This book was creepy and suspenseful and I couldn't figure out what was happening! The plot twists are done so well. 5 stars!

While this book showed promise, I found the constant withholding of secrets to be rather irksome. The initial half of the book felt perplexing and disjointed, leaving me puzzled. However, as I reached the halfway mark, certain revelations shed light on the narrative, providing clarity. It struck me that Ruth's honesty from the outset could have mitigated much of the confusion, yet I acknowledge that such transparency might have compromised the story's intrigue. Nadia's character came across as immature, which proved somewhat grating to me. As for Ruth and Cheryl's relationship, I struggled to comprehend how such betrayal could ever be forgiven.

This was a very good book! I thought I had it figured out, and then here comes a twist! I would definitely recommend this book.

The premise of this book was good. What if you kept a secret that eventually caught up with you. And it not only impacted you, but everyone in your life?

The writing was solid, but the story felt like there was something not quite clicking. It seemed like a professional woman could have handled the threats from a woman who was younger, and clearly disturbed. It was a fast and engaging read, but maybe because almost everyone in the book behaved badly, not as intense as I had hoped, with an abrupt, almost rushed, ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an advance reader's copy.

The Prologue, written in the first person past tense PoV of Nadia Fairchild, offered too much detail about something that wasn’t all that relevant to the main plot of the book. After shooting a certain Dr Flaherty, Nadia reveals her plan of inflicting merciless death on Ruth.

Ruth and her husband are a successful power couple. Their business, the Second Chance Wellness Center, is a huge success. Life is smooth, until she takes on a new client, Nadia, who is altogether too curious about Ruth’s life. Soon Nadia reveals a devastating secret to Ruth, demanding $50,000 in exchange for her silence. But the sum is too big for Ruth to raise, without letting her husband know. How will Ruth ensure Nadia’s silence?

The book is written in the first person PoV of Ruth and Nadia, in alternate chapters.

My feelings towards Nadia were conflicted. It was easy to feel sympathy for her, knowing that she had suffered grief at the death of her adoptive mother and rejection by her birth mother. I had to remind myself that she was a cold-blooded killer.

I hated Cheryl, Ruth’s mother, for the gaslighting she had done.

Towards the end, the book began to feel repetitive. The final action sequences were not very convincing. Nor were the motives that propelled the characters believable. There just wasn’t enough of a build-up of character.

But the book concluded on the right note, reinforcing the novel’s theme of acceptance.

Vengeance, obsession, secrets, lies and danger. an amazing thriller full of surprises and shocking revelations.
Nadia who has lost her mother due to cancer, wants revenge, and there is absolutely nothing stopping her, she has no remorse what so ever, only revenge.
Ruth is a successful business woman, with a great job, lovely husband and a picture perfect life, but also with a lot of secrets that could set fire to everything.
now Nadia and Ruth are collided and there is nothing anyone could do to prevent the inevitable!
the book is fast paced, well written, gripping and memorable. lots of twists and turns that would keep you surprised and interested up until the last page. though the ending was just a bit abrupt, but at the end of the day, I'm happy with the whole story.

thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy.

A great read. Really enjoyed the book keeps you hooked from the very first page.
Ruth feels like she's living the dream, happily married that is until Nadia comes along.

As usual Cathryn Grant does not disappoint. The Secret She Kept pulled me in immediately. It’s fast paced and full of unexpected twists and turns. This character driven psychological thriller shows how deadly and dangerous secrets can be. The story also demonstrates the old adage that revenge is a dish best served cold. Driven by vengeance and obsession,the characters actions are surprising and calculating, creating a book I couldn’t put down. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my copy.

I was able to read this because of NetGalley so thank you for the opportunity to review. How far would you go to keep a secret? This story was wild and had so much drama!

I love Cathryn Grant’s style and the way I’m always sucked in immediately! The Secret She Kept, while a little predictable at times, kept me at the edge of my seat! I love a story that includes family drama involving a mysterious past and this was full of that!

Ruth and Cameron lead a seemingly happy life. They are successful, they have their own business,, they have a great home and they are perfect to all those who know them. But Ruth has a secret and she prefers it to be kept that way. Until Nadia come and shakes Ruth’s world to the core. Nadia has an agenda, vengeance, and Ruth will do what it takes to keep her secret hidden. Enjoyed this slow suspense thriller.

This psychological thriller was one that kept my attention captured throughout every page.

Ruth has a huge secret known only by her mother, if the secret gets out, she risks losing her perfect life. Ruth and Cameron are happily married and running a wellness clinic together, until Nadia arrives at the clinic, and she is holing the past over Ruth whom she starts to blackmail. Ruth is desperate to keep the past where it belongs and fears it will be the end of her marriage is secrets become known. Fast paced and well orchestrated.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my ARC.

A riveting suspense, full of vengeance! Nadia threatens all those around Ruth, with the unfolding of the past believable and breath- taking!
Nadia, whose mother died of breast cancer, becomes close to Ruth, with the intention of causing trouble. She threatens to expose Ruth's secrets and awful past, which leads to an explosive set of circumstances.
I liked that as the reader got to know Nadia, it changed the view of her and all the other characters.
Amazing author and empassioned plot. A truly heart- wrenching read.

This book had potential, but the unnecessary secret-keeping annoyed me a little. The first half of the book I thought was strange and didn't make sense, and then at the halfway point I was like OH well THAT makes sense now! Ruth could have been honest from the beginning, but I guess that wouldn't have made as good of a story. Nadia's character was immature, and frankly annoyed me a bit. Ruth and Cheryl's relationship I will never understand, because how can that possibly be forgiven?!

I found this thriller to be not that thrilling. I sort of understood Nadia, but I could not forget some of the things she did. I also did not like the ending as I found it to be abrupt.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

There are some things you just don’t see coming. Like Nadia.
Ruth feels like she’s living the dream. She is happily married to the love of her life, Cameron, and she is deeply fulfilled in her work - running the wellness center that grew out of their shared vision.
But something feels off to Ruth about a new client, Nadia. She asks so many probing and personal questions about Ruth’s life. It feels intrusive to the point where Ruth asks the young woman to leave.
But Nadia isn’t going anywhere.
Because she knows far more about Ruth than she let on. In fact, she knows everything about Ruth’s past, including the dark secret Ruth thought was locked forever inside her own heart.
Now, Nadia is blackmailing Ruth, putting her under unbearable stress. Ruth can’t get rid of Nadia – who has inserted herself into the family home - but she has no way to get the money Nadia is demanding without Cameron finding out. And if Cameron discovers what happened all those years ago, she knows she’ll lose him forever.
Ruth feels utterly trapped, on the brink of losing everything that matters to her. And she begins to wonder just what she is willing to do to protect… the secret she kept.

What a gripping thrilling read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

The story starts with Nadia entering Ruth’s life. Ruth is a successful Wellness center owner and Nadia has just lost her mother. Nadia tries to embed herself in Ruth’s life even resorting to blackmail.
I really don’t know what to make of this book. It is well written, both from Nadia’s and Ruth’s perspective, but I could not gel with either character and found Ruth very frustrating. It got a bit better three quarters of the way through for me but found the ending not very believable.

Such a thrilling read! The author leads you on a journey with multiple surprises and unable to predict the ending. Can't wait to read more from this author.

A nail biting thriller full of lots of drama, lies, deceit and revenge. I loved this physcological thriller despite not liking any of the characters. From the start I felt Nadia just wasn't right and the way she wormed herself into the lives of Ruth and her friends was despicable. I think the drama was what I loved most about this book I was thoroughly invested in the plot and was on the edge of my seat throughout. An enjoyable read.