Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand

In Winter Street we are introduced to Kelley and Mitzie Quinn who run the Winter Street Inn on Nantucket Island.  Between them they have four grown children, an ex-wife, and a lover.  The story runs from December 23 to Christmas Evening as the family and their significant others gather.  Within the group, there are multiple issues going on, leading to a wide swath of emotions ranging from sheer joy to utter agony.  One might say that it is a bit unbelievable that so much drama could be happening at once.

It wasn't a happily ever after ending but it kept my spirits high.   The characters were all distinctly individualistic ones.  The story lines and setting were credible and the warmth of the season crept through the book.                                                                      

THE FLIGHT OF GEMMA HARDY by Margot Livesey

The Flight of Gemma Hardy takes place in post WW II Scotland. Gemma, the child of a Scottish mother and Icelandic father, was born in Edinburgh and raised to age 3 in Iceland. Both her mother and father died, and she was taken to Scotland to live with her uncle and family. The aunt immediately takes a dislike to Gemma. After her uncle dies, her aunt sends Gemma to a boarding school (the Claypool School), and Gemma becomes a student/working girl (slave). She barely had time to be educated and had the simplest things denied her. The school eventually goes bankrupt, and Gemma secures a job in Orkney Islands, finding a new life among decent people as a tutor to Mr. Sinclair's niece. She falls in love when she is 18 with a man 41. Gemma later leaves Mr. Sinclair's employ and finds other jobs and experiences many difficult situations. Gemma longs to return to her home, Iceland, and later travels there having a nice reunion with some surviving family members. It was hard to believe that a 10-year old girl would be sent out into the world with no support system of family and be treated so cruelly. This story is one of passion, betrayal, redemption, discovery of a life a very young girl never dreamed of as she grew into adulthood.