A very moving story with serious undertones including bullying, assault and agoraphobia and the effect of these. Whilst it deals with these difficult subjects, though, there is also hope and forgiveness, although not always easily. People change as they grow up, which isn't always recognised, and what they might have done as a teenager could be abhorrent to them now as it was to the recipient. This story is then wrapped in my favourite setting, a small community, with snow and Christmas to come. Not a light read, but ideal if you want something a little bit deeper than a romcom (not that there is anything wrong with those).
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

Laurel returns to Middledip, hoping for a less hectic lifestyle. She left the village years before, after a traumatic incident, and hopes she can put this behind her. Her sister needs her help, and then there's meeting her first love again. Life is busy but will it be happier?

A festive-themed story that insightfully explores relevant contemporary issues. There is a conflicted second chance romance and a cast of relatable characters immersing the reader in festive village life. The balance of lighthearted elements and poignancy add to the story's authenticity.

This is an engaging, festive story with contemporary themes and a heartwarming community spirit.

I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK in return for an honest review.

I have been eagerly awaiting Sue Moorcroft’s latest Christmas novel; they are always well worth the wait. This time, she is taking us back to the little village of Middledip, the setting of many of her books. Like me, readers of Sue’s books will be familiar with this village and I was pleased to find myself returning to some recognisable haunts. Everyone in the village seems excited for Christmas and is busy with preparations. As soon as I began to read this book, I was transported to their world and found it difficult to put it down.

Successful artist Laurel Hill is the central female character in this story. With Christmas approaching, she is returning to her childhood home in the village of Middledip to help out her agoraphobic sister Rea, who is concerned over the uncharacteristic behaviour of her teenage daughter Daisy. Laurel has only been in the village a short time when she bumps into her childhood sweetheart Grady Cassidy. Many years previously, Laurel left Middledip suddenly without explanation, leaving them both broken hearted. Only a few people know what caused her to leave. As Laurel and Grady rekindle their relationship, it becomes clear that she must give him some explanation, although it may adversely affect his friendship with his brother. In the midst of sorting out her sister’s life, Laurel must struggle to find a way forward with her own and figure out whether Grady can be part of her story.

Sue Moorcroft deals with some tough issues in this story, and deals with them well. Although there are dark moments, there is also room for humour and for the magic of Christmas in a snowy village setting to shine through. This community, familiar to so many readers of this book, are so incredibly skilled in arts and crafts that I felt the urge to at least get the knitting needles out since I have never been able to draw anything recognisable. I enjoyed meeting some new characters in this story, but I wasn’t drawn to them all. In fact, I had trouble liking Laurel; I felt she wasn’t fair to Grady who was falling over himself to help her. Having said that, I would still recommend this book, especially for reading in the run up to Christmas. The Christmas spirit flowing in Middledip would warm any reader’s heart.

I've read this book both as an audiobook and as an ebook, and I enjoyed both very much. I might be a bit partial towards the audio version because the narrator Olivia Mace does a really great job and is definitely an added bonus.
Sue Moorcroft knows how to write a good story beautifully, I've read a few of her books now and I've never been disappointed.
There are many difficult themes in this one (bullying, agoraphobia, assault, ptsd, infertility) and they are all treated very sensitively in the set of a beautiful Christmas story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon books for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Under the Mistletoe - Sue Moorcroft

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily

When Laurel returns to the village of Middledip, she’s looking for a quiet life. Adjusting to her recent divorce, she’s ready to spend some time getting back on her feet amidst the glorious snow-dusted countryside.

Yet, life in Middledip is far from straightforward. Coming to the aid of her sister, Rea, as she navigates her own troubles, Laurel barely has a moment to think about where her own life is going.

Sue Moorcroft is one of those authors that I just enjoy everything they write. This is an emotional story with some difficult issues handled in a very sensitive way. It is not a light read, but is a lovely and emotional holiday book. It was lovely to return to the village of Middledip.

In various different places I found myself falling into the trap of 'just one more chapter'. Whilst this is ultimately a Christmas book, it could easily be read at any time of year. The audiobook version is narrated by Olivia Mace and she has successfully managed to add to the atmosphere.

Rating 4/5

We are back in the village of Middledip and meet Laurel who has just returned to stay with her sister and niece following her divorce. Feelings that Laurel’s struggled to cope with come back to haunt her when she bumps into old flame, Grady and his brother, Mac. I loved Laurel’s character and really felt for her, not just for her current situation but for what she experienced as a teenager. Lauren is such a nice character and her relationship with her sister and niece was so heart-warming!

The book is, of course, Christmas themed, and it give us all the delights of the festive season. The little village of Middledip sounds wonderful and the images of it covered in snow makes it all the more special! The storyline flowed very well and by the end of the first chapter I was well and truly hooked into Laurel and Grady’s stories. It’s not all light-hearted Christmas fun though and there are some difficult topics dealt with throughout the book. The emotions that run through the characters is well portrayed and I found myself feeling these as I read. The difficult storylines of bullying, assault, mental health issues and infertility are interspersed with arts and crafts, animals, Christmas, good friends and close family and this creates the perfect balance for a good all-round book!

The characters were all very likeable, the plot was perfectly paced and as I read, I felt like I was right there in the Middledip amongst everyone! The author has a great knack of creating characters and scenarios that could be actual real life, and not only did I feel suitably festive by the end of the book I also was left with a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart! I shall look forward to another visit to Middledip! This was a wonderful read which I enjoyed immensely!

UNDERNEATH THE MISTLETOE by SUE MOORCROFT.

After a traumatic divorce, Laurel reluctantly heads home to Middledip. Her sister Rea needs her help. and despite the difficult associations from the past that Laurel has with the village, she wants to be there for her sister plus she needs somewhere to recharge and workout where her life goes from here.
Then along comes Grady… whom Laurel once loved so deeply. Unfortunately, his brother Mac is also still around and was the reason Laurel first left Middledip.
Laurel and Grady find that their old spark is still there, but with the ghosts and secrets of the past hanging around, can they make their love work?

This is a story full of light and shade. Sue Moorcroft writes about some difficult and emotional issues, with great sympathy and understanding. There are also lighter moments that will fill your heart with warm and fuzzies.

Rea and her daughter Daisy also have their own strands of the story in this book, which are equally emotional, heartwarming and well written.

I loved the crafting theme that runs through the story too.

Sue Moorcroft writes reliably good books, and this one doesn’t disappoint. A trip to Middledip is always a treat.

Under The Mistletoe is full of great characters. I especially loved Grady, who is such a sweetie.

To sum it all up, this is a sparkling Christmas story, full of warmth, family bonds, love, crafts and forgiveness.
A beautiful story full of depth, emotion and joy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to #NetGalley and #Avon for an ARC of #UnderTheMistletoe by #SueMoorcroft.
Publication date 28/10/21

This book had a perfect start! It was very intriguing and pulled me in wanting to know more about the characters.
I am obsessed with Grady. He is the perfect boyfriend! He is super patient with Laurel and is there for her and is so understanding about everything she’s gone through. I love how he created a safe space for Laurel and kept making sure she was in a safe environment mentally in the bedroom.
I am so happy to see that Laurel was able to become strong after the assault and stood up for herself. I liked how she was able to express herself through painting. Her relationship with her niece and sister was really sweet and I love her patience with her sister’s illness. I liked that she didn’t push her sister to try to overcome but more to take small steps.
My only complaint was that it seemed that Laurel couldn’t not move on but yet she didn’t want to stay in the past. At times I just wanted to shake her and yell that the only way it’s going to get better and the only way you can be happy is if you try to change for the better and move on! At the end we get a happy ending and the story was beautifully written.
Definitely recommend reading this!

I make no secret that Sue Moorcroft is one of my favourite authors, in fact, if you weren’t aware, you must be a new reader to my blog; welcome! It would be an easy assumption that my review of Sue’s book would be only ever complimentary, however, I hold myself to a higher standard and will only ever review honestly. So, trust me when I say that this story is an absolute triumph!
Driven by her sister’s need for help and support, Laurel returns to Middledip, the village where she grew up. Once there, she must face her own demons, the reason why she left in the first place. Her teenage crush is still living in the village, but so is his brother, one of the root causes of Laurel’s anguish and subsequent flight when she was still a young girl.
There are some challenging topics in this book as we learn more about Laurel’s past and her sister’s current condition. This is not an easy read, but the content is handled sensitively. Despite the somewhat darker threads, this is still a Christmas book. The joy of the season runs through the centre of the story as we follow the village’s efforts to share the Christmas Spirit.
A few Middledip regulars make appearances, Carola, Gabe and, of course, Ratty all play their parts as we learn more about what has so deeply affected the sisters. For me, Daisy was a great character her ability to be a ‘normal’ teenager despite her Mum’s issues was refreshing. When I say normal, that includes handling bullying as part of her daily life.
There is a lovely focus on arts and crafts as the villagers work together to create an artistic trail which acts as a storefront for the individual makers. My imagination was caught by Laurel’s painting. The passages about painting the dancer were captivating, and I felt myself leaning into the poses being described.
If I had to find fault with this book, it would be that it ended too soon and now I have to wait for, probably months, the next offering. If you haven’t discovered Sue Moorcroft yet, now is a good time to start.

I usually love all Christmas books, but although this is a good read, and the Christmas crafts are good, it didn't wow me. This is an anytime book as the Christmas stuff is a by the way.
Laurel Hill returns to her home village to help her sister Rea out. The main theme is bullying, forgiveness, life and what that brings good and bad.
Good themes and well researched and written.
Thank you NetGalley for the early read

Following a difficult divorce, Laurel, returns home to get her life back under control. This book deals with many tough issues. The author has written with compassion and covers the sensitive areas well. Not an easy, jolly Christmas read but enjoyable.

I loved this book a lot, although some of it I found uncomfortable to read, and it made me feel quite emotional. However, the traumatic subjects of the book which made me feel uncomfortable were there for a reason, and I know that this will help a lot of people who have experienced the same kind of trauma. So in that respect, the author has managed to put a lot of things in the book which may help people to heal, and this was brave of her. The book is not a fluffy, light-hearted, totally cosy read. It is quite in-depth emotionally, with some seasonal sprinkles and romance scattered throughout.

The story is about a woman called Laurel who comes back to Middledip to help her sister Rea and her niece Daisy. Rea has mental health problems and she finds it hard to leave the house. Daisy is being bullied at school and has been refusing to go to school.

Laurel meets her ex boyfriend Grady and they become close again. But she has to face up to something traumatic that happened to her when they were teenagers. This trauma takes up much of the book. She finds it hard to forgive her perpetrators, especially as one of them is Grady's brother Mac.

Nearer the end of the book is where the Christmas part of the story comes in and this is more delightful. Will Laurel, Grady, Rea and Daisy overcome their problems and traumas so that they can enjoy the Christmas season? You will have to read the book to find out! Great book!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Under the Mistletoe by Sue Moorcroft

Book Review
Under the Mistletoe by Sue Moorcroft
Publication Date: October 28th, 2021
4☆☆☆☆ for a holiday read featuring a cute English village, talented artists with complicated pasts and, you guessed it, mistletoe

This was a fun yet serious holiday read. Our heroine, Laurel, has just moved back to her hometown, a small English village, to live with her sister and niece. She is thrown automatically back into the lives of the Cassidy brothers: Mac and Grady. Grady and Laurel had a bit of a thing going on as teenagers but an awful night at the hands of Mac and his friends sent Laurel running and she’s barely been back.

Fresh from her divorce and seemingly finally at peace with her infertility, Laurel is a successful artist who plans to paint while caring for her agoraphobic sister and niece Daisy who needs a stronger adult presence to help guide her as she too, it turns out, is suffering at the hands of bullies.

You won’t be surprised to learn that Laurel and Grady fall back to their teenage ways but it’s not clear how they’re going to move past what happened between Laurel and Mac. It’s also important to know that Grady never knew what had happened and a sneaky character inserts themselves into the story, throwing things out of whack for our main couple - yet it moves the story along and towards the ending, or new beginning, that Moorcroft leads us to.

There’s a lot here, to name a few - bullying, sexual assault, mental health struggles, and complicated family relationships.

It’s not just a feel good Christmas story full of romance, mistletoe and lust...but those key elements make appearances so you can still check those boxes - just don’t expect a walk through a snow-covered English village devoid of struggle which I think makes it a much more interesting read.

I’d recommend it to anyone who appreciates complex characters and complex situations that they have to work themselves through during the “happiest” time of the year.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Parts of this story can/will be uncomfortable to read, as we understand the reasons why Laurel hadn’t returned to Middledip for a long time. There is, another issue with her sister Rea that was written sensitively and was lovely to see progress.

This is part of the book builds on the reality of the characters who were very well written and relatable.

Daisy, whose Laurel's niece was lovely, she too has a storyline, also written beautifully. Apart from this, we are invited to Christmas at the village, where there’s loads of fabulous crafts and food. As well a romance, that isn’t smooth sailing and can go amiss, making it hard to guess what will happen in the end.

Laurel is a professional artist and her niece Daisy has her own little venture making Christmas wreaths. Then there’s Grady, whose has his own talents, spray painting artistic designs onto cars, and decorating gourds.

Forgiveness is the message throughout the story, and if it’s better to forgive.

An enjoyable book from Sue,, wishing whilst reading it that I could make some of the things that sounded so so good.

A very enjoyable Christmas story. After her divorce Laurel returns to her family home in the village of Middledip, to stay with her sister Rea, and Rea’s fourteen year old daughter Daisy. Rea is having a hard time, she has developed agoraphobia, and she is glad of Laurel’s support. It is a few weeks before Christmas and the weather is freezing. Laurel is a successful artist, and is planning to use her mother’s old studio, in the garden of their house, as her art studio.

Laurel and Daisy go shopping in the nearest town, and on the way home they are flagged down by a man, and they notice another man standing beside a car, and he doesn’t appear to be wearing trousers. The first man knocks on the car window, and she recognises him as Grady Cassidy, her boyfriend when they were sixteen, nineteen years ago. Daisy recognises the other man, Grady’s brother Mac, the Head of Year at her school. Laurel has a history with Mac, and it is not a happy one, he was involved in a terrifying incident that caused her to leave the village, and stay with her aunt in the town while she finished school and college. Very few people know about it. When Laurel realises it is him she finds that her hatred of him has not diminished at all in all the years since she last lived in the village. The men had stopped to help with a car that had apparently broken down, but five young men jumped out and attacked them, taking Mac’s jeans and boots, the car keys and both their phones, and attached Mac to the car door handle with cable ties, before driving off. They were stranded and freezing. Despite having thoughts about the revenge of just driving off and leaving them, she finds a tool to free Mac in her car boot, then drives them home. It is only when they are nearly home that the brothers realise she is Laurel.

Laurel settles into village life, renewing her acquaintance with quite a few of the local people. She gets started on a new painting, and helps out with local Christmas plans. She has to take Daisy to school one day to help her sort out an upsetting problem. She gets close to Grady again, finding that their feelings for each other are every bit s strong as thy were when they were teenagers, but the spectre of her feelings about Mac threaten their relationship. Grady has issues of his own that have affected his life and need to be resolved.

Although a mostly happy, and often amusing story it does deal with some serious issues, and shows how different people handle these issues in different ways. It takes several things happening in a very short time for Laurel to finally give up her desire for revenge against Mac, and be able to move on with her life. Sue Moorcroft writes about the people on the village with such warmth that they feel entirely real. The serious issues in the story are dealt with in a real and sympathetic way that is totally appropriate. All in all, an excellent story and well worth reading.

This was a really good read. Easy story to follow, charming setting and great characters. Really enjoyed it.

I love Sue Moorcroft books and I think have read all of her titles. I particularly like the Middledip books with their mentions of locations and characters from previous novels (still secretly in love with Ratty!).

As always, Sue provides great characters who you care about and a super story. I wasn’t quite prepared for how much this latest book would affect me emotionally as I related completely with Laurel’s issues with bullying and body shaming in her teens. Often shouting “me too” at my kindle, I’m hoping the experience of reading this book was cathartic for me as it dredged up challenging memories of my own.

Sue has a knack of putting her characters up against difficult issues that are hard to resolve. The novel had me longing for snowflakes in the air and I’m just off to collect some natural materials for a Christmas wreath. As always I read the book too quickly and need a new Sue Moorcroft already.

I loveeeed this book!

It wasn't your straight up boy meets girl read.

It covers several difficult subjects which for me demonstrated life is sometimes messy and it's great to see that represented in fiction!

At times reading this I genuinely felt like I was going through emotional turmoil and had to put the book down!

I found the Laurel and Mac relationship difficult to read. Part of me wanted her to carry on resenting him forever! Then the other part was saying it's in the past just let it be!

The setting was done brilliantly! Having read this early a Christmas book in October felt alien. But it just verges nicely on seasonal build up. Enough to get excited but not so much that your overly aware of reading a Christmas book.

I'd say it wasn't quite the cosy read I thought it would be. But I got alot more than I bargained for with this story!

Perhaps a trigger warning might be useful to cover this book.

Loved the cover and expected a nice Christmas romance instead got a book on sexual assault, infertility, bullying and agoraphobia.
A lot of delicate subjects sympathetically done but can be confusing with so much going on.
Laura returns to Middledip to help her sister Rea who suffers from agoraphobia and to help her niece Daisy with being bullied at school, while Laura tries hard to get over her past of being bullied and sexual assaulted while still at school.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Under The Mistletoe by Sue Moorcroft. A NetGalley read. I haven’t read anything by this author before and I simply choose it because it was about Christmas and i am one of those people love this time of year when these kinds of books come out. Laurel returns to the village she grew up in, she’s recently divorced and she is returning to the village to help her sister and niece. However moving back isn’t plane sailing, with a past there to face, that wasn’t all happy memories. Like with a lot of these Christmas novels, you get what it’s says in the tin and I’ve said that before and it’s certainly true for this book. There’s no major shocks or plot twists but it’s a feel good, heart warming story, with many layers and topics that perhaps you wouldn’t at first expect. The story handled tough and current subjects such as depression and anxiety and the safety of woman walking home alone. These subjects are written with ease, realism and sensitivity, they aren’t explored in any great detail and perhaps to some of those issues it’s perhaps dealt with far to easily, however in the context of this story it works and gives you an insight; and as it reader you can forgive that because you know what your reading which is a light and fluffy Christmas read. This is a cozy winter read with loveable characters and a picturesque setting, it will give you the Christmas feels, with it ending with a white Christmas. It’s predictable however again this can be forgiven because it’s about Christmas and you know where the stories heading right from the time you choose to read this book. If your a fan of this time of year when all the Christmas books hit the shelf’s then this one won’t disappoint. 🎄🎄🎄