A welcome return to the charming village of Middledip, with added Scandinavian touches. As ever, Moorcroft knows how to create engaging characters and manipulate them into pleasingly ticklish dilemmas. An ideal Christmas comfort read.

I am late to reviewing this book, which came out about three years ago, but I'm glad to have been introduced to the cozy world of Sue Moorcroft. As a non-romance book lover, here's what won me over:

I loved the emphasis on the male main character, Nico, It was almost more his story than the female lead, Hannah, we started out with. Often I find the men in romance novels overlooked and stereotyped. Not the case here. Nico's story is fully told, and he is all the more real and likable because of this.

Hannah is also a very appealing character. There is always a bit of the miscommunication in romance novels that keep the two leads apart. Sometimes it is really awkward and contrived. Here, I found the things that kept the two apart believable.

I also loved both the settings, both the cozy English cottage vibes, and the sparkling world of Stockholm at Christmas. This was a very soul soothing read with excellent writing.

How strange I swear I already reviewed this book, but it’s popped up again for review?!

I adored this Christmassy book! I’ll be adding it to my reread pile this Christmas as I have a copy of the physical book on my shelves now! 🫶

Christmas Wishes by Sue Moorcroft is a heartwarming and enchanting festive tale that will immerse readers in the magic and joy of the holiday season. With its delightful characters, picturesque setting, and a touch of romance, this book captures the essence of Christmas and delivers a captivating story that will leave readers with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

The story follows Hannah, a single mother who finds herself facing unexpected challenges during the Christmas season. As she navigates her way through family drama, personal setbacks, and the demands of a demanding job, she discovers the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of embracing love, forgiveness, and second chances.

Sue Moorcroft's writing is engaging and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the charming English village of Middledip and its festive atmosphere. The descriptions of snow-covered landscapes, twinkling lights, and cozy cottages create a magical backdrop that will transport readers to a world filled with holiday cheer.

The characters in Christmas Wishes are well-developed and endearing, each with their own personal struggles and growth arcs. Hannah is a relatable protagonist, juggling the responsibilities of motherhood and finding her own happiness. The supporting cast, including her young daughter and a charming love interest, add depth and warmth to the story, creating a sense of community and togetherness.

One of the book's strengths is its ability to explore complex family dynamics and interpersonal relationships. Moorcroft delicately weaves themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and the power of unconditional love, reminding readers of the importance of cherishing and nurturing the bonds that matter most during the holiday season.

While the story offers a delightful mix of romance and Christmas magic, there were moments when the pacing felt a bit uneven. Certain plot points could have been further developed to create a more seamless flow, but this does not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the book.

Christmas Wishes is a heartwarming and uplifting read that captures the spirit of Christmas and reminds us of the power of love, family, and forgiveness. Sue Moorcroft's storytelling prowess and her ability to create relatable and lovable characters make this book a delightful choice for fans of holiday romance and feel-good fiction.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of Christmas Wishes from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

In Stockholm Hannah is living her best life, starting her dream of opening her own little shop. Then she bumps into Nico and life quickly turns around. Everything she has crumbles apart and she decides to pack her bags and go back home. Unfortunately it isn't getting much better there and her thoughts are mostly with Nico and what could be.

I'm not sure if this was the wrong book at the wrong time, but it was totally not my vibe. The story got boring quite quickly for me and I missed a better form of action between Nico and Hannah.

Nico is a single dad who takes care of two children and we read about that a lot. The focus is just too much on the fact that he has is a single dad and there's a lot of talk about struggles with finding a nanny or babysitter and it annoyed me quite quickly.

Apart from the single dad, we also get a lot of the children in the book. Literally the children. The author portraits their voice by making it sound childish and it made me cringe incredibly. I couldn't handle it had to skip through everytime.

The character of Hannah could be interesting, but there was so much going on I didn't feel I got to know her on a deeper level. All that's happening is misery around her. Family members in the hospital and failed businesses made me wonder if anything good would happen in the book.

I missed the romance throughout the entirety of the book. Most of the story is about Nico's life and Hannah's life, but it takes an immensely long time for them to get together and anything truly romantical to happen. I would've liked the romance to happen sooner, so we would get a more gradual development of them as a couple. Talking about couples, the author could've gotten a lot more out of Hannah's relationship with her boyfriend that she had when she met Nico. There was a lot of toxicity going on in her relationship, but it was dropped like a bomb without any decent introduction or gradual development.

Overall this book didn't do it for me. All I could think was how it could've been done differently. If you don't mind baby talk and quite a lot of negative life circumstances you could check this book out. Unfortunately that's not my thing and therefore this book didn't do it for me.

Christmas Wishes by Sue Moorcroft

Hannah and Nico meet in Stockholm he is her brothers best friend and they a have to quickly refresh an old friendship .
As she has lost her shop in Stockholm she returns home to England only to find Nico has returned home too. They have many obstacles to overcome if they are to have a romance. She has a boyfriend and he is a single father with two children.
Set at Christmas it is very much a case will they finally overcome everything in their way to have the love they really want ?

A beautifully written book covering many difficult issues sensitively . A very enjoyable Christmas book. 4.5/5

Christmas romances hold a special place in my heart. Such perfect stories for the happiest time of the year and Christmas Wishes delivers everything I like in Christmas romances.

Heartwarming and brimming with Christmas spirit!
It left me dreaming of Sweden were mesmerising and have left me dreaming of a holiday there.

This was a perfect cute and fluffy festive read and that gives you all the feels! Perfect for cozy winter evenings

Absolutely adored this, but I expected no less from Our Moorcroft! She always knows how to whisk you away to a magical time where you will be left warm! Cannot wait to see what else she brings next!

Sweet, nice, uplifting, cute, Christmas holiday seasonal book. A typical Sue Moorecroft novel. Wonderful easy read while traveling or busy during the busy season. Enjoyed and recommended.

Another lovely book from this author and great to be back in Middledip. Hannah and Nico make a lovely couple and I really enjoyed the start of the story in Stockholm. Great characters and a warmhearted story make this a perfect cosy read

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

A nice enough story but not particularly enthralling. I did enjoy the Swedish parts though and it’s very much made me fancy a trip to Stockholm! The characters weee pleasant enough but i just felt that everything ticked slowly along.

Christmas Wishes is a lovely book about finding your own path, setting your own values and cherishing family and friends above all else. I loved the wintery setting, set in both an English village and Sweden. This made for some great moments learning about aspects of Swedish culture, especially around Christmas, but did often read a bit too 'touristy' for my liking. However, I found the miscommunication trope to be a bit tired, especially as it seemed just about all the characters had difficulty communicating. From Nico's brother's 'secret' which we were really hit over the head with only for it to be anti-climatic, to the typical 'not giving someone the benefit of the doubt and assuming the worst'. Honestly, at points I just wanted to close this book, it was so frustrating to read. That said, I did enjoy the characters, who were well developed and interesting, especially the children. One last critique is that I often did not like Hannah and Nico's ideas around business (Hannah is very much 'girlboss' and Nico is a landlord) but putting that aside, the character arc for Hannah with her business was enjoyable.

Overall, this book showed a lot of promise, and I'll definitely be reading more books by Sue Moorcroft.

Christmas Wishes

by Sue Moorcroft


Good personal character is something that is often taken for granted, but in moments of crisis it can rise to the forefront to shine. That is what happens to Nico Pettersson when he takes his eight-year old daughter Josie to her mother Lauren’s home for a planned visit only to discover an alcohol and drug mess. Lauren is in no condition for a visit or to take care of her two-year old Maria. This precious little one is not Nico’s child. In fact, her conception had resulted in divorce. As a single parent, Nico has his own set of problems, but can he leave his daughter’s sister in a filthy, hungry, and thirsty state?

Throughout Sue Moorcroft’s Christmas Wishes, Nico has many decisive moments of conscience. Meanwhile, he reconnects with Hannah, a childhood friend who is his former hockey teammate’s little sister. She is confronted with a break in her relationship with Albin, a cold, wealthy, supercilious boyfriend who controls her shop and her residence in Sweden. The setting bounces back and forth between Stockholm, Sweden, and Middledip, England, with Hannah and Nico having ties in both countries.

The setting is beautiful and Moorcroft has a talent for descriptions. Christmas is not just a backdrop, but an integral part of the story. The plot and relationships are complex. The ups and downs of romance weave through the story and provide a few surprises. A well-behaved Josie and cute-as-a-button Maria are a wonderful pair of children, and my heart went out to them in their respective situations. Hannah’s grandmother, Nan Heather, is a wise and delightful ninety year old who rounds out the cast beautifully. Christmas Wishes is a Christmas gift to readers who want a good storyline coupled with romance in a Christmas setting.

I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to HarperCollins (Avon Books) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Category: General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Women’s Fiction

Notes: 1. This book is part of the Middledip Series which seems to be loosely connected by a Middledip, England, setting and by an emphasis on seasons. My impression is that the books in this series do not need to be read in any particular order and that they make excellent standalones.
2. There is one place in the book where the description of a sexual encounter borders on too much detail for my taste, but it is not enough to make me wish I hadn’t read the book. Skim and move on!

Publication: October 29, 2020—HarperCollins (Avon)

Memorable Lines:

The butterflies that journeyed home with her fluttered wings of ice…

Anders rocked a mixed retro look with a Seventies mustache but a Sixties short-back-and-sides. His wide-lapelled suits teamed with busy floral ties were a fashion mystery.

Autumn seemed to have decided not to bother this year and winter had swept in as if from Narnia. Iron-hard frosts stripped the color from the landscape, bleak but beautiful…

I want to live in middledip! I was the neighbours the whole scene. Totally got in the characters and just want to be there! I read this really quick and forget anything else I had to do!

Another absolute winner from Sue Moorcroft. As always her characters are a delight and the setting so enticing. She always tells such a good story, a real master of her craft. From page one I was drawn in and couldn't put it down. I would definitely recommend this along with all of her other books.

Took too much time to really get lift-off for me, so this read didn't really click in for me - I had lost interest by the time something really happened. The start showed promise (especially the angle of Nico's eating disorder) but it just took so long to develop, it failed to keep my attention focused on it

I loved the two protagonists, Hannah and Nico, and their story had me glued to the pages. It blew me away. I loved Nico and his kids and really wanted him to find his happy ever after with Hannah from the moment they were together on the page. Fate keeps getting in the way of these two people who are so clearly made for each other.

The locations were wonderfully described, both in Stockholm and the UK.

It was impossible to put this book down. It had plenty of fun but also heartfelt moments that had me secretly crying into my pillow.

This is a 5 star read, and one you don’t have to wait to read at Christmas. Pick it up now I say!