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Broken & Forgotten
When Sean Malloy discovers the terrible details around his adoption, he feels it is his duty to inform his adopted sister, Kathleen.Born three years apart, inside Bessborough House, an unmarried mothers home in Southern Ireland, Sean and Kathleen were adopted by Gene and Irene Malloy, and enjoyed a happy childhood.When Kathleen begins her to look into the circumstances around her own adoption, she is horrified to discover that the evil nuns had her mother, a sane seventeen-year-old girl, committed to Our Lady's Mental Hospital three weeks after she was born. Outraged over the injustice her mother has suffered for twenty-seven long years, Kathleen will stop at nothing until her mother is free.
273 pages, Paperback
Published December 19, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 6, 2024
Even More Harrowing Than The First
Four years after a young and pregnant Patricia was sent to Bessborough House, Delphinia is sent there to sample there…umm…hospitality. However when Delphina gives birth to a baby girl called Kathleen things go from bad to worse. Distraught and angry when they take her baby away she attacks Mother Superior threatening to kill her. Because of that she is taken to Our Lady’s an old school mental institution where she will live in a state of depression and terror for the next 27 years forgotten by the outside world. Kathleen meanwhile is adopted by Gene and Irene the same couple who adopted Sean from the previous book and she lives a happy and fulfilled life. She has no inclination to find her birth parents but after her brother found his and learns about his mum’s circumstances she decides to investigate and what she finds will shock and depress her. But as soon as she meets Delphina is vows to get her out of the mental home. As with the previous book this is a truly hearts wrenching read. The adversity that Delphina has to go through is shocking and you feel for her plight as she experiences unimaginable suffering first at the hands of the nuns at Bessborough House and then the psychiatrists at Our Lady’s. Although she does seem to have something of a guardian angel in the shape of the empathetic and handsome Professor Edwards. The conclusion is a satisfying ending but I do wonder if something will happen between Delphina and the good professor. She certainly deserves it after what she has gone through.
Four years after a young and pregnant Patricia was sent to Bessborough House, Delphinia is sent there to sample there…umm…hospitality. However when Delphina gives birth to a baby girl called Kathleen things go from bad to worse. Distraught and angry when they take her baby away she attacks Mother Superior threatening to kill her. Because of that she is taken to Our Lady’s an old school mental institution where she will live in a state of depression and terror for the next 27 years forgotten by the outside world. Kathleen meanwhile is adopted by Gene and Irene the same couple who adopted Sean from the previous book and she lives a happy and fulfilled life. She has no inclination to find her birth parents but after her brother found his and learns about his mum’s circumstances she decides to investigate and what she finds will shock and depress her. But as soon as she meets Delphina is vows to get her out of the mental home. As with the previous book this is a truly hearts wrenching read. The adversity that Delphina has to go through is shocking and you feel for her plight as she experiences unimaginable suffering first at the hands of the nuns at Bessborough House and then the psychiatrists at Our Lady’s. Although she does seem to have something of a guardian angel in the shape of the empathetic and handsome Professor Edwards. The conclusion is a satisfying ending but I do wonder if something will happen between Delphina and the good professor. She certainly deserves it after what she has gone through.
April 3, 2025
Broken and Forgotten, by Beverley Latimer.
Southern Ireland: 1950/60's.
This is a poignant, emotional story about Delphina, a seventeen-year-old who finds herself pregnant to the love of her life, Paddy. The problem was Paddy was a mere stable lad and would marry her in a heartbeat if it wasn’t for family intervention preventing a happy conclusion.
Poor Delphina, my heart went out to this innocent young girl. Disowned by her parents, Delphina was sent to live at Bessborough House for unmarried mothers.
Back in mid-twentieth century, conditions and treatments were crude and the staff looking after the young women was far from compassionate.
After Delphina’s baby is born, a beautiful girl she names, Kathleen, all is well for a short period.
Until, one morning Delphina learns that her daughter has been adopted. This callus act was committed without her knowledge or consent.
What follows is a hell of a story as events in Delphina’s life spiral on a downward trajectory.
Read for yourself what happens to Delphina, and how her daughter helps to restore our heroine back into a happy fulfilling life.
Recommended.
Southern Ireland: 1950/60's.
This is a poignant, emotional story about Delphina, a seventeen-year-old who finds herself pregnant to the love of her life, Paddy. The problem was Paddy was a mere stable lad and would marry her in a heartbeat if it wasn’t for family intervention preventing a happy conclusion.
Poor Delphina, my heart went out to this innocent young girl. Disowned by her parents, Delphina was sent to live at Bessborough House for unmarried mothers.
Back in mid-twentieth century, conditions and treatments were crude and the staff looking after the young women was far from compassionate.
After Delphina’s baby is born, a beautiful girl she names, Kathleen, all is well for a short period.
Until, one morning Delphina learns that her daughter has been adopted. This callus act was committed without her knowledge or consent.
What follows is a hell of a story as events in Delphina’s life spiral on a downward trajectory.
Read for yourself what happens to Delphina, and how her daughter helps to restore our heroine back into a happy fulfilling life.
Recommended.
January 19, 2024
Having enjoyed Deceit and Reclamation by Beverley Latimer, I was keen to read this follow-up novel, and I wasn’t disappointed. Delphina, a perfectly sane seventeen-year-old, is the main character in the book. She was sent to Bessborough House by her parents to hide the disgraceful fact that she was unmarried and pregnant. When her baby was taken from her at three weeks old without her permission, she understandably reacted violently. Sadly, this outburst led her to be incarcerated in Our Lady’s Mental Hospital, where she stayed for the next twenty-seven years. This is such a sad story, made all the more tragic because this happened to so many young women in the 1950s and 1960s. The author skilfully draws us in and makes us feel the horror and despair experienced by Delphina, and the reader cannot help but empathise. The book is well-researched, with interesting characters and sensitively written. Strongly recommended.
January 31, 2024
Delphina...Delphina....Delphina.
Oh girl, you have been through so much. Too much at times, and it had me bawling my eyes out.
This book was a roller-coaster because, man, these emotional scenes are enough to tear you apart.
But you know what I love most about this book? The realistic aspect. What folks went through in the swinging sixties is just crazy. So, glad I wasn't born then.
A very, very good read.
Wish I could give it 10 stars.
Oh girl, you have been through so much. Too much at times, and it had me bawling my eyes out.
This book was a roller-coaster because, man, these emotional scenes are enough to tear you apart.
But you know what I love most about this book? The realistic aspect. What folks went through in the swinging sixties is just crazy. So, glad I wasn't born then.
A very, very good read.
Wish I could give it 10 stars.
January 21, 2024
This is a haunting story of a woman who spent her life in an asylum, though those who knew her agreed she was not mad; this was because her parents disowned her for getting pregnant while unmarried. Her child was taken from her and adopted out without her permission, but as luck would have it, it all worked out in the end. Though we know things will work out, the truth of the story is so profound and disturbing that it sticks with us. And what about the people for whom it didn't work out?
April 27, 2024
Emotional and gripping story!
Broken and Forgotten is a compelling story, taking the reader on an emotional journey into the life of a young unmarried mother who is forced to give up her baby and then committed to a mental institute after assaulting the nun who has taken her baby from her.
Years later, Kathleen is made aware of where her real mother is, and she will stop at nothing to have her released.
This story is the sequel to Deceit and Reclamation—it will move you and have you gripped until the very end. Highly recommended!
Broken and Forgotten is a compelling story, taking the reader on an emotional journey into the life of a young unmarried mother who is forced to give up her baby and then committed to a mental institute after assaulting the nun who has taken her baby from her.
Years later, Kathleen is made aware of where her real mother is, and she will stop at nothing to have her released.
This story is the sequel to Deceit and Reclamation—it will move you and have you gripped until the very end. Highly recommended!
February 20, 2024
Wow!
What an amazing and insightful story! Beverley Latimer weaves an incredible story in book two. The 1960s, was a bad time for some and more especially for unmarried pregnant women, which was heavily frowned upon. Kudus to this great author who has done her research well. A must read.
What an amazing and insightful story! Beverley Latimer weaves an incredible story in book two. The 1960s, was a bad time for some and more especially for unmarried pregnant women, which was heavily frowned upon. Kudus to this great author who has done her research well. A must read.
March 29, 2025
A Heart-Wrenching, Powerful Story of Injustice and Redemption
Broken and Forgotten by Beverley Latimer is one of the most emotionally powerful novels I’ve read this year. From the very first page, it gripped my heart and didn’t let go. This poignant tale follows Delphina, a spirited seventeen-year-old whose youthful mistake leads to a devastating series of events—her newborn daughter stolen, her freedom ripped away, and her spirit nearly broken by those entrusted to protect her.
Latimer’s storytelling is raw and evocative, shining a light on the dark injustices inflicted on unwed mothers in mid-20th century Ireland. The institutional cruelty is painful to read, made all the more heartbreaking by the knowledge that such tragedies truly happened. Yet, amid the sorrow, Latimer weaves a thread of hope. The bond between Delphina and Kathleen, her daughter now grown and determined to uncover the truth, is deeply moving.
The emotional weight and beautifully drawn characters make it an unforgettable read. Latimer has a gift for exposing historical truths with compassion and depth. Broken and Forgotten is a masterful, redemptive story of love’s endurance against all odds. I highly recommend it.
Broken and Forgotten by Beverley Latimer is one of the most emotionally powerful novels I’ve read this year. From the very first page, it gripped my heart and didn’t let go. This poignant tale follows Delphina, a spirited seventeen-year-old whose youthful mistake leads to a devastating series of events—her newborn daughter stolen, her freedom ripped away, and her spirit nearly broken by those entrusted to protect her.
Latimer’s storytelling is raw and evocative, shining a light on the dark injustices inflicted on unwed mothers in mid-20th century Ireland. The institutional cruelty is painful to read, made all the more heartbreaking by the knowledge that such tragedies truly happened. Yet, amid the sorrow, Latimer weaves a thread of hope. The bond between Delphina and Kathleen, her daughter now grown and determined to uncover the truth, is deeply moving.
The emotional weight and beautifully drawn characters make it an unforgettable read. Latimer has a gift for exposing historical truths with compassion and depth. Broken and Forgotten is a masterful, redemptive story of love’s endurance against all odds. I highly recommend it.
December 27, 2023
This sequel to Beverley Latimer's excellent Deceipt and Reclamation tells the story of Kathleen, the adopted child of Gene and Irene Malloy.
Kathleen leads an idyllic life; she is close to her other siblings and her older brother, Sean, who is also adopted and whom she adores.
All bodes well until one day, born out of curiosity, the siblings decide to delve into the past, and Sean discovers the shocking truth about Kathleen's identity and the circumstances behind her adoption.
Kathleen is shocked to discover that her birth mother, Delphina, was wrongly committed to an asylum at age 18, three weeks after Kathleen was born, with suspected postpartum psychoses.- When, in fact, her only crime was being an unmarried mother.
Incensed by the cruelty shown to Delphina by the nuns and her parents. Kathleen is determined to discover the truth, bring the perpetrators to justice and help rescue her mother from a terrible miscarriage of justice. But will she succeed in her task?
This engaging, heart-wrenching story touches on family loyalty, the ties that bind, and unconditional love. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read that comes highly recommended- Well done.
Kathleen leads an idyllic life; she is close to her other siblings and her older brother, Sean, who is also adopted and whom she adores.
All bodes well until one day, born out of curiosity, the siblings decide to delve into the past, and Sean discovers the shocking truth about Kathleen's identity and the circumstances behind her adoption.
Kathleen is shocked to discover that her birth mother, Delphina, was wrongly committed to an asylum at age 18, three weeks after Kathleen was born, with suspected postpartum psychoses.- When, in fact, her only crime was being an unmarried mother.
Incensed by the cruelty shown to Delphina by the nuns and her parents. Kathleen is determined to discover the truth, bring the perpetrators to justice and help rescue her mother from a terrible miscarriage of justice. But will she succeed in her task?
This engaging, heart-wrenching story touches on family loyalty, the ties that bind, and unconditional love. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read that comes highly recommended- Well done.
December 27, 2023
“Broken & Forgotten” by Beverley Latimer is the story of Delphina who gave birth to Kathleen at age seventeen, only to have her stolen and sold to adoptive parents by the Catholic nuns of Bessborough House in Southern Ireland. When Delphina confronts the head nun responsible for this injustice, she is committed to Our Lady’s Mental Hospital where she lives for twenty-seven years. Kathleen will stop at nothing to get her birth mother out of the mental hospital.
Kathleen is the adopted sister of Sean, also born in Bessborough House from Patricia, his birth mother, who we met in “Deceit & Reclamation,” the first book in this story of lies, deceit, money and power.
“Broken & Forgotten” is an emotionally charged story that draws upon the reader’s outrage and sense of what is decent and just in a setting where such values don’t exist. Beverley Latimer’s story, “Broken & Forgotten” is one of the best stories I’ve read this year. It binds around your heart and squeezes. Highest recommendation.
Kathleen is the adopted sister of Sean, also born in Bessborough House from Patricia, his birth mother, who we met in “Deceit & Reclamation,” the first book in this story of lies, deceit, money and power.
“Broken & Forgotten” is an emotionally charged story that draws upon the reader’s outrage and sense of what is decent and just in a setting where such values don’t exist. Beverley Latimer’s story, “Broken & Forgotten” is one of the best stories I’ve read this year. It binds around your heart and squeezes. Highest recommendation.
April 21, 2025
This is the story of Delphina, who lives in rural Ireland with her mother Catherine and stepfather Samuel. Samuel is a very powerful man and controls the lives of his family. Delphina soon meets a stable boy Paddy and they fall madly in love just like teenagers do. Their lives both turn upside down when Delphina gets pregnant. Samuel forces his power on them both, causing them to be separated and for Delphina to be forced to give her baby up for adoption when it's born.
What lies in store for the broken pair as they try to rebuild their lives? Will they ever be reunited? Can Samuel go on ruining lives with his barbaric behaviour?
This was a very powerful book, the events are quite devastating and they certainly had an impact on me as I read. The author has an excellent way of getting you to sympathise with the right characters and dislike the villains. It was a very powerful read that I think you would enjoy.
What lies in store for the broken pair as they try to rebuild their lives? Will they ever be reunited? Can Samuel go on ruining lives with his barbaric behaviour?
This was a very powerful book, the events are quite devastating and they certainly had an impact on me as I read. The author has an excellent way of getting you to sympathise with the right characters and dislike the villains. It was a very powerful read that I think you would enjoy.
January 30, 2024
Broken and Forgotten is the excellent sequel to Deceit and Reclamation and I was hooked from the very first page. The story is about Delphina, a 17-year-old, unmarried mother. When her baby is taken from her, as was the norm back then, she assaults the nun responsible and is committed to a mental home.
Many years later, a young woman named Kathleen discovers she is adopted and sets out to find her birth mother.
This book will move you in many ways. You’ll be horrified at what was done to these young women – girls, really. You’ll cry at their plight and you’ll hope some good can come from what happened to them. And you’ll want those that caused their suffering to pay for their crimes.
Another excellent book. Five stars!
Many years later, a young woman named Kathleen discovers she is adopted and sets out to find her birth mother.
This book will move you in many ways. You’ll be horrified at what was done to these young women – girls, really. You’ll cry at their plight and you’ll hope some good can come from what happened to them. And you’ll want those that caused their suffering to pay for their crimes.
Another excellent book. Five stars!
November 7, 2024
Fantastic book…
Having read Deceit & Reclamation, I picked up Broken & Forgotten.. I wanted to know what happened to the other girls. And I was not disappointed. It is a fantastically written story of pain and resilience to a very heartfelt ending. The first book gave me some insight into what I would be reading, yet, still it got to me. I found myself filling up and frustrated all at once. When you read the story and understand that this sort of thing actually happened, you would have to be a hard hearted person not to see the truth and how wrong this was. Its brilliantly written and one I would fully recomend. Loved it. Well done Beverley Latimer
Having read Deceit & Reclamation, I picked up Broken & Forgotten.. I wanted to know what happened to the other girls. And I was not disappointed. It is a fantastically written story of pain and resilience to a very heartfelt ending. The first book gave me some insight into what I would be reading, yet, still it got to me. I found myself filling up and frustrated all at once. When you read the story and understand that this sort of thing actually happened, you would have to be a hard hearted person not to see the truth and how wrong this was. Its brilliantly written and one I would fully recomend. Loved it. Well done Beverley Latimer
March 27, 2024
Never lose hope!
Although this is a poignant story of a young woman who indeed lost hope and was forgotten, it is also a story of hope. Delphina, despite all the abuse she suffered for the ‘crime’ of falling in love, isn’t so much remembered as rediscovered.
After twenty-plus years, Kathleen decides to launch a search for her birth mother. She has enjoyed the love of wonderful, supportive adopted parents but the desire to know is strong. Thus, the reader is introduced to her quest and the eventual outcome. You won’t be disappointed!
Although this is a poignant story of a young woman who indeed lost hope and was forgotten, it is also a story of hope. Delphina, despite all the abuse she suffered for the ‘crime’ of falling in love, isn’t so much remembered as rediscovered.
After twenty-plus years, Kathleen decides to launch a search for her birth mother. She has enjoyed the love of wonderful, supportive adopted parents but the desire to know is strong. Thus, the reader is introduced to her quest and the eventual outcome. You won’t be disappointed!
June 7, 2024
Forgotten For 27 Years
Broken & Forgotten by Beverley Latimer is a fascinating story filled with almost overwhelming emotions. A high-spirited seventeen-year-old Irish girl named Delphina makes a mistake and becomes pregnant. The price she is forced to pay for this misstep is horrendous and unbelievable. This story is a salute to the power of perseverance, hope, and love. The relationship between Delphina and her now-fully-grown daughter Kathleen is central to the tale and is rich and deep with feelings. This story is a great read and a roller-coaster ride of sentiments.
Broken & Forgotten by Beverley Latimer is a fascinating story filled with almost overwhelming emotions. A high-spirited seventeen-year-old Irish girl named Delphina makes a mistake and becomes pregnant. The price she is forced to pay for this misstep is horrendous and unbelievable. This story is a salute to the power of perseverance, hope, and love. The relationship between Delphina and her now-fully-grown daughter Kathleen is central to the tale and is rich and deep with feelings. This story is a great read and a roller-coaster ride of sentiments.
January 24, 2025
This is a book that gripped me from page one a story that really makes you sad of all them girls that were forced to places like that just because they were pregnant.
It is an emotional read and a must Beverley is very talented author and very passionate about what she does .
Michelle Simpson
It is an emotional read and a must Beverley is very talented author and very passionate about what she does .
Michelle Simpson
January 18, 2024
Emotional
I’m almost bawling my eyes out after finishing this one! Wow! I thought Deceit and Reclamation was an emotional read, but it isn’t a patch in this sequel.
Throughout the book we are pulled into Delphina’s horror and despair as she has her love, her baby, and her freedom stolen from her in one fell swoop. But don’t fear readers! This one comes with an ending so perfect it will make your heart sing.
Amazing characters and a well put together story, perfectly blended with high emotions—both good and bad. The third book I’ve read by this author and they just keep getting better.
I’m almost bawling my eyes out after finishing this one! Wow! I thought Deceit and Reclamation was an emotional read, but it isn’t a patch in this sequel.
Throughout the book we are pulled into Delphina’s horror and despair as she has her love, her baby, and her freedom stolen from her in one fell swoop. But don’t fear readers! This one comes with an ending so perfect it will make your heart sing.
Amazing characters and a well put together story, perfectly blended with high emotions—both good and bad. The third book I’ve read by this author and they just keep getting better.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews