A rich and candid account of one woman's struggle to be a parent. About to turn 50, she is asked to take in and raise her partner Gemma's six-year-old niece. Unwilling and resentful of the task at the start, the author ultimately triumphs over adversity and tells her story with tenderness, humour and blunt honesty. Loving Emma will appeal to anyone who is part of a complicated family. Author Ortlip handles the topics of mid-life crises, substance abuse and problems of child-rearing with great aplomb.