JEN CRAVEN has wrote one heck of a story focusing on a moral dilemma. This book elicited so many emotions from me. The primary one being anger. The way Cate is treated by her family like the underdog and like she’s less than for not having a family of her own was infuriating. The sense of loss she was struggling with even with something she had never been able to have was palpable. All of my sympathy went to Cate and VERY little went to Jada. I don’t want to say too much but I will say this. If you abandon a baby, that’s one decision you have to live with in the form of not being able to get that child back because you changed your mind. Regardless of her circumstances she was not a sympathetic character. She was entitled, not apologetic, and smug. This was definitely one of those books where I wanted to throw it across the room. The author should have a book club after its release to discuss the book so I can air out my frustrations. I was sooooo angry throughout this book! The writing could have been better, but this book made me FEEL so much that I felt it earned five stars. I look forward to reading more from this author! Thank you to BOOKOUTURE and NETGALLEY for this ARC.

🍼Summary
After hitting her lowest point with yet another failed adoption, Cate hears a mysterious knock on the door. She knows she told her family and friends not to visit on the baby’s first night, so who could be waiting for her outside? Luckily, instead of ignoring the knock, she opens the door to the package she’s dreamt of every night since she found out she could never conceive on her own: a baby, in a carriage, along with a note. It is then that she asks herself, “What if I kept him- not just for one night but forever?”

🍼Review
A family drama with an underlying suspense, this novel is sure to keep you hooked and turning each page with anticipation. Cate, the main character’s, emotions were raw and honest in a way I appreciate especially for the depiction of a grieving woman. I also enjoyed the authors ability to craft morally gray characters, but found at times more care and attention could’ve been given to them. Specifically Jada, a Latina character, who was given some descriptions I personally felt were a bit strange coming from a white author. Example:
“our fiery Latina personalities are ready to pounce on the other to see who will win”
Overall, I still enjoyed this book, but it feels like it still needs some time to be edited. I would recommend this to readers who enjoyed “Little Fires Everywhere”.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to give an honest early review. This book comes out on September 20, 2023.

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

The Baby Left Behind
A totally gripping and utterly heart-wrenching page-turner
by Jen Craven

Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture for a chance to read an ARC of this book! I enjoyed this book. I used tissues, especially toward the end. I had to really indeed not pick sides in the end.
The book contains two POVs, and damn, I felt for both ladies. I felt for both. The book was good, until the ending. The ending was not really needed. Doing the math, and coming up with, why?

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!

What a rollercoaster ride!
I loved all the characters, they all seemed very real to me. And all had more depth than expected.
The subject is covered from all different angles. There were plenty of twists and turns, but no cheap thrills or quick judgements.
The book and the characters stayed with me after I finished reading.

An emotional page turner that I really enjoyed.
Will look out for more from this author.
Highly recommend by me.

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.

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.

Book Review 📚
The Baby Left Behind by Jen Craven - 4.5/5 ⭐

My first book by this author and oh my, I was no disappointed. It was a brilliant read with a fantastic plot and story line. I loved every minute of it, so much so I devoured it in less than 24 hours! It's definitely a must read thriller.

The book contains two POVs throughout so you've got an insight to both thoughts and emotions whilst the story goes on. The plot itself really draws you in and you can't stop until your done. I spent a whole work day trying to put it all together and figure it out, could of easily finished this book in a day were it not for having to work.

There is such a overwhelming amount of emotions through the story and you come to love the characters on the way. You can't help but feel sorry for the main characters. Craven done a fantastic job in her descriptive writing. Truly impressive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoture for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

This started out so promising for me. I could really connect to Cate wanting a family of her own so bad, but then the ending really went off the rails. I did enjoy the differing POVs though. Cate’s personality was very fun to read and I’m glad she got her happy ending. Overall, 3/5 ⭐️ thank you Netgalley, Bookouture and Jen Craven for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cate wants a baby more than anything in life, but due to a medical condition, she is unable to conceive. After two failed adoptions, a child in a car seat turns up on her doorstep on a cold winter night. Tucked inside the blanket, she found a note
"<i> take him.
Please forgive me </i>
With a fully furnished ,empty nursery upstairs behind closed doors, Cate winders if this is the miracle she was praying for.
Should she call the police? Maybe tomorrow. But when the baby becomes very ill, Cates world falls apart.

My thoughts.
As a mom of two boys and a foster parent in the past, this story resonates with me on a couple of levels.
We had an 8 month old girl placed with us long term. At age five, child services asked if we were interested in adop, which, of course, we were. We loved her dearly.
The mom was a hard-core drug user who had not been clean during the time her child was with us. But a week before court, she was clean, proceedings canceled, and 3 months later, our girl was back with a mother she didn't know.

Grief stricken, devastation, hatred - I had ALL the feels 😢 and could relate to Cate.
But all these years later, this rings true
<i>life is ten percent what happens, and ninety percent how you respond </i>

An emotional read, which I think all parents will understand.

Thank you to #bookature and #netgally for the advanced copy.
Publishing September 20th, 2023

First time read for me from this author and what a brilliant read it was, such a great plot and and I loved every kindle page.

I wasn't sure about it at first but then it just all clicked with me, believable characters and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Cate and Jav although I just wanted to shout at Cate in the beginning "no, no do the right thing" the plot was so well thought out with a satisfactory ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC which I have no hesitation in recommending and I will definitely read more from this author.

This was my first time reading a book by Jen Craven, and all I can say is "wow!" I love the way the author told the story from 2 character's perspectives. This wasn't just a thriller; it dealt with ethical issues and emotions. The ending was absolutely perfect too. I cannot say enough positive things and cannot wait to tell everyone about The Baby Left Behind!

On the fence: good book; terrible ending! Cate wants to be a mother more than anything. After two failed adoptions, a baby boy turns up on her doorstep. Should she call the police? Should she keep him? Before she knows it, she is swept up in being this baby's mother. Then the real mother comes back after going to treatment. I don't necessarily agree with how the ending turned out in Court, nor do I like it, but overall the book was very good! Well written. Held my attention. Powered through it!

I wasn’t sure at first but the more I read the more invested I became in Cate’s story. Then when Java came on the scene her story was complicated for other reasons, but one of the things they had in common was their childhood relationship with parents. Both misunderstanding reasoning behind people’s feelings for them.
It’s a fascinating take on human nature, not without humour. I did like Ryan’s character. I also liked the ending to the story.

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
*********************************************************
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.

What makes a good parent? I am really not sure, but I can tell you what makes you a bad parent…even “small things” like looking before you walk and knocking the woman in a cast flat on her butt in the library and failing to apologize. Nor is flipping out at me when I say to that child, ” Sweetie, look before you walk, please as you are not the only person in the room!” (Hey, I left out the swear words and didn’t tell the parent what I thought of her egregious lack of parenting skills!) But as that was the second time in two weeks I got knocked over, and no parent taking any responsibility for their kids running wild, I am not going back to the library IN PERSON until the brats … kids… are back in school!) #butidigress #workfromhome

I adored this novel: well written and it kept me enthralled right to the end page…it makes one think about what they would do in the situation if nothing I guess that it has to do with how desperate one becomes to be a mom and in the situation at hand. What would you do? Your answer might change once you have read this book!

I am still SPITTING BULLETS over the courtroom outcome…what a load of horse poop. I’m INFURIATED. That was NOT justice - that was politically correct crap... I cannot say much more without letting away what happened. (Although the ending made it kind of worth it, but not much!) Feel free to share your opinion with me as I’m assigning this to my book club and expect a rip-roaring argument…but then again, I am adopted so maybe my view is skewed.

Pre-order it like I did..worth every #PennyPennyPenny to own it.

.#shortbutsweetreviews

Doing the right thing is at the center of this book. A found baby adds to the intrigue. Realistic characters keep the story moving quickly. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the gifted author. Any woman who has longed for a child will understand this main character. Curl up in a comfy chair and try to solve this mystery.

You know what, this was a book that really drew me in so much so that I read the whole thing in one day. Whoa,my emotions are ALL over the place!!! Wow!!! Wow!!! Wow!!! The plot was ingenious and I really like the characters as well. If you’re looking for a fast pace story that you can get swept into fairly quickly this is the book for you.

Cate has always wanted a child, but has never been able to fall pregnant. She applies to adopt a child, and the mother changes her mind immediately after giving birth.
Cate receives a call to tell her that there is another baby that is being given up for adoption, and as she is about to leave the house, she gets the dreaded call that the mother has changed her mind.
She isolates herself and hears a baby crying, and there is a car seat on her doorstep with a howling baby.
Like a gift from heaven.
She passes the baby off as the child she should have adopted, but when the baby gets ill, she runs into problems.

A gripping book of a woman who was desperate to be a mother, and while her decisions were not legal, I can understand them. It is a heartrending story that will touch everyone who reads this book.
Very enjoyable page turner.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review