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The Secret Desires of a Soccer Mom
“I felt fairly confident that I would take this information to my grave–even though it was the juiciest thing to happen in Aberdeen Mists in about eight years.”
Paige Atwell appears to have a fulfilling life in the cozy community of Aberdeen Mists–a nice house, a great husband, and two young kids. But behind the façade of neighborhood coffee klatches and carpools, Paige is growing restless with her increasingly busy spouse, the early onset of her ten-year-old daughter’s teenage hostility, and her young son’s alarming preoccupation with bodily functions.
When her friend and neighbor, Karen, looking even more vibrant and gorgeous than usual, confesses to a passionate affair with a sizzling Latin lover, Paige assesses her own state of domestic ecstasy: not good. But Paige’s attempts to “re-sexualize” her marriage produce comically calamitous consequences.
Just when Paige begins to wonder whether an extramarital remedy may be the key to happiness, Karen is found dead in her garage, lying in a pool of blood. The residents of Aberdeen Mists may be satisfied with the freak accident theory–that Karen fell and hit her head on a metal toolbox–but Paige knows the adulterous secret that could blow the closed case wide open.
With sleuthing skills acquired from her favorite TV crime dramas, Paige vows to find out the truth. Her list of potential perps (that’s what Law & Order calls them, right?) includes Karen’s aggrieved husband, Doug, and sexy Spanish lothario Javier. As Paige’s Miss Marple—esque adventure winds through her allegedly quiet enclave to the boundaries of her own fidelity, what she uncovers may prove more shocking than she ever imagined.
In this outrageously entertaining gem, Robyn Harding shines a light on the plight of suburban housewives–the sacrifices, the secrets, and the desperate lengths they’ll go to to keep up appearances. With a sharp wit and a delightfully unpredictable story line, Harding’s darkly funny novel examines whether the grass really is greener on the other side of the white picket fence . . . or if it’s just a good place to bury a body.
Paige Atwell appears to have a fulfilling life in the cozy community of Aberdeen Mists–a nice house, a great husband, and two young kids. But behind the façade of neighborhood coffee klatches and carpools, Paige is growing restless with her increasingly busy spouse, the early onset of her ten-year-old daughter’s teenage hostility, and her young son’s alarming preoccupation with bodily functions.
When her friend and neighbor, Karen, looking even more vibrant and gorgeous than usual, confesses to a passionate affair with a sizzling Latin lover, Paige assesses her own state of domestic ecstasy: not good. But Paige’s attempts to “re-sexualize” her marriage produce comically calamitous consequences.
Just when Paige begins to wonder whether an extramarital remedy may be the key to happiness, Karen is found dead in her garage, lying in a pool of blood. The residents of Aberdeen Mists may be satisfied with the freak accident theory–that Karen fell and hit her head on a metal toolbox–but Paige knows the adulterous secret that could blow the closed case wide open.
With sleuthing skills acquired from her favorite TV crime dramas, Paige vows to find out the truth. Her list of potential perps (that’s what Law & Order calls them, right?) includes Karen’s aggrieved husband, Doug, and sexy Spanish lothario Javier. As Paige’s Miss Marple—esque adventure winds through her allegedly quiet enclave to the boundaries of her own fidelity, what she uncovers may prove more shocking than she ever imagined.
In this outrageously entertaining gem, Robyn Harding shines a light on the plight of suburban housewives–the sacrifices, the secrets, and the desperate lengths they’ll go to to keep up appearances. With a sharp wit and a delightfully unpredictable story line, Harding’s darkly funny novel examines whether the grass really is greener on the other side of the white picket fence . . . or if it’s just a good place to bury a body.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 25, 2006
103 people are currently reading
1131 people want to read
About the author
Robyn Harding
20 books5,495 followersRobyn Harding is the bestselling author of several books and has written and executive produced an independent film. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her family and two cute but deadly rescue chihuahuas.
To learn more about Robyn's books visit: http://www.robynharding.com. Or follow her on Instagram: @rhardingwriter
or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRobynH...
To learn more about Robyn's books visit: http://www.robynharding.com. Or follow her on Instagram: @rhardingwriter
or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRobynH...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
February 10, 2013
It was free for kindle on amazon...and I know why. Enough said.
January 25, 2013
You know those times when you get a book on the Kindle because it's free or really close to it, and you read it, and it's not so horrible that you stop and delete it and scream GET THEE HENCE O CRAPTACULAR BIG PILE OF RUBBISH but also it's not so good that you could actually say that you enjoyed it and the protagonist is so annoying and so astonishingly inept at, well, everything, and her husband is absent to the point that you almost hope he is having an affair because HOW COULD HD BD SO STUPID AS TO FALL FOR THIS WOMAN'S ATTEMPTS AT SUBTERFUGE and even the friends are annoying too and omg how many men can one woman perve at because frankly I am often up for a little perve but this chick makes me look like a freaking nun and in the end after you finished the book you kind of wish you hadn't?
That.
That.
April 10, 2016
really not sure why I finished this book, it just wasn't very good. in fact, it was annoying
Read
September 18, 2012BORING! Couldn't even finish it I was so bored. :(
November 22, 2012
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I downloaded it to my kindle awhile ago, and had forgotten what it was about. It's a nice little story about suburban moms, that turns into a murder mystery. Yay! My kind of book. I liked the main character, Paige. Although I did think she was a little naive with Javier. Reading about her solving the mystery was fun. When the bad guy is revealed, it doesn't seem too "out there" like some murder mysteries. Paige seemed a little obsessed with solving her friend's murder, and goes above and beyond the call of friendship to get to the bottom of it. This book was a really pleasant way to spend a day.
January 20, 2009
I do really like Robyn Harding's books. I liked the mystery component of this book, but I got really irritated with all of the children/family stuff. If there was ever a book to convince me that I do not ever want to have a son, this did it.
That said, I read this book primarily on a plane, and it kept me occupied.
That said, I read this book primarily on a plane, and it kept me occupied.
August 2, 2020
Not much - sometimes I like Robyn and sometimes I don’t, this was a big DONT! Way over the top for me with the foul mouthed 6year old, his bratty sister and a sex crazed soccer mom! It dragged and was repetitious, at the halfway point I skimmed to the end. DNF
January 23, 2013
Cheesy, and has several typos...but entertaining enough for a book I got for free on my kindle....
June 1, 2017
No one was an actual soccer mom
April 5, 2013
I didn't hate this book but I far from loved it. I found the narrator annoying and not endearing at all plus she was just.....silly. There was a lot of unnecessary scenes in there and I felt it dragged in some places especially the end. I normally enjoy cozies and chick lit murder mysteries but this one was not a favorite.
August 21, 2012
Started out interesting and then the main charachter got somewhat annoying. Story line seemed to drag on and take too many unexpected turns... I knew who the murderer was the chapter after it happened yet that was only the 1/2 way point of the book.
October 7, 2013
Oh, my goodness. Guess I won't be getting any more free books on my kindle. Maybe they are self-published books?? Really bad. Rather like Danielle Steele -ish?
July 29, 2018
Dreadful title good book
After reading The Party, which was excellent, I wanted to read more by this author.
I avoided this one because the title put me off, but it ended up being pretty good.
After reading The Party, which was excellent, I wanted to read more by this author.
I avoided this one because the title put me off, but it ended up being pretty good.
July 12, 2021
Really entertaining!
Her self deprecating humor rang throughout this funny tale! It really was quite an introspective look at how our own inner dialogue, often rules our existence!
Her self deprecating humor rang throughout this funny tale! It really was quite an introspective look at how our own inner dialogue, often rules our existence!
October 15, 2025
It was perfect for a plane flight. I thought there were a lot of hilarious scenes in it, but I also thought the mystery fell pretty flat and I couldn't figure out why one of the characters was even in it as much as he was. Probably my least favorite Robyn Harding book i've read, but still fun.
August 24, 2018
Easy read
It was an easy read, light and breezy. There were times I was wishing it would just get back to the plot. But otherwise it kept my interest
It was an easy read, light and breezy. There were times I was wishing it would just get back to the plot. But otherwise it kept my interest
September 16, 2018
First time reading a book by this author and really enjoyed it! It wasn't at all predictable but did start to drag out a bit towards the end. An enjoyable read.
January 20, 2020
This author is amazing
June 15, 2020
Quick and amusing. I enjoyed the plot twist and the real life characters Robyn Harding created.
June 27, 2020
2.5 rounded up to 3 stars.
August 28, 2021
Great story
This was a pleasant surprise. Loved it immensely! Need to read more of her books. Did not guess the ending.
This was a pleasant surprise. Loved it immensely! Need to read more of her books. Did not guess the ending.
May 25, 2022
I generally enjoy Robyn Harding, not this one
August 19, 2022
Fun read with lots of 'laugh out loud' moments.
July 12, 2023
an ok book
The book was a little slow for me but I don’t like to DNF a book. I was shocked about Karen’s death, it didn’t really make sense to me
The book was a little slow for me but I don’t like to DNF a book. I was shocked about Karen’s death, it didn’t really make sense to me
February 3, 2024
Poor choice for a title but interesting.
February 15, 2024
bellissimo, una sorta di commedia-giallo, un ottimo mix, che rende la lettura leggera ma piena di colpi di scena
April 6, 2024
Didn't finish this book. Too shallow and lame for me.
October 27, 2024
This book was too predictable and not one of Robyn
Hardings better writings
Hardings better writings
July 21, 2025
Good Read!
March 7, 2017
La protagonista è adorabile, una pasticciona incredibile che porta a ridere spesso durante la lettura, nonostante si tratti di un giallo. Magari un po' scontata la conclusione, il colpevole è facilmente individuabile. Tutto sommato carino.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews