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How To Keep A Secret
When three generations of women are brought together by crisis, they learn over the course of one hot summer the power of family to support, nourish and surprise
Lauren has the perfect life...if she ignores the fact it's a fragile house of cards, and that her daughter Mack has just had a teenage personality transplant.
Jenna is desperate to start a family with her husband, but it's... Just. Not. Happening. Her heart is breaking, but she's determined to keep her trademark smile on her face.
Nancy knows she hasn't been the best mother, but how can she ever tell Lauren and Jenna the reason why?
Then life changes in an instant, and Lauren, Mack, Jenna and Nancy are thrown together for a summer on Martha's Vineyard. Somehow, these very different women must relearn how to be a family. And while unraveling their secrets might be their biggest challege, the rewards could be infinite...
Heartwarming and fresh, Sarah Morgan's brilliant new novel is a witty and deeply uplifting look at the power of a family of women.
Lauren has the perfect life...if she ignores the fact it's a fragile house of cards, and that her daughter Mack has just had a teenage personality transplant.
Jenna is desperate to start a family with her husband, but it's... Just. Not. Happening. Her heart is breaking, but she's determined to keep her trademark smile on her face.
Nancy knows she hasn't been the best mother, but how can she ever tell Lauren and Jenna the reason why?
Then life changes in an instant, and Lauren, Mack, Jenna and Nancy are thrown together for a summer on Martha's Vineyard. Somehow, these very different women must relearn how to be a family. And while unraveling their secrets might be their biggest challege, the rewards could be infinite...
Heartwarming and fresh, Sarah Morgan's brilliant new novel is a witty and deeply uplifting look at the power of a family of women.
463 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 10, 2018
994 people are currently reading
5670 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Morgan
874 books6,981 followersAbout Sarah
USA Today and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes romance and contemporary women's fiction and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives near London, England, and when she isn't reading or writing she loves being outdoors.
Look out for Sarah's next novel coming in October - All Together for Christmas (UK title)/ A Merry Little Lie (US/Canadian title)
Join Sarah on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahM...
Follow Sarah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahMorgan_
Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmorgan...
Website: www.sarahmorgan.com
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
USA Today and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes romance and contemporary women's fiction and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives near London, England, and when she isn't reading or writing she loves being outdoors.
Look out for Sarah's next novel coming in October - All Together for Christmas (UK title)/ A Merry Little Lie (US/Canadian title)
Join Sarah on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahM...
Follow Sarah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahMorgan_
Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmorgan...
Website: www.sarahmorgan.com
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 729 reviews
July 3, 2018
4.5 Stars
Talk about getting pulled in Hook! Line! & Sinker! from the jump.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a departure from Sarah Morgan’s sexy, contemporary romances, but all the secrets and intrigue kept me burning through the pages. She created strong, relatable characters I cared about. But don’t worry, there is still plenty of romance within the storyline.
... What we’d seen felt like a weight crushing me. Deep down I knew we should tell, but if we told, everything would change. We’d left our childhood back at that window and there was no going back to get it.
”I won’t tell. I’ll protect you. We’re sisters. Sisters always stick together. I made a promise.”
Secrets shared! Secrets kept! Secrets exposed! Secrets a plenty causing irreparable harm!
These same secrets also bring a fractured family back together again.
I was in the mood for a women’s fiction read, and this exceeded my expectations. Sarah Morgan has yet to disappoint and is always one of my go to authors. It is Chick-litty as well ;)
There is also a certain man, the seriously hot, bad boy type, who is central to many of the secrets that plague the sisters. He amped up my interest in this storyline exponentially. So yes, there are romantic scenes to really enjoy!
*I received this book in return for an honest review*
August 10, 2018
I received this book for free from the publisher (Harlequin) as part of their bookstagram publicity campaign.
I loved this book!
A blurb on the back of the book from fellow author, Jill Shalvis, describes this book as being “Jane Green meets Sophie Kinsella.” I haven’t read anything by Jane Green but I definitely got a few Sophie Kinsella vibes from this (I love Sophie Kinsella if you didn’t already know). One of the characters, Lauren, lives in London at the beginning of the book, which reminds me a lot of Sophie’s characters.
A large part of this book are the secrets and the fallouts that happen when they get revealed and I thought they were handled perfectly. I loved how the secrets were revealed one at a time. They were spaced out nicely and woven throughout the story.
This book is about three generations of women, which is a trope I love reading about and it was very well executed. All the women were fleshed out and felt real. I liked that we are given all 4 perspectives because that allows you to really get to know the characters and their feelings. I know some people had issues with the perspective changes but I didn’t have any issue with it and didn’t find it confusing.
There is romance, but the main focus of the book are the familial relationships, and I liked how the romance didn’t overshadow that. There was a nice balance between the two.
Overall, this was a wonderful piece of women’s fiction with a lot of heart and romance.
I loved this book!
A blurb on the back of the book from fellow author, Jill Shalvis, describes this book as being “Jane Green meets Sophie Kinsella.” I haven’t read anything by Jane Green but I definitely got a few Sophie Kinsella vibes from this (I love Sophie Kinsella if you didn’t already know). One of the characters, Lauren, lives in London at the beginning of the book, which reminds me a lot of Sophie’s characters.
A large part of this book are the secrets and the fallouts that happen when they get revealed and I thought they were handled perfectly. I loved how the secrets were revealed one at a time. They were spaced out nicely and woven throughout the story.
This book is about three generations of women, which is a trope I love reading about and it was very well executed. All the women were fleshed out and felt real. I liked that we are given all 4 perspectives because that allows you to really get to know the characters and their feelings. I know some people had issues with the perspective changes but I didn’t have any issue with it and didn’t find it confusing.
There is romance, but the main focus of the book are the familial relationships, and I liked how the romance didn’t overshadow that. There was a nice balance between the two.
Overall, this was a wonderful piece of women’s fiction with a lot of heart and romance.
Want to read
April 22, 20195 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
***mini review ***
This was my very first Sarah Morgan book and since reading this I have read three others and she is now a auto read for me!(yes I am a little behind on some of my reviews, but trying to rectify this.) as I was going over my notes on this book I really wanted to drop everything and re-read it and I am not a re-reader. I love books about family dynamics especially about the mother daughter relationship. In this book we had three generations of strong compassionate women. I love how we got each characters perspective, really gave you a complete picture of these ladies lives. Each of these characters were so well developed I felt as though I really knew them.
The book deals with some emotional subject matter parenting, marriage, infertility, and more. Everything in the story is handled with compassion and heart. There is also a generous dose of romance in this book as well as a liberal sprinkling of humor. I truly wish I had written this review immediately after I read this book because I know this is not doing the story justice at all. Just know that after reading this I will read everything that Miss Morgan writes!
*** thank you harlequin for my copy of this book ***
***mini review ***
This was my very first Sarah Morgan book and since reading this I have read three others and she is now a auto read for me!(yes I am a little behind on some of my reviews, but trying to rectify this.) as I was going over my notes on this book I really wanted to drop everything and re-read it and I am not a re-reader. I love books about family dynamics especially about the mother daughter relationship. In this book we had three generations of strong compassionate women. I love how we got each characters perspective, really gave you a complete picture of these ladies lives. Each of these characters were so well developed I felt as though I really knew them.
The book deals with some emotional subject matter parenting, marriage, infertility, and more. Everything in the story is handled with compassion and heart. There is also a generous dose of romance in this book as well as a liberal sprinkling of humor. I truly wish I had written this review immediately after I read this book because I know this is not doing the story justice at all. Just know that after reading this I will read everything that Miss Morgan writes!
*** thank you harlequin for my copy of this book ***
August 3, 2018
Wow what can I say? For a start this is my first Sarah Morgan book, how come I never knew about this author!! What have I been missing out on!!
How can I, a mere mortal do this beautifully written book justice. Definitely the best family drama book I’ve read ,which made me smile, laugh and cry!!
When Tragedy strikes for Lauren, she and her sulky teenager Mack move to Martha’s Vineyard to be near her mother Nancy and sister Jenna. We find out why Nancy wasn’t the most maternal mother and secrets are revealed. The three generations must learn to live together and their story is an emotional rollercoaster that had me gripped.
I loved the description of Martha’s Vineyard and would love to live there myself, reading about the Stewards was like putting on a cosy pair of slippers as by the end of the book I felt like I knew them all and cared about what would happen to them all. I didn’t want to finish this book I wanted to be left fully immersed with this incredible family!!
A massive thank you to Netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for a review.
How can I, a mere mortal do this beautifully written book justice. Definitely the best family drama book I’ve read ,which made me smile, laugh and cry!!
When Tragedy strikes for Lauren, she and her sulky teenager Mack move to Martha’s Vineyard to be near her mother Nancy and sister Jenna. We find out why Nancy wasn’t the most maternal mother and secrets are revealed. The three generations must learn to live together and their story is an emotional rollercoaster that had me gripped.
I loved the description of Martha’s Vineyard and would love to live there myself, reading about the Stewards was like putting on a cosy pair of slippers as by the end of the book I felt like I knew them all and cared about what would happen to them all. I didn’t want to finish this book I wanted to be left fully immersed with this incredible family!!
A massive thank you to Netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for a review.
May 9, 2018
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.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
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.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
July 14, 2018
★★★★½
How to Keep a Secret is my favorite book about sisters to date. Excellent women's fiction! It's about so much more than family dynamics though. It deals with marriage, parenting, infertility, grief, secrets, forgiveness, starting over, and second chances. I so enjoyed this book. Check it out!
My favorite quote:
"You never really knew what was going on in someone else's life."
How to Keep a Secret is my favorite book about sisters to date. Excellent women's fiction! It's about so much more than family dynamics though. It deals with marriage, parenting, infertility, grief, secrets, forgiveness, starting over, and second chances. I so enjoyed this book. Check it out!
My favorite quote:
"You never really knew what was going on in someone else's life."
July 11, 2018
Sweet, moving, and undeniably affecting!
How to Keep a Secret is a beautifully written, absorbing story that delves into the emotional ties and complex bonds between mothers, daughters and sisters and immerses you in a tale about accepting the things you can't change, letting go of the past, taking chances, and moving on.
The prose is eloquent and well turned. The characters are genuine, sophisticated, and scarred. And the story is an exceptionally touching tale about life, loss, love, grief, adultery, forgiveness, familial drama, friendship, infertility, teenage angst, community, courage, happiness, and second-chance romance.
How to Keep a Secret is the perfect mix of heart, hope, grit, and humour. It's heart wrenching, funny, encouraging, and without a doubt Morgan at her best.
Thank you to Harlequin Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
How to Keep a Secret is a beautifully written, absorbing story that delves into the emotional ties and complex bonds between mothers, daughters and sisters and immerses you in a tale about accepting the things you can't change, letting go of the past, taking chances, and moving on.
The prose is eloquent and well turned. The characters are genuine, sophisticated, and scarred. And the story is an exceptionally touching tale about life, loss, love, grief, adultery, forgiveness, familial drama, friendship, infertility, teenage angst, community, courage, happiness, and second-chance romance.
How to Keep a Secret is the perfect mix of heart, hope, grit, and humour. It's heart wrenching, funny, encouraging, and without a doubt Morgan at her best.
Thank you to Harlequin Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
May 24, 2018
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.
Without dreams, where would we be?”
Copy received courtesy of
via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
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.
Without dreams, where would we be?”
Copy received courtesy of
via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion. 
July 14, 2018
READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG
Secrets have a way to come out. Sooner or later. Secret also have this quality to get in the way of really knowing somebody. But a shared secret can also make a bond stronger. You can find secrets in each of those capacities in Sarah Morgan's new story.
We meet three generations of women:
Nancy - mother of Lauren and Jenna
Lauren and Jenna - the sisters
Mack - Lauren's daughter
I wish I could have given this story five stars. The one thing that just kept me from doing it is the way it was written. We get four different point of views and time gaps in between each chapter and that is one hell of a trick to pull off. I wish the author would have stuck with one or two characters for this story and told the others' stories through their eyes. It felt a little too fragmented and took away from the depth it could have had.
It was never too late to move forward.
The characters we meet are:
Lauren, who fell into a hole when her husband died and left her with a mountain of debt. I liked her well enough and felt sorry for the things that were happening to her. While there was a lot of yearning and pining for the hero described, I didn't feel she really wanted to be with him. There were weeks without interaction.
Jenna, who wanted to get pregnant so badly, it bordered on obsession. She invested a ridiculous amount of time to observe her cycle, take pregnancy tests and be miserable when she found out that it hadn't taken.
Nancy, who never really built a relationship with her daughters. Out of the women I loved her the most because there was some real growth there.
Mack, who I thought was the least likable because of the teenage angst and passive aggressive and melodramatic attitude. Somebody should have taped her mouth shut. Verbal diarrhea isn't pretty. Also, her point of view was the most unnecessary.
Add a broody, quiet ex-lover to the mix, who so obviously still loved Lauren and who didn't get nearly enough page time and this could have easily been a new favorite. Scott was everything.
Greg, Jenna's husband, who deserved so much more than Jenna's obsession to become pregnant. He was a sweet, level-headed man whose feelings were treated so negligently.
“You think I sailed into the sunset and forgot about you? It didn’t matter where I was, you were still there with me along with the knowledge that I screwed up the most important decision of my life.”
While I found most of them likable some of them seemed ridiculously focused on their misery.
I would classify this story more women's fiction than romance because that was handled more like a subplot. The main theme is how each of those people handle secrets, how they separate and unite, how they hurt but also heal when you get them out in the open.
I loved Ms. Morgan's description of the island life. I felt right at home and could picture the coastal scenery vividly. I adored the bond between the sisters, their mother Nancy was refreshing with her no-nonsense attitude and the truths she spoke.
The story itself is, while a little predictable, still heartwarming and lovely with its small town charm, the message poignant and meaningful, so it kills me to not be able to give this a 5-star rating. As a first time reader of Sarah Morgan I'm still impressed with her beautiful words though,. I'm looking forward to discovering more books by this author!
March 7, 2019
Four and a half stars.
This is a story not just about one secret, although that one does have a large impact on sisters Lauren and Jenna. The secret is one they have kept since childhood. But it is far from the only secret that is exposed as the story progresses. Three generations of women in the Stewart family are affected by secrets and the impact on their lives. Nancy, mother of sisters Lauren and Jenna, and also Mackenzie, (usually known as Mack) Lauren’s daughter. I liked the way each of the main character’s stories and feelings are explored. Sometimes things take a while to be explored. For example it seemed to me that Greg, Jenna’s husband overreacts at one point to a certain discovery. But later it becomes clear as the reader finds out the issues he has been dealing with privately.
This is a story of family, friendship, romance, choices, consequence and change. It had me interested from the outset and I enjoyed my time with this family and the dilemmas in their lives. The setting of Martha’s Vineyard where the majority of the story takes place is well described and evocative. This is my first book by this author and I found it a highly engaging and involving experience. It is women’s fiction but the characters had depth and complexity to them which made for an interesting read that drew me in emotionally. The characters were easy to relate to. Very nearly a five star read.
This is a story not just about one secret, although that one does have a large impact on sisters Lauren and Jenna. The secret is one they have kept since childhood. But it is far from the only secret that is exposed as the story progresses. Three generations of women in the Stewart family are affected by secrets and the impact on their lives. Nancy, mother of sisters Lauren and Jenna, and also Mackenzie, (usually known as Mack) Lauren’s daughter. I liked the way each of the main character’s stories and feelings are explored. Sometimes things take a while to be explored. For example it seemed to me that Greg, Jenna’s husband overreacts at one point to a certain discovery. But later it becomes clear as the reader finds out the issues he has been dealing with privately.
This is a story of family, friendship, romance, choices, consequence and change. It had me interested from the outset and I enjoyed my time with this family and the dilemmas in their lives. The setting of Martha’s Vineyard where the majority of the story takes place is well described and evocative. This is my first book by this author and I found it a highly engaging and involving experience. It is women’s fiction but the characters had depth and complexity to them which made for an interesting read that drew me in emotionally. The characters were easy to relate to. Very nearly a five star read.
April 27, 2019
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**3.5 stars**
How to Keep a Secret by Sarah Morgan. (2018).
Nancy knows she hasn't been the best mother, but can she tell her daughters why? Lauren and Jenna are very close sisters and as children decided to keep a devastating secret from their mother, but is it time to tell her? Lauren's teenage daughter Mack is in pain and keeping everyone at a distance, especially her mother. Will a virtual stranger show her the real meaning of family?
The women are thrown together after a tragedy and it's time to relearn how to be a family and let the secrets out.
The storylines in this book had some serious family drama/issues throughout (death, infidelity, infertility, dysfunctional parent child relationships, financial issues, long-held secrets etc). Despite this serious tone it was really easy to read. The book switches between Nancy, Jenna, Lauren and Mack's point of views. I did think that some of the issues and problems were all cleared up a bit too neatly in the end, but some readers may really enjoy that and there isn't anything wrong with happy endings to problems. I admired the strong and close bond between the sisters Jenna and Lauren and how they supported one another no matter what.
I think this would make a lovely holiday read for those that enjoy family drama novels.
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**3.5 stars**
How to Keep a Secret by Sarah Morgan. (2018).
Nancy knows she hasn't been the best mother, but can she tell her daughters why? Lauren and Jenna are very close sisters and as children decided to keep a devastating secret from their mother, but is it time to tell her? Lauren's teenage daughter Mack is in pain and keeping everyone at a distance, especially her mother. Will a virtual stranger show her the real meaning of family?
The women are thrown together after a tragedy and it's time to relearn how to be a family and let the secrets out.
The storylines in this book had some serious family drama/issues throughout (death, infidelity, infertility, dysfunctional parent child relationships, financial issues, long-held secrets etc). Despite this serious tone it was really easy to read. The book switches between Nancy, Jenna, Lauren and Mack's point of views. I did think that some of the issues and problems were all cleared up a bit too neatly in the end, but some readers may really enjoy that and there isn't anything wrong with happy endings to problems. I admired the strong and close bond between the sisters Jenna and Lauren and how they supported one another no matter what.
I think this would make a lovely holiday read for those that enjoy family drama novels.
July 10, 2018
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life so far it’s that when tragedy strikes family is everything and that’s the basis for How to Keep a Secret. Who can you turn to when your world comes crashing down around you? Your family of course, and even though Lauren and Jenna are as close as two sister can be their relationship with their mom Nancy is strained. Mack is Lauren’s teenaged daughter and like any mother and daughter their relationship is also rocky. Family dynamics are usually complex, but family dynamics between women take complex to a whole new level and the Stewart women have plenty of secrets they’ve been keeping from each other as well making for one juicy read.
Every single woman of the family has a point of view and it’s always nice to hear all the various perspectives, but Mack was my favorite of them all. Poor kid has been through a lot and while she does have her typical, moody teenage moments she also has a fierce and sassy side that I admired. All of the characters were great though and all were very well drawn, there was much more depth her than in Morgan’s rom coms and I do have to admit I missed some of her trademark humor here. This wasn’t a funny story though, humor wouldn’t have been appropriate so this really isn’t a complaint, just an observation.
While some of the secrets seemed fairly obvious to me others did surprise and please me and while there wasn’t comedy here there was still some light romance, but the book really centers on the family bond of the Stewart women and that’s always something that interests me. This would be yet another perfect book to add to your summer TBR when you want a lighter read with heart and depth written by a gifted author who always brings out a wide variety of emotions within me.
How to Keep a Secret in three words: Bittersweet, Complicated and Heartfelt.
Every single woman of the family has a point of view and it’s always nice to hear all the various perspectives, but Mack was my favorite of them all. Poor kid has been through a lot and while she does have her typical, moody teenage moments she also has a fierce and sassy side that I admired. All of the characters were great though and all were very well drawn, there was much more depth her than in Morgan’s rom coms and I do have to admit I missed some of her trademark humor here. This wasn’t a funny story though, humor wouldn’t have been appropriate so this really isn’t a complaint, just an observation.
While some of the secrets seemed fairly obvious to me others did surprise and please me and while there wasn’t comedy here there was still some light romance, but the book really centers on the family bond of the Stewart women and that’s always something that interests me. This would be yet another perfect book to add to your summer TBR when you want a lighter read with heart and depth written by a gifted author who always brings out a wide variety of emotions within me.
How to Keep a Secret in three words: Bittersweet, Complicated and Heartfelt.
July 10, 2018
4.5 Stars!
What a truly great Summer read! How To Keep A Secret by Sarah Morgan made me want to curl up on the beach and get lost in this story of three generations of incredibly strong women!
Following along with Lauren and Jenna who have the strongest sister bond I have ever read about was delightful. And then you throw in their mom Nancy who they aren’t very close with and Lauren’s daughter Mack who is as true as a teenage girl can get. Now you have this huge challenge with figuring out how to be a family again when secrets are all over the place.
I don’t want to go into too much detail with this review because I really enjoyed figuring out all the surprises and juicy details as I went along. All the small town drama, all the heartbreak and secrets, the super steamy romance’s. It’s just something you need to experience yourself because it makes the ending that much sweeter.
I can’t believe I have never read anything from Sarah Morgan before! Especially since all her other books sound so romantic! Well she is defiantly going on my must-read list now because I absolutely love her writing style!
If you are looking for a great Summer read that will have you both laughing and crying then you need to get your hands on How To Keep A Secret. I promise it will not disappoint.
**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy for review.**
What a truly great Summer read! How To Keep A Secret by Sarah Morgan made me want to curl up on the beach and get lost in this story of three generations of incredibly strong women!
Following along with Lauren and Jenna who have the strongest sister bond I have ever read about was delightful. And then you throw in their mom Nancy who they aren’t very close with and Lauren’s daughter Mack who is as true as a teenage girl can get. Now you have this huge challenge with figuring out how to be a family again when secrets are all over the place.
I don’t want to go into too much detail with this review because I really enjoyed figuring out all the surprises and juicy details as I went along. All the small town drama, all the heartbreak and secrets, the super steamy romance’s. It’s just something you need to experience yourself because it makes the ending that much sweeter.
I can’t believe I have never read anything from Sarah Morgan before! Especially since all her other books sound so romantic! Well she is defiantly going on my must-read list now because I absolutely love her writing style!
If you are looking for a great Summer read that will have you both laughing and crying then you need to get your hands on How To Keep A Secret. I promise it will not disappoint.
**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy for review.**
June 25, 2024
I had high hopes for this book, but it fell flat. The plot was so predictable! It's like watching a rom-com where you know exactly what's going to happen next, minus the charm. I found myself skimming through pages, just waiting for something, anything, to shake things up. Spoiler alert: it didn’t.
Every chapter starts with a word definition hinting at what's next. This was cute at first, but it got old fast. It felt like I was being spoon-fed what to expect next, and it became pretty annoying. Repetition can be comforting, but not when you're looking for a bit of excitement in a story.
On the bright side, Morgan's writing is easy to read and flows well. If you’re in the mood for something light and don’t mind the predictability, this might be your cup of tea. The family dynamics do have their heartfelt moments, and overall it was a nice read—just not quite the page-turner I was hoping for.
Every chapter starts with a word definition hinting at what's next. This was cute at first, but it got old fast. It felt like I was being spoon-fed what to expect next, and it became pretty annoying. Repetition can be comforting, but not when you're looking for a bit of excitement in a story.
On the bright side, Morgan's writing is easy to read and flows well. If you’re in the mood for something light and don’t mind the predictability, this might be your cup of tea. The family dynamics do have their heartfelt moments, and overall it was a nice read—just not quite the page-turner I was hoping for.
June 4, 2018
This is another book that I just wasn't sure about in the beginning. It seemed to take several chapters to keep my interest. Once it goes going though, I though it was fantastic. There are so many secrets!
Lauren - I loved her character. As I got to know her more and more through the book, she just became more likable and real. In a marriage of convenience, I can see that you would love the person in a way, but not that deep love like her first love. And then to lose that husband and the facts that he kept hidden from her would have felt like such a betrayal. Her life is a roller coaster for sure. Raising a teenager, a mother who you aren't close to, losing a husband, your first love coming back into your life and that passion and love still there. And then she has her sister who she is so close to. It was a lot going on and she handled it the best way she could I felt. I think I would have struggled just like her. I was pulling for her every step of the way. I wanted her to be happy. I wanted her to get that relationship back with her daughter.
Jenna - Jenna is Lauren's younger sister. She has a fantastic marriage. She is definitely married to her soulmate, but they do have their issues. Jenna wants to get pregnant and she isn't having any luck getting pregnant. And her and Greg are trying ALL THE TIME! It is really hard on her and it becomes so consuming for her. And they stop talking or not really talking about the things that they should be talking about. Her focus is so much on becoming pregnant that she doesn't see how much it is affecting Greg too. He feels like a failure just as much as she does. She is also not close with her mother. And she has a great relationship with her sister.
Nancy - The mother; the artist. She does not have much of a relationship with her two daughters. You get to see into what her life was with her young daughters. How she felt so left out. Her husband was with a lot of other women and he was always the fun parent with the girls. He even blackmails her with her daughters so she doesn't leave. In the end, he dies and leaves her with nothing. He has spent all the money she earned to keep them afloat. She earned her money from her paintings. When he dies, she stops painting. This huge secret all comes out and she finds out her daughters has actually seen him with another woman when they were 11 and 8 years of age. How terrible! But in the end, this brings them all closer and they begin to have a real relationship with their mother.
Mack - Mack is the teenage daughter who is 16 years old and really annoyed me. I liked her some of the time and I didn't a lot of the time. She felt like she was more like a 14 year old to me. I have a 16 year old and I have an older daughter and older son that I have already been through 16 with. None of them acted like her at 16. I understand she is going through a lot of stuff. She finds out her dad isn't even really her dad and then he dies. She figures it out from her birth certificate, but she doesn't tell anyone; instead she just stews on it. That I can see a 16 year old doing. Then her dad, who isn't her dad, dies. She is angry and broody. I get that too. But there are a lot of times that her reactions make her seem so much younger. And she meets her real dad, Scott and they begin a relationship.
Like I said, so many secrets, so much drama, but the characters are likable. I enjoyed the story and getting to know each one and seeing how they all change with all that is going on and as all the secrets come out. I did enjoy it.
Lauren - I loved her character. As I got to know her more and more through the book, she just became more likable and real. In a marriage of convenience, I can see that you would love the person in a way, but not that deep love like her first love. And then to lose that husband and the facts that he kept hidden from her would have felt like such a betrayal. Her life is a roller coaster for sure. Raising a teenager, a mother who you aren't close to, losing a husband, your first love coming back into your life and that passion and love still there. And then she has her sister who she is so close to. It was a lot going on and she handled it the best way she could I felt. I think I would have struggled just like her. I was pulling for her every step of the way. I wanted her to be happy. I wanted her to get that relationship back with her daughter.
Jenna - Jenna is Lauren's younger sister. She has a fantastic marriage. She is definitely married to her soulmate, but they do have their issues. Jenna wants to get pregnant and she isn't having any luck getting pregnant. And her and Greg are trying ALL THE TIME! It is really hard on her and it becomes so consuming for her. And they stop talking or not really talking about the things that they should be talking about. Her focus is so much on becoming pregnant that she doesn't see how much it is affecting Greg too. He feels like a failure just as much as she does. She is also not close with her mother. And she has a great relationship with her sister.
Nancy - The mother; the artist. She does not have much of a relationship with her two daughters. You get to see into what her life was with her young daughters. How she felt so left out. Her husband was with a lot of other women and he was always the fun parent with the girls. He even blackmails her with her daughters so she doesn't leave. In the end, he dies and leaves her with nothing. He has spent all the money she earned to keep them afloat. She earned her money from her paintings. When he dies, she stops painting. This huge secret all comes out and she finds out her daughters has actually seen him with another woman when they were 11 and 8 years of age. How terrible! But in the end, this brings them all closer and they begin to have a real relationship with their mother.
Mack - Mack is the teenage daughter who is 16 years old and really annoyed me. I liked her some of the time and I didn't a lot of the time. She felt like she was more like a 14 year old to me. I have a 16 year old and I have an older daughter and older son that I have already been through 16 with. None of them acted like her at 16. I understand she is going through a lot of stuff. She finds out her dad isn't even really her dad and then he dies. She figures it out from her birth certificate, but she doesn't tell anyone; instead she just stews on it. That I can see a 16 year old doing. Then her dad, who isn't her dad, dies. She is angry and broody. I get that too. But there are a lot of times that her reactions make her seem so much younger. And she meets her real dad, Scott and they begin a relationship.
Like I said, so many secrets, so much drama, but the characters are likable. I enjoyed the story and getting to know each one and seeing how they all change with all that is going on and as all the secrets come out. I did enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2018
This was a bit unusual for Sarah Morgan. More chick-lit than romance, though there are a number of romances present. I can't say she hit it out of the park, but I found it engaging and stayed up too late finishing it.
It started kind of slow and the perspective switches took a while to get used to. It doesn't help that there are four women we trade between and that they only break on chapter breaks. Nor does it help that in the beginning, Morgan breaks on cliffhangery bits. I've always found it a pace-killer when you leave an emotional hang-point to pick up a different perspective. So I found that first bit kind of a slog and nearly put it down.
Once all four are in the same town, things settle down, though. The pace slows, though my interest picked up. Getting to know the women the story involves was very interesting from there. There's the expected drama, but we have excellent friendships and a great view of relationships in transition. All three of the adults were engaging and I was gratified to find that Mack had fewer times "at bat" as PoV but that those did very well to establish all we really needed. And the two male leads were outstanding, as well. Scott was that quiet, competent lead I love so much and his kindness really shines through in his dealings with Nancy (the mom). I didn't expect to like Greg as much because he's the more overtly charming, but his character arc drew me right in (as the guy able to help every one else as a therapist but who honestly struggles with his own marriage because there he loses that neutrality so important in therapy).
Anyway, it's not really a romance. But the relationships were all outstanding and multi-layered in the best ways. I really wish I hadn't experienced so much friction at the start as I can't call this a clean, five-star win. It's a solid four stars, though, and it's one of those stories that gets better as it progresses.
A note about Steamy: There's a single explicit sex scene, though there's a lot of frank talk and some afterglow thrown in, as well. It's a good balance and while light on my steam tolerance scale, I thought it fitting to the story.
It started kind of slow and the perspective switches took a while to get used to. It doesn't help that there are four women we trade between and that they only break on chapter breaks. Nor does it help that in the beginning, Morgan breaks on cliffhangery bits. I've always found it a pace-killer when you leave an emotional hang-point to pick up a different perspective. So I found that first bit kind of a slog and nearly put it down.
Once all four are in the same town, things settle down, though. The pace slows, though my interest picked up. Getting to know the women the story involves was very interesting from there. There's the expected drama, but we have excellent friendships and a great view of relationships in transition. All three of the adults were engaging and I was gratified to find that Mack had fewer times "at bat" as PoV but that those did very well to establish all we really needed. And the two male leads were outstanding, as well. Scott was that quiet, competent lead I love so much and his kindness really shines through in his dealings with Nancy (the mom). I didn't expect to like Greg as much because he's the more overtly charming, but his character arc drew me right in (as the guy able to help every one else as a therapist but who honestly struggles with his own marriage because there he loses that neutrality so important in therapy).
Anyway, it's not really a romance. But the relationships were all outstanding and multi-layered in the best ways. I really wish I hadn't experienced so much friction at the start as I can't call this a clean, five-star win. It's a solid four stars, though, and it's one of those stories that gets better as it progresses.
A note about Steamy: There's a single explicit sex scene, though there's a lot of frank talk and some afterglow thrown in, as well. It's a good balance and while light on my steam tolerance scale, I thought it fitting to the story.
April 2, 2020
I enjoyed reading about different generations of one family. How the family all had secrets but in the trying times they pulled together. Nancy, Lauren, Jenna and Mackenzie were all strong characters in their own right, I enjoyed that about them. If I had to pick a favourite it would be Jenna as I really felt for her and Gregg (they make a good pairing). 4.5 Stars
July 24, 2018
As sisters, Lauren and Jenna have always had a very tight bond. Now Lauren lives in London with her husband Ed and 16-year old daughter, Mack. Jenna and her husband Greg are still on Martha's Vineyard where she grew up, trying, and struggling to have a baby. Both sisters have a difficult with relationship with their mother, Alice. When circumstances quickly change, they all find themselves on Martha's Vineyard, where secrets come out and the women have to figure out how to start anew.
This is a difficult review to write, as I think many people will enjoy this book, but it wasn't for me. It started out slow then picked up toward the middle, but when all of the secrets came out early on (and those that hadn't I had figured out), I wondered what was going to fill the rest of the book! There is a lot of dialogue between the sisters, their mother, and Mack. A lot of telling rather than showing. I found Mack's character in particular to be unrealistic. I don't know any teenager that makes a general statement about being a teenager in almost every conversation. Some of the reactions of characters to events were difficult to connect with for me, and I think this could have been improved with more emotion or characterization.
That said, this is an easy read, that is fairly quick to get through. It involves topics that are very relevant to most women-marriage, sisterhood, the mother-daughter relationship- and tackles these with these with themes of strength, resilience, and forgiveness. If you are typically a romance fan, I'd suggest giving this one a shot, as you might enjoy it more than I did!
Thank you to the Harlequin publicity team for sending me a copy!
This is a difficult review to write, as I think many people will enjoy this book, but it wasn't for me. It started out slow then picked up toward the middle, but when all of the secrets came out early on (and those that hadn't I had figured out), I wondered what was going to fill the rest of the book! There is a lot of dialogue between the sisters, their mother, and Mack. A lot of telling rather than showing. I found Mack's character in particular to be unrealistic. I don't know any teenager that makes a general statement about being a teenager in almost every conversation. Some of the reactions of characters to events were difficult to connect with for me, and I think this could have been improved with more emotion or characterization.
That said, this is an easy read, that is fairly quick to get through. It involves topics that are very relevant to most women-marriage, sisterhood, the mother-daughter relationship- and tackles these with these with themes of strength, resilience, and forgiveness. If you are typically a romance fan, I'd suggest giving this one a shot, as you might enjoy it more than I did!
Thank you to the Harlequin publicity team for sending me a copy!
October 4, 2018
I really liked this. I've been book hopping a lot lately, but I did not book hop here! It's not your usual Sarah Morgan (it's more woman's fiction), but since I wasn't so into her last few books, that turned out to be a very good thing. (It did mean the romance could've used more development, but I think I'm okay with the trade off.)
The beginning was too heavy at hinting at various secrets and I want more about Jenna and Greg, but I just enjoyed this so much.
The beginning was too heavy at hinting at various secrets and I want more about Jenna and Greg, but I just enjoyed this so much.
November 19, 2018
This book was too 'REAL' for me and hence I did not finish it. It was a good book - But I am just not ready for it yet.
Maybe - I'll try re-reading this at a different juncture of my life! :)
Maybe - I'll try re-reading this at a different juncture of my life! :)
June 16, 2018
I am a member of the UK Sarah Morgan review crew and received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it took me two days to read and I didn’t want it to end. The characters gripped me and the plot lines were well written and thought out.
This is the story of three generations of the Stewart women. There’s Nancy (the Mum), Jenna and Lauren (her daughters) and Mack (Lauren’s daughter). When Lauren returns to the island of her birth and childhood with her daughter, all the women are thrown together by circumstances beyond their control. All have secrets that have impacted on all their lives and the relationships they have with each other. As you the reader gets to know these characters you are drawn more and more into their stories.
Sarah Morgan has a great way of describing situations and scenery that makes you want more. This book is a departure from her usual series stories and I really liked that.
I would recommend this book to others and I look forward to what Sarah brings out next.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it took me two days to read and I didn’t want it to end. The characters gripped me and the plot lines were well written and thought out.
This is the story of three generations of the Stewart women. There’s Nancy (the Mum), Jenna and Lauren (her daughters) and Mack (Lauren’s daughter). When Lauren returns to the island of her birth and childhood with her daughter, all the women are thrown together by circumstances beyond their control. All have secrets that have impacted on all their lives and the relationships they have with each other. As you the reader gets to know these characters you are drawn more and more into their stories.
Sarah Morgan has a great way of describing situations and scenery that makes you want more. This book is a departure from her usual series stories and I really liked that.
I would recommend this book to others and I look forward to what Sarah brings out next.
June 24, 2021
4.5 stelle
Anche questo terzo romanzo corale della Morgan che leggo, mi ha conquistata...
Cosa succede se per non spezzare gli equilibri di una famiglia, i suoi membri mantengono dei segreti! e se questi segreti con l'andare del tempo hanno diviso e creato incomprensioni!
In questa famiglia di quattro donne di diverse generazioni, permangono dei segreti dal passato e tanti altri non detti nel presente...
Il ritorno di Lauren con la figlia Mackenzie nella casa di famiglia, porta a galla uno dei segreti e come un effetto domino vengono a galla tutti gli altri, solo così i rapporti si potranno ricostruire e rafforzare, si uniranno le forze per affrontare le difficoltà.
Attraverso i punti di vista di Nancy, Lauren, Jenna e Mackenzie, conosciamo le loro paure, i loro desideri, i loro dolori, la loro forza, mi hanno appassionata e commossa ❤️
Anche questo terzo romanzo corale della Morgan che leggo, mi ha conquistata...
Cosa succede se per non spezzare gli equilibri di una famiglia, i suoi membri mantengono dei segreti! e se questi segreti con l'andare del tempo hanno diviso e creato incomprensioni!
In questa famiglia di quattro donne di diverse generazioni, permangono dei segreti dal passato e tanti altri non detti nel presente...
Il ritorno di Lauren con la figlia Mackenzie nella casa di famiglia, porta a galla uno dei segreti e come un effetto domino vengono a galla tutti gli altri, solo così i rapporti si potranno ricostruire e rafforzare, si uniranno le forze per affrontare le difficoltà.
Attraverso i punti di vista di Nancy, Lauren, Jenna e Mackenzie, conosciamo le loro paure, i loro desideri, i loro dolori, la loro forza, mi hanno appassionata e commossa ❤️
dnf
January 29, 2023DNF. I one-clicked this in my “maybe I’ll learn to love Sarah Morgan’s WF” phase. Reader, I did not learn. After skimming spoilery reviews, I have negative desire to read this. Thank you to the intrepid reviewers who gave a detailed account of the titular secrets, lol. I like knowing things, I just don’t want to waste four hours reading about it.
Note: HarperCollins union employees are currently on strike. They deserve a fair contract, living wages, and an inclusive workplace. Donate to the Strike Fund here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/...
Note: HarperCollins union employees are currently on strike. They deserve a fair contract, living wages, and an inclusive workplace. Donate to the Strike Fund here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/...
August 19, 2018
Fun book to read I didn’t want to put it down!!
December 16, 2019
RECENSIONE QUI: https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/...
Quanto può essere grande il peso di un segreto? In ogni famiglia, anche nella più unita, ci sono dei segreti che celiamo, segreti che nel corso del tempo diventano un peso così grande tanto da non riuscire più a nasconderli. In questo romanzo Sarah Morgan attraverso il punto di vista in terza persona delle quattro componenti della famiglia Steward, due sorelle, una madre e una nipote, ci narra la storia della loro vita, dei segreti di cui si sono circondate tre generazioni di donne e che improvvisamente affiorano in superficie distruggendo tutto ciò che è stato costruito, ma soprattutto dell’amore che le lega. Riusciamo ad entrare nelle loro vite, a capire il perché dei loro segreti, le conosciamo nel profondo scoprendo ogni segreto più intimo. I personaggi sono piuttosto diversi, ognuno possiede la propria personalità e i propri segreti che hanno nascosto per lunghi anni, hanno i loro difetti ed è proprio per questo che sono perfetti nelle loro imperfezioni. Non cercano di essere amati e di impressionare il lettore, ma sono semplicemente se stessi. Uno degli aspetti migliori di questo libro è la profondità che l'autrice è stata in grado di imprimere a questi personaggi. Ci sono alcuni momenti carichi di emozione; mi sono ritrovata a vivere con i personaggi i momenti felici e a condividere il loro dolore nei momenti bui. Il tema principale su cui si fonda il romanzo è come i segreti, grandi e piccoli, possono dividere le generazioni di una famiglia e causare più male di quanto ci aspettiamo. La famiglia è il nostro rifugio, è il motore che dà inizio allo sviluppo personale, è il luogo in cui ci ritroviamo quando abbiamo bisogno di affetto e calore. Chi ha avuto modo di leggere i romanzi di Sarah Morgan sa che ormai lei è una garanzia, la sua scrittura curata ed elegante ci catapulta nelle sue storie facendocele amare dalla prima fino all'ultima pagina. La storia è molto intrigante, intensa e profonda, dalla penna di una scrittrice di talento che sa come rapire il cuore del lettore. Questa volta l’autrice ci dona una storia tutta al femminile dove la figura della donna viene posta in rilievo e dove la famiglia e il rapporto tra madri e figlie e tra sorelle hanno un ruolo fondamentale nella vita. Un romanzo che intreccia in modo struggente le vite di quattro donne e racconta la forza e la bellezza dei legami più veri. Essere donna è qualcosa di grande, di speciale: vuol dire affrontare con coraggio la vita, le scelte che la vita ti pone lungo il tuo cammino, vuol dire far riaffiorare quella forza interiore che da sempre contraddistingue la figura femminile, quella forza che sa guardare oltre gli ostacoli e oltre il dolore, sapendo che il punto di arrivo è un nuovo inizio verso un nuovo traguardo.
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Quanto può essere grande il peso di un segreto? In ogni famiglia, anche nella più unita, ci sono dei segreti che celiamo, segreti che nel corso del tempo diventano un peso così grande tanto da non riuscire più a nasconderli. In questo romanzo Sarah Morgan attraverso il punto di vista in terza persona delle quattro componenti della famiglia Steward, due sorelle, una madre e una nipote, ci narra la storia della loro vita, dei segreti di cui si sono circondate tre generazioni di donne e che improvvisamente affiorano in superficie distruggendo tutto ciò che è stato costruito, ma soprattutto dell’amore che le lega. Riusciamo ad entrare nelle loro vite, a capire il perché dei loro segreti, le conosciamo nel profondo scoprendo ogni segreto più intimo. I personaggi sono piuttosto diversi, ognuno possiede la propria personalità e i propri segreti che hanno nascosto per lunghi anni, hanno i loro difetti ed è proprio per questo che sono perfetti nelle loro imperfezioni. Non cercano di essere amati e di impressionare il lettore, ma sono semplicemente se stessi. Uno degli aspetti migliori di questo libro è la profondità che l'autrice è stata in grado di imprimere a questi personaggi. Ci sono alcuni momenti carichi di emozione; mi sono ritrovata a vivere con i personaggi i momenti felici e a condividere il loro dolore nei momenti bui. Il tema principale su cui si fonda il romanzo è come i segreti, grandi e piccoli, possono dividere le generazioni di una famiglia e causare più male di quanto ci aspettiamo. La famiglia è il nostro rifugio, è il motore che dà inizio allo sviluppo personale, è il luogo in cui ci ritroviamo quando abbiamo bisogno di affetto e calore. Chi ha avuto modo di leggere i romanzi di Sarah Morgan sa che ormai lei è una garanzia, la sua scrittura curata ed elegante ci catapulta nelle sue storie facendocele amare dalla prima fino all'ultima pagina. La storia è molto intrigante, intensa e profonda, dalla penna di una scrittrice di talento che sa come rapire il cuore del lettore. Questa volta l’autrice ci dona una storia tutta al femminile dove la figura della donna viene posta in rilievo e dove la famiglia e il rapporto tra madri e figlie e tra sorelle hanno un ruolo fondamentale nella vita. Un romanzo che intreccia in modo struggente le vite di quattro donne e racconta la forza e la bellezza dei legami più veri. Essere donna è qualcosa di grande, di speciale: vuol dire affrontare con coraggio la vita, le scelte che la vita ti pone lungo il tuo cammino, vuol dire far riaffiorare quella forza interiore che da sempre contraddistingue la figura femminile, quella forza che sa guardare oltre gli ostacoli e oltre il dolore, sapendo che il punto di arrivo è un nuovo inizio verso un nuovo traguardo.
CONTINUA SUL NOSTRO BLOG. VENITE A TROVARCI
https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/
July 30, 2018
This book came as a complete surprise! Sarah Morgan is a new author for me and I was given this book to review by the publisher. It didn’t sound like my kind of read but WOW! I couldn’t put it down! Each character has their own extremely engaging storyline and the twists keep coming. This is a perfect beach read or vacation book. It is a very heartwarming read that will restore your faith in life! Just what I needed and I can’t recommend it enough!
September 28, 2022
Goed bewaard geheim ~ Sarah Morgan
Harlequin, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wat was dit een mooi verhaal! Niet helemaal wat ik verwachtte, maar met volle teugen genoten. Ik had eigenlijk behoefte aan een easy read, en de vorige boeken die ik las van Sarah Morgan, daar vloog ik doorheen. Dit boek is daarmee echter niet te vergelijken, en dat geeft ze achterin zelf ook aan. Het is wat uitgebreider, heeft meer personages en ook zeker diepgang. Het duurde daardoor ook iets langer voor ik er echt in zat, ik had enorme moeite mij te focussen. Dat lag absoluut niet aan het verhaal, maar aan mij. De 3 generaties vrouwen in het boek wisten mij juist genoeg te prikkelen om door te blijven lezen. Ze maakte mij nieuwsgierig naar hun verhalen, hun geheimen en hun toekomst. Een korte tijd woonde ik op Martha's Vineyard, genoot ik van de zeewind en de pracht die het eiland te bieden heeft. Ik sloot de familie in mijn hart en leefde met hun mee. En stiekem zou ik best verder willen lezen over hun avonturen. Als je je eenmaal thuis voelt op het eiland, wil je er gewoon niet meer weg ♡
Zo, en nu eens kijken hoe ik zo snel mogelijk aan zo'n lekkere cupcake van Jenna kom!!!
Harlequin, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wat was dit een mooi verhaal! Niet helemaal wat ik verwachtte, maar met volle teugen genoten. Ik had eigenlijk behoefte aan een easy read, en de vorige boeken die ik las van Sarah Morgan, daar vloog ik doorheen. Dit boek is daarmee echter niet te vergelijken, en dat geeft ze achterin zelf ook aan. Het is wat uitgebreider, heeft meer personages en ook zeker diepgang. Het duurde daardoor ook iets langer voor ik er echt in zat, ik had enorme moeite mij te focussen. Dat lag absoluut niet aan het verhaal, maar aan mij. De 3 generaties vrouwen in het boek wisten mij juist genoeg te prikkelen om door te blijven lezen. Ze maakte mij nieuwsgierig naar hun verhalen, hun geheimen en hun toekomst. Een korte tijd woonde ik op Martha's Vineyard, genoot ik van de zeewind en de pracht die het eiland te bieden heeft. Ik sloot de familie in mijn hart en leefde met hun mee. En stiekem zou ik best verder willen lezen over hun avonturen. Als je je eenmaal thuis voelt op het eiland, wil je er gewoon niet meer weg ♡
Zo, en nu eens kijken hoe ik zo snel mogelijk aan zo'n lekkere cupcake van Jenna kom!!!
January 15, 2020
My first book by Sarah Morgan and I loved it. I really connected to all the characters and adored the bond between Jenna and Lauren. I really enjoyed taking the journey of self healing, forgiveness and love the Stewart women brought me on. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
May 17, 2024
3.5 ⭐
March 24, 2020
I enjoyed reading about different generations of one family. How the family all had secrets but in the trying times they pulled together. Nancy, Lauren, Jenna and Mackenzie were all strong characters in their own right, I enjoyed that about them. If I had to pick a favourite it would be Jenna as I really felt for her and Gregg (they make a good pairing). 4.5 Stars
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