Having read and loved all books from this author, I was so excited to jump into this one. However, I feeling slightly let down. I think I had my hopes up too high.

The book is good but gave me in a "Lifetime movie network" vibe. It was extremely predictable and I kept hoping a twist would jump out at me. Sadly, it didn't.

While this is most definitely not my favorite from TR Ragan, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Would I recommend this one? Yes to a cozy mystery reader but No to a thriller, twist and turn junkie like me.

I got this book from #NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.I read this book in one sitting.It has all the makings of a made for tv movie.It was a emotional rollercoaster full of thrills.

I had high hopes for this story, if for no other reason than I'm a fan of other works I've read by this author. But while I read it eagerly from start to finish, most of my attention centered on the hope that the three main adult characters would stop behaving like children and there would be a bang-up surprise ending. Alas, neither happened. The only character who had both common sense and intelligence, in fact, was a boy who had way too much of both to be believable at his newbie-teen age. And the ending? A ho-hum resolution, leaving me with the feeling that nothing much really changed from the beginning to the end.

Here's the gist: Nora Harmon has a wonderful husband, two growing-up-fast children and a successful career. Out of the blue, she's contacted by Jane Bell, the owner of a whiz-bang software company, who makes Nora an offer of employment she can't refuse (never mind that any sensible person would have done exactly that, at least until the "too good to be true" sound of it was debunked by facts). Very soon, it becomes clear that Jane is at the very least emotionally needy; there's nothing she won't do, it seems, to solidify her relationship with Nora and make Nora's family hers - and that includes lying through her teeth.

It also becomes clear that Nora and her aging parents have been hiding a dark secret - and her attempts to justify never telling her supportive husband David nor their children Hailey and Trevor left me shaking my head. Still another turn-off is that despite some serious misgivings, Nora also manages to justify Jane's attempts to ingratiate herself into the family, even when it's clear they're doing more harm than good.

Of course, it doesn't take readers long to figure out that Jane may have an ulterior motive, and not much longer to figure out what it is. From that point on, it's just a matter of when (or if) Nora - or anyone else in the family besides Trevor, who as I mentioned earlier somehow managed to end up with the brains of the family - figures out what Jane's really up to. The result for me is that while the book is well written and definitely held my attention throughout, overall it was a bit disappointing. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Thank you Netgalley & Thomas & Mercer for an eARC of Such A Beautiful Family by T.R. Ragan!

What’s it about?
Nora Harmon has two kids, a stable marriage and now, a dream career. Jane Bell offers Nora a new job with lots of $$$, flexible hours and a chance to travel the world. It sounds too good to be true, right? Jane acts more like a friend to Nora and her family than a boss - boundaries beginning to blur soon after starting her new job. Jane is paying too much attention to Nora’s daughter and husband, leaving Nora feeling unsettled. Is she paranoid, or is something more going on?

This was my first book by this author, and while I enjoyed reading it I found it to be really predictable. A quick read that I’d say perfectly describes a thriller-popcorn-binge. 3.5 stars.

Nora is offered a great new job, by a software consultant named Jane, who refuses to take no for an answer with the job offer. Jane acts more like a friend than a boss to Nora and works her way into Nora's family. She focuses on her daughter and husband in particular. This book definitely focuses on the phrase: if it's too good to be true, it probably is. Nora soon regrets her decision to accept the job from Jane but can't get rid of her so easily. Very fast paced and the ending was unexpected for sure. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

The job offer from Jane seemed great to Nora and to her husband David. And then things get weird. Does Jane want to take over Nora's life? What is their connection? No spoilers from me but I suspect canny readers of this genre will figure it out pretty quickly. I've liked Ragan in the past but this one didn't keep me interested (sorry). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Over to others.

I wanted to carry on reading this title but unfortunately I had to dnf after 25% . I might pick it up again after some time but for now I have to leave it where it is. I couldn’t get into the story at all and I found the plot way too predictable right from the beginning.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

Thank you Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for an early copy of Such a Beautiful Family. It was soooo predictable but such a good and fast read, I didn’t mind knowing that I knew who was whom and what was the main story. The only bad part was towards the end it got to be a bit much, like really???? The last chapter was beautifully written, I could imagine the scene. I truly enjoyed this novel.

Really hate leaving negative feedback. However I found this book too predictable and very like others I have read with similar story. It lacks something new x

Loved it!! I love this creepy "I want your life" kind of story line. A fantastic domestic thriller from a skilled author. If you're looking for a book that will keep you turning the pages and holding your breath, this book does not disappoint!

This was different than all of the other T.R. Ragan books I've read so it really tool me awhile to get into the story of the book. I'd put it down then start it up again rinse and repeat. My advice is stick with it and then things will get into a flow.

Nora has a perfect family. The mother of two teenagers, she’s still in love with her husband David and looks forward to their weekly date nights. Her only problem is that she’s bored with her job and thinks about becoming a consultant. And we know from the prologue that she may or nor be a young woman who was drugged at a fraternity party and then had a serious car accident.

Enter Jane Bell, founder and CEO of a software company. She offers to double Nora’s salary, promises more benefits and hours that will allow Nora more time with her family. She accepts the offer before she realizes that along with this fantastic job comes…Jane. Lots of Jane. Dropping by for dinner. With groceries. Cooking dinner. Shopping for Nora’s children, especially her daughter Hailey. Attending school events. And inviting David to be her guest at a dinner, a dinner her neglects to mention to Nora. What is the reason for this obsessive attention? What will happen when Nora tries to distance herself from Jane?

Such a Beautiful Family, a domestic thriller, pulls all its twists and clues together in a wild, unforgettable conclusion. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and T>R> Ragan for this ARC.

You're very lucky to have such a beautiful family.

If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Nora receives a job offer from Jane Bell that sounds like a dream and her husband David encourages her to shoot for the moon and take it.

Things gradually get weird with Jane. It's almost like she's trying to keep Nora occupied so she can step into her role.. Is there a link from the past that we don't know about?

This was pretty interesting but I found it to be way too predictable. I was drawn in by the prologue but once the book really got going, it just wasn't doing it for me. It's not bad, I've just heard the story before, and it's usually an easier read than this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

Such a Beautiful Family by T.R. Ragan is a suspenseful and compelling read.

A fantastic story that introduced me to a well rounded main character, Nora, who I was immediately drawn to from the start. Even the side characters are compelling and well-crafted.
This story wasn't at all predictable.
It kept me guessing throughout.
I really really enjoyed it and can't wait for the next book already..
SaBF totally hooked from the beginning and I didn’t want to put it down until that superb ending,
The book was stuffed full of drama and tension, secrets/lies and despair. Any suspense lover will devour this one.
I loved TR Ragan's writing and her wonderful portrayal of the characters really came across to me.
This was a brilliant book and highly deserving of its five stars.

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

Thomas & Mercer,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

I have read quite a lot of T.R. Ragan's novels and I really do enjoy them. When I read the blurb, this novel sounded just what I needed to read and I really enjoyed reading this novel.

The blurb reads

"Nora Harmon has a lot to be thankful for: two great kids, a stable marriage, and now, a dream career. Software consultant Jane Bell wants Nora on her team. She’s offering a fantastic salary, flexible hours, and a chance to travel the world. It sounds too good to be true, but Jane won’t take no for an answer.

Jane acts more like a friend than a boss, and Nora’s personal and professional boundaries begin to blur. Jane is smitten with Nora’s perfect family—particularly her daughter—and far too attentive to Nora’s husband. Nora can’t help but feel insecure and unsettled.

Maybe Jane is everything she says she is: a lonely woman in need of feeling the love of a kind and decent family. Maybe Nora is just being paranoid.

Maybe not"

The story starts with a bang from page 1 and the reader is thrust into Nora's world. I liked Nora as a character, she was interesting and held my attention. Jane on the other hand is a completely different kettle of fish and she is a high flyer who I just did not warm to at all.

Jane pursues Nora into working for her, wooing her with the ideal career/work balance life that a lot of women strive for nowadays but all is not as it seems. Nora starts to see Jane in a new light and the new fabulous job she was promised is far from that.

This is a fast moving novel, with good interesting characters and really enjoyable to read.

Thanks to T.R. Ragan, NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel, in exchange e for my review.

Nora Ruth Harmon is an IT marketing whiz, living the good life with husband, David, and children, Hailey and Trevor. When Jane Bell, the founder and CEO, of a rapidly rising IT company, offers her a job at a fantastic salary, twice her current package, with flexible working hours, it seems to be too good to be true.

Pretty soon, Nora’s problems and work pressures begin to increase. The new job doesn’t give her the flexibility she thought she would have. Hailey, nearly 16, begins to act up, bringing home a boyfriend, Alex, that Nora disapproves of. She’s also worried about Trevor, who has withdrawn into himself after an incident in which he nearly drowned. Her dad’s dementia is getting worse.

As if all this isn’t enough, Nora suspects that her boss is trying to steal her family, by ingratiating herself with them, particularly whenever Nora is absent.

Soon she begins to wish she had never accepted this job. How can Nora reclaim her family before it's too late?





I was intrigued by the Prologue, but the very first chapter was a let-down. The quality of the writing in the first chapter was all tell, no show. It felt like someone was telling us a story, a very boring one, without dialogue and, for the most part, without emotion. This chapter was a Story-so-far, with the author bringing us up to speed on whatever had transpired before events in the current timeline began. This can be very exhausting for the reader.

Thankfully, the writing got better afterwards, in subsequent chapters. Even the pace was quick and steady. It was a quick read, not really challenging but still capable of holding reader interest.



At one point the author tells us, Everyone loved David. Including Nora. But David was the least likeable among the characters. Jane too began to grate on my nerves. She felt pushy and aggressive.



The only characters I liked were Trevor and Tank. My heart went out to Trevor for his vulnerability and goodness, and to Tank for how big and adorable he was.



Alex had a blink-and-miss role. Towards the end, it felt as if the author was trying to redeem him in Nora’s eyes but the effort didn’t work out. Nor could I understand David’s indulgent attitude towards Alex, particularly when he reeked of cannabis.



The chapters were written in the 3rd person limited past tense PoV of Nora and Trevor. This caused confusion, especially when both of them were in a scene, because the narrative flitted between referring to Nora by her first name and as Mom in the same scene.



Incidentally, I wondered if Tank, the family dog, was written in later. The author introduced him to us in Chapter 6. Prior to that, Trevor celebrated his 13th birthday at home with his entire family, but Tank had not even been mentioned.

Also, we never get to know what happened to Allina, a crucial event in the Prologue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC. Nora had been looking for a job that would allow her the ability to spend more time with family and be a better mom and wife. She was looking for a positive change. Along comes Jane, who owns a very prestigious company, and immediately took to Nora and hired her. However, Nora notices there’s something that’s just not right about Jane, but she just can’t seem to put her finger on it. Jane starts infringing on Nora’s personal life, developing close relationships with Nora’s husband and teenage son and daughter. It was like Jane wanted to take Nora’s place. Nora later discovers that Jane is a link to her past. A past that she would rather forget. I found the book to be very predictable. It’s marketed as a mystery/thriller. However, I knew within a few chapters what the outcome would likely be. There was no forward propulsion, and I found myself struggling to finish the book. The ending was also a little weird with a sci fi element that occurred between Jane and Nora’s son in the water. I thought the book would have some twists and turns to keep me guessing as to what would happen, but that was not the case. I do feel the story would have great potential, just needs more development. Overall I give this book 2 out of 5 stars.

Nora wonders what Jane wants after she offers her a high paying job and seems to want to be part of her family. Is she lonely or are her motives more sinister. This is a famatic. I think others will like it more than i didst reading book, that wasn't my favorite. I like more realistic situations and this felt melodramatic. I think others will probably like it more than I did.

You're very lucky to have a beautiful family.

Nora Harmon has everything going for her. A loving supportive husband. Two great kids. Family vacations, house parties, and a great dog Tank. The Harmon family lacks nothing. Slowly it begins to unravel with several life changes. A swimming accident with the youngest son Trevor, a new job, her friendship with her new boss Jane, her daughter Hailey sudden rebellion, and her husband David's lack of forthcoming. Nora seems to be going out of her mind or is she?

Told in two perspectives - Nora - a hands on mom. She loves her family fiercely and sacrificially. When she is offered the job from Jane, she is excited about the possibilities of staying home. But the job seems to be taking her away from her family and Jane seems to always be there for her family.

Trevor - Nora's and David's son is a very sensitive young man. He too loves his family but he is dealing with fear. The fear of the accident and all that it brought it out. He also is very wary of his mom's new boss Jane. Not because his dog Tank does not like her but she seems to making herself comfortable with his dad and causing a rift between his sister Hailey and his mom. Working with computers, he tried to find more about this to good to be true Jane.

As the reader of this thrilling novel, you have the advantage of a secret in play. You don't know what it is but you do know that Nora and her family is involved. You just don't know how Jane is involved but that makes it more enticing. It is the wanting to know that makes you turn the page. One of my favorite pulls to spend time on a book. If it is yours, you will enjoy this one too.

A special thank you to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

This book was an emotional ride that I was not expecting! I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. A psychological thriller that as a mother was hard to read at times. I could feel my heart thumping and my blood pressure rising as I couldn't wait to turn the page to see what was going to happen.

Nora Williams is your typical suburban mom. She works a job she's not in love with but it's safe and secure. She has two kids, Hailey, 15 and Trevor, 13 and is married to her best friend David. They have recently suffered an event where Trevor nearly drowned and is still recovering and working through some PTSD over it. Although happy, she has to admit she is a bit bored with her current job. Seemingly out of nowhere, a woman named Jane Bell contacts her to offer her a job that seems just a little bit too good to be true. More money, no traveling and flexible hours, Jane all but forces Nora to take the job.

All too soon, Nora finds out the old saying is true. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Jane seems too always be there. Taking Nora to lunches, dinners, buying her massages, buying her kids expensive clothes and electronics, even going so far as to show up unannounced and cook dinner for everyone. Nora starts to get paranoid, believing that Jane wants to steal her family from her. David and Hailey seem lured in by her charms, but Trevor is suspicious from the moment he meets her, and it isn't too long before Nora starts to doubt that Jane is really on the up and up. After using his computer skills to dig into Janes background, he discovers that she is hiding a big secret, and everything is about to be exposed.

I really liked this story, even though I figured out what was going on about 4 chapters in, it was still exciting to see all of the characters find out what was going on. To see Janes madness come to fruition was great. I felt from the beginning that Jane was most likely a psycho and couldn't be trusted. There were so many times I was yelling at Nora for not standing up to her. For example, Jane plans a business trip to Paris for the two of them, a place that Nora has never been, and then proceeds to not show up. There is no way I would have stayed there, especially finding out that she was at my home while I was gone. I was nervous for Nora and annoyed at the way that Jane befriended the daughter Hailey. In the end though, I felt Jane got what she had coming to her. I will definitely be checking out more from this author. I received this book free from NetGalley for an honest review.