Thursday, November 14, 2013

"The Baby Chase" by Leslie Morgan Steiner - Review and Giveaway

The Baby Chase
Last month I was honored to receive a preview copy of The Baby Chase by Leslie Morgan Steiner.  For the most part I'm no longer accepting items to review, but this book came at just the perfect time right before our embryo transfer.  What better book to read while you sit hoping that two little beans (or at least one) will stick, than a book about the history of surrogacy and a couple's journey to fulfill their dream of building a family?  I'll admit that I did bring a back up book with me just in case the story didn't grab me enough to finish it and it's actually a good thing that I did.  Not because The Baby Chase was a bad book, but because it was so good that I couldn't put it down and I finished it in a day! 

When I first opened this book I didn't really know what to expect.  I figured the obvious based on the cover and the title. This would be a story based on a couple that turned to surrogacy to build their family.  That in itself was interesting for me.  I'd heard bits and pieces of how other couples journeys in surrogacy began and ended (including the intended parents for whom I'm now helping grow their own family), but I'd never heard a story from beginning to end in so much detail.  What I didn't expect from this book was all the education and history that it weaved in while telling this amazing story.  While reading I was able to learn how IVF and surrogacy got started and how it has grown around the world.  I've learned the advances and the setbacks as well as the positives and the negatives.

  I'll admit that the story started out with a bit of descriptive fluff that distracted me.  I think I'm just the impatient type that just wants to jump right in.  It also took me awhile to get used to the constant switch in topic from the story of Rhonda and Gerry Wile, to the history and statistics of IVF and surrogacy.  But once I got used to the flow of the writing, I couldn't put it down!  I was eager to learn more about how this amazing technology came to be, where it is now, and where it might be headed in the future.  I was also on pins and needles to find out if Rhonda and Gerry would ever get the family that they desired and intrigued about their route of going through an agency in India.  The story brought tears to my eyes and hope for my own journey with Belle and Adam and their dream to one day have a child, as well as the many other couples and singles that are also working on their own dream of a family.  We will do this!  Together we can all make this happen!  

In the end, I would say that, The Baby Chase is a captivating story of not only a couple's struggle to create a family with one vasectomy and two vaginas, but also a very interesting look at the history of IVF and surrogacy around the world.  It's a story that I feel any intended parent, surrogate, donor, IVF health care professional, or anyone else involved in the world of surrogacy should read.  It shows you what we are fighting for,  who we are fighting for, and why.  After reading this story, I immediately headed over to Rhonda and Gerry's blog to congratulate them on their beautiful family and for sharing their story with the world.  Thank you Rhonda and Gerry!  And thank you Leslie for writing it so beautifully.  Thanks!

If you would like more information about The Baby Chase, about it's author Leslie Morgan Steiner, or where you can purchase this book please visit the Macmillan Publishers - The Baby Chase website.

You can also read more about Rhonda and Gerry's journey on their blog, Our Journey To Surrogacy In India.

~ THE GIVEAWAY ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to check out my "Surrogacy" tab at the top of this page to catch up on any posts you might have missed

*Some of the names in this post have been changed to protect the identities of those involved in this journey*



5 comments:

  1. Would love to read it and hear about the other side of surrogacy in India.

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  2. Sounds like an interesting read. Would love to hear about surrogacy in India

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  3. Would love the chance to read this book and follow their journey. I've been lurking and following your journey and was so excited to see the transfer worked!! One or two, I can't wait to find out!! Good luck !

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  4. Would love to be able to read this boom as hear about surrogacy in India. I really never even about surrogates in other countries. Dumb, I know!

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  5. Thanks SO much for your kind words both here and on our blog. Surrogacy is a wonderful option that many don't know about. We hope our book helps to spread the word of the options available to others who find themselves infertile and wanting a family. Surrogates are extraordinary and selfless woman and I commend you and others for doing it so gracefully.

    Hugs and lots of baby dust your way!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to show your support with a comment! I LOVE reading all of them and will try and answer any questions that you might have. :)