Hooray! Molly Gray is back and better than ever. Thank you Nita Prose for giving your reader The Maid's Secret. Molly is a most memorable character and her positive personality can lift anyone's spirits. Molly becomes a media sensation because she possesses an extremely valuable Fabergé egg. Molly shuns the celebrity that comes with the discovery. She is thrilled to be engaged to Juan Manuel and she relishes the challenge of her job as Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. The egg is just a distraction to her. Molly has all the ingredients for her future happiness, but a financial windfall would be nice. Prose makes this novel fascinating by revealing more about Molly's family tree. The Maid's Secret is a very good mystery with Molly at its heart.

The Maid's Secret may just be my favorite in this series! While Molly the Maid is preparing for her upcoming wedding, the Regency Grand Hotel is preparing for an upcoming taping of Hidden Treasures, a popular antiquities show. When employees are given the chance to have some of their personal items appraised, Molly's world turns upside down as she is made aware of the value of a collectable she possesses. Filled with mystery, surprises and many twists and turns, The Maid's Secret also takes us back in time as Gran's diary is revealed to Molly and we learn even more about her past. I've always loved the connection Molly and her Gran share, and I especially enjoyed learning more about her past in this book. I would highly recommend this book, and the entire Molly the Maid series. Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

I love the Molly the Maid series! This is number four in the series (the third was a cute holiday novella, in case you missed it) and while it still felt like a Molly novel, we as readers got a lot more. The Maid’s Secret goes back and forth in time as Molly deals with an art heist at the hotel in the present and Gran’s young adulthood and engagement in the past.

I just loved how much Gran we got in this book! And so much more depth to all the beloved characters. If you’re hooked by this series like I am, it’s on shelves today!

4.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for the free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

When the reality TV show Hidden Treasures arrives to film at Molly's Regency Grand Hotel, the employees are given the opportunity to bring their own treasures in for appraisal. Molly brings in some belongings of her late grandmother and everyone is surprised when one particular item is indeed a treasure. But when it disappears, Molly searches for the item and discovers the story of her grandmother and her childhood.

This is the 3rd book in the Molly the Maid series and it's another fun one. Getting a look into Molly's gran's life is interesting and gives us more insight into how she was and how she raised Molly. This is both a whodunit and a family story and both are told very well. Entertaining and interesting, we get to revisit our favorite characters and meet some new ones.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available April 8, 2025.

The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose
(Molly the Maid #3)

Molly never wants attention shining on her. She loves her simple life as head maid at the Regency Grand, simple to her because she knows her job, she's written an instruction manual for the job, even. So much of what she knows about life came from her late, wise grandmother, the person she misses most dearly.

Now a reality TV show, Hidden Treasures, is filming at the Regency Grand and Molly tosses in old things that belonged to her grandmother, including an old, jeweled egg, to be valued by the hosts. That old egg, when appraised, is what throws Molly into the spotlight. Now everyone wants a part of Molly, the Molly who will be multimillionaire once the egg sells. Then there is an egg crisis, not the kind of eggs you eat crisis, but a Molly's egg crisis.

Throughout the story we get to go back in time to Gran's early days which are much different than Molly would have suspected. It's the early days that didn't feel right to me but the story is trying to present Gran's early days as a kind of reverse fairy tale. Sadly, I think early Gran came across as one of the wicked step sisters in a famous fairy tale and she was so off putting, selfish, and cruel that it was hard to match her up to the Gran Molly knew.

I had more fun with the present day Molly and trying to figure out what Molly and company were going to do about the egg and with the egg. Molly has her beloved fiancé, Juan Manuel, and all the friends that love and support her. Molly has really grown over this series and I enjoyed watching her move toward her wedding, a wedding that didn't need to be fancy at all because she knows the important things in life and those things have nothing to do with money.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

LoveLoveLoved this sweet story of our beloved Molly the Maid and her treasured egg. I have read and enjoyed all the previous Molly books and this one did not disappoint! Precious Molly brings her old, jewel encrusted egg to a televised appraisal at the hotel where she is employed, and is more than shocked to find that the piece actually has GREAT value. What ensues is the story behind the egg, revealed in her Gran's diary, and the adventure of finding out what folks will do for both riches and for love. The Maid's Secret is well written, and compelling just like the other Maid stories, and the ending is, of course, delightful! Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Maid's Secret!

The Maids Secret 💛🗝️🥚

Molly is back to her maid duties at the Regency Grand Hotel. Head Maid in charge and Special Events manger— two good things are around the corner. A taping of the hit antique show Hidden Treasures is about to be tapped at the hotel. Molly is so excited to bring a few trinkets of her gran. When her soon to be husband suggests she bring “the golden huevo” for appraisal she agrees. Molly is shocked to find out this egg is worth millions and if she sells it she could live comfortably for the rest of her life. But all things change when the golden huevo goes missing. Threats start popping up and Molly is scared. Will the golden egg be found or will Molly keep being threatened?

I feel like this book was okay. We got a look into the past with grans diary entries, but to be honest the begging half of the entities were long and boring. I feel like they could have been shorter and wrapped up a little more. By the time you finished the entry you had to refresh on the current happenings at the hotel. The entries helped solve the case in the end, but again they could have been a little shorter. Also this mystery I started to guess about half way through. 😣

Read if you like:
Art heist 🖼️
Hidden treasures 🥚
Past flash backs 📔
Happy endings 💍

Ratings:
⭐️: 3.5/5
📖: 336
📚: mystery
🍾: out today 4/8

Thank you @nitaprose @ballantinebooks @netgalley for my early copy!!

The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose is the third book in the Molly the Maid series.

Molly Gray is back, still working at the Regency Grand as Head Maid and Special Events Manager. She and Juan Manuel are engaged to be married and although they do not have much, they are happy. Life changes dramatically for Molly when one of her prized possessions turns out to be worth millions, leading to mystery, theft, and intrigue. Throughout the novel we are also learning about Gran’s history through a journal she left for Molly and this was the real magical part of the book for me. I loved learning where Gran came from and how she became the Gran we knew and loved. The book was engaging, heartwarming, and overall charming, it was a great addition to the Molly the Maid series!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and the author for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wrongly thought that Molly the Maid was going to be a cozy mystery series. Instead, the 'Maid’s Secret' is planned as the last of Molly’s stories. In this book Molly is preparing for her wedding to her love Juan. A version of Antiques Roadshow comes to Molly’s hotel and she brings a treasure to be valued. It turns out to be a Faberge egg and is worth millions. And it flips Molly’s life upside down. In the meantime Molly reads her grandmother’s journal detailing her life. It is a riches to rags story complete with some harsh details (nothing graphic).

The mystery part isn’t that complicated. I enjoyed seeing the recurring characters that are Molly’s friends and found family. I missed Molly spouting Grams folksy sayings which are her simple rules of life. I am torn by her grandmother’s story. If you read the previous book you already know some of her background. But this fills in a lot of details. But the story is cliche and filled with stereotypical characters. That being said, emotionally this still caught me. I want the best life for Molly. And this book wraps up things neatly. But even with the happy for now ending, if the author chooses to bring back the character in the future, I would gladly catch up with her life and see what mystery comes her way.

Molly the Maid is back!! and I couldn’t be happier to be in her world again.

I’ve adored Molly the Maid since page one of the first book. Now she’s planning a wedding, juggling a new role at the Regency Grand, and somehow finds herself in the middle of a reality TV show, a hidden artifact tied to her gran’s past. I loved the chapters of her grans diary and learning more of her past.
It’s not just a whodunnit, it’s about legacy, love, and what we carry from those who raised us.

I’ve read and was entertained by this entire cozy mystery series. Molly is a lovable, sweet, quirky character that captured my heart from the beginning.
As stated in one of my previous reviews, each story can be read as a standalone but it’s my recommendation to read this fun series.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As always, reading about Molly the maid is a pure delight. Prose has created such a lovable and unique character that I will read any and all books about her. In The Maid's Secret, Molly is thrown into fame and wealth when a famous television show where antique artifacts are appraised is filmed at The Regency Grand Hotel, and one of her item is found to be priceless. But what is the story behind this artifact? When the artifact goes missing, Molly is once again in the center of a mystery. During this book, she is also engaged and planning her wedding to Juan Manuel.

A strong addition to the series.

A truly satisfying conclusion to the Molly the Maid series with The Maid’s Secret—a charming, heartfelt, and intricately plotted book that (in my opinion) shines as the best in the trilogy. This third installment dials back on Molly’s unique quirks, allowing the mystery and emotional depth of the story to take center stage, while still keeping her signature voice and perspective intact.

The story kicks off when a reality TV crew (which seems heavily inspired by Pawn Stars and similar shows) arrives at the hotel to film an appraisal episode. Molly brings several family heirlooms, but it’s Juan Manuel—her fiancé—who convinces her to bring the infamous egg.

The dual timeline, often a narrative that I strongly dislike, works well in this book. We delve deeper into her beloved Gran’s past through poignant diary entries, revealing a heartbreaking backstory. Flora’s narrative not only adds emotional weight but also cleverly ties into the modern mystery surrounding the infamous Fabergé egg. I personally liked that we saw a different side of Gran, which was hard for some who know her as nothing but kind. I think it rounds out the character well which is hard to do with a character that’s not even alive in the series.

**Spoilers Ahead**

As the plot unfolds, The Maid’s Secret becomes a layered mystery involving shady reporters, estranged family members, secret inheritances, and art theft. Juan’s sudden enthusiasm for a big wedding and an expensive ring raised some red flags for me at first and I was praying he wasn’t involved (he wasn’t of course). The twists are paced well—particularly when the egg vanishes mid-auction and reappears unexpectedly. The reveal that the show’s hosts are both descendants of key figures in the egg’s history is both satisfying and clever, especially when the motivations for stealing it are exposed.

Detective Stark, Molly and her friends make an excellent investigative team, and their ability to uncover the truth through is a highlight. While it’s initially disappointing that legally the egg does not belong to Molly so she doesn’t get to sell it, the final twist—where the egg is legally sold by the show’s host and some of the profits generously shared with her and Juan—feels both fair and emotionally gratifying.

The book wraps up beautifully with Molly and Juan’s wedding, the mystery resolved, and justice served. The story honors Molly’s quiet strength, Gran’s unyielding spirit, and the idea that goodness, though often overlooked, ultimately wins. As someone who found the pacing of the first two books slow, this third one for me was a lot better.

Final Verdict: A one-day read that you won’t want to put down, The Maid’s Secret is a perfect blend of mystery, history, and heart. I found this to be a great page turner and personally loved it more than the two books. 5 stars – A fantastic, emotionally satisfying end to a delightful series. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

I absolutely love The Maid series. Molly and her Jaun are just so cute. But I love the whole cast and crew. I was so glad to get Gran's story. I shed a few tears okay, more than a few. But I loved how this story ended.

THE MAIDS SECRET
Nita Prose

It’s that time of year to sit back relax and enjoy the fruits from your labor over the long hard winter.

One of the ways I celebrate Spring and summer is by reading titles that are on the lighter side. THE MAID SECRET by Anita Prose is just that.

In THE MAIDS SECRET we are again following Molly the maid. In this installment in the series Molly is getting the hotel prepared for a television crew to come through as there is an antique show due to arrive.

Unbeknownst to Molly, the antique show called Hidden Treasures will end up changing her life forever. Molly and the series will never be the same again.

Have you read the Molly the Maid series? Now is a great time.

I loved this installment and appreciated the change of course this novel provided. Molly is a charming character and I love to see her getting her due days in the sunshine.

The series is one of my favorites and I recommend it to those who prefer a side of cozy with their mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the advanced copy!

THE MAIDS SECRET…⭐️⭐️⭐️

In "The Maid's Secret," the third installment of Nita Prose's beloved series, we reunite with Molly Gray, now the Head Maid and Special Events Manager at the Regency Grand Hotel, as she prepares for her upcoming wedding. When a reality TV appraisal show visits the hotel, Molly discovers a priceless treasure among her grandmother's belongings, catapulting her into unexpected wealth and fame—until the item is stolen in a daring heist.

While I adored the character of Molly in the first two books of this series, something felt off in this latest addition. The charming quirkiness that made Molly so endearing has shifted toward a somewhat cutesy tone that diminished my connection to her. The dual timeline structure, which alternates between Molly's present and her grandmother's past through diary entries, unfortunately pulls focus from what makes this series special—Molly herself and the vibrant hotel setting.

The mystery itself didn't grip me until the final chapters, though learning about Gran's privileged upbringing and her relationship with Mr. Preston added interesting context to previous books. The shift from murder mysteries to a heist story represents a departure from what worked so well in earlier installments. Despite these shortcomings, Nita Prose still delivers moments that showcase Molly's beautiful spirit and brilliant mind. Fans of the series will appreciate seeing familiar characters and watching Molly navigate new emotional territory, even if this entry doesn't quite match the magic of its predecessors.

While "The Maid's Secret" can technically stand alone, readers will gain much more enjoyment from experiencing the series in order. The Maid's Secret is with reading to end the series, but temper your expectations if you're hoping for the same brilliance as the first two books.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Nita Prose, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I enjoyed following the mysteries surrounding Molly the Maid's grandmother's backstory in the third book in this series and as usual Gran is full of wisdom and love. She is such an endearing character!
The audiobook is wonderfully done and makes for a cozy listening experience.
There is no coarse language and the possible triggers are dealt with in a very gentle manner.
Highly recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and Nita Prose for giving me the chance to read it in exchange for my honest thoughts. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely LOVE Molly the Maid and each of the these books! In this one, Molly takes some of Gran's trinkets to be appraised by a traveling TV show "Hidden Treasures" and one item appraises for millions of dollars. Of course, it wouldn't be a "Maid" book without mystery! This book was unique in that it shifted back/forth between timelines (past/present) and POVs (the past timeline with Gran as a little girl POV and present with Molly's POV). I really enjoyed it and hope we have another "Maid" book coming! Molly is such a delight!! A solid 4+ star read for me! *I received a complimentary ARC from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Molly Gray aka Molly the Maid is back! Head maid and now also Special Events Manager, Molly, is continuing on in her little adventure called life. While preparing to marry the love of her life, she finds out her “pretty little eggs” is worth millions. This sequel is a little different than the others. You get to see a peak into the life of Gran and I couldn’t have been more happier.
I really enjoyed the book even though it was a bit different than the other two. I felt like it was what the readers needed. We hear all the time about Gran and all her witty little sayings. It was nice to get to know the woman behind them.
Overall I feel it was a great way to end the trilogy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

This is a series and a book that you don’t want to miss.

I have enjoyed every single one of these novels and more so the audiobook versions of Molly and her life as a maid. I knew I was not going to be let down with this one either.

I loved the dual timeline of Molly and thru her Gran’s journal and although this book was less thriller than the other 2 novels and more of a cozy mystery it was everything I wanted and more. I seriously adore Molly and her not so neurotypical ways and her love with Juan Manuel. Honestly, I’d be happy if this was how the series ended was on this book!