Published 6th November 2025 by Avon.
From the cover of the book:
Can the happiest time of year heal the most broken of hearts?Georgine loves Christmas. The festive season always brings the little village of Middledip to life. But since her ex-boyfriend walked out, leaving her with crippling debts, Georgine’s struggled to make ends meet.
To keep her mind off her worries, she throws herself into organising the Christmas show at the local school. And when handsome Joe Blackthorn becomes her assistant, Georgine’s grateful for the help. But there’s something about Joe she can’t quite put her finger on. Could there be more to him than meets the eye?
Georgine’s past is going to catch up with her in ways she never expected. But can the help of friends old and new make this a Christmas to remember after all?
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Georgine France normally loves the run up to Christmas, but this year is doing its best to dim her sparkle. Her ex-boyfriend has left her burdened with debts (and debt collectors knocking on her door), her father is recovering from a stroke, and her younger sister has moved in. It's a lot to cope with. Her solace is the sheer joy she gets from her job as Events Director at Acting Instrumental, a performing arts college, and she has plenty to distract her organising this year's Christmas production.
When a new staff member, Joe Blackthorn, joins the college staff, he is allocated to Georgine as her assistant. She can certainly use the help, but there is something weird about his arrival, and she cannot fathom why he feels so familiar...
The book unfurls from the perspectives of Georgine and Joe. Moorcroft does a lovely job weaving together past and present to reveal how, and why, Georgine feels a connection with Joe, while delving into their current trials and tribulations. Charcteristically, Moorcroft loads their story with heavy themes (this time around poverty, financial troubles, and the legacy of dysfunctional childhoods), but these dovetail into more lighthearted elements, and all the threads tie up in an uplifting ending.
Much of the story revolves around music, and the performing arts, and if you are a fan of college-set tales you will find lots to please you. I very much enjoyed the variety of characters - and they way they all pulled together.
Definitely not an overtly Christmassy story, but it has bags of warmth with festive undertones. And the ending hits the 'ahh' spot nicely!
A Christmas Gift is available to buy now in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audio formats.
Thank you to Avon for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
About the author:
The daughter of two soldiers, Sue was born in Germany and went on to spend much of her childhood in Malta and Cyprus. She likes reading, Zumba, FitStep, yoga, and watching Formula 1.
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