The story centers on Rose, who uncovers the existence of a secret sister, Ava, following her father's death. I found this book challenging to engage with, primarily due to the character development and pacing.

Rose, in particular, was a source of frustration; her tendency to make assumptions rather than asking questions led to repetitive scenarios and a stagnant story arc. The narrative seemed to cycle through the same settings and issues without significant progression, which made it difficult for me to remain invested.

Additionally, the character of Gregory, who had the potential to add depth and intrigue, unfortunately did not deliver as expected. The plot had the opportunity for numerous twists but ended up feeling far-fetched and confusing at times. This book struggled to capture my imagination and left me hoping for a more dynamic execution.

This booked started off good, there where some parts I was like ok, you can only say the same thing so many times in different ways. Then as I got more into the book. Boom, the suspense and twist happened and had you questioning yourself if you know who did it. First I thought the mother then the brother, then I was like nope the aunt. So who did it? No spoilers here read it and find out. It was a good book!

A psychological thriller, His Secret Child (2024) by Cole Baxter is the happenings when the patriarch of a wealthy family dies. From its opening scene with the monthly dinner gathering, the underlying hostility and jealousy are apparent as an unnamed person ponders dark reprisals for family members. The next morning, when the father is discovered dead from a heart attack, the family regathers to argue over the division of his enormous fortune. Told by his daughter Rose’s perspective, a surprise guest at the funeral announces a major secret, setting off further family dynamics and consternation. As Rose decides to prove her father was killed, another family member's tragedy places the family in danger, as each member looks out only for their own best interests. An engaging suspenseful tale, with a warm rosy ending, making it a three and a half stars read rating. With thanks to Bookouture and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement.

His Secret Child: Standing at my father’s funeral, a strange woman whispers to me “He was my father, too.” Is Ava really here to join our family or destroy it?
This psychological thriller had so many twists & turns that my head was spinning! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc.
A must-read!!
5 stars

After her family’s New Year’s Eve party Rose gets news that her father, Charles has passed unexpectedly. Her father is worth a lot of money and suddenly all his family is coming out of the woodwork looking for an inheritance they feel they are entitled to, including a woman claiming to be his daughter. After Roses brother ends up in the hospital with a similar condition to what killed her father, and after receiving threats from her new sister, Rose is determined to figure out what is going on before it’s too late.

His Secret Child was the first Cole Baxter book I’ve read. As someone who reads a lot of mystery/thriller books I was sucked into this one. However, early on I had a lot of twists figured out. With that said, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. There were characters I loved, characters I hated, and characters I felt indifferent toward. I thank NetGalley for the ARC of this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

His Secret Child by Cole Baxter, When The book starts we meet Rose who is reluctantly attending the Blaisdell New Year’s Eve party in despite it’s her family‘s party she wish she would be anywhere else. She’s always been different from the rest of her family she has a job as a book editor and lives off her income despite her father owning a billion dollar company and she having access to her own fortune this is why she apologizes to her fiancé Adrian for having to attend the shindig. So the next morning when she gets a call from her distraught mom Thelma telling her her father is dead into come home right away rose is floored. Rose is aware that with her ne’er-do-well brother and distraught mother she will have to step up and take care of business somethings she does her best to do right but the day of her dad‘s funeral a woman shows up claiming she is his illegitimate daughter in a rightful air to any inheritance. Her name is Ava and Rose remembers going to college with the woman and despite Doctor Ava having a DNA test there’s something Rose just doesn’t trust about her despite the rest of the family who welcomed her in with open arms even roses mom which really drives Rose crazy. Before long it is obvious the money is not all this supposed sister wants because when Rose tries to offer her a settlement she refuses to take it and also turns the tables by blackmailing rows. It doesn’t take long for Rose to realize when Ava said she wants everything… She meant everything and will not stop until she gets it that is unless someone stops her. Rose has always been seen a spineless especially to her family but they haven’t seen anything yet. When her brother is found unconscious seemingly of the same thing that killed their Dad it seems someone is out to kill roses family and for rows enough is enough. Can Rose stop whoever is murdering her family and this intruder who claims she is a rightful air? I have said it before and I will say it again cold Baxter‘s books are getting super super great so much better than the first ones I read by him this book is so twisty and complex and despite the eye rolling moments it was still a great well put together book. My favorite new thing about these better books is before when someone would say something absurd and so obviously untrue but yet usually the main character would act like that is so true and then cower in fear to this information but in these new better books there’s always a voice of reason who will state the obvious… I probably am not explaining myself well just know this book is awesome and I definitely recommend it!#NetGalley, #Bookoucher, #ColeBaxter, #HisSecretChild,

My Goodreads review:

Thank you Netgalley for the copy of this book!

Truly a whirlwind & page turner until the end! Rose’s father dies of a heart attack & with the type of money their family has, of course it’s going to bring out the worst in people. I loved the character development for sure.

I would definitely recommend this to others if they want a quick, fast paced family thriller.

Cole Baxter is one of my very favorite authors, I love his writing style it always sucks me in wanting more!!!! A great read!!!

Thank you for the ARC!

This book was like a cheesy tv episode that I couldn't help but get sucked into. Personally, I felt like it was more of a family drama than a murder mystery, since it was obvious who the murderers were from the beginning. I liked the family drama, but I wish there had been more of a mystery.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me an ARC copy to read and review.

His Secret Child - Cole Baxter

This book is a super easy read, but didn’t quite hit the wow factor for me - a very easy 3*.

The pace and writing in this book was spot on, credit to the author immediately, but it did unfortunately lack something I can’t quite put my finger on. This doesn’t mean it isn’t for everyone however! Some people might really really love this.

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. Some of "situations" seemed a bit far fetched. Regardless, the storyline was pretty interesting and it does keep you reading, wanting to watch how it all plays out.

Charles Blaidsell who is incredibly wealthy succumbs to a heart attack leaving his fortune to be fought over by family members. It is amazing how money brings out the worst in people and there are numerous examples of this in the book.

We follow Rose, Charles’s daughter as she tries to deal with the death of her father, a man she loved dearly and would do anything to have back. But at the funeral a woman appears that seems familiar to Rose, Ava who Rose realizes she vaguely knew from her college days, and she is claiming to be the secret daughter of her father. Rose is very dubious regarding her claims and sets out to find the truth. Is Ava just after part of this fortune or is she really a blood member of the family?

Lots of drama and some very awful characters move this book along at a decent. Cole Baxter always writes an entertaining book that keeps you turning the pages until the end. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy.

Thriller I could not put down. Read in one sitting. Engaging, gripping,fast paced, and edge of my seat. Each page was something new and more thrilling than the last.

This book centres around Rose and her family. Whilst her mum and dad and other family members enjoy having lots of money and big houses Rose shied away from all that and worked for a living. When her dad dies unexpectedly a young woman comes on the scene claiming to be his daughter and wants what is rightfully hers. Rose's family seem to welcome her into the family but Rose doesn't believe her. Things soon turn very ugly with hers and other family members at risk. Who is this young woman Ava and why is she determined to ruin her.
A great book but I had worked out what would happen as part of the storyline at the beginning of the book. I look forward to reading books from this author as they never disappoint.

His Secret Child is a good psychological thriller. Rose is singled out by her father's family. They treat her like crap. Her father dies unexpectedly. At his funeral, a woman claims to be his real daughter. The book flows well. There are a couple parts that are predictable. It was an interesting read and I would recommend it.

I am a huge fan f this author and as surprised to find that the book was a little slow to begin with. I found that the ending was predictable and not up to his usual standards. Still an enjoyable read.

Another great read from Cole Baxter! Great mystery and suspense and packed with tension and secrets. Fantastic characters that kept me flipping pages long past my bedtime.
Thank you NetGalley, Cole Baxter and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks to Bookotoure for having me on this tour of His Secret Child by Cole Baxter.

Family tensions are high after the death of Charles Blasidell ,Thelma, his wife, and his children, Devon and Rose, are obviously devastated upon his funeral a womean named Ava comes up and claims to be Charles daugther and is demanding money ontop of this the Blasidell family whom want thier ingertinece but have never really cared abotu Charles and are all for thier own adgenda the outlier to this is his daughter Rose whoms never cared about money whislt eveyone is up in arms about the will reading

The frist half of this book felt more like a family supsense drama than a thriller and the second half picked up for me personally i feel like it heated up in this part where yo are deeper divin into the family and thier motives . I felt this shows how unsavory people get around money and i defeinty felt for Rose throughout the book

Captivating family drama transforms into a thrilling tale of greed and deceit, highlighting the complexities of human nature in the face of wealth.

#HisSecretChild #FamilyDrama #Greed #Deceit #HumanNature #Wealth #Inheritance #BookTour #EmotionalJourney #CharacterDevelopment #Booktour #BookReview

I have never read this author before, so I’m not familiar with the writing style. Though I found the premise of the novel interesting, I also found it very repetitive and too long. The writing style reminded me of Danielle Steel’s works which I quit reading years ago for the very same reasons.

The plot does engage the reader but it also makes one frustrated when the same things are being said over and over again. Sometimes the reader feels like knocking some sense into a few of the characters. And The main character, Rose, daughter of the patriarch of the family, Charles Blaidsell was bland at first but once she got some backbone she was more likable, as she struggled with all the emotions brought on by her greedy family. Many unsavory characters in this story revolving around a wealthy family and their billions of dollars that everyone wants a part of in the patriarch’s will.

Many thanks, NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and post my personal opinions of this work.

Are you ready for a new thriller? His Secret Child should be one of your next reads! It was a great book!