Finding Heather

by Alison Ragsdale

After a devastating loss, and a move across the world, a young mother rediscovers the healing power of family. Heather Forester is losing her grip on reality. She turns up at the airport to meet her pilot husband, Brett―and then she he’s not coming back. Brett died months ago, leaving her lost in the crippling, confusing maze of widowhood. Now alone with her seven-year-old twins, Heather craves the support of her mother and brother, who are halfway across the world in Scotland. But when she moves her fractured family to her homeland, their lives change in ways she never could have anticipated. As her children struggle to fit in to their new home, family, and school, Heather also wrestles with the painful truth that she has become a stranger in her own hometown. Surrounded by the rugged, breathtaking beauty of the Isle of Skye’s rocky coastline, velvet moors, and lush forests, Heather must face challenges old and new as she puts her life back together and learns the healing power of family. Revised This edition of  Finding Heather  includes editorial revisions.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Scotland, Chick Lit

320 pages, Paperback

Published October 11, 2016

About the author

Alison's Amazon best sellers include: TUESDAY'S SOCKS, THE FATHER-DAUGHTER CLUB, FINDING HEATHER, A LIFE UNEXPECTED, THE ART OF REMEMBERING, DIGNITY AND GRACE, HER LAST CHANCE, SOMEONE ELSE'S CHILD, THE CHILD BETWEEN US, AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE, and MY HUSBAND'S CHILD.

Originally from Edinburgh, Alison now lives in the US with her husband and dogs. Educated in England, she holds an MBA from Leicester University.

For more information: www.alisonragsdale.com.

Reviews

[Mary Christoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Heather was such an enjoyable read, mainly due to its complex characters (who were relatable and likeable) and the fun setting (really makes me want to visit Scotland). I enjoyed reading about Heather's struggles to deal with loss, change, and family. This novel was a perfect choice to read with a good cup of coffee and a warm blanket. I look forward to reading all of Alison Ragsdale' novels :)

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one! A young mother find hope after her husband dies.

[marlin1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heather Forester has been barely functioning after the unexpected death of her husband Brett. She's trying to keep it together for the sake of her 7 yr old twins with the help of her sister in law Chrissy. But it's when she finds herself waiting for her husband at the airport, which was a routine when he was alive and being called to school because her son Max has been fighting, she knows things must change. She decides to move her family from America back to the Isle of Skye in Scotland, where she grew up.
I enjoyed this story but I think I was expecting something a little different. I was hoping for more village or community interaction when Heather moved back to Skye with her children. But really it was just about Heather and her family coming to terms with their loss and the reintegration into her mother's and brother's life. Nice and gentle and a little slow.....maybe a little like Island life.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read 'Finding Heather' courtesy of NetGalley for a honest review.
I enjoyed the book but did find it a little slow at times from about midway through. The characters were solid although a little predictable, same as the plot.
I finished the book so it wasn't that bad but I normally enjoyed a page turner that keeps me guessing right until the end. For a nice, relaxing read then this is the book for you.
I would buy this for a friend and recommend it as it is well written, it's just not what I normally read.

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women's fiction at its best.

This woman writes lovely books with characters that are so real, you want to know them. When Heather thought she had lost her child, the emotional descriptions were so spot on, I almost couldn't read on. The relationships in the book seemed very honest, too. Nothing was rushed. This was a lovely book. am eagerly looking forward to her next offering.

[Bibi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3.5 stars. A sweet story about love, loss, and moving on. There were some parts that I felt were unnecessary and made the story drag on a bit, but overall a good read.

**I was provided an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

[Seana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a young widow with two children and I recently moved back to the city where I grew up to be closer to my family so this book really spoke to me.

[Karen Wahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the story. This is the second book by this author i have read and I enjoy her writing style but I especially enjoy the settings. I will be traveling to Scotland soon and will be visiting the Isle of Skye where this story takes place. I so loved all of the characters and especially the main character Heather and her relationship with her mother and brother. There was such love depicted between them. I did have one issue with how Elspeth was written as an "older woman" at the age of 65!! Most references made her sound elderly and most women that age don't consider themselves senior citizen type people or elderly!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes the only way to move forward is to go back home...
Have you ever read something and it really hurts your heart for the character? I've read quite literally a lot of books and with all of them, I always feel something for the characters but, this one really got to me.

Heather MacDonald Forester lost her pilot husband, Brett and seems to think she's losing it. She even goes to the airport to "meet him" one night, like she used to when he was alive. With two children to take care of, she is forced to make a decision to help turn their lives around for the better. She packs them up and sets off for Scotland, where she's originally from.

With her family's help, can she face her challenges and overcome them?

This is my second book of Ms Alison Ragsdale and I have to say, I truly enjoy her writing. She writes from the heart and her characters all feel as if you know them personally. Character development is so important in being able to picture the character in your head and visually "see" their movements. And that's what Alison does so well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

FYI: The Art of Remembering, her latest book arrives on Amazon on July 16! Check out my review of it here. You can also pre-order here.

Thanks for reading my review and I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!!

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Finding Heather. I felt that the book handled the difficult subject of grief and sudden loss very well. Heather loses her pilot husband suddenly when he has an aneurism and dies, leaving her with 7-year old twins and nothing but memories. How do you rebuild your life after that? She decides to take the twins "home" to Scotland and the Isle of Skye where her mother and brother still live. The book brought back fond memories of our trip to the Isle of Skye, and staying in a B&B in Portree. What a special place. And the essence of the island comes through very well in the book. The author's Scottish background make the story well grounded and rich. Above all, this is a story about the strength of family ties and relationships and the power of love to heal wounds. Heather is able to find new interests in Portree and she and the twins start to move forward in their lives. I really hated to see the book end!

[Beth Moylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Finding Heather by Alison Ragsdale and now I want to go to Scotland. This is a well written story about a mother and daughter and the tragedies that brought them back together. I didn't want it to end. I would highly recommend this great read. Thank you Alison for the autographed book and the scarf from Scotland.

[CTBookGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading a book by Alison Ragsdale and I would put her on my to-read list again. Finding Heather was a mix of heartbreak and hope. As a wife and mom, I can't imagine the heart-wrenching journey this character takes us on and the courage she displays even in the bleakest of moments. An added bonus was the location descriptions! The author's details of Scotland has me putting this on my travel bucket list so kudos for that! Overall, a sweet, emotional and gripping story that is definitely worth reading.
I received a copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Peggy Lampman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished FINDING HEATHER by Alison Ragsdale and am ready to plan a trip to Scotland! Loved the story of this mother and children trying to navigate tragedy and heartache. The characters are beautifully wrought and I didn’t want the story to end! I’m so glad that I purchased the Audible version, as well as the book. Narrator Mhairi Morrison has a beautiful Scottish voice that transported me into the community of the Isle of Sky. Well done!

[Soraya Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully written, poignant story of a woman who found her way back to happiness again after tragedy. I loved reading a book with a different setting - Scotland was fascinating to me and a place I've never actually read about before! The characters are deeply woven and feel so real, the only thing I would say is that I wish it could have gone on longer because there was a character I wanted to get to know more by the end!!

[Gabi Coatsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I might enjoy this book because its author is British woman living in the States and a mix of cultures can be fun. But I became distracted by the writing. The characters seemed to be in constant pain, with knots, stabbing, jabbing, and crushing that affected their ribs, bones, and chests.

It made the book hard to read. Writers are always being told to show not tell, meaning to describe emotions not simply state them. But I longed for people to just feel anxious or afraid or sad sometimes, instead of dealing with their physical symptoms.
And the plot was rather trite, too.

The reader, Mhairi Morrison, did a wonderful job, and has a lovely Scottish lilt that helped, but it wasn’t enough.

[Tina Hottinger]

Review of Finding Heather by Alison Ragsdale

I'm not very good at these..just so you know. I just finished reading Finding Heather and I am so sad its finished! I couldn't put it down. It's the story of Heather Forester and her 7 year old twins. After losing her husband they have a tough time coping and she moves her little family back home to Scotland.
I dont want to give anything away. It's about the healing power of family and friends and places you love. At times I could picture the Scottish scenery..hear the dialect. Its a beautiful novel that will definetly move you as it did me. This is now easily in my top five favorite books. You need to read this one!!

[Joann M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This played out like a sweet movie Woman loses husband to cope she moves her children and herself back home to Ireland to start over and be with her family. Kids have a hard time adjusting at first, son runs away, drama looking for him. Life finally settles down for them and a year later she falls in love again.

My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Harriet Dickerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I pretty much felt exactly as Phyllis (scroll down a few reviews) reviewed previously. Wonderful characters that felt very real. At times the plot moved a bit slowly but Ms. Ragsdale deals with tough stuff and as Phyllis said, she didn't rush it. So once I settled into the pace, I found it to be just right for tackling such difficult issues. Be forewarned though, there are some moments where you might shed a few tears. I loved the settings and all the characters. Makes me want to move to Skye!

[Donna Peake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characters. Great story.

[Beatrice Followill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

Wonderful emotionally Endearing story of lost love ,going home for second chance for the whole family and new beginnings, this Author is new to me ,will be reading more

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a family overcoming the loss of a father and husband. Beautiful descriptions of Scotland.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful and heart gripping novel by an author I’ve come to love! Great story line and characters. All the feels in each page of this book I highly recommend this!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I never thought of living in Scotland, after reading this book and the vivid descriptions of the Isle of Skye, Scotland, I would think moving there would be a real dream come true. The author’s descriptions of the area and the rugged people who live there was spot on, and made me want to be a part of it all.

After the sudden death of her husband, Heather Forester moves, with her seven-year old twins, to Scotland, where her mother and brother live. Since her husband’s death, Heather has had a difficult time adjusting, and she figures the support of her mother and brother man help her adjust better. However, once on the Isle of Skye, with her family, Heather finds things have changed in ways she never could have expected, and adjustment is not so easy or quick. Everyone in her small family struggles with the changes that emerge from the move. Still, the healing power of family helps her and the twins’ adjustments to this new life without their father and husband as well as their move in the right direction. Follow Heather and her family as they navigate through life’s ups and downs in this new chapter in their lives, in a new land. The book provides a great portrayal of what life may be like after the sudden death of one’s spouse, something I do not think many of us ever think about or, if we do, dwell on.

This book was well-written and had great, well- developed characters. I do wish there had been more interaction on the part of the Isle of Skye community rather than just Heather’s family, as it would have been nice to see how the natives act and react. Still, I did enjoy the way the family held together for Heather and her children in this time of need, showing how precious and important families are and how they can and do come through when you need them most. I have not read anything else by this author, but am now convinced she is a great writer, whose other works I will look for in the future. I also think there is an opening for a sequel, which I will look for in the future, since I definitely want to read more about Heather, her children, her mother and brother and anyone else who becomes part of her life. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a truly wonderful story of a young family moving forward with their lives. Heather and her 7 year old twins can't seem to function in Virginia after the death of Brett, her husband and their father. Heather decides to return to her family home in Scotland to help the children heal and let her family help her grieve. Elspeth, her mother still runs the bed and breakfast and makes room for Heather, Max and Megan. This books cries out for a sequel. The love story you are expecting is not what you get. With strong realistic characters, each one has a story that needs to be shared. I can't wait to find more books by Alison Ragsdale, she had me smiling and reaching for a Kleenex on the same page. Couldn't put it down.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

FTC Disclosure: I received this book free from Goodreads hoping I would review it.

[Kimberley H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging & Tender

A wholesome journey through the grieving process and finding of oneself. Engaging and thought provoking with likable characters and a Delightful story.

[Hanau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it

I really liked this book, even though I lost my patience with Heather a few times throughout the story.
Will read more of Allison’s books.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich in characterization accompanied with a vivid and beautiful setting that draws the reading into the story, 'Finding Heather' is a beautifully inspiring, and heartfelt tale of the healing powers of love, and the importance of family, and home... When Heather decides to make the long journey back home to Scotland with her young children after the sudden and devastating death of her husband, she finds comfort, peace, healing, hope, love, and strength in the sheltering and loving arms of the beloved family, and home she left behind. With a deft pen, Alison Ragsdale weaves a wonderfully, heart-touching and thought-provoking tale of loss, new beginnings, love, and the peace and healing found in the loving arms of family, and the sheltering familiarity of home.
~ Elizabeth MacGregor ☕️📚🌻

[Stef · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very worthwhile read

I gave Finding Heather "only" four stars due to the fact that I'd read Ms. Ragsdale's The Art of Remembering before this. It's perhaps unfair to compare the two, especially as The Art of Remembering was published some three years after Finding Heather. The former had subtle nuances of emotion that weren't present in the latter - and clearly show Ms. Ragsdale's development as a fine author.

That having been said, Finding Heather was an extremely well written work with a captivating plot.

I will most certainly continue to follow Ms. Ragsdale's books.

That having been

[Sylvia Dominick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Finding Heather by Alison Ragsdale

Well, Alison, you caught my heartstrings once again. Somehow I expected a thriller which turned into an adventure of Heather trying to learn who she was after a sudden and tragic loss. Eventually, the entire family finds that she is far from alone in her search for fulfillment and happiness once again. A tale of loss, loneliness, family bonds with very long arms, struggles, hope, and finally, the best ending one could ever imagine! Congratulations to you, Alison, for setting your bar higher and higher! You have made me happy, at least until your next happy ending! Thank you ever so much for touching me deeply!