Guilty Little Secrets by Rona Halsall is a thriller that is mainly told from the point of view of it’s lead character Natalie. There are chapters in the now and then there are chapters from four years before but there is also an unknown voice in the present that is keeping tabs on Natalie.

Natalie has just been released from prison a bit early and the only thing Natalie wants in the world is to find her son and see him again. You see, Natalie’s son was only a baby when police showed up at her front door and took her away. Natalie had no clue what she would have done to have the police needing to question her but she was having problem with her memory at the time and struggling after having her son.

When the police go her to the station they began to question Natalie about missing money from one of her clients. Natalie worked for her husband in his finance company and right at six months leave being up he expected her to return to work no matter how she was feeling. Well, with money gone missing and all signs pointing to Natalie she is arrested for theft and her husband leaves the country with her son so when released she will do anything to find him.

Looking at my rating one might think I have a ton of issues with this debut novel but I really didn’t. It read rather easily with smooth writing going back and forth from the past and the present. The story was also one that was compelling although I would note it did get a tad slow in the middle but not bad overall. My rating though for me reflects the fact that I solved this one in the opening chapters. I really really hoped I would be wrong and there would be a great twist I didn’t see coming but unfortunately not so it was hard to be overly excited about the story but I would be interested in seeing what the author has up her sleeve in the future.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Natalie was framed for a crime she did not commit and has spent the last four years in jail.

Her husband Tom, divorced her, and took their son Harry to the Isle of Man, never visiting with him, while she was in prison.

Now that she has been released, she is determined to find Harry, and to be a mother to him again. But, she may need some help along the way...

The story is told in the alternating chapters:
Then-Natalie’s time spent in prison
Now -her search for Harry
Mystery narrator-following Natalie Since her release

Usually this style propels a reader forward quickly because each narrative leaves the reader hanging, and wanting to get back to where that narrative left off-but for some reason, it did not work for me this time.

Perhaps, I wasn’t interested in the THEN chapters because I had recently read the excellent “Jar of Hearts” by Jennifer Hillier, which also had a jail narrative and a present tense narrative, and I could not help but compare?

Perhaps, it was just bad timing, as I did not want to read about a woman in jail again so soon, and had no idea half of the book would take place in that setting when I requested it?

But beyond that, I guessed who Natalie’s real enemy was and did not like how she conveniently met all of the people who could help her with her predicament and deliver an ending wrapped up neatly like a package with a bow.

Others readers have enjoyed this, so, if it sounds like a story you might like, you can pick up your copy on Aug 17th, 2018!

I would like to thank Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for the ARC provided in exchange for my CANDID review.

The only bad thing I can say about this book, is that it ended. I absolutely loved it!

The way each chapter is written, jumping to the 'Then', and back to the 'Now' is genius and works so well for this book. Easy to follow too, when I first saw the method, I was worried I would get confused if I put the book down, but I didn't. Was very easy to pick up and remember exactly where I left off.

The chapters with the unknown voice, I spent the whole book trying to figure out who was talking, intrigued as to who this nasty character was.

I was gripped into the book from the first chapter, Rona really describes the characters in depth, her writing style is so easy to follow.

The book gives you mystery, love, action and suspense, that's just a few to name, it has a mix of everything. Including a twist near the end, that I really did not see coming!

I would like to recommend this to anybody, first book of this genre I have read, and it has exceeded my expectations.
The story finished really nicely, it's tidy, no lose ends, but the possibility for another book, following a different character in the book, which I would love to read more about.

Thank you for the journey you have taken me on with Natalie, Rona, I hope to read more from you in the future.

Natalie is lucky to have her best friend, Sasha. They have always been there for each other. Now that she has been arrested for theft of money from a client, she needs her more than ever. Her baby, Harry has grown to a young child without his mother. The only thing that gets Natalie to be able to tolerate prison life is knowing that she will do anything to see Harry.
I enjoyed reading this book. Lots of drama. The characters are well developed in this story. It has a great storyline. I recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley, Rona Halsall and BookOuture for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Natalie finally gets out of prison for a crime that she didn’t commit and the only thing keeping her going is finding her son. Her husband asked for a divorce and fled the area with their son Harry to an Isle that has completely different laws and she has zero legal rights to Harry. Natalie makes her way towards her son, but she may soon come to realize that there is a deadly enemy stalking her.

This book goes between the past and present in Natalie’s life and in doing so shows you how she got stuck in jail. I really enjoyed Natalie’s character and Natalie’s best friend, Sasha’s character. This book was fast paced and I found myself really wanting to know why and for what Natalie ended up in jail. As you go along and see what she went through in prison, I really felt sorry for her because she went through a lot for a crime she never even committed. I loved that most of the chapters were short so that it felt like you were reading so much in one sitting.

I loved how this book made me want Natalie to get justice and get her little boy back. This novel will definitely make mothers out there want to continue to read because you can’t imagine being away from your young child like that. I was surprised by the twist at the ending, I probably shouldn't have been, but I was hoping that I was wrong! I was absolutely shocked to find out that this was Rona’s first novel because it reads like it’s one of her many novels. I will definitely been keeping my eyes out for Rona’s next novel! This novel is a great weekend read because you won’t want to put it down until you finish it!

Pick it up August 17th!

Really enjoyed, was kept guessing until the very end. Psychologically disturbing. Gave a good insight into the Isle of Man.

The only thing that kept Natalie from giving up throughout the years she spent in prison for a crime that she didn't commit was looking forward to seeing her beloved young son Harry again.Only not only had her husband Tom demanded a divorce but he had taken Harry and fled to The Isle Of Man where they had their own laws and she had no legal right of access to Harry. As soon as she is released Natalie makes her way to the island determined to find her son and take him somewhere where they will never be found.But unbeknownst to Natalie she is being stalked by a deadly enemy,someone who is prepared to go to any lengths to stop their secrets and lies from being uncovered.

This gripping thriller is mainly voiced by Natalie in short,snappy chapters that alternate between then and now.The then chapters cover events leading up to Natalie`s arrest,the changes in her character as she adjusts to life in prison whilst coming to terms with the extent of her so called husbands betrayal. Trying to get through every day whilst living with the constant treat of violence she has to learn to toughen up and protect herself. I struggled to like Natalie at times during these parts of the story due to her snobbish,judgemental behaviour. The now chapters cover Natalie`s desperate search for her son whilst trying to stay one step ahead of her mysterious pursuer. These chapters were gripping,action packed and intense and were my favourite parts of the story.Interspersed throughout the book are short chapters that give the reader an insight into the twisted thoughts of the antagonist. But who is this person and why do they dislike Natalie so much?

This is a well written,debut thriller, the prison scenes were realistic,the characters were vivid and believable. Natalie`s life threatening confrontation with her antagonist was action packed,breath taking and intense. The story held my attention throughout, I would happily recommend this book to fellow thriller readers and I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

Guilty Little Secrets is a debut novel by Rona Halsall. The story follows Natalie, a new mother, who is struggling with memory problems and the pressures of motherhood. The book opens with Natalie being convicted of a crime that she can't remember committing. As a reader, you feel terrible for Natalie as she genuinely can't recall what happened and she gives into how dire her situation has become when she pleads guilty. She's sent to jail and the book goes back and forth in time with "Then" and "Now" chapters. As the plot unfolds, more is revealed about how Natalie got into the jam she is in and then the story follows her pursuit to reunite with her son Harry. Part of the story toward the end gets a little frenzied for me but overall it was a good read with a little twist at the end. Anyone who likes suspense/thrillers will enjoy it.

Thank you to both NetGalley & Bookouture for the advanced copy for my honest review.

I loved the book and didn't want to put it down. I loved the story, characters and writing style. I felt horrible for Natalie and wanted someone to believe her. I immediately suspected her husband was behind everything. He pretty much turned his back on her when the police showed up at their house. Then there was Natalie's mother. Such a horrible person. The only good thing about Natalie going to prison was she found people who genuinely cared for her. I will say the prison that Natalie was at didn't seem too bad, minus some of the scary criminals. The craziest of them being Katya.

Natalie works for her husband and has just returned back to work after being on maternity leave. She ends up in prison for taking over a million from her client's account. While in prison she also learns that she is addicted to pain pills. She believes her husband is behind everything and set her up. The only thing helping her get through her prison sentence is her son Harry. When Natalie is finally released, she only has one thing on her mind and that's getting her son back.

The book alternates between Natalie after being released from prison and Natalie when she firsts goes to prison. There's also a mystery person who is determined to keep Natalie from her son. I suspected who was behind everything. I enjoyed the ending.

I definitely recommend the book. I look forward to reading more by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author, Rona Halsall, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.

Loved this book, so well written and kept me gripped and wanting to know more from the start! I really related to the main character Natalie and was really rooting for her all the way through, would highly recommend!

I loved this book, It had a very nice plot , and it was exciting to read all the way to the end, It's hard to get your hands on book that keeps you glued to it, I don't want o spoil this book for anyone so I am not telling much about it, But I feel any one that enjoys thrillers will love this book, So get your hands on this book and start reading, I promise your not going to want to put it down.

This book was very good .
Natalie had to go to prison for mystery money going out of her husband account .
She befriends Katya when she goes to prison but she is mixed up already .
Now she does not be married to Tom as he divorced her and married Sasha ,Natalie’s friend.
She finds out about Sasha’s wedding and thinks about Harry , Natalie’s baby .
Then she finds about Sasha and then they argue and fight .
Will Natalie get Harry back .
Loved this book from Netgalley

I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I finished it in two sittings, it was right up my alley, I love a good psychological thriller set in the UK, a great summer read.

Natalie was jailed for a crime she has no memory of committing. While she was incarcerated, her husband, Tom, took their son to the Isle of Man, where Natalie has no legal rights. Now, freed from jail, Natalie wants not only to get her son back, but uncover the truth about the crime she supposedly committed and the man who vowed to love and protect her.

Wow!!! Absolutely fabulous debut book by this Author. The story gripped me from the start and didn't let go until the last page. Natalie is married to Tom and they have an infant son Harry. Tom runs a wealth management company and Natalie works in his office after a short maternity leave. Natalie is imprisoned for stealing a large amount of money from a client. There are a lot of Guilty Little Secrets in this book. I will not tell you what they are. I highly recommend this amazing book. Thank you NetGalley, Bookoutre and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

I can’t make up my mind about this book, the plot was okay, the twist at the end was quite surprising, but I felt as if I was struggling to read it, I couldn’t seem to really get into it, but can’t pin point a reason.