Battered, Broken, Healed

Trade Paperback

The true story of a mother separated from her daughter. Only a painful truth can bring them back together

When six-week-old Jasmine is placed into her care, foster mother Maggie Hartley is delighted to have a baby in the house again. Maggie's been given temporary custody of Jasmine after social services were concerned that the baby was failing to thrive and develop. Her mother Hailey vehemently denies that anything is wrong, however, and social services allow her to have daily supervised visits with Jasmine.

Baby Jasmine is a joy to be around, but Maggie suspects that all is not quite as it seems with her mum. Timid and extremely quiet, Maggie struggles to draw Hailey out of her shell and fears that she may be suffering with postnatal depression.

Then one day a terrified Hailey turns up on Maggie's doorstep with her hair streaked with blood and her body covered in bruises. Breaking down, she admits that she is being abused by her violent husband, and is too afraid to leave him. Maggie realises that the only way mother and daughter will be reunited is if Hailey admits what's going on behind closed doors and leaves her husband. But after years of physical and psychological abuse, that's easier said than done...

A true story of hope from Sunday Times bestselling author Maggie Hartley, a foster carer for over 20 years.

'An amazing account of a foster parent and the courage and bravery of a young woman' 5* Amazon reader review