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.

I hadn't realized this was part of a series when I requested it but despite that I had no problem reading this as a stand alone title. The author gave enough background information so that I didn't feel as if I missed something from the previous books. I enjoyed the book for the most part although I have a hard time believing that a reconciliation could be so smooth after 20 years apart. I liked it enough that I may go back and read the others but I'd also be interested in seeing where they go from here.

I love a beach read that's, well, beachy. This was a beautiful novel about family ties and struggles and just all of the things. Heartwarming and wrenching and breaking and healing. I recommend.

A Mother Like Mine is an outstanding read. It's book 3 in the Hartley-by-the-Sea series, and focuses on the dysfunctional relationship between a daughter and her estranged mother. After a long absence, Laura Rhodes, mother to Abby Rhodes, returns to her childhood home of Hartley-by-the-Sea, where her daughter and mother live together and operate the family business, a little beach café. Laura receives a chilly reception from her daughter who is less than thrilled about her sudden appearance and announcement that she will be staying indefinitely. Laura doesn't even know her young grandson, Noah. But when life altering circumstances plunge the two women together, forcing them to acknowledge and accommodate one another, over time Abby begins to form a different opinion of her mother. The choice that Laura Rhodes made to abandon Abby when she was just two caused her daughter to become embittered towards her. But what if things weren't all that they seemed?

Kate Hewitt's books always deliver and this one was no exception. How she manages to hold my attention from the first page to the last never ceases to amaze me, but she does it. I loved this book with its deep emotion and surprises. And it was a real treat to be reacquainted with characters from books 1 and 2. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

Thank you, Netgalley, for a free e-book copy of this book in exchange for an honest review which I have given.

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.

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 standalone.

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 writing 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 all 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.

Stevie‘s review of A Mother Like Mine (Hartley-by-the-Sea, Book 3) by Kate Hewitt
Women’s Fiction published by Berkley 08 Aug 17

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.

Grade: B

Abby and her son, Noah, live with Abby's grandmother since her mother left when Abby was two. Laura's reappearance in the Lake District small village presents a challenge for both women. As their stories are told, they have a lot more in common that will work towards their reconciliation. I like this author, and the emotions brought out by her stories.

Review published at the Dew on release date. http://dewonthekudzu.com

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.

A great fast paced book with a focus on relationships and redemption

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...

Abby is starting her life over after the death of her fiance. She’s gone home to the little town where she grew up to take care of her grandmother, bringing her little boy with her. She plans to help run her grandmother’s cafe on the beach, but then her own mother, Laura shows up. Abby hasn’t seen her mother in years and has no interest in getting to know her now; the hurt and betrayal run too deep. As time passes, however, Abby is able to see Laura as a woman. A woman with a painful past and a conflicted future. This is a lovely story about family, redemption and forgiveness

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 reader can feel the pain that they went through in their pasts as it is revealed. 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.