LITTLE SECRETS
BY JENNIFER HILLIER

WOW!!! JENNIFER HILLIER YOU ROCK!!! I absolutely loved my first read ever of Jennifer Hillier's books called, JAR OF HESRTS. It remains one of my favorites of all time and I own it in both kindle and the hard cover physical copy just to look at and marvel at it in my huge book collection. Whenever I look at that book I feel a warm feeling come over me reminding me what an absolute blast of enjoyment of a reading experience that book was. Jennifer Hillier is the Queen of thrillers and her books are among the very best out there today. Believe me I have been doing this for a few years and I have read all of the other authors who write thrillers and Ms Hillier is far superior than any other out there today. So you can imagine how thrilled I was to receive an early ARC of LITTLE SECRETS. I was so grateful to have been approved and my review is a bit unconventional because I was horrified after READING and LOVING LITTLE SECRETS to notice when I logged on to Good Reads to post my review and read the synopsis of both JAR. OF HEARTS AND LITTLE SECRETS. Especially Little Secrets. which I devoured today in one sitting. Lucky for me I went into reading LITTLE SECRETS totally blind. I did not read the synopsis on the goodreads.com website prior to jumping right in to enjoy it so much because if I had read the sy5opsis first it would have totally ruined my reading ofi Little Secrets. The entire plot is spelled out for the reader on the goodreads.com website for both of these books. So if you readers who are following my reviews and I noticed a few of my goodreads.com friends have marked it to read do not read the goodreads.com synopsis prior to reading either books because it will spoil your enjoyment of self discovery while you are reading these two books. I am not blaming goodreads.com or the publisher for this oversight but whom ever supplied the synopsis of these two books gave away too many details about the plot and I truly hope that it can be revised and described more in general details not so much specific details about who did what. Why read the books if you read those synopsis because they spell out just about everything that happens in the books minus the terrific explosive endings which I think are both brilliant by the way. So my fellow friends and followers if you take away one thing from my review please do yourself a favor if you choose to read these books and do not read the synopsis before reading this book or Jar of Hearts because you will be bored when reading the actual book because there are too much spoiler material and plot details which should be a surprise while you enjoy reading the two novels. I hope that the publisher takes note and does not put the synopsis on goodreads.com on the dust jacket because again it would have spoiled the fun I had of discovering these plot details for myself. Had I read the synopsis for these two books prior to reading them I would have been bored reading them and would have skimmed the novel and read the ending which is the only surprise element left for the reader.

Jennifer Hillier is very gifted and talented and as far as thrillers go she is the best in the business. In Little Secrets it is about a child abduction which has been done over and over in today's books on psychological thrillers. In little Secrets Ms. Hillier is an author that wrote a superb novel that is both fresh and unique. The plot is so interesting and she created a main character in Marin that you will love because she could be any one of us. I felt her anguish and guilt over the loss of her son so much that I was thanking my lucky stars that both of my son's are 18 and 21 and all I have to worry about is keeping two boys alive from the ages of 16 through 25 because that is the most dangerous period where so many things could happen if they act irresponsible or if they fall in with the wrong crowd. Getting back Little Secrets Marin is a loving and very devoted mother who takes her eyes off her young son Sebastion whom is so sweet and Marin picks up her phone to read a text message from her husband and because they are hot her arms are full carrying their coats and Christmas presents and boom just like that her son is gone and she beats her self up with undeserved blame for taking her eyes off of her son for less than three minutes. As I said it could happen to anyone of us in the Christmas season which today turns into a nightmare right after Thanksgiving for the Black Friday sales and it becomes a sea of people everywhere you go up until after New Years. That the crowds are so overwhelming makes a rich environment for an opportunity for a young boy of four years old to be snatched by a pedophile whom is hiding out in plain sight ready and prepared to snatch a vulnerable child.
Acting as Santa Claus what child wouldn't happily trust Santa Clause and jump at the chance to be prey for the person who comes to these overcrowded shopping centers and lies in wait for the chance to lure even the little children who know better than to go off with a stranger because let's face it we all teach our young children not to go off with strangers.

Marin is like us she blames herself and I felt for her. I felt the anguish of not knowing whom has her child. I felt the runaway imagination of all that could be possibly happening to my own child at any age that happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. I understood how she wanted to die as I would feel the same way if something happened to one of my son's let alone an only child. She couldn't have more children which frankly does not in any way shape or form replace your beloved child whom is missing. Marin is a very strong female protagonist but still I felt her struggle to move through her life haunted by thoughts of not knowing where your child is. I felt her pain and suffering from the chasm that any marriage would be stained or fall apart if you are so unlikely to experience what this very successful couple who has been happy and thriving as a family but to lose a child and if the child is not found in the first twenty four hours there are three outcomes. To have the police and the FBI to stop looking for your innocent child is heartbreaking and I would never give up just as Marin never gives up. She hires a former woman police officer whom is now a private investigator to take a second look at all of this power couples friends and acquaintances and customers because they both have thriving uber successful businesses. I am going to treat myself today to read WONDERLAND by Jennifer Hillier because there was less described plot points when I was looking on goodreads.com for her other books and I was intrigued to find less spoilery plot in WONDERLAND and I liked the idea that the private investigator named Vanessa is a recurring character as a former police officer. I plan to read every single one of Jennifer Hillier's novels and acquire them in kindle and if I can find them in first editions first printings in hard cover I will be thrilled to purchase them.

This is in no way a criticism when I implore whomever supplies the synopsis of LITTLE SECRETS to goodreads.com websight or Amazon not to keep the spoilery details of these two titles. In a thriller we want suspense and when we read too many plot points about these books in a blurb or synopsis it takes the enjoyment from the reader. Why bother reading the book when most of the bones are laid out in the books description? Please revise these two titles when future printings are released to stick to generalizations and less specific plot summaries where there is too much spoilery information about these two titles. Whomever wrote these plot descriptions seriously needs to revise the synopsis that currently exist. Please don't put so many specific details on the dust jacket when Little Secrets is published on April 31, 2020. There is still time to revise the description of the plot and remember as a thriller reader I want to find out details while I read the book. I was lucky because I didn't read the spoilery details of the plot that exists for both of these titles. If I had the books would have been boring and I would know too much and skim the book rather than savor every page until both of these reach the climax of the outstanding explosive endings. I was going to re read Jar of hearts because enough time has gone by and I had forgotten the details until I read the descriptions on goodreads.com and now I don't want to read the book again because I feel I read the book by reading the plot summary on goodreads.com. Again, this is in no way a criticism. I am trying to be helpful and address an issue that for me personally after going into these books knowing very little is what made them a favorite and I appreciated not knowing who had something to do with it namely it suggests that Derek might be involved. That would have ruined it for me and I want this book and Jar of Hearts to be thrilling for all of my friends and followers whom I noticed have marked these books to be read..
Child abductions have been done too many times already in the past couple of years so the less the reader knows the greater the rollercoaster ride reading these books are. I find them written very well and I am a fan of Jennifer Hillier and plan to start the New Year with reading the rest of her plus because I know that she delivers on every level of both plot and rich characterizations. I can count on her books to be better thrillers based on my experience reading these two titles. I trust that whatever she writes I am going to devour her novels in one sitting. With Little Secrets it grabbed me on the first page and never let me go until the last chapter and I had things I had to do but I kept saying one more chapter and I failed to come to a part in the book to put it down and get something to drink and eat. I literally was captivated from the very first page and there wasn't a full moment throughout reading either one of these titles when I could reach a full moment and set the book aside. This would not have happened if I had come across the goodreads.com synopsis. I apologize if I am beating a dead horse by reiterating my points about less is more and there hopefully is a way to remedy this problem so future readers can have the same honor of enjoyment and fascinating reading experience as I did. I know that it is not easy being a writer and I myself am a reader not a writer. I sincerely hope my review does not offend but offer insight in how to make this a bestseller. My review is slightly different on goodreads.com because I can not copy and paste my written reviews to post the exact same thoughts everytime I post it. I will post a different review but stick to the same main points that I have discussed here. I am so extremely grateful to be an early treader of both of these titles. I was so pumped when I saw Little Secrets on my Net Galley shelf I immediately picked that to dive into first in my list. I am a fan of Jennifer Hillier and think she is a brilliant writer and I trust her to not have to know exactly what the book is about because I know anything she writes is going to be a five star read and a favorite for all time.

Thank you to Net Galley, Jennifer Hillier you are my Beyoncee and a special thank you to Minataur Books for so generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Publication Date April 21, 2020

#netgalley #littlesecrets #jenniferhillier #minataurbooks

This book had everything that I was wanting from my next read and I flew through it in a few days. The way the author writes has the reader wanting to keep on reading. This had a good amount of surprises in it that were well placed throughout the story and I really enjoyed how she told the story. I will definitely be checking out the other books by this author. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this one!

I find most psychological thrillers to fall flat for me. Usually, everyone loves them but I struggle to find what is so captivating. However, not the case with this book. It held my attention from the first page and I was invested in the main character and her emotions as she struggled to move on after the disappearance of her child. I thought that the characters in the support group were a wonderful addition. Just knowing that these are real problems for people is chilling. The book kept me guessing and, I am pleased to say, I never saw the twist coming! I did not do my usual "skim till the end" and I had no idea who the villain would be. Highly recommend. This author is becoming a new favorite!

This book pulls you and doesn’t let you go. It’s a fast read but isn’t missing anything. It’s soul twisting, nerve racking first beginning to end. You will cry, you will hire imaginary hit man, you will laugh. All the makings of a masterpiece.

This book grabbed me by the throat right from the very beginning and didn’t let go. The author’s writing style just had me hooked and I just had to race through and find out the details. Many lies and deceptions throughout the story and such a fine line between love and hate make for an exciting fast paced thriller. Loved every minute of it. Well done! #LittleSecrets #JenniferHillier #NetGalley

It is no surprise that I absolutely LOVED Jar of Hearts (and it will be a top 5 of 2019 when I do my round up later this month) and Hillier's latest book didn't disappoint! I was given an ARC (advanced reading copy) through NetGalley, so it will be quite a while before this comes out to read. I would definitely recommend this book.

While I dont give it resounding 5 stars like most others, I did read it quickly and was kept very engrossed the entire time. When the story line finally clicks into place, you'll wonder why you never connected the dots up until that point. It was well constructed, thoughtful and certainly clever.

My only gripe is that I wish they had focused more on the original storyline (you will see) and helped build that more into the narrative. The book took a quick turn and focused on something completely different (which does make sense in the end), but again, would have liked it to be more prominent.

5 Stars!

Little Secrets is a gripping, fast-paced psychological thriller with twisting plot points that kept me turning the pages and guessing the outcome until the very end. Hillier has written a complicated book with a central plot and several subplots with their own story lines. She’s intricately woven the story threads into a uniform whole that brings the tale to a most satisfying conclusion. Great pacing, tight writing, entertaining, and highly recommended.

If you love to read thrillers like I do, don’t miss this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an ARC for review.

A highly entertaining thriller, a fast-paced story that was hard to put down.
This is about the kidnapping and disappearance of a 4-year-old boy and the effect this had on the marriage of his parents. However, even before the child disappeared, the husband was up to no good, unbeknownst to his wife.
The book focuses on the emotions and feelings of the mother/wife. How does she handle the loss of her child? How does she cope with the knowledge that her husband had a mistress? The author does an excellent job of describing those emotions and feelings.
A thriller can often just be an extended description of a chase, but this book is much more than that. The character development is what makes this book stand out.
This is first book I’ve read from this prolific author. I will definitely read some of her prior works after enjoying this book as much as I did.
I read an advance reader copy of this book that I received from NetGalley.

*Thanks to St. Martin's Press + NetGalley for the ARC!*

What a fucking WILD. RIDE. Spoilers ahead!

First of all - both are mentioned in the blurb, but just in case, trigger warning for spousal infidelity (several pieces of the story surround affairs) and child kidnapping.

Now that that's out of the way - this book is truly nuts. There were so many twists and turns, and they were actually surprising, which I feel is so rare these days! The story begins centered around the child being kidnapped, and then the rest of the book is mostly surrounding the affairs.

This was the first cry book for me of the year - when Marin hears that Sebastian is alive, I was full ugly crying. Same when they reunited a few pages later.

A couple personal notes on the plotlines: While I figured out J.R. was Junior was Sal, I still didn't put together that he had a relationship with Kenzie. As someone who was on the receiving end of spousal infidelity, I hated Kenzie the entire time, but my rage increased when she was having her conversation with Izzy (her roommate) and basically said her partners being married weren't her problem. Like, wow.

Oh, this was so much fun! I hate to say that about a book with such a horrible premise, but this is a real page-turner. I loved Hillier's Jar of Hearts, and this one is just a good. Now, I have a few quibbles, but delving into those would be spoiler-y, and even though a few things bugged me upon reflection, did they diminish my enjoyment of this crazy fast-paced book? Nope. So five stars it is.

Marin Machado is a celebrity hairstylist, and her husband Derek is CEO of a health food company, so they are swimming in cash. Their four year old son, Sebastian, is their world. Right before Christmas, at a bustling Seattle market, Marin lets go of his hand to take a call from Derek, and just like that, Sebastian is gone. They expect a ransom call, but one never comes. The grieving parents try to move on with their lives, but the tragedy is tearing them apart. Hillier is a master at character development, and in the first part of the book, you get to know Marin, her emotions, and flaws so well. Then, as the plot thickens and shifts, a new character is introduced, and Hillier skillfully turns your whole attention to this other person.

I didn't see the ending coming, even though I probably should have, and while there are some moments that stretch belief, I was still satisfied without feeling ripped off. (A rare feat with thrillers these days.) Highly recommend this one when you want to totally zone out of your own life and escape into someone else's world for a bit.

I love Jennifer Hillier’s books. This one was no different and was one of my favorites. I started it on a plane without reading the blurb, so had no idea what to expect. I was so pleasantly surprised. I wished I started it earlier into the flight because I was sad to put it away upon arrival. Very addictive reading. I absolutely loved it. Thanks for allowing me to read an advanced copy.

Fun and well written psychological thriller. I hadn't read any of Jennifer Hillier's books before, but after reading this one, I requested some from the library.

A study and contrast of the two dysfunctional lives of a wife and the "other woman" and their multiple poor choices that lead to their ultimate juxtaposition. .... with the spark being the kidnapping of a child. Marin Machado appears on the surface to have it all ... a high profiled marriage (envied by all) to Derek .. a handsome and successful business owner. Marin is beautiful and dresses like a model out of Vogue, and runs a chain of upscale hair salons .... catering to the rich and famous. Her life instantly crumbles with the kidnapping of her four year old son. Sebastian disappears right from under her nose while she is texting and talking on her cell. Mall video reveals Sebastian being lead away ... holding a large swirled lollipop in one hand and Santa Claus' hand in the other.
The FBI search and the media driven campaign has gone dry ... as has her marriage to Derek. She hires a private investigator to continue the search .. it's been more than a year ... and appears hopeless, to most. A missing child is an open infected wound ... always festering! The private eye stumbles upon evidence of Derek's dalliance with a much younger woman. Kenzi Li is an exotic appearing, twenty-something artist and grad student .... who craves daily instagram affirmation of her worth. This is not Kenzi's first rodeo ... even she deems herself as a "professional girlfriend". She has repeatedly formed an exclusive relationship with a rich man in order to reap the financial perks. Is she a gold digger ... a home wrecker .... or simply a prostitute??
Hillier amazes in her development of the characters involved in this web of deceit. .... leaving subtle bread crumbs along the way. The pacing of the narrative is exhilarating ... with the last quarter of the book escalating into a twisted thrilling journey as the puzzle pieces fall into place. No-one can avoid gobbling up this gem ... forget the mundane necessities of life. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing an electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Excuse me, while I immediately go download Hillier's highly acclaimed , "Jar of Hearts" ( at readersremains.com)
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I really enjoyed this book. I honestly was a little bored, but then I figured out there was more to the book than I had thought. That's when it started getting really good! If you start this book and are kind of eh, keep going, it gets really good after a slow start.

Thanks to the author and netgalley for the ARC.

This was a pretty great mystery. While I didn't find the characters all that likeable, that's rarely the point of a good mystery. It did slow down the book for me a little as I would get fed up occasionally and put it down for another book, but the twists and turns were all worth it.

I can't imagine the horror of losing a child, and having to live with that loss. How guilt and regret can eat at your soul and upset any relationship. The rage and powerlessness don't go away with time, only action can focus those feelings.
That is what happens in this book, it is heartbreaking. The revelations that come once the grieving mom begins to take action on her own unravel a number of mysteries surrounding the kidnapping. are surprising.
It was hard to read the beginning but it gets easier as it goes along and really picks up speed toward the end.
I won't give anything else away- give it a whirl.
The writing is good, the author really does allow us to understand the misery of everyone.

Holy moly! This isn’t my first book by Jennifer Hillier and I look forward to more in the future. Marin and Derek’s 4 year old son was kidnapped 16 months ago. They’re both dealing with the unknown in their own completely different ways. Just when you think you know where this story is found, TWIST! And such an amazing twist!!! I couldn’t wait to read through the end to find out the conclusion. I definitely recommend this book!

5 stars!! This book was incredible, I started it 2 days ago and could not put it down! It grips you from the very first page and the intensity does not let up the entire time. I had to know what happened next! Little Secrets centers around Marin Machado and her husband Derek, and starts when their son, Sebastian, is abducted from a busy shopping area a few days before Christmas. The story fast forwards to 16 months later, where we find Marin still desperately trying to cope and find out what happened to Sebastian. Derek is now involved in affair with a much younger woman, McKenzie. Marin's life begins to spiral to darker places that she could have ever imagined, and we find out piece by piece how the characters are intertwined and what could have possibly happened to Sebastian. Little Secrets was one of the best thrillers I have read in a long time! Highly Recommend!

I recently received an ARC for one of my most anticipated 2020 thriller reads (thank you, NetGalley! ❤) -  Little Secrets, by Jennifer Hillier, author of Jar of Hearts.  In this book, we follow Marin whose life is unraveling. She used to have it all - a happy marriage to her college sweetheart, an adorable son, and a successful career. But in a matter of 8 minutes, her world came crashing down when her son was abducted in broad daylight. Just over a year later, Marin struggles every single day just to put one foot in front of the other and carry on with a life without her son.  She has hired a private investigator, and when this P.I. accidentally discovers Marin's husband is having an affair with a much younger woman, Marin suddenly receives the jolt she needs. She's lost her son;  she's not about to lose her husband also.  On her road to fix this situation, though, she uncovers more truths that will rock her world.⁣⁣
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This book grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go. The pacing was just right, and it made it super hard to put the book down. And while I did figure  out the whodunnit pretty early on, the twists and turns this story took kept me riveted.  This was a ⭐⭐⭐⭐ read for me and one I predict this will be one of 2020's hot thriller reads. ⁣⁣
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Jennifer Hillier is great! I had read her novel, Jar of Hearts, last year, and loved it. Much of the same with Little Secrets this year. Marin Machado's life couldn't be much better: great marriage, great career, great child. Walking through a mall one day right before Christmas, Marin lets go of her son's hand, and Sebastian disappears. It only takes 480 seconds for Marin's entire life to turn upside down. Fast forward sixteen months, and the police are no closer to finding Sebastian than they were the day he disappeared. Marin, unbeknownst to her husband who she now barely speaks to, hires a PI. Instead of finding out where Sebastian is, the PI begins to discover all of the little secrets everyone would rather keep hidden. This story dives right into the action and really doesn't let go. It had me placing myself in the position of the various characters and wondering what I would do. This would be a great book to talk about. A great pick for book clubs.