More than once things are not what they seem. Holly and Zach’s marriage is perfect. And they are expecting a beautiful girl. But when Zach start to show his true colours, Holly start to fear for her life and the one of their child. But there are a lot of secrets kept from the past and now are hunting Holly. Will she survive everything chasing her or will she lost her battle? Revenge is very dangerous and can destroy your life. The end will blow off your mind. A masterfully thriller story and a great audiobook thanks to a great narrator.

This was an entertaining read. I wasn't really sure what was going on until the end (in a good way) and found the ending to be satisfying and what I want in a mystery/thriller.

There were times when the main character got on my nerves a little...especially with the bargains she was making and how it all seemed to be playing out, but in the end it made sense.

One thing I noticed that the author does that kind of threw me is that, at times, you jump from one area to another from chapter to chapter. I kept thinking - did I miss something? And then she'd go back and explain how you got there. I kind of prefer reading through the course of the story but it was an interesting take on keeping the suspense.

I'd recommend this to fans of mystery/thrillers who enjoy a story that isn't exactly what it seems until the end.

!There was some language and references/descriptions to adult situations.

My rating: 3.3*

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Thanks to NetGalley for this listening copy. All opinions are my own.

What a wild ride! This was one twisty thriller that kept me guessing and at the edge of my seat the entire time.
I listened to the audiobook of The Marriage Secret and enjoyed the narration and storytelling. It's a great way to experience this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

I don't usually enjoy audiobooks read by an American but this was an exception. I enjoyed the story and the narrator. The main character was so well written and I found myself rooting for her. After giving birth to her first baby she starts to feel she is going mad, her husband says she is doing things that are not right. She starts to suspect something but who would believe her over her husband who is an esteemed obstetrician - there was enough suspense and a little twist or two that contributed to the enjoyment

On the surface, Holly and Dr. Zach Bancroft seem like the perfect couple. They're beautiful, successful, wealthy, have a nice home, and can afford all of life's luxuries. However, after the birth of their daughter, Holly begins to realize that Zach is actually manipulative and controlling. The abuse began with small behaviors and grand apologies prior to their daughter's birth, but has now escalated into gaslighting, withholding the child, financial control, and physical danger. Zach also blackmails Holly from leaving him by multiple means. Particularly, he focuses on telling her that she is incapable of being a good mother because of a secret that Holly had kept since she was a teenager.

This story was a classic, fast-paced domestic thriller, but ultimately I was disappointed in how everything came together at the end. While reading, I couldn't put it down and was definitely excited to find out what turn the story would take next. Overall, the story had great bones, but I wish that certain elements and characters had been more developed. At times, I had to skip back to make sure that I hadn't missed a section of the book because it felt significantly rushed.

I do wish the author would have spent more time exploring the impact of the abuse on Holly. Domestic violence, especially when children are involved, is such a nuanced issue. It would have given more depth to Holly's character if the audience had been able to see her grapple with the psychological impact of the abuse.

Thank you to Bookouture and Net Galley for the advance electronic copy of The Marriage Secret in exchange for my honest review!

This book was fast paced and fun. The narrative would have been even more propulsive if there had been more depth surrounding Zach and Holly's relationship in the beginning. If I could have seen a "good" relationship at the outset, there would have been more tension.

If you’re looking for a domestic thriller with an unpredictable ending, this is it! Wow! That ending!! I didn’t see it coming….

The premise of this book was similar to others I’ve read. Wife is married to a horrible, mentally abusive and controlling a**hole who fools everyone else because he is a successful OB GYN. After giving birth to their first child, there are repeated incidents of said husband gaslighting his wife and accusing her of being mentally unwell and forgetful. This pattern goes on for awhile until the wife finally starts to catch on to what’s happening. When one of his young interns is found dead and the husband becomes a person of interest, the tides start to change. This is when the story starts to pick up.

I really enjoyed the last third of the book because the plot veered off in an unexpected direction.. I will admit the first half was predictable and bothered me because the wife character was so weak and pathetic. It was challenging to connect to these characters because they were one note and lacked any qualities to which I could relate. Just a so-so thriller for me.

The audio performance was good. The narrator did a solid job.

I received an advanced audio copy from Bookouture Audio and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love a thriller and this one was great. I developed such a hatred for Zach and his controlling ways, which I think represents excellent writing for me feel so strongly.
There were multiple twists, some of which I predicted, but I still really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend to thriller lovers.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

The Marriage Secret by Carey Baldwin Narrated by: Stephanie Cannon and Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins This audiobook was Brilliant and the narrator Stephanie was excellent, she had me drawn in from the very beginning till the end.
Holly and Zach both work at the same hospital. Zach is a surgeon and Holly is a speech therapist. They fall and love and everything is perfect.Holly is so happy she could burst, she is marrying a perfect man! But is she?

However, Holly has a big secret and she needs to tell Zach before they are married!

Will Zach marry Holly when he tells him her secret?

Or will be hold it against her?

Holly soon finds out she is expecting their first child, they are all excited for their new journey together. However, when their daughter Jolene is born things start to unfold in their marriage and Zach become very jealous of his wives relationship with their daughter! Zach, becomes controlling. he is a well respected doctor everyone loves him! Holly has to speak to someone about Zack and turns to his mother who is very sympathetic to her daughter- in-law, but her loyalty always lies with her son.

He's a sweet Boy!!!! But He is not!!!!!! OMG!!!

So many twists and turns throughout this brilliant audiobook.

I highly recommend this audiobook it was excellent in so many ways!!!

5 stars from me

Big Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

<i> Be careful what you wish for. </i>

The perfect man, does he exist? Holly found her perfect match when Zach has entered her life. His charm won over her heart and shortly after their first encounter Holly was locked in the golden cage living the perfect life. But was that the perfect life, was that the life Holly desired? Confused by her husband's behavior and lately by her own "baby brain", Holly began to analyze her situation and for the very first time saw her husband in a brand new light - perfect Zach didn't match the image of perfect husband/son/colleague/friend he pretended to be. Holly found herself on the crossroad - to stay and continue to play a perfect family or to run and expose her husband for what he really is?

This novel is a perfect example of gaslighting, manipulation, verbal abuse, it was clearly presented from the very first pages. From a naive and trusting wife, Holly has turned into a fighter. I was impressed by her character's change throughout the novel. Friend's betrayal was something that caught me off guard but made a great last surprise. What surprised me was how easily manipulated Holly was. Although, I was happy to see her survive the life she, at last, was trying to escape. A gripping plot with many twists and turns, although the ending left me a bit confused and I didn't find Holly's big secret very shocking. Nevertheless, I have enjoyed the read.

The Marriage Secret by Carey Baldwin

Holly and Zach are expecting their first baby, Holly couldn't be more excited about her happy life. But as her due date draws closer, Zach becomes more controlling and manipulative. On the way to the hospital, she doesn't 'behave' the way her doctor husband wants her to, so he makes her delivery a nightmare! And after the baby arrives things do not improve. Zach continues to control and gaslight her to the point she doesn't even trust her own memory.

She'd like to leave him, but he knows her deepest darkest secret from her past and is holding it against her.

A student Zach has been mentoring dies under suspicious circumstances. He needs an alibi! Did he do it?

I enjoyed listening to this book, kept be interested the entire time. I enjoyed the twists! Although I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending.

Thank you Carey Baldwin, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the audio to listen to this book in return for my honest review!

This was a fast paced page turner. The Marriage Secret had me guessing until the end. The plot was good but at times I found it a little far fetched. I really enjoyed the narration.

Holly and Zach seem like a perfect couple from the outside looking in, but it turns out that they both have secrets. Holly is drawn to Zach and very happy with their marriage until she gives birth to their baby, Jolene. As soon as Jolene is born, Zach seems to turn into a different person. There is a lot of gaslighting and controlling behavior. I found myself riveted to the story, wanting to know the true depths of Zach’s manipulation. There were many enjoyable twists and turns. This was my first book by Carey Baldwin. I can’t wait to read more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an ARC of The Marriage Secret in exchange for an honest review.

Holly had a wonderful life, she is expecting her first baby and married to her wealthy and handsome obstetrician husband, Zach. However, as she is getting closer to delivering the baby Zach has become more controlling and manipulative. When she commits a minor infraction on their way to the hospital, her doctor husband makes her delivery a living nightmare. After the baby is born things do not improve as he continues to control and gaslight her to the point that she doesn't trust her own memory. She would leave him but he knows the deepest darkest secret in her past and has been holding it against her. When a student Zach has been mentoring dies under suspicious circumstances Zach needs an alibi and it just might be Holly's chance to escape.

This is a very twisty domestic drama filled with secrets and manipulation which keeps the pace of the story moving. I found myself not liking either of the main characters but it actually kind of worked for the story. Zach is a manipulative vengeful psychopath and Holly just needed to leave him but never does which makes their blackmail of each other more interesting as the story progressed. His mother is another character I didn't like for her blind loyalty to her son but it added another layer to the story. The side story of the friends was a little odd and clunky as was the ending but overall it was decent domestic thriller. I had the audio version read by Stephanie Cannon whose performance was great, she brought the story to life and I think I liked it more with her reading of it.

Ooh, so many red flags that Holly should have seen but I know that until your eyes are open you do not see them. I hated Zach from the beginning of this book because I have known a Zach, I have seen this behavior before and I know where it was leading.

I loved the ending of this book, there was a twist I did not see coming at all and I appreciated that very much.

The narrator did a good job of differentiating the female voices. I often listen to audiobooks while working and I was able to pay attention to who was talking with ease.

Thank you Netgalley for the audio copy in exchange for a honest review. Holly had a dark secret from her past when she marries Zach. They now have a baby together and Zach is becoming strict and controlling. Then a girl is found murdered and Zach is a suspect. Holly finds herself giving him a alibi. A gripping domestic thriller.

From outside,  they look like a perfect couple. But behind closed doors, Zach controls his wife, Holly any way possible. His true jealous nature comes out after the baby is born and the gaslighting is very obvious to her. But there is no way out.
After he becomes a suspect of a woman's murder, Holly thinks she got the solution for her problems. But did she really?

I got a audiobook ARC from NetGalley and the narrator made the already interesting plot come alive. The book seems predictable in the beginning,  but keeps on taking unexpected turns. I enjoyed the author's writing style and would recommend the audiobook to all the psychological domestic thriller lovers.

𝘛𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘺, 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨!

I love a good domestic psychological thriller and this one was a wild ride!
Dark, disturbing, twisty, suspenseful, complex characters, fast paced and it kept me engaged from start to finish.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ALC.

The Marriage Secret by Carey Baldwin released February 11, 2022.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦: 𝘔𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘗𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯’𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

Can she escape the "perfect" marriage before it's too late?

Zach has always been so loving and protective of Holly. They live in their dream home and just had a little girl together, but is their marriage really what it appears to be? Now that Jolene has been born, Zach has been overwhelmingly controlling. He set a strict schedule for Holly to follow, he must know her whereabouts at all times, he picks out the clothes she will wear, and he determines how much money she can spend. She doesn't want to be punished and he knows her darkest secret, so she must be careful and ensure he's happy. But now Zach is a murder suspect when a young woman turns up dead. He claims he didn't do it, but where was he that night? Will Holly stay by his side or will she escape this toxic marriage?
I loved this book and recommend it to thriller lovers! I felt like the first half of the story was more of a women's fiction with a lot of drama and interesting situations happening, but the second half was definitely a domestic thriller. I flew through this story, wanting to know what would happen with these characters. I was intrigued by all the events happening and was shocked by the ending! I read this book on my kindle and listened to the audiobook. The narrator, Stephanie Cannon, did a wonderful job bringing this story to life! I loved the different voices she had for different characters, making it very easy to follow along. If you're a fan of audiobooks, definitely check it out! This was my first read by Carey Baldwin and I look forward to reading more of her work.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I loved this book! It was so faced paced & thrilling. It was very entertaining to say the least. I thought I guessed what was going on & it definitely had a twist!

Holly and Zach just had a baby & their lives seemingly couldn’t be better. Then, Zach starts acting weird and controlling Holly. He is not the man she married. His medical students start dying and Zach is a suspect. Is Zach a killer? Will Holly get away safely with her daughter?

I would 10/10 recommend this book. The narrator was great as well. Twisty & thrilling for sure!!!