This is a dual timeline story but unfortunately the stories were very alike this is a historical character driven book
It’s full of twists and turns

A dual timeline can be tricky for readers as inevitably they will lean towards one time period more than the other.
For the modern timeline, I enjoyed Cassie having such a passion for genealogy, which isn't often featured in contemporary novels and set her apart as a more intellectual character than other fiction protagonists of recent reads.
This didn't set my world alight but it passed the time nicely on a cold winters evening.

The Forgotten Gift by Kathleen McGurl

A well written book following a dual time line past and present. A bit slow in parts, the rest a page turner but enjoyable read about a family past and present. Follows a family saga drama and intrigue included with a few twists in the mix. Overall a very enjoyable read.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. The cover is beautiful. Great historical fiction romance drama. Good weekend read.

Another wonderful read from the author and she is fasting becoming one of my favourites. Great characters and love the dual time setting.

A lovely dual timeline book of family sagas in the past and present. Cassie and George were both good characters and I really enjoyed the storyline with the family secrets being uncovered. Perfect book for curling up in front of the fire and losing yourself in

A beautiful story of double narrative across time that Kathleen McGurl can write so well! Did feel the stakes weren't as high in this one (my first read of hers was The Secret of the Chateau which I found absolutely riveting!) but the weave of family ties and adoption and the true meaning of where one belongs - that was the tapestry of this one. So less 'stakes' and way more 'feels'. Which is not a problem at all. Just makes for a compelling read but without so much of the shock factor, so this is the perfect one to curl up with an enjoy for a good, peaceful time

Really enjoyed this dual century read! Loved the characters and the whole theme of the story as well as the family tree research element!

An easy read that brings the past into the present. Well recommended.

Thank you HQ and Netgalley.

This is another wonderful time slip novel from Kath McGurl that kept me turning the pages and reading till the early hours of the morning. It’s an emotional and gripping read, dealing with parent/child relationships of all kinds. These things are not always straightforward and as this story shows, relationships come from the heart and not just by blood. Especially felt for the hero in the historical part of the book – honest, courageous and so deserving of a happy ending. I loved it and couldn’t put it down!

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Easy to read, duel time-line historical fiction story. Loved the historical sections with George but found both he and Cassie a little naive. Would recommend for an easy, enjoyable, quick read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book and give an honest review. This author is new to me and the book has a magnificent dual timeline set in the mid to late 19th century and present day. Strands of both timelines are well executed and the story flows seamlessly.

I found this dual timeline story well written, if a little bit slow in parts. The characters are well drawn and believable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I am already a fan of Kathleen McGurl and this book does not disappoint. I preferred the modern part of the story as opposed to the section set in the past. The two story lines do complement each other and this book is an entertaining read.

This book contains a two time line story, Cassie’s in the present day and George’s in the past, there is a constant flicking backward and forward time wise which was sometimes difficult but the story also contains some intriguing twists and turn to keep you enthralled, overall a good story I would recommend to others.

Light and lively.
An easy, escapist read. Two timelines, one poor George an earnest and innocent young man and Cassie an outwardly happy woman working as a leisure centre assistant.
Their stories are interwoven as Cassie researches 'her Fathers genealogy and comes up with Georges imprisonment for murder in the 1800s , the details of his life are easy for us to follow as he keeps a journal which explains his innocence and circumstances. Cassie meanwhile is distracted by being contacted by the baby she gave up for adoption at birth.
A story of love, loss innocence and happy endings

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This book, for me was a real page turner, it’s a fabulous story with a dual timeline which is set in the mid to late 19th century and to the present day.

So, it’s 1861 and a young George starts a journal of his life, he also falls in love with Lucy, but their future is far from being a happy one.

Now years later, Cassie is decides to research her father's family tree. During this, discoveries are made of hidden secrets from the past, surprises also crop up in her current life.

I felt that both past and present are so beautifully interwoven with unexpected links.

A book that was hard to put down. Recommend it.

This was a fascinating story that has many twists and turns that keeps you involved from the beginning right through until the end. Definitely recommended to those readers who enjoy reading this type of book.

I very much enjoyed this book. It was easy to get straight into the story and it moved along at a good pace. It consists really of 2 stories - one present day and one in the 1860’s.
It focusses on family relationships and cleverly interlinks similarities between the two storylines.
I would happily recommend this book and gave it a strong 4 stars.

As usual a great read from Ms Mcgurl you know where you are with one if her novels. They are like a lovely warm hug from your best friend .
Great for fans of Judith lennox and Lucinda Riley.

I made the mistake/not mistake of reading some reviews before I ever started the book, simply because I was curious. In a way, it gave me some negative feelings going into it, but in the end, I was thankful because this book was unexpectedly better than I expected.

while I did lean in more to Cassie's story, George's was none the less as compelling. Both timelines were intriguing and sewn together in such a perfect flow. I was a bit thrown because at times it was fast-paced at others, a bit slow, however it didn't diminish the storyline and flowed well.
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We've added this to the list of must reads for reading clubs this year!

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.