A Country Practice Christmas

A collection of Christmas stories from award-winning Australian authors about the country practices that lie at the heart of small towns.
The Christmas Cake War by Stella Quinn Physiotherapist Jodie is in Clarence to help her great-aunt Carol move into an aged care home. But Jodie didn't count on Carol's dispute with the president of Clarence Gardens' residents' association. Jodie will have to team up with local publican Will, the boy who once saved her life and crushed her heart, to defuse the feud before it explodes into all-out war. Jodie doesn't believe in happy endings, but perhaps Clarence has its own kind of magic ... The Night Before Christmas by Penelope Janu Amelie Peterson swore she would never go back to Summerfield. And yet here she is, taking over the local vet clinic for the summer, not only as a favour to the doctor who once changed her life, but to finally face her demons. Easier said than done when one of her demons, Cameron McLeod, owns the only available accommodation in town. As Christmas draws closer, is Amelie ready to face the hurts of her past? The Ghost of Christmas Past by Pamela Cook Psychologist Hannah Rasmussen's main goal at Christmas is to hide from the ghosts of her past. But when her old friend and mentor asks to spend the festive season with her, Hannah can hardly deny a terminally ill woman her Christmas wish. Is Hannah's grief stronger than Christmas cheer, or will she discover that present joy - particularly in the form of burly farrier Cole Harrison - can outshine past sorrow and pave the way for a brighter future? A Rush Creek Christmas by Renae Black Piper Hendrix arrives in Rush Creek on the heels of scandal, desperate for anonymity and the chance to ignore Christmas to focus on her job as a nurse. Discovering that her older brother's childhood best friend (and Piper's longstanding crush) is one of the local paramedics is definitely not part of the plan. But nowhere does Christmas like Rush Creek, and Piper's best-laid plans never stood a chance.

Penelope Janu lives on a farm in the Southern Highlands of NSW with a distracting husband, a very large dog and, now they're fully grown, six delightful children who come and go. Penelope has a passion for creating stories that explore social and environmental issues, but her novels are fundamentally a celebration of Australian characters and communities. Her first novel, In at the Deep End, came out in 2017, followed by On the Right Track, On the Same Page, Up on Horseshoe Hill, Starting from Scratch, Clouds on the Horizon, Shelter from the Storm and Sunshine through the Rain, as well as three novellas, The Six Rules of Christmas, The Countdown to Christmas and A Fairytale for Christmas. Penelope enjoys riding horses, exploring the Australian countryside and dreaming up challenging hiking adventures. Nothing makes her happier as a writer than readers falling in love with her clever, complex and adventurous heroines and heroes. She loves to hear from readers, and can be contacted at www.penelopejanu.com.