Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publishers, Bookouture, for this review copy given in exchange for an honest review.

It’s 1968 and we meet Susie. She’s in a mother and baby home run by nuns and she’s known by the name of Rita. We find out that Susie is married to a Navy man, Danny and whilst he was away overseas on a long tour of duty she finds herself pregnant by another man. Already a mum to Louise, Susie feels the only option she has is give the baby up for adoption. This is something that she regrets for the rest of her life, and something that changes how her life ends up. The story takes us through the lives of Susie, Danny and their two daughters, Louise and Grace, over the next 40 years.

Wow, wow, wow. I am speechless as to how good this book was. I’ve read books by this author before, but this was something else! The story begins with Susie in a mother and baby home. It’s a horrible place where she was obviously there not only to hand over her child when he was born, but also to be made to feel guilty for having an illegitimate child. She doesn’t want to hand her new-born son, Edward over for adoption, but what choice does she have. Her mother has made it clear that she would not be able to support both Susie and her daughter Louise when Susie’s husband Danny kicks her out for having a child that wasn’t his. As far as Susie is concerned, giving up Edward is the only way to keep her family together.

Obviously this has huge ramifications throughout the rest of Susie’s life. When Danny comes home, he finds his wife isn’t the person she was when he went away. It’s a heart-breaking story through the next 40 years of Susie’s life. It’s told not just from Susie’s point of view, but also from her youngest daughter Grace’s. As the story went on I became more and more hooked into it to the point that I just couldn’t do anything else other than read! I loved all the characters, especially Jeannie, her one true friend who could empathise with everything that she’d gone through.

As a mother and a wife, I found myself asking “what would I do?” Perhaps the answer in today’s world might be different, but in the 60’s it was a different story. Could I have done what she did, and more important, could I have carried the secret for as long as Susie did. A very hard decision, which pulled at my heartstrings as I was reading it. I have to admit, this book did make me cry! Not just once either, I cried through the majority of this book!

A highly emotional, heart-breaking story of relationships, love and family and a highly recommended book. Fabulous writing of a very sensitive subject. Wonderful Ms Fisher, just wonderful.

A really emotional and heart breaking story that had me in tears on more than one occasion.

The books tells the story of Susie a young girl forced to give up her child for adoption, a secret decision that has big impact not only on her life but on the life of her daughters also. Half of the book is told from Susie's perspective, the other half from the perspective of her youngest daughter Grace.

I couldn't put this down and read it in a couple of sittings, definitely one of my favourite books this year.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Kerry Fisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an emotional read that will tug at your heartstrings from the very beginning.
This book starts out in the 1960’s. Susie who is first known to us as Rita is forced by her mother to go to a Mother and Baby place, to give birth to a baby boy, which she has to give up for adoption. Susie struggles with giving him away and insists on caring for him until the day he is taken and given away. She treasures every moment that she has with her son. Susie returns home and keeps the secret of her son and her infidelity from her husband Danny. Susie’s guilt on giving her son away eats at her as every year passes, and she becomes a moody and emotional and suffers depression. When Susie gets ill later in life the truth of what happened surfaces. Will her family endure such a huge secret being uncovered?
This story is told in two perspectives, the first being from Susie, and the second from her daughter Grace. It is wonderful to get the second perspective, it shows the relationship between the mother and daughter. And just how much the secret has affected her and her sister Louise.
The storyline is well written and the characters felt so real. I was on the emotional roller-coaster ride with the whole family.
This was one fantastic read that should definitely be put on everyone’s TBR list.
Kerry Fisher knows how to write a book that will pull its readers into the story and make them feel everything.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

A beautiful yet sorrowful story of Susie, a young mother and wife who made the life altering decision to give her second child up for adoption in the 60's, conceived by another man whilst her husband was away for fifteen months, performing his duties in the Navy. Convinced she has no other option than to give her son up for adoption, her demons plague her for decades after, her grief, shame and loneliness of carrying such a secret tainting everything that comes after, especially her relationship with her loving husband and two daughters, who often bear the brunt of Susie's inner turmoil, without ever being privy to understanding why she is the way she is.

A moving and emotionally charged novel, I would often find myself with a great big lump in my throat and tears glistening in my eyes. With wonderfully fleshed out characters, one cannot help but feel for each one of them as they are intricately tied together in the complex relationships of this family spanning across generations.

This tale highlights the powerful hold a child has on its mother, whether she only spent six weeks with them or several decades. It also had me pondering over the fact that even though siblings were brought up under the same roof, their bond may not be ideal, yet, on the flipside - * SPOILER HERE! - siblings could share an instant bond even though they didn't grow up together.*

Primarily told from Susie's point of view, the story switches over to Grace's point of view in Part Two, when Grace learns of her mother's skeleton in the attic, adding another layer to this already multi-layered story. As the truth reveals itself, like a bowling ball hitting pins in all sorts of directions, we witness each family member's somewhat unpredictable reactions. Grace's entire perspective of her mother changes, having her finally get to understand why her mother was the way she was.

In the author's words, this beautiful tale leaves us with "a message of hope –that there are more good people in the world than bad, that decency, forgiveness and love will triumph."

I loved getting to know each member of the Duarte family, having shared in the heartache of their trials but also in the love they clearly have for one another.

Many thanks to Kerry Fisher, Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion of this lovely family drama.

Sometimes the emotional drama books where the auThor is compared to Jodi picoult or liane Moriety are plain boring....not this book! I was gripped from start to finish and just loved every second!!!!! We are introduced to suzie who gave up her son for adoption and continued to raise a family and be a wife whilst keeping this secret.....but how long can a secret be kept?! Get the tissues ready and don’t wear mascara! An excellent book

All previous books I've really enjoyed but to be honest this wasn't as good as others

It's a well written sad story. I've become quite fond of this story by the way its written and told. We read from the view of the mother, who has given away a baby and bury this secret till her older age. In the end, the story changes in the view of the daughter. Who's desperate to know why her mother has acted the way she has why the daughter was young at age.

The beginning is wel written and fast paced, as a reader you get a sad feeling but connected to the story. Determined to finish the book and to acknowledge the secret that this family has lived in.

I enjoyed this sad story, it hasnt left me in tears but I know some readers will.

Susie had a child. It couldn't possibly be her husband's so she gave it up for adoption. This is a decision that haunts her for the rest of her life.This is a very emotional book. Susie made some mistakes and the baby was the result. Susie thinks about this baby every day and it affects every relationship and part of her life - how she reacts to her children, her relationship with her husband and with friends. It has torn her life apart but she has no one to discuss it with.
This is a very emotional book and the behaviour and feelings of Susie made perfect sense to me. No two people would react in the same way but her reactions seemed very believable. Her family and her children struggle to understand the person she becomes and she has a delicate relationship with them all. It does all come to a head and I was perfectly happy with the way that everything panned out at the end.
The characters in this book are very three dimensional. The main characters are Susie, her husband Danny and her children with a few supporting cast. By focussing on a smaller group of people the author has been able to really bring them to life. We understand how they feel from their puzzlement at Suzies constantly changing behaviour to their everyday lives that they are building for themselves.
There are plenty of lighter moments in this book and the odd chuckle.
I enjoyed this book very much. There is plenty of raw emotion for the reader to empathise with. Towards the end I struggled to put it down.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Secret Child’ by Kerry Fisher in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Susie marries Danny Duarte when she’s still in her teens and they have a daughter Louise. Danny is at sea for long spells and doesn’t want his wife sitting at home alone waiting for him so encourages her to get out and enjoy herself. Susie loves to sing so occasionally gets up on stage and sings with The Shakers while her mother looks after Louise. During one of Danny’s long absences Susie gives birth to a baby boy, Edward, who with a broken heart she hands over to the nuns for adoption. She persuades Danny to leave the Navy and get a job on land and they have a second daughter Grace, but Susie can’t forget the short time she spent with her son.
‘The Secret Child’ is a book of two parts: Part 1 is written by Susie and is based on the events that happen during the six weeks in July 1968 when she gives birth to Edward at a home for unmarried mothers in London; Part 2 is written by Grace who, with her sister Louise, uncovers the secret their mother has been keeping for forty-six years.
Kerry Fisher has written a touching story of love and loss, beautifully written and emotionally charged. The reader cannot help but feel compassion and understanding for every member of the Duarte family whose characters become stronger as they face the truth. This is a lovely story that kept me involved from start to finish.

I loved this emotion packed story from the start it has characters that I really connected with.

Set in Portsmouth in the 1960’s part 1 is told by Susie who is forced to give birth to her second child In a Mother and Baby place and then give her baby boy Edward up for adoption. Susie finds the whole experience harrowing and insists on caring for her son for the first six weeks of his life, which she cherishes, before the fateful day arrives where he is handed over to complete strangers. As her story unfolds we learn of the impact this event has had on Susie, the torment she endures and the effect of those around her. Often her husband Danny and two daughters Louise and Grace bear the brunt of the guilt and regret she feels, yet she is unable to tell them her secret. With the birth date etched firmly in her mind Susie secretly reminisces each year causing even further relationship problems in the household. Her friend Jeanie is the only other person to share her true feelings with but Susie is always on tenterhooks in case she lets slip her secret.

Part 2 is told by grace and I found her story particularly captivating as the relationship between her and her Mother is turned on its head with heart felt outcomes. As the truth reveals itself it is like a bomb exploding. How each member of the family react is not predictable.



My thanks to Net Galley for the ARC, this is my own opinion .

I hope I can find the words to do this book justice. So beautifully written it pulled me in and I felt my heart wrench. So sad that Susie had to not only give away her son but the consequent impact it had on how she was then with her other children. My heart for them all and the life they could of had.
By the end I felt like I didn't want it to end I knew the characters so well I'll miss them
Thank you for such a beautiful written emotional story.

What a book! This is the second of Kerry's books I've read and she's fast becoming one of my favourite authors. This story is written so beautifully, with care and attention to detail that is simply astonishing. It takes such talent to be able to create characters that are so full of depth that you feel every emotion. This book really is a roller-coaster of feelings and I found myself developing a real love of the characters, so much so that at times I found myself in tears and had to stop reading while I reached for the tissues. The story unfolds in a way that you could never have imagined at the beginning. The strength of conviction and the depth of love between the characters is phenomenal and the complexities of the relationships is just breathtaking. A spectacular tale in family politics and such a touching tribute to all those families that found themselves in similar situations. Kerry I salute you and your incredible ability to write such raw and at times harrowing stories, based on such real events that have unfolded across generations. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to everyone! Go read it now (But make sure you have a box of tissues to hand)!

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
This is the second book I have read by Kerry Fisher. From the very beginning of this book I was hooked. Beautifully written, this was quite an emotional rollercoaster of a read with some interesting characters and a good, strong storyline. I was moved to tears in place highlighting for me the strength of the author’s written words.
4,5 stars

This is the fourth book I have read by Kerry Fisher and they just seem to get better every time. Its a story full of why’s and wherefores and very emotional.

When Susie’s adored husband Danny was away at sea for fifteen months early on in their marriage, she made a silly mistake; an error of judgement that would spoil her life irretrievably. She regretted her actions immediately and let what happened cast a shadow over her life and her family life. She changed completely and this impacted on her family. Her second of three children, a beautiful son, was not her husband’s so she gave him up for adoption so that Danny would never find out, but there wasn’t a moment went by that he wasn’t in her heart. She worried that what she had thought would save her family, would indeed tear it apart if Danny ever found out. The burden was too heavy for her to bear; lies and secrets sometimes have a ways of revealing themselves. Her very fragility could be her undoing; a house made of cards destroyed by the merest disturbance.
Years later when her two daughters were independent with families of their own, tragedy struck and suddenly her treasured family faced an impossible crisis. Dangerously ill and immobile in hospital, Susie’s disturbed subconscious mind activates the merest notion of an untold secret. The family are wrought with tension and fear. What should they do?
I absolutely loved this fabulous emotional novel, new from the hugely talented and impressive Kerry Fisher. No one writes novels about relationships, both romantic and familial, with such assurance, empathy, compassion and delicacy as this author. She writes from the point of view of each of her superbly crafted characters with a rare understanding and ease, hitting the mark with ease time after time. Her plot management is a wonder to behold as she draws the story forward with her superb, incisive storytelling. I was a willing captive of her mastery. I love the way she examines sensitive issues with such understanding and immeasurable skill. This is a real cracker of a novel, one certainly not to be missed. If I could give it a higher mark than a perfect ten, I definitely would. The story moved me to tears and I literally could not put it down.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the wonderful publisher Bookouture for my copy of 'The Secret Child’, sent to me in return for an honest review. This is the best novel I have read this year by far. I cannot wait to see how Kerry tops this one.

I love this book.

The Secret Child by Kerry Fisher tells the story of Susie and her family. It begins in the 60s. We are introduced to Susie who is struggling with having to give up her son for adoption although it feels like she has no other choice given the circumstances that she is in. What makes her situation unique is the fact that she was a married woman with another child at home and her husband has been away with the Navy for over a year. Naturally, I was curious about the adoption. Through the chapters, readers find out the truth about what happened to make Susie make this difficult decision.

The story is mainly narrated through Susie’s POV until the last few chapters when the POV shifts. I thought that the characters in this book were very well crafted. I loved Susie and sympathized with her even when she wasn’t a very ‘nice’ mom. Her husband Danny is so wonderful and so are her kids. My connection with this family made me very invested in the story and so this turned out to be quite an emotional read for me.

This book tackles the theme of adoption. It looks at it from two angles. The first is the parents who have to give up their kids. I liked knowing the characters and the reason behind the decision. I also liked how the author portrayed life after adoption especially for the birth mother. I felt that this portrayal was quite realistic. I could understand and sympathize with what the characters were going through. In addition, the themes covered in this book are so important. Personally, I wish I had read The Secret Child by Kerry Fisher years ago. It’s a book that made me think about certain issues in a totally different way.

As I have already mentioned, this was quite an emotional read. The story covers a long time period of almost 45 years but the author does a great job in flawlessly portraying the changes. I enjoyed seeing how the characters changed with time.

Kerry Fisher’s writing is beautiful. Through her writing, I was able to take an emotional journey with the family in the story. I celebrated and cried with them. I experienced their emotions because the author made me part of the story. It felt like I was right there with the characters. I have no doubt that this book will stay with me for a long time. The Secret Child by Kerry Fisher is a moving, well-written, addictive tale about family.

Another wonderful book by Kerry Fisher. I usually read books in order of release date for reviewing but this one snuck to the top! Each book Kerry writes is a totally different genre and she is successful at all. This is a little darker than previous, a heart wrenching story of a young woman in the 60's having to give up a baby. This secret stays with her and haunts her for her whole life. Only two other people know this episode of her life. The story follows her family and the repercussions of this action. Beautiful writing and a gripping tale.

I fell in love with this book about a young mother who is forced to give up another child for adoption. The reader is taken upon a breathtaking journey through the life of this family and how the mothers decision relates to them all. It was at times heartbreaking, loving, and touching.
I liked the characters, even if Grace drove me crazy! Overall a great book about adoption, the reasons behind it, and the impact of a family!

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

I have loved all the books I have read by Kerry Fisher which have been five star reads. I was torn with this one but felt that it lacked something in the first half of the book, hence 4 stars.
The author has a knack of describing families and relationships so that we can all see perhaps a little of our own lives in the book whilst creating a good story line with something more sensational.
I loved hearing the story from two perspectives (Susie and Grace) and how giving up her child for adoption impacted on her relationships for years to come.
If you like this author I can recommend this book. If you have not read one of Kerry Fisher’s books, I recommend starting with After the Lie or The Silent Wife.