Before I start my review I would like to thank NetGally and Avon for allowing me a copy to read and review.

Would you just look at this glorious summery cover of Just For The Holidays, with the gite in the background and with the purple lavender field and sunflowers in front of it and portrays a lovely summer sean. The bluest of skys and fluffy white clouds and birds swooping about. The lady in the lavender looks like she has been collecting some, this whole cover makes me just want to jump right in there and enjoy the gite. 
Just for the Holidays by Sue Moorcroft is the perfect, summer read. I devoured the book in a few sittings; while enjoying the sun in my garden ( I could have been fooled for thinking I could be in France!!!). The book is full of family drama, new family dynamics, holiday romance ( or is it?), beautiful French country and culture. And how one persons actions and decisions have a rippling affect o the whole family.
I must admit I am already a fan of Sue's work and had good hopes about her next book, and boy she really hasn't disappointed me at all. I loved the flow of this story while reading, it really was perfect, allowing the reader to fully connect to the characters and the story.
The story starts with Michele asking her sister Leah to join her and her recently broken family to France on a summer holiday which was booked before the split. Michele wanted Leah to come to ease the tension for the sake of her nephew and niece and as she had no real ties i.e. children it was easy for her to come. In sister solidarity she agrees to come but when they all get there poor Leah is face with a succession of problems to deal with and an in-expected romance try's to take off amongst all of this! Leah is undoubtedly my favourite character for her shear determination to carry on no matter what comes her way and the fact that she loves to cook and make yummy things; which is always good! I also found Michele grew on me towards the end for her growth in the story changed from beginning to end and I like to see that in characters.
I adored Just for the Holidays very much and plan on reading it again before the summer is out!!!!!!!!!! I highly recommend this glorious summer read!!!
 
Marie's Book Boutique gives Just for the Holidays by Sue Moorcroft 5 sparkly stars!!!

Chocolate tasting, brilliant sunshine, zipping through glorious countryside in her beloved sports car – all tempting for thirty-something happily single, Leah Beaumont, who’s invited to spend the summer with sister Michele’s family, relaxing at an idyllic gîte in France. But there’s a catch. Michele’s marriage is in trouble. Does Leah really wish to spend her summer waving the chequered flag each time the arguing becomes too much?

Factor in three anxious stroppy teenagers, as well as nursing Michele’s husband, not to mention picking up the pieces when her sister waves ‘au revoir’, setting off on a fling with a highly unsuitable younger man - many would have thrown in the beach towel faster than Leah could mutter crêpe au chocolat.

But next-door neighbour, handsome helicopter pilot, Ronan, helps keep Leah’s spirits lifted when she finds her role of cool auntie morphing into deputy mum. With wonderful wit and humour, Sue Moorcroft guides us through the ups and downs of a family making the most of a tricky summer break. I particularly liked the way she portrays the teenage members – the drama, the sulks, the bickering, the hugs… the love of food. So pop on a sunhat, grab a glass of wine and be transported to rural France… just for the holidays.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. What a fantastic summer read. Absolutely loved it

Between jobs, chocolatier extraordinaire Leah Beaumont agrees to accompany her sister, Michele, to spend a month in the south of France. Michele had originally planned the holiday with her husband and their two children and doesn’t fancy going without someone else after she and her husband have split up. However, husband turns up, so do others and it anything but the relaxing time she’d envisaged! Especially when Leah’s role changes from being auntie to acting Mum to the two children who seem to be struggling almost as much as their parents to get on with each other! Now add in a handsome neighbour - a helicopter pilot recovering from a dramatic accident - and his goth son and you’ve all the ingredients for a very sweet but tumultuous read!

If you like chocolate, some of the descriptions will have your mouth watering. This story includes some deeper aspects such as infidelity and betrayal as well as the impact on teenagers in the family but has some lighthearted moments and funny incidents, too. There’s also a serious accident, a lover or two, plenty of delicious food and fast driving. The author brings the characters (and scenery) vividly to life in the pages of the story, making it easy for readers to relate to them whether that is to like them or hate them! The plot has plenty of twists and turns that kept me turning pages as I really wanted to discover how everything worked out. This is a brilliant summer read and I have no hesitation in highly recommending it along with other books by this talented author.

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.

5☆ Perfect Summer Read

What starts off as a fun Summer holiday to France turns into a whole heap of craziness.
Oh and not to mention a whole heap of scrumptious CHOCOLATE!!!!
I was craving chocolate throughout this scrumptious book!

Be warned this book will make you hungry!!!

When Leah gets roped into going on holiday with her Sister and her family she never for one minute expected to be a referee/ Mum

Leah's sister Michelle and her hubby are not in a good place. With separation on the horizon.

So when poor Leah is left playing Mum to her sisters teenage children what could possibly go wrong! With Michelle pregnant & Hubby injured she has to stand up, and become a parent figure.

Oh and did I mention the neighbour...sexy single Dad Ronan who is a pilot .... and very much single! Who also has a teenage son. So who better to offer Leah support!
Ronan is charming and caring and has a chemistry with Leah.
The 2 are soon pushed together when the teenagers become friends.

Is it Love???

I guess you will just have to read to find out for yourselves!

This story has plenty of ups and downs, family dramas and secrets, scrumptious food and chocolate, great believable characters, heart ache, Love and Fun, laugh out loud moments.

A beautiful poignant Summer Read, one I eagerly devoured.

I can't recommend this book enough. It really does have a little something for everyone!

Perfect read for lovers of Chick Lit, Romance, scrumptious food, YA, Summer Reads.

Award-winning author Sue Moorcroft’s latest best-seller, Just For The Holidays, should come with a warning: take this book with you on holiday and you’ll be glued to your sun-lounger as you will be unable to put this addictive and gripping book down!

When Leah Beaumont had agreed to go on holiday with her sister Michele and her family, she had been expecting long and balmy days under the hot French sunshine – she never imagined that she would end up overwhelmed by family strife, domestic chaos and enough stress and discord to drive even the sanest of people round the bend! With her sister Michele having announced that she is leaving her husband for a much younger man, her brother-in-law Alister trying to keep the family together and her teenage nephew and niece in throes of a hormonal nightmare, it looks like Leah is about to have the holiday from hell – until she claps eyes on her gorgeous next door neighbour, Ronan Shea!

Ronan has got his own crises to cope with. The helicopter pilot is recovering from an accident and trying to get back to normal while looking after his teenage son, Curtis, who seems intent on driving him to distraction! Ronan has got a whole lot on his plate and he certainly does not have the time or the inclination for a relationship. Besides, even if he were to meet someone who was pretty amazing, he still must put Curtis first. However, the sexy single dad cannot seem to stop himself from thinking about his pretty neighbour, Leah Beaumont….

Relationships are strictly off-limits for Leah. Having had her fingers burnt by a mercenary ex who had broken her heart and destroyed her trust in men, Leah keeps her relationships as casual as possible. She is not interested in finding Mr Right or in settling down with the love of her life – and she would certainly run a mile before getting serious with a single dad like Ronan Shea. However, as Leah begins to spend more and more time with her neighbour, she soon finds her resolve to keep Ronan at arm’s length beginning to crumble…

Is Leah willing to put her heart on the line for the man who has come to mean the world to her? Or will she continue to let her fear of getting hurt again condemn her to a lifetime of loneliness and regret?

A zesty-paced contemporary page-turner that sparkles with compelling family drama, heartwarming pathos and delightful humour, Just For The Holidays is a breezy summer read that is absolutely perfect for losing yourself into. Full of characters that leap off the pages with ease, gripping twists and turns and poignant romance, if you only take one book with you on holiday this summer, then make sure it’s Sue Moorcroft’s fabulous Just For The Holidays!

Well this is he first book I've read by Sue moorcroft and can't think why I haven't read other books that she has written because I thought this was a great read. The story is mainly set in France, Leah sister to Michele has agreed to accompany Michele on a holiday with her and her two teenage kids and her ex husband!! Leah is meant to act as the peace keeper but a month is a long time. This book has a great balance of getting to know the characters and enough going on to keep it interesting and don't be fooled this has quite a lot going on it from different characters. All the characters I found were likeable which helps, Leah was a good strong leading character and warmed to her from the start. I liked the writing style also which made this book very quickly read!
I would like to thank netgalley, Avon and Harper Collins for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

When Michele asked her sister Leah to come along with her family to a vacation, she hesitated a bit, but decided to go. Michele and her husband are getting divorced, but with two teenagers, she needed her sister to be there for everyone’s sake. In France Leah is thrown into a situation she never expected-her sister is pregnant and went away for a while with the father of her child while Leah has to take care of the rest of the family. As one situation happens after another, there’s one thing that brightens Leah’s days and that’s a handsome neighbor Ronan, who has a teenage son himself. How’s the vacation going to continue and what happens afterwords they leave France?

It was my first book by the author, but definitely won’t be my last, I really enjoyed the writing style and how the characters and the setting was brought to life. It shows a real family with real issues and how life is with teenagers. It’s a great summer read that whisks you away to France. If you like emotional family story in a gorgeous setting it’s a great book for you.

When her sister splits with her husband, Leah finds herself agreeing to go on their holiday to a gite in France. She doesn't expect to find herself in sole charge of her teenage niece and nephew with a steep parenting learning curve ahead of her. There is the added attraction of a helicopter pilot and his son doing up the place next door to improve matters slightly.

I loved the way Leah tackled her new responsibilities and found the way to their hearts through some good old fashioned baking, expeditions and water fights.

The book has troubled relationships, family issues, sibling arguments combined with some delicious meals outside at the gite and huge sparks of attraction thwarted at every turn.

The cover really entices you to pick this book up as a perfect summer read- and I guarantee you'll want to carry on reading once you start. Making this the ideal read for your summer holidays. You'll fall in love with the characters and the setting. I can't wait to read Sue Moorcrofts next book as I love her writing style.

A lovely summer read - just the thing to enjoy sitting in the garden on a couple of warm days.

This is a very busy book with plenty going on - careers, holidays, accidents, families, teenagers, foreign lands, fast cars and even a romance or two squeezed in! Never a dull moment, plenty to think about between reading sessions. Charming and entertaining, this is a warm and witty novel I would recommend to anyone, but especially to any readers needing a mood lift. Don't forget to read on at the end to the author's own experience of being flown in a helicopter - such fantastic fun!

I received an arc copy via Net Galley in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Review: This is this first of Sue Moorcroft's books that I have read and I was not disappointed I loved it.

This is a perfect summer read.


Sue has created amazingly real characters that face very modern and real events that effect their holiday. It parts it is very funny. Sue writes in such a way that kept me guessing about what will happen next, sometimes I thought I knew what would happen but what actually happens is so much better.

Leah is a great strong character with so many layers to her and I fell in love with her and really hoped she would find her happy ending. It starts of as a typical family holiday, lovely but then secrets soon start to appear. The pregnancy really sets the cat amongst the pigeons and what follows this revelation brings out another layer to Leah that even she didn't realise she had. It just shows that whatever happens we always find away to cope and a handsome helicopter pilot who speaks French does help.


I was very sad to leave this family once the story came to an end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be seeking out more book by Sue Moorcroft to read.


This book comes highly recommended to anyone who likes a good holiday romance with added funny family twists and turn along the way.

Leah is looking forward to her summer holiday in France with her sister, Michelle, and her family, but when she arrives she is quick to realise that it is not going to be quite the summery idyll she was expecting!

Her sister and brother-in-law are divorcing......and are both on the same holiday! The teenage children don't know that their mother is pregnant and are left to Leah to sort out....what has happened to this lazy time by the pool! The only bonus is the gorgeous pilot Ronan next door.

A lovely book, warm and light hearted, some great characters - I loved Leah but found Michelle somewhat irritating, but still a good character, but a word of warning if you are a chocoholic make sure you have supplies in before you start!

Holiday Bliss

This is an ideal holiday read. I will admit to being a fan of the books of Sue Moorcroft – I have read them all and they just get better and better. I loved Just for the Holidays. I have a teenage son and the teenage characters in the book were very true to life, complete with their often incomprehensible phrases and reactions. Leah, the heroine has been badly burned with past relationships and is understandably wary of getting involved. Ronan is struggling with his injury and its consequences. The whole situation, including a complex sub-plot with Leah’s sister is written in a pleasing flowing way, with enough twists and turns along the way to keep the reader on their toes. Sue Moorcroft excels at writing sensual scenes that carry you away. Great read. Highly recommended.

With any Sue Moorcroft book, you know you are about to enter a fun romantic romp. Just for the Holidays also delivers an exotic overseas location in country France and a gang of unlikely characters thrown together by circumstance. So, best to strap in and enjoy the ride. It's romantic, it's funny and entertaining.

I have to echo the sentiments of the cover quote: "I love all of Sue Moorcroft's books!". Last year she gave us the perfect Christmas read with The Christmas Promise and here we have a perfect romantic summer read with Just For The Holidays.

A month's holiday in a beautiful gite in Alsace sounds like a perfect way to spend a holiday doesn't it? Well, not if you are Leah who has been asked along basically to keep the peace between her sister Michele and her estranged husband Alister. Only a few days have gone by when an unexpected pregnancy is announced and through an unfortunate combination of circumstances Leah finds herself in sole charge of her teenage niece and nephew. Much though she loves them, she has made a conscious decision not to have children herself and feels very out of her depth when it comes to parenting skills. In case she doesn't have enough going on, living next door is very handsome helicopter pilot Ronan and his teenage son Curtis. There are lots of hormones swirling about and not just the teenagers!

Sue Moorcroft writes books that quickly have me engrossed in her characters' lives and Just for the Holidays was no exception. Her stories always involve situations which feel very real. Her characters have to face problems, dilemmas and worries. This makes the book sounds very heavy and serious but it's not. There are a lot of light moments and laughter which very much reflect real life. Leah was someone I really took to. I loved the way she seemed able to relate to everyone and really connect with them. I was very jealous of her job tasting and developing new chocolates. Despite her doubts about her parenting skills she copes remarkably well with all the challenges thrown at her. She deals with problems in a very practical way, often heading to the kitchen to cook for and with the teens, showing her caring side through nourishing and nurturing even though she probably doesn't think of it that way.

The rather gorgeous Ronan was a great addition to the story. A helicopter pilot recovering from a shoulder injury, he seemed a very caring and considerate man. I thought his relationship with his teenage son Curtis was well depicted as he coped with the usual teenage moodiness and the boy who was quickly developing into a man with all the usual feelings and confusions of adolescents. In fact, as I was reading I felt that Sue Moorcroft portrayed all her teenage characters really convincingly. I had to laugh but also feel frustrated on behalf of Leah and Ronan as the teenagers seemed to thwart any opportunities they had to be alone together! I also have to admire the author's dedication to her research which involved being taken up in a helicopter to simulate how a forced landing would be dealt with by a pilot - rather you than me Sue!

Just for the Holidays is a really entertaining read and another winner from Sue Moorcroft. It's a perfect mix of romance and humour, dilemmas and feel-good moments with such a perfect summery setting. Definitely one to read with a chilled glass of something fizzy as you relax in the sun (well we can hope can't we?) and dream of holidays.

I loved this book it was very well written with a good plot and beautiful setting.

Just For the Holidays really hits the spot, it has everything I love in a book, a gorgeous summery location, a family going through issues, a gorgeous guy, some amusing teenagers, and some brilliant professions. How much cooler can you get when you have a helicopter pilot and a chocolatier in the same book!

In fact the helicopter pilot is called Ronan, and with his son Curtis they are staying next door to the holiday home that Leah and her family are staying in this summer in Alsace, France.

Leah loves her own space but has been persuaded onto the trip to support her sister Michele, who is trying to separate from her husband. Let's just say that the plans for the holiday fall apart in quite spectacular fashion, leaving Leah to try her best for her niece and nephew.

I just loved the character of Leah, not only does she taste and test chocolate for a living, but she is also a speed demon, drives a Porsche and is a huge F1 fan. It's such a great combination of traits, especially given she is single and when in charge of teenagers, she is terrified and I love the decisions she makes.

Some of my favourite moments in this book involved Leah, and chocolate. I'm a chocoholic, so it may not be surprising that I was salivating over a lot of the content - pain au chocolat being created from scratch, mug cakes, chocolate tastings, chocolate baskets and more. I just wish I had known in advance to have my own chocolate supplies on me. I had been reading on a train, and when I got to the bar I was aiming for, I just couldn't resist ordering a chocolate based cocktail, just to try and curb the cravings I was getting from this book.

In fairness it wasn't all chocolate, and the story takes in themes such as broken families and how it affects teenagers, Ronan's interesting work situation, and a young romance. I loved the days out in the surrounding area, and getting to know Leah's family. Natasha and Jordan are good teens just going through a tricky time with their family and hormones.

Just For the Holidays is aptly titled in time for the summer season. its a fabulous summery read, that I thoroughly enjoyed. I was completely absorbed in the story, and just found it so entertaining.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Avon for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

You know that cover quote from Katie Fforde? The one that says “I love all of Sue Moorcroft’s books”? Well that quote could have been written by me too. So, how does this book compare with my favourites?

I immediately took to Leah, the book’s central figure, dragged to France on a family holiday when her preference would be for her own company. Her sister Michele dumps her with looking after the family, and things go from bad to worse when Michele’s estranged husband becomes incapable of providing any support. Mind you, the gorgeous guy next door – a helicopter pilot, no less – makes life rather more bearable, even if all those darned teenagers make moving things any further well nigh impossible.

I’ll readily admit that a book that focuses so closely on its teenage characters might not be a natural choice for me, but the author’s strength – well, one of her many strengths! – is in writing about real people in recognisable situations, handling all those twists and turns in relationships that bring both joy and pain. And the emphasis there is on “real people” – the teens are as complex and well drawn as the adults, with believable emotions and reactions triggered by events as diverse as family conflict or first love.

There were so many things I enjoyed about this book. The “foodie” side of Leah – always a good way to win over teenagers – was really well done, as she casually throws together family meals from a handful of ingredients. Then there’s the well drawn backdrop of Alsace, the insights into chocolate making, and the vast amounts I learned about text-speak. Oh, and how to do a handbrake turn in a Porsche in a DIY store car park!

I think it’s probably fair to say that although this is largely a novel about the course of love and life refusing to run smoothly, there’s a great deal more in there too – the complexities of sibling relationships, broken families, fractured friendship, jealousy, manipulation, deception, and an excellent thread dealing with corporate shenanigans in the world of aviation.

Sue’s writing is as effortless to read as ever, and this is a book you’ll race through as I did – lighter reading at its very best, but with an occasional sharp edge to throw you off-balance when her people behave badly, as real people sometimes do.

Leah has agreed to accompany her recently separated pregnant sister Michele and her two teenage children, Jordan and Natasha on holiday to France when at the last minute her brother-in-law decides as he has paid for the holiday he will come as well.

Leah is expecting a nice lazy summer in the sun but with her sister leaving to spend time with her secret boyfriend and her brother-in-law breaking his leg, Leah is left to keep the children entertained. Living next door to the gite, is hunky helicopter pilot Ronan and his teenage goth son Curtis. As the children start to spend time together so do Leah and Ronan and the beginning of a holiday romance.

Leah doesn’t do long term relationships so it was interesting to see where the relationship between her and Ronan was going, throw in Ronan’s ex-wife, Leah’s best friend Scott, and the behaviour of her sister Michele plus lots of chocolate and the making of pudding and we get a really good summer read. An enjoyable and entertaining book.

This was a lovely read! This book is full of drama and layers of story, it's twisting and turning but not at all confusing and the characters are well developed and interesting. I'd previously read one of Sue Moorcroft's books and after reading this one she has gone onto my fave authors list. An enjoyable summer read.