She’s the child you love… but someone believes she shouldn’t be yours

Katie loves her 6-year-old stepdaughter Maisie with all her heart. The time they spend together, the feel of the little girl’s hand in her own, means everything to her, especially after she discovers she and Maisie’s dad, Liam, can’t have children together.

But since Maisie’s mum died, the little girl has mostly been living with her sister, Liam’s adult daughter, Olivia – and the two are inseparable. The problem is that Olivia hates her stepmother and refuses to accept her as part of their lives.

Katie wants nothing more than to step up in Maisie’s life, even to formally adopt her, so they can become the proper family she’s always longed for. But Olivia can’t let that happen. Then she meets the man of her dreams, and she begins to wonder if, together, they can offer her sister the security she needs.

But as the battle for Maisie’s forever home builds, tragedy strikes, putting Liam’s life in peril. Katie and Olivia need to work out what’s best for the girl they love more than life itself, but – can they keep Maisie safe when their own lives may also be in danger?

‘Heartrending and suspenseful in turns, Lisa Timoney’s new novel had me glued to the pages, desperate to know more about these characters I’d come to care deeply about.’ Kate Hewitt

‘I raced through this fantastic read… I could really empathise with both women in this story and Lisa has done a great job at balancing the story from both perspectives. I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping, five star read from Lisa.’ Caroline Finnerty

‘Holy heck… This gripped me from the beginning. Lisa Timoney, you’ve done it again! The story gave me whiplash with the amount of emotional turmoil it put me through!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘A beautifully written story which will tug at your heartstrings and have you reaching for the tissues.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘This book completely pulled me in from the very beginning. What starts as a family drama quickly turns into an emotional, tense, and unsettling story about grief, motherhood, manipulation, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love…. If you enjoy domestic thrillers with emotional depth, complicated family dynamics, and characters that feel painfully real, definitely pick this one up.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘A gripping family saga, filled with heartache, jealousy and grief… A really great read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘A fantastic gripping drama that had me in tears at the very end… Thrilliing!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘This is an absolutely heartbreaking, gripping tearjerker. Be warned, you'll need tissues. But I loved every minute!’ Amanda Prowse

‘This is such a beautiful novel that for me had echoes of Jodi Picoult. My heart broke for everyone in the story, even as I couldn't stop turning the pages. Lisa Timoney is a voice to watch out for.’ Jo Bartlett, author

‘An incredibly emotional and beautifully written story of loss and rediscovered love. I loved it!’ Sheila Riley, author

‘Perfectly phrased and full of compassion and the novel takes the reader on an emotional exploration of motherhood, making you question what you might have done in their place.’ Emma Robinson, author