Yaay!!! I am starting on my Christmas books today with Sue Moorcroft's 'A Christmas Gift' which in itself was a heartwarming Christmas gift. The story is set in an Art school facing one of the busiest time of the year when they are planning for a Christmas play. Georgine is the event director of the school and we shadow her the few weeks leading to Christmas sharing her worries, dreams and of course her busy schedule.
Her fortune's wheel which had dipped low at the beginning of the novel begins to rise with the arrival of her new assistant Joe Blackthorn. Joe's secret identity is revealed at the beginning itself but it is only towards the end we come to know of Georgine's dark secret. Oh, don't fret too much about it, it is not murder or rape. And is there anything that can't be changed with a bit of love and an act of forgiveness? Isn't that what Christmas is all about?
I was not familiar with Moorcroft before, but the cover was hard to resist. Well, safe to say that some temptations are worth to follow. Moorcroft is a gifted writer as is evidenced by her beautiful narration and well-balanced plot. Using a dual voice narration which is not redundant with similar thoughts, the book absorbs you into the spirit of Christmas with beautifully aligned characters and an enchanting rags to riches story.

Delighted to have an early copy from netgalley in exchange for a honest review
Love the cover didn't find it overly Christmasy but a good read none the less.
I found Georgina a wee bit overbearing but that said still enjoyable amazing how life changes and life style has to as well these are just a fraction of what's in store I would recommend this book

I honestly can't tell you how excited I am about Christmas at this point. And let me be very clear: Sue Moorcroft's A Christmas Gift? A huge reason for that!

The story
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?

The opinion
Last year, I got the chance to read The Little Christmas Village, which was also writen by Sue Moorcroft. At that point, I wrote something to the extent of me really loving it when chicklit actually has a story to tell. Basically, The Little Christmas Village had character development, so many people to fall in love with, and of course: Christmas! 

Well, guess what? Sue Moorcroft's done it again with A Christmas Gift.

First of all, there's Georgine who is, just weeks before Christmas (and, let's be real, in the months before that as well), faced with money-problems and all the bad memories that go hand in hand with that. She starts out as someone who lets herself be manipulated quite easily, maybe even walked over (a realisation she reaches about halfway through the book!). In just a couple of weeks, though, she is faced with elements of various stages from her past - ranging from the "okay" to the "terrible" that face her to do a lot of growing.

Two of the main reasons for that growth? Joe, who, as it turns out, is an old friend and has a bit of a hidden past ànd present himself. And Blair, Georgine's sister who is trying so hard that even when things went terribly wrong? I couldn't help but root for them.

That is probably one of the main reasons I loved this book either way: whenever things go wrong (and, trust me, that happens quite regularly)? You can still see how those situations originated, you understand the why and the how. Sue Moorcroft has that most precious of gifts for an author of knowing just when to give up what piece of information to make for the most natural of progress - in relationships as well as in plot!

The rating: 4/5
I've noticed recently that I'm finding it increasingly difficult to find books, especially cosy and fluffy books, that really hit the spot for me. I mean, if your characters fall in love, fine, but at least show your reader why, you know? Reading A Christmas Gift came as something of a relief, in that aspect. Sue Moorcroft manages to get the set up of every piece of her story just right so that when fear, betrayal and joy hit? They hit not only the characters, but you as well. So if you're in need of the kind of book that'll have you smiling along, rooting for that happy ending and definitely some Christmas spirit? This is the book for you! (Goodreads)

-Saar

Christmas romance wrapped up in old friendships, family dramas and eventually Christmas cheer.
Meet Georgine, a girl in despair and trying to pay of crippling debts which her ex left her with. She loves her job at Acting Instrumental. She has a kind heart and unfortunately some people take advantage of it. She meets Joe, who has a past with Georgine, but she doesn’t recognise him and is shocked when she hears his story. He still has another secret to share which he is finding hard to sort out and then someone shares his secret and all hell is let loose. A great story for Christmas time.

A Christmas Gift is a lovely easy-to-read escape away from wrapping, shopping and general Christmas craziness. Cuddle up on the sofa with a hot chocolate and a blanket and get lost in the world of Georgine and Joe and their tangled past. Christmas, a secret celebrity, a bit of am-dram, and real-life family dram - what more could you want?

It is always such a delight to travel back to Middledip in one of Sue Moorcroft's books. Often we come across characters from other books we've loved, whilst meeting new residents of the town. Another certainty with these books is that the reader will always discover something new. In A Christmas Gift we learn about the running of a music/dramatic arts school and about being in a rock band. This is Georgine and Joe's story. From polar opposite upbringings, their present day circumstances bring similarities and burdens to bear. An absolute pleasure, you'll love it.

Sue Moorscroft is one of my favourite writers so it was a sure fire bet that when I heard she had a Christmas book out I’d snaffle up a copy. Obviously it goes without saying that this is a competent writer with well-crafted plots and sublime characterisations but it’s her extensive research and divergence from theme that shines through in this book. Two characters. Georgine, now down on her luck and Joe, from the wrong side of the track both thrown together to help plan a Christmas show. She doesn’t recognise him at first and herein lies the problem. Both have secrets from their past that they have to overcome before the inevitable HEA. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Georgine France works at the local performing arts school in Middledip as the Events Director and the school are getting ready to put on their annual christmas show. Georgine is trying to keep her life on an even keel; her ex-boyfriend has left her with massive debts and she is struggling to survive.

Joe Blackthorn has returned to Middledip to work at the performing arts school and he becomes Georgine’s assistant. Both Georgine and Joe grew up in Middledip. They were teenage friends, and although Joe recognises Georgine, she has no idea who he is. As the days build up to the christmas show and Georgine discovers who Joe is, will secrets he is keeping blow their friendship apart?

An enjoyable book with a good cast of characters, particularly Joe. When you add christmas into the mix you have an entertaining story.

I liked this but I didn't love it.

Georgine (I can't tell you how much that name irritated me) France was the pretty, rich girl at school. But around her nineteenth birthday things changed and she went from pampered princess to pauper. Now she is the Events Director for a local performing arts college called Acting Instrumental. Georgine's fall from grace has been hard: her father lost his construction business; her mother left; she had to drop out of university to get a job; and recently her boyfriend left her with a mountain of debts and dodging debt collectors at the door of her modest home in Middeldip Village.

Joe Blackthorn reinvented himself when he left Middledip, the child of an alcoholic he was a kid from a sink estate, often hungry, dirty and poorly dressed. Now the drummer and singer with a successful british band he has had a falling out with his band member and retreated to his home town of Middledip to lick his wounds. His oldest friend and mentor runs Acting Instrumental and he is working incognito as assistant to the Events Director, little does he know that it is his BFF from school, Georgine.

It's Christmas, there's a school musical, an incognito rock star, a dedicated teacher, irresponsible siblings, band drama, parental illness and tabloid journalism.

i adore Sue Moorcroft's Middledip books but this book slightly missed the mark for me, it felt too safe, too obvious, too predictable. Maybe it's the curse of the Christmas novel. Maybe it's because Georgine just seemed too good to be true.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Holiday stories always pull me in quickly. This book is set around Christmas, and presents the reader with a scene that brings them from a childhood into adulthood and the struggles in between. Throw in a little romance into a life story, and this was a very enjoyable read!

I loved the cover of this book and that's what attracted me along with loving the author. It's such a heartwarming read and about learning who your friends are and your past catching up with you but can you be happy and move forward or not also has romance and full of Christmas.
Georgine loves Christmas and how everything come alive but when her ex leaves her with debts how will she cope and also what happens when her sister turns up on her doorstep as her relationship is over and she has debts to will they cope. Georgine throws herself into organising the Christmas play at the local school and when a handsome man called Joe comes to be her assistant how will she react. Will she recognise him from her past or not. Her past is starting to catch up with her in ways she didn't expect and will she cope and will her friends help her. Her friends want to make this a Christmas to remember and does the Christmas play go to plan or not and what happens between Joe and her. Can they all be happy or is the past just to much to forget.
A perfect Christmas read to curl up to.

My review has been posted to my blog & Goodreads.

Review has also been tweeted as usual.

Thank you! :c)

I really enjoyed this book. It is set around Christmas and shows how life can change dramatically from childhood to becoming an adult. I connected and was interested in the main characters story and seeing how hey progressed through the book. I would certainly recommend.

I wish I had the skill to express how much I enjoyed reading this book. I also am so happy to have re-discovered this author, Sue Moorcroft. I read some of her books in the past, but for some reason with all the books I read, I had lost her. It was with such joy that I saw A Christmas Gift available on NetGalley.com. I then was so happy to receive the Advanced Reader’s Copy. Lastly, I am pleased to write a review, in hopes that other readers will discover Sue Moorcroft and her books.
Although this is a work of fiction, it seemed to me that it was real. The characters are deeply developed and flawed, as humans are. The reader is told quite a bit about the main character’s lives as children. I believe that our childhood has an important part in the molding of the adults we become. The goodness deep inside Joe (also known as Rich/JJ) and Georgine as children is still there as adults. Joe has built a shield around his heart to his past, in self-defense and Georgine wears her heart on her sleeve to try to make up for one action as a 19 year old that changes the course of her family’s life.
Georgine as an adult still feels guilty. That guilt results in her bending over backwards to help everyone, as a penance for her sin. Her younger sister, Blair and Georgine’s ex-boyfriend, Aidan, definitely take advantage of her kind heart. Whereas Blair truly loves Georgine, Aidan clearly does not and seems to have just used Georgine in the past and tries to in the future.
Georgine’s dad, Randall, is a lovely character. He shows so much warmth to his children and is a large part of their lives even though he is limited after suffering several strokes. I thought it was wonderful to include in the story “a less than physically perfect” character. In my opinion, it makes the story more realistic. I have a special fondness for the elderly, so the inclusion of Randal’s mother in the story was a nice touch, in my opinion.
Georgine works as Events Director at Acting Instrumental Preforming Arts College. It is a dream job for her and during the course of the book, she is putting together a Christmas play. It was amazing to read all the work that goes on behind the scenes to put on a musical theater production. She is as giving and caring in her job as in her personal life. All the students and staff respect and love her.
It comes as a surprise that the director of Acting Instrumental gives her an assistant, who she later discovers is a friend from her childhood, Rich (aka Joe/JJ). That is where the story really becomes interesting and a page turner!
Joe (aka Rich/JJ) has become a wonderful person although his childhood was awful. He rose above it and achieved star status, but now he is at a crossroads and is not sure where to go.
JJ (aka Rich/Joe) belongs to a very popular band and is wondering if that is what he should be doing. Included in the story is the inner workings of a band and the interaction of the members, which I found interesting and realistic (although I personally would not know).
After not seeing each other for many years, Georgine and Joe renew their friendship, amid a few hurdles and maybe will find love and happiness. You need to read to find out!
I want to give a big thank you to Avon and NetGalley.com for giving me the wonderful opportunity of reading this book. I enjoyed it so much and look forward to reading Sue Moorcroft’s previous books and her future work.

This book took me into a world I knew very little about. From students just entering the world of music and theatre to the goings-on in and around a successful rock band, readers get to experience the hope and happiness of putting on a show as well as the nastier and backstabbing side of success. Joe and Georgine were best friends at school but haven't met in twenty years. Thrown back together, they each have secrets they would rather not reveal, but there is an undeniable spark of romance that pulls them back together. An enjoyable read.