She’s not a yummy mummy—she never was.
Shona has four kids by four different fathers, a reputation in tatters, and a front-row seat to public humiliation after being branded Australia’s worst mum by the media. Life has always been messy, but now it’s outright chaos: a custody battle, bruised egos, and a fashion parade of disastrous relationships.
Determined to prove she’s more than the sum of her mistakes, Shona faces a mountain of self-doubt, nosy neighbours, and her own cringe-worthy parenting fails as she fights to win back her kids in court. Along the way, she stumbles through epic blunders, unexpected friendships, and a series of romantic misadventures—hoping, against all odds, to finally meet a decent man.
Shona’s journey is raw, hilarious, and ultimately hopeful—a story for anyone who’s ever rooted for an underdog or wondered if second (or third, or even fifth) chances for romance really do exist.
Will she finally find redemption and become the mum her kids deserve—or will she always be known as The Crummy Mummy?
Disability Themes
Romance, RomCom, Romantic Comedy, Friends to Lovers, Contemporary Romance, Funny, Australian Story, Coming of Age, Longing for Love
About The Author
Paul Mahoney writes under the pen name PM Mahoney because someone else had already published using his name (how weird is that?) He is an accomplished author who loves writing romantic comedies and mysteries.
In 2020, Paul was also awarded a certificate from the Premier of Queensland for his quick action in helping to save the life of an elderly lady. As well as being an author, he is also a screenwriter who has had one feature film, Ruby's Choice (2022), made which starred the iconic Jane Seymour (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman). That movie led to him becoming a Global Ambassador for the Dementia Foundation's Spark of Life program, reflecting his commitment to improving dementia care through storytelling and advocacy.
Paul has had several other feature screenplays optioned and is hopeful that further films will be made in the future. His work has earned international recognition, including awards from prestigious screenwriting competitions such as the Euroscript Award in London, the Pasadena International Film Festival and the Faith & Family Script Showcase in Los Angeles.
He is forever in debt to his better half, Solange, who helps to keep him on track, despite his constant wandering off to look at shiny things that capture his short attention span. He hopes to write many other books that he thinks would have made his beloved and late sister Michelle laugh.
