Someone Else's Child by Alison Ragsale is an emotional read about motherhood and tragedy and grief. I found myself tearing up multiple times and had a hard time putting the book down. Highly recommend!

Oh my. All of the feelings I have swimming through my heart is unbelievable! Someone Else's Child by Alison Ragsdale will do that to you too. I am not sure how you can read a book like this and not have a ton of connection to it. If you live long enough you will have experienced many of the emotions this book brings about. Some will be with fond memories and some will bring you sadness.

Alison has done it again. She has brought us a book that allows us to fall in love with a beautiful family that experiences heartbreak and brokeness. You absolutely can't read this book and not have your heart break with sadness and swell with happiness. Alison's writing is stunning and the chances of falling in love with these characters is 100 percent. I could feel the love and the anguish, the hope and joy that each one of the characters experienced.

If you love a good story for nothing more that what it is, you will love this book. It is definitely worth the time reading it. It was so powerful and emotional, I could hardly put it down to go to sleep. If you have read and enjoyed other Alison Ragsdale books, you definitely want to pick up a copy of this book. Someone Else's Child is not to be missed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Heartbreaking and heartwarming all in the same book. This is Alison Ragsdale's best yet and will keep you glued to the pages until the very end!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

Someone Else's Child
by: Alison Ragsdale
Bookouture
General Fiction, Women's Fiction
Pub Day: 01/21/22
Author Alison Ragsdale skillfully shares a story of both the impenetrable bonds of mother-daughter love and the profound despair of shattering loss. She proficiently writes with the sensitivity and honesty needed to tell this story, capturing the emotional highs and lows of Catriona's journey of motherhood. 

Catriona and Duncan are a couple whose marriage, motherhood, and fatherhood are put to the test by a series of life-altering events. They are first broken as only one of their twin girls, Hope, survives at birth, leaving them grieving for baby Faith. Eight years later, Catriona, Duncan, Hope, and adopted child, April live as a family in their Scottish cottage. The setting of their home is splendid, near the River Carron and beside Loch Carron, with gorgeous scenery of the Western Highlands in view. 

  The story continues with events that call for the couple's unyielding strength and fortitude, both as husband-wife and as individuals facing unimaginable adversity. Ragsdale gently and beautifully portrays the special moments of motherhood through touch, words, smell, laughter, and tears that only a mother and daughter can share. She shows how the significance of a second or minute of communication can be profound. 

 I was so moved by the intensity of the connections and feelings of father, mother, husband, wife, and child that Ragsdale introduced, expanded, and woven together for completeness. My heart shattered, my eyes teared, but my soul was renewed by the force of love. This is an impressive and memorable work of fiction. 

Thank you to Net Galley and Bookouture for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my unbiased review. 
#SomeoneElsesChild #NetGalley

This story will keep you reading as, Catriona and Duncan, find themselves struggling through another loss. They made it through the loss of one daughter shortly after birth, but losing another one is taking its toll on them. As they are grieving the loss of Hope, April's biological mother contacts them and wants to see April.
We find out what they each go through, the doubts, the grief, how each one deals with it, whether this will be what tears them apart or has them come together. It is a difficult book to read, with such losses, but it is also a book that shows the depth of their feelings, the courage it takes, and the strength it takes to survive.
I received an ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley.

Oh, Chihuahua Dogs Yippy Bark! 🥺🥺

This book had amazing emotional intense times that got to my heart and was so sympathetic and empathetic with all the characters. Your heart breaks, you feel every emotion of a roller coaster ride in a Disney Amusement park! Catriona and Duncan have two beautiful twin girls. However at birth, Faith passes away leaving only Hope. Not long after, they're granted an adoption for a little girl, April. But then another tragedy strikes and not long after, April's birth mother, Lauren, wants to meet April. As Lauren tries to get closer more and more to April and work on bettering her life to be part of Aprils. Catriona is distraught and unsure. April is hers right? But what would you do in her position? I struggled with this question and my heart broke many times over for Cat. It provoked major emotions in me, but I loved it! It was beautifully, heart twisting.

Thank you to Netgalley and bookouture for this ARC!
Release date: today!

I give this 4.5 / 5 snowflakes! ❄️

I'd like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a pretty emotional read about loss and forgiveness.

Catriona loses one of her twin babies during birth and is given a second chance when the opportunity to adopt another baby comes her way. Skip 9 years later and Catriona is again faced with the loss of her other biological daughter and blaming her husband they separate. At this worst possible time, her daughter April, refusing to talk to her through selective mute ism and her marriage is on the rocks, April's birth mother decides she wants to see April. Catriona, thinking that Lauren (the birth mom) is the ideal parent contemplates returning April to her.

This book is heartbreaking. You just don't know how much one person can take. I really didn't know until the end what decisions Catriona would take. If she would divorce or stay married, if she would give April up or fight to keep her. I felt like I was on a roller coaster the whole way.

WOW! Alison Ragsdale, the author of “Someone Else’s Child” has written an intense, memorable, poignant, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking novel. I love the way that Alison Ragsdale vividly describes the landscape and the emotional feelings of the characters. The author is a master at writing stories that tug at one’s heartstrings, and stay with one to reflect on. The genres for this novel are Fiction, Domestic Fiction, and Family Fiction. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated. The characters are also flawed and dysfunctional. The author discusses the importance of family, friends, emotional support, love, and hope. Also discussed are second chances and the ability to forgive.

Catriona and her husband have an opportunity to adopt a beautiful little girl to complete their family. After a tragic accident, Catriona, her husband, and their adopted daughter are trying to cope with loss. Lauren the adopted daughter’s birth mom wants the opportunity to meet with her daughter. What else is on Lauren’s agenda? There are secrets, betrayals, and unimaginable hurt. I highly recommend this thought-provoking story to other readers. Be sure to have Kleenex on hand.

This is a beautifully written book but one of the saddest I have ever read. Being a mother myself my heart broke for Catriona over and over. How much sorrow can one family handle? The author does a great job describing the grief and emotional pain the mother continually deals with day after day. This is one I will not soon forget.

Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read this incredible arc for my honest review.

First, I want to thank Alison Ragsdale, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

Oh WOW!! Someone’s Else’s Child was a beautifully written book by Alison Ragdale that completely pulled hard on my heartstrings! It is a story where even if you are not a mother you can emphasize what the characters are going through. Being a proud Auntie I wanted to FaceTime my nieces and tell them how much I loved them. This is one book that will stick with you long after you are finished with the book. Therefore I highly suggest you add it to your tbr list. It is definitely a 5 star recommendation from me.

The cover for Someone Else’s Child was absolutely beautiful! Great job to the graphic artists who designed this one.

Straight from the prologue Alison had me tearing up. Oh I failed to mention you may need some tissues for this book. Well..at least I did. My heart was breaking!! What a way to start out a book on that note! I knew right from the first page that I was hooked and was going to love it. My instinct was right on the money!

Alison focuses and addresses some very important issues in this book such as child loss, greif, adoption and being mute. However, the main focus is the bonding that a daughter has with its mother.

There were many deeply powerful scenes and one in particular that rocked me to the core. This scene I was totally thrown off guard with as I had not seen it coming at all! I was literally on the edge of my comfy chair biting my nails (and I never bite my nails) reading this horrific event unfolding in front of me. I was numb and wanted to rush into the book and hold everyone that was there!

I am always interested to learn how the author came up with the inspiration for their books. Alison shares how this idea came to be in the end of the book.

Alison stepped outside of the box when choosing her main character's name. I had never heard or read about Catrionia. It is a very pretty name.

Someone Else's Child tells the story of married couple Catriona and Duncan and their two children, biological child Hope and adopted child April. Hope dies in a drowning accident and Catriona struggles with forgiving Duncan as he was supposed to be keeping his eyes on Hope that tragic day. As the family deals with their loss and grief, April's biological mother contacts the couple and wants to be a part of April's life. There was so much sadness, pain, and heartbreak going on with this family that I struggled to get through this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exhange for an honest review.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Someone Else's Child' by Alison Ragsdale.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Alison Ragsdale, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 21st January 2022.

This is the second book I have read by this author. I have previously read the first book in the series called 'Her Last Chance' which I highly recommend.


I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Powerful and ultimately uplifting, fans of Kate Hewitt, Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain will be captivated. ' I am a huge fan of Kate, Jodi and Diane so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Alison and if this is half as good as 'Her Last Chance' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue, 34 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Plockton, Scotland. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.

This book is written in third and person perspective and the main protagonist is Catriona. The benefits of third person perspective with are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

'Someone Else's Child' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Alison discusses/includes loss of a child.

Well ladies and gents if you are looking for a tear jerker you have come to the right place!!! This book has been beautifully written and it completely drew me in with its vivid descriptions. The storyline and synopsis worked perfect for this book.

The storyline is stunningly devastating and it had me on the edge of my seat throughout. It is such a powerful storyline that will stay with me for a long time. It was filled with love, heartbreak, family and loss and I was completely absorbed throughout. If you have ever read 'P. S I love you', 'Me before you' or 'My Sisters keeper' and enjoyed them then this book is definitely for you!! I love the fact that Alison focused on mutism plus open adoption procedures and the fact that she most definitely did her research shines through!!! It is great that she is bringing such awareness while weaving it into such a beautiful storyline, that takes talent. It is filled with a mother's love for her children and what she would do for them. An absolute roller coaster ride of emotions, make sure you have the tissues ready because you will need them!!!

The characters were well defined, realistic and strong. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and suffering that Catriona was going through, especially as a Mum myself, such a strong and passionate woman. However it wasn't just Catriona that was strong but also April who had all that to go through whilst being just a child. I also felt sorry for Duncan at times yet at others I easily could have throttled him!! I do think it is hard to see things from a dad's perspective at times and realise how much they are going through when we are going through so much already, although he didn't help himself to be fair!! Catriona, April and Duncan were an almost perfect family unit and to watch them go through all that was absolutely heart wrenching. I could not stand Lauren and I definitely wouldn't have given her the benefit as Catriona did on many occasions. I won't say more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. However where there was dark the light shone through and I was very glad of Peg and Catriona's friendship and the support Peg gave while Catriona was going through a hell that no mother should.

This book absolutely grabbed my heart and mind and didn't let go while bringing tears to my eyes and I do not cry easily unless it comes to animals. So do make sure you have tissues at the ready!!
Although this book brought me to tears I also think that it ended perfectly and would absolutely love to see this made into a film!!! Alison this is why your my go to author for a tear jerker!!

Congratulations Alison on yet another gorgeous success and here's to your next one 🥂!!

Overall a devastatingly, heartbreaking and yet beautiful story that will leave you in tears.


Genres covered in this novel include Romance Novel, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Fiction and Domestic Fiction amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans Kate Hewitt, Jodi Picoult, Debbie Maccomber, Nicholas Sparks and Diane Chamberlain.


322 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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A powerful and emotional novel that had me hooked from the first chapter. It deals with the difficult subject of the loss of a child and the repercussions within a family. It is beautifully written with strong characters and wonderfully descriptive. Tissues at the ready……

Wow!! This author is new to me, but I can't wait to read more of her books. This book had me reeling with so many emotions...warmth, happiness, gut-wrenching sadness, anger, and so much more! When Catriona and Duncan receive a letter from their daughter, April's, birth mother after 8 years, saying she wants to see her daughter, they are speechless! This woman turns their lives upside down in so many ways I didn't see coming! What a page turner! You will not want to put this down!
I was grateful for an advanced copy to read and review!

An emotional and yet not completely unrelatable book, this novel touched on many themes. Definitely one I recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Heartwrenching!

Such an unlucky family you would be hard pressed to find. The story lurches from one catastrophe to the next. I don’t mind a bit of sadness in a boo’ but this seemed too much.

Someone Else's Child is one of the most emotional books I have ever read. As a mother to an adopted child it is my worst fear to think that his birth mother may come back into his life but if she did I would have to deal with it in a way that is best for him. This book played on my fears and emotions and had me in tears for most of it. It's a fantastic book about difficult subjects which the author has handled in such a sensitive way.
This book will stay with me for a long time to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

Life has delt a lousy hand to Catriona and Duncan. How many losses can a couple take without being totally crushed? And when Catriona’s guilt-ridden husband takes a break from the marriage, how does Catriona find the strength to give her daughter the nurturing the young girl so desperately needs? Judging from the previous reviews I’ve read, how the couple navigates their grief is an inspiration to all of us lucky enough to have immersed ourselves into the couple’s story.

Another aspect of the book that particularly moved me circled around the power and, most certainly, magic of female friendship. When the quirky, “fey” Peg shows up on Catriona’s doorstep, a ray of sunshine and hope spills into the sad home. Would we all be so blessed to have such a nurturing neighbor and friend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alison Ragsdale for gifting me the ARC of SOMEONE ELSE’S CHILD. Please add my 5-Star review to the pile. I’ve read all of Alison Ragsdale books, which are as endearing and inviting as a hot cuppa and scone in a wintry day. Pull up a chair, light a fire, and lose yourself in the beauty of the Scottish landscape.

SOMEONE ELSE’S CHILD by Alison Ragsdale is a heart-wrenching and emotional story of the extraordinary power of a mother’s love for her child that held me captive from the very first page. During a difficult delivery, Catriona suffers the heartbreaking loss of one of her twin baby girls. But not long after, Catriona and her husband are given the chance to adopt a beautiful little girl and although she will forever grieve the loss of one of her newborns, Catriona again has the blessing of raising two little girls, Hope and April, who are sisters in every way except their birth mother. All is well until the family suffers another devastating loss that causes April to withdraw into herself. Just at this crucial time, April’s birth mother unexpectedly comes back into the picture, wanting to meet the daughter she gave up. Will Catriona have to face yet another unthinkable loss? This is a moving and heartfelt story of love, family and the will to endure even in the face of the tragic circumstances. As always, Alison Ragsdale delivers a powerful story filled with wonderful characters that capture your heart. SOMEONE ELSE’S CHILD is a story that will stay on my mind for a very long time. I highly recommend it! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to read an early copy.

Alison Ragsdale is an amazing storyteller! Her ability to capture a reader into the pages of her books is a gift. She submerges them so deeply into the characters and settings in her stories that it's impossible to to pull out of them. And there's not any reason to. In this story, Someone Else's Child, I felt a connection to Catriona, Duncan, Hope and April instantly. Their relationship as a family was one of pure love and devotion to each other. This family faces devastating losses and turmoil as a result of an unbelievable event. Because of that, as the storyline plays out, Ms. Ragsdale had my heart and emotions shredded. She tapped into my heart and swept me into one of the most gutwrenching stories I've read in a long time. My emotions went all over the spectrum as Catriona faces so much with the devastating events in her family. Throughout the pages my heart was shattered to pieces but Ms. Ragsdale tenderly brings her characters through in ways I didn't expect. April is such a sweet child but her ability to cope with what's happened has her struggling. Until... in steps Lauren and brings a whole new set of uncertainty for the family. This book has everything written in it that will take the reader on a journey they will think about for a long time. At lease for me it has.

Have I said that this story is emotional? YES! But it's so much more than that. It's a walk in Catriona's life through descriptively written passages that put me right there with her. There's no doubt my mother's heart cried with hers but I also experienced a story full of determination, sacrifice, love and so much more. This book is so wonderful and I felt the heart Ms. Ragsdale wrote it from. It touched my heart deeply.

Alison Ragsdale's stories are so deeply emotional and written with such intricate attention to details. The story is never rushed but every word is built upon the ones before to create a passionately moving story between the covers of the book. I have read other books by Ms. Ragsdale and each one has touched me in ways I never knew a book would. Someone Else's Child is no exception. I have just finished this one and my emotions are raw and exposed in a most Alison Ragsdale way. She has the ability to trancend words on a page and craft a story that I become completely immersed in. This is how a master storyteller does it.

I love Ms. Ragsdale's books and I always know I'm going to have an "experience" when I read her works. I want to sincerely thank Ms. Ragsdale for the honor and privilege of reading the emotional journey I took in this fantastic book. It truly touched my heart. All opinions and thoughts in this review are my heartfelt own.