Oh what a complicated life poor Maddy had, when her husband Adey disappeared seven years before, and she'd been working hard to get herself out of the financial hole he'd left her in. Luckily her Aunt Ruthie or Ruthie as she calls her, offered her a job as her live in carer, due to her failing eyesight, and the rest is history.
Maddy's daughter Lyla, who's six, calls her Grauntie Ruthie (great, great auntie), which really made me chuckle!.
Raff, who it turns out is the adoptive brother of Ruthie's long lost daughter, arrives to meet Ruthie and report back to Ffion, so she can decide whether to meet her mother or not. They've had letters sent from Ruthie to their father Nigel over many, many years since their father died, so they only have one side of the story.
It's a wonderful, emotional tale that will draw you in quickly, and keep you there, right in the middle!. I found it really tear jerking in places, but loved every single second of it, and can see a few spin offs with other characters that could be very interesting too.!. Well, if Sue decides to write more from this particular storyline that is!!. Fingers crossed!!
Many thanks to Avon books for this amazing opportunity to read the arc copy via Netgalley.
#Netgalley, #avonbooksuk, #suemoorcroftauthor.

"The Christmas Love Letters" by Sue Moorcroft is a heartwarming Christmas story set in the charming village of Nelson's Bar on the Norfolk coast. The novel revolves around Maddy, a single mother, her daughter Lyla, and her great aunt Ruthie. Maddy's life takes an unexpected turn when a handsome stranger named Raff shows up at Ruthie's door, armed with a collection of long-forgotten love letters. These letters hold secrets that will unearth family mysteries and alter the course of their quiet lives.

The story keeps you guessing right from the start. The prologue sets the stage for intrigue with long-forgotten love letters, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to uncover the secrets they held. What I appreciated the most was that the story didn't follow the predictable path that many romance novels tend to take. Sue Moorcroft surprised me by skilfully blending darker elements with a heartwarming tale, keeping me engaged throughout.

The Christmas setting in Nelson's Bar is beautifully described, making it a charming backdrop for the unfolding drama. The book's nonlinear narrative keeps the mystery alive, and I felt like I was right where I should be throughout the story.

What I particularly loved about this book is the way Sue Moorcroft crafts her characters. Maddy's resilience and her determination to protect her family resonated deeply with me. Her bond with her great aunt Ruthie is truly touching and adds an extra layer of warmth to the story. The characters feel real and relatable, making it easy to connect with their struggles and triumphs.

As for the characters, I couldn't help but root for Maddy and Rafferty Edmonds. Raff's charming yet enigmatic personality, combined with Maddy's tenacious nature, makes for a compelling dynamic. The revelation of family secrets adds depth to the plot and keeps the reader hooked.

The story also excels in crafting moments that tug at your heartstrings, especially when it comes to the love letters. Maddy's sensitive reading of these letters had me shedding a tear, and I was emotionally invested in her journey.

In conclusion, "The Christmas Love Letters" is an exceptional holiday read that defies expectations. I'd recommend it to readers who enjoy heartwarming stories with well-developed characters, a touch of mystery, and a festive backdrop. If you're a fan of Sue Moorcroft's work or love a good Christmas romance with a twist, this book is a must-read.

Roll on Christmas, then I can read this book again without feeling guilty...scratch that, I'm going to start it all over again, right now! The queen of the Christmas romance has done it again, and you don't need it to be December to read this story; I should know.
Set in Sue's Norfolk village of Nelson's Bar, we meet a wonderful cast of characters from Aunt Ruthie who has a heart-breaking past which comes back to not only haunt her, but her niece Maddy and young daughter, Layla. This is in the form of a series of letters she kept which detail a relationship she kept secret for her whole adult life.
The other half of this secret appears in the shape of Raff, an author of fantasy who's distracted by his ill sister. Between them, they have to piece together their intertwined stories and discover if a relationship is worth fighting for.
As ever, this author displays she is a master of her craft. There's heartache and heartbreak; magnificent settings and beautiful dialogue. Overall though, what stands out for me is the characterisation. Sue's always written beautiful characters, but here, she's taken this to a new level and I look forward to me next visit to Nelson's Bar!
My thanks to Avon and Netgalley for the reading copy.

Maddy and her daughter have lived with Aunt Ruthie since Maddy’s husband disappeared 6 yrs ago. They’ve settled into a family routine taking care of each other. When a delivery of old love letters to Aunt Ruthie turns their life upside down a sad story of love and loss is revealed.

Raff, the bearer of the letters, tries to help heal wounds and a romance with Maddy ensues, but with too many outside factors and family feelings things don’t go smoothly.

A festive story with likeable characters, this is an interesting story of healing with a happy ending

The Christmas Love Letters had me hooked on the title and sybopsis, and had me feeling emotions before I even started the book. I felt sadness at the row and Adey storming off into the snow, curiosity at what was going to happen next, and a sense of magic at the coziness of the setting. There was a feeling that "anything could happen".

I was concerned for, and rooting for, Maddy and Raff in equal measure and I loved Maddy's daughter and grandmother.

A truly magical book that's tragic, hopeful and feelgood all at once.

Thanks to Sue Moorcroft, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4.5 stars

I only read my first Sue Moorcroft book earlier this year, but she's fast become one of my favourite authors. Her books have such a warmth to them, you're immediately drawn to the characters and I can't put the books down until I've found out their story!

The Christmas Love Letters was no exception - what a beautiful, cosy Christmas read. We're transported to Nelson's Bar on the Norfolk coast, where we find Maddy, her daughter Lyla, and her Great Aunt Ruthie. After some difficult times, Maddy is finally settled until a stranger called Raff turns up to speak to her Great Aunt. His letters bring back a lot of memories for Ruthie, and many family secrets are uncovered during the course of the book.

Maddy also finds herself falling for Raff, but can they be together with all the family drama? Her own past also comes to light which proves to be another obstacle.

This is such a lovely book! I love how the author always manages to combine sensitive topics with warmth, community, and love.

Perfect winter book! 💕

Thank you so much to Sue Moorcroft, Avon UK/ Harper Collins UK, and Netgalley for the arc.

What a lovely book this was to read. A storyline that really captured you from the off as you then saw it through the various twists and turns. Great characters too that you really got into. Definitely a book to read!

another lovley christmas book by sue moorcroft.
A love story past and presant.
Ruthie falls in love with a service man who works in her office in the 1970's nowing that he is married until he is posted away to scotland.
They keep in touch through letters and the odd get together when she finds out shes pregnant. She has no choice but to give up her child.
Maddy moves into ruthies house when her husband disapears and leaves her pregnant and with a house that needs lots of work doing to it only to turn up 7 years later out of the blue.
loved reading this book

This is not your typical Christmas read and that is what I enjoyed about it so much - I loved the fact that it was different. Yes it had fantastic elements of family love and Christmas traditions but, it had a big dose of real life and some secrets from the past that could change everything.
The book is the story of two women Ruthie and her great niece Maddy. Almost seven years ago Maddy and her husband had a row and he stormed out of the house never to return. Waiting for the seven year deadline so he can be proclaimed dead she hasn't really moved forward with her life.
When a secret from over forty years ago is revealed Ruthie's world is turned upside down and the bearer of the news has a huge impact on Maddy. As these two strong women try do what is best for everyone another blast from the past rears it's ugly head and threatens to change the two women's life forever.
Brilliantly written with some interesting insights into the past. I adored Maddy's daughter and her wonderful zest for everything Christmas , she totally made me want to go out and start my Christmas shopping.

The only thing I enjoyed about this book is all of the Christmas touches. The storyline was almost impossible to follow and the characters are one- dimensional at best.

The Christmas Love Letters by Sue Moorcroft is a contemporary novel set in a remote village in Norfolk. The focus is on relationships both past and present. The novel explores romantic, parental, caregiver and adoptive relationships. The author doesn't sugarcoat difficulties between friends, and families. That families can be who you choose is clear from the author's multiple characters. Their growth throughout is shown while not dragging down the plot.

I rated this book 5 stars, and highly recommend it.

A sweet story about love and family set in a cute, sea side, small town. It felt as though I was watching this movie play out on the Hallmark channel! The families had all endured so much but stuck together and took care of one another. A feel good story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

A feel good festive read with lots of friendships, snow, twinkly lights and mince pies. The story is set in Norfolk mostly in Nelson's Bar where Maddy moved after her husband Adey left one night, not to return, leaving her with a flood in their own house, huge debts and pregnant. She now lives with her great aunt Ruthie and her daughter is six years old. Through shear determination and hard work Maddy fixed up the cottage she owned and now rents it out as income while she acts as a carer to Ruthie and mother to Lyla. Their comfortable life is upset a few weeks before Christmas when a stranger knocks on the door with a story from the past that upsets Ruthie and throws Maddy's life into turmoil.
At first it appears that Maddy can build a relationship with this stranger but of course the nothing goes smoothly. As the story developed I found myself willing the characters to sort out their differences and stop prevaricating so they could have a happy ever after.
A little slow in places but a good feel to the book and chock full of Christmas references so a good read the festive time of year.
With thanks to Netgalley and AvonBooksUK for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

Maddy's husband left seven years ago- before their daughter Lyla was born-and she's built a good life since then with her aunt Ruthie and the people who come to Nelson's Bar. And then one day Raff turns up and Ruthie's past comes rushing back thanks to the love letters he's carrying. Moorcroft (and rom com) fans know that there will be more than a little attraction between Maddy and Raff and that a conflict will arise. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This has good characters, a lovely Norfolk setting, and a zippy (albeit it a tad trope-y) plot to make it a good read.

Maddy Cracy is carer to her aunt Ruthie and to her own little girl Lyla. Her life is predictable, if a bit stale until Raff turns up with a box of old love letters between Ruthie and his father. As with any Sue Moorcroft book, this did not disappoint.

The Christmas love letters is about two romances - the one between Maddy and Raff that is unfolding in the present, and the one between Ruthie and Raff's (married) father, that happened in the past. The discussion of Ruthie's affair is gentle and nuanced. There's some exploration of what it was like to have had a child out of wedlock in the 60s and 70s. There's a lot of strong emotional elements pulling in different directions in this book - long lost parents and siblings, blood family vs adopted family, living with a sick parent, living with the uncertainty when someone has disappeared ...
I found this book very moving. I also found an interesting exploration of how to help someone with waning sight live in their own home comfortably.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy.

Sue Moorcroft does it again with a thoughtful, romantic and heart-warming story for Christmas. In a change from her usual snowy Middledip setting, she takes us to Nelson's Bar, in Norfolk, where single mum Maddie acts as a carer for her great-aunt Ruth. She, Ruth and little Lyla form a strong unit, but when stranger Raff seeks out Ruth, claiming she had a long-term affair with his adopted father, it looks like Maddie's family dynamics are about to change. As Maddie learns the details of Ruth's star-crossed love affair with Nigel through their cherished love letters, she finds herself increasingly drawn to Raff. But there are so many complications in the way...
This was a strong story with an engrossing plot. I love that Sue Moorcroft keeps readers in the loop at all times - there are no unreliable narrators, no hidden surprises, just solid action that keeps the story moving on, sweeping the reader along with it, to find out what will happen next.
There is also so much emotion to be explored here - romantic love, family love, lost love and selfish love are all themes that affect the main players, and each has their own challenges to face before finding resolution.
And within it all are all the traditions of Christmas - a little girl looking forward to Santa's visit, mince pies and mulled wines, snowmen, fetes and nativity plays.
A charming and heart-warming seasonal read with emotional depth, lovely characters and a cracking plot. I loved it.

I can’t begin to say how much I loved this book. Maddy and her daughter Lyla were such wonderful characters along with Raff and ALL the others. This is a real heart warming read which kept me hooked from start to finish. A lovely magical Christmas read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this new festive Christmas book from Sue Moorcroft!! A really special unusual story which was totally fascinating, from the very beginning right through to the end!!
Maddy lives in her own unique family unit with her beloved aunt and 6 year old daughter in Nelson’s Bar on the far coast of Norfolk. After the disappearance of her husband nearly seven years ago, the oncoming winter and snow coming down is raising some last memories of him. When a stranger visits and upsets her aunt, some long hidden secret family history is revealed. How times have changed over the last fifty odd years, in beliefs, morals, and family life.
There are some great characters, and wonderful moments that are frustrating, funny, touching and beautiful. This book shows the complex emotions and insurmountable pathways through adoption and different types of family that we all know now but were unacceptable then. Sensitively written and well thought out.
Hugely enjoyable and now, one of my favourite Sue Moorcroft books!!! The story and people within these pages are still with me!
Thank you NetGalley and Avon books for the early read. What a brilliant Christmas book!! Hugely recommended!!

This is another Christmas treasure from Sue Moorcroft. Maddy had a difficult marriage with her Husband spending money they didn’t have. After a huge argument one night he disappeared before Maddy had been able to tell him that she was pregnant. She moved in with her elderly and poor sighted Aunt as her carer. Lyla was now 6 years old. A stranger arrived unexpectedly one day. He had some information for Aunt Ruthie about her greatest love from her past. A lovely story enfolds with lots of twists and turns into the run up to Christmas Day. I highly recommend this delightful read.

This is a beautifully written story with a holiday touch. The relationship between the characters is endearing, and the setting is picturesque. Truly enjoyed this story.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.