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Hartley-by-the-Sea #3
A Mother Like Mine
Welcome to England's beautiful Lake District, where a reluctant reunion forges a new bond between a daughter and her wayward mother....
Abby Rhodes is just starting to get her life on track. After her fiance's unexpected death, she returned with her young son to the small village where she grew up and threw herself into helping her ailing grandmother run the town's beach cafe. Then one evening, her mother, Laura, shows up in Hartley-by-the-Sea and announces her plan to stay. After twenty years away, she now wants to focus on the future--and has no intention, it seems, of revisiting the painful past.
Laura Rhodes has made a lot of mistakes, and many of them concern her daughter. But as Abby gets little glimpses into her mother's life, she begins to realize there are depths to Laura she never knew. Slowly, Abby and Laura start making tentative steps toward each other, only to have life become even more complicated when an unexpected tragedy arises. Together, the two women will discover truths both sad and surprising that draw them closer to a new understanding of what it means to truly forgive someone you love.
Abby Rhodes is just starting to get her life on track. After her fiance's unexpected death, she returned with her young son to the small village where she grew up and threw herself into helping her ailing grandmother run the town's beach cafe. Then one evening, her mother, Laura, shows up in Hartley-by-the-Sea and announces her plan to stay. After twenty years away, she now wants to focus on the future--and has no intention, it seems, of revisiting the painful past.
Laura Rhodes has made a lot of mistakes, and many of them concern her daughter. But as Abby gets little glimpses into her mother's life, she begins to realize there are depths to Laura she never knew. Slowly, Abby and Laura start making tentative steps toward each other, only to have life become even more complicated when an unexpected tragedy arises. Together, the two women will discover truths both sad and surprising that draw them closer to a new understanding of what it means to truly forgive someone you love.
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2017
About the author
Kate Hewitt
906 books1,752 followersKate is the USA Today-bsetselling author of many books of both historical and contemporary fiction. Under the name Katharine Swartz, she is the author of the Tales from Goswell books, a series of time-slip novels set in the village of Goswell.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
August 29, 2017
Your mother returning after no contact for 20 years? Would you be happy or resentful?
Abby was actually shocked that her mother came back to the small village of Hartley-by-the-Sea in England after being in New York. Her mother, Laura, left when Abby was two, and rarely kept in touch.
Laura went on with her life without her daughter, and her mother took care of Abby for her. Her mother now has Abby as an adult and her grandson living with her since Abby's fiancé was killed.
The Rhodes women own a coffee/ice cream shop and live in the attached apartment.
Laura's return caused hard feelings for all and an upset in the living arrangements.
The characters were believable in the sense that similar relationships do exist.
I loved Mary, the grandmother.
Abby was likable.
Laura wasn't too likable, but became somewhat likable as the book continued.
A MOTHER LIKE MINE is a book that made me appreciate my mother and the love and care she selfishly gave to all eight of us.
A MOTHER LIKE MINE was a bit slow for me and out of my usual genre, but I loved the setting of the book and the premise of the book was good.
If you enjoy family interaction and drama, A MOTHER LIKE MINE is a book you will want to read.
ENJOY if you read the book. 4/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review.
***********************************************
There is also a giveaway running from today, August 29, until September 5 if you head over to Silver's Reviews. http://silversolara.blogspot.com
Abby was actually shocked that her mother came back to the small village of Hartley-by-the-Sea in England after being in New York. Her mother, Laura, left when Abby was two, and rarely kept in touch.
Laura went on with her life without her daughter, and her mother took care of Abby for her. Her mother now has Abby as an adult and her grandson living with her since Abby's fiancé was killed.
The Rhodes women own a coffee/ice cream shop and live in the attached apartment.
Laura's return caused hard feelings for all and an upset in the living arrangements.
The characters were believable in the sense that similar relationships do exist.
I loved Mary, the grandmother.
Abby was likable.
Laura wasn't too likable, but became somewhat likable as the book continued.
A MOTHER LIKE MINE is a book that made me appreciate my mother and the love and care she selfishly gave to all eight of us.
A MOTHER LIKE MINE was a bit slow for me and out of my usual genre, but I loved the setting of the book and the premise of the book was good.
If you enjoy family interaction and drama, A MOTHER LIKE MINE is a book you will want to read.
ENJOY if you read the book. 4/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review.
***********************************************
There is also a giveaway running from today, August 29, until September 5 if you head over to Silver's Reviews. http://silversolara.blogspot.com
September 23, 2017
Abby Rhodes returns to her hometown of Hartley By The Sea in England as a widower with her young son. She has dropped out of college to help her ailing grandmother run their family owned beach cafe. She has a deep connection with her grandmother since she raised her after her mother left. Abby’s sole focus has been her son since her fiance died.
One evening, Abby’s mother Laura returns after being away for twenty years. Laura was fired from her latest job and she has financial problems. She has decided that her return is permanent which agitates Abby. In the beginning, the situation is tense between the two since Laura refuses to explain why she abandoned her. As they begin to work together in the cafe a relationship develops and the reasons for Laura’s past actions are revealed.
This novel is about the healing that happens when two parties work together to repair a gap in their relationship. This is book three of a series by Kate Hewitt, and it can be read as a stand alone story.
One evening, Abby’s mother Laura returns after being away for twenty years. Laura was fired from her latest job and she has financial problems. She has decided that her return is permanent which agitates Abby. In the beginning, the situation is tense between the two since Laura refuses to explain why she abandoned her. As they begin to work together in the cafe a relationship develops and the reasons for Laura’s past actions are revealed.
This novel is about the healing that happens when two parties work together to repair a gap in their relationship. This is book three of a series by Kate Hewitt, and it can be read as a stand alone story.
August 12, 2017
This is the third book in this series. I do have book one [unread] and book 2 I need to get my hands on. I really don't feel I have missed out too much though as I found it quite OK to follow it.
Kate Hewitt is one of today's Best selling authors in the USA. I live in the UK and I feel her name is coming up trumps many a time when talking to other readers who love books in this genre.
Rainy days sisters is book 1.
This book 3 is full to burst with emotions.
Abby has been working hard to get her life back on track, its been a struggle, her fiance met his untimely death and she was left picking up the pieces along with her young son.
She returned to the village she grew up in, lots were happy to welcome her back into the fold, her grandmother needed her; and she was happy to help.
Her grandmother ran the towns beach cafe and so she could help her that way, she was enjoying being needed again.
She never had the best relationship with her mother and we soon find out why when her wayward mother turns up one day. The conversation between her mother and Abby you could cut with a knife.
Laura [Abby's mother] "Its so beautiful isn't it?" Laura remarked as she nodded towards the window. "On a day like today there' nowhere else you'd rather be"
Abby's reply to this was short, curt and full of meaning [I thought]
"Seemed like there were plenty of places you'd have rather have been over the years"
OH stab
Up to now we don't know the full story of what has happened between mother and daughter, it grew more compulsive reading to find out.
But Laura has not just come to visit, shes come to stay.
The complicated emotional feelings you get from this story is deeply immense.
Based around the Lake District we get the feel for the surrounding areas, the beautiful beach included.
Izzy was and is Abby's friend from youth, it was lovely to see them catching up and reminiscing.
Mother and daughter relationships are a landmine at times and this reading coupled with some witty quick 'off the cuff' remark at times was a pleasure to read.
Tense, poignant and a fulfilling read.
February 15, 2018
Got a kick out of the third book in this series. Kate Hewitt looks at an estranged mother/daughter named Abby and Laura Rhodes. I was more intrigued with the chapters that featured Laura, but Abby was compelling in her own way. I think that Hewitt smartly didn't have everything end up hearts and flowers since her books take a realistic look at things, while still simmering with a bit of romance in the background. The characters/relationships between 6 sets of women through the past 3 books is what is most important. Having a guy in your life is just gravy.
"A Mother Like Mine" has Abby and Laura Rhodes trying their best to have some sort of relationship with each other after Laura has left Abby's care to Laura's mother. Laura had Abby when she was 16 and two years after that moved to Manchester to work in a night club, eventually ending up in America (New York). After being fired from her job for being too old, (she's 42 people) Laura returns to Hartley-by-the-Sea realizing that if she never tries to have a relationship with Abby, all of her sacrifices she did will mean nothing. Abby rightfully so is angry her mother has returned, and her home life has turned upside down. Abby has a young son named Nath that she is trying to raise solo while also running her grandmother's shop. It's not what she dreamed of doing with her her life, but she's content, or so she thinks.
I am not going to lie. I did not care for Laura at all when she swanned in. She demands that Abby sleep with her young son so she gets a bedroom and seems reluctant to even talk to her. If you don't get her side of things via her chapter POV you wouldn't even know how much pain she is in at times. What I loved the most about Laura is she owns the mistakes she made and what she has done. There is no trying to make excuses or anything else. But she's not a saint, she gets frustrated with Abby and seems quite perplexed by children as a whole.
Abby has some issues with being abandoned by her mother and dealing with a boyfriend who died while she was pregnant with their child. It's not said out right, but the boyfriend's parents just left her to her own devices and wanted to pretend their precious son had nothing to do with her. Abby is reluctant to move forward at times and it's great that Laura is there to push her along the way. When Laura is genuinely happy she is now able to read her daughter at times, it will make you smile.
There's a hint of a romance for Laura in this one which I am curious if it will be discussed in the next book (if there is one). And though Abby has a crush on someone, it's not the most important thing in the world. For both women, the business the run, and Abby's son is important.
I loved we got to see updated on previous characters and there's a shocking reveal about someone close to one of our characters too. We do get a wedding (no spoilers) that made me happy to see as well.
Hartley-by-the-Sea has grown on me through three books and I can't wait to see what Hewitt has up her sleeves next.
Going to count this towards The Mostly Dead Writers Society 52 week challenge: Romance.
"A Mother Like Mine" has Abby and Laura Rhodes trying their best to have some sort of relationship with each other after Laura has left Abby's care to Laura's mother. Laura had Abby when she was 16 and two years after that moved to Manchester to work in a night club, eventually ending up in America (New York). After being fired from her job for being too old, (she's 42 people) Laura returns to Hartley-by-the-Sea realizing that if she never tries to have a relationship with Abby, all of her sacrifices she did will mean nothing. Abby rightfully so is angry her mother has returned, and her home life has turned upside down. Abby has a young son named Nath that she is trying to raise solo while also running her grandmother's shop. It's not what she dreamed of doing with her her life, but she's content, or so she thinks.
I am not going to lie. I did not care for Laura at all when she swanned in. She demands that Abby sleep with her young son so she gets a bedroom and seems reluctant to even talk to her. If you don't get her side of things via her chapter POV you wouldn't even know how much pain she is in at times. What I loved the most about Laura is she owns the mistakes she made and what she has done. There is no trying to make excuses or anything else. But she's not a saint, she gets frustrated with Abby and seems quite perplexed by children as a whole.
Abby has some issues with being abandoned by her mother and dealing with a boyfriend who died while she was pregnant with their child. It's not said out right, but the boyfriend's parents just left her to her own devices and wanted to pretend their precious son had nothing to do with her. Abby is reluctant to move forward at times and it's great that Laura is there to push her along the way. When Laura is genuinely happy she is now able to read her daughter at times, it will make you smile.
There's a hint of a romance for Laura in this one which I am curious if it will be discussed in the next book (if there is one). And though Abby has a crush on someone, it's not the most important thing in the world. For both women, the business the run, and Abby's son is important.
I loved we got to see updated on previous characters and there's a shocking reveal about someone close to one of our characters too. We do get a wedding (no spoilers) that made me happy to see as well.
Hartley-by-the-Sea has grown on me through three books and I can't wait to see what Hewitt has up her sleeves next.
Going to count this towards The Mostly Dead Writers Society 52 week challenge: Romance.
July 18, 2017
Every daughter needs her mother at any age...
This book brings home the above adage in a beautiful way.
3 strong women; grandmother Mary, mother Laura and daughter Abby. There is an ebb and flow of emotions between all of them especially between Laura and Abby. Laura left Abby, she was driven out, when Abby was just two and she still feels the pain of abandonment. But Laura returns after 20 years to try and bridge the gap between them. Is it too late...?
It's tough going, as both have their own defences. But that's what, makes this a good story. There is laughter and tears, love and anger, friendship and strangeness. The entire story is about forging a bond before it's too late. Laura has her own way of being, she had to toughen up to live a different life in the city, and finds it difficult to open up. Pain of childhood makes Abby hesitant to be bold and ask her mother the tough questions. So the book has lovable moments as well as frustrating ones, when both refuse to share.
Kate Hewitt has done it again, written a book which pulls your heartstrings and makes you want to get a cuddle from your mother. Laura and Abby are both strong characters at the same time vulnerable. They have a bitter past but they look forward to a brighter future. They lose everything to come back stronger than before.
Kate Hewitt has written well, the transformation of strangers becoming friends then bonding into mother and daughter is well evolved. There are other characters who play their part, they come and go but it's the mother and daughter who take the centre stage in the entire book. When life becomes tough, it's the tough which gets going, and here the entire town's people also come forward during periods of hardship.
I would have liked a bit more warmth between Laura and Abby and a lot more warmth between Laura and Mary. The story and background, friction between grandmother Mary and Laura is not well explained. The reason for Laura leaving is flimsy at best and a mother finding work for her daughter as a hostess in a night club sounds too farfetched for this kind of family saga story.
Scar of a mother leaving her daughter is deep but the chasm is never so deep or so wide that it cannot be abridged. Parents are also humans and they make mistakes but sometimes looking at their reasonings from a grown-up's perspective is rewarding. Thank you, Kate for showing us that...
Every daughter, go to your mom, give her a hug, get a cuddle back and see the world becoming brighter.
There is no place on Earth like a mother's arms...
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Berkeley Publishing and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
This book brings home the above adage in a beautiful way.
3 strong women; grandmother Mary, mother Laura and daughter Abby. There is an ebb and flow of emotions between all of them especially between Laura and Abby. Laura left Abby, she was driven out, when Abby was just two and she still feels the pain of abandonment. But Laura returns after 20 years to try and bridge the gap between them. Is it too late...?
It's tough going, as both have their own defences. But that's what, makes this a good story. There is laughter and tears, love and anger, friendship and strangeness. The entire story is about forging a bond before it's too late. Laura has her own way of being, she had to toughen up to live a different life in the city, and finds it difficult to open up. Pain of childhood makes Abby hesitant to be bold and ask her mother the tough questions. So the book has lovable moments as well as frustrating ones, when both refuse to share.
Kate Hewitt has done it again, written a book which pulls your heartstrings and makes you want to get a cuddle from your mother. Laura and Abby are both strong characters at the same time vulnerable. They have a bitter past but they look forward to a brighter future. They lose everything to come back stronger than before.
Kate Hewitt has written well, the transformation of strangers becoming friends then bonding into mother and daughter is well evolved. There are other characters who play their part, they come and go but it's the mother and daughter who take the centre stage in the entire book. When life becomes tough, it's the tough which gets going, and here the entire town's people also come forward during periods of hardship.
I would have liked a bit more warmth between Laura and Abby and a lot more warmth between Laura and Mary. The story and background, friction between grandmother Mary and Laura is not well explained. The reason for Laura leaving is flimsy at best and a mother finding work for her daughter as a hostess in a night club sounds too farfetched for this kind of family saga story.
Scar of a mother leaving her daughter is deep but the chasm is never so deep or so wide that it cannot be abridged. Parents are also humans and they make mistakes but sometimes looking at their reasonings from a grown-up's perspective is rewarding. Thank you, Kate for showing us that...
Every daughter, go to your mom, give her a hug, get a cuddle back and see the world becoming brighter.
There is no place on Earth like a mother's arms...
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Berkeley Publishing and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
December 29, 2019
I have noticed that in reading a lot of the subject matter is black or white, a lot of the characters are wonderful or truly rotten. This book was a celebration of the greys that really is true to life.
February 24, 2017
A Mother Like Mine takes the readers back to the small village of Hartley-by-the-Sea in the beautiful Lake District of England. It is the third book in this series but can be read as a stand alone with no confusion.
Abby is a single mother who was raised by her grandmother after her mother left when she was two. Abby had left her small village for a few years to attend university but after her fiance got killed, she dropped out of school and returned with her young son to live with her grandmother to help her run her small cafe. After 20 years away, her mother Laura shows up unexpectedly and wants to rejoin the family that she abandoned so many years before. Abby is very suspect that her mother will stay and very reluctant to welcome her home. She not only worries about her feelings but also doesn't want her son to get attached and then left behind as Abby had been so many years before. Abby and Laura try to establish a relationship with each other but both realize that it will be very difficult to do after such a long time apart.
Even though there are many other characters in this book, the two main characters, Abby and Laura, are the most important part of this story. Their attempts to have a relationship are well written and the main focus of the story. The reader can feel the pain that they went through in their pasts as it is revealed n bits and pieces. This is wonderful story about family and love and most importantly forgiveness.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Abby is a single mother who was raised by her grandmother after her mother left when she was two. Abby had left her small village for a few years to attend university but after her fiance got killed, she dropped out of school and returned with her young son to live with her grandmother to help her run her small cafe. After 20 years away, her mother Laura shows up unexpectedly and wants to rejoin the family that she abandoned so many years before. Abby is very suspect that her mother will stay and very reluctant to welcome her home. She not only worries about her feelings but also doesn't want her son to get attached and then left behind as Abby had been so many years before. Abby and Laura try to establish a relationship with each other but both realize that it will be very difficult to do after such a long time apart.
Even though there are many other characters in this book, the two main characters, Abby and Laura, are the most important part of this story. Their attempts to have a relationship are well written and the main focus of the story. The reader can feel the pain that they went through in their pasts as it is revealed n bits and pieces. This is wonderful story about family and love and most importantly forgiveness.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
July 24, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
It’s just you know how gossip spreads in this village… Worse than measles.
Did Laura have emotional baggage? Didn’t everyone? They were all dragging something behind them, whether it was a steamer trunk or a handbag. Abby certainly had a truckload…
Just don’t stew too long in your own juices, Abby. It doesn’t make for a pleasant marinade.
The chip on her shoulder practically went down to her belly button.
My Review:
Kate Hewitt is a prolific writer with a seven page listing on Amazon, so why did it take me so long to take notice as A Mother Like Mine is my first time reading her work? Silly me! I plan to rectify my grievous error and short sightedness as the gal has skills, and I want to absorb her words. Her skillful crafting of this intriguing tale with a complicated family dynamic featured realistically flawed people struggling with real-life concerns, yet it was captivating, easy to follow, and engaging. And thankfully, she sprinkled in clever story threads with bites of humor and amusing observations throughout, to help alleviate the angsty tension.
Several generations of Rhodes women were tragically lacking in dating and parental skills, with at least three generations managing to find themselves “up the duff” before someone put a ring on it, which just isn’t the accepted practice in any small and gossipy village. Yet after a lifetime of avoidance, Laura Rhodes hopes to attempt a parenting do-over with her now nearly thirty-year old daughter Abby, whom she had left behind at age two while Laura had been a distressed teenage dropout. Establishing any type of connection was not an easy task due to Abby’s life-long resentments, abandonment issues, and simmering anger. Limited options and family issues threw them together to forge a surprising alliance that slowly grew from a tense and prickly dynamic into a supportive and healing connection. Long held secrets, deep emotional wounds, and misconceptions abound.
It’s just you know how gossip spreads in this village… Worse than measles.
Did Laura have emotional baggage? Didn’t everyone? They were all dragging something behind them, whether it was a steamer trunk or a handbag. Abby certainly had a truckload…
Just don’t stew too long in your own juices, Abby. It doesn’t make for a pleasant marinade.
The chip on her shoulder practically went down to her belly button.
My Review:
Kate Hewitt is a prolific writer with a seven page listing on Amazon, so why did it take me so long to take notice as A Mother Like Mine is my first time reading her work? Silly me! I plan to rectify my grievous error and short sightedness as the gal has skills, and I want to absorb her words. Her skillful crafting of this intriguing tale with a complicated family dynamic featured realistically flawed people struggling with real-life concerns, yet it was captivating, easy to follow, and engaging. And thankfully, she sprinkled in clever story threads with bites of humor and amusing observations throughout, to help alleviate the angsty tension.
Several generations of Rhodes women were tragically lacking in dating and parental skills, with at least three generations managing to find themselves “up the duff” before someone put a ring on it, which just isn’t the accepted practice in any small and gossipy village. Yet after a lifetime of avoidance, Laura Rhodes hopes to attempt a parenting do-over with her now nearly thirty-year old daughter Abby, whom she had left behind at age two while Laura had been a distressed teenage dropout. Establishing any type of connection was not an easy task due to Abby’s life-long resentments, abandonment issues, and simmering anger. Limited options and family issues threw them together to forge a surprising alliance that slowly grew from a tense and prickly dynamic into a supportive and healing connection. Long held secrets, deep emotional wounds, and misconceptions abound.
September 21, 2017
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
At first I found myself a bit angry at this book--or really rather at myself for not realizing that it was a part of a series (the author's Hartley-by-the-Sea three-book series) when I signed up for the book tour. It's my own fault for not looking closer and responding to "Lake District" and "cafe" when signing up. I admit to having some issues about reading books out of order, and although most/many would probably tell you that although characters repeat through the books and you don't really need to read them in order, it still bugs me. I didn't have time to go back and get/read the previous two books, so I had a bit of disgruntlement when I started A Mother Like Mine. Once I re-reminded myself it wasn't the book's fault and started reading, I basically got over it. ;-)
I am a big sucker for second-chance books where characters, particularly female, move back home or somewhere quaint and start their lives over and so A Mother Like Mine was right up my alley with an estranged mother and daughter combination doing just that. Both daughter (Abby) and mother (Laura) have their issues and it took me some time to understand their characters and appreciate them. As the two began to build their relationship, I began to build mine with them and really began rooting for them to succeed--with themselves, with each other, and with their business. The book alternates between their two perspectives, so there's a chance to know how each character is feeling and both are well-drawn. The supporting characters are interesting and overall engaging--although there are a lot of them to get know well (where the other books come into play I am sure).
There is definitely a lot of family and small-town drama that abound in this book and Hartly-by-the-Sea, so if you like books with strong (or growing stronger) female characters, second-starts, family and especially mother-daughter relationships, and settings of small U.K. coastal villages, you will likely enjoy this one. I did--enough so to put the other two books onto my TBR list. A Mother Like Mine walks the balance well of being not-too-heavy, but containing some darker, heaver moments--making it a great book to pour a cup of tea, settle into a comfortable spot, and escape with for a bit.
You can see my review and a recipe inspired by my reading on my blog post here: https://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/2...
Note: A review copy of "A Mother like Mine" was provided to me by the author and the publisher via TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
At first I found myself a bit angry at this book--or really rather at myself for not realizing that it was a part of a series (the author's Hartley-by-the-Sea three-book series) when I signed up for the book tour. It's my own fault for not looking closer and responding to "Lake District" and "cafe" when signing up. I admit to having some issues about reading books out of order, and although most/many would probably tell you that although characters repeat through the books and you don't really need to read them in order, it still bugs me. I didn't have time to go back and get/read the previous two books, so I had a bit of disgruntlement when I started A Mother Like Mine. Once I re-reminded myself it wasn't the book's fault and started reading, I basically got over it. ;-)
I am a big sucker for second-chance books where characters, particularly female, move back home or somewhere quaint and start their lives over and so A Mother Like Mine was right up my alley with an estranged mother and daughter combination doing just that. Both daughter (Abby) and mother (Laura) have their issues and it took me some time to understand their characters and appreciate them. As the two began to build their relationship, I began to build mine with them and really began rooting for them to succeed--with themselves, with each other, and with their business. The book alternates between their two perspectives, so there's a chance to know how each character is feeling and both are well-drawn. The supporting characters are interesting and overall engaging--although there are a lot of them to get know well (where the other books come into play I am sure).
There is definitely a lot of family and small-town drama that abound in this book and Hartly-by-the-Sea, so if you like books with strong (or growing stronger) female characters, second-starts, family and especially mother-daughter relationships, and settings of small U.K. coastal villages, you will likely enjoy this one. I did--enough so to put the other two books onto my TBR list. A Mother Like Mine walks the balance well of being not-too-heavy, but containing some darker, heaver moments--making it a great book to pour a cup of tea, settle into a comfortable spot, and escape with for a bit.
You can see my review and a recipe inspired by my reading on my blog post here: https://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/2...
Note: A review copy of "A Mother like Mine" was provided to me by the author and the publisher via TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 1, 2017
This is a wonderful book about a mother-daughter relationship and how they learn to care for each other after being apart for 25 years. Laura left when Abby was 2 leaving Abby with her grandma to raise her. Now Laura is back in Hartley-by-the-Sea to stay and they need to learn how to live with each other again and how to find each other again on several different levels. This shows how different relationships are between mothers and daughters and how it can change over time. The descriptions were great. I felt like I was there at Cliff Cafe and watching the different characters. Kate Hewitt does a great job fleshing out the characters and making the reader care for them.
Thanks to Penguin Random House First to Read Program for a copy of this book.
Thanks to Penguin Random House First to Read Program for a copy of this book.
August 9, 2017
Abby Rhodes, now a widow, and her 5-year-old son, Noah, have returned to Hartley-by-the-Sea and remained for two years now. She’s just about taken over running the café on the beach as her grandmother Mary has recently had a heart attack and is not well at all. Imagine their surprise when a knock on the door reveals that Abby’s mother, Laura, has now returned and plans on staying indefinitely. Laura was, as far as Abby is concerned, an absentee mother for as long as Abby can remember!
This is the story of their reunion and attempt to resolve pain from the past, an opportunity to reshape the future as a family. Sounds lovely as an idea, but it’s a difficult labyrinth to travel. No one knows how it will all end!
Abby lives in a constant tension of feeling anger and hurt at her mother’s failure as a mother and a mature attitude and effort to put it behind her. Giving her mother a second chance is a tall order, but Mary begs her repeatedly to try. Noah, as a child and grandchild, is innocent about it all and he is the glue that keeps the whole quagmire from exploding and decimating the family again.
As the story progresses, Abby and Laura discover that each carries an unknown story with elements that were unpredictable, causing choices that may or may not have been best for all involved.
Eventually a great loss and a surprising revelation will change their lives forever. This is a story of love with all its messy and wonderful moments, a healing journey that forges a new relationship to last forever!
Fine, fine story that is a tense, poignant but lovely read!!!! Highly recommended!
This is the story of their reunion and attempt to resolve pain from the past, an opportunity to reshape the future as a family. Sounds lovely as an idea, but it’s a difficult labyrinth to travel. No one knows how it will all end!
Abby lives in a constant tension of feeling anger and hurt at her mother’s failure as a mother and a mature attitude and effort to put it behind her. Giving her mother a second chance is a tall order, but Mary begs her repeatedly to try. Noah, as a child and grandchild, is innocent about it all and he is the glue that keeps the whole quagmire from exploding and decimating the family again.
As the story progresses, Abby and Laura discover that each carries an unknown story with elements that were unpredictable, causing choices that may or may not have been best for all involved.
Eventually a great loss and a surprising revelation will change their lives forever. This is a story of love with all its messy and wonderful moments, a healing journey that forges a new relationship to last forever!
Fine, fine story that is a tense, poignant but lovely read!!!! Highly recommended!
August 15, 2017
From the Publisher:
A Mother Like Mine is a charming story about understanding what it means to truly forgive someone you love.
I received an ARC of this book through Penguin Random House First to Read program.
This is the story of Abby and Laura, a daughter and a mother with a very troubled history. Circumstances out of their control bring them together. The first half of the book is just them dancing around issues concerning their relationship. Neither is particularly likable, although as the story progressed, I found myself being drawn first to Abby and then, much later, to Laura. The second half of the book was much better than the first. In hindsight, the first half isn't bad - but it is necessary. Overall, watching the mother daughter relationship grow was extremely satisfying. And by the time I finished the book, I was completely enamored with the story and the characters. A Mother Like Mine went from being an "OK" book to one that I consider to be very good. All in all, it is a very enjoyable read.
A Mother Like Mine is a charming story about understanding what it means to truly forgive someone you love.
I received an ARC of this book through Penguin Random House First to Read program.
This is the story of Abby and Laura, a daughter and a mother with a very troubled history. Circumstances out of their control bring them together. The first half of the book is just them dancing around issues concerning their relationship. Neither is particularly likable, although as the story progressed, I found myself being drawn first to Abby and then, much later, to Laura. The second half of the book was much better than the first. In hindsight, the first half isn't bad - but it is necessary. Overall, watching the mother daughter relationship grow was extremely satisfying. And by the time I finished the book, I was completely enamored with the story and the characters. A Mother Like Mine went from being an "OK" book to one that I consider to be very good. All in all, it is a very enjoyable read.
August 31, 2017
If you are a fan of emotional reads, A Mother Like Mine should be at the top of your list. I read this book in one day! Yes, you read that right, one day. That seldom happens for me. I was so taken in by the characters that I could not put this book down for very long.
Its the story of a Mother and her daughter, who have been separated for years. Laura, the mum, has not been a mother to Abby, who is now a mom of 5 year old Noah.
So there's family drama.
Then there's Gran, Mary. She's not your typical Gran figure either. She's not well and Laura's return gives her hope that everyone can reconcile.
This was such a wonderful story of two women who were really nothing to each other except that they are mother and daughter.
I liked how they slowly built a new relationship, though not one that is too sweet and gooey that it is unbelievable, but one that is comfortable and loving, and most of that grew from Laura coming to love and care for her grandson. (And Laura the type of woman that would make a good gran)
These women go through so much in this story, loss and rehashing of the past, all while trying to build a life of her own.
Abby and Laura are two very different women and at times you loved them and other times you hated them, but no matter how you felt, you were cheering for them.
I didn't realize when I started this book that it was part of a series. There is no need to start from the beginning these are stand alone novels. You don't want to miss this book. It is truly a wonderful novel of family and second chances. I hope to revisit Abby and Laura's lives in a future book.
Its the story of a Mother and her daughter, who have been separated for years. Laura, the mum, has not been a mother to Abby, who is now a mom of 5 year old Noah.
So there's family drama.
Then there's Gran, Mary. She's not your typical Gran figure either. She's not well and Laura's return gives her hope that everyone can reconcile.
This was such a wonderful story of two women who were really nothing to each other except that they are mother and daughter.
I liked how they slowly built a new relationship, though not one that is too sweet and gooey that it is unbelievable, but one that is comfortable and loving, and most of that grew from Laura coming to love and care for her grandson. (And Laura the type of woman that would make a good gran)
These women go through so much in this story, loss and rehashing of the past, all while trying to build a life of her own.
Abby and Laura are two very different women and at times you loved them and other times you hated them, but no matter how you felt, you were cheering for them.
I didn't realize when I started this book that it was part of a series. There is no need to start from the beginning these are stand alone novels. You don't want to miss this book. It is truly a wonderful novel of family and second chances. I hope to revisit Abby and Laura's lives in a future book.
August 9, 2017
A story of second chances, finding peace, and accepting life. Laura and Abby are mother and daughter that have virtually no relationship. Laura left Abby to be raised by her grandmother at age 2 and never looked back. Now they are back in the small town they both grew up in and trying to find a way to establish a relationship.
I loved that both Laura and Abby are looking to find peace and happiness and that it doesn’t mean they need a man in their lives. They are trying to find it themselves. They both had/have dreams and are trying to find the way to make them happen.
To say that Abby does not trust Laura is an understatement. Not only does Abby worry about Laura leaving her but now she has to worry about her young son getting attached to his Nana and her leaving him also. I liked that Abby was cautious. There was no doubt that she wanted a relationship with her mother but she knew that she had more than herself to think of.
There were many twists and turns that I did not see coming and I loved each one of them. Kate Hewitt wrote a book that I fell into. The small town, the complex relationships, and the love was all part of the perfect story.
Thank you Roxanne Jones at Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved that both Laura and Abby are looking to find peace and happiness and that it doesn’t mean they need a man in their lives. They are trying to find it themselves. They both had/have dreams and are trying to find the way to make them happen.
To say that Abby does not trust Laura is an understatement. Not only does Abby worry about Laura leaving her but now she has to worry about her young son getting attached to his Nana and her leaving him also. I liked that Abby was cautious. There was no doubt that she wanted a relationship with her mother but she knew that she had more than herself to think of.
There were many twists and turns that I did not see coming and I loved each one of them. Kate Hewitt wrote a book that I fell into. The small town, the complex relationships, and the love was all part of the perfect story.
Thank you Roxanne Jones at Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2023
2.5/3 stars...
Had the makings of a sweet, simple story about a young woman living with her grandmother and young son, managing the family cafe, when her mom returns from living the nightclub manager life in New York City. The mom and daughter start to reconcile after years apart, and they each find their way in the end.
I thought the book was about 100 pages too long - it could have been tighter with a little more plot direction. I wanted to know what happened at the end, but it just kept lumbering along.
If you really need a book to read and this one crosses your path, it's fine to read, but I wouldn't suggest actively seeking it out.
Had the makings of a sweet, simple story about a young woman living with her grandmother and young son, managing the family cafe, when her mom returns from living the nightclub manager life in New York City. The mom and daughter start to reconcile after years apart, and they each find their way in the end.
I thought the book was about 100 pages too long - it could have been tighter with a little more plot direction. I wanted to know what happened at the end, but it just kept lumbering along.
If you really need a book to read and this one crosses your path, it's fine to read, but I wouldn't suggest actively seeking it out.
April 2, 2024
A very disappointing Kate Hewitt novel. I generally love her work, but this was cloyingly sentimental, boringly repetitive and so drawn out, I couldn’t wait for it to end. Sorry Kate - this was definitely not up there with other books of yours I have devoured.
July 2, 2018
I think I'm reaching the conclusion that so-called 'women's fiction' is not really for me. This is a shame as I don't like to think of any kind of fiction being somehow 'beyond me'. Yet I've read several of Kate Hewitt's novels now and despite the fact that she writes well. the plots flow nicely, the characters are believable and the settings just happen to be ones I know very well indeed (as I live in the same village where Kate Hewitt lived for many years) I still really don't 'get it'.
Part of this must surely be that all her books focus on women, their world and their thoughts. As a guy, some elements of this will of course remain alien to me. But I've read many, many books written by women about, or strongly featuring, the thoughts and feelings of females and I've thoroughly enjoyed them and been moved by the stories and characters. So what's the difference?
It's very possible that the answer lies not in a weakness but in the strength of Hewitt's writing: her novels are about ordinary women in ordinary worlds (which are mostly northern British). There's no great calamity, no exceptional circumstance, no great historical event. These novels tackle everyday life with its range of very real challenges. In 'A Mother Like Mine' we have a woman estranged from her grown-up daughter (who is also a single mother) coming 'home' after many years living a glamorous lifestyle in the US. The story looks at loss, ageing, broken dreams, abuse, single parenting, grief, love, friendship and more - all without melodrama or cheesy 'all is forgiven' endings.
Indeed, there's even many loose ends and some things which don't fit comfortably or prove to be a little pointless (for instance, the whole friction between Laura and her brother which looked to be building to something but then simply didn't). This is a common feature of many modern novels and it can often work. I think it mostly does so with Hewitt's story but not always. Thankfully, however, there's no gushing emotion turning a problem into a melodrama - actually, the whole book is remarkably 'British' in its reserve; well done to the author for that!
In the end though, I found the book a little bit of a slog to get through and though it picked up quite well towards the end I still found that when the book finished I honestly didn't care. This is my golden test for an excellent novel: Do I care about the characters enough that I don't want the story to end? In this particular case I'm afraid the answer was: No. Laura and Abby can carry on in Hartley-By-The-Sea and I won't feel the urge to pop into their world for a bit any time soon.
But I have to reiterate again - I think I just don't get women's fiction. This may well be a wonderfully delightful book for someone else; it just doesn't hit the spot for me. I'm not outraged by themes or ethics, I don't scoff at the situations or characters, I don't find fault with the language or plotting technique. I simply wasn't moved by the plight of the characters nor their developing relationship.
I will say this for the novel however: The author is brave! As I said, I live in the same village where the author spent many years and I know the places she fictionalises very well. At times, her use of places and people is jaw-dropping and I wonder how she managed to get away with it. For most of the time there is only a thin veneer of 'fiction' to disguise this and anyone from the west coast of Cumbria would surely know exactly where Harley-By-The-Sea really is and where the scenes take place. I suspect not a few people purchase Hewitt's books simply to check they're not in the stories themselves - or to check that they are! Like the enjoyment of the novel itself, it all depends on what takes your fancy.
Part of this must surely be that all her books focus on women, their world and their thoughts. As a guy, some elements of this will of course remain alien to me. But I've read many, many books written by women about, or strongly featuring, the thoughts and feelings of females and I've thoroughly enjoyed them and been moved by the stories and characters. So what's the difference?
It's very possible that the answer lies not in a weakness but in the strength of Hewitt's writing: her novels are about ordinary women in ordinary worlds (which are mostly northern British). There's no great calamity, no exceptional circumstance, no great historical event. These novels tackle everyday life with its range of very real challenges. In 'A Mother Like Mine' we have a woman estranged from her grown-up daughter (who is also a single mother) coming 'home' after many years living a glamorous lifestyle in the US. The story looks at loss, ageing, broken dreams, abuse, single parenting, grief, love, friendship and more - all without melodrama or cheesy 'all is forgiven' endings.
Indeed, there's even many loose ends and some things which don't fit comfortably or prove to be a little pointless (for instance, the whole friction between Laura and her brother which looked to be building to something but then simply didn't). This is a common feature of many modern novels and it can often work. I think it mostly does so with Hewitt's story but not always. Thankfully, however, there's no gushing emotion turning a problem into a melodrama - actually, the whole book is remarkably 'British' in its reserve; well done to the author for that!
In the end though, I found the book a little bit of a slog to get through and though it picked up quite well towards the end I still found that when the book finished I honestly didn't care. This is my golden test for an excellent novel: Do I care about the characters enough that I don't want the story to end? In this particular case I'm afraid the answer was: No. Laura and Abby can carry on in Hartley-By-The-Sea and I won't feel the urge to pop into their world for a bit any time soon.
But I have to reiterate again - I think I just don't get women's fiction. This may well be a wonderfully delightful book for someone else; it just doesn't hit the spot for me. I'm not outraged by themes or ethics, I don't scoff at the situations or characters, I don't find fault with the language or plotting technique. I simply wasn't moved by the plight of the characters nor their developing relationship.
I will say this for the novel however: The author is brave! As I said, I live in the same village where the author spent many years and I know the places she fictionalises very well. At times, her use of places and people is jaw-dropping and I wonder how she managed to get away with it. For most of the time there is only a thin veneer of 'fiction' to disguise this and anyone from the west coast of Cumbria would surely know exactly where Harley-By-The-Sea really is and where the scenes take place. I suspect not a few people purchase Hewitt's books simply to check they're not in the stories themselves - or to check that they are! Like the enjoyment of the novel itself, it all depends on what takes your fancy.
August 25, 2017
Forgiveness Doesn’t Come Easily With ‘A Mother Like Mine’ [REVIEW]
Left behind as a toddler to be raised by her grandmother, a young woman works hard to build a life of her own with her young son in a picturesque seaside village. Just when she thinks she’s finally happy, her mother suddenly returns. Will she be able to forgive and bridge the chasm between them? Find out in Kate Hewitt’s emotion-packed new novel, A Mother Like Mine.
When Abby Rhodes fiancé died unexpectedly, she made her way back to Hartley-by-the-Sea, the small village in England’s beautiful Lake District where she grew up. There, she focused on being a good mother and dived into helping her ailing grandmother run the small beach café that is attached to their flat.
One evening after taking her son to the beach, she returns home to discover that her mother, Laura, has returned home for good. It is not a happy reunion. After 20 years apart, Laura wants to focus on the future and acts as though she has no intention of recognizing how her absence from Abby’s life affected her daughter. Meanwhile, Abby has some things she needs to get off her chest.
Although things don’t start out very well, the longer the two women are around one another, the more Abby starts to learn about pieces of Laura’s life and starts to see her mother as a woman who made tough choices rather than just as her very flawed and negligent parent. Slowly and tentatively, Abby and Laura begin to bridge the gap between them and nurture a budding relationship that they never had the opportunity to foster before. As they learn more about each other, they are quite surprised to find that it truly is possible to forgive and begin again.
Fans of Georgia Bockoven, Barbara Delinsky and Jude Deveraux will love Kate Hewitt’s A Mother Like Mine. This multigenerational story about three women reluctantly trying to mend fences is skillfully penned. Hewitt juxtaposes very intense family dynamics against a scenic backdrop that seems as though it should only be filled with happy memories. But life rarely works that way, and Hewitt plays that card to her advantage with her fearless portrayal of the wide array of emotions that ricochet across the shore and within the confines of the beach café itself. Vivid and realistic, these characters lure us in, make us care, and more than once, break our hearts.
Still, the message here is clear. Forgiveness is the word of the day, and if estranged relations can exercise patience and learn to love, hearts can heal and gaping wounds can ultimately mend. Readers will be captivated by this lush, heartfelt, and inspiring novel and will undoubtedly find themselves longing to return to Hartley-by-the-Sea time and again.
As originally published at jathanandheather.com.
Left behind as a toddler to be raised by her grandmother, a young woman works hard to build a life of her own with her young son in a picturesque seaside village. Just when she thinks she’s finally happy, her mother suddenly returns. Will she be able to forgive and bridge the chasm between them? Find out in Kate Hewitt’s emotion-packed new novel, A Mother Like Mine.
When Abby Rhodes fiancé died unexpectedly, she made her way back to Hartley-by-the-Sea, the small village in England’s beautiful Lake District where she grew up. There, she focused on being a good mother and dived into helping her ailing grandmother run the small beach café that is attached to their flat.
One evening after taking her son to the beach, she returns home to discover that her mother, Laura, has returned home for good. It is not a happy reunion. After 20 years apart, Laura wants to focus on the future and acts as though she has no intention of recognizing how her absence from Abby’s life affected her daughter. Meanwhile, Abby has some things she needs to get off her chest.
Although things don’t start out very well, the longer the two women are around one another, the more Abby starts to learn about pieces of Laura’s life and starts to see her mother as a woman who made tough choices rather than just as her very flawed and negligent parent. Slowly and tentatively, Abby and Laura begin to bridge the gap between them and nurture a budding relationship that they never had the opportunity to foster before. As they learn more about each other, they are quite surprised to find that it truly is possible to forgive and begin again.
Fans of Georgia Bockoven, Barbara Delinsky and Jude Deveraux will love Kate Hewitt’s A Mother Like Mine. This multigenerational story about three women reluctantly trying to mend fences is skillfully penned. Hewitt juxtaposes very intense family dynamics against a scenic backdrop that seems as though it should only be filled with happy memories. But life rarely works that way, and Hewitt plays that card to her advantage with her fearless portrayal of the wide array of emotions that ricochet across the shore and within the confines of the beach café itself. Vivid and realistic, these characters lure us in, make us care, and more than once, break our hearts.
Still, the message here is clear. Forgiveness is the word of the day, and if estranged relations can exercise patience and learn to love, hearts can heal and gaping wounds can ultimately mend. Readers will be captivated by this lush, heartfelt, and inspiring novel and will undoubtedly find themselves longing to return to Hartley-by-the-Sea time and again.
As originally published at jathanandheather.com.
August 22, 2017
My first introduction to Kate Hewitt’s work was when a copy of Rainy Day Sisters showed up in my mailbox, unsolicited. I emailed the publisher’s rep and she said, “Well, do you mind reviewing it if you have time?” In a nutshell, I loved that book, and I feel in love with Hewitt’s writing.
In this novel, A Mother Like Mine, Hewitt has again set a story in Hartley-by-the-Sea, and is again examining the various permutations of family, and especially the ever-changing dynamics between mother and daughter, which, I know from lifelong experience as the latter, is never an uncomplicated relationship.
In both Abby and Laura, Hewitt has given us characters who are flawed and deep and supremely real. Abby is a single mother with a young son, and we see her in that role first, establishing her as an independent adult. It’s only after we see her competence and self-reliance that Laura arrives, and suddenly we meet Abby, the daughter, while Laura has the mother-role, to a point.
Their ongoing interactions, both with each other, and with the cast of characters that populates this lovely coastal village (am I the only one who’d love to live there?) are sometimes stressful, sometimes funny, often poignant, and always incredibly realistic. At times I was reminded by conversations with my own mother, who has been a constant part of my life, though often chose to put her happiness before mine, and, I believe, wisely so.
I was just having a chat with a friend who said she didn’t think her writing was ever interesting enough. I get that that. I sometimes worry about the same thing. Then I look at novelists like Kate Hewitt who make universal themes into compelling, satisfying stories, and I think we’re all worrying too much.
In any case, I recommend this novel, A Mother Like Mine to all mothers and all daughters, and all women who are both.
Goes well with tea and scones… mainly because it’s raining as I write this review, and I’m craving both.
In this novel, A Mother Like Mine, Hewitt has again set a story in Hartley-by-the-Sea, and is again examining the various permutations of family, and especially the ever-changing dynamics between mother and daughter, which, I know from lifelong experience as the latter, is never an uncomplicated relationship.
In both Abby and Laura, Hewitt has given us characters who are flawed and deep and supremely real. Abby is a single mother with a young son, and we see her in that role first, establishing her as an independent adult. It’s only after we see her competence and self-reliance that Laura arrives, and suddenly we meet Abby, the daughter, while Laura has the mother-role, to a point.
Their ongoing interactions, both with each other, and with the cast of characters that populates this lovely coastal village (am I the only one who’d love to live there?) are sometimes stressful, sometimes funny, often poignant, and always incredibly realistic. At times I was reminded by conversations with my own mother, who has been a constant part of my life, though often chose to put her happiness before mine, and, I believe, wisely so.
I was just having a chat with a friend who said she didn’t think her writing was ever interesting enough. I get that that. I sometimes worry about the same thing. Then I look at novelists like Kate Hewitt who make universal themes into compelling, satisfying stories, and I think we’re all worrying too much.
In any case, I recommend this novel, A Mother Like Mine to all mothers and all daughters, and all women who are both.
Goes well with tea and scones… mainly because it’s raining as I write this review, and I’m craving both.
August 8, 2017
Previously reviewed on The Good, The Bad, and The Unread:
While I greatly enjoyed the first Hartley-by-the-Sea novel, and loved the characters and setting of the second, my nitpicky brain had issues with some of the background details in that one that didn’t quite feel right for a UK-set story about born-and-bred Brits. We’ve met one of the main protagonists in this third novel as a background character in previous books, but the other is new to regular readers, although a returning former resident of the village.
Abby Rhodes was brought up by her grandmother, after her mother – very young herself – left Abby to make a career for herself, first in Manchester and then in the US. Abby was a student at Liverpool University, but returned to her grandmother’s flat and café following the death of her partner and the birth of their son. Abby has featured as a secondary character in the previous novels, and regular readers have seen her struggle to keep the café going in the wake of her grandmother’s health problems. Although this isn’t the life or career she had planned for herself, Abby has made the best of things and is starting to feel settled in her situation. All that changes, however, when her mother unexpectedly returns to Hartley-by-the-Sea.
Laura Rhodes has made a success of her life after leaving school before taking her GCSEs and having a baby when barely sixteen. A change of owner for the nightclub she manages results in her losing her job, and so she reluctantly returns to her former home in order to consider her next move. Although still in her early forties, Laura feels too old to get another high-powered job in the entertainment industry, but has no real idea what other uses she can make of her skills. When her mother – Abby’s grandmother – has a catastrophic heart attack, Laura and Abby find themselves running the café together and making plans to revive the flagging business.
I loved all the main characters in this book, with the obvious exception of the two antagonists, Laura’s brother and Abby’s father, and enjoyed revisiting this charming village. Sadly for my nitpicky brain, however, there were a few points in Abby’s backstory that didn’t add up. It could have been worse: I’ve read books that got the logistics of obtaining a UK veterinary degree even more wrong than this book managed – and it’s not a difficult topic to research in the age of Google. I’m sticking with this series for the love of the setting and the people, but I really hope the next book avoids the issues of the two most recent instalments.
While I greatly enjoyed the first Hartley-by-the-Sea novel, and loved the characters and setting of the second, my nitpicky brain had issues with some of the background details in that one that didn’t quite feel right for a UK-set story about born-and-bred Brits. We’ve met one of the main protagonists in this third novel as a background character in previous books, but the other is new to regular readers, although a returning former resident of the village.
Abby Rhodes was brought up by her grandmother, after her mother – very young herself – left Abby to make a career for herself, first in Manchester and then in the US. Abby was a student at Liverpool University, but returned to her grandmother’s flat and café following the death of her partner and the birth of their son. Abby has featured as a secondary character in the previous novels, and regular readers have seen her struggle to keep the café going in the wake of her grandmother’s health problems. Although this isn’t the life or career she had planned for herself, Abby has made the best of things and is starting to feel settled in her situation. All that changes, however, when her mother unexpectedly returns to Hartley-by-the-Sea.
Laura Rhodes has made a success of her life after leaving school before taking her GCSEs and having a baby when barely sixteen. A change of owner for the nightclub she manages results in her losing her job, and so she reluctantly returns to her former home in order to consider her next move. Although still in her early forties, Laura feels too old to get another high-powered job in the entertainment industry, but has no real idea what other uses she can make of her skills. When her mother – Abby’s grandmother – has a catastrophic heart attack, Laura and Abby find themselves running the café together and making plans to revive the flagging business.
I loved all the main characters in this book, with the obvious exception of the two antagonists, Laura’s brother and Abby’s father, and enjoyed revisiting this charming village. Sadly for my nitpicky brain, however, there were a few points in Abby’s backstory that didn’t add up. It could have been worse: I’ve read books that got the logistics of obtaining a UK veterinary degree even more wrong than this book managed – and it’s not a difficult topic to research in the age of Google. I’m sticking with this series for the love of the setting and the people, but I really hope the next book avoids the issues of the two most recent instalments.
August 14, 2017
Monday, August 14, 2017
A Mother Like Mine by Kate Hewitt, © 2017
A Hartley-by-the-Sea Novel, Book 3
My Review:
The warmth in this cover photo goes beyond the sand and surf... It radiates in a heart.
The Lake District of Cumbria
Abby and Laura Rhodes have a lot to relearn about each other ~ and learn anew. Separated by time and place ~ space, actually ~ fitting into each other's life prompts an inward search as well as appearances from without.
This is a four-generational story. Abby Rhodes and her son, Noah, have lived with their grand, Mary, Laura's mum. Due to unresolved pressure, Laura left the home when her daughter Abby was a toddler. Returning with intent to stay longer than previous infrequent visits, Laura shows bravery in being known as she is known by those who glimpsed a view of her absences. Abby is leery of forming a relationship, not knowing when Laura might disappear again. Laura's grandson is elated to have her, and she belongs to him!
Their lives parallel each other. The author has finely woven a story of doubts, fears of abandonment, and reconciling a new relationship that is healing many broken hearts and lives. I liked the secondary characters who came alongside. The setting is grand Mary's beach café. Weaknesses become strengths as especially Abby is stretched beyond her comfort by trying new things. It takes courage to rebuild the past enveloping into a beautiful present.
***Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy of Kate Hewitt's A Mother Like Mine. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***
A Mother Like Mine by Kate Hewitt, © 2017
A Hartley-by-the-Sea Novel, Book 3
My Review:
The warmth in this cover photo goes beyond the sand and surf... It radiates in a heart.
The Lake District of Cumbria
Abby and Laura Rhodes have a lot to relearn about each other ~ and learn anew. Separated by time and place ~ space, actually ~ fitting into each other's life prompts an inward search as well as appearances from without.
This is a four-generational story. Abby Rhodes and her son, Noah, have lived with their grand, Mary, Laura's mum. Due to unresolved pressure, Laura left the home when her daughter Abby was a toddler. Returning with intent to stay longer than previous infrequent visits, Laura shows bravery in being known as she is known by those who glimpsed a view of her absences. Abby is leery of forming a relationship, not knowing when Laura might disappear again. Laura's grandson is elated to have her, and she belongs to him!
Their lives parallel each other. The author has finely woven a story of doubts, fears of abandonment, and reconciling a new relationship that is healing many broken hearts and lives. I liked the secondary characters who came alongside. The setting is grand Mary's beach café. Weaknesses become strengths as especially Abby is stretched beyond her comfort by trying new things. It takes courage to rebuild the past enveloping into a beautiful present.
***Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy of Kate Hewitt's A Mother Like Mine. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***
August 1, 2017
4.5 stars.
A Mother Like Mine by Kate Hewitt is a captivating novel of healing, forgiveness and new beginnings. Although this newest release is the third installment in the Hartley-by-the-Sea series it can easily be read as a standalone.
Abby Rhodes is a single mom to five year old Noah and she lives and works with the grandmother who raised her after her mother, Laura, abandoned her. So, just imagine her shock when she discovers Laura has returned after a long absence and plans to remain in Hartley-by-the-Sea permanently. An unexpected turns of events finds mother and daughter trying repair their fractured relationship as they work together to make the family cafe a success. Laura wants nothing more than forge a relationship with Abby, but can they repair the rift between them when she is not willing to answer her daughter's questions about her painful past? Can Abby risk trusting Laura's assertion that she wants to be a permanent part of her and Noah's lives?
Abby is quite upset over Laura's sudden reappearance and she has every reason to be skeptical that her mother will be content to stay in their small hometown. Although she tries to put aside her bitterness toward Laura for her beloved Gran's sake, their discussions are often filled with anger and resentment. Abby really is trying to make an effort to be friendly, but with so many unresolved issues simmering between them, it is virtually impossible for her to remain cordial during their conversations. She is quick to distrust Laura's motives and with her mother's track record for leaving, Abby cannot bring herself to believe Laura won't disappear if the opportunity presents itself.
Laura initially comes across as quite self-absorbed and rather superficial. She refuses to provide Abby with her reason for abandoning her nor does she appear to realize how her desertion emotionally scarred her daugher. Laura's expectation to let bygones be bygones without any explanation is unrealistic and makes her appear somewhat indifferent to Abby's very real need for answers. Laura's expectation for Abby's gratitude after she makes a self-serving decision is rather incredulous and highlights exactly why her daughter finds it difficult to trust her.
The changes in the relationship between Abby and Laura do not happen overnight. Abby remains skittish and doubtful Laura is sincere about staying in Hartley-by-the-Sea. Laura is impatient with Abby's hesitation to take chances of any kind. Abby slowly relaxes her guard where her mother is concerned but things between them remain fragile since Laura is so reluctant to discuss the past. Will Abby and Laura's relationship truly heal without an open and honest conversation about their unresolved issues?
A Mother Like Mine is a very moving novel of redemption, forgiveness and starting over. Kate Hewitt brings the setting and the eclectic cast of characters vividly to life. The storyline is emotionally compelling with realistic issues to overcome. An absolutely marvelous story that old and new fans of the very charming Hartley-by-the-Sea series are sure to love!
A Mother Like Mine by Kate Hewitt is a captivating novel of healing, forgiveness and new beginnings. Although this newest release is the third installment in the Hartley-by-the-Sea series it can easily be read as a standalone.
Abby Rhodes is a single mom to five year old Noah and she lives and works with the grandmother who raised her after her mother, Laura, abandoned her. So, just imagine her shock when she discovers Laura has returned after a long absence and plans to remain in Hartley-by-the-Sea permanently. An unexpected turns of events finds mother and daughter trying repair their fractured relationship as they work together to make the family cafe a success. Laura wants nothing more than forge a relationship with Abby, but can they repair the rift between them when she is not willing to answer her daughter's questions about her painful past? Can Abby risk trusting Laura's assertion that she wants to be a permanent part of her and Noah's lives?
Abby is quite upset over Laura's sudden reappearance and she has every reason to be skeptical that her mother will be content to stay in their small hometown. Although she tries to put aside her bitterness toward Laura for her beloved Gran's sake, their discussions are often filled with anger and resentment. Abby really is trying to make an effort to be friendly, but with so many unresolved issues simmering between them, it is virtually impossible for her to remain cordial during their conversations. She is quick to distrust Laura's motives and with her mother's track record for leaving, Abby cannot bring herself to believe Laura won't disappear if the opportunity presents itself.
Laura initially comes across as quite self-absorbed and rather superficial. She refuses to provide Abby with her reason for abandoning her nor does she appear to realize how her desertion emotionally scarred her daugher. Laura's expectation to let bygones be bygones without any explanation is unrealistic and makes her appear somewhat indifferent to Abby's very real need for answers. Laura's expectation for Abby's gratitude after she makes a self-serving decision is rather incredulous and highlights exactly why her daughter finds it difficult to trust her.
The changes in the relationship between Abby and Laura do not happen overnight. Abby remains skittish and doubtful Laura is sincere about staying in Hartley-by-the-Sea. Laura is impatient with Abby's hesitation to take chances of any kind. Abby slowly relaxes her guard where her mother is concerned but things between them remain fragile since Laura is so reluctant to discuss the past. Will Abby and Laura's relationship truly heal without an open and honest conversation about their unresolved issues?
A Mother Like Mine is a very moving novel of redemption, forgiveness and starting over. Kate Hewitt brings the setting and the eclectic cast of characters vividly to life. The storyline is emotionally compelling with realistic issues to overcome. An absolutely marvelous story that old and new fans of the very charming Hartley-by-the-Sea series are sure to love!
December 13, 2017
Originally reviewed at Novel Escapes
This book took me through so many emotions from empathy to frustration but ultimately I felt joy. The bond between Laura and Abby was tragically broken at the start and though I mostly bonded with Abby I was also surprised that I liked Laura's voice and wanted to know how they had ended up in this situation.
I wasn't too sure about the grandmother's voice (the only mother Abby had known). While I applauded her raising of her grandchild there was also something tough about her that I felt needed some softening. Throughout the story we find out why she's a bit guarded but I still didn't get the typical "grandma" persona others have felt.
Their story is complicated and it takes a long while to unravel their shared past but I admired Laura's persistence in trying to forge a new relationship with her daughter. Her attempts, though sometimes clumsy, appeared to be sincere. It certainly made me ponder how else she could have tried to reach Abby and also made me wonder how she stayed away so long. Abby's son is actually the force that really seals mother and daughter. I enjoyed the village life throughout the book too, the villagers, friends and acquaintances rounded out the novel well and I was entirely absorbed throughout- a great tale of family and tragedy.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for our review copy. All opinions are our own.
This book took me through so many emotions from empathy to frustration but ultimately I felt joy. The bond between Laura and Abby was tragically broken at the start and though I mostly bonded with Abby I was also surprised that I liked Laura's voice and wanted to know how they had ended up in this situation.
I wasn't too sure about the grandmother's voice (the only mother Abby had known). While I applauded her raising of her grandchild there was also something tough about her that I felt needed some softening. Throughout the story we find out why she's a bit guarded but I still didn't get the typical "grandma" persona others have felt.
Their story is complicated and it takes a long while to unravel their shared past but I admired Laura's persistence in trying to forge a new relationship with her daughter. Her attempts, though sometimes clumsy, appeared to be sincere. It certainly made me ponder how else she could have tried to reach Abby and also made me wonder how she stayed away so long. Abby's son is actually the force that really seals mother and daughter. I enjoyed the village life throughout the book too, the villagers, friends and acquaintances rounded out the novel well and I was entirely absorbed throughout- a great tale of family and tragedy.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for our review copy. All opinions are our own.
August 9, 2017
This is an emotional, thought-provoking book with strong, well-written characters. Abby's mother left her with her Grandmother when she was a toddler, visiting rarely, and those visits made no attempt at any relationship. Abby was raised by her grandmother, and when she needed someplace to go with her son, she headed home. She has finally found peace and her place, helping her Grandmother with the small cliff-side cafe. What she doesn't expect is the re-appearance of her mother.
Laura knows that Abby won't welcome her with open arms, but it's time for her to go home. She is tired of reinventing herself to further her career. She is ready to face her hometown, her mother, and her daughter. Abby is understandably not happy and pretty skeptical of Laura's intentions, and Laura questions herself. When circumstances change, and the two are forced to rely on each other, it is time for explanations, understanding, and growth for each: both personal and in their relationship.
I know when I pick up one of Kate Hewitt's books, I will get a well-written story that will tug at my emotions and keep me glued to the pages, and this did not disappoint. It is part of a series, but can easily be read as a stand alone.
**I received an Advanced Copy from the Publisher via NetGalley. My opinions are my own and freely given.
Laura knows that Abby won't welcome her with open arms, but it's time for her to go home. She is tired of reinventing herself to further her career. She is ready to face her hometown, her mother, and her daughter. Abby is understandably not happy and pretty skeptical of Laura's intentions, and Laura questions herself. When circumstances change, and the two are forced to rely on each other, it is time for explanations, understanding, and growth for each: both personal and in their relationship.
I know when I pick up one of Kate Hewitt's books, I will get a well-written story that will tug at my emotions and keep me glued to the pages, and this did not disappoint. It is part of a series, but can easily be read as a stand alone.
**I received an Advanced Copy from the Publisher via NetGalley. My opinions are my own and freely given.
July 24, 2018
Abby Rhodes returned to Hartley-by-the-Sea after her fiancé was killed in an accident, with her 5-year-old son in tow. The village, the beach café which was run by her grandma Mary, and the flat where grandma lived in gave her the sense of “home sweet home”, safe and comfortable.
Then one day, Laura Rhodes – Abby’s mother decided to come back to Hartley-by-the Sea after 20 years, and had plans to stay there for don’t-know-how-long!
As long as she can remember, Abby has little memory of her mother, who left her when she was 2 years old, revisited her on her 16th birthday, and that’s about it!
What was Abby going to do about it? All this while, she resented her mother for abandoning her when she most needed her! She was not ready to reconcile with her mother anytime!
Laura also felt that it wasn’t easy to reconnect with Abby as well as her own mother Mary.
We all make mistakes at some point in our life, but it’s always so hard to admit them; it’s even harder to embrace and fix them as best before it is too late. “A Mother Like Mine” tells it all wonderfully, and it will tug at your heart!
Kate Hewitt did a great job of telling the complicated relationship of these 3 generations, and how they tried to restore the harmony among them.
Then one day, Laura Rhodes – Abby’s mother decided to come back to Hartley-by-the Sea after 20 years, and had plans to stay there for don’t-know-how-long!
As long as she can remember, Abby has little memory of her mother, who left her when she was 2 years old, revisited her on her 16th birthday, and that’s about it!
What was Abby going to do about it? All this while, she resented her mother for abandoning her when she most needed her! She was not ready to reconcile with her mother anytime!
Laura also felt that it wasn’t easy to reconnect with Abby as well as her own mother Mary.
We all make mistakes at some point in our life, but it’s always so hard to admit them; it’s even harder to embrace and fix them as best before it is too late. “A Mother Like Mine” tells it all wonderfully, and it will tug at your heart!
Kate Hewitt did a great job of telling the complicated relationship of these 3 generations, and how they tried to restore the harmony among them.
August 27, 2017
I guess I would say that this book is about the struggles of a mother and daughter to develop a relationship. The setting for the book is a small English sea-side village in Cumbria County, England. There are four main characters:
#1 – The mother is Laura Rhodes. She was an unwed woman who became pregnant when she was only 15 years old. She and her baby lived with Laura’s mother for two years and then Laura left to take a job in Manchester, England. For 20 years she had a successful career with rare visits back to her daughter and mother and then she suddenly comes home.
#2 – The grandmother (Laura’s mother) is Mary Rhodes. Mary, a widow, runs a beach café. She had lovingly raised her grandchild until she left to go to the university to study to become a veterinary. She has had heart problems for several years. She is surprised by the return of Laura after a 20 year absence but hopes to see a reconciliation between her daughter and her granddaughter.
#3 – The daughter is Abby Rhodes. She loves her grandmother and her son. She always felt her mother had abandoned her and she was hurt by that. She had met the father of her son while in college and was hopeful that they would be married but he is killed in an automobile accident before that could happen. She has lived with her grandmother for two years and during that time she has pretty much taken over running the café. She is not happy about her mother’s sudden and unexplained return and worries about the impact on her son.
#4 – Abby’s son is Noah Rhodes. He is a healthy boy who has just entered kindergarten.
The story in the book is about whether Laura and Abby can find peace and build a relationship with each other.
I enjoyed reading the book.
#1 – The mother is Laura Rhodes. She was an unwed woman who became pregnant when she was only 15 years old. She and her baby lived with Laura’s mother for two years and then Laura left to take a job in Manchester, England. For 20 years she had a successful career with rare visits back to her daughter and mother and then she suddenly comes home.
#2 – The grandmother (Laura’s mother) is Mary Rhodes. Mary, a widow, runs a beach café. She had lovingly raised her grandchild until she left to go to the university to study to become a veterinary. She has had heart problems for several years. She is surprised by the return of Laura after a 20 year absence but hopes to see a reconciliation between her daughter and her granddaughter.
#3 – The daughter is Abby Rhodes. She loves her grandmother and her son. She always felt her mother had abandoned her and she was hurt by that. She had met the father of her son while in college and was hopeful that they would be married but he is killed in an automobile accident before that could happen. She has lived with her grandmother for two years and during that time she has pretty much taken over running the café. She is not happy about her mother’s sudden and unexplained return and worries about the impact on her son.
#4 – Abby’s son is Noah Rhodes. He is a healthy boy who has just entered kindergarten.
The story in the book is about whether Laura and Abby can find peace and build a relationship with each other.
I enjoyed reading the book.
August 7, 2017
I did not realize that this book was in a series. I was given enough back ground information on all of the people in the story to understand what was going on. The first couple of pages was a little slow. But pretty quickly I was curious about the characters and what was going to happen with them.
We first meet Abby Rhodes and her son Noah. She is down on her luck and had to move back with her grandmother Mary whom recently had a heart attack. Abby is helping Mary run a cafe that the family has owned for a while. Not too long after we see Abby's mother (Mary's daughter) return to Hartley-by-the-sea. All of the people in the story are bitter and a little messed up from life and their life choices. You do have to read all the way to the end to find up about the past and see how the future is going to pan out for the characters.
It was a good quick read.
I received this book for free to read from First To Read in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in this review are 100% my own.
We first meet Abby Rhodes and her son Noah. She is down on her luck and had to move back with her grandmother Mary whom recently had a heart attack. Abby is helping Mary run a cafe that the family has owned for a while. Not too long after we see Abby's mother (Mary's daughter) return to Hartley-by-the-sea. All of the people in the story are bitter and a little messed up from life and their life choices. You do have to read all the way to the end to find up about the past and see how the future is going to pan out for the characters.
It was a good quick read.
I received this book for free to read from First To Read in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in this review are 100% my own.
August 14, 2017
A Mother Like Mine is a unique mother/daughter story set (in what I believe to be fictional) village of Hartley By The Sea. Told in alternating voices of the mom(Laura) and daughter (Abby) the story explores their reunion after a long estrangement as well as the reasons for said estrangement. The story is told in a very relatable manner with interesting twists and turns along the way, If you wonder what it's like to live in Britain or like BBC tv this will fit the bill. The author (Kate Hewitt) will give you a good idea of what it's like to be British which is ironic given she's an American transplant. I was happy to find out that this is book 3 of the Hartley by the Sea series as this is a place in which I'd like to spend more time (I've ordered the other two from Amazon). Of note is that while this is the third in a series it is completely fine as a stand alone. I did not find out it was part of a series until I was finished reading and I didn't feel lost in any way. I was given an arc through Penguins First to Read program.
August 25, 2017
When Laura Rhodes returns home to Hartley-by-the-Sea from America she isn’t met with a warm reception from her daughter. Abby has every reason to be bitter where her mother is concerned. She left when Abby was a toddler and only came back for a few short visits over the years. Now Abby is a single mother of a young boy. She’s struggling to make a go of the family beach cafe and really doesn’t have time to forge a relationship with Laura. But when something unexpected happens the two must figure out how to move forward. A Mother Like Mine is the story of forgiveness, learning to trust, and second chances. It’s a heart-warming novel that fans of the series will love. I enjoyed revisiting the quaint, picturesque village of Hartley-by-the-Sea and glimpsing characters from the previous books. A Mother Like Mine can stand alone if you haven’t read the first two books. There’s an excerpt from Rainy Day Sisters (book 1) at the end – along with a Readers Guide. *Book provided by the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.
July 8, 2017
This was a delightful escape read from my usual mystery, suspense, thriller genre. I enjoyed reading about the relationships among three generations of women. Abby was the daughter who returned to Hartley-By-The-Sea, in England's Lake District, with her five-year old son, after two years of being away. Laura was Abby's estranged mother, who also came back to the home she had fled from when Abby was two. Mary was Abby's grandmother and Laura's mother who had raised Abby and run the local beach cafe.
I was captivated by the mysteries surrounding both Abby and Laura.
As these relationships unfold, Kate Hewitt alternates her chapters between Abby and Laura as they reveal secrets from their past merging with their problems in the present.
I was drawn to these two women as they struggled with their relationship in the hopes of finding forgiveness, trust, love, and a future in Hartley-By-The-Sea.
I was captivated by the mysteries surrounding both Abby and Laura.
As these relationships unfold, Kate Hewitt alternates her chapters between Abby and Laura as they reveal secrets from their past merging with their problems in the present.
I was drawn to these two women as they struggled with their relationship in the hopes of finding forgiveness, trust, love, and a future in Hartley-By-The-Sea.
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