Heartwarming cozy mystery series comes to a touching end.

It’s wedding bells for socially awkward Molly the Head Maid/Events Coordinator and her handsome chef fiancé, Juan Manuel. Both work at the Regency Grand, a five star hotel, and are looking forward to the big day. Plans are interrupted however, when Molly finds that a Faberge egg left to her by her grandmother is worth millions. With all the media attention and theft of the egg, Molly is overwhelmed but finds answers to many secrets hidden in her grandmother’s diary.

This is part fairy tale with a riches to rags theme as well as an ill fated love story. I enjoyed the diary entries and Flora’s history which explains so much. In addition, we have the present day mystery of who stole the egg and why. The connections are a bit too convenient and hard to believe, and the conclusion is quite predictable. I think this was a bit more contrived than the other books in the series, but it wraps everything up and alls well that ends in a happy ever after, right? It might be a bit too much sappiness for some, but it seemed a fitting end to the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-book ARC to read and review. I did enjoy the series and would recommend it. I listened to the audiobook while reading and the narrator, Lauren Ambrose, does a fantastic job of voicing Molly. The other characters also have distinct voices which made the book come alive and created a more immersive experience.

Thank you to NetGalley for an Advance Digital Copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the third book in the Molly the Maid series. Molly and her fiance, Juan, are preparing for their upcoming wedding. They both work at the Regency Grand Hotel. It's a very exciting day at the hotel as the tv show, Hidden Treasures, will be recording an episode at the hotel. Employees are allowed to bring their treasures to be looked at prior to the show's taping. Molly brings a shoebox of some of her grandmother's treasures to be examined. One in particular catches the attention of the show's hosts, and chaos ensues!

I really enjoyed this story. It can be read on it's own, but of course, is best if read in order.

I absolutely love Molly Gray—she’s a truly unique character, and I’ve enjoyed this series so much! I often describe this series as comfort in a book. The latest installment mixes a cozy mystery with a heartfelt story about love and legacy. I especially appreciated learning more about Molly’s Gran, whose backstory adds both depth and historical context to the novel. The dual timeline kept me hooked, and I think this book hits a perfect balance between mystery and emotion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for the digital copy.

This was a fun addition to the Molly the Maid collection. I'm not sure it packed as much of a punch as the first couple of books in the series, but it was an enjoyable read.

This dual-timeline book told of Molly auctioning off her grandmother's Faberge (introduced in book 2), interspersed with the story of her grandmother's riches-to-rags maturation into adulthood. Gran (Flora) was raised in a wealthy household, becoming close to the family help while never really understanding that they were her equals. As she aged, her eyes opened to the darker side of her social circle, eventually leading her into the working-class life that we knew from the earlier books that she would eventually adopt. I enjoyed Flora's chapters.

Molly's chapters were fine, but the mystery was rather simple to work through. I did enjoy seeing more of Molly and Juan's relationship and thought it was a silly look at how 'reality' TV is really anything but realistic, but there wasn't enough there to really hook me.

Overall, I would say that if you're already reading Molly's books, this last contribution is worth reading. It's nice to see Flora as more than just a grandmother. And there are probably few people looking to read this book without completing the series.

This is an entry in a very entertaining, easy to read series. The characters are winning and varied. The plot keeps the reader turning the page. Highly recommend.

Not for me. The first half was quite slow, but the second half picked up. I was not invested in the maid’s story (too many puns, too naive of a character, too slow and predictable). I did, however, enjoy the grandmother’s story.

“My gran taught me to be direct. She also taught me everything else of substance I’ve learned in this life. For that, and for her, I remain forever grateful.”

Thoughts on the following:
Plot: The mystery aspect of this book and the first book compete for first place in my mind. This one revolved around a priceless antique that Molly had from her Gran, something she thought was worthless, but kept anyway. The item turned her into an overnight celebrity, and the disappearance of the item created such a fun, tense, and mysterious plot.
All that being said, I think Gran’s story took the spotlight here, and truly I LOVED it. Her backstory is what we all needed, and it was beautifully written through her own voice. Her letters took us on a journey through her life and it was so special getting that view.

Characters: I missed Gran so much! Ever since book one, I wished she were still in the story. I loved getting so much background on her life and it made me adore her character even more. It was also so nice getting more background on Mr. Preston and what his and Gran’s relationship looked like, how it came about in the first place, and how it developed later on.
Molly, too, of course was still as charming as usual, and I loved getting more of her and her relationships with the other characters, but her usual central place in the story took a little bit of a backseat with the dual story/perspectives.

Writing style: I loved the way that half of the story was was written in letters/diary form, but still felt like a story rather than just reading letter after letter, which can get tiring in books. The flow was perfect, and made the book feel more whole.

Length: Perfect, no complaints about the length.

TL;DR: This was the perfect conclusion to this series. We had an exciting mystery to follow, important backstories we hadn’t before seen, and everything tied up with a nice little bow at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine Books for the advanced reader copy!

Star rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️

The Maid’s Secret⁣ by Nita Prose
Genre - cozy mystery⁣
Rating - 4⭐️⁣
⁣
This was a cozy addition to an already comforting series. In this novel, we learn more about Molly’s beloved Gran and her background, and uncover more about their past. I paired my physical copy with audio, which gave such a distinct voice to the dual POV of Molly and Gran. As the story unfolds, the mystery of the egg is almost overshadowed by Gran’s past, as there were so many surprises along the way and I was super engaged in the storyline. By the end, Molly sets things right with plenty of heart, logic, and friendship. Really looking forward to more books with these quirky, cozy characters.

The Maid’s Secret is a lovely return to Molly’s world — full of charm, wit, and just the right amount of mystery. Molly is as wonderfully quirky and loveable as ever, and it’s a real treat to see her navigate another twisty situation with her usual blend of awkwardness and heart.
The story keeps you guessing without ever feeling too heavy, and there are some genuinely touching moments along the way. A great mix of cosy crime and character-driven drama — I really enjoyed it!

Another excellent Molly the Maid book by Nita Prose. I love everything about this series, but the characters most of all!

Molly the Maid is a quirky yet devoted employee of the Regency Grand Hotel, and is preparing for her wedding to her beloved Juan Manuel.
Her recent promotion to Special Events manager for the hotel means she's in charge of the upcoming filming for the TV Show "Hidden Treasures" in the ballroom. Molly brings in a shoebox containing a few of her belated Gran's things and is shocked to learn that one item is a rate and priceless treasure. Now that Molly has come into more money than she ever could've imagined having, she's also learning about the history of the said item through reading her gran's diary.

Suddenly, Molly's treasure goes missing, and the only clues to solving the mystery are to be found in old diary. As Molly uncovers long-buried family secrets, she uncovers shocking revelations about her grandmother’s past—a timeless love story she could've never guessed at.
This installment in the Molly Maid series contains of the elements that I love so much about the previous titles: a delightful, loveable cast, a page-turning mystery, endearing love story, all immersed in a setting of characters who embody true acceptance and devotion for each other.

I really enjoyed this book, and a big part was due to the backstory we get on Molly’s grandma and her family history. It explains so much about Grams and how she raised Molly. I liked the balance between Molly’s chapters and Grams’s backstory.

Molly continues to be one of my favorite book characters from the past several years. I have loved getting to know her through her books and I’m sad this was most likely the final Molly book. I like how it ended though, and look forward to what this author comes up with next.

I know I say this every time, but once again, get your box of tissues out because you are certainly going to need them reading the final installment of the wonderfully heartwarming saga of our dear Molly Gray, the most loving, caring and real character who has ever existed in the character world. This story will fill your heart full as we finally get answers to Molly and her late Gran's life and legacy. And my goodness, what an ending!

Molly Gray is preparing to marry the love of her life Juan Manuel. With very little money they are trying to keep the wedding simple. But a glitch in their plan has them beside themselves. Their landlord is selling the building and now on top of all the other stress they must now find another place they are able to afford to live.

Both are still working at their jobs at The Regency Grand Hotel, Molly as head maid and also manager of Special Events. Juan Manuel is still working on his desserts in the kitchen. And yes, even though they are stressed and struggling, their love always finds a way to keep them going.

When a television antiques appraisal show decides they want to do a live broadcast from The Regency, and with Molly in charge, Juan Manuel convinces her to take a couple of her grandmother's trinkets to be appraised. One of course is her grandmother's special teacup which Molly now uses, and the other an egg ornament which had been her Grans.

No one could imagine that live on television, Molly would discover one the items is worth a great deal of money, perhaps millions! How on earth did Gran get it and why did she not tell Molly about it? So many questions but without Gran here no answers. Molly and Juan Manuel decide, with a little pushing from the television hosts to sell the item to the highest bidder live on another broadcast. Who on earth would steal the item?

But when they go live to sell the item, after the final bid, and they go to get it, the item is missing. It was stolen right before their eyes! Confusion abounds, and Molly is heartbroken, but when a key is found which leads to a diary her Gran had been writing before her death well suddenly Molly's story becomes Grans.

Although a surprising yet hard life, Gran lived with hope, understanding and of course a love for her granddaughter Molly which was unmatched except for one man. As Molly reads, she sees a side of Gran she never imagined and of course loves her even more than she ever imagined she could.

The Maid's Secret is perfect. Yes, there is a mystery to solve, but more importantly we get to see why Molly and Gran's love story was so important to each of them and those who loved both of them. Although I certainly did not want to say goodbye, I feel the wonderful circle of love was closed and know Molly and Juan Manuel will have their well-deserved happy ending.

Thank you #NetGalley #BallantineBooks #NitaProse #TheMaid'sSecret for the advanced copy.

Molly the maid finds herself being called upon to solve another mystery in this third installment of the series, this time involving her precious seemingly fake Fabriege egg. What is unique in this book is that Molly’s chapters are alternated by letters from her Gran in which she tells Molly and the reader her entire backstory including the history of the egg. The other characters provide their usual unique challenges and fun and a new interesting character is introduced in Speedy, the new doorman at the hotel.
While Molly’s adventures are fun and entertaining as usual, I really thought that Gran’s letters were a great addition to this book. They added more seriousness but explained a lot about her and Molly’s backgrounds. The wrap up at the end seemed almost too quick and kind of silly but it was neat that the both aspects of the book were brought together and Molly finally gets her happily ever after. Good for a fun and lighthearted read!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Molly the maid and her fiancé, Chef Juan are in the process of planning their humble wedding. The hotel is also hosting a tv show similar to the Antiques Roadshow which will review antiques for possible surprises for that hidden treasure. When Juan suggestions that Molly brings one of her Gran's items the entire team is shocked and surprised.

The book then dives extensively into the childhood and teenage year's of Molly's Gran, Flora. Gran is one of my favorite characters in books one and two. She's kind, patient and has a tremendous amount of unconditional love for Molly. The Gran that we come to know in book three is complicated. Frankly, she was spoiled, pretentious and downright snarky at times. This backstory provided a solid circle into the overall plot between major characters in Molly's life. Her Gran, mother Maggie and Grandfather, John Preston.

I did catch myself getting a little bored though in the sections that involved Flora/Gran. It was the upper class snobbery of Gran that I really disliked. I was also disappointed that this was the background that eventually gave us the Gran that we came to look in books 2 & 3. I found myself wishing that I was back with Molly and Juan while they planned the wedding. My overall opinion is that the book landed at 3.5 however I rounded it up to 4 because it is well written.

This was a really satisfying conclusion (at least I think it's a conclusion) to the Maid series. Molly is one of my favorite characters, she's endearing and I appreciate her approach to issues. This one had some holes near the end and required a solid amount of suspending logic, but I'm always willing to do that for Molly. I liked the back story that came through the letters/diary entries and I am happy we finally got to really understand Gran's backstory.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The love reading about Molly and the Regency Grand Hotel and all the different characters in between. Molly is funny, quirky, and loveable and her growth over the previous books has been written so well. The way that Molly solves the mysteries is refreshing and as unique as her personality. I love reading and learning more about her past and Gran's life along side Molly.

I liked this but it seemed rushed compared to her other books? Would still recommend especially if readers liked the first couple books. 3.5 stars rounded up.

4.25 stars-

Another Molly the Maid book—and I really enjoyed it! While this wasn’t my favorite in the series, I always love returning to Molly’s world. Her character is so unique and comforting, and it’s a pleasure to follow her again.

That said, it was Flora’s (Gran’s) storyline that truly stood out for me. Her backstory was emotional, beautifully written, and honestly, it hit me hard—I definitely had a big, ugly cry by the end. It added so much depth and heart to the book, and I appreciated how Nita Prose tied everything together in a satisfying way.

Molly’s plotline wasn’t quite as compelling this time around, but the dual narrative worked well overall. I really hope we get more of Flora’s story in future books—she brought something special to this installment.

Thank you netgalley and Random House for a copy in exchange for an honest review

Nita does it again with another fantastic entry in the Maid series. It’s hard not to love Molly and enjoy following her story to see what’s happening current day life. This book follows Molly has she has suddenly found herself the owner of a very valuable item. How does it all play out and how does this affect her?

The 3rd installment in the Maid series is a bit different than the first 2. It’s not as much of a mystery. I mean there is a mystery but it plays such a minimal part in the novel.

Half the book are grans chapters that read more like a historical romance. Mollys chapters contain the mystery but just not as strong as the other books in the series.

Thank you to netgalley and random house publishing group - Ballantine for the copy in exchange for my honest review!