I had difficulty engaging with 'His Secret Child' because I anticipated a thriller, yet it unfolded more as a family drama. It failed to captivate me as I had hoped, and I found it somewhat predictable at times.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

DNF Although the premise was good, unfortunately this book didn't grab me and I battled to stay interested.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5 Stars

My first experience with this author’s work, I was surprised to discover HIS SECRET CHILD is not a debut novel. Because, for me, the dialogue often seemed disingenuous, and I found the excessive use of dialogue tags, particularly in the beginning of the book, distracting, the prose redundant at times, and that there were no real surprises nor breakout moments.

That’s not to say the novel isn’t for anyone. I mean, a wealthy debutant’s (Rose Blaisdell) father suspiciously dies, after which a strange woman shows up out of the blue not only professing to be his long-lost illegitimate child but also sowing doubt as to Rose’s birthright. The hair-raising possibilities are endless, and Baxter does a good job of serving up familial drama, suspicion, and betrayal.

Although it was a miss for me, as I prefer complex thrillers brimming with in-your-face antagonists, I plan to read other books by Cole Baxter, and wish to thank him, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the ARC.

It’s been a while since I read a book by the author and I am not sure why. It has all the makings of a popcorn thriller. it is short, has unlikable characters and kept me not wanting to put it down. The writing style is easy to read and all of this made me want to keep reading once I started.

Filled with secrets and family drama, it was the dysfunctional family that I couldn’t look away from. I did see some of the twists coming, but I quite often figure things out early, but definitely not all of them. But predicting some of the twists did not stop me from wanting to judge this family and all their drama. They could have their own TV show.

Are you looking for one more summer read before the seasons switch, then give this one a try. It was the train wreck you couldn’t look away from and didn’t know you needed.

Don’t bother
50% done and only one slightly interesting thing that you can predict happens. Only reading on to see if the whole book is as predictable and slow as it has been this far. Too much word repetition. MC thinking something will happen then it happening. Not by any means a “heart-racing psychological thriller.” The last 10% has some interesting elements that is all.

This family isn’t one I want to be a part of. Some members don’t value that bond and behave despicably. Yet, one character wants to stay a part of it and one character claims to be a part of it. Who can really be trusted? If you want an addictive psychological thriller, this is one for you; then you can find out who’s trustworthy.

Thank you, Cole Baxter, Bookouture, & netgalley for my early copy! All opinions are my own.

My Thoughts: this one was a slow pace for Coles books and I’ve read a few of them. For me at the time of reading the change of pace was appreciated and although I didn’t know it when I picked the book up it was exactly what I needed!

The story was a new twist on a plot that’s been done so many times, the secret ‘child’ was actually a fully grown adult that seemed to be just out for what she could get.. the cover is almost like a red herring in itself.

The plot was gripping without being full of twists and turns, we were just following the perspective of one character which helped the story to flow really easily, it also made it so the story only really had one way it could go for the most part which in turn meant that a lot of detail could be thrown in that would otherwise be missed in a thriller that had different timelines/perspectives and plot threads.

A relatively quick read given the slow pace & full of plenty of unsavoury characters for the reader to hate, as well as a couple that the reader will definitely want to succeed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one like I do with all of Cole’s books!

This story is one of the most gripping, edge-of-your-seat, breath-holding, tension-filled, and jaw-dropping books I’ve read ... ever!
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I honestly can't stop thinking about it and I want to read it again, catch on some hints that I might have missed during my first encounter with His Secret Child. This book is filled with twists and turns and I couldn't predict anything.
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I was immersed in the story all the way to the end. It's so complex and it has a fantastic level of suspense. I will keep recommending it to everyone
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Thank you to @bookouture for offering me the opportunity to be part of the book tour.

received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley, the publisher and the author.

I really enjoyed this book. It had a bit more drama to it than I usually go for. It actually reminded me a lot of the board game Clue; Rich people with big secrets and who killed the patriarch in the study?!

A woman shows up at the main characters funeral and claims to be his unclaimed daughter. Is she truly related to the billionaire, or is she just after a quick payday?

There were some predictable moments in this one, but it was still a gripping read. I think it was more fast paced and the ending was satisfying!

His Secret Child
By: Cole Baxter

4 Stars

Rose is in shock when her father dies suddenly and a secret daughter comes for her inheritence. Soon, her life is flipped upside down with secrets and murder.

Wow. This was a wild ride of a book that kept you guessing and kept you on the edge of your seat. The characters were dynamic and fun to watch, grow, and change throughout the story. This story was filled with family drama, murder, and romance. I was thrilled to the last page.



*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

Instead of a thriller or mystery, His Secret Child comes across more like a family drama, similar to a Bollywood web series with a dramatic ending.

While the book is advertised as a heart racing psychological thriller, it is completely not.

Overall, the book was predictable, and the first half was especially repetitive.

This book follows Rose Blaisdell, a woman who is suddenly shocked by the untimely death of her wealthy father, and all of the familial drama that comes along with his inheritance. In the wake of his death, a woman shows up claiming to be a child he didn’t know he had. Major events unfold from there. I was very into this book for the first 50 percent of my read. I liked how the story was setting itself up, and enjoyed seeing Rose kind of lose her mind. However, after that point I had the story figured out and had a hard time engaging. My favorite part of that last bit was the fact that the company’s acronym is BEE. If you read the book, you’ll understand why this is comical. In the last 10 chapters, there are a lot of feelings of suspense that I thought really brought enjoyment to the read. I rated this one 3.5 stars overall!

His Secret Child is written by Cole Baxter. This is the first book that I have read by this author, and it will not be my last. This book drew me in within the first few pages, and I could not read fast enough to see what happened next. The book is well written with real feeling and flawed characters.

Rose and her father do not have the greatest relationship. He does not seem to approve of her career or her fiancé. Suddenly, he passes and while at the gravesite, Ava approaches her and tells her that they share a father. The rest of the family welcome Ava, but something seems off to Rose.

Rose's family is a complex one - and it becomes clear that everyone wants their hands on the inheritance. I felt like Rose wanted what was best, and wanted to do things on her own. But it becomes clear that she does not even know who she can trust in her own family.

This is a domestic thriller. There are a lot of twists, turns, family drama, and so much more. I will be checking this author out in the future, I really liked his style of writing. Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

Reading Between the Wines book review #79/130 for 2024:
BOOK TOUR!
Rating: 3 🍷🍷🍷
Book: His Secret Child
Author: Cole Baxter
Available now!! Released on Aug 20!

Sipping thoughts: This thriller was also very much a domestic suspense/drama. How would you feel if all of a sudden a young woman claims to be your father’s daughter after his death and with so much heritance money on the land? Rose found out and was fighting for her life, literally. If you are looking for a twisty book filled with lies, back-stabbing, and greed then look no further.

Cheers and thank you for this Books on Tour to @Bookouture and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @HisSecretChild.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There is so much drama from the start and I couldn't put it down as I needed to know more about what was going to happen. I felt sorry for Rose throughout the entire book, especially as people she loved turned against her so easily. I could understand her actions and behaviours. Although I guessed the ending midway through the book, it didn't stop me from being shocked by the twists and turns at the end. I have read a few Cole books, and definitely would recommend this one.