Redemption Road

In a standalone contemporary linked with Vicious Cycle and set in the heart of Georgia, Ashley takes readers on a slow, fraught journey from graphically portrayed human trafficking and child abuse to the joy of second chances. Annabel is a young woman who has it all: graduate school, the finest things money can buy, and a politically connected family. A stranger’s friendly offer of a ride on his motorcycle strips that away in a heartbeat, as she’s abducted, raped, and then enslaved by a drug lord. Rev grew up in the heart of the Raiders motorcycle club, and he’s also survived being molested—something he’s never shared with anyone. When the Raiders rescue Annabel and she decides she’d rather stay with them than return to her parents, she and Rev slowly build a friendship based on mutual trust and kindness, and soon they’re confessing their deepest secrets. Despite the grimly detailed scenes of horror, the story unfolds beautifully, highlighting the survivors’ resilience of spirit and bringing them to a gratifying happy ending while painting a balanced portrait of the joys and dangers of the biker world. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel and Goderich Literary Management. (Oct.)