Wow fantastic read!!! Following a scandalous affair, wayward Emma Devaney is sent in disgrace from her home in Ireland to Ryhope, where she will live with her widowed aunt, Bessie Brogan, and help run her pub. Bessie is kind but firm, and at first Emma rebels against her lack of freedom. Struggling to fit in, she turns to the wrong person for comfort, and becomes pregnant.

Accepting she must embrace her new life for the sake of her baby, Emma pours her energy into making the pub thrive and helping heal the fractured relationship between Bessie and her daughters. She catches the attention of Robert, a gruff but sincere farmer, who means to win her heart.

As December approaches, thankful for the home and acceptance she's found, Emma is determined to bring not just her family, but the whole Ryhope community, together to celebrate - and to make one very special mother's Christmas dreams come true.

Well, Emma Delaney certainly knew how to get attention! After being sent away because of her misdemeanours, she makes an eye catching entrance to her aunt’s pub on her arrival in Liverpool! She is definitely not a good judge of men, getting mixed up with Ginger on arrival.
I loved the mix of serious with funny. Lil Mahone sounded a real character.
I read this book quickly as I couldn’t put it down (when not working). Look forward to the next one.

A Mother’s Christmas Wish by Glenda Young. I loved so many characters in this book especially Bessie and Emma. Bessie and Emma are such strong characters. Both characters had such love for their families.

I really enjoyed this book. Excellent read with great characters and a really good storyline. I would recommend this book.

A historical book set in England about a taven and the woman that runs it.And Christmas and woman friendships

A Mother's Christmas Wish, I loved the spunky, assertive Irish characters set to make their lives better on English soil.

The setting was a bit bleak but the storyline made up for it with it's drama and busy lives of its characters.

Emma is sent from Ireland to ryhope in disgrace to help her widowed aunt run her pub and doesn't make the best first impression as she falls through the door drunk and with a black eye.
Feisty emma soon settles down under her aunts firm but kind hand but finds herself pregnant and is sure she will be disgraced and sent away again, but help comes from the whole village who are willing to lend a hand and advice.
Emma grows to love her aunt and wants to help her get the pub back to the standard it was and also find ways to pay the debt that comes with it so her aunt no longer has to worry.
Her aunt has been keeping a secret that she can't hide for much longer, what does fate have in store for them all?
Absolutely loved the storyline and the characters were brilliant, really couldn't put this book down
Highly recommend this book

Glenda Young has done it again with another great book. A mothers Christmas wish, a great read with great characters. Emma leaves Ireland under a cloud of shame, sent to her auntie in Rhyhope, she arrives drunk and full of scandal, she struggles to settle and causes mischief. Her auntie Bessie runs the Forresters Arms pub and sets Emma to work there, something Emma doesn’t want to do. They eventually settle into a good partnership turning the ailing pub back to what it once was. A wonderful tale of friendship, family and love. I wish I could’ve given more than 5 stars for this lovely tale ⭐️

Another wonderful atmospheric book from the pen of Glenda Young a writer who knows how to draw you into the story of her characters.Readers will love this book and I will certainly read it again 5*

This is the first book I've read by Glenda Young and I am over the moon to find another author in one of my favourite genres- historical sagas. I loved her writing style and her feisty strong female characters.
Emma is sent over the water to stay with her aunt after a wayward spell. She makes a dramatic entrance to her aunt's pub- but they take an instant liking to each other.
The book centres on family values and dramas, friendships, hardships and romance in unexpected quarters.
I can't wait to find more books to add to my kindle.

This is a beautiful book and it is so amazing, the story is so lovely and very enjoyable to read. i loved everything about this book and i would recommend to anyone who loves reading to give this book a go. it is a lovely book and i will read other books from this author.

Another fantastic book by this author, great storyline, loved the way old and new characters were cleverly weaved together to create a story of friendship and heartache and of course to celebrate woman's hard work at Christmas.

Love Glenda Young books and this one in particular was a cracking read - a lovely saga set full of all emotions, a compelling read I would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Glenda Young for the chance to read this advance copy in return for my honest opinion

I live in the North East of the UK not so far from Ryhope - Seaham is the next town up the coast from us - so I can imagine some of the places that Glenda describes

I am new to Glenda's books but will get round to reading them all in time - but this one popped up and I decided to request it.

Although it has a Christmas title it isn't overtly Christmassy but more about the Irish tradition of the 'Mother's Christmas' that is held on January 6th every year - a time for women to have time together on Epiphany after all the work that Christmas entails. It certainly seems to be a lovely custom.

Emma is sent to her Aunt Bessie in disgrace from her Irish home and this is the story of how she settles into North East life and helps her Aunt run the rundown pub. Its also the tale of daughters falling out with Mothers and family dynamics.
And Emma manages to disgrace herself again - but love conquers all and her life settles down.

I find Glenda's books and easy read though there is always something to come to keep the readers interest.

I will look out for more of her books

Thank you again to all involved

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this ARC

Love this author and loved this book. It has so many emotions just love family saga books well I think it os like a family saga. Cant wait to read more

Emma Devaney lives with her mother Nuala in Loughshinny ireland with her wilful ways, a head strong girl, she's a feisty young woman, and after she has shamed her mother for the last time she sends her over to England to stay with her sister. Aunt Bessie Brogan widow runs The Forester's Arms, a coal mining village of Ryhope in Sunderland, Emma has always wanted to get away and start somewhere new and does not put up a fight not to go, a new start, a new life lies ahead for her, this is just the beginning.
What a fantastic story, this author never disappoints me in her writing, some new character's and old from previous books are added along the way, Emma and Aunt Bessie pull together to keep the pub afloat and Emma even gets her aunt to hold a women's Christmas on the sixth of January, a Irish tradition names NOLLAIGNAmBAN is a celebration night just for the women after all the hard work they done over the Christmas season, eat, drink and be merry just for one night only.
Emma get's to know the village very well and all the locals and Bessie's family in this close knit community.
It's a book you wont be able to put down, heart-breaking incredible book one of my favourite reads so far this year in historical family sagas. top stars.