Step Right Up and Take Your Chances

Maureen Linse-Adras uses a carnival metaphor toemphasizes what these struggles have taught her,
express her roller coaster ride through endometriosis,and what she would have done differently had her
infertility, and the adoption process. Her upbeatknowledge been more complete in the beginning.
attitude and subtle humor pervades this book, givingAs an adult adoptee, I found her description of the
the reader hope along with the example of heradoption process quite interesting. She gives a rare
personal story.look into the intense scrutiny that adoptive parents
Her writing is entertaining as well as educational, and Iare put through (and includes several of the forms
found the combination pulled me through thethat were part of the process) and comments upon
chapters. She gave me a greater understanding ofthe "kid-glove" treatment of the birth mothers who
her struggles to keep an emotional balance duringconsidered her as a prospective parent.
hormonal treatments, painful surgeries, and infertility.I would recommend this book as a guide for those
My favorite part of this book can be summed up inwho are dealing with endometriosis and infertility. She
the first sentence: "This story has a happy ending."offers a good look at what could be in store for
Although she struggled through many surgeries,woman dealing with these issues, and keeps the tone
heartbreaking trials with infertility drugs, andpositive, offering hope to those whose stories have
rejections during the adoption process, shenot gotten to the happy ending yet.