How To Keep A Secret by Sarah Morgan is an unforgettable novel about family secrets, healing, and redemption. It tells the story of the Stewart family, a close-knit unit that, due to life's twists and turns, has become somewhat fractured. But when Nancy, Lauren, Jenna and Lauren's daughter, Mackenzie, all find themselves thrown together for a summer, the possibilities for change and healing abound.

The plot and characterization are exquisitely crafted. Sarah Morgan manages to navigate through a family in crisis with honesty, wisdom, and hope. While every family member faces their own challenges, it's clear from the start that coming together and forgiving each other, as well as forgiving themselves, is the only way forward.

Morgan has a deft touch in How To Keep A Secret. By turns heart-breaking, tender and triumphant, this is an emotional journey with one message ringing out loud and clear: no family is perfect but the right kind of love can make all the difference. An inspiring and uplifting read that I highly recommend.

We all know that Sarah Morgan is one of, if not my favourite author - and when i hit a bit of a reading slump after the OWLSreadathon and didn't know where to turn, i knew by picking my favourite author would fix that.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this, usually when i read a Sarah Morgan its part of a series with a big focus on the place if you get what i mean. However, this was exactly what i love about Sarah Morgan. Its about female friendship, family, love and beautiful scenery.

Lauren has the perfect life, a teenage daughter and is about to celebrate her husbands birthday surrounded by their friends in their wonderful house just before she starts her career. Jenna has the career she dreamed of, her true love but can't seem to get the family she wants. Lastly Nancy is now alone, and has nothing of the relationships she dreamed she had with her daughters.

When life is turned upside down for Lauren and she is thrown back to her family in Marthas Vineyard for not just the summer can the women put aside their differences, their dramas and come together as family should in times of need?

Lauren is one of the strongest women i have read about in a long time, dealing with a tough hand that is thrown at her as well as trying to hold up her teenage daughter. Jenna is incredible, managing to look after a bunch of unruly children whilst longing for her own must be a kick in the guts but she still manages too, and keep a smile on her face. Nancy is a mother that doesnt get the credit she deserves, because things were not so clear cut when the girls were younger.

This book had so much empowerment for so many but it was also written in a beautiful way that had me visualising the homes, the boats and views. It was a wonderful story and i really loved every bit of it.

Sarah Morgan's story of the Stewart women was engaging and well-written. I enjoyed reading the story of their individual relationships as well as their relationships with one another. Whilst the secrets were not hugely surprising, I thought that Sarah Morgan allowed them to come out gradually and in a way that made sense of the personalities of the three generations. Definitely one to read.

This was such an amazing read.
I am a massive fan of Sarah's and I am so glad she has took a little detour and has written something that is a little different from her normal romance.
In this story Sarah writes about families relationships especially those between sisters and mothers and daughters. I adored the dynamic of the characters.
Full review to follow.

How to Keep a Secret is written by Sarah Morgan and published by HQ. Sarah Morgan is a prolific romance writer, nominated 4 times for the prestigious RITA Award and winning it twice. This book is a departure from the traditional romance genre, instead this book focuses upon how and why her character keeps secrets from each other and what happens when they are found out..

How to Keep a Secret tells the story of three generations of Stewart women, all of whom have their own secrest to keep and hide. The storyline is narrated by the four main characters: Nancy, Laura, Henna and Mackenzie. They have all, for various reasons, moved back to Martha's Vineyard Nancy, the matriarch grandmother knows she has not been the greatest mother to Lauren and Jenna, aloof and remained distant emotionally from them, more interested in her work as an artist than a mother, but can she ever tell the reason why she wasn't an A+ mum? Lauren and Jenna have their own secret to hide and made a pact years ago never to divulge it. Jenna feel that Lauren has always been the "golden child" and is concerned she will never have a baby, issues that add to already fractured relationships. Lauren's daughter, Mackenzie, also has her own secret to keep whilst holding her mum at arms length in order to hide her pain.

All their secrets come to ahead one summer as all the women are thrown together and their secrets start to unravel.

This book is well written and cohesive in structure, the stories naturally blend together and doesn't appear forced. A departure from Sarah's focus on romance, How to Keep a Secret is a book about family dynamics: emotions and relatives getting to know each other again, character flaws, fractured relationships being fixed as individuals reconnect after secrets are exposed.


I received this book via Netgalley and HQ in exchange for an honest review

This is a Sarah Morgan book - that should really be all the review that's needed. She's an autobuy for me and her work just seems to get better with every book.

Warm, funny, and emotional, it's everything you would expect and more. I loved it.

Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book but have to say I didn't fall in love with any of the characters like I usually do with Sarah Morgan's books. It was nice to read something different from her usual storyline and look forward to the next one.

In recent years Sarah Morgan has been known for her trilogies and series of books with interlinked characters, which although I love to read them I have to confess I'm very behind on reading her latest series, so when I saw that she was writing a standalone story I knew it would be one that I would want to read straightaway. Whether she's writing a series or a standalone the one thing you can be assured of is that her stories have characters that you can relate to, warm to and who you want only good things to happen to and that's no different in How to Keep a Secret.

From the moment I switched on my Kindle, till I swiped through to the final page, I was drawn into the emotional journey that these three generations of strong women, grandmother Nancy, her daughters Lauren and Jenna, and Lauren's teenage daughter Mack, found themselves going through as unforeseen circumstances brought them together again for the first time in years. As each deeply hidden secret was uncovered and threatened to rip their lives apart, the strength within each of them, and as a family, came to the fore to enable them to help one another to come to terms with everything that was happening in the current day but also what was being discovered from the past.

I loved seeing how the dynamics between the different relationships, mothers and daughters and sisters, changed as the drama unfolded and would normally find myself favouring one character over another. But instead I found myself rooting equally for each of them as they accepted the hand that had been dealt to them and worked together to create a new brighter, happier future for them all.

For me this story was a real departure from the author as it had a lot more of a fragile, serious undertone to it than some of her previous books that I have read, and for me personally I loved it and think it's her best book to date so hope she continues to write in this vein in the future. But that's not to say that her iconic 'Queen of Romance' title has been replaced as there was still plenty of romance interlaced with the gritty drama that was oozing from the pages which was the perfect balance for me.

I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end. The family dynamics, the secrets and unexpected twists and turns along the way. I need a sequel!

Another fabulous read by the one and only sarah morgan. This is different to her usual books as they are all in series and this is not, its a one off so a little different in style to her usual genre. Did i like it? of course i did.
Its a story about a mix of people, different lives, secrets and things can go on from them and you can go back home. Theres secrets of the family dynamics and how it ends is just amazing. i loved it and couldn't put it down.

Sarah Morgan is one of my go-to authors - I’ve loved everything I’ve ever read by her. However, for once I was wary as she acknowledges that this story is different to her usual style and it is - but it is still an enthralling read. As she says, it is “bigger in scope, with more characters, breadth and depth.” It is also an enthralling family drama and romance which takes readers on a rollercoaster emotional journey during which secrets are revealed impacting on the lives of all concerned.

Sisters Lauren and Jenna were so close as they grew up, sharing almost everything with each other - including keeping secret what they witnessed all those years ago. Marriage has resulted in them living continents apart but there are also secrets in their marriages that they haven’t shared with each other. Their mother is Nancy Stewart and she has many regrets about her daughters’ childhood but she kept things secret to protect them. Lauren is worried about her own teenage daughter, Mackenzie, who is rejecting her efforts to connect and it will take an untimely death, a funereal revelation, shocking financial surprises and returning back to the family home to bring the three generations back together again. There’s a need to revisit the past, for them to be honest with each other and to reconnect with others with significant roles in their past and future.

I loved this story. It has multiple relationships and is a delightful book to escape into. The characters are superbly developed, flaws, secrets and more. The intertwining stories, the emotional turmoil will have you laughing out loud sometimes, smiling inanely at times but near to tears at others. As the three generations discover more about themselves, each other and their relationships with others there is plenty of angst and drama that it is easy to empathise with. It is a heartwarming tale of family drama, secrets that split them and revelations to help heal rifts and reforge links to build a happier future for them all. I have no hesitation in very highly recommending this to anyone who enjoys well written women’s fiction.

I requested and was given a copy of this book, via NetGalley. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.

A well-paced, story of family secrets and their consequences for familial relationships.

Set partly in London but mostly in Martha's Vineyard, it features two sisters, Lauren and Jenna who for sixteen years have lived very different lives. A tragedy brings them together in Martha's Vineyard, their childhood home and as the secrets unfold, the pressure on family life increases.

A simple but compelling plot explores the lives and loves of three generations of women in the Stewart family. Characters are authentically flawed, but with each new conflict, they demonstrate their emotional strength and the importance of family.

This story has all the components necessary for family fiction; angst, humour, love, misunderstanding and tragedy. Romance is also an essential element of this story, and whether gentle or sensual it's believable and adds depth to the storyline.

Nancy is an emotionally distant mother, but she has her reasons, and when she is forced to confront her demons, it affords her the opportunity to build bridges with her daughters. Mack is a troubled teenager even before she suffers a terrible loss. Her character development is probably the greatest, and she ends the story closer to adulthood than she started it. Lauren and Jenna have lost who they genuinely are amid other people's expectations of them. The conflict and challenges they face make them re-evaluate their life choices and how they interact with their immediate family.

A lovely family story, which will take you on an emotional journey full of laughter, love, tears and new beginnings.

I received a copy of this book from HQ via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is a very readable novel about second chances, secrets and betrayals. An intricate story-line which is cleverly written and very relatable. My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Once again another fabulous book from Sarah Morgan, I swear this remarkable lady have never given me anything but brilliance in her books.
This one is different to her last few books but nevertheless it’s a five star read which is makes you laugh and cry.

I have been meaning to read a novel by this author for ges and I am happy to say that she has certainly lived up to my expectations. The novel is well plotted and the characters spring to life instantly from the first page. I liked the different stories behind each character and the way that they were interwoven, it was all very natural and believable. A lovely to book to read if you are going away for a few days but even nice read if you are on a staycation as the setting is just lovely. I shall be searching out more novels by this author.

A slightly different book from the usual romance based stories but equally enthralling with this story detailing three generations of the Stewart’s women and a strong relationship of sisters.

When tragedy strikes in London UK, Lauren and her teenage daughter Mackenzie’s life takes a dramatic turn with them up sticks and moving to Lauren’s home seaside island, Martha’s Vineyard in America. Here relationships are tested and re-formed with the coming together of family and past acquaintances.

This story is about second chances as secrets are divulged and betrayals are dealt with. It was refreshing to read how Lauren and her sister Jenna bond again after time apart. I particularly enjoyed them reminiscing about their childhood antics. It was also interesting to see them both re build a new more loving relationship with their mother Nancy. Family protection is paramount in this book as the subjects of infertility and infidelity are revealed and the Stewarts show kindness and forgiveness to each other.

How To Keep A Secret was a joy to read with both interesting characters and a refreshing storyline.

Thanks to Net Galley and HQ for the ARC digital copy. This is my own thoughts of this book.

Sarah Morgan is one of my go-to authors and hearing this described as a departure from her usual style, I couldn’t wait to see what lay in store.

“Welcome to adulthood. It’s messy, complicated, the pieces don’t fit, and the picture rarely looks the way you want it to. It’s called real life.”

How To Keep a Secret doesn’t fall into the easygoing, lighter, sexy romantic style Sarah Morgan is renowned for. Centralising on three generations of women—Nancy, her daughters, Lauren and Jenna and granddaughter, Mack—Morgan weaves a family-centric story through their eyes enabling readers to piece together an overall picture, yet at the same time bringing individual journeys as each woman fights their own battle from desperation to start a family, to sudden and unexpected loss and discovering your life was not as it seemed.

“ ...love is like building your house on quicksand. You never know when the whole thing is going to collapse.”

There’s definitely a message to be had in this story and there were moments which reminded me why I love her writing, but with a more somber, serious feel and little joy to behold until the final stretch, along with self-centredness being a trait passed from generation to generation, the Stewart women weren’t particularly easy to warm to.

“None of us are the same person at thirty-five that we were at eighteen.”

However the men of this story were the opposite end of the spectrum and true to form they’re strong, patient men with imperfections and huge hearts and I adored them for it. That’s not to say the women weren’t strong, despite their vulnerabilities and personal heartaches they absolutely were, and I did find myself softening to them the more I read, rooting for them to find their HEA’s.

“Sixteen years and he was still the sexiest man she’d ever laid eyes on.”

Whilst the story felt a little unfinished in not having an epilogue, particularly with it being a standalone, there’s no taking away the fact that How To Keep a Secret is a story with depth, heart, some romance and is one I‘d recommend checking it out for yourself. 3.5 stars.

The three generations of Stewart ladies are reunited in their family home; widowed mother Nancy, her daughters Lauren and Jenna and granddaughter Mackenzie. It’s not an easy homecoming for Lauren and her daughter Mack for many reasons. Mack’s father has recently passed away and they are now homeless and hoping to build a new life for themselves away from their friends in London and back on the island of Martha's Vineyard. They are still grieving and learning devastating secrets kept from them by Lauren’s husband. But move on they must.
Jenna and Lauren had always been close to each other and closer to their father than their mother who was a well respected artist. Their mother had always seemed remote, removed and untouchable to the two sisters but their father was approachable, charming and lots of fun. Jenna herself is at an all time low as this family saga begins. She’s a teacher and would really love a family of her own, but she is beginning to feel afraid she will never become pregnant, despite their best efforts. These women must learn to be a family once again and share their secrets so that they can support each other through the troubled times. They must also build on their relationships; learn about each other and work together to overcome their setbacks. This is what the beautifully written story ‘How to Keep a Secret’ is all about.
This is Sarah Morgan’s first standalone novel. Her previous novels were written as series which have been massively successful and I have read and hugely enjoyed them all. This new venture has allowed Sarah to create characters that are related and therefore their stories are already interwoven, but it has also facilitated more depth and other relationships than romantic involvements to be introduced. I have really enjoyed reading about the Stewart women. This is a poignant story about love and loss, tragedy and triumph, bonds and strengthening relationships, as well as deepening love and new romances. I lapped it all up.
.I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher HQ through my membership of NetGalley. These are my own honest and well considered opinions that are uninfluenced by any other reviews or publicity. This is a multi layered and involving story filled with interesting and diverse characters and plenty of interest to keep you engrossed.

Intricate story, cleverly written and very relatable. Another triumph from Sarah Morgan. Thank you for letting me read this book

4 - Take that step... Stars!

Sarah Morgan takes a step away from her normal one couple romance that her readers in general have become used to. Although over recent years those books have usually formed part of an ongoing series, each book has generally dealt with two specific people.

"Have you ever made a decision you regretted..?"

How to Keep a Secret focuses on three generations of women from the same family; the Stewart's - grandmothers, mothers, daughters and sisters, each and every one of them has their story told in this book from grieving teen Mack to Secret-Keeping matriarch and her grandmother Nancy Stewart. Her daughters Lauren and Jenna are also dealing with their own sets of issues as well, and although I found the whole thing a little slow going in the first half, once everyone got over their initial grievances with each other and started communicating in general things took a more positive spin.

"I wasn’t there for my girls… so how can I ask them to be there for me..?"

It’s difficult to say too much about this family’s story without giving something away, because Jenna is dealing with her own issues with her husband, while Lauren and Mack are dealing with the loss of hers, and the House of Cards that has literally fallen down around them in the aftermath of his untimely and unexpected death.

"We can’t turn back the clock… We can’t undo what was done."

Nancy; who up to this point hasn’t really been much of a mother to either of them for one reason or another, is the one I felt myself rooting for in the beginning because the author does a bang on job of giving you the POV’s of four pretty self-absorbed women, that isn’t a statement made in judgement, because the more you read, the more you can understand why they behave and react as they do, but I will say this definitely isn’t the authors usual light and airy, romantic style of story.

"Not all relationships are easy…"

But it is worth sticking with, and there are a few dashes of romance thrown into the mix just to keep things interesting.

Sixteen years… and he was still the sexiest man she had laid eyes on…

I still found the whole thing pretty engrossing, I will be honest and say I really struggled to like any of the women at the beginning, and it was in the latter stages that I actually warmed to them to any real degree. Sarah does an extremely good job of giving four women their own individual voice, and internal monologue, there were no blurred lines in understanding whose head you were in and I found the few little twists and turns that were added along the way kept everything fresh.

"Not every imperfection needs fixing… Sometimes you have to accept the flaw and live with it."

I think the one thing How to Keep a Secret highlights is the importance of family and close friendships, and how when we are at our lowest, these are the people who are still standing with us, who we look to, to help shore up our defenses in times of need, to be the wall that keeps away the darkness you are struggling to fight against, or the strong supporting beam you need to help hold you up against the desperation and sadness of a dream that you are unable to fulfill through no fault of your own.

"We’re all about honesty now… remember."

Definitely go into this book with an open mind, the author met my expectations in regards to the quality of writing, I kept my pre-conceived expectations as to what I would be reading firmly locked down though because I knew this story wouldn’t be like anything I have read from her previously, and that was 100% the case in my opinion. There are a lot of different issues being dealt with because of the breadth of the characters the author uses to deliver the story. It’s engaging, involving and runs you through a whole spectrum of emotions in its telling.

"I’m glad you came…"

Although the author says this is a one book story, I would have liked an epilogue that offered a snapshot of the family a couple of years down the line, because of everything that happened, I don’t feel I had full closure on any of the characters stories, that-said it was still a really great read.