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I Have a Love Story
- GenresMemoir
160 pages, Hardcover
Published September 25, 2025
4 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 16, 2025
This is a lovely book, Natalie MacMaster really has love in this book. An easy book to read, it’s as though you are listening to Natalie talk. There are music scores, recipes and photos. A love story.
September 19, 2025
Widely recognized as one of Canada’s most celebrated musical artists, Natalie MacMaster is renowned as a captivating and electrifying performer and recording artist. A two-time Juno Award-winner, a Grammy nominee and recipient of the Order of Canada, Natalie has captivated audiences around the world for decades with her masterful Celtic fiddling and energetic concert performances.
Her new memoir I Have A Love Story places the equally remarkable, but less well known, story of her life and family into the spotlight along with the many triumphs of her musical career.
In Natalies’ own words, she shares her humble beginnings on Cape Breton Island, with step dancing and piano lessons and a fulsome family life. With food and music as the touchstones in her family upbringing, it’s no surprise that I Have a Love Story not only includes some of her favourite music scores, but also some cherished recipes from the family kitchen such as Tweed Squares, Aunt Mary Janet MacDonald’s Porridge Brown Bread and Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Her memoir reveals that from the first time Natalie picked up the fiddle, at age nine, she knew that she’d found her calling in life. She was right! In four short years she went from her first performance in front of an audience to appearing at EXPO ’86 in Vancouver and, in her quest to find the best songs to perform, writing her own material. Before long Natalie found herself playing to crowds of up to 80,000 people, with record deals in three different countries and fans across the globe.
It’s thrilling to read of Natalie’s musical triumphs, performing at some of the most renowned venues in the world, while playing with and crossing paths with a remarkable array of talents including The Chieftains, Alison Krauss, Art Garfunkel, Johnny Reid, Carlos Santana, Ashley MacIsaac, Yo-Yo Ma, Luciano Pavarotti, Angus Young (AC/DC), Sharon, Lois and Bram, Raffi, and many others.
Amidst what Natalie describes as her crazy life of “calls, trips, events and people” at the heart of her amazing story is the bucolic family life she shares with her husband, fellow fiddler Donnell Leahy. Their relationship, which began with a simple phone call to her dorm at Nova Scotia Teacher’s College, is at the heart of I Have a Love Story and today is represented by over 20 years of marriage, an unmatched musical partnership and seven children.
I Have a Love Story includes dozens of family photographs and is brimming with unforgettable and heartfelt reflections on family, faith, culture, and music from one of Canada’s true musical legends. Natalie is clear throughout the book that she believes in two things: music and love. Her inspiring memoir offers a unique and intimate look at the art of balancing a high-profile music career while navigating motherhood and the triumphs and challenges of family life while in the public eye.
Her new memoir I Have A Love Story places the equally remarkable, but less well known, story of her life and family into the spotlight along with the many triumphs of her musical career.
In Natalies’ own words, she shares her humble beginnings on Cape Breton Island, with step dancing and piano lessons and a fulsome family life. With food and music as the touchstones in her family upbringing, it’s no surprise that I Have a Love Story not only includes some of her favourite music scores, but also some cherished recipes from the family kitchen such as Tweed Squares, Aunt Mary Janet MacDonald’s Porridge Brown Bread and Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Her memoir reveals that from the first time Natalie picked up the fiddle, at age nine, she knew that she’d found her calling in life. She was right! In four short years she went from her first performance in front of an audience to appearing at EXPO ’86 in Vancouver and, in her quest to find the best songs to perform, writing her own material. Before long Natalie found herself playing to crowds of up to 80,000 people, with record deals in three different countries and fans across the globe.
It’s thrilling to read of Natalie’s musical triumphs, performing at some of the most renowned venues in the world, while playing with and crossing paths with a remarkable array of talents including The Chieftains, Alison Krauss, Art Garfunkel, Johnny Reid, Carlos Santana, Ashley MacIsaac, Yo-Yo Ma, Luciano Pavarotti, Angus Young (AC/DC), Sharon, Lois and Bram, Raffi, and many others.
Amidst what Natalie describes as her crazy life of “calls, trips, events and people” at the heart of her amazing story is the bucolic family life she shares with her husband, fellow fiddler Donnell Leahy. Their relationship, which began with a simple phone call to her dorm at Nova Scotia Teacher’s College, is at the heart of I Have a Love Story and today is represented by over 20 years of marriage, an unmatched musical partnership and seven children.
I Have a Love Story includes dozens of family photographs and is brimming with unforgettable and heartfelt reflections on family, faith, culture, and music from one of Canada’s true musical legends. Natalie is clear throughout the book that she believes in two things: music and love. Her inspiring memoir offers a unique and intimate look at the art of balancing a high-profile music career while navigating motherhood and the triumphs and challenges of family life while in the public eye.
January 5, 2026
Natalie MacMaster is Cape Breton’s sweet heart and this book confirms her authenticity and down to earth personality. Despite travelling the world as one of the best fiddlers, home and family are the most important to her. She shares the challenges of balancing touring with raising a family and her self doubts that she can do it at all. Together with her husband they have found that balance through many iterations. Their love story is sweet and founded in a partnership that works together to benefit all.
December 13, 2025
A sweet, wholesome, family-oriented memoir from one of Canada's top Celtic fiddle players. It's mostly a love letter to her husband and children, but she does also talk about her childhood and her rise to fame in her teens and twenties. She also includes family recipes and sheet music for some of her tunes. And I love how it's styled more as a coffee table book, with glossy pages and lots of pictures. It's a really nice, quick read.
January 8, 2026
This was a warm and engaging book, and full of heart. As an Irish music fan and former homeschooling mom, I really enjoyed the glimpse into Natalie and her family’s life. I was especially interested in her reflections on having her children practice music, as that was a challenge we navigated in our own family. Reading it brought me back to my years with lots of little kids at home. A busy, lively, and chaotic season but one I remember now as especially sweet.
December 28, 2025
I Have a Love Story really touched my heart. Natalie you expressed the feelings of motherhood and family so beautifully I could definitely relate. Your music has always touched my soul and now your words are in my heart!
January 8, 2026
Natalie MacMaster has a love story and decided to share it with all of us. I found it inspirational, unique, and genuine, just like the musician herself.
January 19, 2026
What a beautiful love story, so inspiring and wholesome and so needed for this doom and gloomy time. Thank you Natalie for sharing this life story with us. Highly recommend
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews