Best Book Publishers UK | Austin Macauley Publishers

By: Kate Merrin

The Ties That Bind

Pages: 218 Ratings: 5.0
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How the hell do you persuade your elderly, sick mother that she can’t stay in her own home? She’s confused and belligerent, talking about Hitler and ironing boards! All she really wants is to be left alone to die in her own bed, in peace and without any fuss. But her daughters have other ideas.


Sisters Diana and Vanessa face a rollercoaster of emotions as they battle the practicalities of looking after their mother Edwina as her life draws to a close. As she becomes increasingly frail, Edwina becomes more determined to wear them down by her refusal to accept their help. And now their eldest sibling, a convicted criminal, is back on the scene and that can only spell trouble.


Through laughter, tears and lots of wine, Vanessa and Diana navigate the challenges of dealing with all the emotional and practical paraphernalia of a dying parent. Two middle aged women who appreciate that dark humour is sometimes what you need to get you through the day and that family ties run deep in good times and bad.

Having spent many years working in the family business, Kate got the opportunity to fulfil a dream of sitting down and writing when she took early retirement. As a busy mother and lately grandmother, her family has always been central to her days and so, it was natural that her first novel would revolve around family dynamics. Her children Adam and Francesca, are now grown but she blends her writing days with being Nanna to Connor and Evie, living in Kent with husband Keith and mad Labrador Jaffa.

Customer Reviews
5.0
6 reviews
6 reviews
  • Fran Chainey

    A tear-jerking story about family, life, and illness.
    Couldn't put it down and didn't want it to end

  • Susan

    This book tackles the difficult subject of slowly losing a parent over many months in an uncomplicated straightforward way, whilst still conveying the full raft of emotions experienced by the family. The specter of ' the other sister' generates
    suspense and adds an extra layer of tension. Guaranteed makes you laugh and cry.

  • J. O'Connell

    A touching story of two sisters trying to do what's best for their feisty, yet fragile elderly mother. Their fight with bureaucracy, and the return of the unscrupulous third sister, bring frustration and anger aplenty, but that's no match for their resilience and sense of humour. This book will make you smile, touch your heart, and keep you gripped to the end.

  • Gill

    A story of three strong women and family bonds. A fiercely independent elderly mother reluctantly coming to terms with her own mortality, and her two daughters navigating their way through a range of challenging situations to ensure their beloved Mum is well cared for in her last months. The family history emerges, told with warmth and humour and paints a picture of a loving family with the added complication of a ‘black sheep’. A heartwarming read that will keep you turning the pages!

  • Ann

    A story that will touch the hearts of those of us who have already lived through the slow decline of an aging parent, or who are currently living the experience. There were times when I laughed out loud whilst still empathizing with the range of emotions and practical challenges the two sisters faced. Potentially a sensitive subject the book cleverly manages to keep the content engaging and entertaining. I would highly recommend it.

  • Rita Parry

    A story of family ties that many of us can relate to tears, humor & frustration with an added interest of the ''Black Sheep'
    I enjoyed the book very much the story flowed well keeping my interest throughout, Hope more stories to come from this Author.

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