First published 2002
Kate and Richard Ryan thought the hardest part was behind them. Years of failed attempts to conceive had tested their marriage, but they had survived. When the adoption agency calls with news of a baby, Kate feels their dreams finally coming true. She doesn't know that Julianna Starr, the birth mother, has been watching them both. Julianna didn't choose the Ryans randomly from agency files. She selected Richard specifically, molding herself to become the woman she believes he truly wants. As Julianna infiltrates their lives, Kate begins to sense something wrong but can't identify the threat. Richard remains oblivious as Julianna systematically destroys the boundaries of their marriage. The baby Kate loves becomes a weapon in Julianna's hands. But Julianna carries secrets from her past, and a dangerous man follows in her wake. What began as Kate's dream of motherhood transforms into a fight for survival that will test everything she believes about love, family, and protection.
Genres: suspense, crime, contemporary, psychological-thriller, mystery-thriller, adoption
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
512 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Mira
Content warnings: emotional-abuse, gaslighting