Is This Love?

Middledip #4

by Sue Moorcroft

When Tamara Rix's sister Lyddie is involved in a hit-and-run accident that leaves her in need of constant care, Tamara resolves to remain in the village she grew up in. Tamara would do anything for her sister, even sacrifice a long-term relationship.

But when Lyddie's teenage sweetheart Jed Cassius returns to Middledip, he brings news that shakes the Rix family to their core. Jed's life is shrouded in mystery, particularly his job, but despite his strange background, Tamara can t help being intrigued by him.

Can Tamara find a balance between her love for Lyddie and growing feelings for Jed, or will she discover that some kinds of love just don't mix?

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Womens Fiction, Contemporary, Family

318 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times bestselling author and has held the coveted #1 spot in the Amazon Kindle chart. She's won the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Romantic Novel Award, the Readers Best Romantic Read Award, two HOLT medallions and the Katie Fforde Bursary. She writes contemporary fiction of life and love.

She also writes short stories, serials, articles, columns, courses and writing 'how to'.

An army child, Sue was born in Germany then lived in Cyprus, Malta and the UK. She's worked in a bank, as a bookkeeper (probably a mistake), as a copytaker for Motor Cycle News and for a typesetter, but is pleased to have wriggled out of all 'proper jobs'.

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Website: www.suemoorcroft.com
Twitter: @suemoorcroft
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Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tamara Rix, a yoga instructor, has a disabled sister called Lyddie who was seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident when they were teens. When Jed Cassius comes back into her life - Lyddie’s old boyfriend, from before her accident - and says that his father was the driver responsible, it throws everyone’s lives into chaos. Then Tamara’s boyfriend Max leaves, just as she is approached to become a private yoga teacher for Emilia, the stay-at-home wife of a very rich businessman for whom Jed happens to be first lieutenant. A welcome return to Middledip and Sue Moorcroft does it again, skilfully blending romance and passion (this is probably her raunchiest book yet), with a keen eye for family life and coping with disabilities and topping it all off with pacey thriller elements. I liked Tamara a lot, she’s a strong character with real depth and her interplay with Jed is a real highlight, just as her relationship with Lyddie is moving and touching. Great characterisation, a keen sense of location and time and a gripping pace all add up to another winner. Highly recommended.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sue Moorcroft’s books have long been one of my guilty pleasures. I now know Middledip so well I could show tourists round, and it’s been so lovely to be back there for her latest. This is a really well told story. Tamara is a yoga instructor, ready to buy a house with her comfortable long-term boyfriend Max, when he lands a job in another part of the country. Tamara can’t just leave – she has a disabled sister, Lyddie, whose heart would be broken if she left. Tamara has her own home on the new estate on the outskirts of Middledip (you know the one...) but rarely does a day go by when she doesn’t spend time at her parents’ home with Lyddie. Things get interesting when Jed Cassius – Lyddie’s boyfriend before the accident that caused her disability - and his brother return to the village, and Tamara’s life becomes entwined with their mysterious employers.

I love Sue Moorcroft’s writing. Her characters always have depth and complexity, with real issues that are never laboured in a way that would spoil the essential “feel good” nature of her books, but always have an authenticity about them. Lyddie is an absolute triumph with her “love” for everything from cake to llamas and beyond, her enthusiasms and her unpredictable need for the toilet. Tamara’s a thoroughly likeable heroine too – despite the fact that you want to shake her for some of the decisions she makes. Jed Cassius? Well he’s simply gorgeous . And there’s a whole cast of well-rounded characters in support. Gabe, the ex bank manager with his pony and trap and the animals that Lyddie loves, is wonderful. And I had a lot of sympathy for her mother – unable to return to work as a teacher, struggling with tensions in her marriage. And I won’t even start to say how fascinated I was by Jed’s employers who drive the narrative as well as being fascinating in themselves.

If it’s rainy and cold outside, or you’ve just had a tough week, this is the book for you. It’s a rich exploration of the nature of many kinds of love, but is also a really good story to escape into.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this on audio book.

This has been a truly wonderful entertaining story from start to finish, I was expecting it to be just a romance sort of story but it was so much more than that.

I loved getting to know all of the characters and wondering who was being honest & who wasn't.

I also loved how part of the story was set in my hometown of Peterborough which I hadn't realised prior to starting this.

I've read/listened to a few of Sue books nows and I can truly say that they have all been wonderful.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Sue Moorcroft did not disappoint. Her characterisation is simply flawless and I love how she must go through some intense research to have such varied and well-rounded characters. Lyddie was simply adorable. I always miss Middledip and am so glad to have been able to return again. My only criticism, where was Ratty? ;)

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant contemporary novel with a very strong hero and heroine, both of whom have had to adapt to a life which is far from what they may have dreamed of when they were younger. Tamara is stuck in the village where she grew up - following an accident, her older sister Lyddie is a child in an adult’s body who needs constant care, and Tamara is happy to help look after her. She can’t envisage ever leaving and sacrifices a lot to stay near her sister. Jed, on the other hand, has just returned to the village and has the unenviable task of telling Tamara’s family who caused Lyddie’s accident all those years ago. Although a relationship between Tamara and Jed seems impossible, sparks fly from the very first moment and I loved their interaction. Jed is a fantastic hero, strong, silent and gorgeous, but at the same time wary and damaged. And Tamara’s bond with Lyddie is lovely to read about, their relationship poignant. I read this novel in one sitting and couldn’t put it down – highly recommended!

[Anne Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read all Sue Moorcroft's books and thoroughly enjoyed them. This one took me by surprise a little as there's more than a hint of darkness in it. Sue excels in gorgeous heros and Jed Cassius is no exception. He fairly sizzles off the page. I wasn't as sure about Tamara; I felt like giving her a shake sometimes for being so gullible about Emilia, who has employed Tamara as a yoga instructor. Sue always includes more depth in her novels. This one includes topics such as caring for a brain-damaged woman (Tamara's older sister), surveillance techniques, money laundering, care of alpacas (cut!), all combined with her usual brand of hot romance. There was so much to this book that I need to read it again, and soon, to more thoroughly absorb it.

[Sall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic read that kept me enthralled throughout. I love that for the first time in a potentially very girly novel one of the main characters had a disability...something I have rarely come across before and something I wish was done more often. I also found myself in love with the yoga in the book, I do enjoy yoga but I loved how Tamara used it with Lyddie to help calm her down...a fantastic idea and something I shall try to remember.

However, I've dropped a star because the end had too many unanswered questions.

Where did Manny go?
Did he contact Jed and Tamara?
Did Cheryl take the money from Jed?
Did Lyddie get to disneyland?
What did Jed do for work?
What was Sean up to when "working late"?
Did Mr H find Emilla?

[Holly is Happy Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is about Tamara who has been taking care of her sister Lydia since she had her accident and is not mentally capable. Lydia was in a car crash and she finds out that it was her old boyfriends dad Jed Cassius. He reveals to Tamara it was his dad. Tamara and Jed end up together and I find this to be okay because it was his dad that caused the accident but I just found this book to have a boring plot.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

As Tamara and Jed draw closer, readers are drawn into life in the English town of Middledip.

Read full review in the 2014 February issue of InD’tale Magazine.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Sue Moorcroft's novel IS THIS LOVE and it was absolutely wonderful!

[M.J. Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pacing of the novel is perfect, with a good balance between romance, drama, and humour. The author expertly weaves multiple storylines together, keeping the reader engaged and invested in the characters' lives. As the story unfolds, the characters face unexpected challenges and setbacks, but ultimately find their way back to each other.

Overall, "Is This Love?" is a delightful read that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. With its relatable characters, charming setting, and a heartwarming storyline, this book is a must-read for fans of romance and contemporary fiction. Sue Moorcroft has done an excellent job of creating a touching and captivating story that will stay with readers long after they have finished the last page.

[Heli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet book. Tamara's sister Lyddie was in an accident years ago and has remained childlike and needing constant care and supervision afterwards. In the beginning we find out who drove the car that hit Lyddie. Each family member deals with the news their own way. I liked the description of what life can be like with a mentally handicapped person. It felt real because I too work with mentally handicapped people. There is also a romance, yoga, some shenanigans and most important of all llamas. The characters were all likable, although I did not feel the chemistry between Tamara and Jed. Nicely written and interesting story.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audio book which at times made uncomfortable listening but the narrator dealt very well with Lyddie's disability. It's a complicated story with mostly believable characters. Lovely to return to Middledip of course.

[Jennsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A yoga instructor with a sister who was in a hit-and-run accident and disabled meets an old admirer who moved back into town and ends up working for a rich couple. There are a couple of twists (expected). I found the story a bit slow-paced .

[Elva Cartwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is This Love? (Middledip Series Book 4)

I certainly was Love, wrapped up in a poignant story of two families. A magical love story woven with hurt and criminal activities. You have to read it to understand. I recommend you read this series written beautifully by Sue Moorcroft.

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't love it

Didn't like the Jed character as I didn't like Ratty in the first book. Domineering, all about sex, just didn't sit right these women would be OK with his words or behaviour.

[Jodie Paustian · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Middledip books!

[Julie Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely

I loved this book from the first page to the last. I love Libby and the love she had for her family and the animals.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was a lot more than I expected ( thinking cosy romance) there was a lot more going on and quite a few twists in the plot.
Nicely narrated

[Miranda Beer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abrupt ending

Would have been good to know what happened to Mr H and Manny. I just felt it ended very suddenly.

[Catherine Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that there was more to it than just a romance, but of a thriller too. But didn't really believe they would get together after everything that happened. Bit too smutty.

[Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just love sues books. I get so lost in them.

[Diane Wilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this wonderful book down. Twist and turns and so thoughtfully written.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sue Moorcroft skilfully interweaves family drama, romantic comedy and nail-biting suspense in her irresistible novel, Is This Love?

Life had changed irrevocably for Tamara Rix and her family when her sister Lyddie had been the victim of a hit-and-run accident. The once vivacious, energetic and independent Lyddie now needed constant care and attention. Yoga instructor Tamara is used to putting her sister first. Despite her fragile relationship with her mother, Tamara would do absolutely anything for Lyddie – even if it means having to put her own personal happiness on the back burner for the sake of her sister. Leaving the tiny village of Middledip is simply not an option for Tamara, however, life in the small village is about to get a whole lot more interesting when Lyddie’s old boyfriend, Jed Cassius, strides back into town. As a teenager, Tamara had a huge crush on Jed, but he’d always seen her as Lyddie’s annoying little sister. When Jed returns, he is shocked by how much the accident has changed his former girlfriend – and by how grown-up Tamara is now! However, Jed hasn’t just come back to Middledip for old times’ sake. He has got a confession to make and a right to wrong. But how will Tamara and her family react when they uncover the reason why he is back in town?

Tamara knows that she shouldn’t let herself be distracted by Jed’s killer physique and film star good looks. With her work schedule to juggle, a long-term relationship to keep going and Lyddie to look after, she’s certainly got a lot on her plate. Another complication is the last thing she needs. However, Tamara is unable to stop herself from thinking about Jed – or from wishing that things could be different between them. With her mother having already prohibited anyone from their family to have anything to do with Jed, Tamara knows that she should give him as wide a berth as possible. But when Jed comes up with a lucrative job proposition for her, Tamara is well aware that she’d be a fool to refuse – even if she does have some reservations…

Jed has never been forthcoming about the true nature of his job as head of security for a rich billionaire – nor has he ever told anybody about his life after he’d left Middledip as a teenager. Although Tamara is well aware that she mustn’t probe, her attraction towards Jed compels her to get close to him and to uncover the secrets which he is keeping very close to his chest. As the walls which Jed had built around himself and his heart begin to crumble, he finds himself confiding in Tamara and things soon get pretty heated between them. But with so much opposition standing in their way, does their relationship have any chance of surviving?

Tamara cannot deny that she’s attracted to Jed, but is she willing to sacrifice everything she holds dear to her heart for a man who seems to thrive on danger and deceit? Will their love triumph over all this adversity? Or has their relationship been doomed from the start?

Is This Love? is a fantastic page-turner about the ties that bind, forbidden attraction and learning to trust that I found absolutely impossible to put down! Don’t let the bright purple cover fool you – this is not light-hearted chick lit, but a compelling, dramatic and highly readable contemporary tale that deftly juggles steamy romance and witty repartee with serious issues such as the strain a life-changing accident can put on carers and their relationships and emotional abuse in marriages.

With its cast of wonderfully nuanced characters, delicious humour, red-hot passion and nail-biting drama, Is This Love? continues to confirm Sue Moorcroft’s standing as one of the most exciting and most gifted writers of contemporary women’s fiction writing today!

This review was originally published on Single Titles.

[Agi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by Sue Moorcroft that I had a pleasure to read and let me tell, it won't be the last, this I am sure.
The book introduces us to Tamara Rix and her older sister Lyddie. Lyddie is mentally an 11 - year - old after hit - and - run accident in her teenage years. Tamara feels guilty of the accident, feels that it was her fault that Lyddie was hit. But she loves her sister over all and would do anything for her. She will do her hair in Princess Leia style, she will go with her every day to admire the same puppies, she will do the same yoga exercises with her.
Tamara is a yoga - instructor and her relationship with Max comes to the end, because she doesn't want to move with him to another town when he gets a new job offer. She is not going to leave Lyddie alone.
Meet Jed. He comes back to the village after years of absence and surprises the family with unexpected news about the accident. He and his brother Manny are also working as ... who? bodyguards? minders? for the secret Mr. H and his wife. Then Tamara starts working for the isolated from the world wife of Mr. H. and soon finds that she is a part of the wife's game.

I really admire Sue Moorcroft that she wrote such incredible book about mental disability. Lyddie is wonderfully described, we get to know all her ups and downs and as the downs can be really extreme and not too pleasure, I didn't feel too overwhelmed with them. It is not easy to cope with such disability and Sue made it clear that the life of Rix family is not only bed of roses but they are coping and they are doing wonderful job. The relationship all the characters have Lyddie, let it be the family, or friends, of just normal people, is touching, is tender, is full of patience and understanding. It's really brilliantly written.
The characters themselves are also great. I liked Tamara from the very beginning, she's a tender, loving and loyal person and I was really curious what she's going to do with Jed, who was indeed Lyddie's teenage sweetheart. She has her moments of course as well, moments when I just shook my head and sighed, but altogether she's a very likeable, normal, warm person. And there are no easy ways for Tamara and her love life, oh no, she must fight with her conscience.
The other characters were also very likeable. Nothing was obvious and I was wrong more than twice, thinking that I know what's going to happen, so brilliant, not predictable and full of surprises! The love between Tamara and Jed was also not so obvious with happen, with their past and with actual problems. I must admit that I'm missing such characters like Jed in the books that I read, please more Jeds! Strong - minded, handsome, brave and intelligent, I loved the interaction between him and Tamara and his determination to make things good.

This book has it all. Drama, almost crime, family issues, affairs, secret lovers and funny moments. Oh yes, there was a moment that I was really laughing out loud. But there were also things that made my eyes water. It was also brilliantly, engagingly written and I enjoyed every page of this story. It had a right pace, enough action and was skilfully written, with a lot of subplots that kept me hooked all the time. The characters had depth, complexity and intelligence. I really loved this book and am looking forward to more Sue's books. And this one I highly recommend.

I received a copy of this book from publisher in exchange for a review.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is This Love? is set in a fictional large village; Middledip and although the cover is a mass of pink hearts, this is not just a story of love and romance, it is a story of the sort of love that keeps a family afloat through the toughest of times. Yes, there's a good dose of romance and a perfectly adorable leading man, but the overarching theme of this story is that of sibling love.

Tamara loves her sister Lyddie, she adores her and will do anything to make Lyddie's life easier - styling her hair in the fashion of Stars Wars characters, eating popcorn, making sure that there are enough pink wafer biscuits to satisfy her and generally watching out for her. It's something of a shock to find that Lyddie is not Tamara's younger sister, in fact she is a good few years older than her - in body anyway. Lyddie was hurt in a hit and run accident many years ago, she suffered brain damage, and will always live life with the mind of a small child. The accident and it's after effects have shaped the entire family ever since.

Tamara and her boyfriend Max are splitting up. Max has a great new job, but it means moving away and Tamara just can't do that. When Lyddie's childhood sweetheart Jed arrives on the scene and delivers some devastating news to the family, Tamara is just not sure where to turn. Jed is gorgeous, she is attracted to him, but starting a relationship with him could rupture their whole family.

Sue Moorcroft is an incredibly accomplished author, she has created a wonderful cast of characters, playing out a marvellous story in a just fabulous setting. Lyddie is adorable and Jed is gorgeous. Tamara has her daft moments, but on the whole she's a pretty realistic character. Jed's employers are dark and mysterious, his brother Manny is significantly silent and the alpacas are just damn cute!

I enjoyed every page of this novel, it's the perfect anecdote to the cold, grey and damp weather outside. It's cheering, well plotted and a thoroughly great read.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's good to check in with British romance every now and again, not only to catch up with their version of English slang, but also to wallow in their famous reserve and low-key but heart-felt sentimentality. Moorcroft displays a lot of what's best about British romance in this novel of love blooming in a small village.

Tamara Rix and her parents are stunned when Jed Cassius shows up at Tamara's parents' front door. Jed had been the teenage boyfriend of her older sister Lyddie when Lyddie was hit by a car and the family's life had changed. Once a vibrant young teen, after the accident, Lyddie's development stagnated so that she mentally became a child.

Jed is stunned to see the changes in Lyddie which makes his visit doubly poignant since he is hoping to bring a kind of closure to the family. On his deathbed, Jed's father confessed that he's the one who hit Lyddie and fled the scene. His dying wish is for Jed to tell Lyddie's parents and offer monetary compensation as penance.

Cheryl, Lyddie's mom, is furious and refuses to consider accepting the money while Sean, Lyddie's father, is more forgiving. As the family struggles with whether to take the money or not, Jed offers Tamara a job as a private yoga instructor for his boss' rich, spoiled wife, who's having problems with her leg after a fall off a balcony.

Amid the daily drama of trying to live her own life and run her yoga business as well as helping her mother take care of her adult-sized yet childlike sister, Tamara remembers her childhood crush on Jed, and they start dating. But the caprices of his wealthy employer and the machinations of the employer's wife nearly upset their courtship.

In the U. S. Tamara would be a simmering character brimming over with resentment toward her sister and parents for truncating her life. She'd be plagued with guilt for wanting her sister's old boyfriend and regretful of her acrimonious relationship with her sister before the accident.

Read the rest of my review at All About Romance: http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/boo...

[Serendipity Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on www.serendipityreviews.co.uk

Why the hell haven’t I read a book by Sue Moorcroft before? I wasn’t supposed to start reading this book straight away, but I got sucked in as soon as Jed Cassius appeared on the page and I couldn’t put it down until I’d finished it.

Firstly, let’s talk about Jed. He is one of the hottest male characters I’ve read since meeting The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines. He just oozes sexual confidence, sizzling off the page and making you weak at the knees. There is a darkness to him, that bubbles just under the surface, but this just makes him even more sexy as the story progresses. You are never quite sure if he is going to turn out to be the right person for Tamara. Determined to win Tamara over, he will stop at nothing until she is his. The growing relationship between them just gets hotter and hotter as they skirt around each other.

The rest of the characters were delightful to read about and so well rounded. I loved Lyddie. She was so innocent and I just wanted to hug her and take care of her. Her relationship with Tamara was just beautiful – you could see from the beginning that Tamara would do anything for Lyddie. It wasn’t just out of guilt, her love for her sister shone through.

The plot was intriguing, with plenty of juicy sub plots to get your teeth into. I never saw the events of the second half of the book coming at all – they really took me by surprise. I love the way the author mixes difficult, real life situations with hot and steamy romance all running along a fast paced , thrilling path. Sue Moorcroft writes beautifully. The book is so descriptive that you can actually visualise every little detail of the book. The author must have carried out extensive research in order to write such a detailed story.

I really really loved this book and I intend to recommend it to everyone I know. I may now need to invest in Sue Moorcroft’s back catalogue because I desperately need to read them all.

[Chris Torretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this wound up being a really cute book, it took me a bit to get into. At first I wasn’t feeling anything for the characters, especially the main character Tamara. Jed shows up and Tamara starts to open up a bit but prior to that I felt like she was shrunk into herself, doing what everyone wanted her to do and nothing for herself. It doesn’t help that her boyfriend, Max, doesn’t understand her at all. I think that led to me questioning what she really wanted to do with her life.

Funnily enough Lyddie is who really brings that best out of everyone. Tamara really becomes herself around Lyddie, it’s a stressful and difficult situation but I think Tamara handles it wonderfully and that helped me to grow with her.

The two characters I liked least were Tamara’s mother and Max. Not a lot of information is given about them and Tamara’s mother resents everyone and everything around her. Max didn’t get any brownie points from me at all! He just seems so blase about everything except for how Tamara feels about Lyddie, then he gets riled! Ugh… definitely not on my list of great characters.

As I got a better feeling for the characters and the mystery that was starting to unravel, I really found myself enjoying the plot more and more. There’s a lot to this one and I was certain that things were going on that weren’t on the up and up! I was right, however, I was not able to guess what those things were! Except for the villain in the entire thing, I was able to make the villain out pretty early on. Nothing was exactly said, maybe it’s my distrust in characters, but in the end everything added up!

This ended so well that I’m really hoping that Sue Moorcroft plans on doing a book two. It doesn’t end exactly on a cliff hanger but there are a lot of questions that could still be answered… especially in relationship areas!

All in all, it took me a little longer to get into this one but it was well worth the wait!

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Sue Moorcroft's ninth novel.I always wanted to read Starting Over by Sue Moorcroft but never got round to reading it. I am now very pleased that I have finally got round to reading a Sue Moorcroft novel and what a better way to read one of Sue's novels is her brand new novel for November 2013 IS THIS LOVE. Which I must say an absolute page turner. I have read How To Make Money Writing Romantic fiction, which Sue Moorcroft sets an article in the book on love writing.Is This Love the story is set in a village Middledip. Tamara naturally adores her sister Lyddie but Lyddie is very sadly involved in an accident by tragic ruthless hit-and run driver which leaves Lyddie suffering from brain damage and she now needs constant care from Tamara. Of course as Tamara loves her sister so much there is nothing that Tamara would not do for her sister. Tamara's boyfriend Max is offered a new job and he decides to move away. Then out of the blue Lyddies teenage sweetheart boyfriend Jed Cassius returns to Middledip bringing some devastating news to the Rix family that shatters them to the core. Tamara thinks that Jed is fantastically so hot and she just can not help herself being intrigued by him. What will Tamara do she loves her sister Lyddie but she can not stop the growing feelings that she has for Jed?.Is This Love is a story that has memerising characters. I think that all readers will enjoy reading Is This Love and th novel is ideal for a topic of discussion with bookclubs.Sue Moorcroft is due her credit for her ninth novel.