Very good writing in presentation of the characters provides a solid basis for a tory. However, this book presents the characters and ends.

Sarah seems to have the perfect life. A beautiful home in the Hamptons, a handsome hot husband and an infant son named Elliot. But Sarah’s mother in law Eleanor is constantly on Sarah to lose her baby weight and is a snob.Sarah.s husband Warwick loves himself more than anything and is very controlling. Sarah has a sister whose name is Maisey and she lives out of the country under another name, Maisey is a nurse who goes to poorly developed countries to help however she can. Sarah hasn’t seen Maisey in about ten years. Then Eleanor nags Sarah to invite Maisey to Elliot’s christening. Sarah sends off an email and surprisingly Maisey accepts the invitation. Sarah has a secret she has not shared with anyone then she suddenly gets a note saying “ I know your secret and I'm going to tell”. Sarah’s whole world may come down on top of her.
I liked the beginning of this series and hope I get to read the rest of this series. I don’t usually like cliff hangers but I knew where to expect in this case so that was a little different. This was a quick easy read. It definitely had me wondering why were the sisters no longer close and why Maisey worked out of the country under a different name. It seems like she was running from something. Also what was Sarah hiding? Also why didn’t Sarah stick up for herself? So many questions. Hopefully the answers will be found in the next five parts I am eagerly waiting to find out. One last question why did Maisey suddenly decide to come back even if it was for her nephew’s christening ? Until the next part I recommend.

This weird serial leaves you wanting more. You want to know what the note is all about and what the strange relationship is that the sisters have. But, unfortunately, the book is told in serial form and leaves you hanging. You want to know more. You crave the end of the mystery, but you are only told so much and no more. It is well written but disappointing that you are left to wonder what will happen until the next installment. I liked the storyline but I don't like being forced to continue to buy the next book to find out what will happen to the main characters.

LOVED this book - so suspenseful. Can't wait for the parts 2-6!

I have to admit, I strongly disliked this "book." Its a short installment - part 1 of 6 - but I still had troubles forcing myself to finish this. I will NOT be reading any further and I would highly recommend that others don't either. There is really no suspense or thrill beyond the fact that the main character gets an email in the whole sense of "I know what you did last summer" at the end of part 1. I think this is supposed to drive us to part 2, but I already hated the characters and the author for forcing me through part 1's nonsense.

The Prologue got me; I love Sarah, but her husband is shady. Something happened to Sarah and sister Maisey a long time ago. What happened to make Maisey leave the country and Sarah to receive a mysterious email, "I know your secret. I'm going to tell" I'm hooked!! Where's part 2?

I want to read more of this book. This small section was fantastic and left me wanting to find out what is going on in the main character's life and what happened in her past. I recommend.

3.25-3.5 STARS

From the outside looking in, Sarah Taylor-Cox appears to have it all. She lives a privileged lifestyle that includes a handsome husband, a beautiful baby boy, and a gorgeous house in the Hamptons. Truly, she is the envy of many. But looks can be deceiving. For in fact, Sarah’s life is a far cry from being perfect. Her husband, Warwick, is narcissistic, manipulative and controlling. Her mother-in-law is the same, if not worse.

When it comes to her own family, Sarah is guarded, keeping them at a distance and shrouded in mystery—especially when it comes to her sister Maisey—a nurse who travels to impoverished countries offering aid where needed. Once close, these sisters have been estranged for many years. But with her son’s christening looming on the horizon, a forced reunion might soon be forthcoming.

Even in a crowd, Sarah exudes loneliness. Add to the mix, the cattiness that surrounds Sarah, hiding behind the guise of well-meaning acquaintances and friends—people who only help to reinforce her low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy. You can’t help but feel sorry for the woman who appears to have everything, and yet in reality, has very little at all.

But it’s the secret that Sarah holds close that is the most compelling component to this story.. A secret that Sarah fears will soon be revealed. And it’s this very secret that will have me coming back for more!

“Take it to the Grave” is a dark, psychological thriller that is served up into 6 separate installments. Personally, I have no issue with serial novels, as long as I’m not left dangling for too long in between releases. This is definitely not the case here, as it seems that all installments will release on the very same day. So, why then, is this story broken down into 6 parts to begin with? One can only conclude that this is nothing but a calculated ruse to hook readers in hopes of garnering more money for a novel that might not otherwise command such an exorbitant price. But, who knows… “Take it to the Grave” in its entirety, could very well, be worth every penny. Only time will tell. I, however, am intrigued just enough to want to give this story a fair chance.

The selection is too short to really come to any conclusions about the series.

A real page turner couldn't put it down characters are well developed

This book had me hooked right from the start. The very different lives of 2 estranged sisters and the mystery of their background had me wanting to find out more. I have already pre-ordered the next 2 parts.

Sarah Taylor-Cox appears to have the perfect life, but she doesn't -- not when her mother-in-law insists that Sarah has family attending the christening of Elliot. She invites her sister Maisey whom she has not seen in ages. Maisey has accepted which scares Sarah. Why? What does Sarah think will happen when Maisey arrives?

This novel starts out slowly but as you read, you become invested in the story. As iRead, I kept wanting to know more. Now I need the next part now. I am dying of curiousity!

This book held my attention just enough that I'll read the next part.

Sarah thinks she has it all, perfect husband, perfect house, perfect life, but we find this isn't true. Her husband and his mother are very subtle about it, but very condescending. Her friends are snarky and insulting also.

Sarah and her sister are both running from the past , each in their own way. I suspect we will find the past will catch up to them.

this unfortunately didn't work for me- i didn't connect on this

Sarah has the perfect life. Perfect husband. Adorable baby. House in the Hamptons. A life she doesn't think she deserves, a real upgrade.

Her sister Maisy is a nurse abroad, moving from developing country to developing country and never putting down roots.

The two haven't spoken in years, but they both continue to think back to a singular event.

The unifying feature in this first part of a serial is that neither of them trust anyone and they both appear to have a great deal to hide.

"I know your secret Sarah.

I'm going to tell."

This was a quick 20 minute read but as far as I can tell, the other chapters will be interesting. Consider my interest piqued.



4 stars.

Great start in Part 1 and now I'm getting ready to start Part II. Ms. Carter develops her characters well and the suspense of wondering just what the 'secret' is that lies between the sisters keeps one reading. I did find it hard to feel sorry for Sarah, who doesn't seem capable of standing up for herself in her in-law family environment, nor with her flirty husband. However, not knowing just what is behind her family mystery, it will remain to be seen why she is so submissive!

Thanks to the author; her publisher, Harlequin Special Releases, and Netgalley.com for the opportunity to read and review this new series.

This is a book with six parts. Part 1 was a real teaser and makes me want to read the other five parts. Sarah and Maisey are sisters and it seems they had an awful childhood, full of abuse. They have not seen each other for several years. Maisey often works abroad as a nurse doing good work. Sarah appears to be married to the perfect man, but there are hints that this is not the case. Sarah receives an email "I know your secet. I'm going to tell." And there the first part ends leaving you wanting more.

A fast-paced, character driven thriller that leaves you hanging for the next book in the series. Highly recommended

Excited for what is to come in this series. I really enjoyed the characters and got sucked in. Can't wait to see where part 2 goes!

Serial novels are the bane of my existence. On one hand, I love them because they are short and if written right can definitely make you want to read the next book. But if written wrong, they can turn you off of serial novels. Unfortunately, Take It to the Grave is the latter.

I couldn’t get into Sarah’s story. She came across as a neurotic mess that is haunted by something in her past. There is only the barest of clues given, a memory of her and her sister with their father playing in a meadow. Again, I know this is a serial so I know that the clues to the mystery would be dragged out but I really expected more background given. The relationship with her in-laws was toxic and her husband came across as a jerk. I mean, she had to hide the fact that she wasn’t breastfeeding from her mother in law (who was the mother in law from hell) and had to deal with her **friends** making unacceptable comments about her weight.

Maisey, however, was the complete opposite, in ways. She was damaged goods like Sarah but in different ways. She has difficulty maintaining any close relationships and kept people at arm’s length. Towards the end of her story, it is told why she is the way she is but it doesn’t explain the weird flashbacks about the baby or the fact that Maisey has the compulsive need to lie to people to keep appearances up.

I will say that the author did do a great job setting up the scenario for the rest of the books but I do wish that some of the extra scenes really didn’t need to be in the book. Like the sex scene in the Porta potty. I really could have not used to visual of Sarah getting off in one of those. I think I actually gagged while reading it.

The end was very compelling and if I liked the book, I would have loved to read the next one. But unfortunately, I will have to pass on it.

How many stars will I give Take It to the Grave: 2

Why: I couldn’t connect with Sarah or Maisey. I also thought that some of the clues that showed up in the book about what happened to Sarah and Maisey didn’t give enough information. Also, the sex scene in the Porta potty really, really grossed me out and was the final straw in me not liking the book.

Will I reread: No

Will I recommend to family and friends: No

Age range: Adult

Why: Sex and language

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**