REVIEW: Heart-wrenching. Dignity and Grace by Alison Ragsdale is a beautiful story of the love between a mother and daughter and her daughter’s struggle after her mum’s death. I am a softie for stories about the loss of a mother since I lost my mom. So, I have to tell you that I shed a bucket or two of tears and you better make sure you have plenty of tissues before you start this book. 

Iona, the daughter received a birthday card from her father on her 21st birthday with a letter enclosed that her mother had written to her ten years before when she knew her life was coming to a close. My tears started rolling down my checks and continued on and off the rest of the book. Her mom’s name is Grace.

I loved the characters in this story. From Grace’s husband, her aunt, her best friend and her professor. All of them were such lovely people. Oh! Iona had a pretty nice boss too. I was very happy to meet all these people and learn their stories and I enjoyed my visits with them.

Alison wrote such a beautiful story and I’m happy I finally got to read this one. This was my first book by her. I also own “The Art of Remembering” and now I can’t wait to read that one. You have to read this book! This is a book you don’t wan’t to miss.

I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review. Thank you! 

SYNOPSIS: From the bestselling author of The Art of Remembering comes a tale about secrets that tear a family apart, of loss, and courage, and the strength of a gifted young woman to face the past, heal and move forward. 

On her 21st birthday, gifted cellist Iona Muir receives a package from her estranged father containing a letter from her mother, Grace, a talented musician who tragically died ten years earlier. Reeling from what she reads, Iona soon discovers a mysterious, faded photograph of Grace, hidden inside her cello case.
Honoring her mother’s request, Iona visits Grace’s beloved music teacher, taking the first step on an emotional trail of discovery that has been left for her. As Grace’s story unfolds, Iona gains a deeper insight into the mother she lost and the heartbreaking truth about Grace’s last months. The more Iona learns, the more she is drawn back to her family home, on the remote Scottish island of Orkney, and to her father.