Member Reviews
This Christmas romance tackles some tough issues such as alcoholism, foster care and the families of those in prison to name but a few. In addition to those issues the story develops with a few twists and turns for the main characters that live in Winter Street.
I really enjoyed this Christmas offering from Sue Moorcroft and recommend it to you without hesitation.
While the term "heart-warming" is thrown about a lot with these sorts of books, it's the best one I can come up with for "A White Christmas on Winter Street."
The story follows several characters (most of whom are well rounded and given their own back story which is very welcome!!) but the key two are Sky and Daz.
Sky is a woman who has had a hard life growing up with an alcoholic mother and has had to work hard to get where she has. When she loses the job she loves, she has an opportunity to return to the charming village of Middledip where she once spent time as a foster child. In doing so, she finds new purpose, friends both old and new and the possibility of love.
Daz was born and brought up in Middledip and is put out by a newcomer to the village ruining a project he had pinned his hopes on after many recent disappointments both personally and professionally. But he soon comes to see that this newcomer could be just what the village, and he, needs.
Suffice to say that most things you would expect from a book like this ensue. But it is well written and thoroughly enjoyable. It really is a heart-warming book which is also suitably Christmassy and wintry and a great read for a cold afternoon, preferably (as the characters often do!) with a hot chocolate in hand!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
This is everything you need in a Christmas read – love and romance, friendship and community.
Sky is a strong, independent woman. And she has had to be. In and out of foster care as a child, she is estranged from her alcoholic mother. Her only family is foster brother Freddy, but her relationship with him is changing as he plans to get married.
What Sky is really looking for is a home of her own. So she buys The Corner House in Middledip, the village where her former foster mother lives.
Soon, she is joining a pub quiz team and the Christmas light decorating competition, making friends and becoming part of the community.
Of course, it doesn’t all go smoothly. There are misunderstandings and confusions, some drama and plenty of emotion on the way.
Three is the perfect balance of festive, feel-good, and real-life relationships. Sky and Daz’s romance falters as they get to know each other and fir into each other’s lives.
This is a warm blanket, hot chocolate festive read. Perfect holiday reading.
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for my gifted digital copy.
I absolutely love Sue Moorcrofts books and I was very excited to read this one. I really wanted to read it before Christmas.
I really love the run up to Christmas myself and reading about a whole community joining together in the effort to make Winter Street super festive. I really love the drama, excitement and intensity of it all, all the organising. There is always potential for it to go one way or the other so it's very exciting to try and work out it if it will all go to plan.
The relationships and shock or two throughout the book add to it all and I love Sky's character, she has fallen on hard times and is trying to get her life back on track in Middledip, which I have adored returning to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
My favorite type of holiday read! The perfect book to curl up with and enjoy a chilly day reading with a delicious hot beverage. The characters are fun and I loved to see a strong and independent female protagonist. The setting of Middledip is charming and idyllic, and the story is well-developed with a good pace to keep you interested. A must-read for anyone who enjoys a cozy winter romance!
After falling out with her foster brother, who also happens to be her boss, Sky Terran returns to the village of Middledip where she had been fostered for a while. She has bought The Corner House on Winter Street, a huge property surrounded by an unruly garden. Before she can even think of returning the house to it's former glory she must tackle the garden so that it's fit to take part it the 'Christmas Street' competition that winter Street has been entered into. It won't be an easy job and Sky will need the help of her new neighbours. Asking for help is not something that comes easy to her.
Sue Moorcroft's book is a drinking hot chocolate while wrapped in a blanket sort of book. Warm and cosy and leaves the reader feeling happy.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review..
I quite enjoyed this holiday read! I expected it to read like a Hallmark movie and while it does it also includes the depth, background and traumas that Hallmark movies either skip or gloss over.
Sky has been working with her former foster brother Freddie but after some tension with Freddie’s new fiancé causing issues (despite Sky and Freddie having a sibling relationship and have never had romantic interest in each other). This leads to Sky abruptly quitting working for Freddie and bidding on a lovey large home known as “The Corner House” in the town of Middledip where Sky and Freddie used to live in a foster home together and have fond memories.
After successfully winning the vid on The Corner House on Winter St., Sky is quickly approached by neighbors to have lights up and the property nice in time for the decoration competition!
Sky meets a man, Daz, that she briefly met while viewing The Corner House before she won and they start becoming close and entering a romantic relationship. However, there are traumas and skeletons in the closet past and present each must face through the duration of the book.
This book touched on familial abuse/neglect, having a loved one/parent incarcerated, alcoholism, PTSD, physical injury and panic attacks.
Overall, I felt this was a well done holiday novel well worth your time to read!
5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
One of my favourite authors abd doesn’t disappoint. Full of Christmas cheer abd feel good romance. An ideal Christmas read.
Sky's life is about to go through some major changes. Leaving a job that's become toxic to buying a house she loves and wants to restore. She soon finds herself back in a town she spent her happiest childhood memories in and maybe this could be her new start.
This was an interesting and well written festive story. It deals with quite a few different things like loved ones in prison, alcohol abuse and of course christmas drama. The plot is a steady build to a sweet ending that really ties all the characters together. I liked that it doesnt tie every story fully happily but more realistically. Sky is so likeable but Wilf stole the show for me. I liked how Daz was a good guy and stayed sweet throughout despite what happens. The imagery of the snow and christmas lights was so beautiful and easy to picture. A great festive read.
I’m going to be honest here, when I first picked this up I found it difficult to get into. Probably all my own doing as I had just finished another festive book and didn’t want it to be similar. I remember not enjoying the opening chapter as I couldn’t get my head around what was happening.. BUT once I was in I couldn’t put it down!
Full of everything you could want or need from a
Christmas book,
I personally enjoyed reading the two view points and I loved all the characters throughout. Overall it was fun, festive and full of snow and Christmas spirit.
Highly Recommend! It’s perfect for the festive season :) Only a four star due to the beginning!
Oh my goodness, what a wonderfully warm and festive read this is! A White Christmas on Winter Street by Sue Moorcroft tells the story of Sky Terran as she returns to the village of Middledip after losing the job she loves. Although not the first book set in Middledip, this is the first one I’ve read and it felt very much like a standalone story that was able to stand up on its own two feet – and I loved every single word of it!
Anticipating a quiet Christmas, Sky isn’t prepared for the flurry of activity as the local residents prepare for the annual street decoration competition. Determined to win, they pull Sky into the preparations and she soon falls in love with this quirky, close knit community that she is now a part of. And then there’s the gorgeous Daz, who quickly becomes more than just a friendly neighbour. As Christmas approaches, is it possible that Sky will get the happy ever after she is hoping for?
But as the snow falls, her relationship with Daz takes a downward turn when his ex shows up, determined to win him back. Will Sky be able to turn things around and heal her heart in time for Christmas? And after all their hard work, can the residents of Winter Street secure victory in the street decoration competition at last?
With an eclectic cast of characters and a storyline that will leave you with a big smile on your face, A White Christmas on Winter Street is exactly the kind of book I love. With touch of romance, a warm sense of community and a sprinkle of the magic of Christmas, what more could you possibly need?
I was so enamoured by this gorgeous book I devoured it in one sitting, barely even coming up for air. Sue Moorcroft’s writing is warm and full of humour, her characters well rounded and brought so vividly to life you almost feel as though you know them. The community of Middledip are a breath of fresh air and Sky’s relationship with Daz is a heartwarming and captivating one.
A White Christmas on Winter Street is a light and easy festive read that had me enthralled from beginning to end. Sue Moorcroft has written a heartwarming story of love and community spirit that I would recommend to anyone who is looking for the perfect read to escape with this Christmas. It may be my first visit to the village of Middledip but it most definitely won’t be my last! Loved it.
My thoughts
Narrative and Plot
A White Christmas on Winter Street is an enjoyable holiday read that would lure you into the warmth and spirit of holidays. The story is told from both Daz's and Sky's perspectives.
The book is all about how their choices bring their loved ones closer and both their worlds collide over a snowy holiday.
Characters and Conflicts
The entire ensemble of characters in the book is quite enjoyable and brings a lot to the overall storyline. Quirky Sky, chivalrous Daz, and the adorable Wilf made reading the book a much more joyous process. The main characters Daz and Sky are well traced out and have their own issues to deal with.
However, the book lacked a strong conflict for the main characters. They could have cleared much of the misunderstanding if the characters just sat down and had a quick chat. However, by the time that is cleared, it is too late and too little. The main characters getting interrupted time and again before clearing the air, made the story lag in the second part.
Conclusion
A White Christmas on Winter Street is a cozy holiday read for people who love holiday reads that showcase the community spirit and warmth of a village just like Middle dip. If only the central conflict had a bit more depth, especially when compared to the secondary plotline, this could have been so much more. Anyway, I enjoyed this book, but it was a onetime read for me.
nice festive read.
the eco friendly ness is shoved down your throat a little but a really nice book.
A five-star festive read that took me on an emotional rollercoaster and absorbed me into this fantastic fictional world. Sue Moorcroft offers excellent stories that are relatable, realistic and romantic. The surroundings and scenery sets are perfect for this genre. This is a read that definitely needs to be on your Christmas list!
It is always a treat to return to Middledip to find out what is going on and meeting the people within it. This time, the focus is on Sky Terran. She has returned to Middledip, having fond memories of the time when she was fostered by Nan Heather. Now, all grown up, she had a job that she leaves, to become a landlord/landlady, for reasons you’ll discover in the book.
As Sky moves back into Middledip, discovering Corner House and unearthing it’s treasures in the undergrowth, she also goes exploring and finds friends new and old, that are rather moving, but will Nan Heather still be there?
Amongst the cosy Christmas vibe that makes it easy to cosy up against the wintry weather elements, there’s some serious and passionate conversations amongst the people in Middledip, including wildlife and trees. There are also personal challenges that affect characters directly and indirectly to varying degrees to face and deal with. They are sure to keep readers involved in this community, to see if they’re overcome. There’s a romance brewing, but will it reach sizzling point?
This is a Christmas book that’s a joy to unwrap and emerge in Middledip to discover what everyone is doing in the lead up to this Christmas. There’s much to entertain and intrigue as well as giving that cosy, heartwarming feeling, even on the coldest of days.
Back in Middledip we are with Sky. Life is changing around her and she’s got big plans for the Corner House. She’s quit her job and soon finds herself thrown into community life. Sky is soon reunited with familiar faces and it's a book full of festive vibes and plenty of emotions.
Sue Moorcroft always writes with that perfect balance of just enough romance, a sprinkling of Christmas, and a whole host of reality. She writes about topical issues with ease, and her books span several genres to deliver a story that is just right for the season. There are charming (and irritating!) characters, there’s a beautiful setting, that sense of community, and of course – festive fun.
It’s lovely to be back in Middledip without the pressure of sticking with a series – the beauty of Sue’s books mean that you can dip in and out of them and you’ll see familiar settings and characters but without the need to join up the dots. Snow, fairylights, cookies and charming characters like Wilf and Nan Heather…the pages of this book deliver festive cheer and seasonal treats throughout. This was the perfect book to kick-start my festive reading this December!
I usually love Sue's books, so I was looking forward to this one. It was good, but I didn't love it like I have previous books of Sue's. I don't know what it was, Sky perhaps. I liked her, and had a lot of empathy for her, but I didn't like the way she portrayed Dan as some kind of monster part way through the book and wouldn't let him explain. Sky had major issues (understandably so), which wouldn't have been resolved in the time frame of this book, so I don't think it will all be plain sailing for this couple. I loved being back in Middledip, loved the ecological aspects of the story, and it was eye opening to learn something of fostering. Wilf was lovely and the sense of community was wonderful. There's a lot to like in this book, it's just not my favourite book of Sue's, but no doubt it will be someone else's favourite. :-) With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Another great book to read from this author so heart warming and a lovely story to read so easy to get into the story line and a happy finish brill
A Sue Moorcroft Christmas story set in Middledip? A guaranteed good time.
Sky Terran spent part of her childhood in foster care in the quaint village of Middledip. Now working in real estate with her foster brother, she sees a big house come up for sale in the town where she was the happiest she ever was. After a conflict with her foster brother, she resigns and goes behind his back to buy the house for herself, which brings her onto the path of friendly neighbour Daz. Determined to finally put down roots and become a member of the community, Sky throws herself into village life and a flirtation with Daz. But trusting people doesn't come easy for Sky, and when Daz's ex turn up in the village again, it might prevent Sky from getting the happy ending she deserves.
This was just the book equivalent of a cosy warm blanket on a cold winter's night. Some elements were a bit too much, especially the weirdly competitive neighbours trying to win best decorated street in some Christmas competition, but overall this delivered exactly what I expected from Moorcroft: a feel-good Christmassy story where everyone lives happily ever after.