1861
When George first sets eyes on Lucy, one of his household's servants, he is smitten and is soon making plans for his future. After being rejected, however, his hopes are further thwarted when Lucy dies, seemingly the victim of a poisoning. Distraught, George knows that someone at home must have killed her, but who?

Present
Cassie is quite content with her life: a job she loves, friends she can rely on and doting parents who would do anything for her. All this is turned upside down, however, as research into her family history makes her question everything she thought she knew about her life.

I am a huge fan of Kathleen McGurl's dual timeline novels, my favourite being The Daughters of Red Hill Hall. I was thrilled, therefore to see that the author has revisited my favourite era of historical fiction, the Victorian period, in her latest book, The Forgotten Gift.

As with her other books, we have two different plots set in two different time frames with a common theme running through them. The issue of family secrets is very much at the forefront here and the lengths some people will go to in order to stop these secrets from being revealed. I had great sympathy for George, who came across as a lovely young man, shunned by his family through no fault of his own. By starting the book with George's will, I immediately became invested in his story, and was desperate to know what had happened in his life. This also provided a good link between the two time frames as Cassie tried to discover the same things.
As a fellow genealogist, I could relate a lot to the character of Cassie and loved how an enjoyable evening for her was one sat reading old documents, trying to make sense of the past. The discovery of scandal is an occupational hazard for a family historian, but Cassie manages to open up several cans of worms that have a profound effect on her life. I won't give any spoilers, but I felt that this was sensitively handled, showing very real reactions from all involved parties.

I have, recently, been struggling to read books at my usual pace and I knew that a Kathleen McGurl book would help me out of my slump. I was so right as I raced through The Forgotten Gift, desperate to know what had happened in George's life and how had overcome his problems. (Although I loved Cassie's story, it was George who tugged at the heart strings for me!)

This is a wonderful read which, although fiction, gives a real insight into aspects of Victorian life. I have sung the praises of this author many times and I will continue to do so. If you haven't read any of her work before, then please do - you won't be disappointed!

A book written with such compassion.
Written over two timelines it deals with the subject of adoption and illegitimate children and how they search for their birth parents and try to find their way in the world so that they can feel fulfilled and cherished
Absolutely brilliant

No two families are the same! Families are all shapes & sizes & this book tells the story of the 1800's & of today. Nothing is as it seems. Interesting book, so many twists & turns make this a great page turner. Recommended read.

Cassie is fascinated with TV programmes about people researching their family history, and enjoys researching her own in her spare time from working at a leisure centre. However, when she starts on her fathers side of the family she unravels a fascinating story from the mid nineteenth century, at the same time as parts of her own life story are revealed. The central theme of this very readable novel seems to be the many and various forms that can exist of what we choose to call our family.

At first, I thought this book was going to be a romance novel that I might not like. What I got instead was a sweet tale with a duel timeline.
In the past, George Britten has a lot of issues with love, family, and falsehoods. George has to learn to grow up quickly at 19 and begin pretty much on his own. His story is interesting because of the hows and whys he has to do things on his own.
In the future, we find a descendant of George's, Cassie has discovered George and starts to research his life. In the process, she discovers secrets about her past will have to be dealt with in the present.
In both timelines we see our main characters struggle with how to cope with things they cannot change, and watch them discover how they can overcome these obstacles.
What is The Forgotten Gift? I felt in reading this that it was a few things. There was one item that was a physical object, but I felt there were also matters of the heart that were forgotten and ended up being a gift. I thought the author was very creative in title choice.

I ended up giving this book 4 stars because I really enjoyed the storylines.

I loved the book the duel time lines just fall into place the story work so well together I enjoy how the past fell into the now story your love the characters pass and present cassie a strong character i did like how she pulls the plot together it hooked me I read in a day I enjoy Kathleen's writting style it so easy to read I recommend to you all

Thank you to Kathleen McGurl, HQ and Net Galley for the ARC of THE FORGOTTEN GIFT.
I love novels that switch timelines, and The Forgotten Gift does it extremely well. In 1861 George, the second son of a comfortably off family falls in love with a maid his mother has hired, Lucy whom he discovers is having sex with his father. He is devastated because only that afternoon he had bought her a beautiful mirror studded with jewels as proof of his love.

In the present day, Cassie is researching her ancestry and becomes very interested in a story of her dad's ancestors and discovers George's will in which he left a bequest to a woman whose name is difficult to decipher and a bequest of a mirror to the wife of a chaplain whom he met in prison. She is intrigued by George Bitten's story, and what she discovers about her dad's great great great grandfather leads her into discoveries of secrets in her own family and is the premise of a novel which I found very difficult to put down. Really good!

I got The Forgotten Gift by Kathleen McGurl from Netgalley for a fair and honest review.

1861. George’s life changes forever the day he meets Lucy. She’s beautiful and charming, and he sees a future with her that his position as the second son in a wealthy family has never offered him. But when Lucy dies in a suspected poisoning days after rejecting George, he finds himself swept up into a murder investigation. George loved Lucy; he would never have harmed her. So who did?

Now. On the surface, Cassie is happy with her life: a secure job, good friends, and a loving family. When a mysterious gift in a long-forgotten will leads her to a dark secret in her family’s history she’s desperate to learn more. But the secrets in Cassie’s family aren’t all hidden in the past, and her research will soon lead her to a revelation much closer to home – and which will turn everything she knows on its head.

The Forgotten is a story based on two timelines, with the first set in the 21st century and the other set in the mid 19th century, and like most stories with two timelines, the latest one is looking for clues to what happened in the earlier one., then the earlier one says what actually happened/

In each time line there is told through the eyes of one person, the latest one is told through Cassiee, is a woman in her 30’s who is looking into her family genealogy as well as dealing with issues in the present.

The Older timeline is told through the eyes of George however this is told through his journal, which makes it very easy work out whose timeline you are in when reading the book.

For me the only weakness the story which is more of a personal preference was that people were ever good or bad, there were very little shades of grey to me this would have taken the book to another level.

Having said that, I loved the way that the story examined how there are many types of families out there and that they could have any number of secrets that people try to keep, however they have a habit of coming out.

Who should read The Forgotten Gift? The forgotten gift is a story about families and how they all have hidden secrets from other members of the family. To this end if you love books that show how secrets are kept but they do have a habit of coming out this book is for you.

As well as being about family secrets it is also a story of hope and how if we keep going then there will always be a solution to the problem, if either these appeal to you then you should read Kathleen McGurl’s latest book The Forgotten Gift.

A true gem of a book, dipping from the life of George, a second son in the 1860s, to Cassie, who in the present day works in a leisure centre. A brave telling of the emotions associated with adoption and when family is not entirely as first thought.
I really couldn't put this book down, and certainly didn't want it to end.

I cannot praise this book highly enough. It was a really engrossing read and I really enjoyed the split timeline in the story. I have never read a book by this author before but will definitely add her to my list to watch for. It was excellent from start to finish. Truly a book that you can’t put down.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read a preview copy of this book.

The Forgotten Gift by Kathleen McGurl is an engrossing piece of historical fiction.

Right from the powerful prologue, the book piqued my interest as it did Cassie's. Who is this woman to whom George has bequeathed such a handsome sum every year? How is he related to Nathaniel, chaplain of Millbank Prison?

This is the first time I am reading Kathleen McGurl. She is called the Queen of dual timelines. I have no doubt why. The dual timelines in the book are well-executed. Strands from both the timelines are taken and woven together seamlessly to craft an absorbing and smoothly flowing story.

The entire book is intriguing. It compelled me to keep on turning the pages. However, there are twists galore starting from 70% resulting in a surprising climax.

Further, all the characters felt real to me, but I liked George Britten the best. He was a sensible, loving, and kind boy, born to rich parents but unloved by both. Oh, the sacrifices he made which turned him into a man so soon.

Moreover, The Forgotten Gift deeply explores what makes a family - ties to the heart, or ties to blood?

The story may be unoriginal, but it is very well-written.

The Forgotten Gift turned out to be a particularly good read for me. It was not only a mystery well resolved but also an emotional and uplifting read. Most significantly, wicked people get their comeuppance here.

Recommended for lovers of historical fiction.

Interesting historical. The secrets and discoveries were fairly organic and, unlike the case with some dual timeline books, I found both perspectives to be enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.

George Britten, second son to a member of England’s landed gentry, never quite felt like he belonged in his family. When a lovely new housemaid arrives at his family’s estate, Little did George dream of the effect she would have on his life.

In the present day, Cassie, a thirty-something single athletic club employee, finds a genealogy mystery when she finds George Britten’s name in her family history. As Cassie learns more if George’s story, she receives a surprising letter from a daughter she had given away for adoption shortly after birth.

This fascinating story shifts back and forth between present day and 1800s England. It is a tale of family members lost and found, and life-altering choices made. Aside from a few out-of-place swear words, this book was a delight. It would make a fine addition to any historical fiction collection, especially appealing to those interested in genealogy research.

1861 and George falls head over heels in love with the new maid. She is beautful but cunning and is working out her own agenda. She is then poisoned and dies. George takes the blame, but who is he protecting and is sent to Millbank prison.

Present time and Cassie is researching her family history but it seems there are many untold secrets that begin to surface and which will turn her life upside down.

I love reading this type of historical fiction. This story is set over 2 timelines. Cassie is trying to trace her family tree. She discovers a lot about her family, both past and present. It is a well written emotional read which kept me hooked the whole way through.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I'm not normally a fan of historical fiction however this book drew my attention and did not let me down! A great mix of modern day woven in with the historic element. Great hook into the story and left you wanting that litlle bit more...

Thank up NetGalley for the early copy of The Forgotten Gift: What would you do to protect the ones you love? by Kathleen McGurl. It was a perfectly fine book, a story with redemption and acceptance. Still, I found it simplistic and not my style of book. I feel bad giving it only 3 stars as many who read this will find the story uplifting and exactly what they were hoping for. So if you are looking for a comforting, fast easy read this is just the book for you.

Be ready to be wowed and amazed and loose sleep as you stay up to reach the last pages!
You will just want to keep reading, but at the same time put it down so it lasts just that little bit longer!

Having read and immensely enjoyed The Secret of the Chateau by Kathleen McGurl, I was instantly excited and drawn to her new book.
I didn’t think it could be better than the last but this one captivated me even more.

As you learn the tales of George (1861) and Cassie (present day) you will fall in love with the characters (well most of them!) and want to know where the story leads. The book alternates between the two stories and you find yourself deeply submerged in both tales, and the overlap between them.

I don’t want to give away the story, just that it tells of love and loss, families and friendships and you absolutely must read it!

This book is beautifully written, the difference between olden times and now so clearly conveyed it how it is written and the way people speak.

I can’t give enough praise to this. I enjoyed it immensely and didn’t want it to end! Clearly a lot of thought and research went into writing this fantastic story. Congratulations Kathleen McGurl on another fab read.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and most importantly the author, for the chance to read this book, in exchange for an honest review.

A fast paced and very well written story. I loved how it moved from George's story to Cassie's story and what remarkable and compelling these stories were. I finished reading it in record time because it was impossible to put down. I loved how the characters developed over time. The ending was perfect. Loved it.

This was a really interesting book! I haven’t read a lot of dual time line stories but if there anything like this then I will definitely read more! Really interesting characters and lots of good plot twists! Would definitely recommend