Christmas is a great time to think about your life and your choices

Synopsis

Christmas has been all but forgotten as a negative pregnancy test makes Rachel reconsider her future with Todd. The realisation sends her to the small town of Abbeyglen where the opening of Caulfield’s Café is all anyone’s talking about. But it also has her beginning to see returning colleague at Blackwater Financial Services, the loud, hilarious Owen Larrson in a new light.

Natalie has decided she needs a change. In the midst of Christmas craziness, with the grand opening of the café and the excitement of her two children’s Christmas concert, Natalie can only hope the people of Blackwater Financial Services can help her find the job that will change her life. But as ex-boyfriend Darren returns, she realises luck might not be on her side for a bright Christmas after all …

Join two women who are trying to figure out what the rest of their lives hold, in the midst of the mayhem of the most wonderful time of the year in the most wonderful place to be!

My review

After a pregnancy scare, Rachel thinks about her relationship with Todd. As it was crystal-clear that they were on a different level when thinking that a baby was on its way, and that now Todd has also lost his job, are they truly that happy together?
Spending some time with her best friend Bex in the small town of Abbeyglen, and her job at Blackwater Financial Services is the right mindset to think about her future. And now she also has the chance to see her colleague Owen Larrson in a different light than just being that loud and hilarious man.
But during this Christmas period, Rachel isn’t the only one thinking about her future. Because in Abbeyglen, Natalie also needs a change. As a single mother, she is struggling, even if her two children are absolute angels.
However, a new job would be great, and she tests her luck for a job at Blackwater Financial Services, with the cheering of Bex. But when her ex Darren reappears out of the blue, Natalie is afraid that things will turn back to what they were, while in fact she needs a change…
Two women, both in Abbeyglen, connected through mutual friends, are having a Christmas where they have to figure out where their future will be and what it will look like…

I have to admit, it was a while ago since I read a book written by this author. So in a way, it was like discovering her all over again! And what a delight it was!

Both Rachel as Natalie are somehow lost characters.

Rachel seemingly has is it all, she loves her job, she has the best of friends, and she is engaged to the most attentive man, being Todd.
Rachel and Todd are so alike, so in sync, that it would appear that nothing can come between them. Until Rachel thinks that she is pregnant…

I always like reading how a woman, initially a bit shocked, quickly becomes very protective over their babies. And seeing this in Rachel, even if she isn’t 100% sure yet of the baby being actually there or not, warmed my heart.

So on the other hand, reading Todd’s reaction somehow flabbergasted me. Okay, perhaps the pregnancy that wasn’t, came as a shock, but if you are engaged and you have had the talk about children, for sure slowly you would be happy about it? Even if it came before planned?
For me, that was only proof that not only Rachel and Todd aren’t a that great match, but also that Todd isn’t that mature at all.
I was even angered to read the avalanche of messages he sent to Rachel, take a chill – pill will you?

While it was sad to read how suddenly Rachel’s securities in life are collapsing, this also felt the right thing in a way. Because this event makes Rachel think about her own future. Perhaps making a pro and con list is not the best of ideas, but that list makes her realize that Rachel doesn’t laugh at loud with Todd. And isn’t a relationship so much more than just getting along and (dis)like the same things?

With her (love) life falling into pieces, Rachel can luckily count on her friend Bex, and stay with her temporarily in Abbeyglen, where she also meets Natalie.

Perhaps Natalie was an even sadder character than Rachel, because she just tries so hard. Yet being a single mother isn’t easy. And she wants her kids to have everything they could wish for, but she just cannot…

Her children are absolute delights, where Katie has that innocent enthusiasm, and Jamie is already a responsible young “man”, even if he is just a child himself. That only shows which values Natalie is passing on her children. And believe, it’s the right kind of values!

So seeing her struggling seemed so unfair, because in the world there are people that have everything and don’t deserve it, while people who do, don’t have anything…

Even if I didn’t agree with the choices she makes when her ex reappears out of the blue, in a way I could also understand Natalie. Because no matter what, Darren is and will always be the father…

Both women are at crossroads in their lives, as they both realize that the lives they were living wasn’t living their lives at the fullest. And that was eye – opening, because too often we are just content with our lives. But being content isn’t good enough. Sometimes we need to find the courage to make some tough choices and decisions, to have a better life. And I mean this to have a better emotional life. Life is too short to just stick to what we know.
Because with opening your perspectives, you don’t know what or who will cross your path!