Book picks similar to
A Life Unexpected by Alison Ragsdale


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The Resort


M.J. Hardy - 2021
    When three women win a holiday in a Facebook competition, they think it’s by chance.It’s not.When one woman accompanies her husband on business, she thinks she’ll return with him.She won’t.Welcome to the resort, where nothing is as it seems.Invited guests testing the facilities before it opens its doors in one weeks’ time face some uncomfortable truths.Who will survive the week and who won’t leave at all?

Justifiable Deceit


Mikael Carlson - 2020
    A year later, he has become the country’s leading gun control activist and a media darling.When Ethan teams up with a powerful senator to push an extreme gun measure through Congress, a divided America watches the political fireworks in Washington. As both sides of the debate mobilize for an epic showdown, the public is about to discover that everything they know about the massacre that launched this movement may be wrong.Journalist Tierra Campos and FBI Special Agent Victoria Larsen begin questioning the official investigation into the shooting and find themselves caught in the political crossfire. Despite public condemnation, covert activities, and physical violence meant to stop them, they remain undaunted in their quest – but at what price? With their careers threatened and livelihoods at stake, they must race to unlock the secrets behind this horrible mass shooting before the truth disappears forever. Amidst the maelstrom of political agendas, personal vendettas, and brash cover-ups, the push to uncover the real motives behind the tragedy will have devastating consequences. When the dust settles, a shocked nation must make a fateful judgment: do the ends justify the means in politics, or is there no such thing as Justifiable Deceit?

No Safe Zone


Adite Banerjie - 2020
    Even if it means visiting the city she had vowed never to return to. But within a few hours of landing in New Delhi, she is being chased by a gunman and is a potential suspect in the murder of a high-profile businessman. The only person she can turn to for help is Kabir Shorey, the man who stood her up ten years ago. Past and present collide in a deadly plot of crime and greed that moves from the cosmopolitan streets of Delhi to the bazaars and villages of Rajasthan.

Mother


Laura Jarratt - 2020
    One Chance.When Lizzie's car crashes with her two daughters inside, she faces a terrible choice. And when she recovers from her injuries, she has to deal with the impact of that tragedy as well as the police investigation into it.As Lizzie and her family struggle to come to terms with the events of that night, things take an even darker turn. Just what did happen on that remote country road? Who is responsible? And can the family get through this together...Or will the truth finally tear them apart?A stunning, deeply emotional and beautifully realised cross between SOPHIE'S CHOICE and DAUGHTER.

In the Shadows of Death


Sourabh Mukherjee - 2015
    ACP Agni Mitra finds out about her adulterous ways as he startsinvestigating into the murder. The miffed husband, a lecherous boss, one of hermany jilted admirers – anyone could have killed her.The investigation is stuck in myriad perplexing questions when the murder ofMeenakshi Menon, a Director with Altius Finance, hits the headlines.As more murders rock the city, it is not too long before the battle of wits with hisunseen adversary turns personal for Agni.A ruthless killer walking the rain-washed streets of Kolkata.A detective battling storms brewing in his private life.Human relations infested with deceit. A generation struggling to copewith fast-changing ambitions and desires.In the Shadows of Death is a gripping page-turner with a heart-rendingemotional core.

Time Will Tell


Eva Jordan - 2019
    Writer, Lizzie Lemalf, and her loving but somewhat dysfunctional family are still grieving over the loss of a much-loved family member. Lizzie is doing her best to keep her family together but why does the recent death of a well-known celebrity have them all in a spin? The police suspect foul play; Lizzie and other family members suspect one another. Lizzie begins searching for answers only to find herself being dragged back to the past, to 1960's London to be exact, and to the former life of her father, that up until now she has never been privy to. Every family has its secrets but how can the past hold the key to a present day celebrity death? They say the past comes back to haunt you. Surely the truth will out? Maybe, but only time will tell...

Toby


David Johnson - 2016
    Her formerly chaotic life seems to be settling down, until a peaceful walk in the woods leads Symphony and Toby to the reclusive cabin of Caleb Showalter, who knows more about her past than he’s telling.When an old friend resurfaces and expresses his affection, Symphony warily longs for love, and it is Toby that nudges her toward pursuing a reconnection. But when violence strikes at the hands of her possessive boyfriend, Symphony’s trust is shattered once again.Just when Symphony’s faith in humanity seems lost, Toby is injured in the woods, and she has no choice but to reach out to Caleb for help. Together, they face their fears and lost trust head-on. If they can save Toby, they might be able to let go of the past and to believe in the goodness of others—and themselves—once again.

NOT MINE TO TAKE: a dark and twisty, psychological thriller


Keiron Cosgrave - 2021
    What starts out as an escape soon becomes something far more sinister.The locals in the nearby town seem resentful of her presence and Erin can't understand why?Alone and isolated, cut off from the mainland twice a day, Erin's imagination runs wild.Is someone out there? Is someone watching her every move?Is someone biding their time?Not Mine to take was briefly published under the pan name CB Cox.

Where the Truth Hides (Investigation Duo, #1)


Liane Carmen - 2020
    She insists she’s fine, but it quickly becomes clear she’s changed. She’s forgetful, paranoid, short-tempered. Her husband wants to write off her change in personality to the IVF hormones she's taking in an attempt to get pregnant.Becky's best friend, Jules Dalton, is a gorgeous, single woman, with a habit of sabotaging relationships. When Jules loses the man who could have been “the one,” she confronts the realization that being adopted at birth is contributing to her trust issues. She’s obsessed with finding out why she was given up and turns to DNA testing in hopes her matches will lead to her birth parents.As Jules dives into her DNA results, Becky’s life soon becomes one she doesn’t recognize. Those closest to her are accusing her of things she simply can’t explain or remember. She’s terrified of losing everything: her career, her marriage, and her dream of becoming a mother.Desperate to put the pieces of her shattered life back together, Becky needs her best friend more than ever. What she doesn’t realize is that Jules knows something that could explain everything away.Becky has a dark past she’s unaware of. A darkness that’s coming for her.It could also get her killed.

Daisy in the Doghouse


Joe Barrett - 2019
    Meanwhile, Daisy, his precocious twelve-year-old daughter, has recently garnered a substantial following for her new blog, documenting surreptitious “social experiments” performed on her unaware family. When Daisy’s blogging activities are outed, Jack decides to leverage his daughter’s popularity with American youth to communicate the greed and hypocrisy inherent in the corporate professions of many parents. Inspired by her father’s rants, the popularity of Daisy’s blog soars, resulting in an unlikely sequence of events that ultimately has a very positive impact on way that people treat each other in American society.

The Good Teacher


P.J. Kelly - 2017
    A cloudy autumn sky. The day started with 362 students and seventeen teachers. It ended with three people missing. ​Lisa and Jacob Johnstone had suffered a well-documented childhood of neglect and abuse. Everyone agreed that it needed to end. ​Jessica Bell was a kind and well-respected teacher. A strong and motivated woman, she only wanted the best for her students. Her own history of damage and pain had her believing that running away was the solution they had all been searching for. ​And so ensued a battle between right and wrong, good and evil, and common sense and the law. ​Miss Bell was not a bad woman. She was a good teacher. ​This is her story.

My Silent Daughter


Emma Robinson - 2019
    Her smiles are magically rare, her building blocks are always colour-coded, and she communicates only in gestures. Sometimes, being Ruby’s mother is hard, but the way she sees the world makes it new for Sara every day.When Sara’s husband walks out on them, Sara’s world falls apart, and her mother-in-law, Barbara, is the only person Sara can turn to for help. But Barbara thinks Ruby’s problems are all in Sara’s head; that she just doesn’t know how to raise a child right.Sara can’t see how she’ll cope alone. Barbara won’t listen. Can a girl who doesn’t speak show them the way?A powerful emotional page-turner about motherhood, friendship and family. Guaranteed to take your breath away. Perfect for fans of A Boy Made of Blocks, Jodi Picoult and Jojo Moyes.This novel was previously titled Where I Found You.

Put a Spell on You


Karen Clarke - 2015
    Her boyfriend Will has become a donkey-loving hippy and her best friend Lara has baby-brain. She desperately needs to find the perfect location for a film shoot, or her career may implode. Her eccentric grandma has always said that Josie will inherit a book of spells on her birthday, but since she doesn’t believe in magic, nothing will improve; or will it?

All The Broken Pieces (A Waterford Novel Book 2)


Mia Hayes - 2018
    Her friends have abandoned her, her job is in the tank, and she's lonely for human connection.The woman who once had everything now does little more than drink wine and focus on the time she has with her kids. She's a mess and has no idea how to fix herself.But then Ellison meets Luke, an intriguing stranger who is only in town for the weekend. Determined to break out of her rut, Ellison jumps at the chance for a hot, one-night stand. When it's over, she walks away from Mr. One Night Only with no idea how to ever reach him again......Until the first day of school when Luke turns out to be her son's new teacher. Despite their electric connection, Luke is off-limits according to school board rules and everyone around Ellison. But she just can't stay away.As the town of Waterford buzzes about her possible romance, Ellison tries to figure out how to navigate the bitchy world of frenemies, town gossips, and a petty ex-husband while piecing herself back together.

Full


Julia Spiro
    In reality, she’s living a perfect lie.Wellness influencer Ava Maloney’s enormous success is based on total transparency, extolling the well-documented virtues of her full, balanced life.But the truth is, Ava’s social media platform is built on a lie. And her double life is beginning to take its toll.Escaping Los Angeles for a luxury wellness retreat on Martha’s Vineyard, Ava believes she can get everything back on track. No fans will be the wiser to the real reason for her visit. With the help of the other guests, staff, and a supportive local, Ava begins regaining control of her body, her mind, and her life. Except someone is onto her, threatening to expose the secret she’s hidden for so long. Ava was prepared to face her demons, but not publicly. Not yet.The fallout might also force Ava to finally reconcile who she’s been pretending to be with who she actually is—a woman discovering the real meaning of a full and balanced life.