Series:
Cornish Midwives (Book 6)
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?
Good book. This was my first experience with the Cornish
Midwives series, and though I haven't read the others, this book can easily be
read as a standalone. This isn't just a romance; it is also a peek into the
lives of a group of midwives and their patients. It is heartwarming, funny, sad,
and uplifting all in one story. The main characters are Nadia, a midwife who
has recently returned to Cornwall, her mother, Frankie, a midwife trainee, and
Dr. Hamish Spencer, a widower.
Nadia brought her two children home to Cornwall from New
Zealand after the end of her marriage. She and the two kids, Remi and Mo,
currently share her mom's two-bedroom apartment above a bakery. Her ex is more
interested in his new girlfriend than maintaining contact with or supporting
his children, but Nadia is determined to give them the best Christmas possible.
The last thing she is interested in is a new relationship, but it is hard to
deny the sparks between her and the new doctor.
Hamish is a widower with a teenage daughter, Saffron, and
a six-year-old daughter, Daisy. He is still grieving the loss of his wife six
years earlier and feeling guilty over aspects of her death. His girls are the
center of his life, and he has no plans to add a relationship to the mix, which
is just fine with his vehemently protective teenager.
Meanwhile, Frankie is concentrating on her studies and
enjoying a special friendship with Gus. Unfortunately for her, her tradition-minded
mother and her son are vocal in their disapproval. She has to decide whether to
stand up for her wishes or cave into their judgment. Gus is a sweetheart and so
supportive of her. I loved his patience with her fears. There were some times
when I wanted to shake Frankie and encourage her to tell mom and Hari to butt
out, it's her life. I was happy that she had Nadia's full support. I liked
seeing Frankie finally put herself first.
I loved seeing the relationship between Nadia and Hamish
develop. The sparks between them are evident from the start, but both are wary
of relationships. With their daughters Remi and Daisy being best friends and
work situations happening, they find themselves frequently thrown together. An
agreement to be friends takes the pressure off but doesn't reduce the
attraction they feel. There are some terrific scenes of them together, from
events with the girls to time alone. Some made me laugh, and others made me
ache, but it was clear that their feelings grew stronger. There are ups and
downs as each suffers doubts, and interference from Nadia's ex and Hamish's
daughter complicate matters further. It wasn't easy, but they eventually found
their way to a future together.
Daisy and Remi aren't the only things that push Nadia and
Hamish together. Nadia has a patient, Ginny, whose situation entails a
difficult choice. Hamish plays a significant role in providing the information
and support she needs. I loved seeing Hamish and Nadia come together to help
her. Some of the scenes are heartwrenching, while others are full of hope and
optimism.
I enjoyed getting to know the other midwives in the
group. Though their stories may have been told in earlier books, enough
information was given that I never felt lost. It does motivate me to put those
books on my want-to-read list. My favorite was Gwen, the older woman with no
filter when talking. She is also an avid dancer and competitor; those scenes
were a lot of fun.
No comments:
Post a Comment