Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers, Bookouture, for this review copy. Also, very pleased to be part of the Blog Tour for this book, and thank you to the publishers for organising this.

Tessa Markham comes home to find a little boy called Harry in her kitchen. He’s not her son, her children have sadly died, and she has never seen him before. Everyone thinks that she has taken him, but if she did, she can’t remember it. She sets about on a mission to prove her innocence, but how can she prove that she didn’t take him when even the people closest to her believed that she did.

I’m not quite sure what to say about this book! Where do I start!! Actually, I can only think of three words – wow, wow, wow! What a fantastic book! The book starts with a bang when Tessa comes home and finds Harry in her kitchen. She’s no idea how he got there or who he belongs to but Harry tells her he’s been sent there by an angel and Tessa is his new mummy. You get caught into this story from page one and believe me, it doesn’t let up throughout the book and keeps you gripped until the very end. You feel very much for the character of Tessa. She’s obviously had a very bad time over the last few years. Her twin daughter died at birth and her twin son died recently from leukaemia. Through these dark times, Tessa’s marriage has broken down and she suffered with depression. Being accused of kidnapping Harry, Tessa has to endure the hounding of the press, with her boss as her only ally.

It’s a book with of heartbreak and sadness mixed with mystery, deceit and intrigue. I disliked Tessa’s ex-husband, Scott, and his new girlfriend even more. If there was one woman who needed to be put in her place, it’s Scott’s girlfriend, Ellie. Whilst, it was obvious where the story was going quite early on in the book, it still shocked me at the end with how it all came about. I certainly wasn’t expecting it to be like that. A great psychological thriller, with a great twist at the end!

I really enjoyed this book and would whole-heartedly recommend it! Fantastic story! Five stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.Tessa Markham comes home to find a boy in her kitchen. He thinks she is her mommy.

The blurb and the cover immediately grabbed my attention. The story is fast-paced and totally engrossing. There were some twists and turns and I was never quite sure what the outcome would be. I do not want to say too much about the plot, the main character dealt with a lot but never gave up her quest to find out the truth. I love books with good strong female leads. This was a great read.

This is the first book from this author that I have read and I am definitely going to read her other books. Thoroughly enjoyed this one and highly recommend it.

This is a compelling novel that starts out with an immediate question that must be solved. Who is Harry and where did he come from? As the book progresses there are more and more questions that need answering but few answers to come by. I liked the way this was written and I enjoyed learning about the main character and the terrible events from her past that brought her to the point she is at when we are introduced to her.

If you love books that suck you in and make you want to keep reading, this one will fit nicely. There were a few times when I had to work to suspend my disbelief, particularly about how the media was camped out on the main character's doorstep, but for the most part I thought this was great. The side characters were interesting and original and the main character did a lot of growing during the course of the book.

I did guess correctly about what happened before the end of the book, but it didn't matter. It was handled so well that I didn't mind not being completely surprised. This is a memorable story with solid characters and I highly recommend it. If you are looking for a good book, you've found it.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

When a book captures you from the very first page and doesn't let go to the very last, you read it in one sitting as you can't put it down and then feel very satisfied when you have finished it then you know it is a special book. This is one of those books!
It is a very well written, fast paced psychological thriller that I totally recommend. I will certainly be buying more books by this author.
5 big shiny stars *****

I received an ARC from NetGalley to read and review. The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, Shalini Boland, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to review.

Tessa Markham comes home to find a little boy in her kitchen. He thinks she’s his mother. But Tessa doesn’t have any children. Not anymore. She doesn’t know who the child is or how he got there. After contacting the police, Tessa comes under suspicion for snatching the boy. She must fight to prove her innocence. But how can she convince everyone she’s not guilty when even those closest to her are questioning the truth? And when Tessa doesn’t even trust herself…

Wow! What a thrilling ride! I quite enjoy psychological thrillers that throw in enough twists to keep me guessing until the very end, but this one took the idea of a curve-ball and brought it to a whole new level. The end was incredible. I've read some fantastic psychological thrillers lately, but THE SECRET MOTHER blew them all out of the water. The characters are superbly developed, and the author manages to take a tired trope (the lost child, etc.) and revamp it into her own driving force. Really, honestly, pick up this one the next time you're in the bookstore.

A book about a woman who lost her babies, then her husband, and then she thought her mind. A child turned up Iin her kitchen, he called her mummy, who was he, how did he get in her kitchen, she was questioned by the police for kidnapping. She knew she never took him, but thought she was loosing her mind. After making many enquiries she worked out who he was, and you could not have. But a good feeling that it worked out well.
Good book, different and could be a true life story.

I really enjoyed this book. Great storyline, wonderful main characters and a very good read. I would recommend this book.

Although The Secret Mother wasn’t much of a secret or a thriller, I still really enjoyed the book. When Tess’ life is turned upside down after a young boy named Harry is found innocently in her kitchen claiming Tess is his new Mommy, things start to spin out of control. Thinking she is doing the right thing Tessa calls her ex husband for help. He does not believe her. The police don’t believe her, everyone except her handsome boss, Ben. As clues begin to show Tess more about who Harry really is, Tess grows and she learns to advocate for herself.

The Secret Mother by Shalini Boland begins with Tess finding a little boy in her kitchen. She doesn’t know the boy or how he even got into her house or why he is calling her mommy.Needless to say, I was hooked from this first scene. I was curious about the boy and had so many questions.

Shalini Boland narrates this story in a way that you can’t help but also become an amateur detective. I was glued to the narrative. I felt the same nervousness that Tessa did and shared in her desperation to find answers. A lot wasn’t adding up and I admit, I liked Tessa but sometimes didn’t trust her. However, I was totally addicted to her narrative. Finding out things when she did, heightened the tension. I couldn’t predict the ending but I had my suspicions about what was going on. Of course, this happened as Tessa also started solving the mystery. We were a team of detectives, Tessa and I and this made me totally hooked to the book.

The author did such a wonderful job with the character development. As I have already explained, I really liked Tessa and sympathized with her. She had had a tough life before the little boy showed up to her house. What happened afterwards was a nightmare that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I have a few other favorite characters who I won’t mention and there was also a particular couple that I totally disliked. Nevertheless, all the characters were very well-crafted and realistic.

This is the second book that I have read by this author and again, I was totally addicted to her writing style and the story itself. I ended up reading up to to 3am in the morning hence getting through the entire book in just one sitting. As I have already mentioned, Tessa and I needed to find answers. I enjoyed the twists in the book and loved the fact that I couldn’t have predicted them and at some point, everyone was a suspect. This book is brilliant, fast-paced and addictive. I definitely recommend it to all fans of psychological thrillers.

I loved this book! Poor Tessa has been left heartbroken by the death of her twins and the breakdown of her marriage. One day a little boy appears in her kitchen saying that she is his mummy. This leads to Tessa re-examining the last few years of her life to find out the truth.
This book is just so sad at times! I felt so sorry for Tessa, her husband wasn't much help as he left her to deal with her grief alone and the press was constantly harassing, her branding her a child abductor. Even when she tried to get on with her life and immerse herself in her work, people managed to hound her there. As for her journalist neighbour, there was no escape for poor Tessa! I felt that the book dealt very well with the blame culture in our society and the way the media are allowed to harass someone with little comeback available to the individual.
Plenty of twists and turns in this book and quite a few shocks along the way.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Bookouture for the opportunity to read this as an arc.

The Secret Mother by Shalini Boland released 9/11 published by Bookouture

This is the first book by the author not to be self published and so Congratulations for that and even bigger Congratulations for the book being superb.

I read the book via Kindle in 6 hours and the whole of the time the book flowed and kept my interest at 100%

I would describe the book as a psychological thriller with the expected twists and turns and surprises BUT also with heart and humour, which can be lacking in a lot of books, and importantly not beyond the realms of reality, it could be real

I loved the characters and the way you got to know them quickly and effortlessly and after a short time felt you ‘understood’ them.....and their actions ......

A really enjoyable book that requires no effort except to enjoy and allow yourself to be taken along in this really great and exciting book

The ending made me smile and felt 6 hours had been well spent

Definitely recommended read and look forward to reading other work by this talented author

When Tessa still grieving over the death of both of her children, comes home to find a young boy in her kitchen, her whole world is turned upside down. She has no idea who he is or how he got inside her home but her heart of hearts is thrilled to hear him call her Mummy. But soon the questions and accusations begin and the press and police are not buying her story. What really happened? Why can't she find any answers? And why does no one believe her? This excellent psychological thriller will have you staying up all night turning pages.

A traumatic past and a recent separation, yet Tessa Markham is doing her best to move on and make the best of life , until one day she returns home to find a small boy in her kitchen who asks the question “are you my Mummy?”
Given her past, those around her start to question whether she is involved in his appearance to the point that she even starts to doubt herself. How can a child just appear in her house alone?
Shalini Boland’s books are interesting and make me want to keep turning the pages. The stories for me just flow without involving complicated plots and she’s up there as one of my favourite writers of the moment.
I’ve read all 4 of this author’s books and eagerly await the 5th

A good author is one who writes a book with well etched characters, where the story and plot lines flow and generally the reader is left feeling happy.
A great author is the one who captures the reader's attention from first page, pulls the reader into the story, where each emotion of the character is felt and the book reads like a movie, each chapter is a scene of the movie.
And Shalini Boland is a great author. Her book pulled me in from the first page and she took me on an intriguing journey. I felt anger, sadness, grief, helplessness, loss, self doubt, the need to know the truth, every emotion that the main character, Tessa, felt.
The story is simple- Tessa walks into her kitchen, there is a child there who asks her, are you my mummy???
And the story starts.... Who is the child, Harry? Why does he say she is his mother? Who has left him there in her home? Is Tessa going mad, did she kidnap the child? Will the police believe her? Why does her ex want her to see a therapist? What is the agenda of neighbour/journalist Carly??
Will Tessa ever find the truth??
All these questions and more are answered by the author, Shalini Boland, with her fabulous writing, fantastic story telling and a prose which flows seamlessly. The book is non pretentious, does what it is supposed to, and brings suspense and thrill while reading. I literally had goosebumps while reading the book. And I still have a book hangover...
What I liked about the author's writing is she writes to the point, all that is needed to add to the story without being frivolous. The book is a page turner from the beginning to the end, I read it in 3 hours flat. Usually suspense thrillers start slow, take ages to build up then has a finale but this book takes no prisoners from the get-go. And there is not a moment where the pace slows, I love books like that which do not allow us to think but takes us on a whirlpool of events with full-on suspense and thrill, an absolute roller-coaster.
I think Ms Boland, you have done it with this book... We have a winner on our hands. This was my first book by her and I think both she and I now know that she has a fan in me.

If I could have given it more than 5 stars I would have! Brilliant, just brilliant! I loved this book and would highly recommend it.

I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate this opportunity.

Title: The Secret Mother

Author: Shalini Boland

Publication Date: 11/9/2017

Page Count: 241 Pages

Synopsis: Tessa is a seperated and grieving mother. After the deaths of her two children and her seperation she focuses on work to cope with her grief. After Tessa gets home from work she comes home to a little boy in her kitchen. The little boy is just sitting there coloring and asks "Are you my Mummy?"

Feeling overwhelmed with the grief of her children and this unknown child in her house, she calls her husband Scott. Even though they are seperated he agrees to come over and see what is going on. Tessa is flooded with emotions but after Scott arives and calls the police things get worse.

Even though Tessa reported the incident to the police and is cleared, everyone seems to believe because she is a grieving mother that she abuducted the child. The reporters stalk her house and work. She feels like she's going mad. All these emotions and all these things turned on her is making her emotions go into overdrive. When Tessa finds out that she may be connected to this child's father, she must find out what's going on. Why was this child left in her home and calling her Mummy? Is Tessa just a delusional and grieving mother? Did she abduct the child? Will anyone take her serious? Read Secret Mother to find out!



Review: I give this book 5 out of 5 suspenful stars! Wow, I was on the edge of my seat with the suspense from this book. I felt Tessa's emotions and my heart rate quickened as I read through this enthralling thriller. This has to be one of the most suspenseful books I have ever read! I felt the hairs on the back of my neck go up and my heart raced a mile a minute. If you are searching for a great suspense I recommend The Secret Mother by Shalini Boland!

Such a fantastic book! I read most of this in one night... only stopping when I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. I got sucked up into the story and couldn't wait to find out what happened next. I really felt for Tessa and hoped that everything wpuld turn out alright for her. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book to read and review

*Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*'The Secret Mother' makes for addictive reading. It is a thriller, but a thriller like no other. Following a chain of tragic events, Tessa's life has all but fallen apart. She comes home from work one day, to find a little boy called Harry in her kitchen. No one seems to know who he is or why he is there. Tessa finds herself accused of unspeakable crimes and is hounded by the press. So begins a story full of twists and turns, complete with complex characters. A thoroughly enjoyable and engaging read.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I love a book that hooks me in the first sentence. Imagine walking in your house to find a little boy claiming you are his new mommy. How would you react? This is the setting for this incredibly written psychological thriller. I loved Tessa. She lives with such heartbreak and now people think she is crazy. As the story played out, my heart was hurting for her. Ben was great. What a stand-up guy! A great read!

I was very pleased to receive an ARC of The Secret Mother by Shalini Boland, and I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for approving my request.
I absolutely loved Shalini Boland's The Best Friend, so I was really looking forward to reading this book. It was definitely another page turner, and the first half of this book promised to be as thrilling and mysterious as could be. I had an inkling soon after half way about how the plot was going to unravel, although I had no idea how the twists and turns were going to draw to that conclusion. I was a little disappointed towards the end as the plot seemed too far fetched to me to be believable. As this took the edge off my overall enjoyment, I'm going to give four stars instead of the five that I initially thought.