The Forgotten Gift is an enthralling duel time novel about the true meaning of family.
Cassie is a genealogy enthusiast and he’s tracing her family tree. She is stunned when her 18-year-old daughter Bethany gets in contact after she gave her up for adoption while at university. While researching her own family tree she discovers one of her ancestors was in prison for murder.
In the 1800’s. George Britten falls in love with a housemaid employed by his mother, but his life is irrevocably changed when she is murdered. After serving a short time in prison, he is released but Cassie is desperate to find out why.
This is an honest account of what a modern family really is and the story is told in a sensitive and engaging way. A great read.

A brilliant, well thought-out book that brings together the consequences of the past into the light of the present and future!
I loved how the chapters skipped and kept you hanging from one to the next as you found out about George Bitten's life and why he decided to risk his own life to over the murdering family member. I felt so sorry for George when he obviously didn't receive any love from his 'mother' during his upbringing, and with that in mind, still went and covered for her during the investigation of the house maid's death. Following this, we the readers, then follow his life in prison, as well as what occurs when he is released. The journeys this character made is full of heartbreak, determination and ambition, and is documented to us, through diary entries.
At the same time as learning all of this with George's life, we learn about Cassie, who has just been reunited with her daughter whom she adopted, and also has some hard life lessons to go through herself.
Overall, the story was well paced and had so many twists that I didn't honestly know how the book would end. A fantastic read, that I would recommend to family and friends.

I really enjoyed this book. Although it appeared to be fairly "ordinary" in the beginning, it soon gathered pace and I couldn't put it down! The dual time lines worked really well, going between the two stories and the characters were really well portrayed. I loved all the relationships (of which there were plenty, but that didn't make it difficult to follow) and I thought it was very well written.

There were plenty of surprises along the way, both with regards to George and his life in the 1800's but also with Cassie in the present day. Each played out well and I was really happy with how they both concluded - don't you just hate those books you've spent hours reading only to not have an appropriate ending! This was not the case with this story - both for George and for Cassie.

I would thoroughly recommend this story. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

The Forgotten Gift is a dual POV book. I really enjoy these types of books and how the two time frames end up linked.

This book was a quick easy ready that was enjoyable. I preferred reading the historic parts from George's pov but Cassie is still a likeable character.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this story.

This is my first ever read by the Queen of dual timelines, and I LOVED it. If you are like me, you'll sometimes find dual timeline novels confusing, but McGurl manages to write in a way where the two stories stay separate, but are linked by the themes they present.
Our narrators are contemporary Cassie and George, via his journal from 1861. They both have enthralling stories, with discoveries to make and relationships that entwine. McGurl cleverly links and weaves together the two time lines, which at times had me rapidly turning the pages to see if what I thought would happen did.

"If you don't use it, it doesn't fulfil its purpose and then it's not a notebook, but just an object. To me, it's more beautiful for having my notes written in it."

The thing I found most endearing about this book is it's central theme of family. It's at the heart of it. Not only the family we are given at birth, but also the family we choose.
I promise you, you will not be disappointed if you pick up this new release.

George Britten lives with his parents on a small estate in a village in Hampshire. His parents make no secret that they favour his brother Charles. George is in the shadows and not allowed to life as he pleases. When he falls in love with the maid, he seals both their futures.

In the present day, Cassie is researching her father's family tree. Cassie discovers that George Britten is a distant relative and the more she looks, the more secrets she finds.....

a clever dual time line story and the cover is divine!

The Forgotten gift is an interesting book about a woman studying her past and the daughter that she had given up for adoption. There is a dual timeline about a man named George, who was thought to be a relative of the main character. It is well-written and easy to read. The dual timeline gives it a lot of character and really helps the story flow. I found it a bit slow going at times but did thoroughly enjoy the book.

The Forgotten Gift

A dual timeline set in the mid to late 1800s and the present day.
The book commences in 1874 with George Britten organising his will. This prologue starts the story of a young naive George who had begun a journal of his life at the age of 19. He lives with his parents on a small estate in a village in the county of Hampshire. His parents make no secret that George’s brother Charles is the favoured eldest son. A new maid Lucy is employed in the household and George has an instant infatuation for her; unfortunately for them both their futures is ill fated.
Moving to the present day we are introduced to Cassie who is researching her father's family tree. Cassie discovers that George Britten is a distant relative but that is not all she discovers. There are secrets and surprises revealed in her genealogy search and in her one personal life.
The past and present lives of George and Cassie are cleverly interwoven and there are lots of unexpected connections.
I enjoyed this book, it took a few chapters to get interested but once I did I really needed to know what the future held for Cassie and what became of George’s life. There is a lot of parent child relationship themes covered.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the copy to read and review.
I had not read Kathleen MGurl previously but will be adding her books to my TBR List.

The Forgotten Gift is a dual POV and multi genre book. Part historical fiction part mystery.

Sometimes a dual POV and a dual timeline can be difficult to read, because you constantly feel as though you are shifting about without getting a strong foothold into either story. For me, this particular problem only occurs in the beginning of The Forgotten Gift; however, once the stories begin to intertwine, the book really takes off.

I liked Cassie and really felt emotionally connected to her story. I also really enjoyed her interest in genealogical research and how it ended up playing a big part in the story. I just loved how it all worked together.

I will point out that George kind of drove me crazy at first, but once we get to the inevitable point of his tale, things really take a turn. He becomes almost a completely different person for me and I found myself really liking him.

For me, this book is all about the end and I loved missing some sleep to finish it.

I was very drawn to this book and finished it in one sitting. Amazing character development and great book!

An entertaining read that uses the ever-popular dual time-lines to tell a story that reveals secrets in the past that resonate into the present day.

Set in two different time lines each story was a distinctive one.

1861 and we have George, young, innocent and somehow a misfit in his family. Parents are very indifferent to him and it is only his elder brother who keeps him moored to a family spirit. Parents act very strangely but then their inexplicable behaviour is sort of rationalised much later.

George falls in love with a domestic in their house. In a bizarre set of circumstances, Lucy dies of poison and George confesses to the murder, believing he is protecting his mother.

He ends up in prison but is released on the working of his brother who does not for a moment believe that George is responsible for the death. Neither brother speaks of what is uppermost in their minds and George gets on with his life.


Fast forward to present times and Cassie faces a conundrum. Contacted by the child she gave up as a day old infant she is delighted that it is not difficult to bond and get to know the lovely young lady her daughter has turned out to be.
Not such a good surprise is to know that the father she always knew is really not her father, and that her actual father is a shady character in a prison.

Tracing your ancestors may be a good idea for some but for others it can turn out to have unpleasant surprises and for Cassie the story of George was a major one. Underlying both time lines the importance of family and the family support so important to one is seen in both stories. The lack of in one story, and the overwhelming support in another.

It was an excellent read set in the two time frames both very well done.

Thanks to Net galley and HQ Digital for an advanced copy of The Forgotten Gift in exchange for an honest review. This was a solid 3.5 stars for me rounded up to 4. The premise of the story was great, the character development was done nicely, and it seamlessly and cohesively went back and forth between the two time periods and the two main characters George and Cassie. My only fault with the story was that it seemed a little unnecessarily wordy and predictable. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of Kathleen McGurls work.

Thanks to NetGalley and to HQ Digital for an advance copy of this book.

The Forgotten Gift by Kathleen McGurl is a dual timeline story.

While I did enjoy the two different timelines, I'm not sure that I like that they alternate. I'd much sooner have a bigger chunk set in each time, several times if necessary. But the constant flicking backwards and forwards interrupted the flow, for me.

Both storylines were too tenuously linked, but the Christmas gift at the end of the story satisfied me on that count.

I found myself to be far more interested in George's story than in Cassie's. There were no deep mysteries and a few too many coincidences. So while George's story held more historical intrigue, Cassie's story was a little pastoral for me. I also found myself guessing what little twists and turns there were very early on in the book.

During George's story, I became confused with two doctors whose names began with the letter D, and I thought at first that there was a typo. And I found the main twist in this storyline too predictable - I guessed it right from the start.

Finally, I don't know how the cover relates to either of the stories, but it is a nice cover. A lovely cover, in fact.

Book has been reviewed on behalf of the Historical Novel Society, and the review will appear in the February issue of the Historical Novel Review.

Thank you HQ and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel. Set in two time periods this novel tells us the story of Cassie, George and Bethany and their journey with their families. The novel is all about the role of family in everyone's life. This novel is a very gentle slow paced novel with no twists and turns. The mystery as such is not that hard to predict. Too many similarities in both Cassie's and George's life makes any mystery predictable. If you are in a mood of a very gentle and family historical fiction this novel will fit the bill.
3.5 stars

The Forgotten Gift by Kathleen McGurl is a marvellous dual timeline that had me gripped from the start.
The novel is set in present day and in the form of a diary from 1861 as we follow two main characters.
A desire to explore one’s family history and to seek out the two names in an old will leads to uncovering age old secrets as we explore what really does constitute a family. Family is not always bloodline. Family is made up of people who love us. We see different types of family within the novel.
We witness a character searching to be loved. Sometimes no matter how hard we try, no matter what we do, we just have to accept that we cannot earn love. Love must be freely given. It cannot be forced. Sacrificial love is shown as a character puts their own well-being behind them, sacrificing even their personal safety.
There is the theme of parents. Not every parent puts their child’s well-being first. We witness examples of how not to parent within the tale.
In 1861 England had a strong class system. We see how those of the lower orders were abused by those of higher rank. It is horrific to witness the liberties taken by masters and how there is never any come-back.
We observe the theme of second chances. It is beautiful to witness it unfold. There are some very warm and welcoming families.
The characters were realistic and well drawn. I found the main two characters easy to relate to.
I really enjoyed The Forgotten Gift. The tale enthralled me from the start. I love Kathleen McGurl’s novels.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

This book quickly drew me in. I enjoyed the story, following the gentle Victorian George, from falling in love with the new servant, to discovering the secrets within his family and the scandals that easily arise. The modern timeline followed Cassie, through her search of her family history and the secrets within it also explores her relationship with her family as it follows similar events to those of George.
The dual timelines are well written and are easy to follow, no getting muddled between them, I found that I was surprised to reach the end of the book and wanted more! However, on reflection it finished at the right time.
I did find the cover, somewhat perplexing, as it didn't relate to the story.
I have not read this author before and will now look out for more of her work.

I really enjoy a dual timeline novel and I was immediately attracted to the blurb, about George in the 1860’s and Cassie in the present. I am fascinated by genealogy and I found this book drew me in really quickly. Poor George, born to parents who are bitter and grieving and seem to despise him and idolise his older brother Charles. They are looking forward to the day that he will out of their way.

A new maid Lucy, arrives at their family home and George is smitten, he is warned off of her by his parents but this does not stop them meeting. She has an accident and it becomes apparent he is not the only one in the house who is infatuated with Lucy. George decides to buy Lucy a gift as a sign of his love but when he gets home he takes the gift to her and is devastated by what he is confronted with. Even though he is distraught he still has feelings for her and events take a devastating turn for George and Lucy.

Cassie is researching her family tree and she discovers something about George that shocks her and she has also a past of her own that she is having to confront after many years. As the story progresses it is uncovered that she is not the only one in the family hiding a secret and its a huge one.

This is a great book and the first I had read by this author but I will be definitely reading more. I enjoyed the pace, the emotion and the characters were interesting and I wanted to keep reading. I found Cassie’s side of the story touching and hopeful and I enjoyed how the book effortlessly switched between the two stories. Poor George makes the ultimate sacrifice for his family and that is all I am giving away. A great 4 **** read.

The Forgotten Gift was an excellent dual time line story. I was quickly engrossed in both Cassie and George’s stories and the unforeseen twists kept me engrossed and entertained. I also want to point out that I loved the cover.