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!

Ooof this book is such a gut-punch (in the best way)! Craven has such a talent for writing a fast-paced story that still has depth of emotion and meaning—everything I want in a book, basically. She's an auto-read author for me now and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next.

I received a free copy from Netgalley for my honest review.

First, I read this book in one sitting and in less that 5 hours. I was hooked.

The beginning hooked me almost immediately. I was hooked. I had to know what happened. I felt so bad for Cate. All she wanted was to be a mother. The write was good and the story was fast passed.

But about 50% in I slowly started to get irritated with the chooses the main character made and the baby bio mom. They all frustrated me. The end pissed me off. I did find myself skimming a little bit towards the end because I was just frustrated but needed to know the ending.



spoiler:
mom gets a slap on the wrist and Cate gets jail time. How is child abandonment (which is what she did, no matter her reason) not worse than forgery. Neither is good but a child was abandoned and left in the cold and could have been seriously harmed. I mean everyone got a happy ending but that was ridiculous.

Beautifully written and definitely pulls at your heart strings! Have tissues at tye ready for this book!

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 .

This wasn't your usual 'my baby's been taken' thriller, the plot involves two women and their tangled state of affairs heartbreaking and shows the two different sides of motherhood.

It was a one sitting read for me, I quickly found myself embroiled into the storyline and emotionally invested in the characters. The story is split into six parts and is narrated by both women who lead us through their journey into babydom. It's moderately paced, with a credible plot and relatable characters.

What an emotional story this was. I was gripped from the start and could actually sympathise with both of the main characters. I loved how all the ends were tied up nicely at the end of the book. I look forward to more books by this author, and highly recommend this book,
Many thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in return for an honest review

The Baby Left Behind is an intense and gripping story that had me on the edge of my seat throughout and on an emotional rollercoaster. As someone who can't have children and has been through the brutal adoption process (although successfully) I really felt for Cate. This was a really strong story, beautifully written which was always going to end in heartbreak for someone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

Cate is in her mid-thirties, unwed and childless. Born with an unusual physical anomaly,. she is unable to have children. She has been waiting to adopt a child for quite awhile now. The first attempt ended with the birth mother changing her mind at the last minute. Today, she is supposed to pick up a baby as it’s her second attempt at adoption. At the last minute, she gets a call saying that this birth mother has also changed her mind. Cate is devastated and cries all day. She then hears a baby crying and thinks it’s her mind playing tricks on her. But it continues and she opens the door to find a tiny baby in a car seat on her doorstep. It’s freezing weather and she’s shocked. Gathering the baby up to take inside, she finds a note asking her to keep the baby.

Cate knows she must call the police but just wants to hold the little boy for awhile. But the day passes along with other days. She tells her family that the baby is the one she adopted.

Jada is the boy’s mother but she has some big problems of her own which triggers her giving the baby to Cate. But one day she comes to Cate wanting her baby back. Thus erupts a court case over the child.

This book is filled with heavy emotions, addiction, and the enormous love Cate has for the baby. It’s heartbreaking and will have you wondering what the end result should be.

In my opinion, Jada is a waste of space. I did not like her and had no sympathy for her. Cate is the wonderful mother here. The decision was wrong and the punishment ridiculously harsh. This book will tug at your heart strings and make you think. Do read it and enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Baby Left Behind by Jen Craven is a book about motherhood. For some, having a baby is their dream. For some, it was not in their plan at all. And for some, it's not possible to have a baby. In this novel, the author has explored the intricacies of motherhood.

Cate has always wanted to be a mother. That's her dream. But she has a medical condition due to which she can not have children. Her attempts at adoption have failed twice. Like a lifeline, though, she finds a baby on her doorstep. She knows what she needs to do, but what does she do? Who is the baby's mother? What happens later? You will have to read to find out.

This book is a fast paced though an intense story and subject. There's so much to unpack in this book. I am still processing it because of the field I work in. The societal portrayal of motherhood is so glorious, but no one wants to see the dark side. I enjoyed reading this book, though I am still on fence with the decision. I am all about second chances and forgiveness, but there are certain things that do not deserve forgiveness in my view.

Thank you, Bookouture, for this book.

CW: Infertility, child abandonment, drug abuse, abduction of a child

This is an intense read and really drags you in, the emotions from both sides are heart wrenching and it really works. You could actually see this happening. Although there are two main characters, which are richly described, the supporting cast works well and are fundamental to the story line especially Ryan and Cate's father and Jada's mother.

I liked the way there were book club questions at the end of the book I can see how it would work as a book club discussion.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and Bookouture but the review is entirely my own.

The Baby Left Behind by Jen Craven was such an emotional joy about family, secrets and what makes a good parent.
Craven’s writing style was honestly phenomenal. She made me feel emotional, tense and heartache. The authors ability to weave such an emotional story about love and family kept me glued to the pages.
This was a realistic, unforgettable story. With characters who I felt so connected to.
My heart was feeling all sorts of things.
I loved how the author portrayed each of the characters in the book, and how the emotion came through the pages.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

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 liked the ending because everyone turns out ok, which I wasn’t sure would happen.

This was such an intense read that I couldn’t put the book down from the moment I started reading the first chapter.

The story starts wit Cate who is yearning for a child but due to a condition she cannot get pregnant. Then on one snowy night she finds a baby at the doorstep with only a note. Someone had left the baby at the door step and Cate knew she had to call social services but instead takes matters to her hand…

This as I said was intense and a page turner thriller— it was also quite unputdownable as well. I simply couldn’t put the book down as I wanted to know what is going to happen towards the end. The story reminded me a bit of the Biblical story King Solomon. The only issue I had was, I didn't really like the ending much. I mean one mother, Jada who abandoned her child got away with a lighter sentence while Cate suffered the serious consequences was in my mind unfair to me, even thought, maybe the author was trying to be realistic here as Cate did forge the birth certificate. The writing was really good and the author did a good job of bringing the reader to the story. Overall, this book worth 4.5 stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture. The review is based on my honest opinion only

A huge moral dilemma and then some, takes the stage in this heart wrenching story.

I can’t imagine the heartache Cate has faced, having found out at 16 years old that she had been born without ovaries. Having experienced the mother of a newborn up for adoption changing her mind, not only once, but TWICE, I could sympathise with what she chose to do when a baby was left on her doorstep with a note - Cate kept him and pretended he was the baby she was supposed to adopt.

But that’s never going to go well and my jaw literally dropped when Cate inevitably came face to face with the baby’s mother, who realises she made a terrible mistake.

So who should raise and love this child? The woman who gave birth to him but then abandoned him on a doorstep in the freezing cold, or the woman he was willingly given to and who has kept him safe, loved and nurtured?

This is a book that will really make you think and will stay with you for a long time. It was a little slow and drawn out at points, but it’s impossible not to feel empathy for these two women and the judge who has to decide the fate of the baby.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Jen Craven and Bookouture for an ARC in return for an honest review.

The Baby Left Behind by Jen Craven is a totally gripping tale that consumed me from the start. I ‘lived’ through the book as I clung on for an emotional roller coaster read.
The book is about motherhood and the desire for a baby. It seems most unfair that some women get pregnant so easily whilst for others it is a struggle or even impossible. All the carefully laid plans amount to nothing.
In contrast to the full preparation of some, we see a woman thrust unexpectedly into motherhood.
Both women have bonds with a baby. Both women elicit feelings of empathy from the reader. Both women cannot win – there will always be a loser. Where will your sympathies lie?
We see the bonds between mothers and daughters. No matter how old we get, there is nothing a mother will not do for her daughter. There are no regrets just armfuls of love.
Sibling rivalry exists into adulthood. There seems to be the golden girl and the other one. However, when the chips are down, new bonds are formed as a family pulls together.
Actions have consequences. Wise advice would be to think before acting – project to the end before taking the first step.
All the characters were well drawn and provoked a variety of emotional responses from me.
The Baby Left Behind was a gripping tale and one that I can highly recommend.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

He's all you ever wanted...but can you keep him...?

"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."

The opening lines after the heartbreaking prologue was enough to make one grab the tissues and keep them close by for the duration of this one. I was all set for a domestic suspense, and it is partly that, but it is also wrapped up in women's fiction tied up with a suspenseful bow. I felt Cate's pain because I've been there. It too was all I ever wanted - marriage, children and a white picket fence. But unlike Cate, I've long moved past it. Yes, so many unwanted babies born in the world to women seemingly less deserving of a child when so many want-to-be mothers who can't be are left without. It doesn't seem fair when 15 year olds can get knocked up just by looking at the opposite sex. But it is what it is.

Being a mother was all Cate Connally ever wanted. But her dream was shattered in her teens when her monthly visitor failed to show and her world came crashing down. Desperate to experience motherhood, adoption was her only answer. The book opens with a prologue so heartwrenching it was difficult not to feel the emotion running thick. One year earlier, Cate was in the delivery room as teenager Hadley gave birth to the baby girl Cate was to adopt. But as Cate looked into her newborn daughter's eyes she heard a guttural sob and saw the pain and look of apology in the young girl's eyes. Cate's dream ends just like that.

A year on and still Cate lives with the hope that she will get the call that will surely change her life. Being a mother is all she ever wanted. And then that day comes again. A baby boy has just been born and he's hers. She's going to be a mum! She could barely sleep the night before going to pick him up. Her family wanted to accompany her but this is something Cate wants to do alone. Then just as she's about to leave, the phone rings. No...not again. This cannot happen twice. But it does.

Childless once again, Cate is inconsolable. Throughout the day she receives a bombardment of beeps with excited text messages from her mum, her sister and her best friend Ryan. Are you home yet? Have you got him? Can we come see him? She silences her phone and cries herself into oblivion.

And then she hears a sound. She's so rattled with grief, her brain is conjuring up babies and she's hearing them everywhere. But no, there's the sound again. It's coming from outside. She opens her front door and there on her doorstep, in the freezing January cold, is a car seat with a screaming baby inside...and a note that reads: "Take him. Please forgive me." She looks up and down the silent street. There's no one. What choice does she have?

Cate does what anyone would have done. She takes in the crying infant and does her level best to console him. All at once she tries drawing on her past memories and experience with her nephews. What does he want? Nappy change. Nope. Still screaming. Of course... that crimson rage on his face means he's hangry. So she feeds him and bathes him, clothes him and loves him. It's not all smooth sailing but to Cate, in this moment, it was if it was meant to be. So when her family turn up unexpectedly the next morning without warning, after a sleepless night of tears, Cate forgot that she never told them about the adoption falling through. Her parents swoop in and take charge of the angelic babe in her arms and shower her with a thousand questions. Now would be a good time to tell them...wouldn't it? But the words don't come. And before she knows it, the truth becomes a lie and she chooses to carry on the charade passing the baby off as her new adoptive son.

Then we meetJada, who has not had the privileged life Cate has. Her story is a sorry one in which she was born to a single mother under the most horrific circumstances and for which she blames herself. On her seventeenth birthday she was introduced to "Aunt Hazel" (heroin) and as a result is now a recovering addict. She's been clean for two years, has a good job at the clinic. Life is looking up. But the surprise appearance of a baby after what she thought was food poisoning from a spicy chipotle threw her world into a tailspin. A baby? What the hell was she supposed to do with a baby? After almost a week locked in her apartment with incessant screaming demands from the infant and Jada unable to decipher what he wants, her old friend comes calling and she makes a snap decision. Jada knows Cate from the clinic and is familiar with her history. She'll make a good mum for her baby.

But then a chance meeting in a hospital corridor changes everything. After abandoning him, now Jada wants her son back. But Cate will not give up without a fight. Who will come out fighting? The recovering addict who left her baby on a doorstep in the cold? Or the woman who took him in, cared for him and loved him as her own?

One cannot help but think of the parable of the two mothers as told by King Solomon from the Bible. Two women who both claimed to be the child's mother but clearly only one was. King Solomon decreed to have the child cut in two knowing that the child's real mother would not let that happen. And when the woman said that "no, let her have him", Solomon knew she was his true mother. OK so it was a different case here but the reasoning was the same. Both claimed to love the child and that they were the one best placed to care for him. But which of them would do so?

This is a heartbreaking gut wrenching story that will indeed require tissues. While Cate adjusts to motherhood and the lie with which she is now living, Jada is just trying to adjust to life, period. There are those who will boo the outcome but was it ever going to go any other way? I wasn't a fan of Jada and I was rooting for Cate but do the ends justify the means? Or in Cate's case, the means justify the ends?

Unfolding through the eyes of both women, Cate and Jada, this tale is heartwrenching and emotive, just like a Lifetime movie. You will laugh, you will cry and you will be shaking your head in parts. But it does give one food for thought...what would you do if a baby was left on your doorstep?

I would like to thank #JenCraven, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheBabyLeftBehind in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

This is a totally gripping, emotional page-turner with an ending nicely wrapping things up.
I look forward to reading more from this author!
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Baby Left Behind’ written by Jen Craven in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Since childhood Cate Connally has dreamt of being a mother but is unable to conceive due to medical reasons so puts herself forward for adoption. She’s devastated when twice she’s told there’s a baby waiting for her and then to hear the birth mothers have changed their minds. Just when she’s cried herself dry, Cate hears a noise and on opening her front door finds a tiny baby in a car seat with a card tucked into the blanket reading “Take him. Please forgive me”. Cate feels an immediate love for this baby and although she knows she must ring the police she will, but not just yet!

‘The Baby Left Behind’ is an emotional story of love, families and parenthood. It’s in six parts told alternately by Cate and Jada and as the story progressed I felt sympathy for both women who made choices that seemed to be the best at that given time. It’s been beautifully written and I was so gripped by the characters and circumstances that I was reading late into the night and then awake early this morning to continue, finishing this fantastic story in under twenty-four hours. It’s an amazing novel that had me in tears yet smiling, with a conclusion that left me with a wonderfully warm feeling and delighted at how life had turned out for both women. I wholeheartedly recommend it and would give more than five stars if I could.

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