How lives can change between Christmases

Synopsis

‘I hope this Christmas is better than last year’s.’

Following a scandalous affair, wayward Emma Devaney is sent in disgrace from her home in Ireland to Ryhope, where she will live with her widowed aunt, Bessie Brogan, and help run her pub. Bessie is kind but firm, and at first Emma rebels against her lack of freedom. Struggling to fit in, she turns to the wrong person for comfort, and becomes pregnant.

Accepting she must embrace her new life for the sake of her baby, Emma pours her energy into making the pub thrive and helping heal the fractured relationship between Bessie and her daughters. She catches the attention of Robert, a gruff but sincere farmer, who means to win her heart.

As December approaches, thankful for the home and acceptance she’s found, Emma is determined to bring not just her family, but the whole Ryhope community, together to celebrate – and to make one very special mother’s Christmas dreams come true.

My review

Emma Devaney has been sent away after a scandal to her aunt Bessie in Ryhope. While life in Ryhope is different from her life in Ireland, Emma also realizes that many thing are just the same, and not all in a good way.
Initially Emma rebels against her refrained freedom, even if her aunt Bessie shows her kindness, letting her work in the pub, but also firmness.
However, slowly Emma sees the quicker she embraces her new life, the quicker she may even find her own happiness. That is, until she discovers that her last rebellious act came with consequences. And now she is more than ever determined to bring her new family together and even bring the community of Ryhope closer. 

While I enjoyed reading this book, I found it a pity that the blurb of the book and its title gave away a lot of the plot.
Because even if the blurb does tell in fact what happens in the book, I found it not putting the focus on the right things, even spoiling a bit the discovery of Emma’s tale. 

At the start from this book, Emma is seen as a scandalous young woman. And it could have been easy to just go along with the prejudice, reading how Emma found herself in that situation, I found it not fair that she has been put to blame for everything. Because even if what happened was wrong, there were two persons involved… 

I also found Emma’s mother a bit cold. Of course, Emma is not being the easiest daughter, but the easiness which she is being sent away made me also angry… because again, Emma is not the only one to blame. 

Emma’s trip to Ryhope doesn’t go smoothly, causing her arrive to cause again a stir. And it saddened me to see Emma being judged again while she wasn’t at fault at all. Shows again how quickly people have their prejudice ready, without even looking for the truth. And I understood Emma’s behaviour, as everyone saw her being ‘evil’, why would she try to be nice and a good girl? 

Yet I absolutely liked Bessie… she is still heart – broken after losing her beloved husband, but she welcomes Emma in her home and pub, and she doesn’t take note from what people say and is the only person who sees Emma for who Emma truly is. 

Seeing how Emma slowly adapt in her new life, and even matures, made me feel proud of her. She came from a rather dark place, but due her stubbornness she is able to make positive changes not only in her own behaviour but also in the lives of her new found family.
While it may seem at moments that she is a proud woman, as a reader we see very clear that it is not pride that Emma is showing but just not taking nonsense.
And Emma is also not that proud to admit her mistakes and apologies for her behaviour.  

With Robert, a farmer, she starts off with the wrong foot, and they clash several times, but Emma also sees how kind and gentle he is, especially towards Bessie. And she sees how wrong she was in her perception of him.
Robert, who proves to be more of a gentleman than his farmer – state would make you think… 

This book shows us that in a year, so many things can change, and that people can mature easily, having the right mindset. It was lovely to see how Emma changed from a rebel into a young woman with responsibilities and into a loving caring woman, who uses her own strengths for the benefit of her family.
A story set in the past, but also showing in the present that it’s never too late to change and turn your life around for the much better, even against all odds.