4.5⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley, Sue Moorcroft, and Avon Books UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Christmas story I could read again and again, I loved it! I really like the characters, I love the setting, and the story is full of such heart, it is very touching. Hannah and Nico are wonderful mains to follow. I loved seeing how Hannah overcame some obstacles in her life, figured out what she needs for herself, and goes after what she wants. Nico has the most incredible heart and soul, and takes on challenges the average person wouldn’t. He is displayed as such an incredible father and it is so hard not to crush on him!

The settings of England and Sweden are amazing!!! It was fun being exposed a bit to Swedish culture, of which I know little about. It was a character in itself and I feel the draw to visit there!

I will absolutely read more of Sue’s books and I can’t wait to do so!!!

Fabulous read from Sue Moorcroft again. Loved the story and the characters except for her ex lol. Its great how its set in Sweden but also Middledip. Some old faces popping up again. Sue does not disappoint me, another fantastic book I couldn't put down. Looking forward to the next on.

This is a really good book giving us information on someone's addiction also an Father who takes on his ex wife's child so she has a stable life.

We have Hannah who lives in Sweden with her boyfriend who ends up telling her he wants her out of his life and has told her the shop that' he owns and she is running as a business is being closed he will give her the money he owes her.

Then we have Nico who lives with his daughter Josie he has full custody of her as his ex wife cannot cope. Then we also have Maria who is the daughter of his ex wife and he ends up taking her on as Loren his ex wife is not coping.

I really enjoyed the book I kept wanting to read on wondering what would happen.

Please read this book.

I really enjoyed this book, it was full of festive warmth and cheer. Hannah lives in Sweden with her boyfriend and she runs her own gift shop. Happy with her life until Nico a childhood friend of her brother comes back into her life.
Hannah’s life takes an unexpected turn and both her and Nico move back to her village of Middledip and suddenly life is totally different.
I loved the little family Nico has created and how Hannah becomes part of it. Also enjoyed Hannah’s relationship with her Nan.
Cuddle up in front of a big fire with a Hot Chocolate and enjoy a fantastic Christmas read. I’ll now be looking out for other Christmas books by Sue Moorcroft.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for my early copy of this book.

This book was such a delight to read and perfect to curl Up with on a Rainey cold afternoon. I absolutely love this authors books and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. This was so much more than a Christmas book as although it was set at
Christmas
Time and had festive undertones running through it there was so much else going on and lots of sensitive themes were highlighted and explored in a very empathetic and well done Way covering eating disorders, alcoholism and drug dependency. The characters were all very rich particularly Hannah’s nan who I developed a
Soft spot for and sounded like everyone’s perfect nan. I enjoyed the story transitioning between Stockholm and middledip and the exploration of Swedish Christmas traditions. Nico and Hannah are perfect well grounded characters with so much to offer and love how their romance unfolds. This book was a perfect escapism read and left
Me with a warm glow inside and felt like a hug in a book.

I loved this book from start to finish. It flew by and I fell in love with both of the main characters as well as the supporting characters. I loved the setting and could really picture myself in the snow enjoying all of the things on offer. I’d love a follow up book to find out what happens with the family

The Christmas story take place partly in Stockholm and partly in England. She meets up with childhood friend and finds they may become more. Good Story!

Christmas Wishes - Sue Moorcroft

A whirlwind of a story - from Hannah deciding to leave her nasty boyfriend Albin, to having an instant spark with Nico, her losing her shop, her brother warning Nico off Hannah.....I just loved it all! The characters were great including little Josie and Marie (so funny) and I think I fell a little bit in love with Nico. He was the perfect romantic accompaniment for Hannah and I don't think I could of wanted more from a character. With the perfect setting of Middledip in UK and Wintery Stockholm this was such a perfect festive read and this has now become my new favourite Sue Moorcroft Book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

This is a delightful book to read and much, much more than a seasonal romance.
There is a real story behind the snow and festivities involving Hannah Anna Goodbody and Nico Petterssen.
Set partly in Sweden and partly in Cambridgeshire, the writing enables the reader to inhabit both places. Whether it is with Nan Heather in the village of Middledip or in the streets of an icy Stockholm, one is transported to these locations to follow the trials of the couple destined to be together.
The book is interesting because the main male character has an eating disorder and the inclusion of this emotional battle should be applauded because we only ever usually hear about bulimia from a female perspective.
The book also deals with drug and alcohol misuse and addiction and one's heartstrings are constantly tugged on when you wonder what will happen to 8 year old Josie, and more importantly two year old Maria. The dialogue and behaviour of a 2 year old is captured perfectly and the worry of a parent when a child is struggling at school only too real.
Family dynamics in this book aren't typically conventional as Nico is a single dad who ends up taking on far more responsibility than he ever imagined.
Hannah is treated badly in business and in love by ex Albin and again when she throws her heart and soul into rescuing the development and Christmas opening of Carlysle Courtyard back in Middledip.
Will happiness find Nico and Hannah? Will happiness mean being together and how will Christmas be special if Hannah takes off in her parents' VW campervan The Bus?
Full of gorgeous detail, lots of love and an adorable toddler, you would have to have a heart of ice not to feel the warmth emanating from Sue Moorcroft's Christmas Wishes.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Christmas Wishes by Sue Moorcroft
Publisher: Avon Books UK
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Romance | Women's Fiction
Release Date: October 29, 2020

Christmas Wishes by Sue Moorcroft is a sweet Christmas love story. I loved that is takes place in the UK and Sweden during the wintertime and the some of the local traditions are included in the story.

The character development and the storyline were wonderful and I really enjoyed getting to know the characters.

I look forward to reading this again closer to Christmas, curled up by the fireplace with a nice hot cup of coffee!

I'm so grateful to Sue Moorcroft, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I adore Christmas-themed novels and love Sue Moorcroft’s books (I’ve read them all!) so I knew this would be a fab read.

Hannah is living in Sweden, running her own business and with a boyfriend, when she bumps into her brother’s best friend, Nico. There’s a little bit of chemistry between them but they both have ‘baggage’.

We then return to the village of Middledip (hooray!) as Hannah is forced back there after losing her shop – only to find that Nico has just relocated there as well.

A lovely, heartwarming read to get you in the mood for Christmas!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

A highly entertaining and heartwarming story, escapism at highest level.
Excellent storytelling and character development. I loved the plot that made me smile and the festive atmosphere.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Another beautiful festive read from Sue Moorcroft. Set in Stockholm and Middledip, it has excellent characters and beautiful scenery and is engaging from start to finish.

Hannah and Nico were friends in childhood (Nico was Hannah's brother's best friend), and they reconnect as adults. There is a spark there, but baggage, timing and misunderstandings are keeping them apart. Will they be able to realize they're supposed to be together, or will life just be too much to overcome?

This book was really amazing- I'm one of the biggest Christmas fan you'll meet, but sometimes a Christmas book just for the sake of a Christmas book is too much. This was more like a lovely, romantic read that happened to have the backdrop of the Christmas season. It gives you heartbreak and the chance for redemption, an amazing single-dad and the difficulties of addiction, hard choices, family ties and of course, Christmas, all in one attractive package. I really loved the way Nico was written here; there was a relatable vulnerability you don't always get with heroes in romance books. And honestly, I just want Hannah to be my friend, because she's super organized, like me and sounds like she has great taste in fashion and accessories.

I was about to say “I love Sue Moorcroft’s Christmas books” but that’s not entirely true – I love ALL her books. But I know I’ve mentioned before that I’ve always had a particularly soft spot for the Christmas ones – I also know I’ve said before “this is her best book yet”, but I really do have to say it yet again. I loved every moment of this book, and it really reminded me why she’s unfailingly one of my favourite authors.

So, why did I love it so much? Well, just for a start, the locations are wonderful – the Swedish research really shines through, from Stockholm’s shopping centre to the early Christmas celebrations in a more rural location. There are lots of cultural and food references I found quite fascinating, and I learned a lot about family life. And then, of course, there was Middledip – I know my way around there rather well now, and it was lovely to have a Christmas drink in The Three Fishes (yes, sleigh and reindeer on the roof – all’s well with the world!) and pop into the Angel Cafe for coffee and a chocolate-dipped shortbread Christmas angel. I rather liked that new Courtyard shopping development too – and also meeting so many characters I recognised, like Ratty and lovely Gabe (but if you’ve never met them before, it really doesn’t matter one bit).

Then there are the characters. Hannah is just so thoroughly lovely inside and out – but how on earth did she end up with an obnoxious toad like Albin? Walking away might have meant the loss of her beloved shop, but I think I might have made that sacrifice rather sooner – I’ve rarely felt such anger about a character and his actions. And then there’s lovely Nico – he might just be my favourite romantic lead in any of the author’s books. He has real challenges in his life (the author’s books always have a few welcome harder edges), not least his relationship with food – it’s a theme I’ve never come across before in a novel, and extremely well handled. But there are more problems on the way – with one child in his care (and he’s such a wonderful father) he finds himself caring for another one, when his ex-wife goes distinctly off the rails (another very realistically handled situation) and his existing support network then begins to fall apart.

I must say a word about the two children, Josie and Maria – they’re quite wonderfully drawn and I must say they entirely won my heart (and for someone who usually recoils from children in books, that’s quite a big deal!). I particularly enjoyed the interactions – Maria’s echoing of key words in a conversation was so very cleverly done, and frequently made me laugh. I could then run through all the other key characters and tell you how wonderful they are too, but I’ll resist – but I did love Hannah’s parents, and her lovely Nan (and her resistance to a pre-nup!), while Nico’s horrendous mother-in-law got me almost as angry as Albin did.

As for the romance… well, that was everything I wanted it to be, a lovely friendship and a spark of attraction at first, a few misunderstandings, but it then develops into something considerably more. Emotionally, I thought it worked ever so well – warm and touching, believable and authentic, and I sometimes had a real lump in my throat and a tear in my eye.

I’ve already read and enjoyed a lot of Christmas books this year, but this was one of the particularly special ones. Go on, add it to your reading list – I thought it was just wonderful, and I recommend it really highly. Do you know, I think it might even be another addition to my Books of the Year list… yes, it really is that good!

𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝗪𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝗪⁣
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Sue Moorcroft⁣
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞: October 29th, 2020⁣
⁣
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:⁣
Hannah and Nico have known each other since high school - when he moved from Sweden to the UK, but they eventually grew apart. Now, as a Christmas miracle, their paths cross again and the coziness of the festive season might bring some surprises their way - and the struggles of adult life might all seem less complicated. ⁣
⁣
𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:⁣
𝘗𝘭𝘰𝘵: the story might seem just like another cheesy Christmas-y cliche and, in essence, it is! But once one reads the book, they will find it tackles important society aspects such as eating disorder and single parenting (both from a male perspective) and alcoholism/substance abuse (from a female perspective), as well as child negligence. I believe that the way these topics were presented was very mature and served to educate (not only to entertain) - and the author had a great move by adding them to a cliche romance novel, making it more accessible for everyone to read and learn about these situations.⁣
𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨: Every time something related to Christmas was mentioned I definitely felt like it was already December! However I felt like most of the time the book focused on dialogues and characters’ feelings, not giving proper space for the actions to take place - which made scenes like weddings and trips feel a bit rushed. ⁣
𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴: I felt like we got to know Nico better than Hannah, and he was a lovely character - full of empathy and humanly flawed at the same time. But the two kids, Josie and Maria won my heart!⁣
𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵: lovely weekend read for any day of November or December! Best enjoyed with a cup of hot cocoa! 4⭐️⁣
⁣
Thank you @netgalley and @avon_books for this arc in exchange of an honest review!⁣

This book is set in Middledip, a charming village which is the setting of several of Sue Moorcroft's books. It can also be read as a standalone novel.
This book is the perfect Christmas escapism, heartwarming, festive and romantic. It is a lovely book to loose yourself in for a few hours, although it does contain some hard hitting subjects.
The characters are realistic and likeable, it was good to read about life in Stockholm, where Hannah lived at the start of the book.
I hope that there are more books set in Middledip, it is the perfect location.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

I'm so excited for Christmas after reading this. This just made me smile throughout. A cozy, festive read. Hannah and Nico bump into each other. They are meant to be together but various reasons keep them apart. I loved the setting. Felt like I was there, a perfect escape. A host of loveable characters. This story is what Christmas is all about.
I've never read a Sue Moorcroft Christmas book, but now I need to go and read them all.

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

Published 29th October 2020

A perfect magical Christmas read. I loved the way Hannah and Nico effortlessly renewed their childhood friendship and battled through the obstacles placed in front on them. Nan Heather was a wonderful additional character, as were Josie and Maria, and the family Christmas added the heartwarming touch. The descriptions of Sweden were breathtaking and definitely make me want to visit to experience it myself.

Hannah Goodbody loves living in Stockholm and running her exclusive accessories shop. When she bumps into her brother Rob’s old school friend, Nico, Hannah finds him very different to the boy she once knew. Hannah however, has other things on her mind than worrying about her old friend. Her boyfriend Albin is acting strangely and when she suddenly loses her shop and her home she decides to move back home to Middledip.
Hannah moves in with her Nan who is recovering after a fall and is surprised to find that Nico has also moved to the village.
They both have their own problems but with attraction quickly growing between them they need to find a way to work through them if they want to be together.