I have never read a book by this author before but will be certain to seek out her work in future. This book gave me serious wanderlust, Sweden was never on my bucket list but it was depicted beautifully in this book so it is now! Lovely characters and some delicate themes were tackled sensitively. A great read, thank you netgalley!

The story of Hannah and Nico, childhood friends who meet again in Sweden. Neither of them are in the right place to start something, despite the connection they feel to each other. Months later, when they are both back in the same village in England, will they get their chance?

Although it deals with some serious issues, these are dealt with in a sensitive way, and it is a great read.

Christmas Wishes is the first novel by Sue Moorcroft that I've read. I wanted to give her work a try for some time now, as I've heard only good things about her books.

I really enjoyed her writing style, as she pulled me into the story from the very first pages, and also woke up my emotions more then few times.

Although this is a festive read, it covers serious topics, and was often more serious and sad than happy.

It really made me think about people in general, about good in them and other people who like to use that good for their own selfish reason.
Nico is one example how a good person takes others' problems without even having a say. I was sad for him and also proud of him, and angry too.

One other good thing about this book is how Sweden is pictured in the story. I was never there so I can't talk about transparency, but it did feel real, and I could picture myself there with our characters.

In the end, I just want to say that I will definitely go back to Sue Moorcroft as I really feel like I got so much from Christmas Wishes.

This is one festive read I'd recommend to people who like to read a little more serious books that talk about human relationships and family dynamic.

I have recently just gotten into reading Christmas books. I mean for someone who loves Hallmark Christmas movies. I should be reading Christmas books.

What a lovely cozy Christmas story this is. I totally recommend it to anyone. Even if your not into this genre. With it being set in Sweden it is a fresh take on a different holiday other than holidays in America.

This is the third book I’ve read by Sue Moorcroft in the past year and is now my new favourite. Hannah and Nico both face a number of challenges, with work and relationships, but cross paths again when Hannah’s brother gets married. Can they help each other?

My favourite part of the book was the visit to Nico’s family in Sweden. In a year of hardly travelling anywhere, I loved the sound of visiting Sweden to try new foods, make snowmen and visit new places. My favourite character was Hannah’s Nan who wants the best for her granddaughter.

An enjoyable read that is currently 99p on the Kindle in the UK. Happy to recommend this as a book to curl up with over the Christmas holiday.

Sue Moorcroft knows how to craft a story.

This time we follow main character Hannah who bumps into her brothers best friend in Stockholm. The two catch up, but romance is not on either of their agenda's. Hannah has a insensitive boyfriend to deal with and soon has to return to her hometown in the UK. There she finds herself looking for a job and taking care of her nan.

I absolutely loved the scenes that took place in Stockholm. It was clear that the author had done some research on festivities in Stockholm. Lovely and very interesting to lean all bout the festive season in another country!

I have read a few books by the hand of Sue Moorcroft and they are never just cute and fluffy. This time around is no different. The main characters have a lot on their plates and difficult topics like addictions, parenting etc are never put under a rough.

Loved it from the first page to the last!

This was a great book! Sue Moorcroft has created a great wintery but real feeling story. The characters are very engaging and I was rooting for them throughout. Christmas didnt feature as heavily as expected but it did feature a gauntlet of topics and made me feel all the emotions.

I was sent this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ugh, this will def. be an unpopular opinion but this book just wasn’t for me.

I gave it 1.5 stars and will round it up to 2 stars because the premise was really intriguing and it was great to have more diversity with the characters (trigger warning! one of the protagonists deals with an eating disorder) but the execution was - in my opinion - not well done.

The author tried to do too much in one novel.
Both protagonists had a huge conflict in their lives that took up way too much page space - especially in the beginning, when they were both still living in different countries. More than halfway trough the book they were still not in the same town and had only seen each other a couple of times. In my opinion the story should have started at a waaaay later date and the problems they had faced should have been done in backflashes instead of in chronological order. This way, it was just an enumeration of steps they both took to get from place A to place B with a lot of time jumps into the future.
And after finaly finding their ways to their childhood town, there was ANOTHER change of scenery when they all went on a trip together. The whole back and forth was just too much. It led to weird pacing and way too many side-characters that had to be introduced. And all of those characters had a backstory and conflicts that the author slid into the plot - a lot of it unnecessary and distracting from what should have been the main focus: the relationship of Hannah and Nico and the kids.
That part felt rushed and stilted and not organic at all. I didn’t really feel their connection. I loved Nico with his girls and maybe without all the extra drama back home in Sweden it would have kept my attention a bit more.
On the other hand we have Hannah. I really didn’t care for her storyline. Her business with her ex was interesting enough at first but I really didn’t need to know step by step how she closes the shop and has to handle the paperwork with the taxes etc. And then she gets a new job but we don’t really get involved with it much; it’s just in the background, maybe so we have it for future novels, or so she has something to do while Nico gets settled in the seperat storyline. And again: So much drama happens with this project. Back and forth, back and forth. And again: a lot of characters, that get a lot of page space without beeing important to the story.
In the end, the writing style just wasn’t for me. I wasn.t caught up in the story, I didn’t feel like I was immersed in their lives. It felt more like someone telling you how their day went (I got up, got breakfast, went to the shop, bought milk, went to the dentist, this is how I know the dentist, this is what he said, this is what I answered, I drove home, I went to bed) - and that was how the whole novel was written, more like a summery with a lot of exposition and them telling their problems to different people again and again.

Sorry for rambling on. Not my cup of tea. Can’t recommend. The 1.5 stars are really only for Nico and his storyline. But really, all of it was just meh. About 65 % of the way through I started skipping through the rest to get to the end.

I loved this book so much, and I didn't want it to end. I loved the way that it was broken into Nico's thoughts and Hannah's. The children made this book, it really pulled at the heart strings. The supporting characters were great, especially nana. It was lovely that part was set in Sweden and part Middledip. Probably my favourite Sue Moorcroft book so far, although I say that after each one, I have loved them all.

I have to admit, I mistakenly thought that this would be just another fluffy read – you know, it has Sweden (my ultimate dream-country, basically), old friends, new love… In this case, though? That mistake is actually what made this book.

Rather than just another anything, this book really hit me in the feels more than once. It tackles issues that are so often left out of stories, especially from the perspective of a man going through so many of them – sure, that comes with a whole slew of trigger warnings (from eating disorders, to dysfunctional relationships, single parenthood, and just generally: struggling mental health).

Because of those issues, though, the heart warming moments are even more so – it’s been a while since I found myself rooting so thoroughly for two people, both as a couple, and as individuals.

Add in Sue Moorcroft’s writing style, which is never a miss for me, both Swedish and English traditions and Christmas feels, and you’re left with a book that will grab you from the get-go, and results in a thoroughly enjoyable experience!

When a face from the past enters into Hannah Goodbody's shop in Stockholm she is taken back to the time when Nico Pettersson was her brother's best friend and she was the little sister that was distinctly 'out of bounds'. There's a delicious spark of attraction between them but both their lives are complicated and neither is in a position to start a new relationship, however, it would seem that fate has much more in store for these lovely characters.

Set partially in snowy Sweden and the fictional village of rural Middledip regular readers will recognise a few characters from this author's previous Middledip stories but of course Christmas Wishes can be read as a standalone story. I've really loved getting know these characters who each bring such warmth to the story that you can't help but be drawn into their troubled lives. Both Hannah and Nico have complications which threaten to overwhelm them but gradually over the space of the story they come to realise that with the help of family and friends problems which seem insurmountable can be overcome.

Christmas Wishes has a lovely festive feel without being overly Christmassy and setting the story partially in Sweden allows a fascinating glimpse into the traditions and culture of another country. I enjoyed my virtual visit to Stockholm and the author's vivid description of the snow and the cold bring the place to life in such a wonderful way. By coincidence I was reading this book on the thirteenth of December which is St Lucia's day in Sweden and the author brings this so magically to life that I felt as if I was attending the St Lucia church service with Hannah.

Beautifully written, with all the lovely little details which this talented author does so well, Christmas Wishes is a story which looks at the magic of tradition, the love of family and friends, and the joy of a new relationship which survives against all odds.

Hannah and Nico are destined to be together, however, thy have both got issues they need to resolve in their own lives along the way.
When she bumps into Nico in Sweden, Hannah doesn't realise her life as she knows it is about to come tumbling down around her.
Nico is struggling with being a single dad, having a demanding job, an ex wife with major issues which are about to impact him greatly. Changes are afoot for him too.
This was a very enjoyable festive read.

This was such a sweet Christmas love story! The characters were totally likeable but imperfect and relatable which made reading the story effortless. I haven't read anything prior by this author, but I plan on changing that.

Christmas Wishes by Sue Moorcroft

From the snowy streets of Stockholm to the village of Middledip, Christmas Wishes is the perfect festive read.

Christmas Wishes by Sue Moorcroft is the perfect Christmas escape, we begin in Stockholm where Hannah Anna Butik is working in her shop, the one which she has dreaming of opening and was finally able to do so with the help of her boyfriend. When she hears the words “How is Rob’s stupid sister?” Even after two decades, Hannah would know that smile everywhere Nico Pettersson, her childhood crush.

A devastating betrayal leads Hannah back to her childhood home, in the arms of her family, who need her more than ever. She starts to rebuild her life only to find that Nico and his daughter have unknowingly followed her home.

Nico’s life is by no means easy, raising not one but soon, two children on his own, working full time he relies on his childminder and cousin to get through the day unscathed. The stress has become too much and when Hannah mistakes him for a homeless person, he knows he needs to face his demons again.

From the snowy streets of Stockholm to the village of Middledip, Sue Moorcroft has given us the perfect festive read. Her writing keeps you engaged with the story and the characters and her descriptions, especially of Stockholm suck you into the pages as if you are walking along the streets with the characters.

My thanks to #Netgalley and @AvonBooks, part of @HarperCollinsUK, and especially @SueMoorcroftAuthor for giving me the opportunity to read and review #ChristmasWishes

Check out my latest book review of #ChristmasWishes by @SueMoorcroftAuthor @ https://sloantate-mckate.blogspot.com/2020/12/christmas-wishes-by-sue-moorcroft.html
My thanks to #Netgalley and @AvonBooks, part of @HarperCollinsUK and especially @SureMoorcroftAuthor for giving me the opportunity to read and review #ChristmasWishes

Purchase links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08761MHPK/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_CZB1FbA618D94
Barnes&Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-wishes-sue-moorcroft/1137498482?ean=9780008393007
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/christmas-wishes-37
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/christmas-wishes/sue-moorcroft/9780008392994

And available from other retailers

This was a sweet Christmas story! The characters were likeable but imperfect and just enough relatable to not be too over the top. I haven't read anything by this author before but I'll definitely be reading more.

Another fabulous read from Sue Moorcroft. This was an intriguing tale with a wonderful mixture of bold characters, real-life issues and, of course, romance. I loved all the characters (except the ones I wasn't supposed to like) and thoroughly enjoyed this tale of winter wonder taking place in England and Sweden. This is the perfect read to snuggle up with this festive season.

Also had an audio book version, so have left feedback there. Thanks for the copy. A bit predictable ending but a nice festive read none the less.

Christmas Wishes was a wonderful Christmas treat.
The story follows Hannah from Stockholm to England on a journey to find her place in life. Dealing with an awful ex and arrogant new employer, the appearance of the spectacular Nico is a breath of fresh air for her. Nico, who is trying to juggle single parent hood and a demanding full time job needs a fresh start too.
When they rekindle their old friendship sparks begin to fly and life seems to fall into place.
I thought the story lines and characters were really strong and engaging, I particularly liked Nico. The pitch of the story was perfect as it had me laughing at times and brought a tear to my eye at several others.

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a trip to Middledip. This year Sue takes us to Sweden, London and our favourite place, Middledip. Love is in the air but obstacles lay in the way. Can the wise musings of Gran help our star crossed lovers reach a truce, or is there just too many problems? Curl up with a hot chocolate and dive right in to find out

I loved reading this Christmas book. It had everything you could want from a novel set at such a magical, festive time, but simultaneously, Moorcroft has created a narrative that is realistic. By this I mean that there is family crisis, serious woes and enough sadness to make you realise that Christmas-time is not the “Hallmark” scenes that we have come to associate with this time of year.

Throughout the story, Sweden strongly features. Afterall, Nico was born there, and both him and Hannah have very strong ties to this country. I loved this setting because it is so snowy – an essential ingredient to a Christmas story! I haven’t read a book that features Sweden so heavily and I found this a rather refreshing change. Furthermore, it made me just want to snuggle under a cosy blanket even more, which is perfect for a Christmas read. Moorcroft has clearly done her research with this setting and I did feel like I was travelling there with the characters because the descriptions were so vivid.

As vivid as Sweden becomes, so does the small village of Middledip, where the rest of the story takes place. Both Nico and Hannah return to their childhood village and, as if Fate were in charge, their paths cross. Middledip is the typical remote village: everyone knows each other’s business but there is also a strong sense of community. It is this that entices both Nico and Hannah as the lives that they thought were solid, end up breaking apart. Middledip offers them both a home they never realised they needed.

So, what makes this book so surprisingly sad? The theme of addiction and neglect runs throughout the pages and this was completely unexpected. Moorcroft introduces this from very early on in the story, preparing readers for a novel that is not “sugar-coated” in the slightest. Nico, struggling from his own eating disorder, finds himself in the middle of child-care issues as his now ex-wife cannot cope with his own child, Josie, and Josie’s sister, Maria. On the other hand, Hannah Anna Goodbody (which, in my opinion, is one of the best character names I have encountered in literature!), is emotionally addicted to staying with her Swedish boyfriend, particularly with the financial stability that is provided for her boutique. Thrown in with this are the serious issues of bullying and even child neglect. They are difficult topics at the best of times and I think the Christmas season emphasises the importance of family, honesty and communication.

I loved how the characters developed and could not help but adore Maria. I recognised so many qualities and behaviours in her that I witnessed when my children were growing up. Maria, just a toddler, certainly lightens the narrative which is needed when reading about some tough topics. I could vividly picture her antics and fell in love with the close bond that she shares with her step-sister, Josie. I found myself really rooting for Nico to find the best solution to keep the family together.

I have really enjoyed this festive read. There is a happy ending after all, but there is enough “grit” in this book to make it feel like you are reading about real characters. The pressures of Christmas that I have experienced in the past seem meek in comparison: learning about Nico’s family struggles and Hannah’s bid to be an independent businesswoman. Consequently, I applaud Moorcroft for not sticking to the stereotypical, glossy Christmas read and providing us with something a bit different: slightly tragic but pleasing nonetheless.

With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.