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A Country Practice Christmas

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Four new festive rural stories from favourite Australian authors about the country practices at the heart of these 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.

531 pages, Paperback

Published September 30, 2025

13 people are currently reading
29 people want to read

About the author

Stella Quinn

35 books104 followers
Drama | Romance | Mystery

Stella Quinn is a multi-award winning author.

She writes outback drama for Harper Collins HQ Fiction, and she's currently scribbling away at a small town rom-com mystery mashup in her spare time.

She loves reading GoodReads reviews so don't be shy!

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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Brenda.
5,074 reviews3,012 followers
October 28, 2025
4.75★s

The Christmas Cake War by Stella Quinn
- 5s

Jodie, a physiotherapist in her "old" life, had arrived in Clarence to visit her great-aunt Carol, on the orders of Jodie's mother who was fed up with Jodie's moping. Her mother had said Carol needed to go into an old folks' home, as she'd had a fall, and the place she lived in wasn't safe. But Carol had other ideas. She was intent on winning the Christmas cake competition at the local Christmas markets; Jodie couldn't believe the fiery nature of the quest, and Carol's dislike of the woman who had beaten her the previous year. She and publican, Will - whom she'd known since childhood - made a plan...

The Christmas Cake War is the first in the Christmas anthology, this one by Stella Quinn, and I enjoyed it very much. A good amount of history, interesting information as to where the author came up with her ideas, and great, heartwarming characters. I'll always recommend Stella's writing; this one is no different.

The Night Before Christmas by Penelope Janu - 5*

Amelie Peterson was twelve when she left Summerfield with her parents. She'd been bullied mercilessly at primary school, and Cameron McLeod had always seemed to be there. She'd vowed never to return, but when the town needed a locum vet for a couple of months, Amelie applied for the position. When Cameron had the only accommodation in town, she had no choice but to accept. The awkwardness and discomfort slowly eased as Amelie came to know some of the locals, while doing her job. Julie, the doctor who had basically saved her life when she was a child, was kind and caring. But Cameron and Amelia seemed always to clash - would they every become friends?

The Night Before Christmas by Penelope Janu is a fun novella, which focusses a lot on the animals that Amelie works with. It also brings all Amelie's demons to the forefront again, and the hurts of her past. She needs to let go of the past and look to the future.. The 2nd in the anthology, and another by a wonderful author, which I recommend.

The Ghost of Christmas Past by Pamela Cook - 4*

Psychologist Hannah Rasmussen hadn't liked Christmas since her dad had died on Christmas Eve years before, and her mum and sister both blamed her for his death. But this Christmas in Yarrabee, her old friend and mentor was arriving from London to spend the festive season with Hannah; it was her dying wish that she see Australia again, and experience Christmas with her friend. So instead of bush bashing with her music and books, she'd be doing what everyone else did - eat a massive lunch, drink wine, open gifts, and enjoy the company around her. Farrier Cole Harrison was also on the horizon...

The Ghost of Christmas Past by Pamela Cook is the 3rd in the anthology, and another entertaining Christmas tale with plenty of shades of romance on the side. Lenore is a very special character who made her way into my heart; I've enjoyed this author's books in the past - this one was no exception.

A Rush Creek Christmas by Renae Black - 5*

Piper Hendrix drove two thousand kilometers from Sydney to Rush Creek in Queensland in her Kombi - Connie - to get away from heartache, trauma and scandal, and to make a new life for herself at the small Rush Creek hospital. She was a nurse, loved caring for people in need, and looked forward to making new friends and settling in. It wasn't long before she and fellow nurse, Maddie, were close, but it was when she saw two paramedics bringing in a patient in the ambulance, that she stopped in shock. Emmett, her brother's school best friend, and Piper's school crush, was a paramedic, in Rush Creek? With Christmas closing in fast, and preparation for the Christmas Bonanza in full swing, Piper was busy, as was everyone else in town. So much for her quiet, peaceful Christmas...

Rush Creek, the 4th and final in the anthology, by Renae Black was wonderful. Heartwarming, with characters I loved; a great plot and the small town vibe was electric. I've read this author before, and them, like this one, are thoroughly recommended.

Many thanks to HarperCollins AU for my ARC of this special Christmas anthology, by four of Australia's best in the rural genre. I received and read last year's anthology which was also worth reading, and I'm glad they're continuing and hope they make it into a Christmas tradition! I'll read 2026's! Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Helen.
2,899 reviews65 followers
October 6, 2025
The Christmas Cake War
Stella Quinn

This is fun and moving there were lots of laughs and smiles from me as I got to know Jodie a physiotherapist who has been sent to Clarence to help her aunt move in an aged care home but there will be problems because Aunt Carol and the president of the Clarence Gardens Home, Joan Sloane have a past and it is about the Christmas Cake recipe, throw in publican Will who played a bit in Jodie’s past and just maybe there could be a HEA for everyone,
I loved this one so much, I loved Jodie and Will they are the best and deserve to have a beautiful HEA, it really is a beautiful story about pasts and a gorgeous romance between two people who need love and happiness.


The Night Before Christmas
Penelope Janu

Moving, emotional and fabulous, Penelope Janu takes us back to Summerfield with Amelie Peterson, Amelie has returned to the place she spent many years growing up to help the doctor who helped her all of those years ago. Amelie has worked hard these past years and is now a Vet and Summerfield needs one the only problem now is a place to live while the residence is renovated. This brings Amelie close to Cameron McLeod the boy she hated all those years ago but also the son of the doctor, where will this lead them both while Amelie rents his small cabin? How did Cameron feel when Amelie arrives back in town?
I loved firstly being back in Summerfield and having Keith Urban there as well and I loved Amalie and Cameron their journey to a HEA has a few hurdles to cross and some issues from the past that need to be sorted, truly a must read, this reader is a happy one.


The Ghost of Christmas Past
Pamela Cook

Hannah Rasmussen is a Psychologist and likes her time to herself, especially at Christmas she has recently moved to the small country town a Yarrabee a fresh start and new business, it is just before Christmas and Hannah is planning her annual country camping trip for the couple of days over Christmas she has reasons for this, but when a dear friend wants to visit Hannah must put her plans on hold and then a new patient a young teenager brings up bad memories for her and not only that but his brother, Farrier Cole Harrison sets sparks of within her like never before, could there be a chance that Hannah could possibly find true love and happiness and put her ghost of Christmas past to rest with the handsome Farrier?
A beautiful written with heart and feelings and I loved getting to know Hannah and Cole and Lenore and Nancy and Owen as well, this one is a must read, left this reader with smiles.


A Rush Creek Christmas
Renae Black

No one does Christmas like Rush Creek and Piper Hendrix is just about to find that out when she leaves the big city hospital she has been working at as a nurse to take up a post in the small Rush Creek Hospital, she has bought a kombi, named Connie and she is determined to make a happy time of it there are reasons she is leaving the city, mainly her ex, it is time for a change but the last person she expected to meet on her first day is her brother’s best friend and the guy she had a crush on all those years ago.
Emmett Coleman is a paramedic in Rush Creek and has been for two years and he loves it but when he discovers Piper there as the new nurse he is stunned, he has not seen her for years she was always happy and caring but she is his best friend’s brother a no go even now, but when he convinces her to stay in his spare room instead of camping, My Grumpy as he is known is finding it harder to not think about Piper in other ways, could there be a chance and on Christmas Eve that chance may just arrive.
Another beautiful story that kept me smiling throughout, I loved Rush Creek and Piper and Emmett and the other wonderful characters that added to this story, one I highly recommend.

This is a gorgeous book of four Christmas stories that I highly recommend especially if you love Christmas, Rural Romance, Gorgeous heroes and beautiful heroines, stories that have meaning are moving and filled with emotion, all four of these authors have bought to life people and small country towns and left this reader feeling very happy. I loved them all, don’t miss this one.
My thanks to the authors and Harper Collins AU for my copy to read and review.

468 reviews4 followers
November 7, 2025
This Christmas themed rural romance anthology is one that fans of these writers, or rural romance more generally, will thoroughly enjoy. Several past novella anthologies including some of these authors have appeared, and this maintains the quality while taking a slightly different angle.

The anthology includes four novellas, each from well known and quite successful authors. Each of them tells the story of a woman moving to a country town – for most, theoretically temporarily – around Christmas and finding both love and community.

Indeed, while these are primarily romances, in each the community is of almost equal importance. Each woman is welcomed in ways she didn’t entirely expect, and finds friendship and a home as well as a romantic partner.

Personally, I was particularly expecting to enjoy Stella Quinn’s contribution, as I’ve very much enjoyed all of her novels and previous novellas. She brings a cheeky contemporary sense of humor to her writing. As I hoped, that’s in evidence here, and I liked the jaunty story.

Pamela Cook and Renae Black both contribute novellas with a strong emphasis on relationships and friendships beyond the central romance. I appreciated this, and felt it added not just an extra dimension but a little extra depth.

Penelope Janu’s writing style does not always connect with me, but there are plenty of readers who’ll like her strong heroine and themes which are consistent with those that often appear in her novels.

All four of the novellas are equally strong, well written and with a sense of freshness even as they use familiar romance tropes. The Christmas theme makes them particularly resonant for this time of year.

Romance readers will enjoy this collection, and previous readers of these writers or previous anthologies will not be disappointed. The theme makes this a good option for Christmas gifts.

You may also enjoy my review of other anthologies in this series, and other novels by these authors:
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Profile Image for EmG ReadsDaily.
1,506 reviews143 followers
December 23, 2025
A wonderful collection of Australian stories, that shine a light on the country practices, health professionals and individuals who shape rural communities.

The Christmas Cake War by Stella Quinn - A heartwarming and informative story inspired by the soldiers' cake tin.

The Night Before Christmas by Penelope Janu - A beautiful story, that is more personal to the author that I realised, until I read the acknowledgements 'Difference, mine or anyone else's, is never ugly.'

The Ghost of Christmas Past by Pamela Cook - A heartfelt and emotional tale, exploring the complexity of relationships.

A Rush Creek Christmas by Renae Black - A charming romantic connection between long-time friends nurse Piper and paramedic Emmett.

I love these Australian Christmas anthologies! I am looking forward to the next one in 2026.

4.5 stars (rounded up)
Profile Image for Shelagh.
1,783 reviews26 followers
November 27, 2025
A Country Practice Christmas, is the third Christmas anthology I’ve read by these authors, though this time I listened to it as an audiobook. It was lovely to revisit some of the rural Australian towns that have featured before, and to meet some familiar characters too, but it was the new characters and their stories that captured my interest. Each story is wonderful and each can be read in uust a few hours, so it’s perfect for a lazy afternoon. The narrators brought the stories to life and gfave them an extra dimension, heping to frame images of each character in my mind thanks to their excellent voicing. All four stories left me with warm fuzzy feelings and I’ll almost certainly listen to them again when I have an afternoon or two to fill.
Profile Image for Trish Drinkwater.
174 reviews2 followers
December 16, 2025
Four excellent Australian authors combined to bring a timely Christmas book with four long short stories/novellas providing a truly delightful read.
Each story was beautiful, sensitive and quite different.
This is a wonderful book for a Christmas gift or a lovely escape from the busy and sometimes crazy season.
Perfect for Christmas but just as lovely any time of the year.
I have no hesitation in giving it 5 stars plus!
109 reviews
November 3, 2025
Amazing as always. Loved that Renae Black was included this year. Was nice to know what was going on with the Hendrix clan again
102 reviews
November 15, 2025
Look forward to these books each year. Very entertaining with good messages.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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