Can Christmas bring that extra magic?

Synopsis

Can the happiest time of year heal the most broken of hearts?

Georgine loves Christmas. The festive season always brings the little village of Middledip to life. But since her ex-boyfriend walked out, leaving her with crippling debts, Georgine’s struggled to make ends meet.

To keep her mind off her worries, she throws herself into organising the Christmas show at the local school. And when handsome Joe Blackthorn becomes her assistant, Georgine’s grateful for the help. But there’s something about Joe she can’t quite put her finger on. Could there be more to him than meets the eye?

Georgine’s past is going to catch up with her in ways she never expected. But can the help of friends old and new make this a Christmas to remember after all?

My review

After the breakup with her ex, Georgine’s life isn’t an easy one. You may think that a breakup may be difficult, but her ex left her with debts, making Georgina struggle to make ends meet. However, the financial worries won’t stop her to love Christmas. She is even organizing the Christmas show at the local school. And when with the arrival of Joe Blackthorn comes also extra help for that same show, Georgine couldn’t be more grateful. Yet there is something about Joe that Georgine recognizes, but cannot put her finger on. What Georgine doesn’t expect, is that somehow her own past is catching up with her, making her question everything once again. But will this Christmas be the one where all the pieces finally fall into the right place?

I had one big issue while reading this book… The main character’s name is Georgine, but each time that name appears, I read it as Giorgina, as that is my mother’s name 😊 So that also made me see each time my own mother in my mind and not the character that is closer to my own age and not to my mother’s 😊.

But if that is the only issue I have with this book, well, that isn’t really an issue, right? 😊

I found it difficult to understand how Georgine could live like she is at the start of the book. While of course her current situation isn’t caused by her own, it angered me reading how she is paying the price for the mistakes of someone else.

It is also clear that in her past something has happened, causing other financial issues. But as this isn’t made clear from the start, I didn’t know what to expect as a revelation, making my mind also going wild, thinking of the strangest things that could have happened.

But even if Georgine has struggles, I liked reading how she loves Christmas and how she wants to all she can for the show at the local school. A local school that truly could be an inspiration for other, real schools.

I also admired Georgine, how she is looking after her father, without making him feel like any kind of burden, even if he isn’t the fit man he used to be. Also when her sister appears on her doorstep, Georgine is ready to help Blair.

But don’t get me wrong, Georgine is ready to help all her loved ones out, but she has learned her lesson and she is not just letting people walk over her.

When Joe Blackthorn arrives in Middledip, it is obvious that he has a history with the place and with some people. But it is also clear that in a way, he is running away from something.

My heart broke when discovering Joe’s background. What he has been through as a young child, is something that nobody should go through. A child needs to have a worry-free upbringing, having fun, feeling loved and cherished.

Yes, he has made mistakes in the past and even not so far away present. But I couldn’t blame him, because it is all obviously linked to the way he grew up…

I also have to say, I could understand why Joe is keeping his real identity hidden from especially Georgine, but I could also understand the anger, disappointment and mistrust from her side, when discovering who Joe truly is.

Not only with Joe, but also with Georgine, we see how the past can burden you, and affect your present and your future. It is difficult to get rid of that burden, to make people understand that you are not the same person you once were.

But we also see that no matter what has happened to us, the essence, what makes us us, never changes. Because we see that Joe made mistakes with the influence of others, but that his core is an amazing person.

And seeing how Joe and Georgine are finding each other again, after all those years, how that connection they both believed they had as youngsters, somehow managed to stand the test of times, was just so great and heartwarming to read.

Of course, there are several ups and downs both Georgine and Joe have to overcome,  and there are still secrets being kept, out of shame or fear, but also here, the core of their feelings never changed.

And that is the power of this book, showing us how people can turn their lives around. But also how strong feelings and emotions can be, no matter how much time has passed. And that around Christmas, anything can happen, and even insurmountable things can be solved, if you just believe and have faith, trust and love.