Hidden Secrets

by Donna M. Zadunajsky

... Hidden Secrets will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew...

Carla Michaels's life isn't what she thought it was. She met her loving husband in college. She had a career as a teacher. All she ever wanted to complete her life was a baby. After five miscarriages, Carla had almost given up hope of ever becoming a mother.

Then a devastating tragedy strikes and everything she had ever loved is gone--now she's left torn and shattered, wondering if she can go on with life.

Unexpectedly, she receives an envelope full of books. Journals that were kept hidden from her. A mystery starts to play out as secrets are revealed.

Will she get a second chance at life? Will the hidden secrets destroy her? Or will she find the strength to survive once she knows the truth?

"Hidden Secrets" will pull at your heartstrings until the very last page. Some secrets are not meant to be hidden...

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

312 pages, Paperback

Published October 2, 2016

About the author

Donna M. Zadunajsky started out writing children’s books before she accomplished and published her first novel, Broken Promises, in June 2012. She since has written several more novels and her first novella, HELP ME! Book 1 in the series, which is about teen suicide and bullying.
HELP ME!, won Awards in:
The Great Northwest Book Festival-Winner
Global EBook Awards- Gold Medal Winner
The Great Southeast Book Festival-Winner
IPA Award- Winner in Grief Category
Reader Views Awards- In 3 different categories:
*Children-Teen 12-16 year olds
*Children-Young Adult 16-18 years old
*Best Teen/YA Book of the Year
eLit Awards- Silver Winner

Talk To Me, Book 2 was a Finalist in the Author U unpublished contest, 2016.
IPA Award- Winner in Death and Dying

The author is available for speaking on the matters of teen suicide, bullying and for author events.

Reviews

[Linda Strong]

Carla Michaels has everything she's ever wanted ...except for a child. Following multiple miscarriages, she manages to stay pregnant through her sixth month before she goes into early labor.

When she awakes in the hospital, she's fearful that she has lost yet another child. But this one is hanging in there. She is over the moon happy even knowing that there's' every possibility that the baby won't make it. And her husband is acting strange ....

Tragedy strikes and the aftermath is shocking.

Unexpectedly she receives journals in the mail ... journals written by her husband that she has never seen.

Many secrets ... and lies ... come out of the darkness. Some secrets should never be hidden.

This is a well-written page turner, one that will tug at your heartstrings. I thought I knew what direction things were going ... but I was so wrong. The only warning I have ... keep a box of tissues handy ... you'll need it. Although second in the series, this is easily read as a stand-alone.

Many thanks to the author / Netgalley for the digital copy of HIDDEN SECRETS. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Tonya]

Hidden Secrets is a stand alone but also part of the Secrets and Second Chances series written by Donna M Zadunajsky. Carla is a woman who has layers and layers.

<<< This book deals with pregnancy loss which could be a trigger for some people. (If so, please stop reading the review, you will not hurt my feelings.).>>>

After multiple miscarriages, Carla finally has a beautiful baby but things don't go right and it feels like life is happening around her but not to her. Her husband tries to be supportive and she feels like it makes a difference... still, she can't shake the depression that surrounds her life. Soon, Carla has to face the hardest things she has ever dealt with as she says goodbye to the two people she has loved the most.

This book then takes the reader on an adventure as Carla starts to read mysterious journals and finds a mystery that she desperately needs to solve.

I don't want to give away too many spoilers, but I will say that the way this book deals with Carla's depression is very healthy and realistic. Discovering the secrets to the mysteries of the journals (and other mysteries) was worth the read and the ending seems to wrap things up neatly... Overall, I am left with an impression that Carla's journey is a quest for hope..for herself and the people in her life...but also for the readers who may struggle or know someone who struggles with depression.

Thank you to NetGalley and Donna M Zadunajsky for the Advanced Reader Copy for me to review. As Always, my opinions are my own.

[Dee]

Good story precept that will resonate with many

Carla Michaels and her husband Tim want a child more than anything. Especially Carla can’t imagine being happy without having a baby. Then…she gets pregnant. She’s so happy. Then her pregnancy progresses past the point where her others ended in miscarriages, and she starts to breathe a sigh of relief. In one of those inexplainable moments, it all goes wrong. She’s rushed to the hospital. She awakens with Tim sitting near her bed. It’s a good news/bad news situation. The child is alive but barely, having been born so prematurely. But in the emergency, they had to perform a hysterectomy. Carla is appalled. However, she puts all of her energy into the baby. Tragedy strikes when in one day, the baby dies and Tim is killed. How can one woman bear so much? She finds a way through a series of journals Tim kept since he was a youngster. Carla discovers who her husband was, this man she’d thought she knew, and finding that out gives her comfort and so much more.

I’m sure women who want children more than anything in the world and can’t seem to carry them carry a world of heartache. I don’t want to be insensitive of that. But I guess Carla didn’t resonate with me. She seemed to want ONLY a child of her own. She had a wonderful husband who did his best to understand her and make her happy and she didn’t seem to appreciate him. Of course, until she read his journals, she didn’t know all there was about him—thus the hidden secrets the title warns us about. I felt bad for him. I pretty much enjoyed this book—the characters were all drawn well, even the supporting ones. The ending was a surprise and maybe a little too coincidental. Like the previous book of Ms Zadunajsky’s I’ve read, I wish she’d been edited more stringently. All in all, though, a good story with a good premise, bringing home that judging a book—or a marriage or a husband—by what you see on the outside is never a good thing.

I was provided this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Julie Powell]

I was given an ARC of this book and I thought it was a good drama.

Carla wanted a baby but after five miscarriages, she felt doomed to failure. In my opinion, Carla is extremely self-centred, and though the loss of her babies was awful, she never considered the effects on others, especially her husband. I liked her teaching approach and kindness.

This story is about relationships and the secrets that can destroy them. It’s a sad story and it does address the trauma very well. Themes such as miscarriage, abuse, love and sacrifice push the plot, while the mystery sets the scene into a tense and suspenseful tale.

I don’t give spoilers but I did enjoy this story, which was certainly fiction but with its roots in reality – always a great formula. I also liked the diary parts as they gave a fuller picture to the story as a whole.

Worth reading and recommended by me.

[Isis Ray-sisco]

Wow! Wow! Wow! What an emotional read. I have not read this author before but I will definitely pick up more books by her. Hidden Secrets is an amazing read that I could not put down. The plot and story line moves a long at a steady pace. It is believable and quite a tearjerker for sure. I enjoyed Carla and Tim's story and it resonated with me. The characters were very easy to identify with .

Carla's life is pretty ideal. The only thing missing in her life is a baby. She has always wanted a baby and she won't stop trying to have one or give up hope of having one. Her husband is there to support her but it has caused a strain between them. She is pregnant with a little girl and so far things are going good. Little does she know that her life is about to change forever and she will find out that things are not always what they seem. There are things she never knew about Tim and his past that come to light and secrets that he has hidden from her over the years. With everything she has gone through and everything she has learned will she be able to pick up the pieces of her life and move on?

Tim hasn't always had an easy life but he has a good life now. He has a wife he loves with all his heart and a job he has always wanted. There isn't a thing he wouldn't do for his wife and he hopes she knows that. The only he knows that she wants is a baby and they have been trying for years. With each loss it breaks his heart a little more each time. Not only does he lose a baby but he loses pieces of his wife as well. He doesn't know what he will do if they lose the one she is carrying now. He's afraid he will lose her completely. What can he do? He isn't sure but he will find a way to make all her dreams come true. But what will it cost him?

Hidden Secrets is easily one of my top 5 reads for 2016. I didn't like that there were a lot of secrets kept but without them the story wouldn't be what it is. I loved Tim and Carla. They were both great characters. Both had flaws but both were good people. I liked Tim for his compassion. I also liked that he took his troubled past and made something good come from it. I liked Carla because she was a great teacher and really cared about her students. I did thinks he tended to be a bit selfish at times. That being said it is quite understandable considering all she went through. I would highly recommend Hidden Secrets to anyone who enjoys contemporary romances, though I must warn it isn't for everyone considering some of the subject matter and emotions it may invoke.

[Amanda]

5 tearful hearts..

Grab the tissues...

How well do you truly know anyone in your life? Carla Michaels thought she knew her husband. She thought that she had a happy life. She married her college sweetheart, she had her dream job, the only thing missing was a baby to make them a family. After several miscarriages it seems like Carla and her husband Tim won't have a chance to have a child. Then she becomes pregnant again and makes it to six months. She's so happy, finally her dream has come true. She loves teaching and feels a special affection towards one of the children that's in her class, Samantha Berkley. She feels that she's being abused and tried to report it, but nothing happened. Until tragedy hits, she goes into premature labor. She wakes up in the hospital and is confused because she's no longer pregnant and Tim is edgy about the answers to her questions. For the first time she can't read her husband. Things go from bad to worse while Carla is recovering and they are waiting for the baby to get healthier. Tim doesn't think that Carla can take too much more bad news and keeps most things close to the vest. Tim does let Carla know that Samantha is in the same hospital and that her parents were in fact abusing her. Samantha was taken away and she is now one of his cases. Carla knows he's a lawyer, but not exactly what he does. More tragedy follows Carla and she must learn to pull her life back together. Once she finally starts to do so, she starts coming across journals and learning things she didn't know. Will it change her complete outlook? Change everything she thought she knew? Will it through her back into severe depression?

**Reviewer for Romance Authors that Rock***

[LuAnn Rodriquez]

This author is a good writer with a smooth enough style, but I did not care for the story which featured a woman who felt so sorry for the losses in her life that she was totally surprised by all her husband had gone through in his early life after she learned those secrets. I had to work hard to stay interested!

[Vickie]

This book was extremely hard to put down and very well-written. Since it was the first book I have read by this author and part of a series, I was pleasantly surprised that it can be read as a stand alone. I was totally caught up in the story of Tim and Carla and their attempts to have a healthy baby. I could feel Carla’s pain and depression from her miscarriages and relate to her loss of hope in a future. After a devastating loss, she receives journals written by Tim and finds out many secrets that would have changed their lives together had she known. The secrets are revealed slowly so that I was drawn into the story of this couple more and more. I liked that the chapters were short and the action and feelings of each character were very believable. When Carla returns from the hospital and just can’t deal any longer with the tragedies in her life, she take two painkillers. Her attempt to escape reality had me sympathizing with her and her desperate plight. I was pulling for her throughout the rest of the book and really enjoyed the conclusion and how everything worked out. The author has written a book of fiction, but it is also a commentary on depression and how real it is and how it needs to be accepted and treated as a real illness. Readers of psychological suspense will enjoy this book. I know that I look forward to reading other books by this talented and empathetic author!

Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255,”Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

[Beverly Egan]

Hidden Secrets
by Donns M. Zadunajsky


This was my first book that I have read by Donna M. Zadunajsky it's the second in a series, but you can read it as a stand alone novel.
I throughly enjoyed this book her caracters touch your heart, and you get throughly invested in each one. Her writing is like a rose coming into bloom. This book had me hooked from the first page, and when I was not reading it, I was thinking about the caracters lives. Carla meets her husband Tim in college, he becomes a lawyer and she a great loving teacher that reaches out to her young students she feels a special bond with little Samantha coming to class with bruises on her arm and legs. Desperately wanting there own child Carla has miscarage after miscarage turning Donna's life upside down until at last she carries a baby until she is six months along, and her sweet little girl fights to survive. Her husband is lost in a tragic accident. Carla starts receiving journals at her door written by her loving husband with short letters included telling her of his love for her forever. The journals go all the way back to his childhood. Carla at first feels she never knew her husband,, in time she begins to understand why he chose to fight in court for children giving them a voice and a second chance that he never had. This book will touch your heart and leave you wanting more.

Thanks to Netgalley and Donna Zadunajsky for my ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
B Egan, ladyedan, ladyedan62
Goodreads, Pintrest, Amazon, Twitter

[Emma]

What a moving story of unconditional love. This is a tearjerker. This is the most realistic book I have ever read. The feelings and emotions are really raw and extremely real. The characters are down-to-earth and had wonderful loving personalities. The book starts off with intimate sadness of the lead female character Carla and the lead male character Tim. As the book continues, my eye grew wide because of what I was reading. So much pain, so much anguish, so much sorrow, so much death. I cried. (other books I have read caused me to shed a tear, but this one made me cry) I am not going to tell you anything about this book because I do not want to ruin the experience for you. I will tell you that there are so many twists and turns in the story. The story in and of itself was a journey that unfolds as you read on. The sacrifices people make is mind boggling when there is a deep consummate and pure love. I was so moved by this story. The story is completely unpredictable. I kept getting surprised as I read the book. There are highs and lows, such sadness and some happiness. The ending was unexpected. It was sad and at the same time it was a happy. Go figure. I would not call this a dark story or romance, it is more sensible, sane, logical view of the life that Carla, Tim and a little girl named Samantha lived. My insides twist just thinking about this story. All I can say is that this is a must read. You will not be disappointed. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Charles]

The main character in this book is an elementary school teacher named Carla Michaels and one of the most selfish, self-centered characters that have appeared in the books that I have read. There are times when even she says, “Perhaps I am being too selfish,” to which the most obvious reply for the reader to utter an emphatic mental “obviously.”
Her husband Tim is an attorney and has always put her first and regularly professes his love for her. Yet, Carla frequently expresses feelings of dissatisfaction with her life, generally based on no specific cause. This unhappiness is sometimes taken out on others with no real justification and a year before, she attempted suicide. Carla desperately wants to have a child, but has suffered five miscarriages and when the story opens she is pregnant once again.
There is another tragedy in Carla’s life and there is no shock to the reader when she withdraws, basically crawling in bed for a month. Despite the problems in her life, it is hard for the reader to generate any sympathy for Carla, every new experience is interpreted in the most negative possible manner, compounding the problems she is facing.
While there is what is meant to be a happy ending, it is based on such a bizarre set of circumstances that the reader finds it difficult to muster any real interest. Given the way she responded to her loving husband, you wonder if she is really capable of nurturing children.

[˜”*°•.˜”*°• Sheri •°*”˜.•°*”˜]

The writing at the beginning is a bit choppy but I think it’s because all the characters are introduced early on. The writing smooths out after the first or second chapter.

An elementary school teacher named Carla Michaels in the main character in this book. I’m not sure that the author intended it, but she comes across as selfish, self-centered, a constant complainer, whiney, and unappreciative. At one point Carla even says, “Perhaps I am being too selfish.”

Her husband Tim is an attorney and has always put her first and regularly professes his love for her. Yet, Carla frequently expresses feelings of dissatisfaction with her life. She has had 5 miscarriages and her unhappiness of being childless is often taken out on others. The previous year, after the last miscarriage, she attempted suicide. When the story opens, she is pregnant once again.

Secrets are discovered because her husband has kept the most detailed journals you’ll ever read. Even when his wife and baby are in the hospital, he is evidently writing page after page of details in his journal. There is a happy ending, sort of, but it takes a long stretch of the imagination to believe.

I received a free copy from Booksprouts in exchange for a review.

[Texas]

Hidden Secrets #2 - This is my first read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Oh, the emotions the reader is ran through. They range the gamut from despair, to heartbreak and finally to happiness. The waterfall of emotions is continuous throughout the story.

The well written storylines are intense and keep the reader glued to the pages. Just when the reader figures out the truth, the brakes are applied and the reader is tossed into a different direction at full orce. There is so much depth to this vividly described tale of heartbreak and sorrows, as well as the heartwarming aspects.

The characters are realistic and range from sweet to horrendous, with realistic, clean dialog. Tim is my favorite character and once you've read what he has done with his large loving heart and what he has survived and lost, you'll agree about him, too.

I found this book on Booksprout, along with Twisted Secrets, the third book of the trilogy, which unfortunately I didn't have time to read before the due date. After reading the overview of the first and last books, I recommend reading them in order; BUT that's not necessary as Hidden is a standalone and the bits of reference to the first book are explained well enough. Book does need editing. 4*

[Sue]

Carla is six months pregnant and awaiting the arrival of her baby when a double tragedy strikes. She is going through immense grief and has many unanswered questions when a set of diaries comes in the mail. As Carla reads each diary page-by-page she discovers a loved one’s past that opens her eyes and begins to obtain answers to her unspoken questions. Will she find the strength to carry on?

This is not a traditional mystery where someone dies and you are trying to discover who murdered them. Instead, someone has died with lots of hidden secrets and the main character (Carla) works through uncovering the secrets and finding a way to move on with her life.

This book touched me deeply and I openly wept with Carla at her loss. There are so much depth and passion on these pages that I found myself unable to put the book down until the very end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bev]

Carla Michaels’s life isn't what she thought it would be. All she really wants besides her husband is a baby. After five miscarriages, Carla had all but given up hope of being a mother. Even more tragedy strikes and she is left alone with no one. She isn't sure she can go on with life. Then she receives an envelope full of books. Journals that were kept hidden from her. A mystery starts to play out as secrets are revealed. Will this be the final straw that pushes her over the edge or will she find some kind of hope and love in the books? You will have to read the story to find out. I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book from Booksprout.

[Gwen Shafer]

How would you feel with things you learn that you should have learned a long time ago? She suffers not one but two tragic events the same day. Then after dealing with it she gets journals that her husband wrote over years of their life. Haunting truth that she must deal with. Will it being her peace or more pain? Loved this one. Full of twists and turns. Keeps you turning the page to see what happens next. Absolutely loved this one.

[Michelle]

Hidden Secrets is an emotional read and a definite page turner. In this book we are taken on the heartbreaking journey of Carla and the tragic events that change her life forever. When Carla's husband's hidden journals show up we find out more about Tim. Get the tissue ready because this story left me shedding a few tears. Great writing, emotional story and twists that had me turning the pages to find out more. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Margie]

What an amazing story! I figured out where this story was going from reading the journals but it was still fascinatingto follow it to the end. This author, Donna M. Zadunajsky has a very vivid imagination and a special talent. She has written a well-developed, very poignant story. Her characters are realistic and very likeable. I am so glad I got to read such a beautiful story.

[Tanya]

Her life was full except for having children as she suffers five miscarriages. Then even more is thrown at her and she is broken. She receives an envelope which holds secrets which she will try to uncover. Will she she up more broken then before? See how she gets on

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sharon]

I’m not very familiar with this author but I really enjoyed this book. The characters are well rounded and very believable. The plot is interesting, there are some surprises included that I certainly wasn’t expecting. A wonderful read and a definite page turner. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joan Waite]

Hidden Secrets was an easy read. The main character, Carly, suffers depression and loss, but persists in learning her husbands secrets from his childhood, and also during their marriage. Major tragedy, with a triumphant ending.

[Tina]

Easy to read and great characters. I LOVE this cover! Makes you want to jump into the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes this type of story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pat Eroh]

An amazing story that hit me very close to heart as I had miscarriages and had trouble having a second child. This book is highly emotional and extremely page-turning. I highly recommend this.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary]

I enjoyed reading this book. There were times, I read into the "wee" hours of the morning. I got lost in the story as well as the characters. I highly recommend this book.

[Cindy]

Loved it! Longer review coming later.

[Susan Csoke]

Carla Michaels enjoyed her career as a teacher but she longed for children of her own. She met her loving husband in college but suffered the loss of five miscarriages. Then more tragedy strikes and Carla is left broken and shattered. Until she receives some journals that had been hidden from her.........Captivating!!!!! THANK YOU GOOD READS FIRST READS FOR THIS FREE BOOK!!!!!

[Becca Rae]

Wow this book was awesome! I won it as part of a giveaway. I got sucked into it right from the beginning and couldn't put the thing down. I even handed it to my husband as soon as I finished and told him to read it and I couldn't tell him anything lol. It wasn't what I was expecting but in a "good-twist" kind of way. I don't even want to write anything specific because I don't want to give anything away. Carla and her husband Tim have been trying to have a baby for years with miscarriage leading to miscarriage. The book description says that Carla learns secrets about her husband but it's so much more than that. I'm not a spoiler so I'm not going to share. I'll just suggest if you haven't read it to definitely do so!

[READER VIEWS]

Reviewed by Maria Juliana Leal For Readers Views (02/17)

Donna M. Zadunajsky’s book, “Hidden Secrets” is about Carla, a schoolteacher who loves her work and her husband Tim, an attorney. They have a perfect marriage and are a beloved couple, but after five miscarriages and the loss of her husband, Carla’s world turns completely upside down. Shortly afterwards, she finds a collection of books, secret journals that Tim had been writing since his childhood that she knew nothing about. Within these pages, she learns that Tim had suffered all of his life and never mentioned anything to her. In short, she finds out that there were hidden secrets in his life–secrets that will change her to the core!

Donna M. Zadunajsky presents readers with a well-written story filled with ups and downs, and an unexpected twist of fate. Her awesome character development skills made Carla, Tim, and all the other characters real and relatable to the reader. The pace is spot on, the drama and topic is thought provoking. Her writing style is defined, well crafted, and entertaining.

"Hidden Secrets” by Donna M. Zadunajsky, in my opinion is a must read book full of emotions that will make readers think twice about the lives of their loved ones and friends, and what they may have been through in the past. A work of fiction that resembles the back and forth that any person may face, making them doubt and fear about those secrets they are yet to discover. “Hidden Secrets” is definitely a great book by Donna Zadunajsky that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend to readers as a four star read to have in their library.

[Pam]

Hidden Secrets is an excellent novel by Donna M. Zadunajsky. I was asked to review this prior to its being published. I am certainly thrilled to have been able to read this book early. It is a sensational novel that deals with the timely topics of premature birth and child abuse.
Carla Michaels is a second grade teacher and loves her kids. She is six months pregnant after having experienced several miscarriages. The doctors do not know why she has been miscarrying. She and her husband, Tim, are thrilled with this pregnancy. Tim, however, is working long hours as a Children’s Advocate.
Carla is very concerned about one of her pupils, Samantha Berkley. Samantha has been coming to school with an unusual amount of bruises. Carla suspects abuse and has told the Superintendent about her suspicions. She decides she must talk to the parents prior to going further to have them investigated for child abuse. She sends a note home with Samantha asking for a conference. When Samantha gets upset about the note, she tells Samantha it is to tell them good news, which Carla plans to do too.
After all the children leave, Carla goes into premature labor and starts bleeding heavily. As she is going for the school phone in her room, she falls and hits her head and becomes unconscious. Luckily her plea for help is heard. When she comes to in the hospital, she is bewildered and sure she has lost her baby. Tim tries to tell her something but isn’t able to articulate it. What is Tim trying to keep from her? She is convinced he is lying to her about something but can’t figure it out. She finds Samantha has been admitted for being severely beaten and Tim is her advocate. Who is the strange lady who talks to Carla in the hospital?

[Peggy]

I have read several from this author so far... and lets just say this author is amazing! She keeps you intrigued and gives you story plots and characters that you can love or hate. This book here is another fantastic one that she has out! If you haven't read anything from this author you should!