Welcome to my Twelve Books for Christmas blog. Over the next twelve days I’ll be introducing you to twelve romance books to warm your heart and make you feel all Christmassy. They’ll all make wonderful presents for a friend, or you could even treat yourself. And kicking off the blog is Sunday Times Bestselling author, Sue Moorcroft. Sue’s latest Christmas books, Under the Mistletoe, takes us back to the wonderful village of Middledip which often features in Sue’s books.
Blurb
Snuggle up with a mince pie, a cup of cocoa and the most heartwarming book this Christmas from the bestselling Sue Moorcroft.
Christmas. A time for family, friends – and rekindling old flames…
When Laurel returns to the village of Middledip, she’s looking for a quiet life. Adjusting to her recent divorce, she’s ready to spend some time getting back on her feet amidst the glorious snow-dusted countryside.
Yet, life in Middledip is far from straightforward. Coming to the aid of her sister, Rea, as she navigates her own troubles, Laurel barely has a moment to think about where her own life is going.
However, time stands still when she sees her old flame, Grady Cassidy – and it’s soon as if they’ve never been apart. But through her happiness, Laurel remembers why she left the village all those years ago, as she recalls a dark night and Grady’s once-wayward brother, Mac…
Can Laurel learn to forgive and forget? Or will her chances of Christmas under the mistletoe with Grady remain a dream?
I’ve read the book and highly recommend it. If you fancy reading it too, you can get a copy here: https://books2read.com/MoorcroftUTM
Now over to Sue, who is going to talk about Middledip at Christmas
Readers of Sue Moorcroft books might already be familiar with Middledip, ‘my’ village set in Cambridgeshire, gazing out onto the Fens. As might be expected of a setting for several Christmas novels, it’s an often-wintry landscape and Christmas trees grace every window.
The village pub, the Three Fishes, is so blinged-up that it rivals Santa’s Grotto. Either Carola or Janice sell Christmas raffle tickets – often when other characters are in the midst of an important conversation – and the Middledip singing group, the Middletones, burst into seasonal songs. Their signature piece is ‘Let it Snow’, the title of the book in which they first appeared. Most importantly, the pub provides Christmas Day lunch for those who don’t have another place to go. Whoever’s running the pub cooks it to give the kitchen staff Christmas Day off. Secret Santa is obligatory, of course.
A road in the Bankside Estate has begun entering the Cambridgeshire Christmas Street Competition for the street with most impressive lights and decorations. More about that next year!
Melanie at Booze & News, the village shop, doesn’t make her money from people doing their ‘big shop’ but she’s there for all the little things. If the villagers realise on Christmas Eve that they’ve forgotten the stuffing or auntie has drunk the sherry already, Melanie will be open till late – now she’s over her hysterectomy.
The Angel Community Café is famous for shortbread Christmas angels dipped in chocolate. Makes me hungry just to think of them! Yule coffees such as cinnamon shot adorn the menu in November and the back room’s used by groups such as Craft Stuff, where everybody’s making festive cards and wreaths. Carola, who runs The Angel, knows that hosting events brings in customers.
The Christmas Fair usually takes place in the village hall. For a short while, the village hall was out of commission as the roof became unsafe, but the funding was found to make it fully functional again. The ‘old folks’ have a party there. Carola heads up both the Angel Café and the village hall committee, so she doesn’t mind where folks party – so long as it’s not outside the village.
Art December’s new for Under the Mistletoe. I borrowed this lovely idea from Beryl, a member of Team Sue Moorcroft. Arty crafty villagers fill their windows with their makes – much of it Christmassy or Christmas-gifty, of course – and a google map shows everyone where the windows are. It’s a bit like a community art gallery, or Etsy come to life.
Acting Instrumental, the performing arts college, is just outside the village. The students put on a Christmas show – it can be a bit wacky, but what do you expect from a rock school?
So, that’s a quick tour of Middledip at Christmas. Expect every lamppost to be swathed in Christmas lights and a snowman to stand sentry at the primary school gates.
And, behind cottage doors, dramas unfold…
Thanks for the tour, Sue. It sounds gorgeously festive.
If you fancy treating someone, or yourself, to a copy of Under the Mistletoe you can get one here: https://books2read.com/MoorcroftUTM
Meet Sue
Bio
Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times bestselling author. She’s reached the coveted #1 spot on Amazon Kindle UK and Top 100 on Kindle US. She’s won the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Novel of the Year, Readers’ Best Romantic Novel award and the Katie Fforde Bursary.
Her novels, short stories, serials, columns, writing ‘how to’ and courses have appeared around the world.
Website: www.suemoorcroft.com
Facebook.com/suemoorcroftauthor
Instagram: @suemoorcroftauthor
Or you can just use Sue’s Link Tree.
Thanks so much for dropping by to tell us about Middledip, Sue. Wishing you a very merry Christmas😊
Karen King – Writing about the light and dark of relationships.
Amazon Author Page: https://tinyurl.com/y2q5audb
Website: https://karenkingauthor.com/
Karen King: Author 
Thanks so much for allowing me to kick off your 12 Blogs of Christmas, Karen. 🙂 It’s a pleasure to post on your lovely blog. x
Delighted to have you here, Sue. xx
Reblogged this on John Jackson – Author.