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The Baby Left Behind
”Take him. Please forgive me.”
Cate grips the note with trembling hands, looking down at the delicate bundle on her doorstep. As she reaches down to the baby, she knows she has finally got everything she’s ever wished for. But is he hers to take?
Cate tries not to cry as she closes the door on the nursery room once again. All she has ever wanted is to be a mother. Cursed with a medical condition that means she is unable to have children, her only option is to wait for a call from the adoption centre. But that call feels like a lifetime away.
Then she hears a faint cry from outside her house. She’s convinced she’s imagining it, that the grief is starting to overwhelm her. But when she opens her door and looks down, her heart swells. By her feet is the most perfect baby curled up in a soft blanket.
As the newborn’s eyes light up, Cate feels instant love for him. She knows she can’t just accept a stranger’s baby – she has to call the police. But as she picks him up, it all finally feels right. This is where the baby belongs.
But when her darling baby is rushed into hospital, Cate knows that in order to save his life, she needs to expose the lie she has been so desperate to hide. Can Cate discover who the child’s real mother is? And if so, will she be able to make the hardest decision of her life to protect the child?
An emotional story about family, secrets and what makes a good parent. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Jojo Moyes and Kate Hewitt.
Cate grips the note with trembling hands, looking down at the delicate bundle on her doorstep. As she reaches down to the baby, she knows she has finally got everything she’s ever wished for. But is he hers to take?
Cate tries not to cry as she closes the door on the nursery room once again. All she has ever wanted is to be a mother. Cursed with a medical condition that means she is unable to have children, her only option is to wait for a call from the adoption centre. But that call feels like a lifetime away.
Then she hears a faint cry from outside her house. She’s convinced she’s imagining it, that the grief is starting to overwhelm her. But when she opens her door and looks down, her heart swells. By her feet is the most perfect baby curled up in a soft blanket.
As the newborn’s eyes light up, Cate feels instant love for him. She knows she can’t just accept a stranger’s baby – she has to call the police. But as she picks him up, it all finally feels right. This is where the baby belongs.
But when her darling baby is rushed into hospital, Cate knows that in order to save his life, she needs to expose the lie she has been so desperate to hide. Can Cate discover who the child’s real mother is? And if so, will she be able to make the hardest decision of her life to protect the child?
An emotional story about family, secrets and what makes a good parent. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Jojo Moyes and Kate Hewitt.
- GenresThrillerWomens Fiction
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 20, 2023
525 people are currently reading
528 people want to read
About the author
Jen Craven
10 books128 followersJen Craven is the author of upmarket women's fiction, where one decision changes everything. The author of two historical fiction novels, "Best Years of your Life" is her debut contemporary work. She writes from northwestern Pennsylvania, where she lives with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
August 19, 2023
“I was six when I first stuffed a balloon under my shirt pretending to be pregnant. I was sixteen when I found out that would never be possible. The burn has followed me ever since.”
Cate Connally is a single woman who is so desperate to experience motherhood that she is willing to risk everything. Everything.
If you are familiar with the biblical story of the Judgement of Solomon (I Kings 3:16-28), you will see some modern similarities.
In examining adoption and motherhood, author Jen Craven spotlights a little-known condition, Mayer-Rotkitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome - when a female is born without a uterus. She shows us the emotional toll this has on a woman whose biggest dream is to be a mother. When failed adoption after failed adoption takes the wind out of her sails, Cate takes things into her own hands. Literally.
“Is a lie worth it when it gets you what you’ve always wanted?”
In doing so, she joins the exclusive Motherhood club but at the cost of living a lie for the rest of her life. You’ll have to find out what Cate chose to do and the journey to her realization that she can’t control her past, her future or other people.
I enjoyed:
✔️theme of second chances and forgiveness
✔️theme of motherhood
✔️message about coming to terms with the grief of past mistakes
✔️message about staying open to the unexpected
✔️juicy plot twists and shocking actions
✔️thought-provoking plot
✔️symbolism of the sparrow
✔️Ryan Stadler - we all need a friend like him
This is perfect for book clubs; there’s so very much to discuss. I’m still thinking of Cate and Jada days later - Craven made sure of that with her gobsmacking investigation into ‘adoption gone wrong’.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Cate Connally is a single woman who is so desperate to experience motherhood that she is willing to risk everything. Everything.
If you are familiar with the biblical story of the Judgement of Solomon (I Kings 3:16-28), you will see some modern similarities.
In examining adoption and motherhood, author Jen Craven spotlights a little-known condition, Mayer-Rotkitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome - when a female is born without a uterus. She shows us the emotional toll this has on a woman whose biggest dream is to be a mother. When failed adoption after failed adoption takes the wind out of her sails, Cate takes things into her own hands. Literally.
“Is a lie worth it when it gets you what you’ve always wanted?”
In doing so, she joins the exclusive Motherhood club but at the cost of living a lie for the rest of her life. You’ll have to find out what Cate chose to do and the journey to her realization that she can’t control her past, her future or other people.
I enjoyed:
✔️theme of second chances and forgiveness
✔️theme of motherhood
✔️message about coming to terms with the grief of past mistakes
✔️message about staying open to the unexpected
✔️juicy plot twists and shocking actions
✔️thought-provoking plot
✔️symbolism of the sparrow
✔️Ryan Stadler - we all need a friend like him
This is perfect for book clubs; there’s so very much to discuss. I’m still thinking of Cate and Jada days later - Craven made sure of that with her gobsmacking investigation into ‘adoption gone wrong’.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
March 1, 2024
This is another new to me author that I have discovered this year. I loved her writing style and will be reading more of her books. I would classify this as an emotional thriller. Told by 2 POV we have Cate who is the adoptive mother and the birth mother. It has short chapters which help the story flow easily. The characters were very realistic and had my inner dialogue going on. The ending was so unexpected and left me in shock. Cant wait to read her other books.
August 14, 2023
Cate wants a baby, unfortunately, she can't have one of her own. So, she has signed up with an adoption agency. But after two failed near-adoptions in which the mothers changed their minds at the last second, she's feeling defeated. Until one night a crying baby boy is left at her door with a note that simply says, I can't. I'm sorry.
Cate does exactly what I would've done--she keeps the baby as her own and tells everyone she finally adopted. But she can't help wondering, worrying, about where this baby came from ... who might be looking for him ...
This pulled me in and wouldn't let me go. This is definitely a women's thriller. It gets it all so right--the defeat and despair, the love, the caring and worrying and sleepless nights, and of course, the paranoia. Captivating, riveting, shocking. Excellent characters that felt like real people.
Cate does exactly what I would've done--she keeps the baby as her own and tells everyone she finally adopted. But she can't help wondering, worrying, about where this baby came from ... who might be looking for him ...
This pulled me in and wouldn't let me go. This is definitely a women's thriller. It gets it all so right--the defeat and despair, the love, the caring and worrying and sleepless nights, and of course, the paranoia. Captivating, riveting, shocking. Excellent characters that felt like real people.
August 17, 2023
I got an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! First of all, thank you to the author/publishers who sent it to me.
I will say, this started out so good and had me HOOKED. As a mom, there were a few moments that were hard to read and had me pretty mad at the main character. But all in all, I was so drawn in to the story and was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen.
But #1. The treatment of the birth mother by the main character, and #2. How everything turned out... just left me so annoyed and not a fan of the story. I hated just about every character by the end and really wished it would have all turned out differently. I was happy Jada ended up with the baby, but her getting off with a slap on the wrist while Cate got sent to jail over a birth certificate just sent me absolutely over the edge lol. I feel like it could have played out in so many different ways that would have been better, but... idk that's just me. I love happy endings but this felt anti-climactic and overall I was just not a fan of the ending.
Still a cool story though and again, it had me hooked from the beginning so there's that!
I will say, this started out so good and had me HOOKED. As a mom, there were a few moments that were hard to read and had me pretty mad at the main character. But all in all, I was so drawn in to the story and was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen.
But #1. The treatment of the birth mother by the main character, and #2. How everything turned out... just left me so annoyed and not a fan of the story. I hated just about every character by the end and really wished it would have all turned out differently. I was happy Jada ended up with the baby, but her getting off with a slap on the wrist while Cate got sent to jail over a birth certificate just sent me absolutely over the edge lol. I feel like it could have played out in so many different ways that would have been better, but... idk that's just me. I love happy endings but this felt anti-climactic and overall I was just not a fan of the ending.
Still a cool story though and again, it had me hooked from the beginning so there's that!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2023
If you want a book that pulls at your heart strings then look no further.
I didn’t expect the outcome at all.
Great book.
I didn’t expect the outcome at all.
Great book.
November 9, 2023
Cate Connally is a single woman who wants to be a mother more than anything. She has a physical condition, little known Mayer-Rotkitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome, when a female is born without a uterus, so is unable to carry and give birth to a child. She has registered with an agency to adopt, but after two near adoptions fall through, she has just about given up. When a newborn is left on her doorstep, she can't call the police, she finally has her heart's desire. Of course things never go the way you hope when you are living a lie, and when her baby boy is sick, her life is upended again. What will she do?
The Baby Left Behind is a book that had my emotions all over the place. Being a mother, I can't fathom what it is like to want to have a child do desperately, and not be able to carry your own, nor be successful trying to adopt. Cate is at her wit's end. My heart broke for her. She really tried to do what was best within her parameters. Of course as in the adoption situations, she lives on tenterhooks wondering if the real mother will turn up and want her baby back. I don't want to give this story away, so will say no more. I was sad, happy, angry, and frustrated at times while reading this one. I rooted for Cate at times, then others wanted her to make different decisions. The characters were well drawn and I was able to relate to them, which is why my emotions were the way they were. The story lagged at times, but I was pulled in from the start to the finish. I had mixed feelings about the ending, but it was real and left me feeling for these characters. I am still thinking about them. This is a book is about motherhood and adoption, but it also has themes of addiction, friendship, family relationships and unconditional love. This is one I recommend you read with tissue nearby.
The Baby Left Behind is a book that had my emotions all over the place. Being a mother, I can't fathom what it is like to want to have a child do desperately, and not be able to carry your own, nor be successful trying to adopt. Cate is at her wit's end. My heart broke for her. She really tried to do what was best within her parameters. Of course as in the adoption situations, she lives on tenterhooks wondering if the real mother will turn up and want her baby back. I don't want to give this story away, so will say no more. I was sad, happy, angry, and frustrated at times while reading this one. I rooted for Cate at times, then others wanted her to make different decisions. The characters were well drawn and I was able to relate to them, which is why my emotions were the way they were. The story lagged at times, but I was pulled in from the start to the finish. I had mixed feelings about the ending, but it was real and left me feeling for these characters. I am still thinking about them. This is a book is about motherhood and adoption, but it also has themes of addiction, friendship, family relationships and unconditional love. This is one I recommend you read with tissue nearby.
August 13, 2023
Totally gutted reading this story!
It's a great story about adoption and unexpected pregnancies between two women.
It's heart wrenching and realistic with how it is for someone wanting to have a child so badly only to deal with let downs and years of waiting. Family and friends are our true source of strength in this beautiful twisty story. Do I agree with some certain things ? NO!! (with the courts) absolutely not but who are we to judge? right! I felt a connection after wanting my own children which only made me love this story even more.
It's a great story about adoption and unexpected pregnancies between two women.
It's heart wrenching and realistic with how it is for someone wanting to have a child so badly only to deal with let downs and years of waiting. Family and friends are our true source of strength in this beautiful twisty story. Do I agree with some certain things ? NO!! (with the courts) absolutely not but who are we to judge? right! I felt a connection after wanting my own children which only made me love this story even more.
September 26, 2023
Another stunning page turner from Jen Craven! I basically read this in two sittings. I was hooked from the start and couldn't flip through the pages fast enough. I loved the multiple POV, and while each character has some major red flags in their personality, I was rooting for both of them.
Read if you love a fast-paced domestic drama with a messy ending and even messier characters.
Read if you love a fast-paced domestic drama with a messy ending and even messier characters.
October 21, 2023
I didn't even have to think twice about rating 5 stars! This was different from my usual psychological thriller reads. I think I've found a new genre. This was a gripping, heart-felt, excellent, excellent story! I absolutely loved it.
January 28, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I wanted to read it quickly because it did grab my attention in the very first chapter.
September 9, 2023
Kate Connolly is a single woman in her 40s who desperately wants a baby and although it came close the Second time it happens it’s almost more than she can take but on that same day she gets the devastating news she finds a beautiful baby boy she names Henry outside on her doorstep. Although she wasn’t planning on lying the next day when her mom and dad just pop up expecting to meet their new adopted grandson she allows them to believe the abandon baby is the adopt a baby in the lie just grows from there. Little does Cate know but a nurse at her doctor‘s office unexpectedly gave birth in her bathroom and not knowing what to do with the baby she eventually left him on Kates doorstep due to the fact she knew about her adoption issues and thought she would be best for the baby she called Nickola. Jada had been a drug user but was clean for two years prior to giving birth to Nicola but soon after his birth she found herself in rehab again. When she gets cleaned the second time it’s been two months since she left little baby Nicola on Kates doorstep and she wants him back. This will cause Jaden to do something drastic that will put the women head to head in a quart battle for the baby.
Let me just say if not for the epilogue I would’ve given this book one or two stars. I didn’t like the way the end was set up to be the rich versus the poor when ultimately it should’ve been who was best for the baby and I didn’t agree with the end at all but if I make any comments about what really incensed me I would give spoilers away and that I see a lot of people like this book I won’t do that I will say this book at least most of it is very interesting and keeps you turning the pages it’s just the last six chapters I didn’t like but that’s my opinion it’s usually the unpopular one you probably will like this book and I do recommend it because as I said most of that is really good. I want to thank Bookoucher andnet galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
Let me just say if not for the epilogue I would’ve given this book one or two stars. I didn’t like the way the end was set up to be the rich versus the poor when ultimately it should’ve been who was best for the baby and I didn’t agree with the end at all but if I make any comments about what really incensed me I would give spoilers away and that I see a lot of people like this book I won’t do that I will say this book at least most of it is very interesting and keeps you turning the pages it’s just the last six chapters I didn’t like but that’s my opinion it’s usually the unpopular one you probably will like this book and I do recommend it because as I said most of that is really good. I want to thank Bookoucher andnet galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
September 17, 2023
Initially I felt pity for Cate. So desperate to become a mother with so many disappointments. Her mother was like a bulldozer, just razing things.
But then when Cate began building her pack of lies I lost my pity because she was making really stupid decisions.
It’s an emotionally wrenching read because it harbors many moral and ethical dilemmas. I also thought the Judgment part was unfair.
I liked the ending because everyone turns out ok, which I wasn’t sure would happen.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the early read.
But then when Cate began building her pack of lies I lost my pity because she was making really stupid decisions.
It’s an emotionally wrenching read because it harbors many moral and ethical dilemmas. I also thought the Judgment part was unfair.
I liked the ending because everyone turns out ok, which I wasn’t sure would happen.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the early read.
November 6, 2023
Great book!!! Page turner for sure. Really shows how good people can make bad decisions in times of trauma… makes you think!!! Would be a great book club book. 💜
September 21, 2023
First, I want to thank Jen Craven, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.
WOW!!! Ryan was so right about this storyline just like you see in the movies! Jen Craven’s latest book The Baby Left Behind will pull on all of your heart strings and thensome! Infact, it was a good thing I had tissues on hand as I needed them.
The Bookouture Graphic Designers have done it again! I was instantly drawn to the book cover! The colors, the scene, and the title made me want to know what this book was about!
Jen Craven grasped my attention right from the first two sentences from the Prologue! I was hooked as the scene was so detailed and descriptive that I felt like I was right there with them.
The ultimate question in this book is what would you do? I was not blessed to be a mother and can’t imagine how painful each of their decisions were! My heart broke for both girls in this situation. If I was put in the same situation I honestly don’t know what I would do!
My favorite character in this book had to be Ryan! I absolutely loved and adored his extremely outgoing personality! Loved how he was Cate’s rock though all of this!
Loved the royal’s reference as I have always been a huge fan!
The Baby Left Behind would be a great book for your next book club meeting! There are so many issues brought up in this book that would make great conversation. Infact, Jenn at the end of the book has some great discussion questions.
I loved how she dedicated this book to all the mothers, want-to-be mothers, and the other mother’s who are doing their best!
WOW!!! Ryan was so right about this storyline just like you see in the movies! Jen Craven’s latest book The Baby Left Behind will pull on all of your heart strings and thensome! Infact, it was a good thing I had tissues on hand as I needed them.
The Bookouture Graphic Designers have done it again! I was instantly drawn to the book cover! The colors, the scene, and the title made me want to know what this book was about!
Jen Craven grasped my attention right from the first two sentences from the Prologue! I was hooked as the scene was so detailed and descriptive that I felt like I was right there with them.
The ultimate question in this book is what would you do? I was not blessed to be a mother and can’t imagine how painful each of their decisions were! My heart broke for both girls in this situation. If I was put in the same situation I honestly don’t know what I would do!
My favorite character in this book had to be Ryan! I absolutely loved and adored his extremely outgoing personality! Loved how he was Cate’s rock though all of this!
Loved the royal’s reference as I have always been a huge fan!
The Baby Left Behind would be a great book for your next book club meeting! There are so many issues brought up in this book that would make great conversation. Infact, Jenn at the end of the book has some great discussion questions.
I loved how she dedicated this book to all the mothers, want-to-be mothers, and the other mother’s who are doing their best!
March 10, 2024
"The Baby Left Behind" by Jen Craven is a poignant and emotionally charged novel that delves into the complexities of motherhood, sacrifice, and the bonds that tie us together. From the very first page, Craven hooks readers with a heart-wrenching premise that sets the stage for a captivating journey of self-discovery and redemption.
Cate, the protagonist, is a compelling and relatable character whose struggles with infertility and the sudden arrival of a baby on her doorstep tug at the heartstrings. Craven's portrayal of Cate's emotional turmoil is both raw and authentic, drawing readers into her world as she grapples with the difficult decisions that lie ahead.
The plot unfolds at a steady pace, with twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. Craven skillfully navigates themes of love, loss, and the search for identity, weaving together a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is engaging.
What sets "The Baby Left Behind" apart is its exploration of the meaning of family and the lengths to which a person will go to protect those they love. As Cate uncovers the truth behind the baby's arrival, she is forced to confront her own beliefs about motherhood and the true nature of parental love.
While some aspects of the plot may stretch credibility, Craven's heartfelt prose and compassionate storytelling make it easy to suspend disbelief and become fully immersed in the story. Fans of Jodi Picoult and Jojo Moyes will find much to love in this moving tale of love, loss, and the power of redemption.
In conclusion, "The Baby Left Behind" is a touching and beautifully written novel that will stay with readers long after they turn the final page. Jen Craven has crafted a story that is both heartrending and hopeful, reminding us of the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Cate, the protagonist, is a compelling and relatable character whose struggles with infertility and the sudden arrival of a baby on her doorstep tug at the heartstrings. Craven's portrayal of Cate's emotional turmoil is both raw and authentic, drawing readers into her world as she grapples with the difficult decisions that lie ahead.
The plot unfolds at a steady pace, with twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. Craven skillfully navigates themes of love, loss, and the search for identity, weaving together a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is engaging.
What sets "The Baby Left Behind" apart is its exploration of the meaning of family and the lengths to which a person will go to protect those they love. As Cate uncovers the truth behind the baby's arrival, she is forced to confront her own beliefs about motherhood and the true nature of parental love.
While some aspects of the plot may stretch credibility, Craven's heartfelt prose and compassionate storytelling make it easy to suspend disbelief and become fully immersed in the story. Fans of Jodi Picoult and Jojo Moyes will find much to love in this moving tale of love, loss, and the power of redemption.
In conclusion, "The Baby Left Behind" is a touching and beautifully written novel that will stay with readers long after they turn the final page. Jen Craven has crafted a story that is both heartrending and hopeful, reminding us of the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
September 20, 2023
And Breathe!!..........The baby left behind by Jen Craven just took my breath away and I was reliving my teenage years all over again......
"I was a perfectly health baby - at least on the outside - and it wasn't until my period never arrived that my doctor became concerned. A couple of tests later and boom: Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (or MRKH for short) is a fancy way to say I was one in five thousand girls born with out a uterus. So there I was, sixteen years old and smacked with a new twist on life..........."
WoW rewind, rewind!!!!......am I reading my story? my life? I was 16 years old when I found out I could not have children and wasn't till I was 45 years old I found out what it was called! from a health magazine from the UK.
This book tore my heart out all over again and at 53 you can never get your head around this.......The baby left behind was beautifully written from start to finish and hopefully it will help young girls out there who is born with MRKH, families and especially the medical profession to recognise this and not to be called a Freak by them. There is hope for us.
I highly recommend this book bit have lots of tissues ready. All the characters where excellent and Hats off and a big Thank you to the author Jen Craven for writing and making people aware of what MRKH is. Thank you I could hug you.
I read this book in one sitting and will share on my MRKH UK and my Sister page in the USA to promote this book.
Biggest Thank you to Netgalley and especially Bookouture You are amazing. Thank you .
"I was a perfectly health baby - at least on the outside - and it wasn't until my period never arrived that my doctor became concerned. A couple of tests later and boom: Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (or MRKH for short) is a fancy way to say I was one in five thousand girls born with out a uterus. So there I was, sixteen years old and smacked with a new twist on life..........."
WoW rewind, rewind!!!!......am I reading my story? my life? I was 16 years old when I found out I could not have children and wasn't till I was 45 years old I found out what it was called! from a health magazine from the UK.
This book tore my heart out all over again and at 53 you can never get your head around this.......The baby left behind was beautifully written from start to finish and hopefully it will help young girls out there who is born with MRKH, families and especially the medical profession to recognise this and not to be called a Freak by them. There is hope for us.
I highly recommend this book bit have lots of tissues ready. All the characters where excellent and Hats off and a big Thank you to the author Jen Craven for writing and making people aware of what MRKH is. Thank you I could hug you.
I read this book in one sitting and will share on my MRKH UK and my Sister page in the USA to promote this book.
Biggest Thank you to Netgalley and especially Bookouture You are amazing. Thank you .
July 26, 2023
There is so much to love about this book, but be sure to have some tissues handy while you read it. It is achingly sad and beautifully written.
Cate wanted nothing more in life than to be a mother. Due to a medical issue, she would never carry a child herself, so adoption was her only answer. The book opens with Cate in the delivery room awaiting the child she’s to adopt. But that day ends in misery when the mother changes her mind and keeps the baby. Cate is traumatized and saddened, but chooses to try again. But, against all odds, once again a birth mother changes her mind and leaves Cate childless and inconsolable. So when Cate finds a crying baby on her doorstep, in freezing weather, with a note asking Cate to take this baby, what choice did she have? She took the little boy in, cared for him with as much love as a mother could give, and then the unspeakable happens.
This book is about so much more than motherhood and adoption. It covers family dynamics, addiction, a beautiful friendship and unconditional love. It’s both heartbreaking and heartwarming with a perfect ending that ties everything up beautifully.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for this 5 star read. This is due to be published on September 20, 2023. Don’t miss out on this one.
Cate wanted nothing more in life than to be a mother. Due to a medical issue, she would never carry a child herself, so adoption was her only answer. The book opens with Cate in the delivery room awaiting the child she’s to adopt. But that day ends in misery when the mother changes her mind and keeps the baby. Cate is traumatized and saddened, but chooses to try again. But, against all odds, once again a birth mother changes her mind and leaves Cate childless and inconsolable. So when Cate finds a crying baby on her doorstep, in freezing weather, with a note asking Cate to take this baby, what choice did she have? She took the little boy in, cared for him with as much love as a mother could give, and then the unspeakable happens.
This book is about so much more than motherhood and adoption. It covers family dynamics, addiction, a beautiful friendship and unconditional love. It’s both heartbreaking and heartwarming with a perfect ending that ties everything up beautifully.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for this 5 star read. This is due to be published on September 20, 2023. Don’t miss out on this one.
August 12, 2023
I did enjoy this book and it was very easy to read. A bit slow and drawn out in parts but overall the plot itself is immersive and character driven.
Cate has long known that she is unable to have children and with two attempts now at adopting, ending in the worst way and leaving her utterly devastated. She then finds a baby on her doorstep, a bit far fetched with the timing really, as it coincides with her supposedly getting a baby boy and so she chooses to carry on the charade with her family and pass the baby off as her adoptive son.
But then we meet the mother, Jada, and we read her story and how she came to give up her son. She now wants her baby back.
Which woman should have the baby. One woman left her newborn on a doorstep, she is a recovering drug addict and the other took a baby in to her home and cared for him but lied about it all.
I wasn’t a fan of Jada from the start and hated the way she felt she could just waltz back in and take the child she gave up. Cate was a good mother.
I didn’t like the way it then went, how could one woman get off so lightly and the other so harshly. It didn’t make sense.
Things did take a very unexpected twist later on and what a massive jump in time. I liked it though. It was perfect.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in return for an honest review.
Cate has long known that she is unable to have children and with two attempts now at adopting, ending in the worst way and leaving her utterly devastated. She then finds a baby on her doorstep, a bit far fetched with the timing really, as it coincides with her supposedly getting a baby boy and so she chooses to carry on the charade with her family and pass the baby off as her adoptive son.
But then we meet the mother, Jada, and we read her story and how she came to give up her son. She now wants her baby back.
Which woman should have the baby. One woman left her newborn on a doorstep, she is a recovering drug addict and the other took a baby in to her home and cared for him but lied about it all.
I wasn’t a fan of Jada from the start and hated the way she felt she could just waltz back in and take the child she gave up. Cate was a good mother.
I didn’t like the way it then went, how could one woman get off so lightly and the other so harshly. It didn’t make sense.
Things did take a very unexpected twist later on and what a massive jump in time. I liked it though. It was perfect.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in return for an honest review.
September 12, 2023
Cate is a woman who's strongest desire is to be a mother. Unfortunately, she is unable to bear children of her own. She turns to adoption but has been left disappointed and at a loss after two women choose to keep their baby instead. Cate is distraught and full of grief when she hears a cry outside her door. Someone left a newborn on her steps. Cate grapples with reporting the baby or passing him off as her adopted child.
Who doesn't love a good Lifetime movie with full of drama & chaos? This is what this book felt like when I was reading it. I could not look away. I was hooked from the start and wanted to know how Cate could possibly do such a thing and get away with it. Some scenes were so hard to read especially the child abandonment! I was a bit disappointed with the final outcome of the child but given our current parental laws it wasn't surprising. Overall, it was a quick and entertaining read. I will be interested in reading more by the author
Who doesn't love a good Lifetime movie with full of drama & chaos? This is what this book felt like when I was reading it. I could not look away. I was hooked from the start and wanted to know how Cate could possibly do such a thing and get away with it. Some scenes were so hard to read especially the child abandonment! I was a bit disappointed with the final outcome of the child but given our current parental laws it wasn't surprising. Overall, it was a quick and entertaining read. I will be interested in reading more by the author
August 1, 2023
4.5/5
WOW! Just wow.
This was my first novel by the author and I inhaled this one! I read it practically in one sitting, and it definitely is a page turner!
This book starts with Cate in the delivery room about to meet her daughter.. the one she is adopting when she's told those words "I'm sorry. I can't" and then shortly after she gets the call, a baby boy and almost immediately after it is taken away from her.. again. Filled with grief, she hears a baby crying and next thing we know she's given a baby... it was literally left on her doorstep.
The rest of the story we have Cate accustoming to motherhood & the guilt of taking a baby that isn't hers.
This is a gut-wrenching emotional suspense and has you thinking... what would you do if a baby showed up on your doorstep? Would you keep it as your own?
Thanks Bookoture and Netgalley for this amazing E-ARC!
WOW! Just wow.
This was my first novel by the author and I inhaled this one! I read it practically in one sitting, and it definitely is a page turner!
This book starts with Cate in the delivery room about to meet her daughter.. the one she is adopting when she's told those words "I'm sorry. I can't" and then shortly after she gets the call, a baby boy and almost immediately after it is taken away from her.. again. Filled with grief, she hears a baby crying and next thing we know she's given a baby... it was literally left on her doorstep.
The rest of the story we have Cate accustoming to motherhood & the guilt of taking a baby that isn't hers.
This is a gut-wrenching emotional suspense and has you thinking... what would you do if a baby showed up on your doorstep? Would you keep it as your own?
Thanks Bookoture and Netgalley for this amazing E-ARC!
August 24, 2023
Cate has had a wish since she was a child, to be a mom. Unfortunately she was born without uterus which will hinder her purpose in life, but she is willing to sacrifice everything to achieve it. When her second adoption falls apart, she is miraculously faced with a difficult decision that will change the course of her life. A book told from the points of view of two women who come from two very different backgrounds, who will interconnect in a dramatic way. A beautiful story, that breaks your heart and puts it back together, that makes you debate your own thoughts and that leaves a nice and hopeful message. I really loved this book.
November 6, 2023
Amazing. Hooked me from the start. I haven’t read anything by this author before but definitely will read other books written. This book is about a woman who has a medical condition that she can’t have biological children. She wants to adopt. She gets a call from the adoption agency and gets very excited but the next morning she gets a call that the birth mother changed her mind. Cate is devastated. She cries herself to sleep and suddenly she hears baby crying. Thought she has lost her mind. But she goes to open her door and realizes that the is a baby left at her door with a note. What is she going to do? Huge thank you to netgalley for giving me this arc. All opinions are my own.
August 24, 2023
What a totally heartbreaking and distressing story about the road to trying to adopt and being let down over and over again. What struggles, sacrifices and hard choices have to be made. Then, a light at the end of the tunnel appears. But, not all is what is seems.
That ending was not expected by me. The author really keeps you guessing.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
That ending was not expected by me. The author really keeps you guessing.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 2, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Probably the best ARC I have been approved for!
Cate is a middle aged woman who had been struggling with infertility issues and wanted nothing more than a baby. After 2 mishaps with adoption agencies, a baby was left on her front doorstep on a really terrible day for Cate. Opening the door and seeing a baby on her doorstep, she saw it is a sign - - maybe even a gift and decided to keep the baby without contacting the police.
Cate experiences a 3rd mishap with this illegal adoption and had to fight in court to prove her innocence.... Did it work out in the end? You will have to read to see...
Cate is a middle aged woman who had been struggling with infertility issues and wanted nothing more than a baby. After 2 mishaps with adoption agencies, a baby was left on her front doorstep on a really terrible day for Cate. Opening the door and seeing a baby on her doorstep, she saw it is a sign - - maybe even a gift and decided to keep the baby without contacting the police.
Cate experiences a 3rd mishap with this illegal adoption and had to fight in court to prove her innocence.... Did it work out in the end? You will have to read to see...
August 25, 2023
Have you ever read a book that didn’t turn out at all the way you wanted it to, but yet, you still loved it? That was this book for me! It was a very emotional read, with the overall theme of love. And I did love it!
September 1, 2023
This was a read that kept you on an emotional roller coaster. So many emotions for the main character (Cate). This book was well written as it took you on a journey. I very much enjoyed this as the author kept you guessing what would happen next.
December 1, 2023
**A huge Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Jen Craven for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book**
Wow. As a mother myself, this story really tugged at my heart strings, and made me feel all the feelings.
You feel so bad for Cate at every turn. I definitely did not expect the ending to turn out like that.
Gripping, heart wrenching, a story that sticks with you long after the book is over.
5 stars!
Wow. As a mother myself, this story really tugged at my heart strings, and made me feel all the feelings.
You feel so bad for Cate at every turn. I definitely did not expect the ending to turn out like that.
Gripping, heart wrenching, a story that sticks with you long after the book is over.
5 stars!
July 21, 2023
Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture for a chance to read an ARC of this amazing book!
Wow! I don’t even know where to start. This book really hit me in the feels, HARD. As a Mama myself imagining this happening with my little brought tears to my eyes. I think there was obviously right & wrong in this story but Cate was just trying to do what she felt was right. Being in her place I’m not sure what I would have done. What any of us would have done.
The author did a fantastic job of making me relive those early days of having a newborn so I think that’s why it was so easy to get into the story & feel for the main characters. There is SO much more I want to say but I also don’t want to post any spoilers for anyone planning on reading this book.
All I can say is this book was GOOD. It took me less than 2 days to read it because of how hooked I was to the story line. It felt like I was reading a Lifetime movie. So if you like those, read it. Or even if you don’t, read it. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. The story was well told from beginning til the very end. This definitely won’t be the only book I read by this author!
Wow! I don’t even know where to start. This book really hit me in the feels, HARD. As a Mama myself imagining this happening with my little brought tears to my eyes. I think there was obviously right & wrong in this story but Cate was just trying to do what she felt was right. Being in her place I’m not sure what I would have done. What any of us would have done.
The author did a fantastic job of making me relive those early days of having a newborn so I think that’s why it was so easy to get into the story & feel for the main characters. There is SO much more I want to say but I also don’t want to post any spoilers for anyone planning on reading this book.
All I can say is this book was GOOD. It took me less than 2 days to read it because of how hooked I was to the story line. It felt like I was reading a Lifetime movie. So if you like those, read it. Or even if you don’t, read it. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. The story was well told from beginning til the very end. This definitely won’t be the only book I read by this author!
July 31, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It pulled me in from the beginning and left me wanting yo read more. The characters were relatable & I enjoyed how the author wrote so you could truly understand the mind of the character. I really felt for the Cate character in her quest to adopt a baby. Looking forward to reading more from this author!
November 19, 2023
Frustrated me a lot. Found myself skimming, just to finish.
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
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