@currentlyreading__
Book 15 of 2023

Thank you to @netgalley and the author Minna Howard for the audio copy of 'A Mother's Secret'. This is just what I wanted and the fact it was on audio meant I could listen whilst driving and going about my business. The narration was lovely and really kept me gripped to Minna's story.

Verity has an empty house - two sons away at university and a husband working in Singapore. She wants to revel in her solitude and enjoy the space to go at her own pace but one evening a stranger appears on her doorstep. Saskia claims that Verity's husband is her father after her mother got pregnant in Greece prior to Verity meeting her husband. Saskia is pregnant so Verity is not only faced with a potential step-daughter but also a step-grandchild.

This is a charming book, it was great escapism and it is certainly one if you want a gentle read complete with family drama.

#bookstagram #bibliophile #bookworm #book #booknerd #bookstagrammer #kindle #instabook #reader #bookobsessed

Unfortunately this one wasn’t for me. I didn’t think it was particularly well written, it was quite slow and I found the narrator very annoying to listen to. I also didn’t like any of the characters

So I been reading but not posting reviews again lol. But here’s a review A Mother’s Secret by Minna Howard, which is light semi-messy book that I listened to on audio. Thanks to #Netgalley and #SagaEgmont for gifting me with an advanced audio of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book read like a reality tv show set in the UK and I was here for it.

Synopsis: Verity and her husband Nathan are empty nesters, that desperately need to get the spice back on her life. Sastica comes knocking on Verity’s door, pregnant and allegeding that Nathan is her father as a result of a summer love affair that occured shortly before he met Verity. This could be answered with a quick paternity test, but Nathan is away on business. Verity finds herself trying to keep the peace while simultaneously dealing with her own issues.

I really enjoyed Verity’s character. She gave me the friend who everyone dumps their ish on, because she can ‘handle it’ 🙄. She did come across a little as a push over in the beginning of the book. However, the author shows the exhaustion that comes with being a people pleaser and we see Verity gradually decide to give it up.

I enjoyed Verity’s messy friend. The MIL was also messy, but not as enjoyable.Sastica came across as annoying. She was really naive and a hardheaded. I could’ve done without her POV. Overall it was a good read and the plot was constantly going.

My rating is 4/5

Narrated by Jilly Bond ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Author Minna Howard⭐⭐⭐ 3.5
I really enjoyed this story and the characters. It was quite lovely but it ended very abruptly. Also the cover does not do the book any justice. It deserves a much better cover.

*3.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"It was just another drama to deal with."

A Mother's Secret by English author Minna Howard is a contemporary family drama about choosing love and forgiveness rather than unhealthy grudges.

Verity is a happily married teacher with two successful grown sons. Everything changes when pregnant Saskia knocks on her door and claims Verity's husband is her father.

Narrator Jilly Bond helps elevate this story in her portrayal of Verity voicing her fears about her marriage, her new step daughter's place in her their lives and the innocent grandchild whose father left Saskia alone romantically, financially and physically. There are some unlikeable characters but I appreciated the relationship between Verity and Saskia as two women at a crossroads in their life.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Saga Egmont via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

**This Review Is For The Audiobook**

A Mother's Secret is a feel-good, entertaining story about women who find themselves in unexpected and difficult situations and make the best of them.
I recommend this book to women who enjoy heartwarming stories about families who overcome difficult situations. Though the end is predictable, it isn't overly romantic, so I'm giving the story one extra point for that.
I look forward to reading more by this author.

With thanks to Netgalley, Saga Egmont Audio and Minna Howard for the advanced digital audiobook.

Contemporary Fiction with a dab of Mystery! A Mother’s Secret is a novel full of secrets and shifting family dynamics. The audio version had well executed accents and each chapter ended on a cliff hanger that made the reader want to read more!

This audio book was slightly random at points and I was left a bit feeling what was the point of that part when ends were not tied up, I enjoyed the narration and the relationship between the characters though just wasn’t what I was expecting.

Saskia finds herself at the doorstep of her father’s house after finding out who he is, years later and following her mother’s death. Verity opens the door to find her husband has a daughter he never knew existed. Not only that, she’s pregnant!

This was a quick read that I felt was trying to cram in a lot of different storylines, it felt a little chaotic. It’s dual POV with multiple love interests, dramatic subplots and very many different family members and friends to remember.

I think if this was a longer book with more character development it would be a great read - just not for me.

A Mother's Secret by Minna Howard is a good contemporary fiction novel. I related much more to Verity than Saskia, but was able to enjoy both of their journeys through this book. I've read a couple reviews that complained about the ending, but I didn't see anything wrong with it; nothing was left unresolved.

I gave A Mother's Secret 4 stars instead of 5 because there were a couple times when I found one character to have the same internal dialogue as another, which was annoying and took me out of the story. Also, I found a couple storylines unnecessary and couple more that were too short and would have been better had they been expanded on throughout the book.

Jilly Bond, usually a great narrator, really helped bring these characters to life.

Thank you to Saga Egmont Audio for providing me with an ALC.

This was such an amazingly easy listen - I didn’t want it to stop.

The story line is nothing complex but it pulled me in. The characters were so well written I became so invested in them and their lives.

I related to so many aspects in a round about way. I would definitely recommend this book. Light hearted family drama at its best.

Audiobook
This novel began like a soap opera. A young pregnant woman shows up on the doorstep claiming the man of the house is her father and she needs a place to crash for a while. Of course, the dad is out of town and his wife is left dealing with this situation. The soap opera theme continued until ~50%. Then it became considerably less interesting as everything fell unbelievably into place and everybody became a happy family. This was a disappointment. I liked the one-thing-after-another drama. It was fun and reminded me of the night times soaps from the 80s.
It seemed the author did not know what to do with the complicated situation she created at the beginning of the book. I did not expect a feel-good second half. It felt like two books stuck together and they did not meld very well.
I gave it 3 stars because it was entertaining, but the conclusion was anticlimactic.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Verity is married. with 2 grown sons. She has lived a comfortable life and now occupies her time tutoring/teaching students that are behind for a variety of reasons. While her husband is away on an extended business trip, she answers the door to a young woman claiming to be her husband's daughter. Saskia has just lost her mother, is pregnant and has no family and nowhere to go. At first I felt Verity and Saskia with superficial characters without much substance. However, I was quickly proven wrong. I came to adore Verity and the way in which she tackled life! Over all this was a great and entertaining read with a fair amount of substance. I'd definitely recommend! 3.5 stars from me!
***Huge thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to listen to in exchange for an honest review.

This is a good book about a family that receives a shocking newcomer. Saskia shows up pregnant on the doorstep looking foe her father, Nathan. The result of a summer fling from before his marriage, Nathan had no idea that he had fathered a daughter. The story progresses and everyone in the family finds their new footing with the alteration to their known family dynamic.

A Mother's Secret
by Minna Howard (Goodreads Author)
Colleen Chi-Girl's review on Oct 30, 2022
Bookshelves: 2022, audio, contemporary, england-uk, europe, netgalley, women-centered

I listened to A Mother's Secret on audiobook and I'd like to thank the author, Minna Howard, NetGalley, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. (Although it says that I read the Kindle edition, GoodReads doesn't yet have an "audio edition" choice for this novel.

I really enjoyed the originality of this sweet and heartwarming story. The talented narrator really made the story come alive and it has some good feels to it. We could all use some of that!

The story, set in contemporary England, centers on an older married couple, Verity and her husband, who receive an unusual message from a young woman, Saskia. This happens while the husband is out of the country on a difficult work project. It then gives Verity and Saskia the opportunity to get to know each other. There are other likeable and unlikeable characters who make an appearance or become part of this lovely group of people. The elephant in the room is that a lot of AWFUL things happen to Saskia, which put suspension of disbelief to the test. Go along with it because the story keeps developing and the ride is a sweet one.

The advertising caption about the novel having a secret that could destroy the family might be a bit misleading or overly dramatic, and again, I'd recommend just going with the charm of the story and characters.