A Mother's Story: A sweeping family saga filled with emotion

by Maggie Christensen

A lost child. A mother’s grief. A daughter’s journey. In Scotland, in1941, as WW2 increases in ferocity, Rhona Begg goes against her parents’ wishes and enlists in the ATS—a decision that brings with it heart-breaking consequences. After the war, weighed down with regret and grief, Rhona receives news that has the power to change her life. Across the ocean in Australia, Nell Duncan worries about her husband who is fighting in the Far East. When she receives the dreaded news that he is missing in action, her world collapses. The end of the war brings changes to Nell’s life, but her dream of bearing a child is no longer possible and she grieves for what might have been. In 1971, when Joy Baker gives birth to her daughter, she begins the journey to discover her ancestry. What she finds shocks her to the core and propels her on a journey to the land of her birth. Three women. Three mothers. Three astonishing stories. From wartime Scotland to present day Australia. A Mother’s Story is an emotion-filled sweeping family saga.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II

284 pages, Paperback

Published October 27, 2021

About the author

After a career in education, Maggie Christensen began writing contemporary women’s fiction portraying mature women facing life-changing situations. Her travels inspire her writing, be it her frequent visits to family in Oregon, USA or her home on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. Maggie writes of mature heroines coming to terms with changes in their lives and the heroes worthy of them.
From her native Glasgow, Scotland, Maggie was lured by the call ‘Come and teach in the sun’ to Australia,where she worked as a primary school teacher, university lecturer and in educational management. Now living with her husband of thirty years on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, she loves walking on the deserted beach in the early mornings and having coffee by the river on weekends. Her days are spent surrounded by books, either reading or writing them – her idea of heaven!
She continues her love of books as a volunteer with her local library where she selects and delivers books to the housebound.
A member of Queensland Writer’s Centre, RWA, ALLi, and a local critique group, Maggie enjoys meeting her readers at book signings and library talks. In 2014 she self-published Band of Gold and The Sand Dollar, Book One in the Oregon Coast Series, in 2015, The Dreamcatcher, Book Two in the Oregon Coast Series and Broken Threads, and in 2016, Madeline House, book Three in the Oregon Coast Series

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhona Begg wanted to help with the war effort in 1941, leaving her home in Scotland and enlisting in the ATS. But trouble was to come her way, leaving heartache and despair in its wake. Once the war was over, Rhona returned home to her parents and tried to get on with her life, eventually meeting the man who would become her husband and the father of her children.

In Australia, Nell Duncan was worried about Joe who had been taken prisoner of war. Living in Brisbane near her parent’s home, Nell knew where to go when she needed reassurance and comfort. When Joe returned, damaged but not broken, it wasn't long before they adopted a little girl named Joy whom they loved dearly. Joy gave Nell and Joe everything they’d ever dreamed of, even a granddaughter who arrived in 1971. Life couldn’t be better. Joy had always known she was adopted – but would her search to find her birth mother come with success? It was a long time ago…

A Mother’s Story by Aussie author Maggie Christensen is a heartfelt, emotional story beginning in the war years in Scotland and ending in current day Australia. The main characters, Rhona, Joy and Nell, were wonderful women, and as is usual for this author, her writing was deep, meaningful and from the heart. The family saga stretching through the years of A Mother’s Story is one I recommend highly.

With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie Christensen has put a lot of emotion in this beautifully written story that tells the story of a mother during World War 2, it had me crying and cheering the strong and wonderful Rhona Begg on, who never gave up through years of heartbreak, I loved this story.

It is 1941 and Scottish woman Rhona wants to help in the war effort and leaves her home to travel to England to join the ATS never realising how much this is going to change her life in such a heart-breaking way, Rhona keeps going through her heart-break and when the war is over she finally returns to her home with her parents, not the same person she was when she left.

In Australia Nell worries about her husband Joe fighting in the Pacific, when he goes missing in action Nell is devastated but keeps herself going, the end of the war brings her Joe home but unable to have children the one thing that Nell wanted so much. They adopt a beautiful little girl named Joy and life is filled with happiness but in 1971 Joy gives birth to a daughter and now wants to know more about her other mother, her birth mother and here unravels a story that will take her to her country of birth and to meet her other mother.

Again Maggie Christensen has written a story that is filled with wonderful characters that have come to life on the pages, three strong woman, Rhona, Nell and Joy who never give up on what their heart desired and in doing so leaves the reader filled to the brim with emotion there were lots of smiles and tears in this one. It really is a beautiful story that tells of life during World War 2 for many woman in these time, a must read, one that I would highly recommend.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOW AVAILABLE!
A MOTHER'S STORY by Maggie Christensen!
Highly recommended!

I thoroughly enjoyed Maggie Christensen's newest release. From wartime Scotland to present day Australia, A Mother's Story, is a beautifully told family saga packed full with drama and emotion. The parallel stories of Rhonda and Nell "tug at the heartstrings." I strongly recommend this well written historical novel!
*Special thanks to Maggie Christensen for an advanced digital reading copy of A Mother's Story. It was my pleasure to read it and write this unbiased review.

5 brilliant stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite taking over two weeks to read this book (because we were moving house and I was too exhausted to read), I thoroughly enjoyed A MOTHER'S STORY, an historical fiction tale spanning from 1941 to 1991 set in both Scotland and Australia. It is a beautifully told family saga filled with drama and emotion that will tug at your heartstrings. Though not a dual timeline story as such,A MOTHER'S STORY begins during wartime Scotland and spans the decades to 1991. Despite the length of time it took me to complete this tale, my actual reading time was probably around 6 hours and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

Scotland 1941: It's wartime and Rhona Begg decides to help with the war effort rather than book-keeping for the steelworks. So she signs up to the ATS and upon acceptance, travels to Yorkshire in England to begin her training and is later placed with the Anti Aircraft Artillery. But Rhona wasn't to realise what was to come when one night changes her life forever, seeing her leave the ATS and get a job as a barmaid in a local pub that came with accommodation.

Rhona enjoys her job at the pub with landlords Hugh and Bess but then Hugh suffers a heart attack and the couple decide to sell the pub, leaving Rhona homeless and jobless. She soon finds work in the munitions factory and accommodation nearby, but not without conditions which Rhona found she had to overcome and make a heartbreaking decision. Then during an air raid one day, a direct hit changes Rhona's life even further leaving her bereft and never the same again.

When the war finally comes to an end, Rhona returns to Scotland and her family and tries to get on with her life, carrying her secret with her and sharing it with no one. When her neighbour also returns injured bringing with him his comrade, Rhona meets the man who would become her husband and father of her children. With Walt she realises she is safe, and with Walt she finally shares her secret.

Australia 1941: Nell Duncan worries for her husband Joe who is fighting in the Pacific when she receives the dreaded telegram. It states that he is missing in action presumed dead and Nell feels as if her world has fallen from beneath her. But her parents contact the Red Cross and one day excitedly share the news with her that Joe is in a Japanese Prisoner of War camp but is alive. As soon as the war is over, Nell can't wait to begin a family but when Joe returns the doctors inform her that due to his injuries and treatment in the camp, Joe will unlikely to ever father children. Nell is devastated but puts on a brave face for her husband.

Over the years and trying to prove the doctors wrong, Nell and Joe try to fall pregnant until it becomes clear that the doctors were right. But becoming a mother was all Nell ever wanted. Why is she robbed of that joy when so many others are gifted with it? And some not even wanting the children they bore?

Then one day through her work in the library reading stories to children, her favourite part of the job, she meets a beautiful happy little girl called Joy who is completely enamoured in the stories Nell reads to them. She looks for Joy every week and soon discovers she comes every third week. The Sisters at the orphanage where Joy lives tell her that she is one of many that came to them through the child migration scheme from England after the war, left orphans after the bombings claimed their parents. Nell fell in love with Joy and soon she and Joe adopt the little girl, her wish finally granted to become a mother.

In 1972, Joy is now 30 years old, married to Paul and has given birth to a beautiful daughter they have called Catherine. Joy has always known she was adopted but the subject of her birth parents was one she rarely raised with her mother for fear of upsetting her. But now having become a mother herself, Joy is curious more than ever to discover the truth about her birth parents and where she came from. What ensues is a sometimes heartbreaking tale that will take Joy to the other side of the world to meet the woman who gave birth to her. Her other mother.

WOW! I cannot express how much I truly enjoyed this tale spanning the decades of Scotland, England and Australia. It is beautiful, heartfelt and often heartbreaking, one cannot help but shed a few tears whilst reading. The main characters - Rhona, Nell and Joy - are all wonderfully strong women and each of them mothers in a journey that ties each of them together. While the story is predictable it doesn't take away from it in any way and is just as powerful and heartfelt. The emotion that fills the pages with both joy and heartbreak will tug at your heart.

Maggie Christensen is a new-to-me author and one I wouldn't hesitate to revisit if A MOTHER'S STORY is anything to go by. It is emotional, heartbreaking, joyful and well written that kept me turning the pages and well invested in each woman's story.

I thoroughly enjoyed A MOTHER'S STORY and highly recommend it to fans of Amanda Prowse, Kate Riordan and other historical fiction tales that span the decades.

I would like to thank #MaggieChristensen, #CalaPublishing and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #AMothersStory in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews]

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Popular mature age fiction author Maggie Christensen moves away from her contemporary romance novels and returns to the historical fiction genre thanks to her late 2021 release, A Mother’s Story. A novel that combines love, sacrifice, decisions, hope, survival, family, expectations and war, this was an emotional yarn from established writer Maggie Christensen.

Beginning in Scotland at the height of the Second World War, we meet Rhona Begg, who dismisses her parents concerns regarding her participation in the war effort. When Rhona takes up a position at the ATS, she suffers immeasurable heartache. When the war ends, Rhona is left with feelings of extreme loss and anguish, but a lifesaving revelation will change her life. Moving to Australia’s shores, we meet Nell Duncan, a woman caught up in the emotion and worry for her husband who is in the Far East. When Nell receives the devastating news that her beloved is missing in action, she cannot move on. When the war ends, Nell is forced to live her life differently and she is forced to accept that she cannot have a family of her own. In the year 1971, we are acquainted Joy Baker, a woman who is inspired to look deeper into her family lineage after the birth of her daughter. When Joy’s investigations reveal some shocking secrets, Joy is propelled to embark on a journey to where she was born. A saga that joins three women together and three different places across time, A Mother’s Story is a wide berth family drama.

I have followed Maggie Christensen since I started my blog back in 2016. After enjoying Maggie Christensen’s contemporary romance novels, I welcomed the chance to read a historical fiction offering from the queen of mature age fiction. A wartime saga, with plenty of emotion, drama and history, A Mother’s Story kept me engaged for the duration of a recent working week.

A Mother’s Story is a sprawling tale that encompasses three main characters across three different place settings, over a number of decades. It sounds like an ambitious project, but Maggie Christensen takes it in her stride, producing a novel of substance, interest and feeling. All of Christensen’s characters are clearly presented. In terms of setting, the wartime time period is outlined well and the reader is made aware of the general feelings and strained atmosphere during the Second World War. Rhoda’s story was tough and Maggie Christensen draws out the drama, along with intense emotion at this tumultuous time in our history books. A Mother’s Story also provides us with a glimpse into the Scottish experience of World War Two, which I appreciated. Extra flourishes in terms of the key phrases and local dialect extend the conversations made in this text. It was a nice touch. All three key settings are rendered well by Maggie Christensen, helping the reader to feel thoroughly involved in this engaging story.

With a strong focus on choices, past actions, regret, guilt, war, morals, disgrace, a mother’s love, family connections, lineage, loss, hope and heartbreak, A Mother’s Story is an emotive read.


*I wish to thank the author, Maggie Christensen, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jo Rushby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading A Mother's story.
As an Adoptee I was very familiar with going through the emotions of searching for my birth mother.
Rhona leaves her daughter with a children's home while she works in the local munitions factory in WW2. It was frowned upon to be a single mother and no one to help with child minding while she works. Tragedy strikes when the children's home is bombed and Rhona believes her baby girl has been killed. She later learns that some children had been sent to Australia through the Child Migrant Scheme. She hopes that maybe her Daughter may have been one these children brought out to Australia.
I couldn't put this book down and really recommend reading this story.
My library ordered the book in on my request.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful story across two timelines and many generations about motherhood and lost and found. In Scotland, Rhona decides to join the ATS during WWII as she feels she needs to contribute to the war effort. The consequences of that decision has far reaching effects on many people, including Rhona and her family.

Meanwhile Nell lives in Australia and her husband is also in the war. All Nell wants is for him to return home safely and then they can start a family, but again war proves that what you desire is not always possible.

This story tugs at the heartstrings and tackles adoption and what happens when secrets come to life and the effect it has on all parties around.

I have read the majority of Maggie's books and feel that this stand-alone novel is her best to date. I was totally invested in the characters and situations that life put them in and couldn't put this one down. I highly recommend this to readers of Historical Fiction, Family Stories & Women's Fiction. 5 *

[Sian · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review of A Mother's Story is on my blog.

https://quirkybookreads.wordpress.com...

[Ellen Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this latest book by Maggie and what a treat it is. A beautifully written family story that spans World War 2 from Scotland and England to Australia. A story about a young Mother who is forced to give up her child, she leaves her daughter with the locket that she inherited from her own Mother, will she ever see her daughter again? This is a must read story from a great author.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit that I have a particular fondness for family sagas and especially family sagas that have their roots in the Second World War. I love discovering new authors too. So you can probably appreciate how excited I was to find a book that ticked both boxes. Needless to say I couldn’t wait to start reading and so without further ado, I grabbed my Kindle, grabbed a cup of tea and sat down for what proved to be an emotional afternoon of reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘A Mother’s Story’ but more about that in a bit.
As soon as I started to read ‘A Mother’s Story’, I knew that the story would certainly tug on my heartstrings and then some. At the same time I also knew that I wouldn’t be able to put the book down for any length of time. In fact I became addicted to this story from fairly early on. I had taken so well to the character of Rhona and I was so appalled at what happened to her that I had to keep reading to see how the story panned out for her. The other leading characters were introduced and so I had to keep reading to see how the story panned out for them too. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters to fill in the odd half hour or so but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would still be sat there reading over 5 chapters and an hour later. The more of the book that I read, the more of the book I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I soon got to the end of ‘A Mother’s Secret’ and I had to bid farewell to the leading characters. I found ‘A Mother’s Story’ to be a gripping and emotional read. It certainly kept my attention throughout and it kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘A Mother’s Story’ is well written. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. She certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be a compelling story. It’s true that some difficult subjects are tackled within the story but Maggie writes about them with great compassion and sensitivity. I love the way in which Maggie makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. I enjoyed the story so much that I kept wanting to jump inside the pages of the book to sort certain people out. Reading ‘ A Mother’s Story’ certainly took me on one hell of an emotional rollercoaster ride with all the ups and downs, twists and turns and so on.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘A Mother’s Story’ and I would recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Maggie’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Maggie for sending us a copy to read and review.
A mother’s love is not surpassable and not conditional, it is pure and forever.
An emotional and heart clenching saga stretching from war time Scotland to present day Australia sweeps the reader up in the lives of three women and motherhood.
World war and its horrible legacy seems to have touched every fragment of society around the world.
The destruction of familial ties that can at times take generations to piece together and create angst and pain along the way common place.
Enlisting in war effort was bound to have impacts and repercussions.
Rhona ends up pregnant and facing a bleak future she has to make decisions to give her daughter a better life while she establishes herself in a period of upheaval and chaos.
The decision will haunt her through life.
Nell living in Brisbane has not escaped the far reaching affects of war.
Her man was captured by the Japanese and nearly worked to death enslaved.
The emotional and physical scars running deep.
The prospect of adopting a daughter was not only a shining moment but had the possibility of healing the past and fulfilling the future.
The concurrent stories both set the scene perfectly and even though on opposite sides of the world mesh beautifully.
The Scottish lilt jumped from the pages as conversations were written in the local way, the family dynamics very real and overwhelming power of motherhood dominated this read.
Realities, determination and hope are all featured in this joyful book.
Historical fiction meets family saga.

[Lena West · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read and enjoyed all of Maggie Christensen’s stories of older couples finding romance and making new beginnings. Equally enjoyable, satisfying and heart-warming, A Mother’s Story is different. While not a romance, it is nevertheless a love-story, although this time Maggie is writing of the abiding, supporting love upon which strong families are built, most especially the love between mothers and daughters.
Spanning the life of Scotswoman Rhona Begg across the decades, we share her grief at the loss of her beloved child, Fiona. Despite the happiness Rhona goes on to find, Fiona is never forgotten.
In far-away Australia, Nell’s love of her daughter, Joy, is threatened by a deeply buried secret to which Joy one day demands answers.
It would have been easy to finish the story with the traditional fairytale ending of “…and they all lived happily ever after.”, but I’m so glad Maggie didn’t. She stayed true to real life, which is seldom that simple. Her powerful conclusion left me smiling through a film of tears.
An added bonus I discovered while reading this story was reliving pivotal events during my own lifetime as Rhona and Nell live their lives.
I can highly recommend A Mother’s Story to anyone who enjoys reading about families overcoming adversity to live fulfilling, happy lives.
It was my fortunate privilege to be given an advance copy of A Mother’s Story by Maggie Christensen.

[Marg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a number of Maggie Christensen books over the last year or so. Five of them to be precise, all of which were part of her Granite Springs contemporary romance series which features older characters. I have enjoyed each of the books I have read in that series, so when I saw this book I was quick to volunteer for the tour, despite the fact that it was clearly going to be a very different read.

Rather than a romance, we have a historical fiction story with multiple narrators which spans from the 1940s through to the 1990s with parallel lines occurring in Scotland and Australia.

The story opens in WWII Scotland with a young woman named Rhona Begg. She is working in an office but she has decided that she needs to do more so she volunteers to join up with the ATS. She ships out to Yorkshire for training, but it isn't long before her life is tipped on it's axis. She finds herself pregnant and alone. She knows that she can't go home to her family who would be so ashamed of her, so she is determined to make it on her own.

To read more head to

http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2021...

[Elizabeth Fellows · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mother’s Story

This story begins in 1941 Scotland. Right away it captured my complete interest. Such a human interest heartfelt book about life during WWII. A young gal of 21 is determined to do her war effort and goes to England to work with the army. Within the year while still training, she was attacked by a drunk soldier. Her life changed drastically after that.
With the heavy bombing in England things were chaotic and confused with what transpired for many of the ladies who worked in the armaments factory.
The post war years were very difficult on many folks. The losses, the memories, the fears, and the restrictions. Things changed for Rhona and she eventually adjusted to her losses and got on with life. She had to do what was expected of her, not what she wanted.
Across the world in Australia a young woman called Nell was waiting for husband to get home after the war. Nell desperately wanted a child, and after several years she was not successful. Her Mum encouraged her to adopt a child.
As the years go by, some surprising things happen. It is remarkable the magnitude of life changes that took place during and after WWII, and how it changed lives forever, such a magnificent book, I could not put it down. Such heartfelt pain regrets and sentiments. Definitely a superb book. This book left me in tears.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful emotional read.
Wow! As a long-time fan of Maggie Christensen's romance novels I thought I knew what to expect when reading A Mother's Story. I was wrong. This isn't a romance. It's a family saga but boy, is it packed full of love, emotion and drama.
The first chapter had me hooked and it was hard to put the book down. Don't read this at bedtime if you want to get sleep early.
The book begins in World War Two and spans the following decades. It ranges from Scotland to Australia, runs along two timelines and tells the story of three women.
It's a powerful tale of family love - especially the love between mothers and daughters – and it's beautifully told.
As for the ending – well, all I'm going to say is it's perfectly judged.

I was delighted to be given an advance copy of this book by the author.

[Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author (even though she has written so many! ) and this will definitely not be my last one

In this book we have 3 different women , in different parts in history but all linked. We travel from wartime Scotland through to present day Australia. The way the author describes each setting paints the scene perfectly in the readers mind, the characters are incredible and each adds something too the story giving it great depth. It is hard not to feel empathy for the characters and the things they go through in the book. It is brilliantly well written and it goes effortlessly between the three different mothers .

A must read for anyone who likes War time sagas, this will be right up your street !

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again Maggie Christensen has written an absorbing novel , a tale of war time hardship affecting families in the UK and Australia . It is easy to follow the story line which alternates between the 2 countries as the author vividly portrays the hardships Rhona Begg suffers after a brutal rape and then the bombing of the children's home.
While in Australia we learn Nell and Joe welcome a little girl by adoption to complete their family .
The author has created strong characters , and a storyline which is very relevant today, and readers are soon drawn into the lives of the 2 families in both countries .
Anyone who enjoys war time sagas will find this an excellent read and I thank the author for an e copy in exchange for a review.

[Mary Lexie]

Loved this book, a wonderful story where once more Maggie Christensen enables the reader to escape to another place and another time. I look forward to her books and 'A Mother's story' is so good and I encourage anyone looking for a beautiful story about life and love to read it. Thank you for continuing to write your books Maggie.

[Anne Vieau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story so very much! I cried at the end and I think this is the first time in my life where a fictional story has brought me to tears. I really didn't want the story to end and I'm sad that it did. Keep up the wonderful write Ms. Christensen❤

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Rhona leaves Scotland in 1941 to join the ATS, she certainly didn’t expect the series of events that followed – taking her through some of the most devastating personal heartbreak and loss. In Brisbane, Nell’s husband Joe is a prisoner of war in the Far East – she yearns for a child to make their life complete, but her desire is constantly thwarted. And the third main character is Joy – having always known she was adopted, the birth of her own daughter in the 1970s drives her to try to find her natural parents, little knowing that her mother is also desperately searching for her.

This really is a quite wonderful story, so well-told – over the best part of half a century, it takes you through all the twists and turns of the very real lives of three strong female characters who entirely won my heart. I will happily admit that sagas like this aren’t always my favourite reading, but this one had everything I’ve always loved about the author’s writing – those wonderfully drawn characters, the strong sense of place, the friendship and support (and sometimes a touch of romance), and the fine emotional touch that she always has. Added to that is the excellent historical and social context – all wrapped around family life and the changing lives and expectations of women. There’s a real authenticity about the all the settings – I particularly liked the focus on Joy’s mother’s desperate search, so very difficult in pre-internet days when involving library searches, letters and visits.

The whole story was exceptionally engaging and drama-filled – and I do apologise for not telling you more about the detail, but I really don’t want to spoil the journey for anyone – and it took me through every possible emotion as it unfolded. There are times when these women’s lives make you ache inside, and there were quite a few moments when tears were shed – but there are plenty of moments of joy too, particularly that to be found through motherhood. And motherhood is perhaps the book’s main theme – the tug of love between mothers and daughters, and that universal need to know where you belong.

The writing is excellent (as I knew it would be), and I particularly liked the way the story was told – there’s no metronomic shifting between the UK and Australia, or between time frames, every transition smooth and natural, each thread equally engaging. And I really loved the way the three threads were drawn together over time – with a particularly strong and emotional ending that left me with a smile on my face but also searching for my box of tissues once more.

I’ve always particularly enjoyed the author’s mature age fiction, but she’s also a very fine historical saga writer – this book was everything I hoped it would be, and I’d really recommend it to others.

[Sue Hutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice story

Much love between a mother and a daughter. War time hurts everyone so much. It hurts everyone. Well written a moving story

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful stories I've ever read!

This story will resonate with so many women and will touch you to your very soul! It's a truly beautiful and amazing story of love in its most purest form with a very powerful conclusion. I think this is Maggie C's best book to date and has left me rather speechless! 💕

[Jéssica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the idea of follow the characters as they go on a journey to uncovering their past and their family. I love the ancestry aspect of the story and I would love to one day do an ancestry test and learn more about my family and maybe find the lost half-sister that my grandmother has out there. That been said, I was very curious to read this book an learn more about how the characters connect.

As we follow Rhona, Joy and Nell in their own personal story, we go to Scotland an Australia. The idea of motherhood and family... War times and more present times in a dual time line that go us not only emotional, but intrigued by the story and how everything is uncover.

Set in beautiful places, with powerful and realistic characters, this novel made me emotional and curious at each chapter. As the synopsis says "Three women. Three mothers. Three astonishing stories." That's what got me going, that's what I love. I love that the story was about these women and about their families.

[Sandy McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional journey.

A very moving story beginning in Scotland during World War II with Rhona's decision to join the ATS. On the other side of the world in Brisbane, Nell is waiting for news of her husband who is in the Far East.
This is a well woven story of connections, memories and discovery spanning two different countries through several decades.
I enjoyed this wonderful emotional read, and tissues were required.

[Mrs R.A. Strange · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is completely different from Maggie’s previous books and I did wonder if I would enjoy it as much- I loved the story! and enjoyed every chapter of the book. It starts in Scotland in 1941 and describes Rhona Begg’s life as she leaves home to do her bit for the war effort. She gives birth to a little girl and without the support of family she is forced to agree to her daughter living in a children’s home so that she can continue to work as a single mother. The story follows the life of mother and daughter. The characters in the book are described in amazing detail and perhaps for me the only slightly grating aspect was the continued use of strong Scottish vocabulary but that aside the story was full of drama, suspense and wonderful detail. Maggie is a superb story teller and this book is one of her best

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sad but very realistic story of adoption and search for a birth mother is very well written. You feel the pain, sorrow, forgiveness and acceptance in all the amazing characters as you follow Rhona and Nell’s parallel stories.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie Christensen’s A Mother’s Story is an absorbing and sweeping historical saga readers will enjoy curling up with.

In 1941 Scotland, the Second World War continues to rage on. Rhona Begg cannot bear the thought of sitting idly by and is desperate to do her duty for king and country – even if it means going against her parents’ wishes. Enlisting in the ATS despite being forbidden to, Rhona is looking forward to rolling up her sleeves and to help win the war. However, her decision will have heart-breaking consequences that will lead to overwhelming regret – until the war ends and Rhona receives news that could end up changing the whole course of her life.

In Australia, Nell Duncan is beside herself with worry about her husband who is fighting in the Far East. Her every waking thought is consumed by panic as she wonders whether the next day will bring the news she dreads with all of her might. When the unthinkable happens, Nell is crushed by grief and despair and worse she is devastated by the thought that she will never have the child she longs for with all of her heart…or will she?

In 1971, Joy Baker has just given birth to her daughter. Determined to discover more about her ancestry, little does Joy realise that her quest for answers will lead her down many a surprising and shocking path that will take her all the way back to the land of her birth and to the final piece of the puzzle that is her family.

Maggie Christensen’s A Mother’s Story is a compelling, emotional and dramatic story perfect for historical saga fans. A Mother’s Story spans decades and continents and Maggie Christensen is a talented writer who spins a brilliantly layered and highly satisfying yarn packed with secrets, pathos and intensity that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages.

Written with plenty of warmth and heart, Maggie Christensen’s A Mother’s Story is saga writing at its best.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Beate Glowacki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book

I very much enjoyed it and just could not put it down! It’s not your usual wartime story but the fate of two woman affected by it‘s outcome.

[Kathy Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story ❤

I loved every aspect of this book. My daughter had to give up a baby boy for adoption. I'll never forget watching her weep. This story touched my heart in a personal way 💔

[Denita · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story of a mothers love for her daughter which started in England during WW2.