Having enjoyed Faith Hogan's The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club, I am delighted to be geaturing her latest festive novel, On the First Day Of Christmas. It's time to return to Ireland for another uplifting read.
When Liv Latimer says goodbye to her colleagues and finishes
work for the holidays, she's looking forward to a Christmas to remember with
her boyfriend Eddie.
But before she makes it home, her phone rings, calling her
back into work. And Liv is faced with a choice. Does she do as she's always
done, and put herself second? Or, will she say no, so she can finally begin the
life she's dreamed of?
Liv's decision will turn her world upside down in ways
she could never have imagined.
Because whatever choice she makes, Liv is about
to discover, fate finds a way...
Praise for Faith Hogan:
'Joyful, life-affirming and
inspirational' –Heidi Swain
'Heartwarming and emotional' –Liz Fenwick
'A
heart-rending, uplifting and beautifully written journey of female
friendship... I loved being transported to Ireland's wild Atlantic coast'
–Phillipa Ashley
'Faith Hogan navigates beautifully between the community and
the individual, forensically investigating moral issues and loyalties with an
unflinching, yet humane eye. She is one of the most original and exciting
writers to emerge from Ireland in recent times' –Afric McGlinchey
'An
intricately woven story of love, jealousy and misunderstanding' –DineyCosteloe
My Thoughts
It was lovely to return to Ireland, to Ballycove and to Dublin. Although this is set around Christmas, with references to many of the festive touches, it is not all sparkle and tinsel in the story. It has a definite 'sliding doors' feeling, with two stories running in parallel, both centred around Liv and her friends and family. Liv's twin sister has died some time in the past and she has struggled to carry on, at times, going through the motions. As the two stories develop, you see her working through her present situation and there emerges a definite feeling of hope for the future and grasping every opportunity.
There is quite a range of characters in both stories. Not all of them are likeable and at times, you want to shake Liv and urge her to wise up. Desperate for her own happy, family life, she has been in danger of settling for second best. Liv's family in Ballycove are well aware of this and you can sense their frustration with her. However, you can see how such a kind and caring person has come about, when you see her family. I did find the parallel stories quite confusing at times and had to keep checking which story thread the chapter belonged to. However, for the most part, they stayed distinct and I appreciated how the final events came about.
In short: your future is in the stars
About the Author
Faith lives in the west of Ireland with her husband, four
children and two very fussy cats. She has an Hons Degree in English Literature
and Psychology, has worked as a fashion model and in the intellectual
disability and mental health sector.
Thanks to Faith Hogan and Aria for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
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