A Christmas Gift by Sue Moorcroft | Book Review | (@SueMoorcroft @AvonBooksUK ) #AChristmasGift

 

Published by Avon/Harper Collins

Available in hardback, ebook and audiobook (1 November 2018)

384 pages

Source: Copy received from publisher



 

|   About the Book   |

 

Georgine loves Christmas. The festive season always brings the little village of Middledip to life. But since her ex-boyfriend walked out, leaving her with crippling debts, Georgine’s struggled to make ends meet.

To keep her mind off her worries, she throws herself into organising the Christmas show at the local school. And when handsome Joe Blackthorn becomes her assistant, Georgine’s grateful for the help. But there’s something about Joe she can’t quite put her finger on. Could there be more to him than meets the eye?

Georgine’s past is going to catch up with her in ways she never expected. But can the help of friends new and old make this a Christmas to remember after all?

 

|   My Thoughts   |

 

Georgine France is not having a good time.  Her feckless ex boyfriend has left her, she has debt collectors knocking at her door chasing her for payment of his debts and money is so tight, she has to count every penny to see if she afford any dinner. Following a stroke her father is in ill health and she is doing her best to care for and support him as well.  Her younger sister Blair is also leaning on her for support.  Thank heavens for her job as Events Director at Acting Instrumental, a performing arts college.  A place where she can throw herself into the Christmas production and forget about real life for a few hours.

Joe Blackthorn has recently returned to Middledip.  He and Georgine knew each other from school but she doesn’t recognise him.  A lot has happened to Joe in the intervening years and a large part of the story is about his life and the ongoing problems he has to deal with.  A child from a dysfunctional family, his early life wasn’t the happiest but something has happened in the past to cause tension between him and Georgine.

Sue Moorcroft has treated us to another Christmas story. This time we’re back in Middledip, with some familiar names making cameo appearances.  Those who read last year’s Christmas book ‘A Little Village Christmas’ may recognise a few familiar faces and locations.

As ever with this author’s books, they are not just light and fluffy.  The author weaves some reality and topical issues into the plot, for example poverty and  neglect, bankruptcy, and the far reaching effect of alcoholism and drugs.  However, there is always light and shade with an uplifting message too and this story is all about second chances and trying to do the right thing.

I really enjoyed following the two main characters, Georgine and Joe.  They are both engaging and have been given enough depth to make the reader care about them.  With both of them having gone through some really rubbish times in their lives, they both deserved some happiness –  however with both of them hiding secrets from each other, will they get it?

This may have Christmas in the title but it really isn’t the focus of the book, so don’t feel you can only read this at Christmas!  Even if you have an aversion to tinsel this is still a very enjoyable read.  Most of the story takes place in the lead up to Christmas, when the students are preparing for the Christmas concert.  Clearly a lot of research has gone into staging a show and there are some detailed insights as to just how much work is involved.

A Christmas Gift is a lovely read that will give you a book hug.

 

My thanks to Sabah for the lovely hardback copy to review and for the place on the tour.

 

 

|   About the Author   |

Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times bestselling author, an international bestselling author and has held the #1 spot in the UK Kindle chart. She writes contemporary fiction with sometimes unexpected themes.

Sue has won a Best Romantic Read Award, received two nominations at the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards and is a Katie Fforde Bursary winner. Her short stories, serials, articles, columns, courses and writing ‘how to’ have sold around the world.

An army child, Sue was born in Germany then lived in Cyprus, Malta and the UK. She’s worked in a bank, as a bookkeeper (probably a mistake), as a copytaker for Motor Cycle News and for a digital prepress. She’s pleased to have now wriggled out of all ‘proper jobs’.

 

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