Book Reviews by Ehlen Administration

High Hopes by Sue Lilley My rating: 4 of 5 stars Grace had always been unlucky in love, although successful in many other areas of her life. When her ex-husband moved to New York for a year she took solace at Penrowan, the home of her two best college friends. The problem is she also brings with her a secret that could tear Sam and Dixie’s marriage apart. Will she be able to tell them about the baby she placed for adoption all those years ago? As I work for an adoption agency ( www.agiftofhopeadoptions.com ) stories from the birth parent perspective, especially search and reunion stories, always intrigue me. Adoption in general is much more open than it used to be, often with children growing up knowing who their birth parents are and where they are, but that is recent enough that there are still lots of birth parents and adoptees who have not reconnected. What I liked about this story was the whole family coming together around the idea of being there for the adoptee, despite t...

Awakening by Janet V. Forster Kate has always wanted to search for her birth parents, and now that she’s 18 it’s time to take the plunge. Her mom probably won’t like it, but every adoptee needs to find their roots if they can. However, Kate gets a lot more than she bargained for when she locates her birth father, Nick. His family history brings her into a world that she had no idea even existed, and one where she plays a huge role, like it or not. Full disclosure - I work for an adoption agency . I generally cringe when I read adoption stories because of all the misconceptions and myths. I am unashamedly pro adoption because I feel like it is an often underutilized alternative for tough situations that can work for everyone if you put the effort into it. Although not perfect, I was honestly okay with the adoption story in this one, although I’m wondering how it will play out with the supernatural element. I think that the portrayal of a desire to know your roots is accurate, bu...

I am giving away a copy of my dad's book, Are You Ready to Adopt? over on the Gift of Hope Adoptions Facebook page!    By entering not only will you get the chance to win this book, but you'll hopefully be helping some of our waiting adoptive families find their children! While likes and shares are not required for entry, they are encouraged as a charitable gesture ;) Hurry, contest ends Mon 12/21! Please note, while there may be affiliate links or payment for reviews, all opinions are my own. You can't buy a good review from me, people. I am way too mouthy for that.

I recently won a contest for some Chik-Fil-A gift cards from Kate Eschbach's blog :) I'm elated to find out she's an adoptive mom - as you know adoption is near and dear to me . Wanted to spread the love and point you to her blog and lovely photography.  My family really enjoys CFA, we are there nearly every Tuesday, when our local CFA has a family night. One of their employees paints faces and hands, sometimes there is a balloon artist - amazing creations - and the best part is you get a free kids meal with every adult meal purchased. For a family on a budget this is a big deal, so thank you Kate, you made some very happy kids today :) Please note, while there may be affiliate links or payment for reviews, all opinions are my own. You can't buy a good review from me, people. I am way too mouthy for that.

So this week I'm covering the gamut, I've posted book reviews, explained a little about essential oils (EOs) and now I'm talking about my other job, adoption. I LOVE adoption. Don't misunderstand, adoption is challenging. it's gritty, it's grief-filled, there are a lot of problems with the system, it can be heartbreaking. But just like many of the most difficult parts of your life, it's absolutely wonderful. I really challenge people to take a hard look about how they feel about adoption, particularly those who allow their kids to be adopted by others. What is your stereotype of a birth parent ? Is it really accurate, particularly accurate for modern adoption, or do you still see it the way it was 50 years ago? Tina Tyra and I have been collaborating on a blog series for biological parents on how to get started with adoption and things you need to consider - including whether it's the right decision for you or not. If you know anyone who is ...

Shape Shifters of the Suburbs - The Boy From The Temple of Heaven by Luke Loaghan My rating: 4 of 5 stars Mary Johnson has always wanted a child, and finally is able to adopt a 5 year old Chinese boy, one year before she ages out of the program. The adoption agency told her he was “different,” but she didn’t realize how different until she finally saw him change into an animal in his sleep. Breccan is a shape shifter, and it turns out a very powerful one at that. Unbelievably, in their sleepy Long Island suburb, more shape shifters emerge, and must band together to fight the evil presence that has been growing there for the past 30 years. This book is written simply and is a little redundant in some places, but is a great read for tweens. Everyone wants to have a super power, and Breccan goes on a journey of discovery about his and learns to both work with and protect his friends, even those with similar powers. As he ends his tenure in middle school, however, new alliances are ...

My ebook, Adoption Options: For Prospective Adoptive Parents , is free this weekend, Nov 1-3, in honor of National Adoption Month! Did you know November is National Adoption Month? Please consider downloading my book and sharing with others who may be considering adopting! If you know of a person considering an adoption plan for their child, feel free to send them the information of the agency I work for, A Gift of Hope Adoptions , as we assistant expectant parents as well as parents of children already born who feel adoption is going to be the best thing for their child. Thanks!

I am super excited to announce that I have just published a Kindle book on adoption! If you are interested in learning more about the basic adoption process in the US, Adoption Options: For Prospective Adoptive Parents , will break down the basic types - public, private and international - as well as give you an idea of the general adoption process and a few common issues, such as openness in adoption. I welcome feedback, and please don't forget to leave a review on Amazon!