About the Book

Book: Relinquished

Author: Susan K. Beatty

Genre: Christian Woman’s Fiction

Release date: May 16, 2023

No one takes her kid and gets away with it.

When Teagan Parsons discovers that the Amber Alert on a celebrity couple’s child is actually her daughter, she’s determined to rescue the daughter she relinquished years ago. If she’d only realized the emotions her mission would rekindle…

Having a cousin in the FBI gets her closer to the case than she could have dreamed, but instead of listening to the lead FBI agent’s warnings to “leave the job to the professionals” Teagan begins following everyone she suspects. That old saying, “Don’t quit your day job,” has never been truer, but she’ll do whatever it takes to bring her daughter home safe.

Mitch McCartney has enough trouble on his hands without dealing with a guilt-ridden, biological mother bent on making up for past sins. Teagan seems to have developed a talent for getting things wrong and putting herself in danger. Oh… and she’s adding theft to her rap sheet—theft of his heart, anyway.

Then Teagan goes missing.

Learning you can’t undo the past is a tough enough lesson without adding on more mistakes, but with Mitch’s help, Teagan may, with the Lord’s Guidance, forge a brighter future this time.

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About the Author

Susan K. Beatty is in her third career—from journalist to homeschool tech writer to her life-long dream of becoming a novelist. She is proof you can start a new writing career late in life. Susan released her first published fiction in September 2019, and now an awarding winner author, this is her third novel, with several novelettes and short stories to her credit. She is passionate about finding courage through faith and grit. Susan lives with her husband of forty-nine years in Southern California. Add children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to the mix and she has little time for her favorite hobbies of reading, watching classic movies, British crime dramas, and traveling.

More from Susan

The seeds of a story sometimes lay dormant in an author for years. Then they grow and grab the author, demanding to be told. Until eventually the author gives in.

In my case, I didn’t have to give in. I knew I would write some version of the story eventually.

It began in 1968, when I was young, unmarried, and pregnant. It continued through 1969 when I gave my child up for adoption. Of course, any birth mother will tell you the actual story doesn’t end there.

After I became a Christian in 1973, I grew into a better understanding of my journey. New emotions had to be dealt with when my daughter and I were reunited in 1988 when she was nineteen. We enjoyed getting to know each other despite our differences in faith, but those lost years could not be regained—another set of emotions to come to terms with.

I couldn’t write our story, but I wanted to write something that revealed the emotional dilemma birth mothers wrestle with: forgiveness, regret, accepting that one won’t take part in the baby’s childhood, and, if there is a reunion, accepting a new reality. This usually means discovering, despite a newfound relationship, the birth mother will never be that child’s mom.

But I also wanted to show God’s grace, healing, and a hope for a future (including the addition of light romance).

Not wanting the book to get weighed down in maudlin narrative, I tried to lift it above the muck and show the birth mother’s strength and courage. What better way to do that than throw her in the middle of a dangerous, life-threatening situation?

Note to birth mothers: If you have unresolved issues, there may be triggers in Relinquished. I urge you to spend time in prayer and allow the Lord to heal you regardless of whether you read the book. And, if you need it, there is no shame in getting counseling.

Note to adoptive mothers: I hope you get a glimpse into the other side of the story.

Note to all readers: Praying the Lord shines through Teagan’s story to illuminate your heart.

MY REVIEW

I liked the concept of this book because it gives us insight into a mother who has given up her baby only to discover that now the child is an Amber Alert. How many times has your phone gone off because of an Amber Alert?” Every time I hear one I start praying because I know it is something serious. For Teagan her nightmare is just starting.

Giving up her daughter as a baby was hard on her but she knew she had done the right thing. She wanted her daughter to have a stable and happy life. Over the years she has thought about her but never tried to communicate with the adoptive parents. All that changes when Teagan discovers that her daughter has been kidnapped. It was intriguing to see who the adoptive parents were. I couldn’t believe that Teagan would actually go to their house wanting to talk to them.

Teagan’s cousin is an FBI agent and has been assigned the case of the missing girl. I was a little unsure that I could believe this woman claiming to be the birth mother was allowed into the adoptive parents house. I sure wouldn’t let anyone I didn’t know welcomed when I was dealing with the kidnapping of my child. The author does give us glimpses into Teagan’s pain of giving up her daughter and seeing how she wanted to have a connection again with her. Will she get her chance?

Finding comfort in knowing that her daughter had asked Jesus int9 her heart. I like how Jillian and her husband have made sure their adoptive daughter was raised in a loving and faith filled home. They are wealthy and well known but I can tell that Jillian is down to earth and cares about her daughter more than her career. It was a little far fetched that the parents were not more involved and that the FBI ket Teagan know information that should have been confident.

I started to make a list of suspects as some things were not adding up. Why was Jillian’s agent so insistent about making a statement regarding a movie deal in the works? Did Jillian’s brother have anything to do with Gemma’s disappearance? I can’t leave out Wyatt who is upset about his daughter being kidnapped but he seems distracted about something else. The tension heats up as a lone gunman breaks through the barrier and starts shooting at the house. A news conference sheds nothing on the investigation except perhaps a small detail that should have not been revealed.

The ending is the best part of the book. It illustrates forgiveness and realizing that God is in control. Even though I thought parts of the book were not quite believable, the author leaves her readers with the knowledge that God is always near. He heals our broken hearts and helps us as we begin a new journey.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.