Phew!

This one was a Traveling Sisters read and pretty much all of us had the same response of “I need a moment to process what I just read” whether we liked it or not. That was INTENSE to say the least!

This one read more like horror to me than a thriller - not an overly ton of gore, just enough to make me feel like this stepped a bit outside the thriller genre.

I absolutely loved that the twist was in the middle of the book (and it was one that I absolutely did NOT see coming) that left for a second half of wild and crazy suspense.

This is a tricky one for me to review because on one hand, I ate this one up in one day, on the other hand I’m not sure I enjoyed it - it was like a movie where you’re hiding behind the pillows because you don’t want to look but you keep peeking because you need to know what happens.

This was a GREAT discussion with my fellow Traveling Sisters who gave me so many different perspectives and theories that I never would have had on my own. So fortunate to be apart of this great group of readers!

Thank you to Lake Union for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

4.5 Stars! Well this book pretty much left me totally speechless upon finishing!

EVERY SINGLE SECRET by EMILY CARPENTER is an intense, dark, chilling, and suspenseful psychological thriller novel that immediately drew me in and held my interest right until that shocking and action-filled ending. This book was so entertaining and extremely hard for me to put down. I raced through this one!

EMILY CARPENTER delivers a well-written, unique and twisty read here that had me pretty much questioning everything that was happening within the pages of this book. The way that the details were revealed to us was extremely well-done and the setting was creepily atmospheric which I totally loved.

I always like to figure out why an author chooses a certain title or cover for their book and I’m not going to say too much about the title but I will mention something about that extremely clever cover though. Once you learn the significance of the birdhouses on that beautiful front cover you will be a little shocked and in awe of this author too!

To sum it all up it was an entertaining, enjoyable, fast-paced, and clever read with an ending that left me speechless! For a book to leave an impact on me like that means it was a great read! Would recommend!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Emily Carpenter for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for the free review copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

So, I was in need of a thriller, and decided to pick up this book. Let me tell you, it delivered and was perfect. Carpenter chooses to slowly reveal what's actually going on with the characters, and it worked wonderfully. I really enjoyed how the suspense built through Daphne's childhood secret being revealed.

With these types of books, I sometimes can feel like the ending was rushed. That didn't happen here. I was impressed with how the time was taken to explain what was happening - which made it that much more horrific.
If you love a good thriller, please check this out. It's on shelves now.
Happy reading!

Daphne is a young woman recently engaged to Heath. Daphne tries to hide and forget some of her horrible past. When Heath and Daphne meet it seems to be a match made in heaven as they both are trying to get over past traumas and heal themselves emotionally. Both are secretive and don't want to share their pasts with anyone even themselves. When Heath insists that Daphne accompany him to a psychological retreat Daphne reluctantly agrees. After checking into the Brakkens retreat and meeting the Doctor strange things begin to happen. No one is allowed to have a computer/cellphone or tablet. Guests are not to speak with each other. Cameras are monitoring their actions in their rooms almost 24hours a day. Daphne becomes suspicious when another guest seems to disappear. I tried to make many guesses on what was going on in this novel but was unsuccessful which made this a very good read as there was a lot of suspense and surprise throughout this gripping book.

How well do you really know someone?

This book centers on a young woman, Daphne, with plenty of secrets, who finds a kindred spirit in the handsome, wealthy Heath, who she becomes engaged to. Without warning, Heath becomes tormented by nightmares and asks Daphne to attend a counseling retreat in the mountains with him.

As they attend the isolated retreat, Daphne begins to suspect that there is much she does not know about the man she plans to marry.

I have read every Emily Carpenter book, and I really enjoy her ability to finely draw characters and build suspense in a natural believable way. She is definitely a reigning queen of Gothic fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for my free review copy.

Every Single Secret by Emily Carpenter is a creepy, eerily atmospheric read. The story is mainly set at a mountain location where Heath and Daphne are attending a couple’s retreat. The retreat is hosted by Dr. Cerny, a very creepy character. Right from the start, it is evident that something is wrong. Everyone seems to be hiding something! Daphne has a secret past. Heath is having nightmares that also hint at buried secrets and Dr. Cerny, is just shady. I was hooked and couldn’t wait to unravel all the mysteries.

The story has a bit of a complex narrative style. There are three main timelines. One is set a few days after the retreat started. There is another set during the retreat and the third details Daphne’s past. I really liked the one on Daphne’s past. There was something extra creepy about it and it did have some interesting revelations. The present narration moved a bit slow for me. I felt like a lot of time was spent with Daphne just walking and looking around. I was curious to know what she would discover but I wasn’t as invested in her narration as I should have been. I don’t think the third narration added much to the story.

In the end, I was left with mixed feelings about this book. I loved a number of things in the story and especially enjoyed the final chapters. They were fast-paced and thrilling. However, there are other aspects of the books that I struggled with. I am in the minority though because most readers seemed to have enjoyed the entire story way more than I did. If the premise appeals to you, then definitely read the book. One thing though, the writing was brilliant and I liked the seamless shift between narrations. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I received this book "Every Single Secret" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. This book was just totally crazy! You will never guess what is going to happen next. Words to describe this book - creepy, mysterious, secretive, suspenseful, shocking, unique. I thought the end was really good. Daphne and Heath are about to be married but Heath has been having nightmares. They decide to go to a couples retreat so he can get help. They both have secrets and agreed to let the past be the past but the nightmares are getting bad. You really have to read the whole book for it to make sense. Posted on GoodRead also.

What happens in this book is quite shocking.

The author does an excellent job of lulling you into a sort of complacency. You know that something is wrong at this place, but you have zero clue what the actuality is. And once you find out, she leaves you stunned.

While the story starts out slow (but never sluggish), things ramp up and the last 3rd of the book is simply a frantic pace - with the reader still in a slight sense of disbelief.

I enjoyed this one. I liked being so very surprised. And I'd love to read the author again.

Absolutely LOVED this book!!! I loved Emily Carpenter's previous books and this one was just as good. As soon as I started reading it I was hooked and didn't want to put it down.

Heath and Daphne are engaged to be married. They love each other but never talk to each other about their past. Daphne kept many secrets about her time spent on a ranch after losing her mother and becoming a ward of the State of Georgia. She blamed herself for what happened and thought of herself as a monster. When she meets Heath, Daphne knows he is the one. She even uses the word soulmate. Heath starts having violent nightmares. He wants Daphne to accompany him on a couples retreat out in the middle of nowhere for a week. He thinks the therapy will help with the nightmares and their relationship. There are many rules at the retreat. No talking to the other couples, no phones or internet, stay out of the off limits rooms and they will be filmed. Daphne refuses to take part in the therapy but does violate each rule. Once Heath and Daphne are at the retreat, the craziness begins. I had no idea what was going to happen, there were so many twists and turns. I never imagined the ending. The book was simply awesome.

I loved the characters, story and writing style. I enjoyed reading about Daphne's time at the ranch. There are no words to describe Heath or even Dr. Cerny. I kept asking myself- what is going on here? Secrets, there are so many secrets in this book. All the characters are hiding a secret or two. Some of the people aren't even who they pretend to be. I definitely recommend this book!!!! I can't wait to read more by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author, Emily Carpenter, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.

This is one twisty-suspense novel that is full of secrets and will have you questioning everything!!!

Emily Carpenter is a new-to-me author and I’m so glad I was given an opportunity to read and review this book! This book takes a few chapters to get into, because the character dynamics are untraditional. But once you’re in, prepare to be questioning everything and everyone in a slow-building suspense novel with a thrilling conclusion!

Daphne has finally found her own person to call her family…

Daphne was raised in foster homes and a girls’ ranch, and has had no family to speak of her whole life. But Daphne is a survivor—strong and intelligent, and scrappy as all-get-out. When she met Heath, she instantly knew she had found her partner. Heath and Daphne fell hard and fast, and are engaged to be married. Sounds perfect, right? There’s a catch: Daphne and Heath have an agreement to never discuss their pasts. But what happens if the past can’t be ignored anymore?

Heath needs help processing his past demons…

Despite their agreement, Heath’s past can’t be ignored any longer. Wracked with horrible nightmares, Heath knows he needs to work through his issues to finally be free. When Heath asks Daphne to attend a week-long couple’s retreat with the esteemed Dr. Cerny to delve into his past, Daphne is understandably hesitant. The Retreat involves camera footage of the couple taken most of the day and evening, and intensive therapy sessions to work with Dr. Cerny. But Heath needs this, and Daphne reluctantly agrees, on the condition that she will not be doing the therapy, and will only be there to support Heath.

They arrive for the Retreat, only to find that all may not be as it seemed…

As they settle in, Daphne quickly becomes curious about Dr. Cerny and his methods. Stealing around the house and grounds, Daphne begins to question everything. Are the cameras really turned off at the designated times? And why isn’t she allowed to befriend the other couples on the Retreat? And most importantly—if Heath’s past comes out, will hers have to as well???

Initially I found Daphne and Heath tough to connect with, because they are very nontraditional. They live in the present and future, and are both terrified of dark pasts. I enjoyed learning about each of their pasts as the book went on, through some clever plot mechanisms that allowed it to be revealed to the reader. I am a communicator, so their lack of communication drove me nuts! But that is the point of these two characters. They saw their counterpoint in the other, and it works for them.

The creepy house, and the premise of the retreat were so intriguing to me. I loved the descriptions of the grounds and the house itself, as well as of the characters. And what a cast of characters this book has!!! You may not like them all, but I dare readers to try to find a boring character among the lot! The theme of secrets and hidden pasts really carried this book. There was always the sense from every single character that you don’t have the full story, and it kept me reading to want to know more.

As for the ending—I found it satisfying! It certainly was a twist I didn’t expect, and there was enough plot remaining after the BIG TWIST to wrap the loose threads up in a way that I left the book feeling like I got closure and enough answers. I highly recommend this book to suspense-lovers! Particularly to those who like the psychological aspect to mysteries. This one is a doozy and has its own enigmatic psychologist to go along with it!

Many thanks to Emily Carpenter, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read this book!

I have enjoyed every single one of Emily Carpenter's books. This one was fast-paced, entertaining with just enough creepiness.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.
This awesome very creepy Thriller kept me guessing to the end and I had a hard time putting it down.
The writing grabbed me from the very beginning and kept me rightly the end and the plot was over the top excellent!
The characters were mysterious and somewhat creepy and very damaged I loved the way they were written!
This book gets a 5 star rating from me and I want more from this author!

Every Single Secret by Emily Carpenter is a dark, creepy gothic style read. It’s a suspense that’s loaded with all kinds of crazy twists. Going in you feel like Daphne Amos is the sick and twisted character, but watch out for her soon to be husband Heath Beck! So many surprises that you just won’t see coming. Sort of resembles books by author V. C. Andrews, who I loved. Definitely worth recommending to fellow readers. I myself will probably reread again in the future as I was ill at the time of reading and probably didn’t enjoy as much due to the way I felt. I’d like to thank NetGalley and author Emily Carpenter for allowing me to read an early ARC.

This is a good psychological suspense with complex characters. The twists and turns of their relationship had me turning pages and at the edge of my seat. This is one of those reads that will keep me thinking for a long time. The story stays with you even after you're done with the last page, mouth agape and stoic.

I would like to thank Net Galley, Lake Union Publishing and Emily Carpenter for the chance to read this before it hits stores later this month. It was a wild ride from the start. I was a little concerned about this retreat that Heath wanted to go on to help figure out why he was having the nightmares. I mean who needs to go out on the middle if no where with no phone or anything. I did like how Daphne went with him to be supportive. I liked how the author went a out telling you the background on Daphne. The way that the story plot moved was kind of differernt which isn't a bad thing. When all the pieces started to fall into place my mouth dropped. I mean that is a ot of planning to go through just to not really get revenge but to tell someone about your past. I liked Lucas from the start just because I felt that he was trying to help without helping and getting caught. I liked the ending for sure and how she was going to be open from the start.

Favorite Quotes:

I am what people call guarded. I don’t blog. I don’t post. I don’t share. I don’t love people in that beaming, open-armed way you’re supposed to, but there is a good reason for it. Dark things vein through me, the way precious metal shoots through the heart of a mountain. Dark things that should stay hidden, embedded deep within the rock. It is for the greater good that I stand guard over my mountain, over my past.

He’s a locked door, Daphne. And he doesn’t like it if you knock too hard.

I can’t afford to be driving you gals into town for this, that, and the other. Around here, if you get a fever, we call the preacher ’cause he lays on hands for free.

It hadn’t taken me but a week at the ranch to figure out that Mrs. Bobbie was the ringmaster and Mr. Al was the clown that cleaned up the elephant poop.

My Review:

I quickly fell into this tautly written, captivating, and intriguing tale that essentially held me hostage and on edge from the first sentence to the last few pages. The storyline was unpredictable, fascinating, horrifying, cringe-worthy, and brilliantly crafted. I didn’t want to put my Kindle down and essentially abandoned all plans for the day and left my phone unanswered. Ms. Carpenter must have completed a massive amount of research, as she was spot on with her peculiar and warped characters’ particular oddities, quirks, and disorders, and better yet, still allowed them to be endearing and alluring despite their diabolical tendencies. I was so absorbed by her flawlessly transportive writing I felt myself holding my breath and even bracing for impact more than once. This clever author has cunning and guile and deftly put me right beside her characters in every scene with lush and evocative details. I think she may be onto something with this writing hobby.

I love nothing more than being blindsided by a book. To happily and trustingly follow my little breadcrumb trail until I suddenly stand open-mouthed and in shock, realising I have walked right into a trap. With the growing trend of the “killer twist”, we are so on alert for these false trails that it is getting harder to find a book that manages to do that. I am happy to announce that this is one of them!

The story itself sounds irresistibly intriguing. Daphne and Heath are a young couple who are very much in love but who each carry dark secrets from the past they have never discussed with anyone for fear of destroying their relationship. The deal of making a fresh start without snooping into each other’s lives works well until Heath becomes increasingly distant and unhappy. He claims that in order to make the relationship work, he will need to come to term with his demons and make Daphne face hers. What better way to do that than join a reclusive couples retreat, run by a renowned psychotherapist that specialises in couples therapy? Daphne, predictable, is not at all eager to open this can of worms, but she goes along with Heath under one condition – she will support him but will not be participating in the therapy herself. And this is how the two find themselves and two other couples in the middle of nowhere in a large spooky mansion rigged with cameras, where the retreat will be taking place. Phones, ipads and other electronic devices are being taken off them at the door, and there is no link with the outside world. The fun has just begun ....

Carpenter proved with her last book (The Weight of Lies) that she can tell a good, original story, and she certainly continues the trend with this one. Here is a writer who can not only spin a good tale, but who is the queen of unhealthy family relationships that lend a sinister quality to the storyline. Whilst the unusual element in her last book was “a book in a book” (with excerpt from one of the characters’ books “Kitten” featuring strongly in the storyline), this story is told a bit more conventionally incorprating each character’s flashbacks to the dark secrets in their pasts that weigh heavily on their shoulders. And boy oh boy, you are in for some surprises here!

Three of the things I loved most about The Weight of Lies again make a comeback here: 1) an eerie, claustrophobic and gothic setting; 2) damaged but relatable characters who draw you into the story; 3) an irresistibly broody narrative full of foreshadowing that keeps you turning the pages frantically. I read this in one long night and blame my bad-tempered sleep deprived self on the quality of the story! For those similarly afflicted readers who, like me, find it difficult to suspend disbelief (the struggle is real!), there will most likely come a moment when you flounder a little bit – well, I did. It did not take away my enjoyment of the book, but left me wishing that someone else in my circle had read the book as I was itching so badly to discuss spoilers!

So for the short version: if you loved Carpenter’s earlier work, you will appreciate the same irresistible writing, claustrophobic setting and interesting characters the last book offered. Anyone who claims they saw the twist coming – maybe you’re super-Sherlock, but I don’t know if I believe you!

Every Single Secret by Emily Carpenter started out well, but after a while I had to give up on this title. Kind of unbelievable that the main character would go along to a facility so her boyfriend could be treated for his mental health issues. What is she supposed to do all day? She is instantly bored, and seems to break in to everything in the house where they are staying,never getting caught. Not realistic. Who would agree to being filmed basically 24/7? I gave up about 3/4 of the way through, had enough of the characters and the plot. The setting in North Georgia could have been explored a little more as well.

Such a unique thriller! I was sucked into the story immediately. I love the premise of characters going to a secluded location and feeling like something is off. This book worked that premise so artfully. I absolutely loved how Wuthering Heights was used in the story. And I did not see the ending coming. I loved the style of writing and the overall atmosphere of the book. Definitely would recommend.

This book was good, but not as good as I would have liked. The premise was good - secluded therapy in the mountains, a husband having nightmares, dark things ensue - but to me, the middle dragged. Not horribly, but enough to make me a tiny bit bored. Still, overall it was good, and I did like the ending. A solid 4 stars from me.