Marilyn Cohen De Villiers

The Heart Warrior’s Mother

The Heart Warrior’s Mother was inspired by the true story of a real-life heart warrior â€“ a child born with a congenital heart defect. 

Honourable Mention:  2022 Baby Hearts Press People’s Choice Awards

The fictitious mother of the title, Kerry-Anne Aarons, had it all: an adored and adoring husband (Imran Patel); a delightful little boy (Leo); a great job with a fabulous boss (Jason Brown), and a perfect, newborn daughter (Lily – nicknamed Tiger Lily).

But things start to unravel when baby Lily’s heart condition is diagnosed and Kerry’s battle to save her daughter commences. It’s a battle that takes her from the operating theatres and Intensive Care Units of local hospitals to the High Court of South Africa. It’s a battle that strains her relationships with her friends, her parents, and – ultimately – her husband. It’s a battle she is determined to win.

How much will Kerry have to sacrifice to give Lily the future she deserves?

A percentage of the proceeds of this novel will be donated to The Children’s Cardiac Foundation of Africa (TCCFA). After more than 50 years in paediatric cardiac surgery in South Africa, Professor Robin Kinsley established TCCFA (https://tccfa.org) in 2019 to “save the lives and improve the health of children born with congenital heart disease in Africa by raising funds for heart surgeries and by training specialists and support staff in the field of paediatric cardiac care”.

Fast facts:

  • One in 100 children is born with a congenital heart defect.
  • Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is approximately 60 times more prevalent than childhood cancer and about 25 times more common than cystic fibrosis

Reviews

 

“A true, cross-generational story of the eternal link between love and pain… the greater the love, the more inevitable the pain. Marilyn Cohen de Villiers once again – with amazing skill – depicts the common humanity that transcends differing cultures.”

James Mitchell – former Book Editor, The Star, Johannesburg

 

The Heart Warrior’s Mother is a book you need to access if you are a parent, a sibling, a partner or a child of someone you love. https://robynsassenmyview.com/2022/05/25/review-of-the-heart-warriors-mother-by-marilyn-cohen-de-villiers/

 

Reading this book takes you on a gut-wrenching journey with the family of a sick child. You’re there ever step of the way. You’ll hold your breath, you’ll gasp, your stomach will plummet, you’ll cheer at each baby step of progress, you’ll rage at the many injustices that occur, and you’ll shed buckets of tears. But you won’t be able to tear yourself away from the story of this little heart warrior with the fighting spirit of a tiger. https://jansbookbuzz.com/2022/07/20/blog-tour-the-heart-warriors-mother-by-marilyn-cohen-de-villiers/#more-3840

 

You will need tissues for this one. https://ramblingmads.uk/2022/07/14/blog-tour-the-heart-warriors-mother-marilyn-cohen-de-villiers/

A beautifully written and touching story, that’s definitely thought-provoking and informative. I appreciate the way that this book raises awareness of a prevalent issue, and one that is more common than I realised. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of emotional, gritty, realistic memoirs but you will definitely need a box of tissues! https://cerislittleblog.home.blog/2022/07/15/the-heart-warriors-mother-by-marilyn-cohen-de-villiers/

 

An exceptional piece of writing that cannot fail to tear at your heart strings. https://pickledthoughtsandpinot.wordpress.com/2022/07/15/blog-tour-the-heart-warriors-mother-marilyn-cohen-de-villiers/

 

 Marilyn Cohen de Villiershas succeeded in writing a wonderful novel out of a heartbreaking circumstance. It’s definitely a ‘pull at your heart strings’ book. I suggest you have a packet of tissues on standby.  https://www.novelkicks.co.uk/book-review-the-heart-warriors-mother-by-marilyn-cohen-de-villiers/#more-16093

 

 Wow. A story that will be impossible to forget, one that needed to be told to the world. Highly recommend. https://betweenthepagesbookclub.blog/2022/07/18/blog-tour-the-heart-warriors-mother-marilyn-cohen-de-villiers-%e2%98%85%e2%98%85%e2%98%85%e2%98%85/

 

I was hooked. from the first page. … I defintely recomend you read this but you may need tissues. 5 Stars https://tealeavesandbookleaves.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-heart-warriors-mothers-by-marilyn.html

 

 

Radio Interviews

 

https://www.chaifm.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022.05.12-Marilyn-Cohen-De-Villiers.mp3

https://www.chaifm.com/podcast/2022-06-10-marilyn-cohen-de-villiers-in-conversation-about-her-book-the-heart-warriors-mother/

 

 

Blog interviews

 

https://cupoftoast.co.uk/the-heart-warriors-mother-an-interview-with-marilyn-de-villiers/

 https://splashesintobooks.wordpress.com/2022/07/17/ai-marilyn-cohen-de-villiers/

 

 

Guest blog posts

https://portable-magic.com/2022/07/14/marilyn-cohen-de-villiers-the-heart-warriors-mother/

https://www.jazzybookreviews.com/2022/07/the-heart-warriors-mother-by-marilyn.html

https://lexirees.co.uk/mums-book-blast/

http://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com/2022/07/rrr-presents-heart-warriors-mother-by.html

 

Buy On

Amazon/Kindle:  https://a.co/d/cHrvj8w

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