Advance Reader's Copy/Uncorrected Proof. Collectible item. An Advance Reader's Copy (ARC) is a paperback book published prior to the hardcover retail editions. These uncorrected proofs are published in very limited quantities. Many serious collectors consider ARCs/Uncorrected Proofs to be the true first edition. They're "not for sale" because they're intended solely for publicity and media reviews, making them rare and very collectible. ARCs may lack the final artwork, formatting, and binding of the finished product. The text of an advance edition may also differ slightly from the market book (the final version that is distributed for sale), because changes may be made after advance readers make comments or find errors in the manuscript. In the tradition of Lisa Scottoline and Jodi Picoult comes a novel from critically-acclaimed author Nina Darnton about a woman who'll go to any lengths to become a mother. When Marcia, a driven, successful editor in New York with a loving husband, finds she can’t conceive a child, it rips the heart out of her seemingly-perfect life. Her desire to be a mother has become her obsession, and after trying and failing to become pregnant by every known method, she focuses all of her energy on her one remaining option: surrogacy. Her husband resists, and tries to convince her that they can be happy without a child; but faced with her unyielding determination, he relents, and reluctantly goes along with the idea. Everything looks good…until an unexpected tragedy occurs that changes their plans, their marriage, and their lives forever. Praise for The Perfect Mother: “A fast-paced thriller with the kind of emotional impact that transcends a simple whodunit." ?Kirkus Reviews “This haunting page-turner will keep you up all night and be long remembered after the last page has been read." ?Mary Higgins Clark Editorial Reviews Review Praise for Risking It All: "Fans of Jodi Picoult and Janelle Brown will enjoy this poignant and thought-provoking novel.” ?Booklist “Thoughtfully written and thoroughly engaging?a tale of compromise, tough decisions...and love.” ?Kirkus "Nina Darnton explores the nuances of surrogacy and marriage as well as the meaning of family and parenting, all the while illuminating that life ? even in its saddest, messiest moments ? can still be wonderous where there is hope and love." ?Viola Shipman “A fascinating glimpse into a marriage after tragedy strikes. Once you start Risking It All, you won’t put it down.” ?Catherine Coulter, New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Devil's Triangle “With understanding and insight, Nina Darnton’s Risking it All is a poignant depiction of marriage in a time of unforeseen hardship. It is also an inspiring example of what having one person believing in you can do for a child. The story so compelling that the pages seemed to turn themselves until the very end.” ?Sally Hepworth, bestselling author of The Mother's Promise Praise for Nina Darnton: “A fast-paced thriller with the kind of emotional impact that transcends a simple whodunit." ?Kirkus Reviews on The Perfect Mother “This haunting page-turner will keep you up all night and be long remembered after the last page has been read." ?Mary Higgins Clark on The Perfect Mother "A vivid portrait of a troubled country." ?The New York Times on An Africa Affair "A smart and diverting…international thriller that will satisfy readers looking for new talent and a brisk read." ?Booklist on An Africa Affair About the Author NINA DARNTON is the author of the critically acclaimed novels An African Affair and The Perfect Mother as well as Risking It All. She has written for The New York Times, Elle, House and Garden, Travel and Leisure, the New York Post, and Newsweek. She has a BA from the University of Wisconsin, an MS in Psychology from the New School of Social Research, and an MFA from Columbia University. Nina and her husband John Darnton have three children and five grandchildren and live in New York City and New Paltz, New York.