An emotional rollercoaster that is heartbreaking and heartwarming. The characters are so well described that the reader can live through the story with them . A wonderful book that I loved

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

My Husband’s Child by Alison Ragsdale is a heartwrenching, poignant and compelling book and beautifully written. The storyline was so exceptional and addicting that I binged read it til the wee hours into the morning.

My Husband’s Child I feel would be perfect for book clubs and book discussions because there are so many important life lessons and messages in this book that can be discussed. Not only that but the family dynamics of the storyline I feel there could be some heavy discussions within the groups.

In My Husband’s Child the character I most liked the most and could relate to was Cora. She wanted to become a mother but never had the opportunity. Until her ex husband and his wife ups and abandons their two kids and leaves them with Cora. Seriously, who does that?! Turn not only Cora’s life upside down but those two innocent kids that don’t know what is going on.

Needless to say there is a lot of family drama in My Husband’s Child. This is one story that took me on an emotional rollercoaster where I was literally yelling and screaming at my Kindle because some of these characters pissed me off.

There were some very tender and sweet moments between Cora and the kids that just melted my heart.

My Husband’s Child is one of those books that the storyline will stay with you way after you finish reading the book. This has to be on your tbr list for sure.

My Husband's Child is the latest stunning creation by the incredibly talented Alison Ragdale.

The story introduces us to Cora, who's husband left her for another woman,as well as grappling with the loss of her adoptive parents, and reflects on her difficult early childhood. A couple of years later she is stunned to finds two young children left on her doorstep, who turn out to be the offspring of her ex-husband and his new wife. What will she do? Naturally, she'll fall in love with them! But can she ensure their safety?

I was completely engrossed in this novel from start to finish. Alison has crafted wonderful, relatable characters that kept me turning the pages to uncover the larger story. It's truly not what you would expect!

I highly recommend you get your copy soon!

Thank you to Alison Ragsdale, Bookoulture & NetGalley for the ARC. My review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

I wonder how many of us could step up and care for our ex-husband's children from another relationship! Cora does just that finding herself while doing so. This book kept my attention throughout this story of two innocent children and the people that align to care for them!

I always enjoy Alison’s emotional and heartbreaking stories and this one too touched my heart.
Cora is completely thrown in at the deep end when her ex husband’s children are left in her care and she has to make the difficult decision to look after them.
Cora knows what it feels like to be left without parents, her own childhood was blighted by being in homes without love and protection.
It was so beautiful to watch Cora slowly becoming the special adult that these children needed, I was soon completely immersed into this heart rending story.
After becoming their caregiver and settling into her new role, Cora’s life is shook by the reappearance of the parents.
It was so interesting to gradually discover the truth behind the reasons why the children were left so suddenly in the care of Cora and the significance of the choice of her too.
Wonderful characters and some clever twists made this book difficult to put down. Ultimately an uplifting read that tugged dramatically at my heartstrings throughout.

A beautifully written and emotional story. I can't imagine how any woman would cope with her ex-husband's children from his current marriage being left on her doorstep with a note, but in this gorgeous book, exactly that happens to Cora, with no contact from her ex or the children's mother.

With her life turned upside down, Cora takes the two children into her home and into her heart. I loved the rawness of the writing; heartbreaking and difficult at times, and then, at other points, exuding so much warmth and love. Cora was such a brilliantly written character with a lot of depth ad the children captured my heart, just as they did hers. There was a complexity to the relationships between the adults in the story that added another layer to the story, particularly in Cora's link to James, the children's paternal grandfather.

But this is so much more than a sweet, happy ever after. When Holly, the children's mother, reappears, the safe and loving environment that Cora has created for the children is threatened and it doesn't end there... the emotional rollercoaster just gets faster! Tissues at the ready!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Alison Ragsdale and Bookouture for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Alison Ragsdale always delivers stories that pull at my heart strings.
This was a read that gripped me from the start and was a page turner for me.
I loved the plot, I felt the characters were realistic , and I felt their emotions. It was an emotional roller coaster ride which I absolutely adored.
This is such a wonderful and heartwarming story.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘My Husband’s Child’ written by Alison Ragsdale in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

It’s 8.45pm on a Sunday evening in Ballater when Cora hears her doorbell and finds on the doorstep the two children of her ex-husband Fraser and his new wife Holly. Evie is three years and Ross eighteen months and they’re holding a small suitcase and a note asking Cora to look after them. She takes the children in and over the following months they become attached to her and think of her as their mother. Ten months later Holly turns up in Ballater intending to take the children with her but when Fraser puts in an unexpected appearance he tells a different story. Both Holly and Fraser want the children but which one of them can Cora believe?

‘My Husband’s Child’ is the moving story of a woman’s love for her ex-husband’s two children and the lengths she’ll go to to keep them safe. The story is beautifully written with wonderful descriptions of Scottish towns and the friendly community who watch out for each other. I’ve loved reading of how deeply Cora feels for Evie and Ross, and her close relationship with Fraser’s father James and her best friend Aisha. This is a gentle story that’s had me gripped from page one and ends with a perfect outcome that’s fair for all concerned. My thanks to the author Alison Ragsdale for writing such a heart-warming story that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed and can happily recommend.

Wow..... Alison Ragsdale has once again made me bring out the tissues. Heartbreaking and emotional.
This book, like her others, pulls such emotions and will stick with you for a long time after you have finished.
I highly recommend this as well as her previous releases. You will not be disappointed however you may need to invest in some extra tissues.
I received a copy of this from the author in exchange for fair and honest review.

I loved this book. It was heartwarming and shows how someone can come to love a child and/or children that aren’t yours as your own. I was so curious what the big secret was that made the parents decide to leave the kids with the ex-wife. I feel like it was a good reason to do so. I had no idea that is what the secret would be tho. I really liked the ending, it seemed like the best way to end it. The grandfather’s help with the kids was so wonderful to see. Grandparent relationships are so special. I loved how involved he was with the kids. This was a great quick read. Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC.

Two of the characters in this book made me so angry. First Fraser was a lout and jerk for what he did to Cora. Holly was no better.
They dump their kids on Cora’s doorstep because they couldn’t handle the mess they had made.
I thought Cora’s comments to both of them hit the nail on the head. They were bot( very selfish and the kids deserved to stay with Cora because she was their true champion.
I loved Aisha because her directness echoed what I was thinking.
The book has a positive ending but I think Fraser and Holly got off light. Sometimes people don’t deserve another chance.

Alison Ragsdale surely knows how to tug at your heartstrings! Cora's husband left her for another woman, and she is putting her life back together when the other woman's two children show up on her doorstep. Would she/Could she take them in? And where are the children's parents? Good read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

This was a book that will take your emotions on a roller coaster. Cora is shocked to find that her ex-husband and his wife have disappeared and left their young children on her doorstep. She and their grandfather join together to give the children the love they need. Where are the parents and what secrets are they hiding? When the parents resurface, how can Cora cope with possibly losing these children that she loves and that know her as Mummy. Family is so much more than blood.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher, Bookouture, for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: March 4, 2025

MY HUSBAND’S CHILD is the latest beautifully-written and heart-tugging novel from one of my favorite authors, Alison Ragsdale. I have loved every book I have read by this author and I am always excited when I learn she has a new book coming out. In this engrossing story, we meet Cora who is living on her own, trying to put her life back together after her husband leaves her for another woman and starts a new family with her. She is stunned when one evening her doorbell rings and on her doorstep are her ex-husband’s two young children, with nothing but a small suitcase and note to please take care of them. She brings the children in and over the coming days, she frantically tries to locate their parents. Over the coming weeks, Cora and her former father-in-law, James, care for the children and Cora soon finds herself loving them as if they were her own. Life is once again turned upside down when both parents re-emerge each telling a different story of why they abandoned their children. Cora faces an impossible choice – can she trust either her ex or his wife enough to allow the children back into their custody? What follows is a gripping and heartbreaking story of love and family that evokes every possible emotion. As always, Alison Ragsdale has written a deeply moving story with characters that feel so real, I felt like I knew them personally. The complex themes are approached with compassion and sensitivity. I highly recommend this thought-provoking and touching book. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

Another heartfelt story by one of my favorite authors. Alison Ragsdale captures your heart with her stories. They are always so realistic that I wonder if she has lived it or knows someone who has. Her books always make me shed tons of tears.

Cora Campbell is a divorced woman who was raised by loving adoptive parents. Before them she had been in foster care and it was hard. She's always wanted a family. Children. When her husband told her he fell for someone else it almost did her in. Then when he started a family with this woman it devastated her further.

One night there is a knock on her door and standing there in the dark are her exe husband's children. The older is a girl about three years old and her baby brother who is eighteen months. She brings them in and takes care of them. She does everything she should to make sure they are protected. How could their mother do such a thing. How could their dad. And why...

There is a mystery involved in this story that will keep you guessing. The why of a mother and father leaving their children. With her exe's dad's help Cora is able to gain the children's trust and love. But when their mother, Holly, returns what will be her excuse. Then shortly after their father, Frasier, also returns. Cora and Frank, Frasier's dad, are willing to fight for these children. They also want what is best for them.

When certain secrets are finally revealed Cora is stunned. So was I.... I expected a whole other direction but this was done perfectly. I was glad I didn't guess it.

This book is about some abuse. Both child and spousal. It's not graphic so no trigger warnings. But it does eventually come out.

I loved this book. It was, like her other books, a page turner. One that was hard to put down. This story was about a subject that I have not read much at all about. It was very heartfelt and sad. But it did have a good ending.

Thank you #NetGalley, #Bookouture, for this ARC. This is my opinion of this story.

Alison Ragsdale, the Author of “My Husband’s Child” has written an emotional and heartfelt novel. I love that Alison Ragsdale discusses important contemporary topics in her books with empathy and compassion, and “My Husband’s Child” is a well-written and vividly told story. The genres for this book are Women’s Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Mothers and Children Fiction, and Women’s Crime Fiction. The author describes her dramatic characters as complex, complicated and flawed.

Cora Campbell is a divorced chef that has had a difficult life. Cora seeks for happiness and contentment and the feeling that she belongs to a family. As an adult, Cora has a cochlear implant that helps her hear, but has difficulty with certain loud noises or sounds. I appreciate that Alison Ragsdale mentions disabilities in her characters, and how they can function in life. One night she answers the door to find her ex-husbands young daughter and baby boy with a note asking her to take care of them, and telling her they are better off with her.

Cora is surprised that their mother Holly would just leave them, and she seeks help from the children’s grandfather. Cora starts to fall in love with the children, and is now the legal guardian The children call Cora their mother.. Holly does come back and wants her children. At the same time, her missing ex-husband, Frasier returns and doesn’t want Cora to give the children to Holly. What should Cora do?

I appreciate that the author discusses important topics such as mental health, physical and mental abuse, physical disabilities and handicaps, the importance of family, friends, communication, honesty, self-growth and awareness, love and hope. I highly recommend this thought-provoking novel.

When Cora finds one day her husband’s two children on her doorstep she doesn’t know what to do. But when the parents didn’t show up she has to make a decision, going along with her own life of taking care of the children. But what will happen when the parents want their children back? What is the best solution for them?
I really enjoyed this emotional story, the choices that have to be made, what people to trust. Again a great story by this author.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing this ARC, this review is my own opinion.

When Cora opens her door one evening, she is astonished to discover the young children of her ex-husband standing on her doorstep, accompanied by a note requesting her care for them. Over the following weeks, Cora develops a profound attachment to the children, experiencing joy in nurturing them and forging a bond that warms her heart. However, the tranquility that Cora has cultivated is abruptly disrupted when their mother, Holly, reemerges, demanding the return of her children. This predicament places Cora in a challenging position, as she grapples with her affection for the children and the responsibilities inherent in motherhood amidst their mother’s reappearance. As she navigates the complexities of her emotions and the needs of the children, Cora confronts trust issues and contemplates the possibility that their abandonment may involve deeper circumstances than initially perceived.

"My Husband’s Child" by Alison Ragsdale is a poignant novel that explores themes of family, love, and the challenges associated with motherhood. Cora's journey is replete with both uplifting moments and heart-wrenching decisions, rendering it a deeply engaging narrative. This story evoked strong emotions and enables me to connect deeply with Cora and feel her pain. The characters were well developed and the storyline was compelling. This is a wonderful read. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

I can truly say that I love Alison Ragsdale's books and make it a point to never miss even one of them. Her stories are heartfelt tellings of family and connections, especially with children and their maternal role models. In this story, we meet Cora on a doorstep when her ex-husband's young children show up there, alone and unaccompanied, with only a note to to explain their presence. In part it reads, "We're better off with you." With nothing left to do but take them in off the street, Cora begins an uncertain journey with lots of questions and very few answers to guide her. What happened to their parents? The answers are uncertain, even when you read them through the pages of this book. And that's why I love Ms. Ragsdale's stories. Through her writing, you feel every emotion, every dilemma, and every uncertainty that the characters are feeling. You will find yourself drawn into the mysteries as they unfold. The result is a well-rounded story filled with equally well-drafted characters you come to know personally and feel a strong connection with. I love peeling the layers and finding surprises here and there as I form my own opinions about how things should ultimately end up. Maybe that's what will happen, and maybe it won't. But I know one thing. I won't end up disappointed. Highly recommend. 5/5 stars.

To be honest by the title it had thriller esque title vibes to it. So my shock at these being a hook your heart, prick your tear duck type book shook me even more.
This is an exceptional book. I cannot recommend it enough. The pace. The setting and descriptions. The characters all fleshed out brilliantly. Bravo.
Yes this is a heartbreaker and warmer.
Cora is trying to get her life together after her marriage breaks down. Fergus has moved on which makes it worse. And worse still moved on with kids to the package.
The shock of her lire comes when said kids end up on her doorstep asking for help via their mum Holly.
Cora od course does take them in and starts to relish mothering and caring for me.
Then Holly returns. And the twists and turns keep coming from there...