Dear Reader,

My family always went on our annual summer camping holiday to Central Otago in the South Island of New Zealand just after Christmas, so there’s a very strong connection for me between the seasonal celebrations and this favorite part of my country. I have, however, been lucky enough to have spent many Christmases on the other side of the world, and (just whispering here) I secretly prefer a winter Christmas, so I have great sympathy for my hero in The Doctor’s Christmas Homecoming, Harry, who thinks that Christmas in the middle of summer is totally wrong.

Harry can’t wait to get back to his native Ireland to try to find what’s missing from his life, but he’s in for a very unexpected change of heart when he finds himself in Tilly’s world in Central Otago, where you can get sunburned on Christmas Day but traditions are strangely familiar and the real spirit of Christmas is all around you.

Merry Christmas, Kiwi-style! I very much hope that this story is a small extra gift for you.

With love,

Alison xx