A Mother’s Heart

I hold both of their hands. My two beautiful children. They lost their mother first, and now they’ve lost their father, my husband. As my heart breaks, I know I will do anything for them. I’m the only parent they have left. But what if I’m about to make a choice that could rip us apart forever?

When I first met my handsome, Irish husband, I promised I would always be there for him and his gorgeous children Olivia and little Dylan.

I thought we’d all be together forever. Instead, since the tragic accident that claimed his life, I’ve been living in his hometown of Dublin, raising the children, alone. I think I’m doing great. I think that we’re coping.

But then we take a holiday, back to my home country of New Zealand. As they laugh on the sand of Hawke’s Bay, I see the light returning to their eyes, and I feel the strength returning to my own heart. Surrounded by my family, supported and loved, I begin to feel hopeful for the first time in so long. And I can’t help but wonder if moving across the world is the new start the children and I might all need.

But when we return to Ireland, the children’s grandparents disagree. They say blood is thicker than water. They insist I’m not a real mother to the children I’d sacrifice everything for. And they insist they won’t let me take Dylan and Olivia anywhere. They say that they’ll stop at nothing.

All I know is I will fight to keep my little family together. But what is right for Dylan and Olivia? And what if I end up losing them? How will I ever forgive myself if I destroy the family I’m so desperately trying to heal?

An utterly heartbreaking, unputdownable, powerful story about love, the pain of loss, and what makes a family—perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Maeve Binchy and Jodi Picoult.

Readers absolutely love A Mother’s Heart:

“I was so moved… Hits all the emotions… Heartbreaking, emotional and inspiring… I absolutely loved it.” Page Turners, 5 stars

“It made me cry a river of happy, emotional tears at the end… Beautifully written, warm and wise. I adored it.” Alex Brown

“Wow, what a beautifully written story of a mother’s love… I absolutely loved it… I flew through the pages, couldn’t put it down, it pulls at your heartstrings, had me crying & laughing. Full of family drama, with a few emotional twists and turns along the way.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“Emotional… Pulled at my heartstrings and left me wanting more… I was absorbed from page one through all the twists and turns until I reached the conclusion that had me laughing then crying, and made me want to hug my own grandchildren… A wonderfully moving story.” NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

“What a dilemma… A page turning, thought provoking story that encourages us to see things from all angles and to choose love and kindness and happiness, and to appreciate the wonder of family. I really loved this book.” The Book Date, 5 stars

“Loved this! You know that feeling… when you get in bed and it’s fresh sheets, when it’s freezing outside and you get home and it’s all cosy. That’s exactly what Carmel’s books make me feel like.” Bookstagramshaz, 5 stars

“Echoes of the wonderful Maeve Binchy… an emotional family drama… Carmel’s ability to handle loss and love with a light and sensitive touch holds the reader in safe hands as the dilemma at the heart of the story unfolds.” Hazel Gaynor

“I absolutely adored every page of it… No one blends love and loss, happiness and heartbreak quite the way Carmel does.” Claudia Carroll

“Has you utterly engrossed from start to finish. I loved it.” Patricia Scanlan

“Warm, uplifting… A very special book.” Marian Keyes