The Christmas Love Letters

A truly lovely story! The characters are beautifully written and the relationship between Maddy and Ruthie is delightful. A great story and highly recommended.

Another fantastic book from Sue Moorcroft. She never disappoints and this festive read was no exception! Maddy lives in Nelson’s Bar in Norfolk with her Aunt Ruthie and daughter Layla. Her husband Adey disappeared over six years ago and before he knew she was pregnant. No one knows where he is or even if he is alive. One day Raff knocks on the door with a bundle of love letters that he says were written by Aunt Ruthie to his dad Nigel. Set around Christmas this has romance, friendship, loss and shows how powerful words and love can be. I absolutely loved all the characters and felt that they were portrayed perfectly. They seem so real and you can imagine knowing them. A bonus for me is that I live in Norfolk and love reading books set in the area.

Classic Sue Moorcroft.

I enjoyed being back in Nelson’s Bar, Norfolk reading about Ruthie, Maddy and Raff. A Christmas novel with twists and turns in the present and the revelation of secrets from the past too as Ruthie shares her treasured love letters.

A romance between Maddy and Raff seems inevitable, as they help Ruthie heal wounds from her past, until Maddy receives a message about her own mystery and the world changes.

Sue Moorcroft has a skill of carrying you along with a story and leaving you wanting for more.

The Christmas Love Letters is a cosy festive novel by Sue Moorcraf.
The novel follows Maddy and her life in Nelson's bar. It is a beautiful story about love, deception, friendship and heartache. The perfect Christmas novel to cosy up with.
Sue Moorcraft's writing is beautiful and easy to follow. A truly beautiful novel that I highly recommend.
💖 Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and author for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

This is a very moving story about love in different forms and family relationships. With a beautiful Norfolk setting, and coming up to Christmas, this book has all the ingredients for a perfect read: it doesn’t disappoint. Highly enjoyable and I strongly recommend it!

Another success from Sue Moorcroft, who doesn't love a Christmas tale. Nice little tale to curl up with a blanket on a cold afternoon. Great characters to warm to with lots of ups and downs along the way

It's not Christmas without a Sue Moorcroft christmas novel!

I absolutely adore Sue Moorcroft and this book certainly didn't disappoint. I loved the characters, the heart-warming storyline and the snowy setting. Ticked every box for the perfect festive read.

The ideal book for reading cosied up in front of the fire with a hot chocolate.

I love books that deal with multi-generations of a family — these types of books and old time romances are so endearing for me. I loved the characters and the story development. It is really a heartwarming story . This book was moving with relatable characters. I really enjoyed the characters of Maddy and Ruthie — as their struggles felt realistic and relatable for me. So I enjoyed the family atmosphere, the romance story and coming together to resolve ones issues and misunderstanding with love. Another great book by this author — I always have enjoyed her Christmas books. Recommended !

Thank-you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK, Avon for this ARC . This is my honest review.

A charming, gentle story with characters you can warm to. I especially was rooting for kind-hearted Maddy whose husband disappeared suddenly and had not been heard of for seven years. She is down to earth, loving and loyal.
This being a Sue Moorcroft tale, there is of course romance, but as always there is so much more. Long kept family secrets surface, love letters are found and there are misunderstandings along the way.
A lovely read, just what's needed for the sun up to Christmas.

I'm a big fan of Sue Moorcroft books, they are heartwarming easy to read novels with likeable, relatable characters. This latest book is a delightful read set in my home county of Norfolk in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Its a perfect read to get you into the festive spirit. A cosy book that wraps you in a big hug.

This book was just the perfect Christmas read. Really heartwarming, I was in tears at least twice, of the happy variety! It took me until about a quarter of the way into it to really get in to the story but once I did I couldn’t put it down and finished it within a day. I loved the way the back story of Ruthie and Nigel’s love letters was interwoven with the main plot and the books ending was just perfection. Highly recommend!

I love a Sue Moorcroft Christmas book! This one is no different, our heroine is Maddy and she lives with her daughter and Great Aunty Ruthie. However their normal mundane daily life is shocked when stranger Raff turns up with love letters from Ruthie's past. A heartfelt, emotional Christmas read, I loved it!

A captivating read, full of relatable characters and emotional ups and downs that can be enjoyed any time of the year. I was rooting for Maddie and Raff all the way, and love how the story was told from both their viewpoints. Raff came into Maddy’s life with a bunch of love letters that revealed a huge secret regarding her Great Aunt Ruthie, who Maddy adores and cares for. Secrets, heartbreak, the mystery of a disappearing husband and lots of love and laughter are woven together into a wonderful, heartwarming story. Sue never fails to deliver, she really is an accomplished author.

Another brilliant read from Sue Moorcroft full of emotional ups and downs along the way. Definitely a winter book with a Christmassy note to curl up in a cosy corner with lots of heartwarming moments. Delightful character depiction set in a Norfolk village. Enjoyable book about ordinary folk dealing with different problems.

I love this author’s books. They are quick reads that suck you in and make you want more. Giving me all the Christmas vibes.

I love a good romance, and this one was wonderful! It had witty banter, and lovable characters. I was rooting for them the whole way through!

Maddy Austen is in limbo, after her husband went missing almost 7 years ago, leaving her almost destitute and, unknown to him, pregnant with their daughter, Lyla. Now living with and caring for her great aunt Ruthie, she is totally unprepared when Raff comes to the door with a handful of love letters.

This is such a lovely read, about trust, courage, innocence and love. Although with this genre of books, you know it’s going to end well it’s the way the author gets to the end that’s the key. This is done so well, and pleasingly, that, although this takes place over the winter, with Christmas playing a big part, it’s a read for any time of the year. The characters are well formed, not perfect, but like real people. I love Lyla, Ruthie and Maddy, and you are rooting for the family all the way to the end. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Why has nobody ever told me how wonderful @suemoorcroftauthor books are?

You should know by now that I love a Christmas backdrop to a novel, and I had to request the ARC when I saw the gorgeous cover of the Christmas Love Letters.

Seven years ago, Mddy's husband Adey disappeared after an argument and never was seen again. Maddy & her now 6 year old daughter Lyla moved in with her great aunt Ruthie. Ruthie is elderly and with impaired vision,and Maddy works as her carer. Their lives in Nelson's Bar are interrupted when one day a man called Raff turns up at their house. He brings some love letters, which Ruthie wrote many years ago. From here, the story unfolds to a surprised Maddy and exposing a family secret. Maddy can't help but feel attracted to Raff, but suddenly, she receives these mysterious text messages.

The Christmas Love Letters is a beautiful festive story about family & love.

Sue Moorcroft’s writing is warm and full of humour, her characters well rounded and brought so vividly to life you almost feel as though you know them.

There are several little stories in the book, but they all tie in together. I adore Maddy and her ability to bounce back from heartache. She is so protective over her family and always puts herself last. Adorable Lyla reminds us all how exciting the festive season is for children. There are some great characters supporting Maddy. At times, I wanted to bang Maddy and Raff head together as they really needed to sort their communication. Oh, and let's not get me started with the love letters. I couldn't help but shed a tear.

Get cosy with a  blanket and get yourself lost in this uplifting, warm-hearted, and feel-good tale.

Thank you, @netgalley, @avonbooksuk, and @suemoorcroftauthor for the opportunity to read the ARC of The Christmas Love Letters.

Puplication Date 26.10.2023

I have now bought one of Sue's previous books and added another one to my Kindle wishlist. I have some catching up to do!

Free courtesy of Netgalley. It is no surprise that I am a huge Sue Moorcroft fan and this book is amazing. I fell in love with all the characters and desperately wanted them all to have a happy ending.

Maddy and her husband lived quite happily together until one night they had a huge row about money and Adey just disappeared not knowing that his wife was pregnant and facing bankruptcy.

Forward 6 years and Maddy and her daughter have moved in with her Aunt Ruthy and have the job of her carer. One Morning, she comes back to the house after going shopping and finds a stranger sitting with Ruthy. He has brought some letters with him that were found when his father died.

Raff and his sister are looking for answers and this is a secret that Ruthy has been keeping for decades.

With this secret destroy the little family that Maddy has built and what affect with this secret have on her future ?

This is a beautiful book and well written, the twists and turns pulls at your heartstrings. I would recommend that everyone buys and reads this book

It was an absolute pleasure to return to Nelson’s Bar and meet Maddy, Lyla, and Great Aunt Ruthie. Their backstories were carefully yet beautifully drawn. Maddy, a single mother whose husband simply disappeared before even learning of her pregnancy and Ruthie, Maddy’s maiden aunt who has shown her the love and support that seemed to be too much to expect from her own parents.
Both Maddy and Ruthie are at the centre of this story which deals with a number of serious topics while maintaining the ease and balance that is now synonymous with Sue Moorcroft’s writing. All Sue’s books are remarkable, but when it comes to Christmas books, she really does sit with a higher level of storytellers.
For the absolute avoidance of spoilers, I will remain within the constraints of the synopsis which tells us that Raff enters Maddy’s life when he delivers some love letters to Ruthie. Love letters that Ruthie never imagined seeing again as they have the power to unleash some secrets that may be too painful to revisit.
The relationship between Maddy and Ruthie was incredibly special, and I loved how fiercely Maddy protected her Aunt. In her mind, Ruthie is more of a mother than an aunt, a sentiment that I completely identify with. Eager to protect her, Maddy discourages Raff from further contact, but there is a definite spark between the two of them.
The problem with secrets is that the truth always comes out eventually, and when Maddy’s own life is hit by a revealed secret, she is challenged beyond her expectations to protect everyone that she cares for whilst still doing the right thing.
I have to take my hat off to Sue, her writing never ceases to amaze me and her talent for storytelling is stellar. This book left me feeling euphoric yet slightly winded by the incredibly romantic conclusion. Would happily award all the stars but will settle for 5.

Huge fan of Sue Moorcroft and love their work. This story was fabulous and certainly didn’t disappoint. A perfect Christmas story with great characters and meaningful development. Definitely recommend for your festive reading this year.

What a fantastic cosy read. Hunker down with a blanket a cuppa and a few hours to get lost in the fantastic writings of Sue Moorcroft.
Maddie is stuck in no man’s land when her husband disappeared nearly 7 years ago. With nothing to say he’s dead or alive who can be sending these disturbing texts. Meanwhile she has moved on with her daughter and her great aunt and is doing fine until Raff appears in her life bringing challenges to herself and her aunt.
Loved this book as usual Sue takes you to a magical place where you would love to live .
Highly recommended

This @suemoorcroftauthor book isn’t out until October, but I suggest you pre-order now! 🎄❄️⛄️

What a wonderful, feel good Christmas story. I haven’t read any Sue Moorecroft books previously, but I’ll certainly be checking out her others. It’s an easy book to read, but also has depth and characters that you’ll easily fall in love with. What are the letters about? You’ll have to read and find out. Highly recommended for a fun, all the feels festive book.

Such a beautiful story full of sadness and love. This book will keep you hooked in while you follow the story, both old and new!

Impossible to put down!

Such a lovely read, good characters and great storyline, bit of mystery mixed with a love story from this lovely author
My thanks as always to NetGalley and Avon Books for the early read

I loved it! A beautiful festive story about love, loss, heartbreak and happy endings.
Mandy looks after her great Aunt Ruthie after her husband disappeared 7 years ago. Life ticks along happily until the day Raff arrives and announces who he is.
Bringing Ffion and Chloe into Maddy and Lylas life.
I loved the cover it is absolutely stunning. The cover is what draws me into a Christmas book and this one definitely went about and beyond.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this festive bauble in a book.

The Christmas Love Letters is the first novel I’ve read from Ms. Moorcroft, and I didn’t realise what I’d been missing until now. Not only did I find her romance with a difference utterly unputdownable, but she kindled all my emotions. But what grabbed my attention was her nonlinear narrative, keeping the mystery of two families’ predicaments alive and, more importantly, making me feel like I was right where I should be.

Through the eyes of Raffety Edmonds and Maddy Cracey Austen, they voice their thoughts in the third person, giving me a bird’s eye view of their doubts and fears and how they would deal with them. But what I liked most was how Ms. Moorcroft had woven abundant intrigue into the story–the letters for one, a disappearance for another. And the setting is breathtaking! Even though I’m familiar with Norfolk, I would love to visit the enchanting seaside town of Nelson’s Bar near the edge of a clifftop.

I quickly learned that Maddy had been left in a tight spot when things fell apart. Even though her past was troubled, that never stopped her from being a problem solver. I can’t tell you how much her tenaciousness, her ability to bounce back and how she protected her loved ones touched my heart. She and her spirited young daughter move in with her great-aunt, whom she gladly takes care of. So when a bearer of secrets appears out of the blue, their humble life is thrown for a loop.

The bearer is Raff, whose scruffy good looks and charm great-niece and aunt appreciate, myself included–not letting on; I’m sure you’ll love what he does for a living. Apart from his gorgeousness, there is so much more to this man and his roots, which Maddy will discover at a very agreeable pace. Frankly, it felt like he was opening Pandora’s Box. While surprises are in store for her, why is her aunt and she so eager for him to keep in touch? Their reasons are related to the same difference; however, when Maddy starts to receive unsettling messages–the twist I never saw coming fueled the story to the point that I was utterly dumbfounded and seething angry.

A good story needs conflict to give it that real-life feel, and Maddy had her fair share with an individual who went out of his way to rattle her cage. I also disliked him and clocked his transparency sooner than she did. That said, great secondary characters surround her, always willing to lend a hand or give her sound advice. Raff tries to do his best for everyone concerned but doesn’t escape from a couple of complexities. Yes, angst abounds, and I wallowed in every second of it.

My. Ooh. My! The letters! Who wrote them is for you to find out, but Maddy read them with such sensitivity that I wasn’t the only one to shed a tear. I had no idea how to put my thoughts down as her and Raff’s stories come together in a way that left this reader lost for words. I honestly cannot recommend this Xmas romance enough. Bravo, Ms Moorcroft!

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Magical Moorcroft strikes again with a Christmas Cracker that will fill your heart to the brim!
A wonderful story of love, deception, friendship, heartache, village life and family. Family dynamics that show that when you come together everything is possible. Mix all that in with the magic of Christmas.
I have laughed and cried but most of all finished this book feeling happy and satisfied.

Sue Moorcroft always has the most gorgeous books and I am so excited for Th Christmas Love Letters!
I am so interested to read about what becomes of Mandy’s husband after that epic row. Also how the mysterious Raff comes into her life and how their love story develops. It has mystery, love, and beautiful Norfolk scenery what’s not to love? Readers are going to devoir this one this upcoming holiday season.

Set in Nelson’s Bar, a friendly Norfolk village, Maddie has been trying to keep on top of bills and expenses, caring for her daughter Lyla, and Great Aunt Ruthie. Her husband having deserted her several years ago, leaving her to manage on her own.
Maddie is caring for her Great Aunt Ruthie, when Raff, a handsome stranger arrives saying that his parents knew her. He has a collection of love letters, which opens up untold secrets from the past.
Romance begins with Raff and Maddie, and chemistry sizzles, though there are various problems and misunderstandings to overcome in this steadily developing relationship.
I like Maddie’s strong, determined personality, and her selfless devotion to her family and friends. You can empathise with her strength of character, and Raff seems a perfect match.
The story is about community, relationships and family secrets, told in a tender way with a touch of humour to keep you turning the pages. With the snowy village getting ready for Christmas, this is a heartwarming festive romance.

A winter’s tale centres around some old love letters brought into a modern family setting. Sue’s novels are always written with such believable characters, you are quickly drawn into them and I found this difficult to put down. The central character Maddy is delightful, but has been through tough times, not of her own making and we follow her through more. A self contained family of Maddy, gorgeous daughter Layla and Great Aunt Ruthie have their lives turned upside gown before there can be any chance of a happy ending and it is great waiting to find out. So good!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I don't think I have ever read a Christmas book so early in the year before but the chance to read an advance copy of Sue Moorcroft's latest Christmas novel early in August was just too tempting to refuse. Sue has the knack of slowly drawing her readers in so we get to know and care about her characters and their problems. And Maddy and her elderly aunt Ruthie have a good few of those to deal with, including a missing husband, the return of a long lost daughter, and a budding romance threatened by all the usual misunderstandings. It is an old box of love letters that sets events off and continues to hold the story together as Maddy discovers things about Ruthie that she could never have imagined and the past comes back to bring huge changes to both women's lives. As I neared the end of the story I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen during this very special snowy Christmas in the village of Nelsons Bar. A lovely and engrossing five star read

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and loved the characters of Maddy, Lyla and Ruthie. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure. Ruthie's story was sad at times a story of true love and very difficult decisions she made. The family coming together was beautifully written. A real page turner with its twists and turns.

A really good read. Snow everywhere, bad weather, and a mystery missing husband. A mix of great aunties and friends and a cute little girl all mixed up with a bit of romance. The letters and text messages underpin the plot and weave it all together well. Bits of intrigue, the idiocy and infantilism of the husband is exposed and the final romance exposed through letters sews the book up.

Ah, just beautiful. Mandy’s life has been difficult but has started to settle again when Raff turns up. And romance is in the air! Raff shares the love letters he brought and add into the mix Christmas and the Norfolk coast and you are in for a magical treat!

Another brilliant book from Sue. Maddy had a seemingly wonderful until her husband Adey left and wasn't seen again not knowing she was pregnant. She went to live with her great Aunt Ruthie when she finds some shocking news

Oh my. Sue Moorcroft at her best. Read in one sitting . Could not put it down.. You follow Maddy, her daughter and her great aunt Ruthie. Hidden love, real deceit , loving children and some great twists. It was just a brilliant read. I absolutely loved it.The power of love letters are amazing and dangerous . Sadly the younger generation won’t have that. Just read it.