4.5⭐️

What a great Christmas story! I love the small town (Middledip is just the best) and I love the activities and community spirit present in this story! The focus on females and their strengths, hardships, and connection is a great part of this one and is always something I enjoy reading about!

As a warning, this story does deal with some sensitive topics (sexual assault, infertility, and agoraphobia) and I was quite impressed with how it was written, the path in which it took, and how it was resolved. It is a heavy topic to put in a Christmas story, but Sue handled it with dignity and grace.

The characters in this story have depth with their challenging histories and the obstacles they have faced, but also have a softer side to them. The connection between characters feels authentic and their interactions felt real. I could see myself falling into the middle of this town and befriending a lot of these people (but not all....)

All in all, a great and important story! Even though it has some challenging topics , I think it is worth the read (and even more so because of those topics!!!)

Thank you to Netgalley, Sue Moorcroft, and Avon books for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Yet another wonderful festive book from Sue. Year on year her books get better. Set in the village of Middledip, which Sue's readers will be with familiar with. This is a book to make part of your festive reading.

Assaulted as a teenager, professional artist Laurel rarely returns to her childhood village of Middledip.
When her sister needs help with her agoraphobia, Laurel returns home and stirs up mixed memories when she encounters one of her attackers and also reconnects with an ex boyfriend.
I found that the story was sympathetically explored several issues, including bullying, assault, isolation, redemption and forgiveness. Although exploring such issues, this was a lovely glimpse into village life and relationships.
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I enjoyed this very much

I have been a fan of Sue’s work for a while now. I haven’t quite caught up with everything that she has written to date but I am getting there. I read the synopsis for ‘Under The Mistletoe’ and it certainly sounded like the sort of fun, festive and light hearted read that I so needed at the moment. Well ‘Under The Mistletoe’ certainly ticked all those boxes and so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Under The Mistletoe’ but more about that in a bit.
I absolutely loved the character of Laurel and I warmed to her from the very start. In fact I ended up feeling as though she had become a friend of mine and I felt all protective of her. She hasn’t had the easiest of times and she lost her parents at a young age. Laurel’s elder sister stepped in to care for her and she was like a mother to her. Something happened to Laurel when she was at school and it still affects her to this day. She hasn’t forgotten and she hasn’t forgiven. Laurel moved away, got married and is now divorced. Her sister isn’t too well as she suffers with agoraphobia, so Laurel moves back to Middledip to help her sister and her niece. This brings her into contact with people that she would rather not have to see and forces her to confront her past.
It didn’t take me long at all to get into ‘Under The Mistletoe’. In fact the lovely looking cover of the book was enough to grab my attention and the story within the book’s covers sealed the deal as it were. As soon as I started to read the story itself, I knew that I would be doing nothing else other than reading for the rest of the day. The book developed a hold over me and it was a hold that I wasn’t willing to break. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘Under The Mistletoe’ and I had to say goodbye to Laurel and the rest of the Middledip residents. I found ‘Under The Mistletoe’ to be a delight to read from start to finish. I found it to be a gripping and fun read, which cheered me up no end.
‘Under The Mistletoe’ is superbly written but then that’s true of all of Sue’s books. She certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be a charming read. Sue clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in her writing. She describes the characters so realistically and vividly that they seem just as real as you and I. The story certainly started in an interesting and memorable fashion and my attention didn’t wander at all. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly gentle pace throughout. Sue does tackle some difficult subjects but she does so with great compassion and sensitivity. I felt as though I was part of the story which is thanks to Sue’s very vivid and realistic storytelling. On finishing reading ‘Under The Mistletoe’ I felt as though I had had a ‘hug from a mug’ in that the ending left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Under The Mistletoe’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Sue’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board can only be 5* out of 5*.

Thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Enjoyable read which deals sensitively with some big issues.

“Under the Mistletoe” touches on some deep subjects like mental health, bullying, and blackmail, but in true Moorcroft style it is so artfully woven into the story that you feel for the characters as if they were your besties. Great holiday season started that you wont be able to set down.

This is an engaging Christmas story which also packs an emotional punch dealing with some gritty realities and dealing with issues in the past that have had huge effects on the characters.

Set in the idyllic Middledip, Laurel heads to her childhood home to close up the house and business of her late father. As an artist she intends to travel and move away completely from her dad’s Christmas tree company. When back she encounters many people from her past, some for whom she has warm feelings and some who have caused her to have violent nightmares as a result of their past actions.

A well told story that has a good romance at its core but deals well with everyday issues and relationships that go badly awry.

Recommend as a good festive read and thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Everything I love about Christmas wrapped up in a book. Sparkling lights, snow, families coming together and a sweet romance that was meant to be. I felt like I was part of the story. 5 *****

aurel's return to Middledip is not without its challenges as not only has she promised to be a support to her sister Rea, who has her own problems, but also returning to the place where she grew up opens up a whole batch of painful memories which Laurel has kept hidden for so long. Inevitably living back in the village brings Laurel back into contact with Grady and Mac Cassidy, the two brothers who are inextricably linked with Laurel's troubled past.

The story has some poignant content which is handled sensitively, and well, and whilst this gives a rather dark twist to the story there are also moments of sheer heartwarming loveliness. I especially enjoy how the village of Middledip plays such a central role in the novel and as we watch the villagers get ready for their festive celebrations so we begin to see Laurel's role start to develop and flourish. Laurel's expertise in bringing the village's art project to life is greatly appreciated by the villagers, and I enjoyed how the author included detailed descriptions of Laurel's artistic skills.

Whilst Under the Mistletoe has a decidedly romantic edge with the passion between the two main characters fairly sizzling on the page however, there is also much more than romance going on here which makes the story all the more tantalising.

As always this talented author has delivered a bumper gift this festive season and Under the Mistletoe wraps everything up in a wonderful story which will tug away at your heart but will also leave you with a wonderful festive glow.

Christmas books are very specific kinds of stories. Full of hope, merry, happiness. It is the time when the problems could be solved, families can reconcile and life seems to be better even for a short moment. But not here...

I was looking for this book. The previous one of Sue was magnificent, but this one... It was so full of pain, of fear, of solitude that id dominates all the Christmas mood.

Of course, it makes this story much more authentic, but it does not work in Christmas-oriented books. I was looking for something completely different so reading was so hard and challenging...

Unfortunately, not my cup of tea this time.

I read this book over two days, it wasn’t the light fluffy read I expected and I was soon drawn in and wanted to know what would happen.
The story is very relevant to current times, characters Laurel & Grady are trying to fathom a way to be together while dealing with a past trauma. Guilt, anger, fear, shame are all stirred up when Laurel returns to her home village after leaving at 16. It’s also a story of forgiveness and how we view it.
I loved the main characters Laurel & Grady and although a couple of the outer characters annoyed me I thought that was the sign of a good read

This was another lovely story by Sue Moorcroft. Traumas from the teenage years, haunt a young women who returns to her roots where it all happened. During the Christmas festivities things get very fraught but who can survive Christmas without being affected in one way or another. Very emotional conclusion.

Lovers of decorative art of all types will certainly find ideas and techniques to be discovered and explored. This is a book of vivid color so beautifully written that allows your mind to see what the author is portraying through her written words. The senses of the season abounds from the sounds and scents of the winter season. Sensitive subjects such as agoraphobia, bullying and infertility are part of the storyline as well as romance with lots of mistletoe. Come to the village of Middledip and enjoy the townspeople along with an extended family of mother/daughter, sisters and aunties. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC; this is my honest review.




I have posted my review to Goodreads and Amazon.

What I Enjoyed

Going into the book, I admit, I expected a warm and fuzzy holiday read, but what I discovered was a complex tale full of highs and lows, which is how holidays usually are, aren’t they? The aspect that stood out the most to me was the theme of family and family dynamics. Beyond all the highs and lows, Under the Mistletoe is full of family members who love each other unequivocally and unconditionally, and that is something that makes my heart fuzzy and warm.

The surprising aspects, which can be found in the challenging and uncomfortable topics of Agoraphobia, sexual assault, and bullying, are handled very sensitively and with the utmost compassion. I particularly found the information on Agoraphobia to be insightful and informative. This anxiety is most often found in young adult females and is so disabling. I think that it needs more awareness and applaud the author for doing just that.

I also enjoyed the insider’s look at what goes into creating a piece of artwork. The main character, Laurel, is a professional artist and the descriptions of her painting made me feel like I was there watching and gaining some insight into how the process works from beginning to end. I’ve never had that kind of look before, and I enjoyed it.

The story is told from the first-person perspective, which immerses the reader into the story. The pace remained quick most of the time, with a few slowdowns throughout the story. I didn’t mind the slowdowns as they gave me a moment to catch my breath and process the story to that point.

Characters

Laurel is a character that I mostly could sympathize with – okay, at times, I admit, I found myself muttering, ‘suck it up, buttercup” – but that’s just a me thing. I’m more of a put it behind you and move on kind of girl, and Laurel was having trouble doing both. But, to be fair, the situation is one of those that can stick with you and shape you forever. I just wanted to see her happy and whole. I did love the way she handled her sister’s anxiety. She is so loving and compassionate, encouraging but not demanding – I loved that about her! She handled Daisy’s bullying situation in much the same way. She took control of the problem and didn’t take no for an answer – my hero!

What I Wish

If I had to make a wish, I would say that I would wish that the story didn’t take on so many issues and maybe just focused on one and the consequential problems surrounding it. At times, it felt like too many topics were being thrown at me, which pulled me out of the story.

To Read or Not to Read

If you are looking for a different kind of holiday story, one that will illuminate tough topics while still providing a warm and fuzzy family story, Under the Mistletoe is one you won’t want to miss this season.

With a name like Under The Mistletoe I expected this to be a light hearted Christmas romance. I was not prepared for the much deeper themes that this story explored. While there was romance, it touched up bullying, assault, juvenile delinquency and agoraphobia and infertility, making this a much more thoughtful and interesting story than I anticipated.

After an amicable divorce, artist Laurel is back in the village of Middledip mainly to support her sister, who is struggling with agoraphobia, and her niece who is struggling in school. She’s not prepared to meet her old love, and even less his brother who she can’t forgive for something from the past.

Laurel and Grady can’t help falling in love again. But can she move on from the past? How can she forgive? And neither can she expect Grady to cut off from his family.

Great characters in this story – including Laurel’s sister and her niece and several of the village folk.

This is a great story about forgiveness and moving forward, not allowing the past to hold you back from a meaningful future. It will make you smile and move you to tears!

Not your usual fluffy Christmas read, but it deals with some sensitive issues really well, and Sue has a lovely way of bringing us back to festive times.

A nice bit of escapism

I love Sue Moorcroft's books and I was up until the early hours reading. I kept saying just one more chapter. I felt so connected to the characters I wanted to see what was going to happen to everyone. Was it going to be a happy Christmas? This was an emotional rollercoaster and thought provoking. In the run up to Christmas, the past and present collide as family ties bring Laurel back to Middledip. There are tough issues dealt with sensitively and full of compassion. Some of the villagers are involved in a christmas community art project and crafts. The art work sounded beautiful. A heartwarming, emotional read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Laurel never planned to find herself back in Middledip – when her marriage ended, she’d planned to head for Cornwall, find a home where she could pursue her life as a successful artist – but when sister Rea along with daughter Daisy really need her support, she instead finds herself back at The Nookery, setting up her easel in the garden studio that once belonged to her mother. She left the village when she was a teenager, after a disturbing event that had still has considerable repercussions on her in adulthood – an incident that she’s kept secret from all but those closest to her.

When she left Middledip, her relationship with Grady had hardly begun – and she’s delighted to find there might be the opportunity for a second chance when they find their spark of attraction is still very much alive. But as they grow closer, there are major obstacles to their happiness – being able to move on takes a lot more than a “sorry” for the events of the past from the individuals involved.

While I’m focusing on the romance – and it’s one I became particularly invested in, really liking both characters – there’s a great deal more to this book than that. There’s a lot of love in this book, and it’s not all between Laurel and Grady – there’s a particularly strong focus on family ties and loyalties and what they mean to the individuals involved, through Laurel’s support for her sister, her lighter relationship with young Daisy, and all those other layers of complication that mean theirs will never be a smooth-running love story. There are some pretty serious issues here, very realistically portrayed and sensitively handled – everything is emotionally well-judged throughout, the darker moments well balanced by the overall lightness of the story.

It’s impossible not to have a smile on your face when in Daisy’s company – she’s a very real young teen, concerned about her mother but excited by the approach of Christmas and the plans the village has to celebrate it. The wreaths she makes (and sells – quite the entrepreneur!) using foliage gathered on Gabe’s farm are only the beginning – there’s the art trail around the village too, everyone illuminating one of their front windows and displaying their wares, and the ambitious plans for Middledip Christmas Fair. The snow falls, there are plenty of twinkling lights, times when the villagers pull together, those poignant family moments, the occasional well-timed Christmas carol in the background – it’s all most certainly every bit as Christmassy as you could possibly hope for.

I also very much enjoyed reading about all the various artistic endeavours – thanks to Laurel, I think I could now successfully paint a Christmas tree, and found Grady’s vehicle spray painting and his artistic gourds equally fascinating. The wider community is really well drawn too, and it was lovely to stumble across a few minor characters familiar from other Middledip-based books – nothing to worry about if you’re a first-time reader, but as a fan, that’s always a particular treat.

I really enjoyed this one – a romantic festive read, heartwarming and uplifting, but with a great deal more depth than you might be expecting. Highly recommended by me!

(Review copied to Amazon UK, but link not yet available)

Thank you Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read and review this.

This is a moving story touching on serious issues including bullying, assault and agoraphobia and the effect of these on one's life. While there are those who say it is easy to forgive and forget, the victims tell a different story, as there are those who still suffer from the trauma from these events. People change as they grow up, something that isn't always seen, and for victims of bullying, they will always see their perpetrator as that same person as during their youth, which makes it harder for them to see the people are no longer the same as they were.

This touching story follows Laurel, who left her home town Middledip, after a traumatic event, an event that still haunts her to this day, to help with her older sister (Rea) who suffers from agoraphobia, and teenage niece (Daisy), who is being bullied by her peers.

This is a moving story, that shows the strength that each of these women has, while not easily seen and recognised, and how each of them come has to face their fears / past.

This book is set in Middledip, the setting of many of Sue Moorcroft's books. This is a standalone book, but a lot of the previous characters do feature in this book.
This book deals with some heavy and difficult subjects but also manages to be festive and heartwarming.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.