Cover Image: With Love From Ma Maguire

With Love From Ma Maguire

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

When Philly Maguire and Richard Swainbank first met, an overwhelming feeling of love, conflict, hatred and secrecy was born. Philly and Richard were on the opposite sides of the mill floor. They recognised that they were equally matched in strength of character and the capacity for overwhelming sexual passion. Thus began the forty years of conflict between the two families.

Set in Bolton and covers a forty year period. A tale of a love/hate relationship between two families who came from different backgrounds. Ma Maguire is a strong character who will stop at nothing to protect her family. Filled with humour, great characters and feels true to the era it was written about.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #RandonHouseUK #TransworldPublishers and the author #RithHamilton for my ARC #WithLoveFromMaMaguire in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A wonderful English saga.Love Ma Maguire a strong woman a woman who keeps her family close.Full of wonderful characters and storyline.Highly recommend for all saga lovers.#netgalley#randomhouseuk

Was this review helpful?

The story spans a few decades with different characters between different families, following the story of unrequited love between a textile mill owner and a headstrong woman. Good characters and plot twists kept the story engaging, although it was a long story and was not quite the perfect happy ending. A couple of the chapters are especially long and could have been broken down, but I loved the story, especially the first half of it.

Was this review helpful?

With Love from Ma Maguire is the first book of Ruth Hamilton I am reading. The heroine is Maguire. I love how she came to be “Ma Maguire”.


Such an interesting page turning book.


This book is full of humour. I enjoyed Ma Maguire and Mother Blue’s banter and chatter and other awesome characters you can’t help noticing in this book.


As a trained health educator, I am impressed at the author’s knowledge of hygiene and poor sanitary practices and the diseases that results from unhygienic practices. This is an eye opener and what a perfect novel to include fresh knowledge.


This book is heavy on lots of themes. Themes of love, family,good hygiene, choices etc.


I lack the adjectives to describe this book but I am rating it 5 stars perfectly.


So many characters you will love and enjoy in this book. You will feel lots of emotions but the story will stay with you even after dropping the book to take a break.


One thing I learnt from this book is that “the truth will definitely come out at the end”.

The book cover is so captivating. Ma Maguire will always be my favourite character in this novel. I don’t want to drop spoilers but I love Molly, Sarah,Daisy, Charlie and Janet!

This book is so clean and fit to be read by any historical saga fan.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House UK through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

My first time to read Ruth Hamilton and I was intrigued. The story is set in the Bolton cotton mills over a thirty-year period. The tagline is ‘can you love and hate someone in equal measure’ and the book certainly tried to prove that point. However, I found the relationship between Ma Maguire and Richard Swainbank unlikely. It didn’t stop me enjoying the story though. The details about the lives of the working classes in that period was very interesting, informative and well written. For fans of Catherine Cookson, it will be a great read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Transworld for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#WithLoveFromMaMaguire #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

This was an enjoyable book to read. It was a story about life in the mills in Bolton. There was a good storyline and interesting characters especially Ma Maguire who kept the family together. There was everything in this book, happiness, sadness and intruige. Ido recommend that you read this book.

Was this review helpful?

Family saga full of wonderful characters and richly described lives. Ma Maguire is a fascinating women of the kind we no longer see,she rules over her family with a firm hand. Joy,happiness and sorrow all mixed together.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review.
First time reading this Author and what a great read it was being a big fan of Catherine cookson this book is of a similar read and can highly recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

This book reminded me of a book I ready by Catherine Cookson so if you are a true fan you will love this authors book. Family saga based in the cotton Mills in Lancashire

Was this review helpful?