I love Sue Moorcroft books, and Christmas books, so I was excited to be invited to read The Christmas Love Letters. I was not disappointed!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I loved the story relating to the love letters, and how they (eventually) brought people together.

I loved the setting. Nelson’s Bar is clearly a beautiful place near the sea, and all the snow made the book seem extra Christmassy.

The characters were also great. I loved Maddy, and the way she’s coped under difficult circumstances, and given Lyla such a lovely childhood. I really liked Raff too, and in fact all the other characters, with the exception of Harris. I understand his reasons, but that is not how you treat anyone you care about!

Sue Moorcroft has produced another beautifully romantic and Christmassy story. I highly recommend it.

I was given a copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

If you haven’t read a Sue Moorcroft book yet, what’s stopping you?!

Contemporary fiction author Moorcroft knows her audience, has direction/purpose to her narrative, uses strong character voices (unique voices for each character), and always hides something within her stories that keeps readers turning pages. You can always be assured of a heartfelt read centered around life and love.

In a case of necessity, Madeline ‘Maddy’ Cracey, moves in with her Aunt ‘Grant’ Ruthie to High Cottage in Nelson's Bar, Norfolk, England. Maddy’s husband, Adey Austen, disappeared one night 7 years ago, leaving her the talk of the town. Struggling financially and trying to raise her unborn child alone, Maddy believes that the move is reciprocal - Aunt Ruthie needs assistance, too. Little does she know that there’s more on the line than helping her with her deteriorating eyesight!

Just when she settles and thinks she’s put the secrets and lies behind her, a man named Rafferty Edmonds shows up at High Cottage claiming to have secrets that would upend her quiet existence. Secrets that involve her aunt!

I loved the prologue and how it set the scene for intrigue! I had to keep reading to know more about the ‘gift’ and how these letters connected to the rest of the story. Furthermore, I absolutely loved that all my predictions were wrong with this one! Moorcroft found a way to surprise me with the path less taken and sensitively wove in some darker elements and padded them with a heartwarming tale. I’m always hesitant to pick up yet another book featuring a lost diary or lost letters, but Moorcroft’s examination revealed an intriguing story of real love and long-kept secrets.

This is one holiday read you won’t want to miss!

I was gifted this copy by Avon Books, UK and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I absolutely love sue Moorcroft's books, and this is up there with the best. For a start the main protagonist is Maddy, short for Madeline, so I would love to think she was based on me 😂

Maddy lives with her Aunt Ruthie and her young daughter in Norfolk, England. Her mother is a waste of space, and her father walked out when she was small. Her husband, Adey, also disappeared one stormy night after a huge row about money, and hasn't been seen for nearly 7 years, presumed dead - leading Maddy to be the talk of the town, and getting grief from Adey's best friend.

Maddy was left in such a financial mess after Adey left, that she moved in with Aunt Ruthie who she loved dealy, and she was able to be a carer for her Aunt as Ruthie's eyesight was very poor.

When Raff turned up at their door one day, having read some letters between Aunt Ruthie and his adopted sister's father, their lives were thrown into disarray. Was there a branch of the family that they knew nothing about, and why was Maddy receiving mysterious unsigned texts on her phone?

This is a romance, a Christmas tale and a couple of mysteries, all wrapped up in beautiful writing, with very true to life and likeable (mostly) characters. A must read for the cold winter months.

Really easy chick-lit read, but none the worse for that. Maddy is a woman with a complicated past. A missing husband, a daughter, carer for her aunt the last thing she feels she needs is complication, but that’s what Raff brings into her life when he turns up looking for his father’s mistress. There are complications along the way but this feel good Christmas story delivers the happy ever after that Maddy deserves and the reader wants. This is a super, feel good story and well worth a couple of hours escapism.

The Christmas love letters is an exquisitely told festive romance, set against a wonderfully quintessential Norfolk village dusted in magical snow fall and full of seasonal activities!
Spanning over several generations we learn of a true love that could never be and the long term repercussions of that!
Wonderful characters and family dynamics that alter, change and develop as revelations are revealed leading to much joy and happiness and a new sense of family, second chances and acceptance, a really cosy Christmassy happy ever after for all involved! Would love to read a follow!
Thank you NetGalley for this early read.

Sue Moorcroft writes books that I love to read, and this is no exception! The Christmas Love Letters takes us back to Nelson’s Bar, and introduces us to Ruthie, Maddy and Lyla. Maddy is a single mum to Lyla, and they live with Grauntie Ruthie (love that!), Maddy’s aunt. Maddy’s husband, Adey, walked out 7 years ago after a row, and never returned, and after a series of domestic disasters, Maddy and Lyla move in with Ruthie. Ruthie is elderly and infirm, with severely compromised vision, and Maddy is her carer. Their lives are upended by the arrival of a handsome man knocking at their door,,who introduces himself as Raff, and whose story turns their lives upside down. As Ruthie’s story unravels, Maddy is left gobsmacked by what she learns. Her feelings for Raff veer between not wanting him involved with them, and being very attracted to him. Christmas is rapidly approaching, and as Ruthie’s story is told, can Maddy and Raff make a story of their own?

I absolutely loved this gorgeous story. It is, as ever, beautifully written, vividly descriptive, and with a cast of characters that I immediately engaged with, highly enjoyable. There are darker undertones running through the story,- spousal abandonment, adoptive families, - and these were written so sensitively. I was captivated from the first page to the last, and the story flowed seamlessly, never losing my interest for a moment. Every woman deserves a Raff in her life I think! I highly recommend this lovely story, that lifted me out of the everyday, and transported me to a place full of Christmas Cheer.

A cosy Christmas read that makes you want to be curled up in front of a fire. A love story from a time gone by moving towards another in the present. Can both have a happy ever after.

Maddy Austen has survived an awful crisis after her husband stormed out a few years ago never to be seen again. She’s barricaded her little family of her daughter and her Great Aunt to avoid any emotional shocks but they come knocking anyway in the form of Raff. Finding out her Aunt has a not so saintly past Maddy has to come to terms with a huge change and there’s more to come. It’s nearly Christmas and life just got a bit more stressful
Another snugly story to curl up with which will help you through the dark days of winter before Christmas or if you’re like me just any day of the year that needs a festive twinkle. Sue doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects in her books but always manages to leave you with a smile and a tear in your eye at the end. I’ll be getting this book for friends because it’s too good to miss. The turkey can stuff itself.

Would it even be Christmas without a festive book from the amazing Sue Moorcroft?

The storyline starts with a letter from 1977, and I was hooked from just that. Moving to the present, the storyline unfolds, and you just know there will be heartbreak before the story ends.

It just ticked all the boxes for the perfect comfort read.

Thanks so much Avon Books UK and NetGalley.

There's an extramarital affair that spans 2 generations. There's also a husband who disappears amongst debt before he knows he is going to be a father.

I think this book would have been better had the storylines been split into two books. I found myself favoring one storyline over the other, and I thought the other one was more of a distraction. I also thought the second storyline was something that was discussed minimally, and when it actually happened, it was resolved quickly. I finished the book though, and I didn't think it was bad.

I love Christmas and I love Sue Moorcroft so I couldn’t wait to start this book and it did not disappoint. It had mystery, romance. Friendship, true love and a twist I wasn’t expecting.
The story focuses on Maddy and her life in Nelsons Bar. I loved the characters minus a few (no spoilers) and was really invested in their lives and that they were happy.
The setting was magical and I loved all the Christmas elements like the mince pies.
I enjoyed reading the love letters and I think that really added to the story and I definitely shed a few tears at the end.
I’ve keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel.
Thanks to Netgalley, Avon books UK and Sue Moorcroft for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

The story starts with a love letter which was written in the 70s by a married man, Nigel, who was having an affair with a woman he worked with. The love letters are the key to the story with an elderly lady being unable to read the letters she has kept because of failing eye sight. Ruthie, the recipient of the letters lives with her great niece Maddy and her 6 year old daughter, Leyla. Maddy was left by her husband, Adey, who disappeared one evening before Leyla was born and Adey does not know of her existence. Adey and Maddy had got themselves into financial difficulties and when they had a fire at their cottage in Nelson’s Bar, Maddy is angry when she discovers that Adey has not renewed the house insurance. Adey disappears shortly afterwards and nobody knows whether he has just gone off or committed suicide. Seven years later when Maddy is living with Ruthie, having had her house repaired and rented out because she cannot afford to live in it on her own, she starts getting messages from someone she believes to be Adey. There are lots of side stories in this book, including a lost daughter and granddaughter for Ruthie and a love interest for Maddy. The other characters in the book are Della who helps Maddy out with Ruthie occasionally and Heloise, Maddy’s best friend. All the characters are interesting and once into the story you want to know what happens to everyone in it. The Christmas Love Letters is an easy read and the descriptions of a very cold winter in Norfolk make you feel as if you are experiencing the snow and wind. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me an ARC of this excellent book.

I am so far from this book's target demographic - romance/chick lit just isn't for me. I made an error in accidentally clicking the Request button.

An extramarital relationship has a far reaching effect on two families. This is a tense story filled with love and optimism.
An uplifting read that keeps you turning ghe pages. The book is a ĺovely mix of old events, new beginnings and Christmas sparkle.

A long Riveting read.*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

This was a fab festive read.
Loved it & will recommend to others.
Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

Beautiful. I always love Sue Moorcroft’s books but this one felt pretty special. The village of Nelson’s Bar seems a great community and Maddie is a special woman who is devoted to family and Aunt Ruthie. Ruthie’s story was moving and engaging and the romance between Maddie and Raff was heartwarming .
I love this story and would love to hear more from Nelson’s Bar in the future.

I have always loved this author and this novel was brilliant. Loved the atmosphere of the beach and the bar. A perfect Christmas story.

This was a beautiful love story set against the backdrop of the snowy
Norfolk coast and the village of Nelson’s bar. This story evokes so
Much love and emotions coming
Off the page and the bond between auntie Ruthie and maddie is incredible as is the whole community feel of the village and how everyone pulls together and helps each other.

The characters and the storyline are
Engaging with a couple of things which keep
The reader on their toes I won’t go into detail as don’t want to give spoilers. This book would make a
Fabulous hall mark
Christmas
Movie and I am definitely going to read it
Again nearer Christmas curled
Up on the sofa with a mug of cocoa and. Fluffy blanket.

What a lovely love story. Auntie Ruthie story was so gentle and sweet and you could feel her love shining through. Nelson’s bar sounds like a community seaside with pretty beach and a good vibe.
Mandy sounds like a beautiful soul and Raff a great bloke. It was just a lovely Christmassy book I would recommend it to all. Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.