A lovely book about what happens when you let someone into your life to love you and the aftermath.
A nice gentle holiday read for anyone who loves romantic fiction.

This was the first book I’ve read by this author and although it was a fairly easy read it was one which I enjoyed. I look forward to reading more books by Claudia Carroll.

Claudia Carroll is a great author and I look forward to every new book. 'Our Little Secret' is another great book with a strong female lead character in Sarah Keyes. A career woman who works hard but also has a lot to give, working hard in her legal career. It is through her giving back in a legal aid clinic that she meets a young girl who Sarah helps to have a better life but is all as it seems.
As other reviewers have said, the cover is misleading. It looks like it will be a cosy read however it is really a book that grips the reader and keeps their attention to the very end. It is a book which has great characters although there is something that unsettled me and left me wondering throughout. There is a definite message of take care of who you trust!

I have to admit when I picked this up my first worry was that Claudia Carroll was heading into psychological thriller territory (I always worry when authors I enjoy are changing genre), and was thrilled to find that actually this was listed simply under ‘legal’ (it’s in the book!) and humour. And yet this is a nice feathery little foray into thriller territory for the people out there that say they don’t like anything too scary or creepy.

It is the story of Sarah Keyes who has an excellent job in a law firm. I have to say this is where the book excelled for me. I loved hearing about her daily life, the excellent settings and also about the cases she did, both pro bono and her current case working for a hotel that have allegedly wronged a wedding client.

So Sarah meets Lauren, who has a legal background but can’t catch a break. Before she knows it Lauren is right on top of things, putting it mildly. It was excellent that Ms. Carroll never alienated her character, so when things start to unravel and she figures that Lauren may not be all sweet and niceness, she’s already got the brilliantly suspicious Liz in her corner, who used to not only work in the firm, but who has a husband there too. This is the genius part, as you don’t know when people go down, who’s going down too.

The book is told from many different voices, my favourite being without a doubt Liz’s, my least being Darcy’s who actually made me find the first part of the book difficult, with her attitude and hashtags, although I made my peace with her later on. The comedy wasn’t totally for me, and there was bad language that I kind of have to mention, but other than that I most definitely enjoyed this light all encompassing and definitely recommend. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Avon Books for this book in return for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

This is a brilliant 5 star story. It's modern fiction at its best. Single parent Sarah befriends Lauren who is 24. Lauren works as a beautician even though she is a qualified lawyer. Sarah coincidently is also a lawyer and she manages to help Lauren get a job in her firm. Sarah's teenage daughter, Darcy, loves Lauren and is happy when her mum lets Lauren move in. But is Lauren as wonderful as she seems? Liz, Sarah's, best friend of 20 years doesn't think so. Read on!

I have read other books by Claudia Carroll and I didn't enjoy 'Our Little Secret' as much as her older work. That said, it kept me turning the pages to find out what happened. I thought the characterization was good, and that the ending was fitting. There is very little in the way of romance in this story, but just enough I think. My problem with this story was that I didn't think the antagonist went far enough. The story began so promising, but then went lacklustre. Carroll could have gone a bit further, but it's still a good read.

With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review: As a big fan of Claudia Carroll this was a must read for me. Even though the cover is beautiful and the blurb sounds interesting it was the name of the author that had me clicking to review this book. So thank you NetGalley for this opportunity. 

On turning to the first page I had high expectations for this read and I was not let down. I was hooked. 

Claudia's craftsmanship is something to behold. Her words create real life characters that take you along for the ride. You feel their emotions, you will them to do well, you get angry when they do. You laugh with them. Claudia has a true talent hence why she is so successful with her books. Her ideas for stories are brilliant. 

 I really enjoyed reading about Sarah and the predicament she finds herself in with Lauren. It one of those books you end up shouting and talking at hoping everything will be all right.

Loved this amazing book.

I have a confession to make. Even though I have several of Claudia’s books on my mountainous ‘TBR’ (to be read) pile, I haven’t actually read one. Oops. I read the synopsis for ‘Our Little Secret’ and I was immediately intrigued. So it was with some excitement that I opened the front cover and I had high hopes for ‘Our Little Secret’. I was not to be disappointed as I loved it but more about that in a bit.
I really felt for the character of Sarah Keyes. She has recently separated from her husband and lives with her 16 year old daughter in a house, which is stretching Sarah’s finances somewhat as she is finding it difficult to afford it on her salary. Sarah is a high powered lawyer with a Dublin firm. Sarah has a heart and a conscience. As well as her day to day work with Sloan Curtis law firm, she also deals with legal aid cases in Mountjoy Jail. Every once in a while she treats herself to a little pampering session and gets her nails done. It’s whilst she is having a manicure that she meets ‘Lauren’, who is working at the beauty salon part time. Sarah is a sucker for a hard luck story and listens to Lauren’s tales of woe about her background, her education, her lack of a life, her flat share with undesirables, her lack of opportunities in the legal profession and so on and so forth. Sarah is such a kind person that she tries to help Lauren and it isn’t long until Lauren has managed to wheedle her way into Sarah’s household, Sarah’s social life, Sarah’s home life and Sarah’s law firm. Sarah sees allowing Lauren to move into her home as a win win situation all round because Lauren has a safe roof over her head and Lauren’s rent can also help pay the mortgage. Lauren is a funny old fish and I was suspicious of her from the start but that’s just me suspecting everybody and believing nobody. Is Lauren really who she seems to be? What are her motives? What is Lauren up to? Has she told lies about her background? Will Sarah see through Lauren before it’s too late? How will the situation be resolved? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out.
I have to say that I can’t really put into words how much I enjoyed reading ‘Our Little Secret’ as I won’t be able to do it justice. The book and the story absolutely blew my socks off. The author’s writing style is such that you can’t help but be drawn into the story and before you know it, you become so addicted to the story that you can’t wait for your next fix. I loved how realistic the different characters were. I have been in Liz’s (Sarah’s best friend) position where you have a gut feeling about somebody and it is as if you are the only one to be able to see somebody for what they really are and what their motives are but nobody wants to or is willing to listen to you. It becomes so frustrating when nobody believes you and you end up looking like the bad guy. There were several times when I literally felt my fists start to clench and I started shouting out at the book because I couldn’t believe that Sarah was being so blinkered and I couldn’t believe that Lauren was getting away with so much. I enjoyed the writing style and the story so much that I began to ‘live’ the story and I could imagine the action playing out in front of me. I then had to remind myself that this book was a work of fiction and not real. Reading ‘Our Little Secret’ was like being on a very scary rollercoaster/ ghost train sort of ride with lots of surprises, twists, turns and moments where you want to get off but because you need to know how it ends, you have to persevere. I found it quite scary to read about the ease with which somebody can worm their way into somebody’s life, turn everyone against them and then take over so to speak. This is the sort of book that messes with your head and it will certainly stay fresh in my mind for a very long time to come.
In short I absolutely, totally and utterly, flipping well LOVED reading ‘Our Little Secret’ and I can’t wait to read what comes next from this hugely talented author. Here’s hoping I don’t have too long to wait but in the meantime, I will go and find as many of Claudia’s books as I can and make reading them one of my top priorities. I would have no hesitation in recommending this author or her books to anybody and everybody. As I alluded to above this book messed with my head and will stay fresh in my memory for a long time to come. ‘Our Little Secret’ has to be one of my top reads for 2018. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*. I just wish that I could have awarded it more stars as it really is a brilliant book.

It is my belief living in the world of today — No good deed goes unpunished.

And this book too follows the same theme. 3 main ladies Sarah, a lawyer, who had a good life with a stable job and an okay relationship with ex-husband. Darcy, her teenage daughter who is still in a stage of rebellion, shoplifts, ditches school, hates mom. Liz, her best friend who is a voice of sanity in the insane world.

AND ENTER LAUREN

Sarah meets Lauren at a nail bar, a woman who does nails and says she is a lawyer, and who smiles a lot. One sob story and Sarah invites Lauren into her life, into her home, and into her office. And soon it is Lauren living her life, with Sarah viewing it from outside.

This is my first book by author Claudia Carroll and I expected a cute family drama with secrets and emotions, maybe an affair or two. And instead I got a sinister creeper of a babe in Lauren.

Claudia did a fabulous job in showing Lauren as a friendly, smiling parasite which wraps its poisonous tentacles around the life giving tree, slowly sucking the sap inside, till the tree is a husk and it dies. And that's who Lauren is — oily and slimy (I only wanted to read an easy feel good book, and I chose this) And the rest of the ladies are shown as the helpless, unrealized victims, who could only get entangled in the web the black widow laid, realizing the trap far too late. Liz is sensible, tries warning Sarah. But in her need to do good, Sarah heeds it not and loses everything in the process.

How did that happen? Is that the end of everything for Sarah?

Claudia Caroll is an amazing author, I was going to read the book just for half an hour till I got sucked into the story till the end. Creepy Lauren pulled me in too, and I had to read the whole book to know if she gets her dues. Does she???

As I said, no good deed goes unpunished!!!

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

With this book Claudia Carroll went into a a different direction, which is exciting and new. I have loved her previous books and I think the idea behind this book is great.

Claudia Carroll has created some wonderful female characters here. There is of course Sarah, her daughter Darcy and law graduate Lauren. Sarah decides to help Lauren and takes her under her wings. She lets her into her life, her home, her family and that's a big step. How is Lauren really though?! That's the big question.

Sarah has a very big heart and I loved following her in this story. Darcy added some spice and excitement to the storyline and Lauren added a mystery. It's a great mixture and Claudia Carroll's refreshing, sparkling and vivid style add a lot to the book as well. She brings the characters to life and creates a wonderful storyline around them.

It was surprising for me and yes I definitely expected something else. The story is told in alternative chapters, from Sarah, Darcy and Sarah's best friend Liz points of view. I really liked that, because we got to read from different perspectives.

A very interesting plot and wonderfully written. Well done Claudia Carroll!

I adored this story.

From the very first chapter, I was hooked.
As a Claudia Carrol fan already, I had high hopes for this book and I’m glad to say it did love up to them.

Sarah is just such a nice, refreshing character that I instantly liked her. Even when there were warning signs flashing, you still understood her actions and couldn’t blame her for them.

Liz was my favourite character. The kind of friend ever girl/woman needs in their life.

Darcy was like so many of my friends when I was a teenager- I was slightly wild at her age, I regret. She was infuriating at the start but then as the book progressed she really matured.

Lauren, I won’t even go there for fear of spoilers.

I loved the slightly sinister touch to this story which hasn’t been present in any other Claudia Carroll book I’ve read as yet but she definitely pulled it off.

I already have been recommending this book to people before even finishing it. It really is that good.


I received a copy of this ebook curtesy of the publisher and author via NetGalley but this has in no way influenced my opinion or review.

In "Our Little Secret" Sarah Keyes, the main character, loves her job, and she indeed works very hard not only in her law firm, but also volunteering as a free legal aid. She's currently divorced and now living only with her teenage daughter Darcy. One day, Sarah meets Lauren, a very bright girl working in a nail salon - Lauren is young, clever and studied hard for her law degree and her background history breaks Sarah's heart, so she decides to do her best to help this girl. Lauren herself very easily and seamlessly slots into Sarah's life and everything seems perfect. But is it really...?

To be honest, judging the book by the cover, I was expecting something else - some kind of a romance, a vintage read, and what I've got was a brilliant, dynamic and modern story, an emotional roller - coaster ride. It was compelling, and truly addictive, with the right dose of drama and humour. It was a book written in a brilliant, chatty style. This novel was a little different to other Claudia Carroll's offers - it was somehow more mature, touching upon some heavier issues, but at the same time light and uplifting. It was tense but not like you'd expect from thriller or mystery, oh no, it was much lighter in tone but it was also somehow sinister.

The characters and the story were so easily brought to life, they just came alive on the pages. Sarah was a great character but let's be honest, she should have known better, right? She was too naive and too caring for my liking in some aspects and well, the reality came and bit her strong. Of course it was not her fault that she was taken for granted, I just only couldn't stop thinking that yes, she should have known better! The fact that she's rushed so much into the new friendship, believing in everything that was told and offering help right and left was a little too unbelievable - would you open your heart, wallet and house to a stranger? However, when she realises what's going on, I adored to see the change in her and that she feared nothing to reclaim her happy and trouble - free life.
I can't express how annoying Lauren's character was, from the very beginning, always there, always knowing better, always with a smile. Arrrrghh! She was this kind of person that would do anything, at whatever cost, to achieve her goals, and the more I read, the more I disliked her. Really. This whole sweetness, the do - gooder, oh no, it was not for me, I wasn't buying it. However, she was really brilliantly pictured, and Claudia Carroll has captured all the main attributes that makes a toxic character toxic, and how well Lauren was able to spot all the vulnerable points of her victims.

The story is told in alternative chapters, from Sarah, Darcy and Sarah's best friend Liz points of view. I really liked their takes on things happening, the different takes, as we were able to see things Sarah wasn't able to see. Liz was a great character, she saw things as they really were and there was no beating around the bush with her, and I really liked her no - nonsense approach in all aspects of her life. She was a great and supportive friend of Sarah. There was a small element of romance in the book as well and it was a great addition in my opinion. It didn't feel rushed and it developed in a natural way - it just seemed realistic. Yes, it was a little surprising but it worked well in this part of the story.

So this book. Really. It made me feel so, so angry! Probably all of us know such Lauren - characters. While reading the novel I knew that some of the characters are right about her, and it made me so angry that it took Sarah so long to notice all the signs. I had a feeling that I can't relax in Lauren's company, that I can't trust her, that she's sucking off all the positive vibrations from the vicinity and I couldn't believe that Sarah can't see this. Really, guys, be prepared to be completely lost in this story. It was thought - provoking and it will lead you on to ask questions, to make you think, while exploring the darker, heavier side of friendship. "Our Little Secret" was fast - paced and complex story about gaining control and staying in control, about getting your life on the right path again, about using and about being used, with riveting characters and interesting plot, full of secrets and lies. Highly recommended!

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Sarah Keyes is a hard working lawyer with a teenage daughter, Darcy, who has split from her husband, Tom. Sarah is always busy, rushing around and keen to help the less privileged. She meets Lauren, who is working in a nail bar, and feels sorry for her. Lauren has a law degree so Sarah helps her to secure an intern job at the law firm that she works for.

Lauren uses Sarah’s caring generosity to her own advantage and practically takes over her life by moving into her house as a paid lodger, helping Darcy with her issues and going on a date with Tom. As the story develops we can see how manipulative and intelligent Lauren is.

The author handles the relationships throughout the novel brilliantly although I did enjoy the different aspects between Sarah and her best friend Liz.

Enjoyable and recommended. Thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Claudia Caroll for the ARC in return for my honest review.

I havent read a book by Claudia Carroll for a while now and i remember liking her books so i decided to try this one as a refresher to her work and i wasnt dissapointed at all.
Its a story based by a woman )sarah)who takes someone in under their wing (lauren)and in time sarah wishes she hadnt, talk about taking advantage is an understatement. This being telling us what happenes hen we help someone, let alone a stranger.- the darker side of things. Before long Lauren has befriended sarahs daughter and her ex husband, who wants a new friend to do that even when your separated? Even sarahs friend Liz, thinks she cant be doing anything wrong but sarah has that knowledge and feeling things arent quite right, right she is. This is a story of be cautious who we let into our lives.....
Its a different style of claudia to what i am used to, a little sinister but still a really good page turner.

I really enjoyed this book and found I couldn't put it down. I wasn't expecting the dark and sinister theme which ran throughout the story.

I was quickly drawn into the book and was hooked into the story. It was absorbing and compelling.

I liked how the story was told in alternating chapters from both Sarah and Darcey's viewpoints - I felt this really added to the tale and kept the tension. The story was plausible and it was scary how quickly Lauren managed to manipulate Sarah.

Highly recommended. I will definitely reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lauren is working in a nail bar when Sarah drops in to have her nails done. As Lauren tells Sarah the story of her tragic life and reveals she's actually qualified as a lawyer Sarah is wondering what she can do to help this poor girl. When Sarah tells her that she too is a lawyer and what firm she works with Lauren seems to know all about it.
When Lauren becomes part of Sarah's life that's when things start to go wrong, with her job,her daughter and even her best friend Liz. When Liz tries to tell Sarah time and time again that something is wrong with Lauren, Sarah refuses to believe her and their friendship is over.
I read this book in one sitting, I just had to find out what Lauren was up to. Alternate chapters were told in first person by each of the characters with some chapters in third person. I did find that a bit strange at first but it moved the story along nicely.
Broken relationships, wayward teenagers, lies,betrayal are all within the pages of this book,oh and a really lovely cover picture.

Brilliant book. Things aren't quite what they seem.......... Sarah and her daughter are taken in by the perfect Lauren who needs a break....then things start to go awry. Well written with believable characters, this book had me hooked until the end. Highly recommend

This book was amazing and had me reading into the early hours for just one more chapter!

I did initially take a while to get lost in the story but once I did I flew through the pages. The main character Sarah Keyes a lawyer is reeling from the breakdown of her marriage to Tom and trying to maintain a friendship with him for the sake of their teenage daughter Darcy. Sarah’s best friend Liz is her rock and is always looking out for her but things change when Sarah innocently meets Lauren a law graduate who is working in a beauty salon and befriends her.

The main thread of the story is how Sarah’s caring and generosity is used by Lauren for her own advantage. Sarah takes Lauren under her wing, feeling sorry for her only to realise that she has been used.

Darcy has her own teenage problems, trying to be cool, dealing with her parents separation with rose coloured glasses and not initially understanding why they have broken up.

Liz has always been Sarah’s supporter and is first to realise Lauren is maybe not all she seems.

Sarah helps Lauren get a job at her law firm, lets her share her home and is initially happy to have such a good fiend who seems to be charming and helpful and everyone seems to love her. It doesn’t take long for her true character to show through as little cracks appear.

I related to Sarah’s character personally and was willing her along to see through Lauren but I do understand how she was duped by such a manipulative character.

Liz was such a strong character a true friend and I thought it was very real how she wanted to give Sarah advise which initially threatened their friendship.

I loved Sarah and Dacy’s Relationship which was explored very well , having had teenagers myself I understand the thin line between being their mother but also their friend and the love you have for them.

Sarah’s recent separation and heartache was central to the story and her relationship with Tom was admirable. The need to move on was explored beautifully and handled sensitivity in the story.

The author explored many different relationship issues magnificently and I could relate to so much of the book due to the great storytelling. It had many twists and turns and had me holding my breath at times.

I could not recommend this book more and the great ending was to me the icing on the cake. I will be looking out for more of Claudia's books.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I absolutely loved this book, I have liked everything the author has written and this was one of the best.

This book is a definite case of don't judge a book by its cover. I expected a light story about women's friendships and family life but this was so much darker than that. Sarah is a successful lawyer who takes young Lauren under her wing. Lauren is a law graduate who has been struggling to get a foot on the job ladder and has been working in a nail salon to make ends meet. With Sarah's help, she gets a job as an intern in the firm where Sarah works and soon makes herself indispensable. Before long, she has her made herself almost a part of the family, befriending Sarah's daughter Darcy, moving into the spare room and even becoming friendly with Sarah's ex-husband Tom. It seems she can do no wrong. The only person who thinks she is too good to be true is Sarah's friend Liz.

As this wasn't quite what I was expecting, it did take me a short while to settle into the story but that is more a reflection on me than on the book. Once I had understood more about what the book was about though, I was hooked and eagerly reading to find out just what Lauren would get up to next! From the beginning she seemed to be a lovely girl but almost too lovely, almost too perfect. Of course, the reader is helped to come to that conclusion from the prologue and asides from the various narrators in the book - "If I knew then, what I know now", that kind of thing. It was actually scary quite how easily  and quickly Lauren managed to inveigle herself into Sarah's life. And it was unnervingly plausible too. Sarah was a lovely character but perhaps a bit too trusting, a bit too willing to help other people out without checking out if what she was being told was the truth. She was so busy of course with her work, her legal aid work and coping with a stroppy teenager, that I could understand why she gratefully accepted the friendship and help Lauren seemed to be offering. I found Darcy, Sarah's daughter, quite irritating at times but then that is perhaps a sign of how well Claudia Carroll has written the teenage character!

There's a definite air of something sinister throughout the book, making me feel very uneasy as I began to realise just to what extent Sarah was being manipulated by Lauren. A much darker tale than the cover would suggest, this book is a real cautionary tale of being careful who you trust and let into your life.