The Buried Secrets

by Talese Nicole

Jaliyah Wright’s life was just like one of the cakes behind her layered, beautiful, and perfectly curated for the world to admire. Her bakery thrived, her Instagram sparkled, and every post captured a woman who had it all under control.

But when her husband goes missing, the sweetness turns bitter. Cryptic warnings, puzzling memories, and strange messages start haunting her every move.

Someone is watching her.
Someone is following her.
The deeper she digs, the more her reality shatters.

Desperate and shaken, Jaliyah turns to a charming stranger who seems to care just a little too much. As her memories twist and the clues close in, the terrifying truth becomes impossible to Jaliyah hasn’t been living a mystery—she’s been living a lie.

187 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 17, 2025

Reviews

[Tanisha Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling!!

This was a wild and compelling psychological thriller! I almost feel like there could be a part two or a bonus chapter to see what happens next. I loved it and can't wait for Talese Nicole's next book!

[adoseof.adri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooooh this was good! This story really brought you right alongside the main character’s growing suspense the whole time. That ending is NOT what I expected!

I have really enjoyed everything this author writes so far.

[Octavia Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind blown!

Jaliyah’s journey was certainly a rollercoaster ride. My jaw was on the floor. This was such an intense read. I loved every moment of it

[Azriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow…. Wow! This one left me speechless! Jaliyah is definitely one of the most delusional, unhinged FMCs I’ve read about. This story kept me on edge trying to figure out what the hell happened to her husband and what this JP guys motives actually were.
While I had a few theories, I did not guess the plot twist!!! My jaw was on the floor! I enjoyed how the story came together in the end. I’ll never listen to Nina Simone’s I Put a Spell on You the same after reading this! 😂

Thank you Talese Nicole for the arc!

Okay, go read it NOW! Bye!

[Toya Davis-Stokley · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read by this author, and I am in awe! 🥰 I go into this read with my heart breaking for Jaliyah, after learning that Vincent just walked out on her, leaving her to care for Seven all alone. 😤 Although she is hurt by his absence, her business is thriving, and she is loving her job as a mother. Then strange happenings begin that shake her to her core! Who is after her, and why? Is it Vincent trying to break her more? 👀 Ughhhh…. My heart is racing as the story gets more intense, and I’m itching to know more!

Then here comes JP out of nowhere with a smile, and an answer to everything. What is he up to? What does he want, or is he involved with all this? I was not ready when the pieces started to come together! This thang turned on its head, and I am shooketh!! What?????🤯 This was a great read, and I will be checking this author out again soon. 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[Gabby Penn Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn Talese!
I don’t even know what to say about this book besides DAMN!
You did it with this one!
Damn!

[alissa a ᖭིᖫྀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i was literally standing up to finish the last 20% of this book because my heart couldn't take it sitting down.

❛❜ You’re delusional, Jaliyah,” he said, pacing by the counter in the bakery while I stood in front of the sink. “You need help. Real help. Not that performative ‘I’m healing’ bullshit you post about on social media. You’re sick.” My hands were shaking, gripping the edge of the counter so tight the stainless steel pressed into my palms. “I’m not crazy, Vincent. You made me this way! You lie, and you gaslight me like I’m imagining things. ❛❜

my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

if i could give The Buried Secrets 6 stars, i would. 😭 i went into this blind because i loved A Beautiful Disaster so much, and Talese Nicole did NOT disappoint. this story is incredibly touching but absolutely heartbreaking. you think you have it figured out? trust me, you don’t. my assumptions were 100% wrong. even though, 2 clues should’ve been obvious..i still didn’t get it lol. once we finally got to that room she was in, i was literally standing up to read because i couldn't breathe, tears were streaming down my face. the way my heart fell to my toes when everything clicked... i can’t even describe it. it reminded me so much of a Tyler Perry Straw, imagining things because your mind was protecting you from reality. that level of shock and what happened to Jaliyah was something i wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. and don’t even get me started on Vincent. 😤 it kept making me so mad how he didn’t understand what she was going through! calling her "crazy" when she lost something so precious? the lack of empathy had me screaming. i don’t want to blame anyone, but let’s be for real… Vincent is the one to blame.. the ending was so sad... he really did try his best in the end, but man, this book took a piece of me. PLEASE go read this!

[ZaKiyyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the absolute pleasure of beta reading The Buried Secret, and let me just say—this book took me on a complete roller coaster ride! Jaliyah, the FMC, carries you through the raw, emotional journey of a woman scorned in the most intense, layered, and impossible way!
The writing is seamless, pulling you deeper with every chapter, and then everything comes together at the end with a mouth dropping plot twist! Just when you think you have it figured out, the story flips the script and leaves you stunned….AF! This was a powerful, satisfying, and unforgettable read!

[Mia L Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Buried Secrets

Wow....just wow!! This book is insanely good...pun intended. Talese Nicole, I don't know where you had to go to come up with these words, but ma'am you did the work.

I was confused at first, I was thinking that her husband was trying to make her believe all this craziness. Then I thought JP was in on it. It wasn't until JP walked into the room after she remembered everything that happened for me to realize it was Jaliyah's delusions instead.

And poor JP, she totally let him know that he would always be hers. This is a very good book!

[WhatKiReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speechless!

The plot twist at the end was …. wow. I was rooting for Jaliyah & was blown away. I couldn’t put this down bc I too wanted to know where Vincent cheating a** was at for 6 months. My mouth was on the floor with JP & everything he’s done.

This book kept my attention and I am looking forward to read more from Talese.

[Elonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twists You’ll Never See Coming

Oh my goodness! This was amazingly good. I love a good psychological thriller especially with twists and turns you don’t see coming! I definitely will read more by Talese Nicole!

[Erin Muhleisen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good until the end. Several could be twists never amounted to anything, and the ending felt like a complete cop-out. The tension and mystery made it hard to put down, but it left me disappointed by the finish.

[Bre Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

Such a great read! I loved how everything tied together in the end. I highly recommend it and can’t wait to dive into more of Talese Nicole’s catalog!

[_dulcekk · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!

This was a ride. I am unwell, left completely speechless. I didn’t see any of the twists coming! This story was written beautifully.

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Ride!!

This book took us on a wild, wild ride with its suspense, drama and ups and downs. I certainly wasn't expecting that ending which made it a great read.

[Phyllis J · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!! First read by this author, off the chain. I couldn’t read fast enough to keep up with what was happening. The ending, WOW

[Tayo B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Unhinged!!! This was a good read! The ending?? What a twist!!