She Was Never Yours to Take
- Judith D Collins
- Sep 14
- 4 min read
By: Jen Craven
ISBN: 978-1835259795
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: 09/15/2025
Format: e-book
My Rating: 4 Stars (ARC)
I take a deep breath and turn to my sister. I have to make things right, but my heart pounds as I say what I should have said sixteen years ago. “But she’s not your child. She’s mine.”
My adoring husband Reid squeezes my hand in delight as we gaze at the grey and white ultrasound images, tears in his eyes. Finally, we are going to have our perfect family. But my husband doesn’t know this isn’t my first baby.
As a teenager, I was forced to give my baby to my older sister. I desperately wanted to care for her myself, but our mother said I was too young. My sister couldn’t have children of her own, and I was told it was for the best. But as I watched my sister over the years, brushing Carley’s hair and tucking her into bed with a kiss, I wanted to cry out: I am her mother.
Now I have a new life growing inside me, I realize just how much I had to give up. As I look ahead to my baby’s arrival, I have an impossible choice to make. Do I tell my first child the truth of what really happened all those years ago? Or will telling her destroy our family forever?
An unforgettable and completely emotional story about family and what it means to be a mother. Perfect for fans of Diane Chamberlain, Jodi Picoult and Melissa Wiesner.
My Review
Bestselling author Jen Craven captivates readers once again with her poignant novel, SHE WAS NEVER YOURS TO TAKE.
This heart-wrenching and compelling tale delves into the complexities of motherhood through the eyes of a young mother who was tragically compelled to surrender her baby. Now, years later, she grapples with the lingering shadows of her past, as the truth she has kept hidden threatens to unravel the delicate fabric of her family.
As emotions collide and memories resurface, she faces the harrowing choice of revealing the truth that has haunted her for so long, risking everything she has built in the pursuit of redemption and healing.
About...
At the tender age of sixteen, Violet finds herself caught in a whirlwind of emotions, feeling the weight of an unexpected pregnancy bearing down on her youthful shoulders. Young and filled with trepidation, she grapples with a future that suddenly seems daunting and uncertain. Her mother, keen on preserving the family’s reputation and desperate to avoid any scandal, forces a life-altering decision on Violet: to relinquish her newborn to her elder sister, Corrine. For years, Corrine has faced the heartache of infertility, her dreams of motherhood slipping further away with each passing year.
Now, sixteen years later, Violet stands on the brink of her own journey into motherhood, blissfully married and expecting a child of her own. Yet, the burden of silence weighs heavily on her heart. As she watches Corrine lovingly raise her daughter, Carley, Violet realizes that the truth must be unveiled. The secret she has harbored all these years is a chasm between her and the family she loves.
Compelled by a mixture of anxiety and resolve, Violet knows she must sit down with her daughter, Carley, and share the profound truth of her origins, no matter the potential fallout. With courage swelling within her, she prepares to dismantle the facade that has sheltered them all.
What will unfold when the truth finally surfaces, and how will it redefine the tapestry of their family connections?
My thoughts...
Jen Craven masterfully navigates the intricate maze of challenging family struggles and tough decisions, approaching each situation with a deep sense of compassion and sensitivity.
SHE WAS NEVER YOURS TO TAKE is a poignant yet captivating blend of coming-of-age themes, rich family dynamics, the intricacies of motherhood, the bonds between sisters, and an undercurrent of domestic suspense.
Readers will find themselves utterly engrossed, eager to unravel the complexities of this emotional tapestry and discover how these intertwined lives will ultimately find resolution for a satisfying conclusion.
This novel weaves a complex narrative that delves into the depths of human relationships and motherhood, exploring themes of love, loss, and the moral dilemmas that bind us. It's a compelling journey that promises to resonate with anyone who appreciates thought-provoking fiction laden with rich character development and poignant twists.
Recs...
SHE WAS NEVER YOURS TO TAKE is a captivating read crafted for devoted fans of the author, as well as those who are drawn to the intricacies of emotional storytelling found in the works of Diane Chamberlain, Emma Robinson, and Jodi Picoult.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing a digital advanced review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sept 15, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars
About the Author
Jen Craven is the author of six novels, both indie and traditionally published. Her contemporary debut, Best Years of Your Life was inspired from over a decade teaching at a small liberal arts university. In 2023, she signed with Bookouture where she publishes domestic suspense: The Baby Left Behind (Sept. 2023), Her Daughter (March 2024), and The Day She Vanished (Sept. 2024).
Aside from fiction, Jen has personal essay bylines in national outlets, including The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Today’s Parent, Scary Mommy and many more.
She writes from northwestern Pennsylvania, where she lives with her husband and three children. When not working on her books, she can be found thrift shopping, taking long walks, and kicking butt in backgammon.
Learn more at www.jencraven.com or by following her on Facebook and Instagram at @jencravenauthor
