A Special Delivery by Clare Dowling

Aisling Brady is miserable. So is her husband Mossy. The three kids are too. Yet nobody dares say a thing. Instead the Bradys keep their heads down and grimly look forward to another miserable Christmas in Dublin.

What Aisling doesn't know is that this year, they will get the most unexpected gift of all. One that will bring joy and heartbreak, hope and a string of sleepless nights.

As their world is turned upside down, questions have to be asked. But are the Bradys ready to face the truth about themselves? And what each of them has done?

Review: First of all I would like to thank Clare Dowling because after I won a giveaway she sent me a signed copy of this gorgeous book (which is now on my very special shelf) and a box of delicious chocolates. 

A Special Delivery certainly is a roller coaster of a story, as it says in the blurb every family has its ups and downs but I think the Bradys have more in a year that any other family. The story starts on Christmas Eve when the atmosphere at their place is not really joyous, quite the opposite, because one of their sons is no longer with them and nobody is ready to talk about it, but then they find a baby in their garden with a note. It's time for him to be with his father but who is his father? 

As the story unfolds, we discover bit by bit what happened to this family that broke them apart and how the baby ended in their doorstep. But also how they are coping now with this new member of their family, he certainly is a ray of sunshine. I think we all fell in love with this little buddy. 

In this book there is a lot of drama, and when you think nothing else can happen, it does. It certainly surprised me more than once. But Clare tells a beautiful story with a message about forgiveness, understanding and learning to accept that sometimes, you can try all you want to change someone, but they are not going to change if they don't want to. 

Clare also deals with some serious topics during this story, like addiction, an unplanned pregnancy or depression but adds some humorous sparks with some comic situations or the Polish neighbour who was always ready to help with make up brush on hand. All in all, A Special Delivery is a beautifully written family tale that won't even let you breath while you are reading it, turning page after page, wanting to know more. 

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