Loved By Choice: True Stories That Celebrate Adoption [Paperback]

Susan Horner (Author), Kelly Fordyce Martindale (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2002

Loved by Choice offers a clear and uplifting look at adoption from virtually every perspective. It is comprised of true stories that reflect the joys and the difficulties of those touched by adoption. Families working out an overseas adoption, those creating interracial families, grandparents, birth mothers, and even birth fathers are among the many who tell their stories.
Two appendices define adoption terms and outline resources that will be helpful to those exploring adoption. The emphasis of Loved by Choice, though, is to demonstrate how adoption can complete a family. It's a poignant celebration of adoption, led by those who understand it best.
This book's pro-life, positive, and upbeat message will be a welcomed source for women facing pregnancy choices, anyone working with unwed mothers, adoptees, adoption advocates, pro-life advocates, couples considering adoption, and anyone else interested in stories that celebrate adoption. It is an ideal book for bookstores and libraries to display in November, which is Adoption Awareness Month. Loved by Choice will also be popular at the many adoption-related conferences, book readings, and fairs that take place around the world.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Many books have been written specifically for Christian parents, and many others have been written about adoption. An anthology that brings those genres together is Loved by Choice: True Stories That Celebrate Adoption, edited by Susan Horner and Kelly Fordyce Martindale. Many distinct voices are contained in these pages not only adoptive parents, but also men and women who reflect on their own experiences of having been adopted, and parents who made the choice to have their babies raised by others. The families introduced here include biracial, multinational and non-traditional families; one chapter shares the adoption stories of four special-needs children. The writing is not spectacular, but that's hardly the point. Christians who have considered adoption will be inspired by these courageous tales of faith.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

Whether it's the joy-filled decision to welcome a child into your arms or the difficult decision to give your child another home-adoption is making the choice to love unselfishly and unconditionally.

Loved by Choice offers a clear and uplifting look at adoption through true stories told from virtually every perspective. Birth parents, adoptive parents, grandparents, adopted children, families working out an overseas adoption, and those creating interracial families are among those who share their joys and difficulties. The collection is a tender celebration of adoption, led by those who understand it best.

"Heartwarming and inspirational. By translating true stories from different perspectives, Horner and Martindale intensely convey to the reader the emotions that these people have felt-emotions ranging from desperation to elation, from abandonment to fulfillment. Loved by Choice is not only educational, it's an emotional read that, for maybe the first time, discusses in-depth the impact that adoption has on families and communities." Bill Owens, Governor of Colorado

"Loved by Choice is a perfect example of God's adoption of us as his children and how the choice of love is extended to women in unplanned pregnancies. It is a powerful review of how God uses lives to save lives." Carol Everett, president of The Heidi Group

"The reader, at the end of this book, has learned a great deal about the process of adoption, but that pales in comparison with the impact of the stories on the heart itself. And that's the real reason we should all read the book: to understand for the very first time what it really means to be Loved by Choice." Joe Wheeler, Ph. D., editor/compiler of the Heart to Heart series of anthologies

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Revell (March 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800717864
• ISBN-13: 978-0800717865
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #301,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wish I'd read this one first, June 29, 2002

By 

A grateful new crafter (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Loved By Choice: True Stories That Celebrate Adoption (Paperback)

We're in the process of applying to adopt a child, and I've read about 23 books on the subject (all aspects). This one is by far the most encouraging!

I heard the authors on a national radio show, and couldn't wait to get their book. I was not disappointed. Wish I'd read this one FIRST.

There are stories from every---and I do mean e-v-e-r-y---point of view in the adoptive process, including family members on both sides, all written in first-person format. Particularly helpful were the chapters by birthmoms; they helped me come to understand and respect b-moms more than all the meetings at our agency put together.

Another thing I appreciated very much is that I got the distinct impression that the authors weren't skittish about pointing out the difficult aspects of becoming adoptive parents, including the excruciating waiting periods. Both domestic and international adoption were handled with honesty and accuracy, according to my own research. I'm pretty sure my copy will be dog-eared and well-worn before long. Now I want to get a copy for all the church and public libraries I know!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED BY CHOICE, August 12, 2002

By 

KAREN RYAN (AURORA,CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Loved By Choice: True Stories That Celebrate Adoption (Paperback)

AS THE MOTHER OF AN ADOPTED DAUGHTER, I FOUND THIS BOOK OF TRUE STORIES TO BE COMFORTING AND ENLIGHTENING. IT OPENED MY EYES TO MANY OF THE STRUGGLES MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED OVER THE PAST 21YEARS. I FEEL THE MATERIAL IN THIS BOOK WAS TOTALLY A BLESSING AND I FEEL ANYONE WHO READS IT WOULD BE BLESSED.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Everyone has a voice., May 24, 2010

By 

Janie "Molly's Mommy" (NV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Loved By Choice: True Stories That Celebrate Adoption (Paperback)

I am the adopted mother of a 6 year old girl adopted at birth. I have always enjoyed reading books about adoption from everyones perspective. And this has everyones story. All ages, birthparents, adoptees, grandparents and adoptive parents.I like to read about adoption because it is our families reality. Unless you have been thru it and up close it is hard to understand. I feel like I am reading a foreign language for my family. Very positive and real stories. People not afraid to pointout the negative or the challenging aspects of adoption. All told with love. I gave it 4 stars because it is VERY religous. I am not against this but I was not necessarily looking for it. Those who do not have the religous beliefs of the authors may be put off.