Scan barcode
emmacr2024's review
5.0
I feel like I say this about every book that Carmel Harrington writes but A Mother’s Heart truly is her best book yet. It’s a stunning read from start to finish packed full of family drama, raw emotions and difficult choices but all presented in a very balanced way that leaves the reader guessing the outcome until the very last moment and even at that there was a surprising twist or two that worked so well with the overall themes and development of the book. Set between New Zealand and Ireland the reader is taken on a journey that will leave a deep and lasting impact. I inhaled the story in one go and really didn’t feel like leaving the memorable characters behind once I read the final word. Quite simply, Carmel has written a book that is thought provoking and gets deep under your skin as the broken fragments of a family need to be put back together following the tragedy that ripped their lives into pieces. The book questions what is family and as Carmel herself says family is family, whether it’s the one you start out with or the one you gain along the way.
Rachel is back in her home place of Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, the descriptions of which were absolutely breathtaking. She is revaluating her life following the death of her husband Lorcan two years ago in a car accident. The love Rachel felt for Lorcan is felt in her every word and action throughout the book but she would give anything to have him back by her side. Things were easier then and navigating parenthood is even more difficult when you are now a single mother to her step children Olivia and Dylan as they lost their mother Niamh at a very young age. It’s a complex situation but Rachel will always stand by the children and do what she feels is best for them and that is the crux of the story. Should she stay in Hawke’s Bay where her family are and where she feels supported, especially when a stunning property has come up for sale? Or should she return from holidays to Dublin to where the children are settled and have their grandparents living in the same country? Rachel comes back to Dublin with a lot on her mind and a challenging time ahead. If Rachel hadn’t had the children to think about I feel her decision would have been a no brainer but if she chose to stay the guilt that the children would be missing out on their home place would be so intense not to mention it’s where she feels connected to Lorcan and she is not ready and willing to give up that connection just yet if ever. ‘Was she giving them their best childhood in Dublin? Or were they threading water, not getting anywhere, because they were all drowning in sad memories?’
I really felt for Rachel. She was only attempting to strengthen the family unit in a more permanent and solid way but it backfires spectacularly on her and stirs up a hornets nest in a big way. She was still drowning in her grief but doing her best to move forward for the sake of the children. Her every thought and action had Olivia and Dylan at its centre and she provides them with a home filled with love. She came across as kind, patient, caring, loving and fun but deep down the reader can tell that she is grappling with a wide range of emotions not helped by the actions of her in laws. Her family are always on her side in the battle that ensues and to be honest I don’t know how she held her patience as much as she did the further the book progressed and Sheila and Adrian (Niamh’s parents) and Belinda and Oscar (Lorcan’s parents) start to air their views and opinions as to what would be best for the children’s long term future.
Rachel’s position as stepmother starts to be questioned and here is where the story really took off and Rachel doesn’t know whether her ‘outlaws’ were friend or foe? What ulterior motives do they have? Will the children be taken away from her even though Lorcan had wanted them to stay with her? Rachel has been involved long term and is a committed and competent parent and why should these be even challenged or called into doubt? You wonder this yourself but thanks to the brilliant writing throughout this book your opinion on what the permeant outcome should be sways back and forth endlessly. Nothing is clear cut and that’s what I really loved about the book. Such thought and effort went into every word written in order to present the most balanced viewpoint possible. So that every characters thoughts were taken into consideration and not at any stage did things become very one sided and that was that. One firm opinion is never forced upon the reader which would have made the plot and characters very one dimensional. Part Two of the book delves deep into the main issue of the book and the scenes set in an office between Rachel and Sheila were so powerful and brilliantly executed as they went back and forth between each other. I found myself welling up at this point.
Sheila is a tricky character, she doesn’t particularly like Rachel and is filled with resentment that her grandchildren are in the care of someone else when her daughter should still be alive to look after her own children. When Rachel sets the wheels in motion with a momentous decision Sheila’s hackles are raised and the tiger in her comes out in a big way. She became such a control freak and was so petty in her actions and words. She wanted to undermine Rachel at every turn and tried to curry favour with the children at every given opportunity. I didn’t particularly like her as a character but the further I moved into the book the more I could see where she was coming from. But no doubt about it Sheila played a very dirty game and she wasn’t backing down in a hurry. Would she get the outcome she wanted? As for Belinda she feels guilty that her relationship with Lorcan was virtually none existent thanks to her dislike of Niamh and she never got the chance to make things up with him. Is now the time that a connection can be forged with her grandchildren or has she left things too late? Will Rachel do the right thing and find the contentment she so desperately craves or will she continue to make self-sacrifices?
A Mother’s Heart starts slow and steady and then finds its rhythm and establishes itself and then just builds and builds to a fantastic finale. It’s a riveting family saga that brings you on an emotionally rollercoaster that you are reluctant to get off because you have become so invested in the themes and the characters. It’s packed full of incredible highs, devastating lows, love, loss, heartbreak and tumultuous times but at the centre of it all is family and motherhood and doing what is best for those we love deeply at all times. If I could give it more than five stars than I would because it deserves every accolade and words of praise that is heaped upon it. It’s a marvellous book which shows Carmel Harrington is at the top of her game and long may this continue.
Rachel is back in her home place of Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, the descriptions of which were absolutely breathtaking. She is revaluating her life following the death of her husband Lorcan two years ago in a car accident. The love Rachel felt for Lorcan is felt in her every word and action throughout the book but she would give anything to have him back by her side. Things were easier then and navigating parenthood is even more difficult when you are now a single mother to her step children Olivia and Dylan as they lost their mother Niamh at a very young age. It’s a complex situation but Rachel will always stand by the children and do what she feels is best for them and that is the crux of the story. Should she stay in Hawke’s Bay where her family are and where she feels supported, especially when a stunning property has come up for sale? Or should she return from holidays to Dublin to where the children are settled and have their grandparents living in the same country? Rachel comes back to Dublin with a lot on her mind and a challenging time ahead. If Rachel hadn’t had the children to think about I feel her decision would have been a no brainer but if she chose to stay the guilt that the children would be missing out on their home place would be so intense not to mention it’s where she feels connected to Lorcan and she is not ready and willing to give up that connection just yet if ever. ‘Was she giving them their best childhood in Dublin? Or were they threading water, not getting anywhere, because they were all drowning in sad memories?’
I really felt for Rachel. She was only attempting to strengthen the family unit in a more permanent and solid way but it backfires spectacularly on her and stirs up a hornets nest in a big way. She was still drowning in her grief but doing her best to move forward for the sake of the children. Her every thought and action had Olivia and Dylan at its centre and she provides them with a home filled with love. She came across as kind, patient, caring, loving and fun but deep down the reader can tell that she is grappling with a wide range of emotions not helped by the actions of her in laws. Her family are always on her side in the battle that ensues and to be honest I don’t know how she held her patience as much as she did the further the book progressed and Sheila and Adrian (Niamh’s parents) and Belinda and Oscar (Lorcan’s parents) start to air their views and opinions as to what would be best for the children’s long term future.
Rachel’s position as stepmother starts to be questioned and here is where the story really took off and Rachel doesn’t know whether her ‘outlaws’ were friend or foe? What ulterior motives do they have? Will the children be taken away from her even though Lorcan had wanted them to stay with her? Rachel has been involved long term and is a committed and competent parent and why should these be even challenged or called into doubt? You wonder this yourself but thanks to the brilliant writing throughout this book your opinion on what the permeant outcome should be sways back and forth endlessly. Nothing is clear cut and that’s what I really loved about the book. Such thought and effort went into every word written in order to present the most balanced viewpoint possible. So that every characters thoughts were taken into consideration and not at any stage did things become very one sided and that was that. One firm opinion is never forced upon the reader which would have made the plot and characters very one dimensional. Part Two of the book delves deep into the main issue of the book and the scenes set in an office between Rachel and Sheila were so powerful and brilliantly executed as they went back and forth between each other. I found myself welling up at this point.
Sheila is a tricky character, she doesn’t particularly like Rachel and is filled with resentment that her grandchildren are in the care of someone else when her daughter should still be alive to look after her own children. When Rachel sets the wheels in motion with a momentous decision Sheila’s hackles are raised and the tiger in her comes out in a big way. She became such a control freak and was so petty in her actions and words. She wanted to undermine Rachel at every turn and tried to curry favour with the children at every given opportunity. I didn’t particularly like her as a character but the further I moved into the book the more I could see where she was coming from. But no doubt about it Sheila played a very dirty game and she wasn’t backing down in a hurry. Would she get the outcome she wanted? As for Belinda she feels guilty that her relationship with Lorcan was virtually none existent thanks to her dislike of Niamh and she never got the chance to make things up with him. Is now the time that a connection can be forged with her grandchildren or has she left things too late? Will Rachel do the right thing and find the contentment she so desperately craves or will she continue to make self-sacrifices?
A Mother’s Heart starts slow and steady and then finds its rhythm and establishes itself and then just builds and builds to a fantastic finale. It’s a riveting family saga that brings you on an emotionally rollercoaster that you are reluctant to get off because you have become so invested in the themes and the characters. It’s packed full of incredible highs, devastating lows, love, loss, heartbreak and tumultuous times but at the centre of it all is family and motherhood and doing what is best for those we love deeply at all times. If I could give it more than five stars than I would because it deserves every accolade and words of praise that is heaped upon it. It’s a marvellous book which shows Carmel Harrington is at the top of her game and long may this continue.
annemariewhelehan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I’m new enough to Carmel Harrington’s work and I’m finding them like Hugs in a book. I love that we get brought to different parts of the world in her books and the characters are very relatable. This one was no different. Perhaps some of the detail on the mediation sessions felt a lot for me, but in the end I think it helped the story a lot. Thoroughly enjoyable.
cv_xo's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cleg11's review
5.0
Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Rachel falls in love and marrys Lorcan taking on his two children Dylan and Olivia. She treats them as her own and when Lorcan dies she takes on the role of their mother. Their maternal grandparents have strong feelings about how Rachel brings up the children causing tensions to grow. Rachel’s parents and sister live in their home country New Zealand, Rachel has dreams of living in New Zealand to be closer to her parents but needs to put the children’s needs before her own. Can the children’s grandparents help to make the right decision or will they make things more difficult for Rachel?
A brilliant read.
Rachel falls in love and marrys Lorcan taking on his two children Dylan and Olivia. She treats them as her own and when Lorcan dies she takes on the role of their mother. Their maternal grandparents have strong feelings about how Rachel brings up the children causing tensions to grow. Rachel’s parents and sister live in their home country New Zealand, Rachel has dreams of living in New Zealand to be closer to her parents but needs to put the children’s needs before her own. Can the children’s grandparents help to make the right decision or will they make things more difficult for Rachel?
A brilliant read.
gloriamitchell821196844's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lucyp747d4's review
5.0
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for approving me for an ARC of this book. After reading and enjoying a previous book of Carmel Harrington’s I was excited to see what this one would be like.
Well what can I say except wow! This story was so unique in it’s premise and so emotional that I flew through the audio. We start the story in New Zealand where Rachel is visiting her family with her two step children. During this visit Rachel starts to fantasise what it might be like to uproot from Ireland and move her and the children back to her hometown in New Zealand.
When Rachel returns to Ireland she quickly realises that moving may not be the best option and decides to stay put, despite feeling that she lacks the emotional support from her dead husband’s family and in laws. Things quickly escalate and soon Rachel finds herself in a custody battle with her step children’s grandparents!
My first reaction when listening to this story was those poor children. Not only did they lose their mum at a young age but they then lost their dad too. I can’t begin to imagine how they must of felt but their relationship with Rachel was beautiful. You could feel the love and trust they felt for each other and both children felt safe with Rachel which made the custody battle even more heart breaking.
On the other side I could also see Shelia’s point of view. She had lost her daughter and felt that Rachel was trying to take Niamh’s place. I could understand why she felt that she needed to fight for the children but some of the things she did really frustrated me.
Like I said at the start this is a unique case with plenty of characters involved. It asks the age old question of what classes you as a mother? It dives deep into complex family relationships and how grief effects us all differently. I found myself welling up on more than one occasion so make sure you grab the tissues!
Well what can I say except wow! This story was so unique in it’s premise and so emotional that I flew through the audio. We start the story in New Zealand where Rachel is visiting her family with her two step children. During this visit Rachel starts to fantasise what it might be like to uproot from Ireland and move her and the children back to her hometown in New Zealand.
When Rachel returns to Ireland she quickly realises that moving may not be the best option and decides to stay put, despite feeling that she lacks the emotional support from her dead husband’s family and in laws. Things quickly escalate and soon Rachel finds herself in a custody battle with her step children’s grandparents!
My first reaction when listening to this story was those poor children. Not only did they lose their mum at a young age but they then lost their dad too. I can’t begin to imagine how they must of felt but their relationship with Rachel was beautiful. You could feel the love and trust they felt for each other and both children felt safe with Rachel which made the custody battle even more heart breaking.
On the other side I could also see Shelia’s point of view. She had lost her daughter and felt that Rachel was trying to take Niamh’s place. I could understand why she felt that she needed to fight for the children but some of the things she did really frustrated me.
Like I said at the start this is a unique case with plenty of characters involved. It asks the age old question of what classes you as a mother? It dives deep into complex family relationships and how grief effects us all differently. I found myself welling up on more than one occasion so make sure you grab the tissues!
ajane13's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
robinlovesreading's review
5.0
Rachel met the love of her life when she met Lorcan. Not only did she fall in love with him, his two children, Dylan and Olivia, were a part of the deal. They became part of her heart and she loves them like they were her own. They made a wonderful family unit until the day Lorcan died. Rachel has now taken on an even stronger role for her children and she will do anything for them. One of the things that she considers is moving back to New Zealand, which is her home country and where her parents and sister live.
However, those are not the only grandparents that Dylan and Olivia have. Rachel considers Lorcan’s parents and their maternal grandparents. She weighs her decision carefully because she does not want to pull the children away from anyone else in their young lives. Their birth mother’s Niamh’s parents have very strong feelings about the well-being of Olivia and Dylan and are standing the way of any decisions that Rachel has in mind. Tensions rise as Rachel does whatever she can to keep everybody happy and to consider everybody’s feelings. However, Niamh’s mother Sheila constantly makes decisions that could be harmful but it’s clear to see that she comes from a good place.
What a wonderful story! In fact, this is one of my favorite books this year! Whether in New Zealand or Ireland, the setting is gorgeous, the characters are relatable, and the story is quite compelling. This is a book that makes you think, especially when there are so many individuals who have every right to their feelings and expectations. Carmel Harrington has done a superb job at writing a book that makes you feel for all of the characters and to what the possible outcome could bring. As a grandmother to quite a few grandchildren, I had a wide range of emotions while reading this utterly engaging story. For a dramatic read that will definitely keep you turning page after page, this book comes highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/fe1GZGJKqqUKqqU
However, those are not the only grandparents that Dylan and Olivia have. Rachel considers Lorcan’s parents and their maternal grandparents. She weighs her decision carefully because she does not want to pull the children away from anyone else in their young lives. Their birth mother’s Niamh’s parents have very strong feelings about the well-being of Olivia and Dylan and are standing the way of any decisions that Rachel has in mind. Tensions rise as Rachel does whatever she can to keep everybody happy and to consider everybody’s feelings. However, Niamh’s mother Sheila constantly makes decisions that could be harmful but it’s clear to see that she comes from a good place.
What a wonderful story! In fact, this is one of my favorite books this year! Whether in New Zealand or Ireland, the setting is gorgeous, the characters are relatable, and the story is quite compelling. This is a book that makes you think, especially when there are so many individuals who have every right to their feelings and expectations. Carmel Harrington has done a superb job at writing a book that makes you feel for all of the characters and to what the possible outcome could bring. As a grandmother to quite a few grandchildren, I had a wide range of emotions while reading this utterly engaging story. For a dramatic read that will definitely keep you turning page after page, this book comes highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/fe1GZGJKqqUKqqU
leona_omahony's review
5.0
Where do I even begin with my review of this fabulous book. It’s a book that will stay with me for a very long time. I absolutely loved it. It has everything I need in a book. Family relationships, trials and tribulations of being a parent, plenty of tears but also some laughs along the way. Carmel Harrington is fast becoming one of my favourite female authors and I just love her writing style. A massive 5⭐️ read for me.
slday__'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Rachel is step mum to Olivia and Dylan who have sadly lost both of their parents. She is originally from New Zealand and moved to Dublin to marry the love of her life, Lorcan. Lorcan sadly passed away leaving Rachel to be the only parent to Olivia and Dylan. However, he wanted Rachel to be their adoptive mum and be recognised by law as their mother. This causes a stir for the children’s paternal grandparents who want their daughter to be remember and for them to have shared custody of the children with Rachel.
This book is brilliant, and I cannot recommend it enough. The story flows so nicely and really reels you in to feel angry, sad, happy and it’s just beautifully written. It also taught me that I love drama, so long as I’m not involved. Family dramas might be my new favourite book to read. I just so wanted the best for Rachel and her children and the entire family. Even the characters you don’t like, you understand their point of view and want them to work it out.
A stand out book and I would recommend everyone reads it!
This book is brilliant, and I cannot recommend it enough. The story flows so nicely and really reels you in to feel angry, sad, happy and it’s just beautifully written. It also taught me that I love drama, so long as I’m not involved. Family dramas might be my new favourite book to read. I just so wanted the best for Rachel and her children and the entire family. Even the characters you don’t like, you understand their point of view and want them to work it out.
A stand out book and I would recommend everyone reads it!
More...