E. M. Richmond – författare

Change of Heart In post-war New Zealand, 18-year-old Evelyn Rutherford is a young woman of quiet strength—loved by her family, courted by a man her parents admire, and poised to live the kind of life expected of her. When George Atkins, polished and promising, proposes marriage, Evelyn accepts with hesitation, trusting that stability will breed happiness.But beneath George's charm lies a cold certainty, and beneath Evelyn's silence lies yearning—for open skies, honest work, and a life where she isn't defined by expectation.A visit to the Atkins farm reveals more than family dynamics. There, Evelyn meets George's younger brother, Christopher—a man rooted in the land, unpretentious, and fiercely genuine. As Evelyn helps tend animals, scrubs out stalls, and shares unexpected moments with Chris, she begins to uncover the truth: happiness isn't something promised, it's something chosen.Now Evelyn must confront what it means to want more than what she's been offered—and who she dares to become if she breaks free.A story of quiet rebellion, deep love, and the cost of choosing self over convention, Change of Heart marks the journey of a woman who learns that being good isn't the same as being true—and that sometimes, the life you're meant for is waiting just beyond the fence.

In the autumn of 1968, Billy Atkins is thirteen and living on the outskirts of a small New Zealand city in the Manawatu with his parents, Chris and Evelyn.Billy's life is a full one, with school, rugby practice and chores on his family's market garden.But then enters Olivia Hurley, a bright young girl who has moved with her family from Auckland. She quickly becomes a friend but also a source of confusion for the teenager on the cusp of manhood.As their friendship deepens, both face the challenges of growing up in a time when even New Zealand isn't immune to social change. Olivia struggles with the expectations of both her parents and the societal belief of a woman's role in a time when women are battling for their own rights, while Billy is caught between the life he's grown up with and making his own choices.Their journey is marked by moments of humour, tragedy and conflicts in the schoolyard and into adulthood.As the season rolls around year after year, it becomes a symbol of shaking off those expectations and forging new lives and new destinies for both of them, while learning about love, friendship and resilience."e;Falling"e; is a poignant and heartfelt exploration of the trials and triumphs of growing up, set against the backdrop of a changing world. It is a story of love, loss, and the enduring power of hope.