Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Rosemary Run #2

Her Hidden Past

Rate this book
Bea Hughes had put the past behind her. Until an anonymous caller phoned to say they knew what she'd done. To make matters worse, Bea suspects someone else in the house was listening in on the line.

Fearful she's been found out and desperate to keep her family together, Bea must identify and silence the person who stands in the way of her happiness.

Should she confess after all these years? Should she cover her tracks? And can she do it while keeping her high-profile marriage to a public figure out of the headlines?

Her Hidden Past is the second book in the Rosemary Run Series of domestic thrillers.

About the Rosemary Run Series:

In the charming Northern California town of Rosemary Run, there's trouble brewing below the picture-perfect surface.

Don't let the manicured lawns and stylish place settings fool you. Nothing is exactly as it seems. Secrets and lies threaten to upend the status quo and destroy lives when-- not if-- they're revealed.

With surprising twists and turns that will keep you guessing to the end, each Rosemary Run novel features a different woman's nail-biting story. The series is ongoing and books can be read in any order.

If you like domestic thriller hits such as Shari Lapena's A Stranger in the House, Liane Moriarty's The Husband's Secret, Sandie Jones' The Other Woman, and A.J. Finn's The Woman in the Window, you won't be able to put down the suspense-filled Rosemary Run Series.

Buy Her Hidden Past today for an emotional, pulse-pounding read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

254 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2019

992 people are currently reading
724 people want to read

About the author

Kelly Utt

40 books152 followers
Kelly Utt writes novels about life, love, and the choices that shape our destinies. The stakes are high. The emotions run deep.

Kelly was raised by a dad who would read a book, ask her to read it, too, and then insist they discuss it together, igniting her passion for life's big questions. That passion is often reflected in her novels, giving them a depth which leaves readers wanting more and thinking about her stories long after the last lines are read.

Her earlier works—like the Rosemary Run, Hideaway Isle, and Appleman's Gap series—focus on family secrets, suspense, and psychological twists. Her newest novels, including Sierra Oscar Sierra and What’s Left to Burn, delve into cosmic love stories with high-stakes romance.

In her free time, Kelly enjoys travel, great books, and good food, along with movies, music, and social media. She is a founding author of My Book Friends, a vibrant reader community dedicated to connecting authors and book lovers. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and sons.

For free books, updates, and other bonuses, sign up for her newsletter at kellyutt.com.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
328 (29%)
4 stars
295 (26%)
3 stars
311 (27%)
2 stars
117 (10%)
1 star
74 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
21 reviews
December 24, 2019
Waste of my time

What a truly implausible, underdeveloped story line. The characters were hollow, dialog and story development lacked depth. The end was so abrupt and fake, it was as if the author had decided on how long to write and when the timer went off she ended the book.
Profile Image for Dylan.
627 reviews4 followers
January 6, 2020
Omg. WhatdidIjustread.

Seriously.

This book was so poorly written, the characters so shallow, that I kept wondering if I should just abandon it. What stopped me was that it's a very, very quick read. I finished it in one afternoon. I would hate to add a DNF at the beginning of the year.

The plot was completely implausible. None of the character's actions made any sense.

This book was a Kindle freebie, and it goes to show, some of them aren't worth paying for.
Profile Image for Jamie Bee.
Author 1 book122 followers
December 23, 2019
Good Pacing and Characters

I love a good psychological thriller, though I do not read them often enough. Something about this one just appealed to me, and I'm glad I decided to pick it up. Pacing is so vital in any thriller, and this author did it just right. I was pulled in immediately with the prologue, and the author expertly dialed up the tension and then brought it back over and over, just the way I like it for a book like this. This author is new to me, and I am happy to have discovered her. The novel had some great twists and turns that keep me up reading long after I should have gone to bed. I found the heroine to be someone I could easily empathize with; she was believable and relatable. If you enjoy psychological thrillers as I do, you may very well enjoy this book.

My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
Profile Image for Jeanette.
155 reviews2 followers
January 8, 2020
This is not a thriller. It’s a drawn out rambling of sentences scrambled together to form something of a story. If it eventually becomes a thriller, color me shocked. I couldn’t trudge through anymore of the weak, plot line.
Profile Image for Karon.
54 reviews3 followers
January 29, 2020
Surprising ending

A very short few days for all the happenings in the story. Made it hard to set down, but had to sleep. Lies, deception and love yes a great story line.
Profile Image for Rishita.
218 reviews25 followers
Read
August 26, 2023
If I could go back in time to stop myself from picking up this book, I would.
Profile Image for Gale Pearson.
89 reviews2 followers
September 24, 2023
Was this written by a ten year old? I can’t believe I finished it. The protagonist was unbelievably naive. That about sums it up. A few hours I can’t get back.
Profile Image for Barbara.
758 reviews6 followers
October 15, 2024
This is the second book in the Rosemary Run series and it was so good. I really enjoy this author’s stories, they never disappoint. In this book, the main character, Beatrice Hughes, did something many years ago and has been keeping it a secret all this time. Little did she know, her husband knew about it all along. Suddenly, she gets a phone call with a mysterious voice telling her they knew what she did. The story goes on with Beatrice trying to figure out what to do while her marriage is falling apart and she is desiring the love of an old love affair. There is so much mystery and thrill in the book, you don’t want to stop reading. I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes a good thriller.
220 reviews2 followers
March 20, 2022
Interesting! And not really surprising

While this was a surprise, it was not unexpected. Keep your mind open as you read along and you may find it enlightening.
Profile Image for Mikki O.
141 reviews
January 30, 2022
Rosemary Run

Second book in this series and I definitely enjoyed it. Looking forward to starting book number three.
Kelly Utt is an excellent Author
Profile Image for Amber Dawn.
890 reviews1 follower
March 13, 2022
Rosemary run

I love this series. Its a quick and easy read that you won't want to put down. It has both mystery and romance that gives it a little of something for everyone.
Profile Image for Jen.
1,140 reviews105 followers
April 30, 2020
I thought this book was just OK. It centers around Bea, the mayor's wife in a small Northern California town, who did something bad 10 years ago and lives in constant fear of it being exposed. She starts getting threats from an unknown source to expose her secret to the world. There is also a side story around Bea's relationship with her husband as well as another man with whom she has had a relationship in the past.

I liked the storyline in general, and there was some mystery, but I didn't get Bea's character at all. She was extremely impulsive, making spur of the moment decisions that would alter the life of everyone around her with very little forethought, and then bouncing back to the completely opposite decision days or hours later. I didn't see how anyone could make it to this point in their lives with that kind of judgement. She also seemed to live in crippling fear of getting caught for her crime, regularly deciding she was just going to go ahead and confess, and I found it hard to believe she had been living for 10 years in that mindset and not actually ever told anyone.

Also, the writing style was a little off to me. It felt stilted, and sometimes overly formal, for the issues being discussed, which didn't allow me to get as embedded into the story as I generally do.

My last issue with the book was the end. I love a happy ending, but this (without giving you spoilers) ties everything up in the nicest, tidiest, bow you can imagine. I skipped the "extended epilogue" advertised at the back of the book because I could already imagine what it would say. Seems pretty unrealistic to resolve a lifetime of issues that easily.

Overall, this was a fast read and I enjoyed the mystery aspect, but would not recommend the book based on the reasons above.
416 reviews
July 14, 2021
Interesting!

The stress of living with a deep, dark secret comes to a head and threatens to tear many lives apart!
Profile Image for J.L. Smith.
Author 3 books9 followers
December 3, 2021
What I liked?

The entire series looked intriguing so I got it courtesy of BookBub. I had already read the previous books and this one, at the start, genuinely seemed like a decent premise and there was some promise at the beginning.

What I didn’t like?
With the exception of Max (the only child in the story) there is not one single likeable person. Mostly because no one seemed real. They were all characters, not people. Situations and reactions happened with no other explanation besides “the writer wanted it to happen.” Every situation, including the wrap up, was just plain contrived.

Overall?
I did not enjoy this story, but I have a couple more books in the series to finish.
Profile Image for Sharon.
4,152 reviews31 followers
December 28, 2019
I forgot I had this book and didn’t find it till after I had read book 3, but I dove straight into this book as was not disappointed. I loved this book just as much as I did book 3! This is an author that has easily made it to my must watch list so I can read other books from her in the future. Her writing style is brilliant and easy to follow as she brings the plot, the scenery and the characters to life. Once again keeping me on the edge of my seat at times as I read this book in one sitting.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for L.P. Snyder.
Author 6 books12 followers
October 10, 2019
Great Follow-Up
This is the second in the Rosemary Run series and I enjoyed it even more than the first. The characters struck a chord with me and resonated throughout the story. It’s fast-paced, suspenseful and of course, it’s full of twists and turns! If you thrive on dramatic tension and edge of your seat thrills, this is for you! Our protagonist, Bea, is quite a colorful character and paints herself into some exciting, unusual, and dramatic situations. Don’t miss it!
Profile Image for Heather W.
4,066 reviews35 followers
November 8, 2019
Secrets from the past...

Her Hidden Past is the second book in the Rosemary Run series. This is a suspenseful psychological thriller that engages your attention from the first and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The storyline is well written, fast-paced, intense, and dramatic as Bea tries to find out who knows her secret.

I am looking forward to reading more of this series.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
Profile Image for Scarolet Ellis.
7,445 reviews55 followers
December 31, 2019
Her Hidden Past by Kelly Utt is an awesome story to read. This is book number two in this awesome series that I have loved reading from the begining. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about thrillers and suspense.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1 review
January 23, 2020
I never read this author before, but it was terrific!!! I read it all in one setting, couldn't put it down. Highly recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers/mysteries/love stories. I was slightly disappointed with the ending, it seemed rather flat after reading the rest of the book, but I will be looking for other books by this author.
Profile Image for Nancy.
26 reviews
March 13, 2020
Thrilling Twists

I enjoy Kelly Utt's writing style and easy plot transitions. Even the twists are plausible. Twice, I thought I knew who was releasing the videos and both times I was wrong, then during the final plot twist, my heart sank when I thought I solved the case, and was again wrong. I really enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Pat Eroh.
2,618 reviews32 followers
November 13, 2019
This is an amazing story by one of my favorite authors. This story has Bea wondering who knows her secrets and who is listening! This story will keep you reading with lots of action and a compelling story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Anna Weber.
90 reviews17 followers
December 28, 2019
Great writing

A fascinating passion is reflected in this novel, giving the characters a depth which left me wanting more and thinking about the plot and characters long after the last lines were read.
Profile Image for Connie.
15 reviews
August 8, 2020
Waste of time

Poorly written. Unrealistic character reactions. Horrible unrealistic ending. The author is a psychologist, I'm glad not to be her patient as she doesn't seem to understand human nature
Profile Image for Priscilla Schwarze.
3 reviews
October 15, 2019
I enjoyed this book a lot. The suspense about the secrets were very well done. I look forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Marian Cox.
173 reviews
December 28, 2019
Good reading

I have enjoyed these first two books in series. They are good quick reads. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
105 reviews1 follower
January 20, 2020
Cool story!!

I certainly did not see that ending coming, well done!! Looking forward to reading more from this talented young woman.
5 reviews
February 23, 2020
Good, easy read.

I thought I knew how the this book was going to end but boy was I wrong! Loved the surprise!
Profile Image for Tasha St. Gelais.
12 reviews1 follower
May 19, 2020
It was gripping

I deff didnt realize the end. The begining was a little slow but then it got really gripping by the end.
101 reviews1 follower
December 31, 2020
I enjoyed this book. Great, interesting plot, believable characters. Some twists & turns.Some humour kept !e reading! Liked the unusual, unique ending!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,471 reviews7 followers
Read
January 29, 2021
Great mystery

This book kept you guessing until the end. Loved the main character Bea. Loved the twist at the end. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.