In Vitro Book Tour

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Book Details

Women’s Fiction

Date Published: December 9, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

The Hippocratic Oath dictates, “First, do no harm,” but what if success demands it?

The calm and compassionate Dr. Joyce Porter is proud to work at McArthur Fertility Institute, where miracles happen every day. Couples determined to conceive flock to the clinic, drawn by its unmatched IVF success rate and glowing reputation.

But behind the clinic’s shining facade lies a disturbing secret. When another doctor mentions a peculiarity in the facility’s methods, Joyce investigates. What she discovers is worse than she could have imagined. Now, she must decide whether to confront the institute’s renowned director about his unscrupulous deeds or compromise her ethics by turning a blind eye. She knows staying silent could destroy people’s lives, but speaking out could destroy hers.

As the line between healing and harm blurs, Joyce must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect her patients, her integrity, and the future she still hopes to build.

Sample 1: Prologue and excerpt of Chapter 1 (459 words)

December 13, 2010: Breaking headline on the website of KTXR, Richmond, Virginia.
“Premier Fertility Center Shut Down Amid Rumors Involving Possible Illegal Use of
Donor Sperm”
McArthur Fertility Institute, located in Richmond, Virginia, has been ordered to cease all
operations by the Virginia Department of Health. Dr. Owen Hicks, the Institute’s director, had
his medical license suspended pending an investigation into the Institute’s possible use of
donor sperm without patient consent.
Earlier this morning, the university released a statement saying, “All fertility services,
including in vitro fertilization, are temporarily suspended pending an investigation into possible
inconsistencies regarding use of donor sperm. We continue to have our patients’ safety and
well-being as our primary focus.” Additionally, KTXR learned that more than one hundred
patients who become pregnant during the previous year simultaneously received registered
letters referencing “possible inconsistencies” and were directed to call and arrange counseling
and/or genetic testing as appropriate.
McArthur University recruited Dr. Hicks and his partner, Dr. Ajay Kumar, to start the
Institute twelve years ago. Boasting a pregnancy rate 30% higher than the industry norm, it has
become a premier center in the field of infertility treatment and cutting-edge technologies.
Calls to McArthur were referred to their legal representative, Kirsten Clarke, of Powell,
Siegel and Hill, LLC.
Tune into the ten o’clock news as KTXR interviews two couples who received treatment
at McArthur and are currently pregnant and facing some tough decisions.

In Vitro M.J. Kuhar
Chapter 1
Two months earlier

The first time Evie and Leon Coleman entered the luxurious lobby of the McArthur
Fertility Institute, she had gone right to the fountain and gazed at the glittering coins
littering the bottom. Beside her, Leon fished a shiny penny from his pocket and held it out
to her. She’d tossed it toward the far side and watched her reflection in the disturbed
water. Her large brown eyes stared back at her, shimmering with so much hope.
Now they’d been coming here for months in an increasingly desperate attempt to
have a baby. They had spent most of their meager savings on one IVF cycle. If this didn’t
work, they’d have to find another way. The procedure two weeks ago had been technically
successful, and today they’d learn if they would finally become parents.
A solemn hush surrounded them. The outside noise became a mere whisper. Leon
turned her toward him, smoothed her curly black hair with his big hands, and then
enveloped her in his strong arms.
Standing outside the clinic’s door, she drew in a breath, momentarily closed her eyes
for a quick prayer, and took Leon’s hand. As she moved to open the door, he tugged her to a
stop.
His tone was soft but urgent when he whispered, “Evie, I love you. No matter what.”

#

Author Details

M.J. Kuhar worked in private practice as an OB-GYN for over a decade before shifting to a career in higher education, first as an assistant professor, then as a college dean, and finally as a vice president.

Her dedication to helping patients and students left her little time to write, but the idea for a novel stuck with her. Inspired by deeply moving stories of couples undergoing IVF, she developed her first novel, In Vitro.

Now retired, M.J. lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and a spicy cat named Simon. She volunteers at a local elementary school, where she reads with kindergarteners to foster a love of books. Tai chi, crafting, and wine tasting are a few of her favorite hobbies.