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No Safe Secret
In her powerful new novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels weaves a story of betrayal, courage, and starting over…
From her silver Mercedes to her designer kitchen, Molly's life is gleaming and beautiful—at least on the surface. Married to Tanner, a top cosmetic dentist, she has a wonderful daughter finishing high school and twin stepsons from Tanner's first marriage. No one in her exclusive neighborhood in Goldenhills, Massachusetts, knows what living with the demanding Tanner is really like. They know even less about the life she left behind in Florida almost two decades ago.
Back then, Molly was Maddy Carmichael, living with her twin brother and neglectful mother in a run-down trailer park amid the orange groves of Florida. After the terrible events of her high school prom night—and the act of vengeance that followed—she fled north and reinvented herself. But the veneer of Molly's polished existence is finally cracking.
As secrets old and new are revealed, Molly must face painful truths and the choices she made in their wake—and find the strength to become the woman she once hoped to be.
From her silver Mercedes to her designer kitchen, Molly's life is gleaming and beautiful—at least on the surface. Married to Tanner, a top cosmetic dentist, she has a wonderful daughter finishing high school and twin stepsons from Tanner's first marriage. No one in her exclusive neighborhood in Goldenhills, Massachusetts, knows what living with the demanding Tanner is really like. They know even less about the life she left behind in Florida almost two decades ago.
Back then, Molly was Maddy Carmichael, living with her twin brother and neglectful mother in a run-down trailer park amid the orange groves of Florida. After the terrible events of her high school prom night—and the act of vengeance that followed—she fled north and reinvented herself. But the veneer of Molly's polished existence is finally cracking.
As secrets old and new are revealed, Molly must face painful truths and the choices she made in their wake—and find the strength to become the woman she once hoped to be.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 29, 2016
3067 people are currently reading
3458 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
424 books6,516 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 460 reviews
May 16, 2018
Engrossing story about a woman who has suffered through many abusive relationships--first with her mother and brother while growing up, and later with her husband and stepsons. A really good story that held my interest with a likable lead in Molly/Maddy, and some pretty horrible characters, as well. I loved when Molly finally stood up for herself and took back her life and became a stronger woman.
May 30, 2022
Two and a half stars
Maddie’s prom night does not turn out as all as she had hoped. It ends up a disaster and one that affects her for years to come. It forces her to change her life radically and to change her name. Maddie becomes Molly Hall. As Molly Hall she meets and then marries Tanner, who is a well off dentist. He has two boys from a previous marriage. His first wife died in a fall down stairs. Molly has is happy to take on Graham and Holden as her own and then she and Tanner have a daughter, Kristen. But life for Molly is not as smooth as it appears from the outside, especially once Graham and Holden get older. Molly seems powerless to change it. But then comes a phone call that changes her life.But will it be for the better? Or put her in more danger?
I found this a hard book to read. A warning to other readers, there are triggers of rape and abuse. At the end in her notes, the author mentions she has been a victim of sexual abuse herself. This should give great insights into the characters and the effects of such incidents, for those of us who have never experienced such behaviour. Yet for some reason, the characters never really came alive for me. The ending is rushed and too pat.
While the subject is one that needs to be addressed, the story never quite worked or this reader. Repetition was another annoying aspect. How many times did readers need to be told Molly loved the boys as toddlers until they got older and changed? Others may find this a good read but for me it was just okay. But different people may respond better to the characters, which I found one dimensional. I did not read it twice as Goodreads for some reason says. Once was enough.
Maddie’s prom night does not turn out as all as she had hoped. It ends up a disaster and one that affects her for years to come. It forces her to change her life radically and to change her name. Maddie becomes Molly Hall. As Molly Hall she meets and then marries Tanner, who is a well off dentist. He has two boys from a previous marriage. His first wife died in a fall down stairs. Molly has is happy to take on Graham and Holden as her own and then she and Tanner have a daughter, Kristen. But life for Molly is not as smooth as it appears from the outside, especially once Graham and Holden get older. Molly seems powerless to change it. But then comes a phone call that changes her life.But will it be for the better? Or put her in more danger?
I found this a hard book to read. A warning to other readers, there are triggers of rape and abuse. At the end in her notes, the author mentions she has been a victim of sexual abuse herself. This should give great insights into the characters and the effects of such incidents, for those of us who have never experienced such behaviour. Yet for some reason, the characters never really came alive for me. The ending is rushed and too pat.
While the subject is one that needs to be addressed, the story never quite worked or this reader. Repetition was another annoying aspect. How many times did readers need to be told Molly loved the boys as toddlers until they got older and changed? Others may find this a good read but for me it was just okay. But different people may respond better to the characters, which I found one dimensional. I did not read it twice as Goodreads for some reason says. Once was enough.
February 14, 2016
I received this book free from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is definitely my favourite Fern Michaels from the last number of years. While I have enjoyed the Sisterhood novels, I needed something a little different from her, and this one delivered!!
Maddy lives in small town Florida in a crappy trailer with an absentee neglectful mother and a twin brother, who is just not a nice person. After a tragic prom night, Maddy flees town in her red Mustang and leaves the dirt of that small town behind but what happened that night is never far from her thoughts.
She starts over in a new town, with a new name. She says nothing to anyone about what happened to her or who she is. Eventually she marries a widower with two little twin toddler boys. She believes this will give her the security and family that she has been longing for. Little does she know, she has exchanged one hellish existence for another. She goes through day by day as the trophy wife of a wealthy dentist; she lives in a nice house with his two boys, and the daughter Kristen she shares with her husband Tanner. She has beautiful clothes and shoes, has lovely parties, but the life that looks glamorous and enviable on the outside, isn't what it seems.
When she gets a mysterious phone call threatening to reveal her past, she is forced to come to terms and face everything she has been hiding from. The only bright light in her life, her daughter Kristen, has gone to Europe for the summer, there is nothing holding her back now from dealing with the secrets she has been keeping.
I read, cringing, as Maddy was abused over and over. It's so easy to sat back and judge and think about what she should do or say, but this book gave a very real account of how someone in those situations would react. As hard as some parts were to read, I devoured this book quickly; I was enthralled. Although a couple of Maddy/Molly's tirades were a little over the top, I relished the vengeance delivered, similar to the Sisterhood novels, but still so very delightful to read. I think we all have the desire for revenge at some point in our lives, when we see some sort of justice given, it makes us just a little satisfied. I highly recommend this novel; it's a quick read and worth every minute.
Thank you Net galley for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel.
This is definitely my favourite Fern Michaels from the last number of years. While I have enjoyed the Sisterhood novels, I needed something a little different from her, and this one delivered!!
Maddy lives in small town Florida in a crappy trailer with an absentee neglectful mother and a twin brother, who is just not a nice person. After a tragic prom night, Maddy flees town in her red Mustang and leaves the dirt of that small town behind but what happened that night is never far from her thoughts.
She starts over in a new town, with a new name. She says nothing to anyone about what happened to her or who she is. Eventually she marries a widower with two little twin toddler boys. She believes this will give her the security and family that she has been longing for. Little does she know, she has exchanged one hellish existence for another. She goes through day by day as the trophy wife of a wealthy dentist; she lives in a nice house with his two boys, and the daughter Kristen she shares with her husband Tanner. She has beautiful clothes and shoes, has lovely parties, but the life that looks glamorous and enviable on the outside, isn't what it seems.
When she gets a mysterious phone call threatening to reveal her past, she is forced to come to terms and face everything she has been hiding from. The only bright light in her life, her daughter Kristen, has gone to Europe for the summer, there is nothing holding her back now from dealing with the secrets she has been keeping.
I read, cringing, as Maddy was abused over and over. It's so easy to sat back and judge and think about what she should do or say, but this book gave a very real account of how someone in those situations would react. As hard as some parts were to read, I devoured this book quickly; I was enthralled. Although a couple of Maddy/Molly's tirades were a little over the top, I relished the vengeance delivered, similar to the Sisterhood novels, but still so very delightful to read. I think we all have the desire for revenge at some point in our lives, when we see some sort of justice given, it makes us just a little satisfied. I highly recommend this novel; it's a quick read and worth every minute.
Thank you Net galley for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel.
March 16, 2016
I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.
To be honest I've never read a fern Michaels novel before. If this was any true indication of fern's writing style, you would be persuaded not to read any.
I'm going to say that the writing lead me to believe this wasn't written by Fern Michaels but from someone else. I also want to say that with some major editing and rewrites, and some character building, and a developed storyline this could be a plausible book. Sorry I just didn't feel anything for the protagonist, her story the situation she went through, it just didn't have any emotions emitting from this book or characters.
To be honest I've never read a fern Michaels novel before. If this was any true indication of fern's writing style, you would be persuaded not to read any.
I'm going to say that the writing lead me to believe this wasn't written by Fern Michaels but from someone else. I also want to say that with some major editing and rewrites, and some character building, and a developed storyline this could be a plausible book. Sorry I just didn't feel anything for the protagonist, her story the situation she went through, it just didn't have any emotions emitting from this book or characters.
April 9, 2016
I received this from NetGalley to read and review. Molly/Maddie had led a difficult life. During her early years, she lived with her crappy mother and twin brother in a trailer in Florida. After a horrible experience at the hands of her brother and his buddies on her prom night, Molly/Maddie ran away. Later, she met and married Tanner, a cosmetic dentist, who also treated her badly. By the time she married Tanner, she had changed her name from Maddie to Molly, and never told anyone the truth about her past. Again, Molly’s married life with Tanner life was miserable. Tanner expected total perfection from her at all times, regardless of the situation. Her step-sons, also twins, were arrogant, unruly and very disrespectful. Only her daughter treated Molly with any respect, and even told Molly she could not understand why she even stayed with Tanner. Still, Molly stayed for twenty years in this loveless, abusive marriage. However, after one horrid and frightful night, Molly ran away from Tanner. How she did this and managed to stay away becomes a story in itself. Of course, Molly had done it years before, so she had an advantage when she chose to run away from Tanner and her terrible marriage.
The story was both interesting and fascinating. I never could understand why Molly even stayed with Tanner, but I figured she realized she had few options. The abuse she endured from everyone but her daughter was difficult for me to accept or understand. What I found most difficult to take was the way Tanner encouraged his sons to treat Molly so badly, as if he was doing just time with his sons as surrogates. It was also interesting that no one really knew what was going on in her marriage, except Molly, Tanner and her daughter (not sure of her sons, and I saw no real indication they were anything but spoiled, unappreciative, brazen boys, encouraged and supported in all their bad deeds by their father). I wondered how Molly ever put up with what she did for as long as she did, since she had earlier endured another difficult situation and should have known better.
The book moved along nicely and smoothly until the ending, which was hurried, with everything happening too fast, with no prior indications. It was almost as if the author suddenly realized she had to end the book and did so in the shortest way possible, regardless how abrupt that was or how inconsistent with the rest of the book. For me this sort of ruined what I had been considering a not too bad book. The character were developed. The plot was moving along smoothly and steadily. Then, wham! It all ended, while I was ready for the same steady smoothness of the rest of the book. I have read most of Fern Michaels books and do not remember any ending so abruptly. I was kind of sorry this one did, since it really ruined a lot of this good story for me. I am still trying to figure out what happened to have the author end it so quickly. I guess she really did not have a good idea about to end it, she had a deadline to meet, or had a limit on the amount of pages she was contracted for. Whatever the reason, I am sorry the story ended so abruptly, with almost no hints throughout about how it was going to turn out. I had wondered if it would be another cliff hanger, and, since it was not, am grateful for that. Still, it is not like her other books—at least, not those I have read.
The story was both interesting and fascinating. I never could understand why Molly even stayed with Tanner, but I figured she realized she had few options. The abuse she endured from everyone but her daughter was difficult for me to accept or understand. What I found most difficult to take was the way Tanner encouraged his sons to treat Molly so badly, as if he was doing just time with his sons as surrogates. It was also interesting that no one really knew what was going on in her marriage, except Molly, Tanner and her daughter (not sure of her sons, and I saw no real indication they were anything but spoiled, unappreciative, brazen boys, encouraged and supported in all their bad deeds by their father). I wondered how Molly ever put up with what she did for as long as she did, since she had earlier endured another difficult situation and should have known better.
The book moved along nicely and smoothly until the ending, which was hurried, with everything happening too fast, with no prior indications. It was almost as if the author suddenly realized she had to end the book and did so in the shortest way possible, regardless how abrupt that was or how inconsistent with the rest of the book. For me this sort of ruined what I had been considering a not too bad book. The character were developed. The plot was moving along smoothly and steadily. Then, wham! It all ended, while I was ready for the same steady smoothness of the rest of the book. I have read most of Fern Michaels books and do not remember any ending so abruptly. I was kind of sorry this one did, since it really ruined a lot of this good story for me. I am still trying to figure out what happened to have the author end it so quickly. I guess she really did not have a good idea about to end it, she had a deadline to meet, or had a limit on the amount of pages she was contracted for. Whatever the reason, I am sorry the story ended so abruptly, with almost no hints throughout about how it was going to turn out. I had wondered if it would be another cliff hanger, and, since it was not, am grateful for that. Still, it is not like her other books—at least, not those I have read.
May 18, 2016
My first Fern Michaels novel and I really enjoyed the audiobook.
May 30, 2016
I won a copy of this thru the Goodreads Giveaways. I read this book in just a few hours, couldn't put it down once I started. Loved the characters and the whole story. Many parts of the book really touched me. Definitely a must read.
May 10, 2023
Fantastic
Fast moving with lots of twists and turns.
A book that kept me on the edge of my seat to the very end.
Strong characterization. I found myself cheering for Molly throughout the whole book.
Fantastic book that I highly recommend.
Fast moving with lots of twists and turns.
A book that kept me on the edge of my seat to the very end.
Strong characterization. I found myself cheering for Molly throughout the whole book.
Fantastic book that I highly recommend.
May 1, 2016
Could be used for a campfire, I guess.
July 8, 2016
This is my second Fern Michaels book. The first book was romance which is not really my genre but I saw that she had written so many books. I wasn't going to read anymore of her work due to romance but when I read the reviews of this book I had to take a chance. I loved the story line due to the message of abuse, rape and of family betrayal. The author has done a really good job that e poses everyday life for many women. I also like that she even indicated an agency and number. The message in this book shows the endurance women go through and that their is hope.
April 15, 2016
This is my first Fern Michaels book, as she is mostly a romance writer, which is not a genre I read. So when I saw this book was tagged only as fiction, I thought it would be a good read as she is a very popular writer.
Maddy Carmichael is about to graduate high school. On the night of her prom, terrible things happen to her, and she flees her small Florida hometown.
She manages to get to Boston, changes her name and builds a new life for herself. she even marries a good looking, rich dentist, who also happens to be a terrible abuser.
The books takes us back and forth from when Maddie leaves Florida to Boston, 20 years before, to her actual life, which is not much better than it was before, even if she has money, a big house and a lovely daughter.
When somebody makes an anonymous call telling her he knows what happened on the night of her prom, she decides to go back to Florida and find out for herself the consequences of what happened that night.
The book is very fast paced, I couldn't wait to see how the plot developed, but (and a very big but!!!) I never really knew what happened on that fateful night, and the end develops in the last 10 pages or so. I felt as if I had missed something, as the tension built during the whole book and then it ended so fast.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
Maddy Carmichael is about to graduate high school. On the night of her prom, terrible things happen to her, and she flees her small Florida hometown.
She manages to get to Boston, changes her name and builds a new life for herself. she even marries a good looking, rich dentist, who also happens to be a terrible abuser.
The books takes us back and forth from when Maddie leaves Florida to Boston, 20 years before, to her actual life, which is not much better than it was before, even if she has money, a big house and a lovely daughter.
When somebody makes an anonymous call telling her he knows what happened on the night of her prom, she decides to go back to Florida and find out for herself the consequences of what happened that night.
The book is very fast paced, I couldn't wait to see how the plot developed, but (and a very big but!!!) I never really knew what happened on that fateful night, and the end develops in the last 10 pages or so. I felt as if I had missed something, as the tension built during the whole book and then it ended so fast.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
April 3, 2016
I found this to be a very strange, poorly constructed novel, though because it was so short it seemed more of a novella. The protagonist's actions were inexplicable to me and quite bizarre, one of those books were the author forces her plot on the characters so that their actions seem senseless.
In the beginning of the book the protagonist fears something is very wrong and feels the hairs on the back of her neck rising. In fact, she makes an extremely cogent argument not to do what she ends up doing, with disastrous consequences - she swears never to ignore her gut feeling again. A couple of months later she ignores her instincts and goes ahead and not only works for but marries the man, who she felt uneasy around!
There is no grey in this book, either the character is evil and despicable and the protagonist hates them or they are wonderful. The main character starts out as spineless,seemingly not very bright victim and suddenly morphs into a vengeful, screaming harbinger of justice complete with a cherry red Mustang. Along the way, she picks up a stray cat, so she must be a nice person; altogether a very odd read.
In the beginning of the book the protagonist fears something is very wrong and feels the hairs on the back of her neck rising. In fact, she makes an extremely cogent argument not to do what she ends up doing, with disastrous consequences - she swears never to ignore her gut feeling again. A couple of months later she ignores her instincts and goes ahead and not only works for but marries the man, who she felt uneasy around!
There is no grey in this book, either the character is evil and despicable and the protagonist hates them or they are wonderful. The main character starts out as spineless,seemingly not very bright victim and suddenly morphs into a vengeful, screaming harbinger of justice complete with a cherry red Mustang. Along the way, she picks up a stray cat, so she must be a nice person; altogether a very odd read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2016
I was given an ARC of No Safe Secret from NetGalley for an honest review and this is my review.
I really enjoyed this book. Molly was one of those characters that the reader had no choice but to want to come out on top with everything that she had to endure throughout the book. I will admit there were times that I wanted to shake her because she seemed like she was being a doormat to her abusive husband or just too naive it was driving me nuts but in the end that is what made her such a special character.
This book shows the reader how someone can overcome almost anything and set their life into motion the way they want it to go. Fern Michaels told this beautiful through Molly's story.
I am giving No Safe Secret five out of five stars.
I really enjoyed this book. Molly was one of those characters that the reader had no choice but to want to come out on top with everything that she had to endure throughout the book. I will admit there were times that I wanted to shake her because she seemed like she was being a doormat to her abusive husband or just too naive it was driving me nuts but in the end that is what made her such a special character.
This book shows the reader how someone can overcome almost anything and set their life into motion the way they want it to go. Fern Michaels told this beautiful through Molly's story.
I am giving No Safe Secret five out of five stars.
October 6, 2017
I have read several of Fern Michaels’ books. I find that I don’t enjoy her series books. They are too “lightweight” and predictable. However, her stand-alone books seem to be much better quality. This one was really good, in fact it was riveting.
Maddy Carmichael is a high school senior. Her mother is a drunk and her brother an absolute jerk. It is her prom night and she has bought herself a lovely dress. She hopes to have one night to remember – and that she does. She is brutally raped by several of her brother’s friends. Later that night she flees her home, planning to head North and reinvent herself. However, a final act of revenge follows her.
It is 21 years later and she in now Molly McCann, married to an affluent dentist, lives in a beautiful home, has two stepsons, and a daughter that she adores. From outside appearances she lives the perfect life. But Molly is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about her past, and no one knows how abusive her husband is. At some point secrets come out, and as her life starts to unravel there are secrets she didn’t even know.
I had trouble putting this book down. Each chapter just pulled me in more and more.
Thank you to GoodReads and Kensington Press for the advance copy.
Maddy Carmichael is a high school senior. Her mother is a drunk and her brother an absolute jerk. It is her prom night and she has bought herself a lovely dress. She hopes to have one night to remember – and that she does. She is brutally raped by several of her brother’s friends. Later that night she flees her home, planning to head North and reinvent herself. However, a final act of revenge follows her.
It is 21 years later and she in now Molly McCann, married to an affluent dentist, lives in a beautiful home, has two stepsons, and a daughter that she adores. From outside appearances she lives the perfect life. But Molly is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about her past, and no one knows how abusive her husband is. At some point secrets come out, and as her life starts to unravel there are secrets she didn’t even know.
I had trouble putting this book down. Each chapter just pulled me in more and more.
Thank you to GoodReads and Kensington Press for the advance copy.
September 4, 2016
This was my first Fern Michaels read. I derived the same satisfaction from this book as I might from watching a movie on Lifetime. It required little time to get through, didn't have a lot of complexity of characters or depth, but at the same time Ms. Michaels told a good story. I enjoyed it because it demonstrated a woman's ability to rise up and confront both her past and her abusers while offering hope to others that one doesn't simply have to suffer the abysmal hand they've been dealt. There is always another path. I even read a little about Fern Michaels because there was something in the way she told this story that made me think she might have traveled a similarly difficult journey. I learned she was married to a not-so-nice man who told her after her kids were grown that she "needed to get her ass out and get a job." She had no skills outside of being a wife and mother of five. Despite her (then) husband's derision, she set out to write. Good for her!
April 4, 2016
Definitely a bit of a change for Fern Michaels, for one thing the dog was missing (however, a kitten did make an appearance). Not the typical romance, but still a well delivered story, even if the underlying concept was domestic violence. Really enjoyed how the story completed full circle -- 7 out of 10.
March 1, 2017
This book has a predictable plot, though it's written well. I'd give it three stars, but I couldn't stomach the unrealistic happy ending that a seriously abused housewife starts dating the love of her life a week after he rescues her from her abusive ex. Really? Come on!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2019
For the subject matter covered, No Safe Secret does a great job conveying the thoughts, emotions, and fears surrounding the situations revealed in the story. Having the story go back and forth between the two time periods in Maddy/Molly's life was done quite well, no sense of getting lost of where one was in the story line. However, I had hoped to read more about the interactions between Maddy/Molly and Tanner after their first initial meeting and leading up to their marriage, as I was shocked on why she was even attracted to him and wondered if there was anything that would've changed her initial feelings about him between the two time periods. There were times where information was repetitive- some chapters apart, others within the same paragraph just written in different ways. Furthermore, towards the end, some information or plot points were given but there was nothing to tie-up what happened after its reveal or the significance of why it was being introduced. The sudden epilogue ending added to this disappointment as I felt there was so much left unsolved or explained. Overall, No Safe Secret is an enjoyable read even if the subject matter can be a bit rough for some to read about.
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October 30, 2016I didn't read enough of this book to give it a fair review. Suffice to say, it wasn't the book for me.
I won this book through the Goodreads giveaway program and am very glad I did. I appreciate the program, and the authors and publishers who provide the books.
I passed the book on to someone who will enjoy it.
I won this book through the Goodreads giveaway program and am very glad I did. I appreciate the program, and the authors and publishers who provide the books.
I passed the book on to someone who will enjoy it.
March 22, 2023
I found the repetition quite tedious .. and the language seemed weird, especially of the teenage boys. I skim-read the book due to the excess detail, repetition, and unbelievability.
I was under impression that police couldn't have relationships with witnesses they work with on a case?
No more books by this author for me
I was under impression that police couldn't have relationships with witnesses they work with on a case?
No more books by this author for me
August 22, 2016
Good book. People assume that because people are rich and powerful that violence doesnt happen. Domestic violence has no discrimination. Women feel helpless and powerless but there is help. I love how Fern Michaels brought this subject up in one of her books.
June 27, 2017
This was such a depressing book. I didn't like any of the characters. So many of them were horrible people that were doing or did horrible things, but I am happy with the way this book ended.
March 14, 2019
Very little interesting in this one. Abuse is an important topic - she should have done much better.
April 14, 2017
NO SAFE SECRET
Another great Fern Michaels book; a very fast, enjoyable read. Molly and Kristin were great characters, wondered how she stayed with Tanner so many years.
Another great Fern Michaels book; a very fast, enjoyable read. Molly and Kristin were great characters, wondered how she stayed with Tanner so many years.
March 31, 2019
Minu arvamuse leiab blogist https://triinuraamatud.wordpress.com/...
February 18, 2023
An excellent novel that is enjoyable and talks about the real issues of abuse. Molly escapes a life of neglect only to find herself married to an abuser. She finally gathers the courage to escape and get help from the authorities.
April 10, 2023
Quick read, left a few unanswered questions.
June 26, 2023
Great beginning and middle. However the ending was way too abrupt.
June 11, 2025
I really enjoyed the story line. Kept me wanting to come back to it and find out more. NO Spice so yay!!
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