Lovely Christmas feel factor book. Sue Moorcroft never fails to make me.smile with her writing and I always my first choice when I need that injection of happiness into my reading.

With thanks to Netgalley and Avon for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

Georgine was the Arts Director of a performing acts school called Acting Instrumental. Her boyfriend Aidan had been made redundant and got himself into debt. Aidan had ended the relationship leaving debt collectors knocking on her door.

At work she was looking forward to organising the christmas show A Very Kerry Christmas, Uncle Jones. However she was pleased that she would be helped by a volunteer called Joe Blackthorne.

Joe was an ex roadie for bands and instantly fitted into college life. Georgine and Joe quickly formed a rapport and She felt like she had known him for ever. A week later she was surprised when she realised Joe had been a friend of hers at school.

Joe had previously been known as Rich Duggan (because he was not rich). Joe had been brought up by her alcoholic mother and stepfather. Joe/Rich was found by his dead father's brother and taken to live with them. Joe had thrived under their care and went to college to study music. Georgine meanwhile had come from a prosperous family until her father's company went bankrupt.

Georgine explained hoe she was struggling to repay Aiden`s debts. Joe was surprised in the change of Georgine`s life and tried to help her.

As romance blossomed between Joe and Georgine she discovered another side to his personality she was not aware of. Hurt and humiliated that Joe did not trust her, Georgine decided not to carry on the relationship. Joe left Acting Instrumental to return to his old life, leaving Georgine heartbroken and a show to direct.

A Christmas Gift was perfect book to end my 2018 challenge. Although this was a Christmas romance it also dealt with issues such as debt, poverty and alcoholism.

I liked the two main characters Joe and Georgine and their background stories were interesting. I especially liked Georgine who felt guilty for indirectly causing her families bankruptcy. I enjoy going to the theatre so I enjoyed reading about the hard work in setting up a production.

I recommend this book and will read more from Sue Moorcroft in the future.

Georgine France, a young woman who appears to have it all together. She loves her role at Acting Instrumental, relishes bringing the Christmas Show together with her student but is battling behind it all. She's trying to dodge her ex-boyfriends debt collectors who are hammering on her door; take care of her father who has had strokes and deal with guilt from when she was a teenager.
When her boss Oggie asks her to have a new employee Joe, shadow her she's not too keen. Joe doesn't say much, seems a little uptight. Then his story unfolds.
A Christmas Gift touched on so many social issues; financial worries, anti-social behavior, deception, the divide between rich & poor, falling on hard times, ill health. The list goes on, however, there are many feel-good moments in this book too. I really enjoyed this book.

This was a charming and fun Christmas story, with some action, angst, romance, twists and more. Georgine France is publishing the Christmas show at Acting Instruments, a performing arts school in Middledip. She is dealing with debt collectors knocking on her door (her ex is in financial trouble), trying to get caught up on bills he was supposed to pay, assisting her father who is disabled due to a series of strokes and now her sister (also in financial trouble) has moved in after being kicked out by her boyfriend. With all this going on, a new assistant is assigned to her and she is physically attracted to Joe Blackthorne.

As she and Joe begin to become comfortable with one another, Georgine realizes that they knew each other in the past, but he was using a different name. What happened to them both in the past and how their lives have changed is such a contrast. There is so much going on in the story as they discover more and more about one another that I couldn't stop listening to this one. I felt invested in the characters and events and really wanted to know what happened. This is the first book I have read by this author, but I will look for more. This book had well developed characters, enough intrigue and secrets to keep me on the edge of my seat and family drama that showed how important it is to be there for one another. With the play coming together as her social life comes apart, her family and friends help her to realize that everyone has a reason for their secrets. A happy ever after story that I really enjoyed. The publisher, Avon, generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

A fabulous feel-good book, ideal An Christmas read. A good story with believable characters. Recommended, also makes the perfect gift.

I was hoping to enjoy and get into the story but ended giving up. I felt sorry for Georgine, then I felt, gee relax a bit. Some people can’t give up control. I finally took control and stopped reading. Not the Christmas gift I was expecting.

The story goes thus, Georgine loves Christmas and is heavily involved in the Christmas Pageant. Enter Joe, her assistant, but who is familiar to her. Her childhood friend. And their romance has its own trials.

Sue Moorcraft writes a well researched book, and this too had social themes along with the festivities of Christmas. The book is a perfect combination of light and dark moments, just like real life.

Characters are well developed, I like the depth given to them, with slow development of their love. The book is slightly a slow read compared to what I am used to, that would be my only niggle.

Overall a good read of romance with a dash of reality.

When you look at that thoroughly gorgeous cover, I’m sure you might be expecting a bit of Christmas fluffiness – a love story, a bit of the warmth of family, a few challenges along the way, but all heading towards a happy ever after ending. My goodness, you haven’t read Sue Moorcroft’s books before, have you? As Debbie Johnson says on the cover, her books “have it all” – and that’s why I enjoy them so very much.

This is a quite wonderful, multi-layered story. Of course, I particularly loved the fact that it’s set in Middledip, with cameo appearances by much-loved characters from the author’s earlier books, together with all those familiar points of reference like Ratty’s garage, the Three Fishes and the now thriving Angel Community Cafe – but even if you’ve never visited before, you’ll enjoy the way the author builds a sense of place and community. There’s a strong and believable love story at the book’s centre, its progress largely driven by the putting together of a musical Christmas show – Georgine is events director at Acting Instrumental, the local performing arts college, and Joe is her assistant, looking after the props and lighting – and I particularly enjoyed the well-researched insights into the work involved.

But these central characters have a shared history, and this gives the story considerably darker edges than you might be expecting. Within that history, slowly revealed, there’s a strong rags to riches story – and its flip side – but as it’s explored you’ll come across neglected children, bankruptcy, alcoholism, ill health and poverty, all particularly well handled and adding real depth to the story.

Goodness, I’ve now made it all seem rather dark and depressing, haven’t I – and that’s so wrong of me, because there’s a perfect balance of light and dark, moments of joy, lots of laughter, and a warmth and uplifting quality to the whole story that I thoroughly enjoyed. And there’s plenty of tinsel and turkey, Christmas trees and sparkling lights – a perfect seasonal setting, but with a less conventional story at its heart. The author always creates wonderful characters, with considerably more complexity than you might expect, and I found myself totally invested in both Georgine and Joe, as their relationship develops and their past and present day secrets are uncovered. Joe’s story is particularly unexpected, but exceptionally well handled – and as always, there’s a particular strength to the secondary characters in both their lives.

This is a wonderful Christmas read, and might just be my new favourite of Sue Moorcroft’s many books. Do give it a try – I promise you won’t be disappointed!

The run-up to Christmas is the starting point for this book and things are not good for Georgine, in debt, she faces a bleak time, and compensates by giving her all to her vocational job at a performing arts school.

Joe is someone from her past who she doesn't immediately recognise and this gives the story its romance and mystery and source of conflict. Although this story ends happily it is realistic and focuses on life's rollercoaster ride, family, friends and relationships.

Believable characters, contemporary social situations and a sprinkle of Christmas magic, make this a great festive read.

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

Romantic novels aren’t my usual choice but every now and then I like to read something a little more light-hearted than the darker books I tend to veer towards. This is the first book I can recall reading by Sue Moorcroft and it was a great example of how a book can include romance and seasonal fun without being overly schmaltzy. Romance and a bit of sweetness I can do – corny and excessively saccharine I cannot!

A Christmas Gift is the story of Georgine, the Events Director at a college specialising in the performing arts. She is single, dealing with debts left by her ex and feels responsible for her sickly father and younger sister. She loves her job and we find her in the throes of organising the college’s big production. A new member of staff, Joe, joins the staff as her assistant and it is not long until they start to get along like a house on fire. Eventually Joe confesses that he knows her from when they were teenagers. Having changed his name and his life dramatically Georgine hadn’t recognised him and is confused as to why he didn’t admit this before. As times goes by and the production progresses they become closer, but what other secrets is Joe hiding?

This is a gentle and easy read, non-taxing, nicely written and enjoyable. Yes parts are predictable as
(I find) they often are in romances but I still enjoyed reading it and it really did help inject me with a nice little dose of Christmas spirit. Certainly a book I would recommend if you fancy something fun to read over the Christmas period (or any time for that matter)!

My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of #AChristmasGift in exchange for an honest review.

I love Sue Moorcroft's books and was excited to start this one. Once again, we return to the lovely village of Middledip with this festive treat.

A Christmas Gift is a wonderful book which can be read as a standalone novel but I highly recommend all of Sue Moorcroft's previous titles too.

This book has a well-crafted plot with believable and interesting characters, I love how Sue's books are always multi-layered. This is a story with some great shocks, twists and turns. It deals with the serious issues of debt, alcoholism and illness but it is heartwarming and uplifting too.

A superb seasonal read, charming and engaging, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

My first introduction into the village of Middledip, and won't be my last. Whilst there are more books set in Middledip I don't think it matters that I hadn't read time. Also whilst Christmas based, it's a great book to read all year round. I never give a book five stars for the sake of it, a few of my criteria to achieve this are; a book has to be original in it's story, have great characters that I love or hate, and not be a plodder, I have to want to know what happens next. The secondary characters have to be interesting and relevant. This book achieves all of this and more. We could all do with a Joe in our lives. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I now have a few more on my kindle ready to read next.

A Christmas Gift is a sweet romance novel set around Christmas, although it’s not overly Christmassy so it didn’t seem out of place reading it, as I did, in October.

Georgine France has had a tough time of it and when the novel starts she is dodging debt collectors, although the debts aren’t even hers. She works at Acting Instrumental, a local further education performing arts college and loves her job, part of which is to organise the Christmas show.

Joe Blackthorn turns up one day as a new volunteer. Georgine likes him but there’s something that doesn’t quite seem right. When she finds out what it is she’s pretty surprised! As was I, to be honest, although I was more surprised that Georgine didn’t spot it a mile off.

Anyway, they do hit it off and I’m not surprised Georgine liked Joe as I thought he was a thoroughly lovely character. There’s a whole lot more to him than meets the eye and I loved that about him. Georgine is fantastic too, such a lovely person with the weight of the world on her shoulders.

I have to say that I wasn’t wholly into the performing arts college bits to the story and the Christmas show. I was far more into Joe’s story and his background (which has more layers than an onion) and Georgine’s own issues, which kind of made for a story on their own, although the arts college is key to it all and what brought them together in the first place. One of the things that stood out for me was the way the author portrayed the about turn in both of their circumstances over the years – not just rags to riches but also riches to rags.

I did enjoy this cuddle of a read. If you want an easy story with a festive feel, but still with plenty of depth to the story then this is going to be right up your street. The characters are well-drawn, the story is charming and the writing is engaging.

A gorgeous, feel-good, relaxing holiday themed read. Just what I needed to launch myself into the festive season.

A heart-warming story, that captures the magic and sparkle, wonderfulness of Christmas! It's relatable as it tackles issues many are facing in this day and age, no matter what your social background is.

A feel good story for the Christmas season with a multi millionaire masquerading as an assistant to the heroine of the story. she is taken advantage of by er boyfriend, who sends debt collectors after her, her sister, who does much the same, and her father, who is an invalid. Altogether there are all the constituefor a pantomime style romance! It doesn't disappoint. The story to curl up with on a cold winter's evening on front of a roaring fire!

This storyline is much more involved than the book’s description seems to indicate. Georgine is a strong, determined woman who loves her students and works to help her family. She has given up on her own personal happiness and is making her job at the school her life’s mission. When she meets an old friend from her past, she begins to hope that love could come her way. I was interested in Georgine’s story. There were parts of this story that lost me somewhere along the way, but the ending of the story was good. There’s some bad language in this story, too, that was disappointing.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I thought that this was an utterly unputdownable story, I flew through the pages and read the book in just over a day. It was compulsive reading and I thought the story was superb.

The characters were well developed and believable and I warmed to them from the start. Everything about this book worked for me, from the front cover to the excellent ending. This is the first book I have read by this author and it certainly won't be my last. I loved it.

Five stars from me - very highly recommended - the perfect festive treat!!

Lovely festive Christmas read. Perfect for over the long winter nights. Magical storyline. Great characters that pull it all together

It has been too long since I have read a novel by Sue Moorcroft but how could I resist such a magical cover when I am such a little Christmas fairy!

A Christmas Gift introduces us to our two main characters Georgine and Joe who both knew each other way back in their school days and quite unexpectedly find themselves reunited years on when Joe begins work as her assistant, only Joe recognises Georgine instantly however Georgine doesn’t recognise Joe. Both of their lives have changed dramatically but will the bond they used to share be able to be reformed?

The chemistry between Germaine and Joe could be felt through the pages and after reading about the early years between them and seeing what challenges they had faced in their intervening years I was really hoping that a beautiful romance would develop between them as they seemed made for each other.

This is a modern feel good storyline but it also touches on some deeper topics from grief to neglect and debt which all add awareness and a little grit to this sweet storyline. It shows us that through life our paths change sometime for the best and but unfortunately at times for the worse.

I was hoping for a little more festivity especially with the storyline set around a Christmas show but there was only a small sprinkling of festivity, but the positive thing is that this book can easily be read a t any time of year. I really enjoyed the storyline and I would love to see a follow up to this book as I feel as though I have only just got to know Georgine and Joe but I don’t feel as though their story has finished yet so I will keep my fingers crossed that we will be reunited with them both in the future.