Inauthentic Dialogue and a Hackneyed Romance Detract from a Promising Premise

'A Christmas Gift' by Sue Moorcroft

Sue Moorcroft’s Middledip series of romantic fiction returns with A Christmas Gift, a dual story following drama instructor at Acting Instrumental, Performing Arts College, Georgine France, and new faculty volunteer with secrets, Joe Blackthorn.

Georgine’s life has been turned upside down recently with her ex-boyfriend, Aidan, leaving her at the mercy of debt collectors. In the mean time, Georgine’s father’s health continually deteriorates and worse still, her younger sister, Blair, turns up at her door asking to stay with her since her boyfriend kicked her out of their house due to her spendthrift habits. Georgine finally agrees to shelter her sister when they decide to split the bills.

At work, Georgine is introduced to Joe, an unassuming and aloof new faculty member. She’s given the task of touring him around the place, but is baffled by his remote behaviour towards her. Turns out, Joe and Georgine have a history, but he has been away from the village long enough for her to have forgotten him.

Reeling from the coincidence of meeting a woman who had a deep impact on his life, Joe tries to acclimatize to his new, albeit temporary, life at Acting Instrumental. But, as much as he wants to immerse himself in the school’s Christmas production, his other lives keep calling to him. Joe has secrets, several of them, and he is hesitant to reveal them all to the people closest to him.

Good Storytelling, Poor Characterization

I requested a copy of this book from Netgalley, but this is distinctly not my genre. I had heard about Moorcroft’s previous book, A Christmas Promise which dealt with heavy topics like revenge porn. I was expecting the same level of detail in this book’s central premise, but that was not the case.

A Christmas Gift skims over poverty, child abuse, insolvency, bad boyfriends and career sabotage in an attempt to package the story into a neat little happy, romance. The characters’ struggles are dire and they could have been compelling had they been allowed to flourish under Moorcroft’s penmanship. There is a really good story buried within A Christmas Gift, but it is not allowed to rise to the surface.

Moorcroft works in many aspects of the entertainment industry, including amateur theatre, aspiring musicians and pop fandom. It is evident she has done her research, and the acknowledgements section shows she had genuine sources to help her along, but again, it feels like the book only studies the tip of the iceberg. There isn’t as much substance as there is drama.

The worst offender in this book is the patchy dialogue. Moorcroft segues between realistic conversations to appalling sentences that do not belong in a book.

Romance in fiction needs to flow organically.

Far too many contrivances make the plot ludicrous, and some of the characters come across as two-dimensional caricatures. Georgine is a hot mess, with a princess-to-pauper story that alters the dynamic between her and Joe.

Joe is a really problematic character. Painted as a handsome, good guy, he actually reads as manipulative man with trust issues. He has far too many secrets about his past and present that he hides from some of the people around him. It wouldn’t be a problem if it weren’t for him hiding the truth from Georgine.

His entire relationship with Georgine is messed up. Joe only has eyes for her and throughout the almost 400-page book, he never ever mentions being, thinking or even looking at another woman. His "love" for Georgine reads completely like an unhealthy obsession. What’s worse is, no one calls him out for having this obsession with her—not even the author of the book. It is truly disturbing that romantic fiction in 2018 still incorporates age-old and problematic tropes like this.

There is nothing compelling the reader to root for Georgine and Joe’s relationship but that becomes the crux of the book. It simply doesn’t work.

No Substance, Only Sentimentality

Perhaps A Christmas Gift fits perfectly into the romantic book genre, but even the fluffiest novel needs to elevates its content to some level of realism. But, whatever practicality I was hoping to find dissipated the moment the book entered the British music industry territory. It just read so… amateurish.

The happily-ever-after denouement was sickeningly sentimental and made the book feel like a Mills & Boon installment—and I have never even read a Mills & Boon! I honestly expected more substance and a deeper exploration of the trials characters in these myriad circumstances face. Honestly, this book read like it was written to reach a deadline. Moorcroft is, undoubtedly, much better than this.

I seriously cannot believe it is just TEN WEEKS until the big day. It's a good thing that I celebrate the entire holiday season or I would be in a panic. Wait! I already am in a panic! No, no, not really. The fact that I'm decorating trees in secret, in my closet, so they will be ready to go the day after Halloween means nothing. Nah....  One thing that does not wait, however, is my passion for holiday reading and Sue Moorcroft has given us another outstanding Christmas book this year: A Christmas Gift! 
Georgine loves Christmas. As the artistic director for a private arts school, she is in charge of the annual Christmas pageant. Regardless of anything else going on in her life, each Christmas she completely immerses herself in the organization of the holiday production. Over the past year, she has encountered financial problems as her former boyfriend left her with a mountain of debt - and the collectors that go with it. Also compounding the problem is her sister who has barged back into her life, bringing her financial woes as well. Having been raised quite wealthy in a family that eventually lost everything, Georgine is terrified of being financially destitute. Georgine also cares for her elderly father who has had a stroke. Thrown into this mixed bag of emotions is "Joe," whom her boss has given to her as an assistant for the play. Joe feels familiar to Georgine but she is unable to place where she has known him from in her past. Who "Joe" is will turn Georgine's world upside down along with much hilarity, angst, sadness and joy. 

A Christmas Gift is exactly the type of holiday book that I love. Of course there is a bit of romance, lots of crossed signals, and ultimately a happy ending. However, Moorcroft's style of writing also lends itself to explore deeper undercurrents that we all face. With Georgine and Joe, we see how extreme poverty can manifest itself throughout a lifetime, how fleeting wealth can be and how tenuous relationships are, whether they with the opposite sex, parent-child, or sibling relationships - they all take a lot of work to maintain. Moorcroft deftly handles each of these topics and allows the reader to look beyond the surface of the "happy holiday" stereotype. 

I loved A Christmas Gift and, if you like holiday stories, I think you will enjoy it as well.

Thanks to #Netgalley, @AvonBooksUK and @SueMoorcroft for my copy of this delightful tale. 

Note: Published at Goodreads, Twitter, tumblr, FB, Amazon, LinkdIn

Heart warming & perfect read for Christmas I loved it. First book I’ve read by this author but certainly won’t be the last. Thanks for the preview!

This book was a great festive read with a bit of everything for everyone; Debt collectors, a failed romance, an old friend in disguise and a Christmas show.
There was nothing I disliked about this book, the characters were well written and the story flowed beautifully.
Great book that I’d happily recommend for the festive season

Lovely story that is very enjoyable to read at this time of the year.it flowed well and kept your interest all th time. Definitely recommended.

This is a superb seasonal read with great characters, plenty of background as well as turmoil in a fantastic second chance romance - no wonder it is tagged as “The #1 Christmas bestseller returns with the most feel good romance of 2018”!

Starting with debt collectors knocking, the story has so many dramatic moments and even has a Christmas production to be performed! Much of it is based at Acting Instruments, the performing Arts college in Middledip and revolves around one the the staff there, Georgine France and someone who unexpectedly joins the staff.

It is so emotive as they discover more from the past and move on to future possibilities. What happened to them both in the past and how their lives have changed is such a contrast! One goes from rags to riches whilst the other does the complete opposite. That, together with the impact of someone being manipulative and trying to ruin other relationships, are all dealt with in a manner that had me turning the pages, reluctant to put the story down - I felt invested in the characters and events and really wanted to know what happened.

It is another delightful book by this highly talented author, a story with well developed characters who have plenty of things in their past and present to make the future difficult to foretell.  Adding to the intrigue, secrets are being kept waiting to be revealed, other discoveries are made and even the paparazzi get involved! Get ready for the pandemonium of a Christmas production, students, course work and the pressure of other people’s expectations and assumptions before you reach the heartwarming end to the fantastic festive read.

I requested and was given a copy of this book, via NetGalley. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.

Georgine loves Christmas. The festive season always brings the little village of Middledip to life. But since her ex-boyfriend walked out, leaving her with crippling debts, Georgine’s struggled to make ends meet.

To keep her mind off her worries, she throws herself into organising the Christmas show at the local school. And when handsome Joe Blackthorn becomes her assistant, Georgine’s grateful for the help. But there’s something about Joe she can’t quite put her finger on. Could there be more to him than meets the eye?

Georgine’s past is going to catch up with her in ways she never expected. But can the help of friends new and old make this a Christmas to remember after all?

What a lovely book this is. Even though you know everything will work out fine, there are still a few surprises along the way. 5*

Heartwarming and cosy the perfect Christmas read.
Sue's writing is beautiful and she makes the reader feel a real connection with the characters.
This book doesn't disappoint.

Two people with very different backgrounds. Georgine who has known wealth ,and Joe who has come from a very poor home. Georgine is involved in bringing a student Christmas play to fruition, working for Acting Instrumental ( a clumsy name I felt). Joe appears on the scene as an apparent 'helper' but there is more to him than meets the eye.
I found some of the story very well written, the care shown to her father, the action between Georgine and Aiden, the debt collectors, the fear. However, I found the whole name thing about Joe/Rich/JohnJoe etc quite confusing and a bit unnecessary. I was not keen on the Band and felt they played too big a part in the whole story.
It's a nice book giving a lot to think about particularly about relationships.
Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.

I loved this Sue Moorcroft novel. It was festive, heartwarming, and so engaging. I didn't want it to end! I really felt for Georgine, and it was nice to be in Middledip, the community feel of the village was lovely!

Great setting, strong characters, not overtly Christmassy.
Georgine French is fed up of having to fend off debt collectors looking for her ex partner, luckily she has a job she loves at Acting Instrumental where she can go and forget about them.
Georgine is busy organising the Christmas Show when she is given an assistant to help her. There is something about Joe Blackthorn that Georgine can’t quite put her finger on but when it turns out he's someone she grew up with she realises he’s changed more than his name.
Can Georgine juggle her feelings for Joe, her sister Blair who arrives unexpectedly and her dad Randall who is in a sheltered complex after having series of strokes and still put on an amazing Christmas Show?
The story had some funny light hearted moments as well as some that almost made you cry.
I always enjoy Sue Moorcroft's books and I love the brief appearances of some characters from previous books but this one really stood out for me..

Really great read. It takes you on a really great journey of different emotions. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I love Sue Moorcroft books and this one was no exception. It's a wonderful Christmas fairy tale, hearwarming and cozy.
I loved the characters and the plot was fascinating. This book is a real page turner and I was hooked since the first pages.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Avon and Netgalley for this ARC

Sue Moorcroft strikes again with A Christmas Gift. I have loved every one of her previous books and this one is no exception. She has the ability to wrap the reader in the world of her characters and make you care about them. I found myself wanting to sneak away to read in the middle of the day, willing the hero, Joe and heroine, Georgine, facing modern day problems, to sort themselves out. Looking forward to the next book already.

A cosy Christmas read. Although the ending is somewhat predictable this doesn't detract from the romantic
light read. It is a rags to riches, riches to rags element with a touch a fairy tale Cinderella. The characters are down to earth and believable and there is everything one would expect from a feel good Christmassy read. There is even snow! I have read books by Sue Moorcroft before and this doesn't disappoint.

Georgine is organising the Christmas show at Acting Instrumental and she’s enjoying what she does. Georgine’s life is all wonderful as her ex-boyfriend left her with debts he doesn’t care about, but for Georgine it means little no money before the next pay day. At works Georgine gets a new assistant, who seems very shy at first and she feels that there is something she can’t put her finger on. What kind of turns is the story going to take after the new assistant Joe comes into Georgine’s life?

It’s a wonderful story about family, friendship, love and not letting your past define who you are today. It was a well written Christmassy story that has light-hearted and thought provoking moments in it. I enjoyed it immensely.

I loved everything about this book, from the moment I dived into the story I was hooked. Georgine and Joe were instantly likeable characters and I was taken by the storyline and caught up in the run to get A Very Kerry Christmas, Uncle Jones to opening night.

It's a well written story that grabs your attention and doesn't let go. Joe's story pulls at the heart strings with his Cinderella past that isn't afraid to touch on tough issues such as child neglect, hunger and abuse. Georgine's story also has difficult elements to consider in a riches to rags development that takes in debt and debt collectors which is tough to witness at times. But through these gritty topics a chemistry between these two can be found which has the reader hooked, cheerleading them on to victory in the romantic front for a Christmas happy ever after.

This is the perfect book for this time of year, it's a feel good story filled with romance, a christmas performance and a rock star what more could you want! I highly recommend taking a trip to Middledip this Christmas you won't regret it.

Sue Moorcroft is an excellent story teller with likeable characters. Until her teenage years Georgine's father had a successful construction business and her family had all the things money could buy.. When her father's company folded she lost everything including her mother who decided being poor was not for her. Move to the present day and her relationship with Aiden has broken down and he has left her with his debts and because he hasn't told her where he is living she is being harassed by debt collectors looking for him

Georgine' is an Event Director at the local Performing Arts College where she is in the. middle of putting on the Christmas performance with the students. It's a job she loves and her attention to detail is sure to make the performance a success. A friend of the principal, Joe, has joined the staff as Georgine's assistant. He knows about music and she is grateful for his help but there is something about Joe that she can't quite put her finger on.

Both Georgine and Joe have a past Sue's sensitivity in outlining Joe's childhood is brilliant and the characters involved in this period of his life are so realistic. Will Georgine and Joe be able to see past the problems that unfold ? Add to the mix Blair, Georgine's sister, who isn't good with money and whose relationship has just broken down. Randall, her father, whose health is poor and her grandma who is always there to listen and help.

Will Joe's childhood and professional life spoil his chances of a happy future.

I loved this book and you will too.

I love Sue Moorcroft books, they’re always cosy and fun with a hint of magic. This was no exception. A real Christmas treat!

Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Avon for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love reading Sue's books, they are romances, but, with a real story behind them, down to earth people who eventually find happiness. Just what you want in a cosy Christmas book
Thanks to Netgalley, Sue Moorcroft and Avon Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.