Surrogate

<p><strong><em>The Surrogate</em> is a thrilling high-stakes debut centering on a vulnerable newborn and two women who will do almost anything to claim her as their daughter. With a collection of vividly rendered characters this twisty tale will leave you thinking about the true meaning of motherhood long after you turn the last page. I loved it!--Patry Francis bestselling author of <em>All the Children Are Home</em></strong></p><p>Ruth is a no-nonsense fortysomething journalist from the Midwest desperate for a child with her new husband Hal. Their hope rests with Cally a nineteen-year- old who wants to go to college--but doesn't have the cash. The arrangement seems perfect for everyone.</p><p>But within a day of the baby's birth Cally has a change of heart--and engineers a harrowing escape from the hospital with the newborn. When Ruth and Hal discover that Cally and their daughter are gone a whole series of doubts and secrets is revealed and the difference between right and wrong is no longer clear.</p><p>Set in the vast sparsely populated upper reaches of northern Minnesota in the middle of winter <em>The Surrogate</em> follows Ruth Hal Cally through a maze of thought-provoking questions about the nature of family love and relationships: What would you do for your partner when the going gets tough? How much is a pregnancy worth? And who if anyone deserves to be a mother?</p><p>With its realistic portrayal of surrogacy and motherhood 'The Surrogate' is a thought-provoking novel that will stay with you long after you've finished reading. Toni Halleen's writing is both literary and suspenseful making this a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and domestic dramas.</p>