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 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 LorcanÂ’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 motherÂ’s NiamhÂ’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 everybodyÂ’s feelings. However, NiamhÂ’s mother Sheila constantly makes decisions that could be harmful but itÂ’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/fe1GZGJKqqUKqqU2022-reads kindle netgalley ...more7 s Bookworm Blogger777 23

IÂ’d 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 HarringtonÂ’s I was excited to see what this one would be .

Well what can I say except wow! This story was so unique in itÂ’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 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 husbandÂ’s family and in laws. Things quickly escalate and soon Rachel finds herself in a custody battle with her step childrenÂ’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 canÂ’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 SheliaÂ’s point of view. She had lost her daughter and felt that Rachel was trying to take NiamhÂ’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.

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!

audiobooks netgalley-arcs5 s Kathryn1,611 278

A Mother's Heart is a beautiful bittersweet yet heartwarming read. My heart ached for the ever gracious Rachel, who was an excellent mother to 5 year old Dylan and 8 year old Olivia. The three of them have been through the wringer with Lorcan's death. And now one set of grandparents seem determined to take Rachel on and challenge her for the children's care and loyalty. 

As the story unfolds about this blended family, some secrets are eventually revealed that shed light where there has been mystery. Eventually things work out for them all, but not before there is much tension and heartache.

I d all the characters. Rachel is a fantastic mother, and so giving and patient with the grandparents especially Sheila who is so picky. It was easy to feel annoyed with Sheila (as the reader) but also I had sympathy for her as well. She feels threatened and fearful of losing her grandchildren. It is a very diverse blended family to negotiate. 

The setting ranges between New Zealand and Ireland. Oh yes! Loved that little detail. Of course I did. Rachel is a New Zealander, I have to say I was on their side over the custard for the trifle! Rachel has family in New Zealand she is close to and her heart longs to be with them. But... her children are Irish with all their relatives in Ireland. What a dilemma. 

This is a page turning, thought provoking story that encourages us to see things from all angles and to choose love and kindness and happiness, and to appreciate the wonder of family. I loved this book.irish-authors mainstream-fiction new-zealand ...more5 s Kirsty614 110

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley.

Carmel Harrington has made me cry in the past, and so I went into this book expecting to cry, and I did. I went through a whole rollercoaster of emotions reading this book. In this story we follow a mother a woman and her step children, though I don't describing them as that and will refer to them as her children for the rest of this review. Our main character is a strong woman who only wants the best for her children and is willing to sacrifice anything for their happiness and what's best for them. These children have relative in Ireland, and our main characters family are in New Zealand.

This is a story about how mothers always have their children at the heart of everything they do. It is also a story of how blood isn't always thicker than water. Most importantly it's a story of how you should never make judgements without knowing the full story. As I have already said, expect a need for tissues when reading this. As always Carmel Harrington has given us a page turning emotional rollercoaster of a read which you won't want to miss. The various locations and settings in this book are also beautifully described. I felt I was there throughout it all at all these places. I don't have children and have no plans to have any, and this book was still a fantastic read for me, so don't let that put you off from reading either.4 s Monika Armet387 49

Rachel is a 30-year old widow and a single mum of two children, Olivia and Dylan. Originally from New Zealand, she now lives in Dublin and while she loves it there, she desperately misses her parents and her sister, Claudia.

Her husband and the childrenÂ’s dad, Lorcan, died in a car crash a couple of years back. Rachel isnÂ’t the childrenÂ’s biological mother, she is their step-mum, but treats them as if they were her own. Olivia and DylanÂ’s biological mother, Niamh, died suddenly when her children were very little.

NiamhÂ’s parents, Sheila and Adrian, are starting to question RachelÂ’s position as the childrenÂ’s mother. Sheila, in particular, is adamant that Rachel is desperate to move Olivia and Dylan away from them, so she decides to fight for custody for her granchildren.

Will Sheila and Adrian succeed?

This book is a perfect example of what a blended family looks . It also asks an important question of what makes a mother? Just because Rachel hasnÂ’t given birth to Olivia and Dylan, does it make her a lesser person when compared to Niamh who died and isnÂ’t there to raise them?

I really felt sorry for the children, as I felt they were pulled in so many directions and they knew that something was wrong. I was so mad at Sheila – I know she was grieving, but some things she said were truly despicable.

Rachel was an extremely strong woman, she took everything on the chin, and just kept on going for her children. In my eyes she was a true mother to them, as she was their constant and they could always rely on her.

I love Carmel HarringtonÂ’s books and this one didnÂ’t disappoint. There is laughter, hope, but also heartbreak.2 s Sharyn422

What a story! I am not a mother - Rachel I never wanted children and I wondered whether I would enjoy this story. NZ and Ireland are my two favourie places to read about so this one hit some buttons. But I did enjoy it. I found it a bit of a disconcerting read as I waited for what was bound to happen. And I found the ending a bit too perfect. But it was very well written and the characters were well developed with a good mix of lovely and horrid and in betweeners too. This is the second book by Carmel Harrington that I have read and reviewed for NetGalley and I think it is the time to look into her back catalogue. .netgalley-20222 s Kylie819 17

Narrator 3.5 ???
Aoife McMahon's natural voice is beautiful and soothing, but her NZ accent was a little painful after awhile

Story 2.5 ??
I understand the reason why Sheila's character was so horrible but for me it went on waaaay to long without Rachel or anyone else calling out her mortifying and bad behaviour. For me it really ruined this book. It just wasn't particularly pleasant.audiobooks netgalley2 s Steph110 3

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 childrenÂ’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 itÂ’s just beautifully written. It also taught me that I love drama, so long as IÂ’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 donÂ’t , you understand their point of view and want them to work it out.

A stand out book and I would recommend everyone reads it!

**Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Audio who sent me this ALC in exchange for an honest review**5-star-reads arcs audiobooks2 s Fabulous Book Fiend1,180 156

I listened to this book on audio and the narration was excellent!

I just love the many meanings hidden in the title of this book. A MotherÂ’s Heart. Rachel is a mother and she is our main mother that we follow in this book but then there is the mother of Olivia and Dylan whom Rachel has recently adopted. Then there are 3 grandmothers all with concern for their own children as well as their grandchildren. Finally we have RachelÂ’s sister who is yearning to be a mother too. The stories of all 6 of these mothers are woven together so beautifully in the way that Carmel Harrington knows how to do so cleverly.


The wonderful thing about this book is that we get to hear about and from all of the mothers in question over the course of this novel. We get to hear from them and therefore each and everyone of them gets our sympathy as a reader and probably if you are a mother yourself then your empathy too. I love a book with multiple narratives and this writer does that so well. Just when you think youÂ’re about to make a breakthrough with a character or someone reveals something in their life, we switch direction and you hear from someone else. This makes for an excellent page turner though!

Not only does this book have multiple points of view but it also has multiple locations. This is another thing that I loved about Carmel HarringtonÂ’s previous novel. Switching between New Zealand and Ireland is quite a contrast but both settings are written so well they both feel home. Switching settings also allowed some of the tension to diffuse between some of these mothers and I think I was as grateful as Rachel in some instances to get away from things and have a change of scenery.

Rachel is definitely the star of the show in this book. She is instantly relatable and easy to empathise with because she goes about her life in such a considered and caring way. She loves her step children and she has done the very best for them the entire time she has been in their lives. Everything she does outs them first but she is so torn after tragedy has followed her and affected her so many times. Whilst this may not sound the most appealing concept to deal with in a novel, it is the way that Rachel deals with this stress and the tragedies that face her that is the uplifting thing about this book and what endears her as a character. I am sure that she will touch many hearts and that this novel will bring hope and joy to many people. 2022-reads audiobooks1 Sarah Kingsnorth425 14


A MOTHERÂ’S HEART
BY
CARMEL HARRINGTON.
Narrated by Aoife McMahon.

I finished this book a few days ago, and itÂ’s one of those that is still going around in my head.

Rachel and her children Dylan and Olivia, have really been through it. After the death of Niamh, the childrenÂ’s biological mother, Lorcan their father fell in love with Rachel.
The four settled comfortably into a family unit together. However, when Lorcan is tragically killed, Rachel and the children draw even closer to each other and form tighter bonds as a family of three.

Rachel is originally from New Zealand, where her close family still live.
When the possibility of Rachel and the children moving to NZ is brought up all hell breaks loose. When Sheila, the childrenÂ’s biological grandmother finds out a battle begins to secure responsibility for Dylan and Olivia and it all gets pretty unpleasant.
Everyone wants whatÂ’s best for the children, but can they agree on how best to move forward.

Rachel is quite literally a saint. Despite being devastated at becoming a widow, she remains strong for the children, and incredibly tolerant and considerate towards Sheila.

Sheila firmly believes she is the best person to take care of the children. With the steadying hand of her husband and son, can she begin to see a different way forward?

There is also the question of LorcanÂ’s parents. Why are they so distant? Just what happened to push them away?

This book is an incredibly emotional read. It stirs up so many different feelings and provokes some interesting debate and questions.

I loved the characters in the story. Even caustic Sheila had a softer side and I couldnÂ’t help but feel sympathy for her situation.
RachelÂ’s Family were a treat as were LorcanÂ’s parents. They gave the story a real sense of warmth and family.

IÂ’m always a fan of CarmelÂ’s writing and look forward to her books coming out. A MotherÂ’s Heart is another beautifully written, poignant, thought provoking, intelligent and all round damn good read.
I loved it!
??????????

Fabulous narration by Aoife McMahon.

With thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Uk Audio, for a copy of this title.




20221 Bookmarked ByLisa85 1 follower

A Mother's Heart by Carmel Harrington

As a single mum myself I could relate to Rachel's never ending to do list but my story doesn't even come close to Rachel's. She showed a lot of strength and good character along with the patience of a saint when it come to Sheila the out-parent. Her In-laws Belinda and Oscar threw me a little and at first thought 'typical rich people' but getting to know Belindas story made me see them differently.

This story has alot of secrets between a uniquely large blended family. It's a timely reminder that if we didn't keep so much to ourselves and opened up instead of holding onto secrets because of what ifs then things life in general would be a whole lot smoother. Given this, I'm a little surprised by the ending. To have this end with yet another lie because of what ifs, is only going to spiral into yet another family disaster.

Thanks @harpercollinsaustralia for the gifted copy.1 Sams_Fireside262 43

OMG, I loved A MotherÂ’s Heart by Carmel Harrington, from the moment I put my AirPods in, until the moment I took them out. It helps that I also love Aoife McMahon. She is such a brilliant narrator who makes a book come alive and invites you into whatever world she reads about.

Full of love and happiness, anger and sadness, I defy anyone who enjoys a family-related story, with its fair share of pain-in-the-ass grandparents but also loveable ones, to not fall in love with Rachel, Olivia, Dylan and their family. YouÂ’ll cry, laugh, and shout out loud, in sheer frustration at some of the things that happen between them all.

I havenÂ’t read or listened to anything by Carmel Harrington before, but IÂ’ve just put everything I can find straight onto my TBR list.

Read or listen to this as soon as you can. I promise you wonÂ’t regret it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review an ARC of A Mother's Heart by Carmel Harrington.1 Jeanniehay64 427 37

I listened to this book on audio and I enjoyed the freedom of pottering around the garden while enjoying the beautifully written family saga.

The story centres around Rachel a young widow who has lost her husband Lorcan in a tragic accident. She is step mum to his two young children ,Olivia and Dylan. Rachel and lorcan moved to Ireland after they met and she is now struggling in a new country without him being there. She forms a tight bond around her children as she has no family or friends close by and the children become her main focus.

When Rachel returns to New Zealand her birth country for a holiday she feels the benefits of having family to help out. She wonders if moving back there would benefit her and the children.

When the childrenÂ’s biological grandmother Sheila finds out about her thoughts she is furious. She begins a battle to secure her place in their lives much to the dismay of Rachel.

Rachel has to navigate her way around two sets of biological grandparents and try to include them in the childrenÂ’s lives. A difficult task and one which threatens to put her own happiness at risk.

I I loved the Irish setting, the places mentioned I know personally which really brought the book to life.
Every mother wants what is best for her children and this was beautifully portrayed in the book. I felt so sorry for Rachel trying to please everyone, and having brought my own children up away from my extended family I knew exactly how difficult it was for her having to be a single parent without much support.

The love of a mother is definitely unique and I appreciate that even more as I lost my mum recently. I related to RachelÂ’s grief always hearing her husbands voice and looking for a sign from him.

This book covers so many different and difficult subjects in a very sensitive and realistic way. ItÂ’s a book which made me think, everyone has their own struggles but the most important thing is love and the realisation that you must enjoy every minute. 1 Claire Mc Partlin747 25

I loved this book, full of family drama.

Rachel is step-mother to two children, Olivia (8 years old) and Dylan (5 years old), who have tragically lost both their biological parents, including their father Lorcan. Rachel was married to Lorcan, who remarried after his first wife, Niamh, died. Rachel and Lorcan and the children were then very happy until Lorcan died in a tragic car accident. So now Rachel is the only parent the children have left - but they do have three sets of grandparents, Niamh's parents, Lorcan's parents, and Rachel's parents, which is where the trouble starts!

Rachel became the childrens stepmother when Olivia was 4 years old and Dylan only 10 months old, so she is really the only mother they know, especially Dylan. Life is a struggle for Rachel, juggling looking after the children and her business, but she loves her children and would never let them go. But Niamh's parents, her mother in particular (Sheila), is very controlling and wants the children with her all the time. She feels that Rachel isn't their mother and her daughter is their real mother, she just can't let go and accept that Niamh is dead.

So once Rachel adopts the children officially and becomes their 'proper' mother, a process that was started before Lorcan died, Sheila really loses it and petitions to take the children away from Rachel to be with them, especially as she feels that Rachel may move back to her native homeland of New Zealand with the children to be with her family. But of course there is also Lorcan's parents, also the biological grandparents, who are on Rachel's side.

It all becomes a bit of a mess with most of the people involved wanting what's best for the children, apart from Sheila. I can't believe quite how patient Rachel was with Sheila, for most of the story. They only lived a few doors apart and she was often just letting herself into the house to do washing or tidy us, as Rachel wasn't doing it right. Sheila had this image of her daughter as being perfect, but as the story unfolds it turns out she wasn't as perfect as she thought, and there are a few twists and turns along the way.

Very enjoyable with a very satisfying ending. Thank goodness Rachel was so patient is all I can say, other people definitely wouldn't have been, but she really had the childrens best interests at heart all the way through the book, and even though she wasn't their biological mother she was definitely their mother in every other way.netgalley-1 Claire Turkington190

Wow what a beautifully written story of a motherÂ’s love in a blended family, I absolutely loved it.

I how the author writes about the relationships between the adoptive mother Rachel, her two children Olivia & Dylan and three sets of grandparents, Annie & Joe, Sheila & Adrian and Belinda & Oscar who all love and want the children in their lives.

I fly through the pages, couldnÂ’t put it down, it pulls at your heartstrings, it had me crying and laughing. ItÂ’s full of family drama with a few emotional twists and turns along the way.

I highly recommend this if you enjoy reading family drama and relationships then this is the book for you.

Thanks to #NetGallery, #Bookouture and the author #CarmelHarrington for an ARC of #AMothersHeart in exchange for an honest review.1 Carla6,536 149

Rachel met the love of her life Lorcan, when she was just 18. Lorcan was visiting New Zealand for the summer and they spent every moment together. Lorcan returned to Dublin at the end of the summer an life moved on. Years later while Rachel and her sister are in Ireland for a European tour, Lorcan and Rachel meet again. He is now a widower with two children, but those feelings are still there and after a whirlwind courtship, they marry and Rachel becomes a mom to Dylan and Olivia. Rachel loves not only Lorcan but his children who become part of her heart. 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, so they can all start over, but realizes she can't take the children away from their grandparents. Their birth motherÂ’s parents have very strong feelings about the well-being of Olivia and Dylan and Sheila, undermines Rachel at every turn. Rachel does everything she can to keep the peace, but it is so difficult. Lorcan's parents have been estranged but Rachel wants to reestablish a relationship between them and their grandchildren. When NiamhÂ’s parents get it into their heads that Rachel is planning to move back to New Zealand with their grandchildren, they decide they must stop her in whatever way they can.

This was a heartbreaking story. Family drama can pull at your heartstrings for so many reasons and this book has more than one. Carmel Harrington has written a story full of great characters that had my emotions all over the place. I loved Rachel, Olivia and Dylan. They were a great family that loved each other so much. They had been through so much in their lives and were so good together. Dylan was a normal four year old with cute reactions, excitement, silliness, energy and very emotional. Olivia was a big sister who loved her brother one minute and yelled at him the next. All the family members were well developed, with flaws, secrets and baggage. Grief plays a huge part in this story and how it can affect lives for years. I also have to mention the setting. Both Ireland and New Zealand were wonderfully described, but if I had to choose, I think I would love to live in the area of New Zealand described. This was a story about mother's love and what it drives them to do for their children whether it is the right thing or not. It is a story of family, love, forgiveness, and grief. I recommend this book to those who enjoy women's fiction and stories of families. blog-tour family-relationships grief ...more Gemma640 128

There is no doubt in my mind that Carmel Harrington is a fantastic writer. Her stories are so interesting, enjoyable to read and full of realistic and complex characters.

The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is purely based on my own personal response to the story and how some of the "messages" in the book didn't sit right with me.
A Mother's Heart follows Rachel who was born and raised in New Zealand but moved to Dublin when she met and married her husband Lorcan and became a step-mother to his two children, Dylan and Olivia. The children's mother Niamh died a short time before and tragically Lorcan then dies just 3 years into their marriage leaving Rachel to raise the children.

The book does a fantastic job of depicting Rachel's loneliness and being torn between Dublin, where the children's grandparents and extended family live and her own family back in New Zealand. The detail and nuance of the grandparent/grandchild and parent/child dynamics were very cleverly written and made the characters really come alive.

My biggest issue with the book is that I could not warm to Rachel. I thought a lot of her actions were rather self-centered and she seemed oblivious to the feelings of others, particularly the parents of Niamh. Niamh's mother Sheila is depicted as a "villain" of the story who the other characters tease behind her back. She certainly behaves badly at times and says hurtful things but I couldn't help but sympathise with her. What mother and grandmother wouldn't struggle and be resistant to accepting another woman as the mother of her grandchildren while her own daughter is labelled as "mammy in heaven" after a period of just a few short years? Especially when she fears Rachel is going to move back to New Zealand with the children. Therefore, the message that Shelia was a terrible person for feeling this way didn't sit right with me and I didn't how over the top her behaviour became to justify why we should side with Rachel.

My emotional response to this story is a testament to how well Carmel Harrington crafts her stories though and gives us themes and issues which really make us think. I am still gathering my thoughts on this one and will ly be thinking about it for a while to come.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC. 3 s Emma Crowley939 158

I feel I say this about every book that Carmel Harrington writes but A MotherÂ’s Heart truly is her best book yet. ItÂ’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 didnÂ’t feel 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 itÂ’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 donÂ’t know how she held her patience as much as she did the further the book progressed and Sheila and Adrian (NiamhÂ’s parents) and Belinda and Oscar (LorcanÂ’s parents) start to air their views and opinions as to what would be best for the childrenÂ’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 doesnÂ’t particularly 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 SheilaÂ’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 didnÂ’t particularly 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 wasnÂ’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 dis 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 MotherÂ’s Heart starts slow and steady and then finds its rhythm and establishes itself and then just builds and builds to a fantastic finale. ItÂ’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. ItÂ’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. ItÂ’s a marvellous book which shows Carmel Harrington is at the top of her game and long may this continue. Caroline|Page~Turners441 8

Lorcan living in Ireland as a widow and raising two young children on his own. He meets Rachel and they fall in love with each other. RachelÂ’s family assumed that their marriage would never last. Rachel had never planned on raising two stepchildren, but she loved them as if they were her own. The children, Dylan age 5 and Olivia age 8 loved Rachel and knew her as their mother. But when Lorcan dies each other is all they have to make it through such a horrible time. LorcanÂ’s family decides to fight Rachel for custody of the children siting that they are blood relatives and belong with their family. Rachel sees the children as her family and refuses to give up on them. They have been through enough in their life, and she has been their only constant. So, she fights to keep them. As the story continues there are so many twist and turns that come to light, and through the heartache a motherÂ’s love always prevails. Rachel is such a wonderful and patient mother. She is so protective of her family and does everything she possibly can to make her family happy. Rachel is from New Zealand while the children are from Ireland which is also where the childrenÂ’s grandparents on their fatherÂ’s side live. RachelÂ’s dilemmaÂ…does she raise them in their familiar environment in Ireland or does she move them to New Zealand where her family is?

I was so moved by this story. The heartbreak, the emotions and the unconditional love of a mother. This story hits all the emotions and was very thought provoking as far as what is really important in lifeÂ….family. This story was heartbreaking, emotional and inspiring, I loved it. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you Carmel Harrington for such an emotional and inspirational story of overcoming lifeÂ’s obstacles. I absolutely loved it and I highly recommend this book. Lesley435 21

A Mother's Heart is a captivating story with many moving parts, including the revelation of a long-held family secret, and I loved it.
The opening chapters are set in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand with Rachel visiting her family together with her step children Olivia and Dylan.
The children's birth mother Niamh had died shortly after five year old Dylan had been born, and their father Lorcan nearly two years ago in a car accident.
The children love the relaxing holiday with Rachel's family as they visit her favourite places in her country of birth .
Returning to their home in Malahide, Ireland , Rachel often feels lonely even though she is busy with her online clothing business as well as the children's activities.
When her solicitor tells Rachel ,Lorcan had begun the process for her to become the children's adoptive mother she decides to invite both sets of grandparents to a party to share the news, once the process had been completed.
However the afternoon ends in disaster with Niamh's mother , who is still grieving the loss of her daughter, accusing Rachel of trying to take the children away from them.
The story examines the complexities of family relationships and the lengths we will go for the ones we love. Carmel Harrington has cleverly crafted this heartwarming novel with powerful characters who at times are overwhelmed with their grief, and fearing for the future of the whole family which was heartbreaking. The second half of the book reveals secrets, which shock the entire family, and make for an interesting ending.
Carmel Harrington is an accomplished storyteller living in USA, and she has seamlessly blended a number of threads conveying the emotional love in “A Mother's Heart”, and this book will be enjoyed by those who love family sagas


finished Rachel Gilbey2,972 540

Such a beautiful story, that I was soon engrossed in to the point of forgetting there was a real world out there. Carmel Harrington has once again written a brilliant book, of incredibly real characters, and with some big topics being discussed within its pages.

This time it involves a custody battle for two of the most loved children everywhere. Unfortunately in Olivia and Dylan's short lives they have lost their birth mum Niamh and their father Lorcan. But Lorcan in those intervening years since Niamh passed away, did meet the love of his life Rachel and they were married and she is the children's mum.

Well except that Niamh's parent's can't accept that and are determined to bring it all to a head.

It's a beautifully written, sensitive look at just what rights grandparents and step parents have, if the children's birth parents have both passed away, made more tricky by the fact that Rachel is clearly a wonderful mother to these children.

The characters are all portrayed in such a way that I could easily see myself hopping on a plane to Dublin to see them for myself. I could picture everything very clearly and really grew to love believe it or not all of the characters. Some are flawed but the all felt incredibly realistic and although emotional at times, I was left with a really heartwarming feeling from the story.

Another triumph from an always incredibly talented author.

Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 2 s Kerrie Kelly333 8

This is a beautifully written and narrated tale about love, loss and family.
In this story we meet Rachel a young widow, . Her husband, father to Olivia and Dylan, died nearly 2 years ago in a tragic accident. Leaving her to bring up the 2 children he had with his 1st wife, who died when Dylan was a baby.
Rachel has been their mother since her and Jack got together several years earlier.
Rachel emigrated to Ireland, where the story is set, when she fell in love with Lorcan. She has struggled since his death and on a visit home to New Zealand briefly thinks about the possibility of moving back to be nearer to her family.
Upon arriving home her struggles become harder as the childrenÂ’s maternal Grandparents fear she is going to disappear with Olivia and Dylan and decide to fight for joint custody.
Told from several family members prospective we learn more about each one and the loss, fears and struggles of a blended family and what lengths people will go to to protect the ones they love most.
The narrator did a fantastic job of making me feel as though I was there as the story was unfolding. I felt every emotion the characters felt and found myself hoping things would work out ok. One minute hating a certain character for behaving the way they were and the next minute feeling so sorry for all they were going through.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and listen to this book, my 2nd from this author

Highly recommend Bookstagramshaz Sharon Logue 235 7


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