My Mother’s Secret is about family relationships and healing and the triumph of love over everything else.
My Mother’s Secret
‘They told me he died, but I never believed them. I’d have known,’ she says, her voice little more than a whisper and her eyes searching mine. ‘A mother would know if her child died, wouldn’t she?’
The phone call comes in the middle of the night, rousing Danni from her safe, warm bed. The police have found her mother Diana wandering miles from her house, confused and lost. Danni races to her mother’s side – and as usual, Diana doesn’t seem to want her there. But when Danni finds out that her mother is seriously ill, she decides to put the past behind her, and care for her mother in the time they have left.
But as some of Diana’s memories are slipping away, others are forcing their way to the surface. One night she breaks down and reveals that before Danni was born, she had another baby who never got to see the world. Faced with her mother’s heartbreak, Danni vows to do everything she can to bring Diana some peace, hoping that it will mend their fractured relationship too.
Yet as Danni investigates the past, tracking down the aunt she’s never met and searching for her lost brother’s resting place, her good intentions have unexpected consequences as more truths emerge. And there’s one shocking revelation which could change Danni’s life forever. Are some secrets best left buried?
A completely heartbreaking and compelling story of families, secrets, and the fierce love between mothers and children. Fans of Amanda Prowse, Ali Mercer and Jodi Picoult will smile through their tears.
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My Review
There’s no doubt in my mind that parents differentiate between children. But why does Danni’s mother, Diana, almost seem to detest her daughter, while lavishing all her love and attention on her son, Adam. Now that Adam is in New Zealand and her mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and cancer, Danni has to step in and take care of her. How her mother unwittingly reveals something in her past, she starts to unravel the thread that leads to the answer to her question.
The author has done a fabulous job of telling a story of the tenuous relationship with a mother and daughter and how the daughter is able to continue to show love and concern to her mother.
By telling how family secrets can cause so much pain and heartache, the author reinforces how truth and open communication can make for better familial relationships.
What I found particularly interesting was the fact that family needn’t be the one we’re born into – as Danni experiences with her husband, Ben and her friend, Maxine.
Danni’s character is truly beautiful – a large hearted and compassionate woman who is determined to be an example of kindness and love to her daughters. Her husband, Ben too is a rock of a partner and father – supportive and kind.
How Danni makes sure that her daughters are constantly assured of her love is also a reminder that we needn’t get stuck into family behaviour patterns.
Altogether, a book that brought me to tears and reminded me that we must always look beyond a person’s behaviour, to find what is the hurt that makes them behave so.
I will certainly be on the look out for more books from Julia Roberts and recommend this one highly.
Meet The Author
Julia was born in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, and began her career as a professional singer/dancer. This enabled her to travel the world in her late teens storing up experiences she has since included in her writing.
Following roles as a hostess on The Price is Right and a member of the Beadle’s About ‘hit squad’ in the 1980s, she became a TV Presenter and filmed features for Sky Sports before launching the QVC shopping channel in 1993 where she still presents today. Having always wanted to write, she penned her first book, a memoir sold on QVC, in 2013 and has since written seven full length novels, two novellas and several short stories.
Connect with Julia
Website | Facebook | Instagram | TJuliaRobertsTVwitter
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Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.