Sue always deals with hard issues so expertly and this story is no exception. Set in gorgeous Middledip Sue weaves the festive preparations alongside strong issue such as bullying, infertility and agoraphobia. When the newly-divorced Laurel returns to the village to help her sister who is suffering from agoraphobia she struggles to forgive the perpetrators whose abuse made her flee the village as a teenager. To make matter worse, her old attraction for Grady, the brother of one of the perpetrators, surface and are reciprocated. It helps that the bullies regret the incident and apologise but they hurt her so much Laurel isn’t sure they deserve forgiveness. Difficult decisions, love, family, friendship and Christmas cheer all combine to make this a compelling read. infertility

I've always enjoyed reading Sue Moorcroft's books and despite some difficult topics in this novel, namely bullying, sexual assault and infertility she writes with empathy and compassion.
Laurel has returned to the village she left to assist her sister and niece as they go through some trying times, however being back in the village brings its own problems for Laurel as she has to face the perpetrator of an attack whilst a teenager that no-one knows about.
The village is a lovely cosy village with great involvement from all villagers as they come together to promote a Christmas art festival.
Laurel has to decide if the past is going to take over a new life she could make for herself.
A really lovely read perfect for the holidays
Many thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

A combination of festive magic, family, friendship ,love and hope, all written about beautifully. A perfect read to curl up with on a cold evening with a nice cuppa which I can not recommend highly enough.
There are some very difficult subject matters addressed in this book but they are approached with sensitivity , empathy and understanding. I would not have expected to have found the subjects of infertility and agoraphobia (to mention just two of the difficult subject matters) in such a festive read however, they are integral parts of the story and learning how people cope with these issues was both interesting and enlightening. It was written in such a way that you could see all perspectives and how such issues impact on the every day lives of all those involved. The characters were believable and you felt joy at the small victories they managed to achieve.
Throughout the book an old friendship/first love is rekindled but, due to past ghosts and other peoples behaviour it feels doomed from the start. By the end of the book I was literally cheering them on, crossing my fingers and hoping for a festive happy ending.

Things I loved: second chance romance, agoraphobia rep, Christmas
Things I didn't love: seemed like a lot was going on at once
Laurel Hill is back in her hometown of Middledip to support her sister dealing with agoraphobia and investigate her niece's recent truancy. But, unfortunately, she comes face to face with the man she's been running from for almost 20 years, Mac Cassidy. He's the brother of her first love, Grady, and in need of her help as soon as she gets to town, throwing her back to why she left all those years ago. However, the more time she spends in her hometown, the more it begins to feel like home. But can she remain happy while constantly haunted by her past with Mac Cassidy?
I honestly don't know how I feel about this book. The climax kind of felt like a pile on. From the assault to bullying to infertility to anxiety and panic attacks, a lot was going on. But, I will say that I was thoroughly entertained throughout the story. The way Laurel readily stepped in to help her sister Rea, and niece Daisy was admirable. I was also very proud of Laurel for standing her ground and constantly sticking up for herself.
Overall, I give this book a 3.75/5. The author did an excellent job navigating the difficult conversations around infertility, assault, bullying, and agoraphobia.

This was a cute holiday story and I know that our patrons will love it. I've ordered a couple of copies for the collection. Thank you!

A really well written book. I have to admit I didn't quite expect the story lines ( not trigger warnings for bullying, sexual assault, infertility and agoraphobia) based on the pretty cover. This was very different from the usual Christmas reads. That said it addressed the emotional issues with sensitivity and tact. and added the festive activities that really gave it a lift.
The characters are well developed and easy to get on board with. The main character Laurel was very 'human' that really made this feel very real.
The setting of Middledip was simply gorgeous. Well created and described, it allowed you to feel you were walking the streets yourself alongside the characters.
An emotional Christmas read, with added drama alongside the festivities.

This book has everything you expect to see from a Sue Moorecroft book. It’s festive and emotional yet handled with sensitivity and integrity.
I really enjoyed this and has further cemented my love of Sue’s books.

Each book I read by Sue Moorcroft only cements my admiration for her work. I find her books totally impossible to put down, and keep promising myself 'just one more chapter' resulting in very late nights, and a mad dash to work in the morning!  They are extremely well written with very relatable characters, and if you haven't read any of her books you have a real treat awaiting you.

This book follows Laurel who, after her divorce, comes back to the village she grew up in to support her elder sister Ria, and Ria's daughter Daisy. Ria has agoraphobia and it has become so bad that she cannot leave the house, to the detriment of her teenage daughter. Laurel feel a debt to the sister she loves, so she moves back to the village she ran away from many years before, despite the fact that the cause of her distress and flight, are still living there. What she doesn't anticipate is falling back in love with her first love, but the problems between them seem insurmountable.

This is a feel good, Christmassy book, but one I'd read happily at any time of the year. I can't wait for the next one!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4259103026

Lovely festive feel good book! The storyline and characters are so relatable! Sit back with a cup of hot chocolate and relax with this beautiful story.

I always enjoy reading Sue Moorcroft’a books and this one is no exception.
Under the Mistletoe is an emotional read with some hard issues covered sensitively and with warmth and compassion.
Laurel is a great main character and I loved her relationship with Rea and Daisy - the warmth and support provided to her family was wonderful to read about.
Amongst the difficult topics covered, Sue Moorcroft also writes a lot of lighthearted moments and together with the beautiful descriptions of Laurel’s art, this make it a read to recommend.

Laurel has split up with her husband over her infertility and moves back to her childhood home to help her sister Rea and her daughter Daisy as Rea is agoraphobic
Grady who was Laurel's boyfriend when they were teenagers is also getting over his breakup and certainly isn't expecting to see Laurel back in the village after her suddenly leaving him with no explanation
A lovely story of the two of them reconnecting and secrets coming out explaining the past
Loved it, a fab story

This book has a lovely Christmassy feel as the villagers dive into community art projects, crafts and a village fair. But, for Laurel, back to support her agoraphobic sister, there are unsettling memories of when she lived here years ago, and falling for her first love all over again was never part of the plan. Especially when his brother was, and still is, the problem. A good cast of characters, some of them familiar from earlier Middledip books, and some serious issues, particularly the long term emotional effects of bullying. A realistic relationship, with a big dilemma to overcome. And the healing power of animals. I enjoyed it.

Liked the book overall. Felt a bit heavy after reading this and incapable of forming words since it's going to take a long time for me to come back to the present.

Strong characters and heavy subject(s) - presented beautifully.

I absolutely loved this book! It’s definitely going to be one I buy for friends as a stocking filler gift.

Grab yourself a cup of hot chocolate or glass of red wine and get comfy on the sofa because you wont be moving once you start reading.

The book deals with some challenging topics, bullying, sexual assault and infertility to name just 3 but it is so much more. It’s beautifully written with stunning descriptions and perfectly scripted dialogue.

The characters are all people we could have met personally as we go about our day to day lives and that’s what makes it such a fab read. Underneath it all is a theme of forgiveness, moving on from the past and starting over.

An absolutely 5star read, let yourself be transported to Middledip and join in the romance and the drama of Laurel, Rea and Daisy.

A real heart warming book to snuggle up with over the festive period. Quite engaging but with serious issues beneath the surface, primarily bullying and the impact thereof over the years which some people can deal with better than others. Also tackled is the very real problem of agoraphobia which seems a lot more common these days as people try and regain confidence after enforced lockdowns and keeping apart from normal social interaction. Believably depicted characters with those tackling and coming to terms with real issues and those on the periphery taking life at face value. Real village life with lots of threads and relationships but essentially on many levels that life is in a small community. Sue Moorcroft at her best making us think whilst giving us a stunning seasonal read

This story wasn’t what I was expecting. Loved the return of Laurel to her childhood home and village but that also brings the memories she choose to leave behind. Enjoyed the story and the characters too.

This is Sue Moorcroft back to her best after a disappointing summer novel. Full of Christmas spirit with interesting characters and insightful descriptions of their problems. It’s well written and well paced. A Christmas story full of hope and recovery.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a delightful read that will put you in the holiday spirit! The picturesque village setting was the perfect backdrop to this Christmas romance. The characters are unique and engaging, and I enjoyed the realistic struggles addressed in this story. It was both emotional and uplifting. I would recommend this for anyone wanting a cozy holiday read!

Four and a half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Under the Mistletoe by Sue Moorcroft is a lovely, emotional holiday book. It’s not the light, fluffy read that the cover suggests, and is instead a book with flawed characters who deal with some tough issues that the author handles with care and compassion.

After a tough divorce, Laurel heads back to her hometown of Middledip to help her sister Rae, her niece Daisy, and to rest and figure out the rest of her life after her divorce. She runs into her old friend, Grady, who she left suddenly when she left town many years ago. Laurel and Grady were fast becoming more than friends when she suddenly left, and Grady never could figure out why Laurel left town so fast. Laurel also runs into Grady’s brother Mac, who is now a teacher at Daisy’s school. However, Laurel can’t stand to be in the same room as Mac because of something that happened back when they were all in school together. Can Grady and Laurel rekindle something they had all those years ago? And will Laurel be able to spend time with Grady when she can’t even be in the same room with his brother Mac?

This complex story deals with many deep issues to include sexual assault, agoraphobia, and bullying. The author takes these tough issues and deals with them with compassion and empathy. However, the book also has some lighthearted moments and is a heartwarming read all the way through the book. The village of Middledip is full of quaint characters and is a lovely setting for the book. The author brings the village to life with her vivid descriptions of this delightful place.

I highly recommend Under The Mistletoe to anyone who loves a heartwarming Christmas book and doesn’t mind a book that takes on some tough issues. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was just ok to me. The bullying storyline was over the top all around. It’s ridiculous to think Laurel wanted Mac to get hurt a she was, but she held off on blurting it out to his wife. I mean it’s the human thing to do but Laurel was nasty to lots of people in this book. I just don’t get it. Kind of ruined the romance for me.