If your name is Holly you are not allowed to read this review or make comments!


Given that I am 3 weeks post concussion I really need to be more mindful of not wasting any brain cells. This book robbed me of some of my precious cells, thankfully it was only a 6 hour listen so it wasn't drastic, however I regret reading this.
I admit the opening of the book and even the first few chapters were pretty intriguing, young woman is whisked off to her rich fiance's family home ,The Pond, because the parents have suddenly died. When she arrives things begin to change.....Unfortunately typical K-Mod style twist and "shocking" moments start happening [Case in point, The diary + austyn = gross,
From there B Rated movie moments abound,
- characters start doing ridiculously stupid stupid things., "I know I shouldn't do XYZ".....character proceeds to do XYZ the very next sentence.
-Terrible lies that are believed, "I didn't know every month I was paying "Emily" 35,000 dollars out of my account"--Side note Emily is Austyn's friend who is staying with them. Next paragraph, "Well actually Emily is the name of a house keeper, it is her salary". Austyn believes it.....like really?
-The names....Fallon, Dallas, Austyn, Lowell.....I won't even touch that.
-Chinese arithmetic is easier that trying to explain the numerous twist and turns that occur in the last 10% of the book.....(Do not blame my concussion, this was just typical childish K mod writing)

Holly If you are still reading this, please do not read this next sentence.

Holly was right again, why do I do this to myself? DO I like pain and torture? Maybe I just keep hoping K Mod will surprise me, but alas, this book was terrible.....

Thank you net galley for this advanced copy of The Family Secret by Kristen Modglin. I was not influenced in any way for this honest review of this book.

KM’s books have a way of making me feel nervous, anticipating dread, and always something spectacularly crazy, horrifying or just fill in the blank around the corner, and this novel as jut that. KM is my go to for crazy entertainment because she writes so well.
I don’t think I can think of another author that delivers great books so quickly. I hope someday to have conversation with her about how she thinks. Great audiobook and loved the narrator. She delivered!
Afterthoughts
• pulled me right in
• made me doubted everyone
• shocked (again)
• Helped me get thru my day
Im only rating this one a 3 ⭐️ because it went off the rails for me just at the end and I had trouble with the ending. But I have to say I still enjoyed the heck out if it! You’re awesome Kiersten and I love your work.
Thanks Dreamscape Media via NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley allowing me to review this audio book.. I was so excited to get Kiersten Modglin's The Family Secret, that I started it right away and I finished it in one sitting. I found it to be deliciously dark and entertaining. .Jennifer Sun Bell did a great job narrating, I would definitely recommend it.
Austyn Murphy and her fiancé Lowell Bass get the unexpected call that his parents had died in an accident. They travel back to his family estate to settle his parents affairs and meet his siblings. Once there she is taken back by his siblings cold welcome, which she believes may be because her and Lowell were in line to inherit his family mansion. But when her old friend calls needing a place to stay while in the middle of a divorce, Lowell generously offers for her to come stay with them at his family's estate. Once her friend Emily arrives, Austyn begins to learn some very dark family secrets,. lies, and traditions that starts to make her question everything.. She begins to doubt her friend, Lowell, and his siblings.. The more she digs the more she realizes she doesn't know who she can trust..

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest and candid review.

This book tells the story of the elite Bass family, told from the perspective of Austyn, fiancée to Lowell-- the new patriarch when his parents die unexpectedly. Austyn learns about what it means to join the super rich and high status family, that maintains a strong binary between family and outsiders as she uncovers a deeply held family secret. The novel unfolds, with plenty of twists and turns, and friend and family bonds are tested to their limits.

I found the book exciting and fast-paced, and recommend it to readers who enjoy mysteries and thrillers. It reminded me a bit of Kate Morton's writings, although less ponderous.

My thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to review this audio book.

Austin and Llowell travel to his family home after the mysterious death of his parents. They are to be married. Austyn later discovers many family secrets that makes her question her impending marriage. Very slow build up.

Quick listen, and engaging narrator. My only complaint is the real twist and action did not pick up till about about 90 minutes left in the book.

When Lowell Bass's parents die unexpectedly, he takes new fiancé Austyn Murphy with him to the Bass estate to handle their affairs and lay them to rest. As Lowell and his siblings whisper about the details of their parents’ estate, Austyn learns of the Bass world she had no knowledge of.

Austyn sees a side of the man she is supposed to marry that she has never seen before, and it is terrifying.

As Austyn starts making discoveries about the dark secrets of the family’s past, she fears that she may be in danger as she starts to uncover the truth about the powerful Bass family.

This was a “popcorn thriller” that I could not put down! I have not read a Kiersten Modglin book I didn't like.

Holy moly!!! I’m a big fan of this author and this book has climb to my favorites list! Soo Soo good!!

Thank you #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for allowing me to listen to the audio of #TheFamilySecret by #KierstenModglin. I am already a Kiersten fan, and this book was as amazing as her other books. I loved the secrets and family drama and learning who you can trust. I give it way more than 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️. You have got to read it!!!

The Family Secret - Kiersten Modglin

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Okay, I can only attribute the fact that I read an early offering from this author that I loved, as a tribute to her skills as a writer. 🤔

The earlier offering was heavy on intrigue, with almost no romance,😍 which is just my cuppa.

This story however, is just the opposite, it is SO sweet (full of romance) that it is almost cavity-inducing... Even at the apex of the action, it was (shivers) sappy.

Until next time, if this describes YOUR perfect cuppa, then enjoy! As always, this author is talented and she won't let you down IF you select her novels carefully according to preferred type accordingly.

The Family Secret was a creepy, wild and mysterious thriller. I went into this book thinking it would be a typical dramatic family mystery but it was much more than that. When the rich parents of a wealthy business man, Lowell, pass away in a strange situation, he and his fiancé, Austyn, immediately fly out to handle funeral arrangements and family business. When Austyn finds something hidden from the past, it could cause a lot of trouble for the very wealthy family she may be marrying in to. She doesn’t know if the family has a huge secret, if her fiancé is lying to her, if his siblings are lying to her or if all may be a trap to see if she is “deserving” enough to be a part of this family. Once the thread is pulled, so much begins to unravel and there is a rollercoaster of a story taking us on a wild ride. Highly recommend!
Thank you to Kiersten Modglin, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC audiobook of The Family Secret, narrated by Jennifer Sun Bell. Jennifer Sun Bell did an excellent job portraying the characters and story.

Thank you NetGalley and Kiersten Modglin for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first novel by this author, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. The plot held my attention, the characters pulled me in despite their vices, but there were a few things that made the whole experience fall flat for me.

A big pet peeve of mine is the trope where a problem could be solved my simply asking a question. This happened multiple times in the story, and it took away from my enjoyment of the journey.

Overall, it was an easy read with a satisfying ending. If you are on the lookout for a domestic drama and want something short and sweet, give this book a try.

Lowell and Austyn are engaged after dating for 7 years. Lowell Bass comes from a very wealthy family, Bass industries which he takes over when his father passes away which he does. Lowell and Austyn goes to the funeral where she meets the family for the first time and as time goes on she eventually discovers the family secret.
What I didn't like about the book: I felt it was a bit unbelievable and at times confusing.
What I did like: The story pulled you in from the start. It was engaging and had a fast pace. The narrator was good..easy to listen to.
3.5 stars.

Poor girl meets rich boy dates and engaged. He becomes awful when he has to go back to rich boy life. Together with responsible sister and hot brother. Infidelity, gaslighting, boring MC who doesn't underatand how this happened

Overall, I liked The Family Secret by Kiersten Modglin. There is a twist or two that I didn't see coming and I was definitely engaged throughout, finding time to listen whenever possible. However, from the beginning, I felt like I was told more about the Bass family than Austin, aside to the fact that she owns a bakery. I saw through a red herring because it isn't convincing, which is annoying, and am deeply disappointed in the ending and epilogue. Given all of this, I rated it 4 stars.

Jennifer Sun Bell is a great narrator. There are a couple parts that have awkward pauses in the middle of a sentence, but it was a rarity. I really like how distinct her voice is, making it easy to tell which character is speaking.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing me with an ALC.

Firstly, I am thankful for the opportunity to have received a free copy of this Audiobook through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I felt this one fell a little flat. I have enjoyed some of Kiersten's books in the past but some of her latest ones haven't quite hit the mark.

I did finish this one, but I wasn't as invested in it as I would have liked. There wasn't anything overly "thrilling" and no spectacular twist to finish it off. The best I can do is rate this one 3 ⭐⭐⭐ stars.

The narration was ok but only just passable as well.

#TheFamilySecret #NetGalley

Another good thriller from this author. Cleverly written with lots of twists. This one has the ever coveted HEA.

Not sure I read the same book as everyone else... This book was both predictable and confusing at the same time. It took me forever to figure out all of the connections and how they fit together. Maybe it was because I listened to the audiobook and didn't read it on the page. She did manage to surprise me a little bit, because I thought I had Emily's story all figured out and I didn't, but other than that, there weren't the twists I was expecting.

Lowell and Austyn have been dating for seven years and they are now engaged. He comes from a very wealthy family, and has just discovered his parents have died in an accident. The two go from Nashville to California for the funeral and to take care of arrangements. Once at the mansion, Austyn meets Lowell's two siblings: the hot brother Dallas and his married with kids sister Fallon. Then Austyn's college bestie Emily calls and says she's going through a divorce, and even though Austyn has not talked to her in over a year, Lowell says "hey, let's invite her to come stay here too." But things aren't as they seemed, relationships aren't what they seem, and Austyn starts to doubt everything she thinks she knows.

So many things that happened here were just outside of my believability realm. I wanted to just go with the flow but the more bizarre things got, the more I just couldn't suspend the disbelief. When I got to the part at 90-ish percent in the woodshed my eyes rolled over and over. That was just...I can't even describe. These characters acted like no real people would ever act. I was picturing this segment as a movie and I literally laughed out loud at how ridiculous it was.

If you're looking for some mindless entertainment, then look no further than the prolific Kiersten Modglin. She certainly knows how to crank out the "out there" thrillers. I listened to the audiobook and like I said, the connections were kind of convoluted so this one would probably be better on the page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my audio ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Austyn Murphy and Lowell Bass are freshly engaged and at a New Years Eve party when they get the devastating news that Lowell’s (extremely rich) parents unexpectedly died in an accident. They immediately set out to handle the estate of his parents. The Bass house holds dark secrets, and reveals a side of Austyn’s future husband that she has never seen before. As more secrets unfold, Austyn realizes she runs the risk of becoming just another of the family secrets.

This book delves into long hidden secrets, dysfunctional families, dysfunctional relationships, and what can happen to people when money is at stake. Though I enjoyed these characters and this storyline, I didn’t feel this was truly a thriller. This story had much more of a slow burn, at times the slow pace was even a little frustrating. I could see this as more of a mystery than a thriller. That being said, I do feel like I kind of knew one of the big mysteries from the beginning; however, some of the other reveals did catch me off guard!

Overall I enjoyed getting to know these characters, both the likable and unlikable. What kept me reading this book was my devotion to the characters that Kiersten Modglin built. She did an absolutely fantastic job of making me truly care what happened to these characters. I am glad I read this book, and if you enjoy a character driven book that has a slow burn mystery; definitely pick this up. The audio version was not my favorite, and I think I would encourage readers to get the kindle or print copy!

Thank you to Netgalley, Kiersten Modglin & Dreamscape Media for an audio file of The Family Secret in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own and may not be reproduced.

I am embarrassed to admit that this was my first Modglin novel and now I'm kicking myself for not reading her books sooner. I really, really, REALLY enjoyed The Family Secret. It was a shorter audio book and listened at double speed, I flew through it.

The story centers around Austyn who is engaged to Lowell Bass, heir to the Bass fortune after his parents suddenly passed away. Austyn travels home to the Bass family home "The Pond" with Lowell to tend to the Estate. She is met with a less than enthusiastic welcome by his sister Fallon and brother Dallas. As time progresses, Austyn begins to discover that Lowell may not be exactly who he pretends to be. It may be that no one is. And on top of that, Austyn's best friend Emily has come to stay with them temporarily while she is separated from her husband and it becomes evident to Austyn that there is potentially something going on between Emily and Lowell. Not knowing who to trust and with things becoming more dangerous by the day, Austyn might just be in for the fight of her life.

This story was very fast paced. There were no lulls of boringness. It grabs you instantly from the beginning and just keeps going all the way through the end. There were even some twists and turns that I didn't predict, which was great! The characters were spot on for their intended roles.

My one and only negative comment would be toward the narrator who, toward the front of the story, multiple times, pronounced Bass as "Base" instead of like the fish. She even went from saying it wrong, to saying it right and then going back to wrong again. It wasn't until the point in the book in which Lowell explains why his family home is named "The Pond" that the narrator actually caught on as well and corrected it the rest of the way through the book. Nothing major at all, just something I picked up on.

Overall, I rate this book a 4.5/5 Stars, rounded up to 5. I definitely recommend grabbing a copy!

4.5★ I absolutely loved this book and audiobook. I did it as an immersive read, going back and forth between the two, and it really helped to bring the story to life for me.

Kiersten Modglin’s writing is so accessible and easy to understand. It pulls you in immediately and is so clear and concise, you wind up flying through it. The twists in this were chefs kiss and I really liked the characters she created.

Highly recommend this one whether via audio or physical book. You won’t be disappointed.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.