Simona's Corner of Dreams: The Perfect Gift

Sunday, 17 July 2016

The Perfect Gift - by Emma Hannigan

Original Cover

My own copy

The blurb:

Happy Birthday, darling girl...

Ever since she can remember, Roisin has received a birthday card in the post. Signed with love from the birth mother she has never met.

Brought up by her adoptive parents, Keeley and Doug, Roisin has wanted for nothing. But on her thirtieth birthday a letter comes that shakes her world.

For Keeley, who's raised Roisin as her own, the letter reminds her of a secret she's been holding for thirty years.

And for Nell, keeping watch in the lighthouse, the past is a place she rarely goes. Until a young runaway arrives seeking shelter, and unwraps the gift of hope for them all....

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

The Perfect Gift is the first book by Emma Hannigan I have read and I really enjoyed it. The story follows three different women, who are somehow all connected to each other, but that's something you only discover throughout the book.

Let's start with Roisin. She is adopted, but has known for a long time. Her adopted parents are wonderful and always there for her. For every birthday she received a card from her mother, which made her of course really curious. We know that her mother died young and didn't have the possibility to raise her daughter. She was her perfect gift and tries to give something back to her in the letters. Roisin also went through something intense with a former boyfriend, which makes her very sensitive and careful. That's a story we also discover throughout the book.

Keeley is Roisin new mither and they are very close. Keeley is carrying some information in her though, things she kept a secret for a really long time, that was very interesting and mysterious. She also goes through some things in he marriage. And then there is also her other daughter Liv, Roisin's sister, who goes through a lot in this story.

Last but not least we have Nell. Nell lives in a lighthouse and barely ever goes out. When a young woman seeks her help though, she is there and takes her in. Mouse is a sweet young lady and Nell is the best thing that could have happened to her. She helps Mouse in so many ways, but Mouse is also there for her and listens to stories about Nell's past. What is revealed there is very intense as well and adds another level t this story.

I have to say that in the beginning I found it really hard to get into the story. The three women took turns and the focus was always in one if them, the next chapter it changed. At first the connections were not there for me, but that changed and I got hooked. Emma's writing is vey detailed, full of emotions and gripping. The way she intervened all three stories and still managed to make it unique for all of them. The perfect gift is a beautiful story, with lots of heart and it’s a novel about family, love and support.

Rating: