Christmas at Emmerdale Farm (Emmerdale #1) by Pamela Bell

From Goodreads 

A wonderful Christmas gift for fans of ITV's Emmerdale and readers who love heartwarming and heartbreaking stories set in wartime. August 1914, and a terrible war begins, one that will affect the lives of everyone in the village of Beckindale. For Maggie Sugden, left to run Emmerdale Farm on her own while her husband, Joe, is at the front, it will bring grief and loss but also independence and the chance to find a place to belong - and perhaps even to love again. 

Christmas At Emmerdale is the first in a sweeping new saga series, exploring the lives of Emmerdale's much-loved families during the run up to the Great War. 

What readers are saying about Christmas at Emmerdale

'An enjoyable read with well written and well-developed characters '

'Had a fantastic Christmas and Emmerdale feel to it. Really enjoyed it!'

'A fantastic book!'

My thoughts

My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  The book has been sat on my TBR pile on my Kindle for some time.  I should have got round to it sooner, but better late than never.  This was one of my last reads of 2024. 

This is an easy to read story set in the run up to World War I telling the tale of the villagers living in Beckindale and the surrounding area.  Focusing on the Sugden family who inhabit Emmerdale Farm.  Maggie Sugden is left to run the farm with the help of others as her husband Joe, is sent off to fight on the front line during the first World War.  Life for Maggie isn't going to be all plain sailing as life om a farm can be hard work for a woman.  To find out how Maggie copes, grab a copy and see for yourself.

I enjoyed this story, it was nice to find out some of the back story to what life was like in Beckindale prior to how it was when it was first aired on the TV as a long running TV drama series, 

If you're a fan of Emmerdale the TV series and enjoy reading, this is the perfect read for you as it gives some history to what life was like in the Yorkshire Dales in the early years of the 20th century.