Port Agnes, a perfect place for a new start…

Synopsis

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

But for single mum and busy midwife Nadia, it’s quickly turning into her worst Christmas ever.

Her marriage is over, and whilst her husband has moved on, Nadia finds herself back home, squashed into her mum’s spare room with her two small children. They might not be a perfect family anymore, but Nadia is determined to make this Christmas special for them.

Dr Hamish Spencer totally understands Nadia’s pain. As a fellow single parent, he’s struggling to cope with a rebellious teen daughter and a precocious six-year-old! Perhaps if he and Nadia join forces, they could make this Christmas slightly more memorable for everyone?

The last thing Nadia wants is a new man in her life, but she’d definitely like lovely Hamish as a friend. But Christmas has a way of melting the hardest of hearts and maybe a kiss under the mistletoe could change everything?

My review

Nadia has returned to Port Agnes from New Zealand as a single mum as her marriage is over. But it’s difficult to start all over again, while living at her mum’s place with two small children.
While the children are still finding it difficult being without their absent father, Nadia is adamant to give them all the love they need. And with Christmas just around the corner, Nadia wants this one to be special.
But being a single parent is not an easy task. And who better than Dr. Hamish Spencer understands Nadia’s feelings, as he is also a single parent of a rebellious teenager and an energetic six – year – old.
The both of them have their children’s happiness at top priority, but is it so wrong to start thinking about their own happiness too?  

Oooh how much I love returning to Port Agnes! When I started this series, I had no clue about the job and passion of midwives. But with each book I have read, my admiration for this calling has only grown and I have fallen in love with each character! The way they all do their utterly best for the parents – to – be, even going beyond, makes me respect them even more!  

In the beginning of this book, I felt truly sorry for Nadia. She has given up her own home, to follow the man she loved, only to return back home with her two children. 

Can I just say that I cannot understand how a man can behave that way? How can someone betray his wife that way, and even ‘forget’ his children on the other side of the world? The lack of communication infuriated me and it broke my heart seeing how those lovely kids were wondering where their father was… 

But I admired Nadia and her courage. It cannot be easy to return home, start all over again with the limits she has. Yet she rightfully prioritizes the kids, even telling some white lies just to see a smile on their faces.
No matter what will happen in the future, Mo and Remi will always be the most important persons in her life. 

When Nadia meets Hamish, she doesn’t know that she has found a kindred spirit. Not only because he is a single parent too, but he prioritizes his children too. No matter who enters his life, his children will be also first on his list, and the ‘new entry’ will be on a lower place on that same list. 

It warmed my heart to see how these two characters who deserved so much more from life, find each other, but also respect each other’s boundaries.
Nadia understands why Hamish’s teenage daughter acts the way she does, and Nadia wouldn’t want to be the reason to put a rift between father and daughter. Yet sometimes feelings can grow very quickly and very strongly…. 

Beside the story of Nadia and Hamish, there is also place for Frankie and her romance with Guy, and her own issues with moving on with her life.
Frankie ended her marriage as she was very unhappy, yet it saddened me to read how her own mother and son acted like Frankie was a madwoman.
But I was also proud that she stood her ground and wouldn’t let someone jeopardize her newfound happiness. 

Of course it was also lovely to see how my other friends were doing, and it was so sweet to see how characters I loved previously are living their love story even after finishing their own tale. 

In this book we see how it is possible to start to love again after everything we have been through. But we also see that the heart of a parent always put the children before own happiness. However, when sometimes things feel so good, it’s okay to let those feelings grow. And take a new, fresh chance on love.