Fiction Ed’s Book Review
It sounds idyllic….Leah’s been invited to join her sister on summer holiday in a gite in France. Except that Michele’s just left her husband – quite unexpectedly, not least for Alister himself.
Leah accepts the invite so that she can be there for her. But then Alister decides he’ll still go, too and Michele wants Leah still to come as a buffer.
Her trip doesn’t sound so idyllic now, does it?
And poor Leah’s life only gets more complicated once they’re all there in the gite. For a start, the inevitable tension between Michele and Alister, already taut as a bowstring, isn’t helped when she reveals that she’s pregnant…
In the mix are also their two young teenagers, never easy company at the best of times. And then there’s the truth about why she’s chucked Alister out of the family home.
Does the handsome helicopter pilot next door offer hope for Leah enjoying something about this holiday? Well, he has his own story, his own demons – and his own teenage son, so you can make up your own mind!
Sue Moorcroft has been writing fiction for many years, including short stories and serials for “The People’s Friend” itself. With all that experience, she’s adept both at capturing characters that the reader can really relate to, and the ordinariness of family life and turning it into compelling drama.
Leah herself is practical, likeable, a good sister, and Ronan – the helicopter pilot – the perfect heroic foil for her. This book about a far from idyllic holiday is just the dab for reading on your own summer break.
“Just For The Holidays” by Sue Moorcroft is out now in paperback and e-book on HarperCollins’ Avon imprint, price £7.99.
And Sue has returned to her writing roots and written a short story especially for “People’s Friend” readers. Read “Surf’s Up” in Special 143, on sale July 12, with an exclusive interview with Sue herself.
