As stars sparkle in wintry skies, the little village of Thimblebury is getting in the Christmas spirit. Fairy lights hang in shop windows, couples kiss under the mistletoe and midwife Zoe Padbury has a heartfelt Christmas wish…
For midwife Zoe Padbury, there’s nowhere more magical than her Lake District home at Christmas. The air smells of hot chocolate and mulled wine, there are Santa cruises on the lakes, and Zoe has her hands full welcoming babies into the world – the best presents of all.
But at home at Kestrel Cottage, despite the lights twinkling on the tree, the mood is far from festive. Zoe has just had unexpected news: she may never be able to have children. She and her boyfriend Alex have been dreaming of starting a family of their own, and as she watches Alex put together the perfect Christmas for his daughter Billie, she hides her heartbreak. She’s determined not to ruin the holidays for him…
Zoe wraps presents with Billie, and sees Alex look at them both with such love. The season should be joyful, but she’s far from feeling light and hope. But what’s more important at Christmas? Keeping the peace or telling the truth? Zoe’s only wish is for many more Christmases with those she loves. But is her relationship strong enough to survive the secrets she’s been keeping?
Review: This is the fifth book in a series of stories about the life of Zoe Padbury, a midwife attached to the medical practice in the small Lake District village of Thimblebury. She moved there from Manchester, after the break up of her marriage and currently lives with partner Alex, his daughter and baby granddaughter in a farm outside the village. Although this and other books in the series feature recurring characters and references to previous stories set in Thimblebury, I feel that each one can be read as a standalone.
This story sees things a little unsettled in Zoe’s household as Alex’s daughter, Billie, has returned from visiting her in-laws in Spain in a strange mood. Life continues as normal for Zoe at work in the run up to Christmas, but things are strained at home because of Billie’s moods and Alex’s attempts to find the cause. Her relationship with Alex is also tense after devastating news about her health. Some plans Alex has for the future are causing a little ill feeling among some local residents. Can Zoe get her wish for a peaceful family Christmas?
It was lovely to return to Thimblebury and catch up with some familiar characters, including some mums and babies from previous stories in the series. I have to admit that I got rather impatient with Billie’s behaviour in this book; she was more like a badly behaved teenager than a mum in her mid twenties. Since it was nearing Christmas, it was great to watch seasonal preparations taking place in the village, have encounters with the big man and see just a dusting of snow. Fans of the series and newcomers alike should enjoy this festive family story.
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