Nobody's Child

Sep 30, 2012 LeAnne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-fiction, christian-fiction

There is an agenda here--to expose us to ethical issues connected to artificial insemination, but Mr. Boyd does it with skill. He involves us emotionally with characters we respect who have contributed eggs and received implanted embryos. He also shows us some really sleazy losers, but he does it all without forcing us into one correct "Christian" conclusion. What could have been an information dump near the end becomes plausible and even increases the tension in the context of courtroom drama....more

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May 14, 2012 Jessie Potts rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

3.5 Stars

This book was hard for me to rate for many reasons. One being that I know the author personally, and whenever you know the author, you can’t help but read differently. Another reason is that I’m not comfortable reading books with such strong Christian undertones. My mother loves Christian fiction, and the undertones and preaching do not bother my father, but for me the books fairly scream ‘it’s a sin!’ or ‘this is what good Christians do’. Taking those two issues into consideration here...more 3.5 Stars

This book was hard for me to rate for many reasons. One being that I know the author personally, and whenever you know the author, you can’t help but read differently. Another reason is that I’m not comfortable reading books with such strong Christian undertones. My mother loves Christian fiction, and the undertones and preaching do not bother my father, but for me the books fairly scream ‘it’s a sin!’ or ‘this is what good Christians do’. Taking those two issues into consideration here is a mostly unbiased review

Nobody’s Child deals with a controversial subject, egg harvesting. My own personal beliefs is that it’s her body and her decision, not to mention that she’s helping a childless woman to conceive by donating her own eggs. (I do not want to get in an argument and no I don’t think it’s ok to play god like deciding skin color, eye color etc. but both sides do have valid points) It was interesting to see this from the opposite end of the spectrum where egg harvesting is considered vile and against the very makings of nature. I think Boyd over vilifies the doctors a bit too much (but hey this is fiction) yet he does delve into the personal ramifications and emotional problems that Laura Ann deals with after having sold her eggs. I think that different people will react emotionally and psychologically differently depending on their frame of mind. Clearly Laura Ann did not do this to help a childless couple, but to save her farm, so it stands to reason that she would feel guilty and shameful.

The characters are also somewhat blown up and obvious. Jack, the uncle is a bit typical when it comes to the villain character. He is devious and wants the farm for himself. He hurts his wife and wants Laura Ann to bow down to his authority. With Laura Ann’s character I was torn. On one hand the constant guilt and shame was difficult to continue to read page after page, yet during the second half of the book she became a strong heroine who ended up counting on herself to make decisions and not just ‘leaning’ on her knight. Which brings us to Ian, Ian is practically perfect unrealistically, but how can I complain when many para romance books I read have the same issue of a perfect hero? Granny was also a bit typical in being the perfect old wise woman.

So to sum up…
If you enjoy reading about controversial topics and enjoy Christian fiction then this is well written and has a nice touch of romance and strength. If you do not like Christian undertones in your books then perhaps pass or just borrow from a library. Finally if you really enjoy true Christian books, ones that proclaim Jesus as the savior every page then I would also skip this book. Boyd walks the fine line between preaching and teaching and if you need to read about more salvation then this might not be Christian enough for you. Boyd clearly enjoys writing and believes fully in what he writes and teaches, having said that I can enjoy and recommend this book, to those who I know it will fit. Take the time to read it if you’re on the fence.
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Jul 11, 2012 Ava rated it 5 of 5 stars

I saw tgis book at the library and was intrigued by what Laura needed to do to save the family farm and therefore her heritage. At the beginning she keeps everythinbg a secret and still you want to read further to find out what happened and may happen.

Because of circumstances beyond her control, Laura took a different path to meet those problems while also learning about certain other members of her family and also where her heart may truly lie.

A sensitive situation helps her learn how to accept...more

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Jan 21, 2012 Robert rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bio-ethics, christian-thriller

I received a copy of Nobody's Child by Austin Boyd to read and review. I was hesitating at first but I am extremely glad I gave it a chance. I never imagined what a great read it would be. I do not think I would have put it down if work did not get in the way! Grab yourself a copy and a cup of coffee/tea and enjoy.

Austin Boyd takes a very controversial bioethical issue and gives it a face in the characters of Laura Ann and her friends/family. He never becomes preachy on the subject but elects to...more

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Feb 02, 2012 Carla rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book so much! I could not put it down! Nope, I read it in 2 days! I actually started this review and had to go back and start over! I loved it so much I just wanted to tell everything about it! I truly hate reviews with alot of spoilers and I know if you read through my blog you will notice, they all say spoiler alert.... I am so sorry. But when I fall in love with a book, I want you to fall in love with it too. I want you to know everything that I love about it and for this book. I...more I loved this book so much! I could not put it down! Nope, I read it in 2 days! I actually started this review and had to go back and start over! I loved it so much I just wanted to tell everything about it! I truly hate reviews with alot of spoilers and I know if you read through my blog you will notice, they all say spoiler alert.... I am so sorry. But when I fall in love with a book, I want you to fall in love with it too. I want you to know everything that I love about it and for this book. I pretty much loved EVERYTHING except Uncle Jack. Ugh! I wanted to punch him right in the face and I am not a violent person. Dear Austin, if this Uncle Jack is based on a real person, please send him my way! Lol. But the real story in this awesome book is the struggle of a young girl to keep her final promise to her Daddy. To take care of their farm and add her link to the chain. And yes, I said Daddy and if she were here and you called him her father, she would correct you too. Their connection was so much more than that. He was her best friend, her everything, he was her Daddy. And she was his Peppermint. I mean come on whats not to love about that! Haha I wanna have another little girl so I can call her that! :) I'm totally gonna steal that too Austin!

Laura Ann is a fighter, strong willed, and a hard worker. Despite all the trials thrown in her way, they make her work that much harder to prove not only to others but to herself that she can make it through this. It takes her a long time to finally let go and let God provide for her. She goes as far as to sell a very precious piece of herself to get money to take care of her Daddy and her farm. She sells her eggs, her "link" in her family chain.

Despite the misfortune of having Uncle Jack constantly on her heels, Laura Ann has some wonderful people in her life. God has blessed her with two especially great friends in Granny Apple and Ian. I truly enjoyed watching her relationship with Ian blossom into more than friendship. I think before she ever realized it was taking that route, they had become a family all their own. Inseparable.

When Sophia shows up in her life, unexpected and at first unwanted, the storms in her life are both internal and literal. But I am thankful that they happened when they did. It gave these characters a chance to get to know each other, when Laura Ann wanted Sophia to just disappear. I don't think we would have had that without the storms. I loved watching these two complete strangers learn about one another. As they grew to like each other, and eventually love each other. A love that made them sisters in both their eyes. And the love of a child that they both in some form would be a mother to.

This book brings up lots of questions, things to think about. In our world today, science is a ever changing thing. They are always creating new things to try. New ways to create life. New ways to save life, in ways never thought possible. Is making a baby by putting an egg and sperm together in a dish and then putting it into a mother the right thing to do... I don't really know the answer to that. I think that God gives us the knowledge to do things, but we also have to know when we shouldn't do them too. I don't really know what my feelings are on this subject per say, but then, I am also a mother of 2 beautiful little girls and don't have to hope for a family that I know my body alone can't give me. I suspect that had I not been able to have a baby on my own, I might have tried something like this eventually. So, with that said, I guess my answer will be forever that I can't know for sure unless I am put into a situation where I needed to use something like this and then make the decision of whether or not I think its right for me.

I really have loved every minute of this book! I mean, how couldnt I, there is a Brewer in it :) (my maiden name). And I don't want to give away anymore than I have to, because I want you to love it as well. I just have to say that I am so happy with the way that things turned out for Laura Ann, Ian, James, and especially Auntie Rose and Uncle Jack lol. This was a very touching story. One that I am very excited to share with my friends and family and my readers!
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Sep 05, 2011 Laurie Carlson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: in-vitro-fertilization, egg-retrieval, sold-ovarian-eggs, medical-procedure-versus-science, birth-mother, egg-donor, trial, birth-father, young-single-woman-as-main-characte, father-dying-of-cancer, baby, a-story, adoption, attorney, character-female, child, contemporary-fiction, friendship, from-zondervan-publishers, love, pregnancy, pregnant

“Nobody’s Child” by Austin Boyd

CAUTION: DON'T READ THE TAGS OF THIS BOOK BEFORE YOU READ IT!! IT WILL GIVE SPOILERS!!!

Wow. Wow. What a book! This story will stay with me forever. It sure gives you a LOT to think about! This book is NOT a book to miss at ALL. This is, in my opinion, one of the best books of 2011 so far!
This author, Austin Boyd, has written a very controversial fictional novel about a woman, Laura Ann, who undergoes several medical procedures that she gets paid for to endure, in o...more “Nobody’s Child” by Austin Boyd

CAUTION: DON'T READ THE TAGS OF THIS BOOK BEFORE YOU READ IT!! IT WILL GIVE SPOILERS!!!

Wow. Wow. What a book! This story will stay with me forever. It sure gives you a LOT to think about! This book is NOT a book to miss at ALL. This is, in my opinion, one of the best books of 2011 so far!
This author, Austin Boyd, has written a very controversial fictional novel about a woman, Laura Ann, who undergoes several medical procedures that she gets paid for to endure, in order to make money to help pay for her father’s cancer treatments, and to help save their family farm because her father is dying of cancer. They do not have regular medical insurance, so they incur ALL kinds of medical bills. Everything regarding money is now up to her. She decides to do what she did because it paid so well. It paid and pays the bills so she underwent and undergoes these medical procedures four times to make money. Each time she goes back, though, the money is less, when you would think it should be more.
Here we can come to an ethics argument between Us/God/Science. When should Science stop, or do ‘we’ continue to play God ourselves just because we can? Is this an ethical and moral thing to do? Is it okay to sell your body in the name of medical science to make money just because we can do it? Is it right that medical science can request of us, or even give us the opportunity to do so because they can give us the green stuff? Scientists’ knows there are those of us who are so desperate enough for money, that in the name of life, people ‘will’ offer to do these procedures.
Could it come to a time where we can “sell” one kidney, or part of our liver, in the name of medical science, to get paid money for it? Will there come a time when ‘we’ are put into this position, just because ‘we’ are in a rough spot that we would go and do this type of thing? There are many of us in this world that if it did come right down to it, maybe we would do this type of thing if it were available. As in the case of the main character in this book, Laura Ann, having but only the bare essential of medical insurances, the kind of insurance that paid only the basic of the basics, if that. NOT cancer. The opportunity was there for Laura Ann to go and do this medical procedure in the name of money/Science, but the consequences of her doing this went far and wide, not to mention it affecting so many people’s lives, and her life as well.
How do we know, and where do we draw the line on God giving us humans free will, including the ability to be able to learn ‘how’ to do these things in Science, and actually doing them to people? Would what Laura Ann did even be compared to a quadruple bypass? How do we know when it is and isn’t a right thing to do? Does the ‘type’ of procedure make it right, or wrong in the name of science? This is such a hard question to answer, especially with what she does. What Laura Ann did was to help others give the gift of life, but, it also stood to take lives, as does a quadruple bypass and other medical procedures. Some medical procedures do and have been saving lives for decades. This can bring up the question of whether or not we could be standing in front of God’s way or not. This book brings up the controversy of us being able to extend life, we can make life, and we can make life better. Does God really want this?
It is not like we can just ask God if this type of thing Laura Ann did is okay or not. This type of thing is not in the Bible in which we can just pick it up and read to see if this is an okay thing to do. Back in the days when the Bible was written, it was never even thought of as being something that could be done. Can a Priest or a Pastor have an answer as to whether or not this type of thing, in the name of science, is the right thing to do? Would God agree with Science in this manner?
Laura Ann’s father is sick and he will die of lung cancer from smoking, and she even states he did it to himself. They are very close, and she does not want to lose him, but, she will no matter what. In the name of money, in the name of survival, she tries to do everything she can for her father.
Her father owns a farm of which Laura Ann still lives on and does not want to lose. This family is not financially sound and did not plan for the future, but can any farmer do that in this day and age?
(This could also bring up an argument as to whether or not Socialized Medicine for our country would be a good thing or not, but I am not going to bring this up here and will only stick to this book. However, if we did have Socialized medicine, perhaps Laura Ann would not have done anything like this in the first place? Who knows? After all, science did make this type of thing available to people. This is a VERY good topic to bring up with this book.)
Also, keep in mind that Laura Ann did what she did for her father. Not for herself, but for the medical treatment for her father. Yes, she did it to help save the farm as well, but she mortgaged the farm to the hilt as well. She was still farming the farm as well, when one day their barn that was full of tobacco, hanging and drying, all burned up. That was the crop that would bring the most amount of money into their home, and now it was gone. At this point she was at; all she had on her mind was her father, and now money. How was she going to keep the farm going and not allow the bank to take the farm from her? Laura Ann was at a complete stop. What could she do for money and the amount of money she needed? All she had left was to make money with her body. I honestly wonder if other people were put into this position such as Laura Ann’s, would they do this very same thing. It ‘is’ available to any one of us.
As this story goes on, a woman comes along to meet Laura Ann and to thank her for doing what she did. While she was at Laura Ann’s, a storm came along and the entire city flooded out making leaving the city impossible. Laura Ann and this woman become friends. While this woman was waiting for things to clear up so she could leave and return home, medical problems crop up on her, and this woman needs to go to the hospital. Her life is hanging on by a thread now.
Laura Ann’s life is about to change. There are many more hiccups that are yet to come. I don’t want to say anymore as I don’t want to give spoilers.
This book was a book I could NOT put down. I HAD to finish it in one sitting. I was mesmerized by it. For one, the writing was wonderful, and two, the story outstanding with ALL the controversy. I honestly HAD to keep reading to find out what happened.
At the end of the book, the author goes on to state that this story was based upon a real person and all the things that really did happen to her.
This book IS OUTSTANDING! I do give it a 5 out of a 5!
I’ll be honest and tell you I was going to raffle this book off, but . . . I have a couple of friends who desperately want to read it now! Sorry about that! It IS available at Amazon for you to purchase. Trust me; this is one book you WILL WANT TO READ! It is a 2011 pick on my end! EXCELLENT BOOK!!!
I received this book for “FREE” from ZONDERVAN PUBLISHERS, through their Book Reviewer’s Program in exchange to read this book and write a review about it. It is NOT required for my review I write to be either positive or negative, but, “of my own opinion.” I was NOT provided with “ANY” monies to accept this book, “NOR” to read it, NOR were “ANY” monies given to me to write the review for this book. All that was ‘expected’ of me was to enjoy the pure pleasure of reading it. Again, the opinions expressed for and about this book are ‘of my own opinion’. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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Aug 18, 2011 Cafelilybookreviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wow - was I blown away when I read this book by Austin Boyd. If you're in a reading slump and are looking for some interesting Christian fiction - I highly suggest you get your hands on Nobody's Child.

First in the new "The Pandora Files" series, this book is about a young woman who faces one of the most conflicting decisions of her life in an attempt to save her dying father and their home. Although Lauren Ann McGehee is a woman of faith and strong convictions, she finds herself desperate and b...more

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Jan 31, 2012 Camille Breckenridge rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Camille by: Holly Canup

I was given this book as a gift from my dearest and oldest BFF. The author, Austin Boyd, attends the same church. The gift is a signed (to me) copy by Boyd. I was anxious to read it, and now I'm anxious to read his other novels. This falls into the bioethics and Christian genres and has a good combination of the two topics. The main character is a young girl with a strong background, but who faces many hardships throughout the book. It opens with a loss and ends with much being gained throughout...more

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Nov 21, 2011 Catherine Richmond added it · review of another edition

When her father's health deteriorates, Laura Ann takes extraordinary measures to pay his medical bills and keep the family farm. She has support from Ian, a childhood friend and local game warden, Granny Apple, the neighborhood wise woman, and Stephany, her cousin and investigative journalist. Uncle Jack harbors an old feud and will do anything to harm Laura Ann and take her land.
Nobody's Child is beautifully written, but with the slow, descriptive pace more common to literature than suspense. T...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Charlotte Phillips rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was the second novel that I had received from the author, and I admit that compared to his other one, H20 I certainly enjoyed it a lot more. I felt that the story line here was a lot more relatable to, in that you were really able to connect to the characters and what it was that they were experience. In the novels you can clearly see that religion is of some importance to the novel as it seems to be a main feature in both of the novels that I have read. In this book however, it was not the...more This was the second novel that I had received from the author, and I admit that compared to his other one, H20 I certainly enjoyed it a lot more. I felt that the story line here was a lot more relatable to, in that you were really able to connect to the characters and what it was that they were experience. In the novels you can clearly see that religion is of some importance to the novel as it seems to be a main feature in both of the novels that I have read. In this book however, it was not the main focus, it was merely a shadow guiding the path if you like and that in so many different ways made the book more attractive because I didn't feel like I was being preached to. Laura Ann seemed like the sort of character that you would want to connect and relate to because you can see that she is the sort of person who is caring and considerate but does not want to go down the path of failure and will therefore do whatever is needed to prove that she can fight her battles alone. The beginning is a little sad because we see her father die. I would say that this piece perhaps a lack of emotion in consideration of her fathers death, but I suppose it is just a novel, nothing more nothing less.

For me, I would probably say that the most irritating part was the fact that the author seemed to repeat her name a little to often. It just seemed to pop up all the time when a she or her would have done. This was only a minor factor though and was not something that made me dislike the novel or the story line. To sum up the basic plot though we have a daughter trying to keep her fathers farm going and to pay of the morgage she has taken out. In order to do so she has given up her eggs to earn more money, and it is a thing that she is ashamed of and has kept secret. We then have uncle jack who really wants to get his hands on the farm and will do anything he can to make her life hell, but he is an abuser who is married to her aunt. Ian is the second guy in the story, a copper who loves and adores Laura ann and over time makes this evident and clear to her. Then finally we have Sophia, the person who recieved the egg donation and is now pregnant.

I felt that the story line and plot really showed and represented how difficult being a donator and a reciever is and that sometimes meeting someone that we never intended to even know about might just be the saving grace in life. I think the book represents a lot of life battles that we often refuse to talk about or acknowledge because it questions what is right and what is wrong from both non religious and religious points of views. This book did have apoint and story line to it, but I would say there are still faults within it that brought it down a little, such as the fact that the ending felt rushed, that there were characters with a story line behind them who seemed to not be important at all (so why bring them up in the first place?)

I did enjoy the book, a lot better than the first novel that I read by the author, but I still think that his writing style is one that you will either love or hate. for me its somewhere in between. my good heart nature wants to learn to like it but my conflicting personality is not sure it can. either way the author has potential I think and believe, to write something truly mind blowing. perhaps he just needs a lesson from the likes of people of jodi picoult or like wise.(less)

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Aug 28, 2012 Bonnie Ramirez rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reading

Actions have consequences. This is what Austen Boyd's gripping Novel "Nobody's Child" shows us.

Laura Ann McGeehee, at a mere 20 years old, is in the midst of a horrible and chaotic roller-coaster ride called life. Being the only child of a dying cancer-ridden father, Laura Ann is left with the burden of paying her father's medical bills and the mortgage of her family's farm, which has been in the family for generations. Once her father passes, the bank and her uncle begin pressuring her to sell...more

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Dec 30, 2011 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christian-fiction

Laura Ann McGehee is a determined young lady. When her only parent is diagnosed with cancer and taking out a loan against the West Virginia farm which has been in their family for centuries is not going to be enough to cover medical expenses, Laura Ann makes a tough and secret decision. She goes to a fertility clinic and begins taking medication to hyperstimulate her ovaries, so that her eggs can be harvested and she can continue supporting her family through the payments she receives there. Whe...more Laura Ann McGehee is a determined young lady. When her only parent is diagnosed with cancer and taking out a loan against the West Virginia farm which has been in their family for centuries is not going to be enough to cover medical expenses, Laura Ann makes a tough and secret decision. She goes to a fertility clinic and begins taking medication to hyperstimulate her ovaries, so that her eggs can be harvested and she can continue supporting her family through the payments she receives there. When her father dies, Laura Ann becomes the sole owner of a farm that she is going to have to fight tooth and nail to keep. At 20 years old, she feels very much alone.

But she's not alone. There's a young man whom she grew up with whom she is suddenly seeing with new eyes. Ian, the game warden, has been drawn to Laura Ann for years. She isn't sure she can ever let him know that she is selling part of herself to keep things afloat. A wise neighbor offers lots of support, but she knows something isn't right with Laura Ann. She can see the guilt which is wrapping itself around Laura Ann's heart.

When a stranger shows up at the farm, pregnant with a child who was conceived using Laura Ann's eggs, things change dramatically for our young heroine. That is her son growing inside another woman's body. Through a dramatic series of events, Laura Ann must fight for custody once the baby is born. But whose child is he? The child of the mother who carried him in her body? Laura Ann's child? The sperm donor's child? As the tagline of the book states, "What price will a mother pay to save her only son?" Laura Ann must decide if will risk everything... her reputation, her livelihood, even her love.

I found that the book started off very slowly for me. The writing style threw me off, too, as it was far more pastoral than the author's first three books. It suit the setting but also took a little bit of getting used to. While I felt the story took its time in coming together, once it got started it was quite engrossing. At the same time, it was such a good story and written so well that I found myself waiting to finish it so I could draw out the reading process.

My one concern as I read the book was that Laura Ann was commended more than once for her "brave" act of donating her eggs. I was wondering how exactly I would approach that when I wrote a review. But by the end there was no doubt where the author stood on the subject and clearly shown to be something not to be done lightly or just for kicks or even for the reasons that drove Laura Ann there in the first place. I was relieved and I hope anyone who reads the book will take its warning seriously.

"Nobody's Child" is the first in the "Pandora Files" series from Zondervan.

This review originally appeared at http://www.reviewsbyerin.livejournal.com (less)

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Jan 23, 2012 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Even though it is fiction it gives real to life consequences of what happens when we, as humans, choose to mess with God's design. Laura Ann is between a rock and a hard place. Her father is dying of cancer and needs some very expensive medication. The farm which has been in their family for years is in a financial bind due to her father's illness. To generate the income she doesn't have, she sells a part of herself. Although, she was brought up in church...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Jenna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-inspirational, fiction-contemporary

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. *********** Review Contains Many Spoilers***********

In his recent Christian novel, Nobody’s Child, Austin Boyd foregrounds an interesting and lesser-known aspect of infertility: egg harvesting. The book follows Laura Ann, the heroine, who makes the decision to sell her eggs in order to help pay for her father’s medical bills and the failing family farm. From the beginning, Laura is presented as a young woman in a difficult position who is also loving, generous, sacrifical and devoted to her fath...more *********** Review Contains Many Spoilers***********

In his recent Christian novel, Nobody’s Child, Austin Boyd foregrounds an interesting and lesser-known aspect of infertility: egg harvesting. The book follows Laura Ann, the heroine, who makes the decision to sell her eggs in order to help pay for her father’s medical bills and the failing family farm. From the beginning, Laura is presented as a young woman in a difficult position who is also loving, generous, sacrifical and devoted to her father. She lives in a rural farming community in West Virginia and to add to her troubles, Laura’s nemesis includes her own Uncle Jack and the patriarchal and legalistic Preacher of the church of which she is a member. Laura also has supporters: Ian, an old woman in the community called Granny, and (to a lesser extent) Pastor Culpeper.

In addition to continuing worries about saving her family farm, following her father’s death, Laura is confronted with her past choices when a woman, Sophia, who used one of Laura’s eggs comes to visit. This visit, which thanks to a storm becomes an extended visit, provides a reason for a second major focus of the book: secrets, as well as continuing earlier themes about sacrifice and gratitude. Sophia brings a more “worldly” view to the issues Laura is struggling with: she sees the benefits of egg donation to infertile mothers and sees Laura’s decision as one of sacrifice – whereas Laura has increasingly become concerned that her decision was morally wrong, and might even be equated to prostitution, in that she sold her body.

When Sophia dies (clearly preferring to take a chance to save her baby’s life over her own), the stage is set for the third act of this story, as the focus shifts to courtroom drama and all secrets are revealed. The courtroom provides a perfect stage to present many of the arguments against egg harvesting, particularly the detrimental effect the practice can have on woman, and the unethical practices surrounding some clinics that harvest eggs.

The strength of Boyd’s novel is that he creates likeable protagonists, and seems to at least hint that there are Christian morals are also at stake in addition to women’s reproductive health in the practice of egg donation/harvesting, he does not neglect to present both sides of the equation (such as in discussion between Sophia and Laura). Although Laura clearly struggles early on in the book some of the side-effects, and it seems likely she may have permanent effects also, the majority of the medical issues related to egg harvesting are given in a somewhat dry courtroom-testimony-style; perhaps a bit more of this could have been worked into the story, so that full emotional and medical impact could have been felt, particularly as this presents some of the strongest arguments against the practice. The resources listed at the end of the book are appreciated for those who are interested in learning more about the topic. Perhaps this reviewer’s biggest quibble with the book is Laura Ann’s given circumstances – a rural family farm she is trying to save; it was difficult to relate to her situation except in the abstract – whereas in an age of rising tuition costs and a bleak outlook for new college graduates, many readers may have been more able to relate to a heroine who is the undergraduate desperate to pay for college and considering egg harvesting as a better alternative to prostitution, writing others’ term papers, or working at a nightclub. Noentheless, Boyd’s novel is recommended as a different and alternative contemporary Christian novel; a refreshing change of pace in a market dominated by Christian historical romantic fiction and Christian thrillers featuring the military or members of law enforcement.

My thanks to Austin Boyd for a reviewer's copy.
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Mar 07, 2012 Kate rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christian-fiction, review-books

I’m always looking for books that explore controversial or taboo topics, so when I learned that Zondervan was publishing a novel exploring the ethics of egg harvesting, I was thrilled. I came into the book knowing very little about egg donation and after reading it and doing some independent research, I feel much more educated about the whole process.

Unfortunately there were a few of things that kept me from liking this book–the first one being the character of Ian and his relationship with Laur...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Kristin (Kritters Ramblings) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kritter-reviewed-2012

Are you looking for that book to curl up with on a snowy weekend? This one is the perfect one to keep you cuddled under a blanket just wondering what is coming up on the next page. The reader starts in the midst of a young woman's struggle as her father is battling for his life. Set in a small town in West Virginia, I found it interesting to read a story set somewhere that I have never been and in a setting (family farm) that I have no connection to. The descriptions of farm and small town life...more

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Aug 29, 2011 Rachel Brand rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: zondervan, christian, kindle, 2011, net-galley

GENRE: INSPIRATIONAL
PUBLISHER: ZONDERVAN
PUBLICATION DATE: AUGUST 1, 2011
RATING: 6 OUT OF 10

Faced with numerous mortgage payments and medical bills, Laura Ann has to decide whether to risk losing the family farm or sell the one commodity in her means – her eggs. Sharing her secret with no one for fear of shame, Laura Ann makes several trips to harvest her eggs so that she can keep her daddy’s farm within their immediate family and stop it from falling into the hands of her manipulative and abusi...more GENRE: INSPIRATIONAL
PUBLISHER: ZONDERVAN
PUBLICATION DATE: AUGUST 1, 2011
RATING: 6 OUT OF 10

Faced with numerous mortgage payments and medical bills, Laura Ann has to decide whether to risk losing the family farm or sell the one commodity in her means – her eggs. Sharing her secret with no one for fear of shame, Laura Ann makes several trips to harvest her eggs so that she can keep her daddy’s farm within their immediate family and stop it from falling into the hands of her manipulative and abusive uncle. But when a woman turns up on her doorstep claiming that she’s carrying Laura Anna’s child, Laura Ann is forced to face the full implications of her actions. How long can she keep her secret?

Just to set the scene here, I’m not your typical American reader. To begin with, I’m actually British, and what drew me to this book was the concept of harvesting eggs in exchange for money. In Britain there is absolutely no financial benefit to donating eggs, sperm or even blood; “donors” truly are making donations. So I started this book with a degree of ignorance towards this world in which reproductive organs can be used to produce money. This may mean that I was more shocked and surprised by the situations novel than your typical American reader, who will be more aware of these events than I am. But I’m sure that even those who are familiar with this system will be struck by this book and made to consider the consequences of the decisions that young women such as Laura Ann find themselves making.

Initially the story was very slow moving, and I actually put it down and read something else for a few days as a lot of the early chapters were spent developing Laura Ann’s character and introducing the members of her family. Personally, I felt that the plot didn’t really start until a good third of the way into the book. A lot was alluded to about Laura Ann’s financial problems and how she’d managed to pay for the mortgage and her dad’s healthcare bills. Yet despite all of the build up to the main plot and introduction of the main characters, I still felt like I didn’t really know the characters when the plot did get rolling. Laura Ann was fairly well developed, and her boyfriend, Ian, was a believable enough character, if lacking some substance. But I had this niggling feeling in the back of my mind as I read the book, as if I should be connecting with all the characters on a deeper level and had missed something essential. In a way it was almost as if I’d dropped into the middle of the series and had missed getting to know Laura Ann’s family members and neighbours. Even Laura Ann felt a bit distant, and I’m hesitant to suggest that this is because the author is male and she just didn’t come across as a hundred-percent realistic to the female reader.

Fortunately, the story really picked up around the halfway mark and I started to take an interest in the characters. The pacing in this book is rather bizarre, with the incredibly slow start, then a jump as the plot gets started, followed by a giant leap in the last eighth of the book in which everything seems to suddenly speed up and there’s a rush to the climax. The book definitely got a lot more interesting once Sophia arrived with the news that she was carrying Laura Ann’s child. Sophia was a fascinating character, maybe one of the most realistic out of all the characters in the book. There was still a slight feeling of detachment, which may be because the author didn’t want readers to get so attached to someone who wouldn’t be around for the whole book. To readers who have actually read the synopsis of this book, which will hopefully be most, the outcome of Sophia’s visit is quite easy to predict and hangs ominously in the background. But even this didn’t prevent the conclusion from being heartbreaking, particularly as Sophia was the character I’d become most attached to.

I’m impressed with the way that the author introduced the topic of harvesting eggs in exchange for money without verging on being “preachy” or pushing his own personal views on the readers. The court case at the end of the book enabled various opinions on this topic to be tossed around, allowing the reader to make their own decision on this ethical dilemma. Such sensitive issues can be tricky to discuss, even in the Christian community, and I do commend Austin for writing a novel which presented all of the facts without overtly presenting the “right” and “wrong” stances on this issue. That said, there was one moment at the end of the court case where the judge made a sweeping comment about whether or not children are viewed as a blessing or simply a commodity. While this statement was entirely valid and one that I myself have mused on in the past, the way in which this question was presented to the reader felt a little forced, as if the author wished to sum up the debate that had been going on throughout the book.

While Nobody’s Child isn’t one of the most gripping novels I’ve read this year, it enlightened me to many of the facts about the darker side to fertility treatment and the women who find themselves offering their reproductive organs in return for cash. IVF has long been a tricky issue in the Christian community, but Austin Boyd refrains from choosing one side in this debate, instead presenting readers with a realistic situation through the character of Laura Ann. I would recommend this to fiction readers who want to know more about the ethical implications behind IVF and harvesting eggs, but aren’t quite ready to go wading through journals and textbooks to uncover the details.

Review title provided by Zondervan. (less)

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Jan 14, 2012 Luann Schindler rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

OK. Liked it/disliked it. Guess that means I'm neutral? Like the bioethics story line about donating eggs. It's an interesting debate. Like the action/adventure flood storyline. And it's nice to read a romance that doesn't lead to the bedroom.

But...did not like the lengthy stretches of narrative. How many ways can you describe a field? In reality, the book could probably cut 100 pages and be a BETTER story because it would tighten the plot. And, one of the main storylines seemed to be dropped fr...more

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Sep 05, 2011 Kara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviews-all, reviews-zondervan

I recently received a copy of Nobody's Child by Austin Boyd to read and review. In a deftly woven tale delving into the topic of bioethics, Laura Ann McGehee resorts to desperate measures to pay the medical bills for her terminally ill father and save the family farm.

A young single woman, Laura Ann secretly sells her eggs to a fertility clinic over a period of about a year. When a series of bizarre circumstances put her in contact with a woman carrying a child conceived with one of her eggs, and...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Through the compelling story of two young women who take matters into their own hands to sell and create life, Nobody's Child will cause you to consider and reconsider your thoughts on the ethical issues of selling and buying the seeds of life. The women in this story have good reasons for doing the things they do, but the consequences for their choices are still there, regardless of good reasons. This story reveals that there are no easy answers, as I could sympathize with both women -- one who...more

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Sep 29, 2011 Cheryl rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 28, 2012 Teresa in Ohio rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read, boyd-austin

Nobody's child raises many questions with the medical techonology and who's rights are protected under the law. During a hard finicial time, a woman decides to sell her eggs to pay for her father's care, even conflicted with her faith at the time, she does it. After doing it four times, she t is overcome with remorse and quits going. In the meantime her father loses his battle with cancer and her mean Uncle tries to overtThake the farm and cut her out of her inhertiance. Soon a pregnant lady com...more

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Nov 19, 2011 Jeanie Pryor rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It started out a little slow, but ended really well. I really enjoyed reading this story which was mostly about 2 women whos friendship was formed by a common bond. It was full of love, friendship, trust,and loyality. Things that are rare, but precious. I found myself crying in the end. Glad I finished reading it.

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Jun 13, 2012 Voni Harris rated it 3 of 5 stars

A thriller in which the Laura Ann must save the farm, uncover fraud, and save a baby. Well-written enough to make you shudder at the way people people play God. We can do all kinds of things technically...but should we?

Blessings, Voni

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Aug 16, 2012 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

A great read. Made me consider the natural consequences of egg harvesting. Well-written and kept my attention throughout. Would definitely read more of Austin Boyd's work.

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May 24, 2012 Danielle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, reviews

I loved this book and would of read it in one sitting but life got in the way.

When I first read the book cover I knew I wanted to/had to read it.
Man am I glad I did.

Laura Ann McGehee makes a choice in life to get through a hard time, a choice I myself have thought about for other reasons. After reading this it makes you stop and wondering about a lot of what ifs.

I would recommend this book to anyone who will let me yak about it.

There is some Christian undertones but it is scattered though out t...more

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Oct 25, 2011 Jenna rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-contemporary, fiction-inspirational

Although perhaps somewhat polemic at times, the theme of egg harvesting was a different twist...

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Jan 06, 2012 Amy Garvey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A little too convenient at times but it kept my interest.

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Jun 13, 2012 J Wilkerson rated it 3 of 5 stars

First half 2 stars + second half 4 stars

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Mar 10, 2012 Stacey rated it 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of "Nobody's Child" directly from the author, Austin Boyd. I was extremely excited to get this book, and I read it as soon as I finished another book. I started this book in the bathtub, like I start most new books- Let me tell you, this was a long bath. I just could not stop reading this book. Austin Boyd had a way of pulling me into this book, almost like an addiction, if you will say. Thanks for this!

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