The story starts at Christmas then takes us through the ups and downs of the lives of three couples, who all live in a village named Hope Christmas, over a whole year.
There are Cat Tinsall, tv chef, and her husband Noel who are struggling with an ever growing family as one of their teenage daughters has become a single parent and Noel's mother has a fall and become increasing frail.
Pippa and Dan Holliday have recently separated. Dan has moved out of their family farm, but continues to work there on a daily basis. Following a fall from a tree Dan has sustained some permanent brain damage and doesn't think it is fair for Pippa to have to deal with his mood swings.
Marianne and Gabriel North, also farmers, suddenly find themselves looking after Gabriel's ex-wife Eve when she is discharged from hospital following a mental breakdown.
Whilst the three couples are all struggling with their families and work, they also get involved in a campaign to try to stop a developer from building a large hotel and leisure complex within the village. This is to be situated next to Gabriel's farm and across the road from Pippa's farm. The developers are offering the struggling farmers a large amount of money for the acquisition of additional pieces of their land.
The book does start and end at Christmas but isn't entirely a Christmas story as it is separated out into the activities which take place during each month of the year. There are also a few flashbacks to previous years.
I have also read the short story 'A Hope Christmas Love Story' which involves Cat Tinsall's family and particularly her daughter Mel.
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