Our Country Christmas

by Fiona Lowe, Penelope Janu, Fiona Lowe

A feel-good collection of Christmas stories, from some of your favourite Australian authors that will warm your heart with the magic of the holiday season.

A feel–good collection of Australian Christmas stories that will warm your heart with the magic of the holiday season

The Drover Comes Home for Christmas by Darry Fraser [BRAND NEW STORY]
December 1889. To save his drought–stricken farm, Shep Miller is droving his remaining cattle overland in a desperate bid to reach the last sale before Christmas. Widow Jenny Wickley is glad to take in his two children during his absence, hoping to help the neighbour she has long admired. But when peculiar swaggies turn up with letters and a touch of magic, a mystery is uncovered that will put all their lives in danger. Will the drover make it home in time?

The Six Rules of Christmas by Penelope Janu [BRAND NEW STORY]
Picking up the reins of her father's law practice, Ariella Blake has made a place for herself in small–town Warrandale. But when stand–in farrier Jack Adamson blows in for the holidays, with his good looks and infuriating evasiveness, he challenges her to embrace the rules of Christmas. Step by step, will Christmas – and Jack – get under her skin?

Newborn Baby for Christmas by Fiona Lowe
Georgie and Hamish have been best friends forever. So Hamish can't refuse when Georgie asks him for the Christmas present she's spent her whole life waiting for – a baby! But seeing a very pregnant Georgie changes everything. Not only is Hamish going to be a father, suddenly he's falling for the mother of his child…

A Tale of Three Christmases by Eva Scott [BRAND NEW STORY]
When Geoff met Lexi… Turning her small farm into a B&B seems the perfect way to make ends meet after the death of her husband. Not having to face Christmas alone is a bonus for Lexi. But when her first booking, attractive businessman Geoff, arrives everything she thought she needed changes. Can strangers from different worlds to find lasting love? Or does fate have surprising plans?

The Christmas Wish by Jacquie Underdown [BRAND NEW STORY]
Returning home, schoolteacher Brielle hopes a quiet Christmas will quash the ever–present feeling that she no longer belongs anywhere. For single dad, Luke, romance is off the agenda – no matter how appealing his teenage antagonist Brielle has become. It's not only his heart that's at risk – it's that of his young daughter. But after a Christmas wish is cast, the spirit of Christmas conspires to create some holiday magic. Will a Christmas fete change fate?

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Anthologies

564 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 24, 2018

About the author

Multi published, Fiona is very excited about her 2026 release, The Drowning a novel about a family, a holiday house and a dead body. Previously published with Berkley and currently with Harper Collins Australia, (HQ Fiction) Fiona's been the recipient of a RITA and two RuBY awards. Families and communities intrigue her and she loves creating characters you could meet on the street and enjoys putting them in unique situations where morals and values can blur and she begs the reader to ask themselves, 'What would you do?'
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Reviews

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Our Country Christmas is a 2018 Harlequin Mira AU publication, which I recently enjoyed over the Christmas and Boxing Day break. Our Country Christmas is a jovial collection of five different festive infused stories, rich in Australian bush flavour. This stunning compilation gathers some of the best and leading Australian women writers in the field of romance. Expect your heart to skip a few beats while reading this endearing selection of stories.

The Drover Comes Home for Christmas by Darry Fraser.

This story represents the only historical romance within the collection. Set in the late 1800s, it revolves around a struggling drover, his two children, a widower and some swaggies. With not only romance on the cards, this is a good old fashioned story of magic and mystery. The Drover Comes Home for Christmas, written by Australian historical fiction novelist Darry Fraser, delivered a cracking start to a wonderful collection. It was a personal highlight for me to return to the work of Darry Fraser, an author I admire, in a short story format.

The Six Rules of Christmas by Penelope Janu.

Set in the small town of Warrandale, this is a genuine and heartfelt story of a farrier, named Jack and his potential love interest, Ariella Blake, who has just taken over her father’s law practice. Jack epitomises the hero role, he is completely swoonworthy! The crux of the story revolves around Jack’s challenge to Ariella to embrace ‘the six rules of Christmas’. Following this journey is just so engaging and it reminded me why I love the writing of Penelope Janu.

Newborn Baby For Christmas by Fiona Lowe

If you have weakness for best friends to lovers romance stories, Newborn Baby for Christmas will definitely appeal. When Georgie asks her best friend Hamish for the one gift she truly longs for, a baby of her own, it is a tough call that delivers plenty of emotional turmoil. Feelings begin to surface for both Hamish and Georgie, feelings they have tried so hard to keep buried deep within their hearts as their baby grows. Can these friends unite as they hurdle towards impending parenthood? Fiona Lowe is an author I am familiar with, I have enjoyed two previous full length family saga books by this talented writer. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the conflicting emotions, as well as the will they/won’t they aspect of this tale, which also offers a great side focus on the pull of motherhood.

A Tale of Three Christmases by Eva Scott

A short but very sweet tale of Lexie, a widower, who turns her small farm into a new business venture, a country stay B & B. Love comes calling for Lexie in the form of a handsome businessman Geoff. Although this hero and heroine appear poles apart, love makes its presence known, as does fate for this couple. A Tale of Three Christmases marks my introduction to the work of Australian writer Eva Scott. However, based on my enjoyment of this tale, I am sure this is just the start of my reading relationship with Eva Scott.

The Christmas Wish by Jacquie Underdown

The final and my personal favourite of the collection, The Christmas Wish, centres on main protagonist Brielle, a schoolteacher with a habit of turning up late. With no clear direction and no sense of belonging, Brielle has drifted through life. When Brielle is given a teaching post based at her old primary school in the bush, she is reminded of what counts in life. It takes a single dad, who is the brother of her best friend, Luke, to get this lost young woman’s heart beating again. A truly beautiful tale of love, friendship, community and of course the true Christmas spirit, The Christmas Wish will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. I just love Jacquie Underdown’s tone and I will be making an effort to seek out more of her work in the coming new year.

If you enjoy and like to support the work of our talented crop of Australian women writers in the field of rural romance, add Our Country Christmas to your list today. I am confident you will not be disappointed, only elated!

Our Country Christmas is book #153 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this anthology. All five stories are thoroughly enjoyable. They’re all very different but have two things in common - romance and Christmas.

I loved all five tales however The Drover Comes Home for Christmas was my favourite.

Please see individual stories for review.

The Drover Comes Home for Christmas by Darry Fraser
The Six Rules of Christmas by Penelope Janu
Newborn Baby for Christmas by Fiona Lowe
A Tale of Three Christmases by Eva Scott
The Christmas Wish by Jacquie Underdown

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our Country Christmas contains five very different Christmas reads from some of Australia's most loved romance authors.
There were two stories in this Christmas anthology that I absolutely loved.
All the stories were set at Christmas time however a couple of them didn't give me that Christmas feel.
Even though Our Country Christmas was not my favourite Christmas read (and I put that down to a matter of taste, as some of the stories just weren't for me) there is sure to be something to appeal to every type of romance reader with tropes of; friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, second chance, best friend's brother and a magical Christmas.

[Claire Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable and joyful book full of Christmas romances.

The first story in the book by Darry Fraser, The Drover Comes Home For Christmas, was a sweet story set in 1889 in rural Australia. I love Darry's writing as she is always able to transport me to the place and time so vividly. A story of 2 motherless children whose father has to drove his cattle to market just before Christmas and their widowed neighbour Jenny who looks after the children while he's away. This story contains Christmas magic in the form of two mysterious men who may be better known now than they were then. A heartstrings tale to be sure.

The six rules of Christmas by Penelope Janu
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I couldn't put it down. I had to know if Ariella learned the rules of Christmas and if she let go of her structured rules and allowed Jack to have a place in her heart and her life. If she didn't want Jack, I'd have had him, what a sweetheart. A wonderful uplifting story and some wonderful Christmas rules to remember.


Newborn baby for Christmas by Fiona Lowe
Another very enjoyable Christmas tale, best friends become something more. When Hamish agrees to donate his sperm so his best friend can fulfil her dream to have a baby, it is the catalyst for realisations on both sides when they are thrown together when Georgina is now nearly 9 months pregnant. This story hit close to home, except I'm not as lucky as Georgie is to have a friend like Hamish to help fulfil that dream. Hamish never wanted to be a father, but suddenly everything, including his feelings about Georgie are being put to the test. I loved Hamish's family, what lovely supportive parent he has and the whole extended family was great too. Hamish was a bit of an ass for a while, luckily he got over himself. A happy Christmas tale

A tale of three Christmases by Eva Scott
A nice story about 2 people who have lost the people they love and are starting life again, both full of insecurities. This story didn't grab me like the others, but was still a nice story.

The Christmas wish by Jacquie Underdown
This was another enjoyable story in this five book Christmas anthology. Brielle returns to her home town, a place that never really felt like home, to teach for the last couple of months of the school year. She finds that one of the children in her class belongs to Luke,a man she grew up with, who she always thought disliked her when they were younger. Now they are both grown up and things may have changed. They both have to sort out what they want and Brielle needs to figure out if she can ever call this town home. I enjoyed the chemistry and the way that Luke and Brielle interact and come to their final conclusion. I loved Luke's daughter Poppy, what a gorgeous little girl, who just like Brielle has issues to deal with regarding her mother.


Overall a great anthology

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia MIRA for a copy in return for an honest review.

[Tien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such lovely romantic feel-good Christmas-y reads - perfect for this time of year especially since this country is currently burning in the worse bushfires ever!

The first story by Darry Fraser kinda surprised me because it's set in outback Australia during colonial times and I really really was not expecting it to feature Mr. Nicholas in such a way! It really makes me laugh though.

There are a total of 5 stories in this anthology and all set in outback Australia (or at least, nowhere near any of the capital cities). They are full of hope and as you'd expect, joyful endings ;) There is however a distinct lack of a white Christmas for obvious reasons LOL



I read this for a reading challenge for which I fulfilled other tasks by reading stand alone novels from each authors who contributed in this anthology. I've still got to read the one from Darry Fraser but so far, it seems each author has got their own 'trope'. At times, I feel like I'm reading their other book when it's this short story... Nevertheless, I think this is a positive thing. As guilty pleasure and/or comfort read goes, it's always good to know that you WILL get what you expect from an author!

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of stories set in Australia I always have been and this collection did not disappoint, each story was filled with wonderful characters, storylines I just loved and they were all written very well, I loved reading this collection.

[Debbie Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of five Christmas stories all set in Australia love the fact that they are books set in my home country made them totally relatable to me. The set comprises

THE DROVER COMES HOME FOR CHRISTMA by Darry Fraser
Jenny Wickley a widowed woman cares for two motherless children while their father Shep Miller droves his livestock to market just before Christmas Who are the mysterious swaggies that arrive and what is the secret that puts them all in danger.

THE SIX RULES OF CHRISTMAS by Penelope Janu
Ariella Blake doesn't have time for Christmas after all she has taken over her father legal practice and needs to get things up and running. Jack Adamson may only be visiting Warrandale but he will make sure that Arielle learns the rules of Christmas and in the process he will get under her skin

NEWBORN BABY FOR CHRISTMAS by Fiona Law
Georgie and Hamish have been friends since childhood and the one thing Georgie has always wanted is to be a mother so how as her best friend can Hamish refuse. Seeing his best friend pregnant with his child makes him look at her in a whole new way will this pretend become so much more

A TALE OF THREE CHRISTMASES by Eva Scott
Lexie may have lost her husband and she may still lose her farm but turning it into a B & B may save it and her but when Geoff who has also suffered loss arrives this Christmas may become so much more Can two hurting people help one another heal

THE CHRISTMAS WISH by Jacqui Underwood
Brielle returns to the town she grew up in but never felt part of to teach now she has to decide if there is a future for her when the chemistry between her and a past foe ignites.

[Kristy Pimm · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 short Christmas stories by 5 Aussie authors. l’ll admit that I love a good Christmas romance and these stories hit the mark. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Liv Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me all the feels. A great set of stories to put people in the Christmas spirit.

The Drover Comes For Christmas - love how there’s a touch of magic to this story and the old school letter writing. Also you don’t normally see romances of middle aged characters.

The Six Rules of Christmas - I really liked the main male character, Jack. He’s someone everyone could fall in love with.

Newborn Baby for Christmas - great chemistry between Georgie and Hamish. Friends to lovers storyline and this was probably my favourite story out of the collection.

A Tale of Three Christmases - big theme on fate and second chances. I loved the setting in the B&B. Very sweet.

The Christmas Wish - sweet story. Brielle and Luke are multi-dimensional characters you really want to see succeed.

[Renée Dahlia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like any anthology, there were stories I loved and stories I found slightly disappointing.

My favourite one was The Christmas Wish by Jacquie Underdown.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first story was great. Really did have the magic of Christmas in the bush. The last story was the next one I really enjoyed. I found the other three were more or less just romance based around Christmas. I was looking for stories of Christmas magic in the bush.

[Malvina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely anthology, 5 different Aussie romances which centre around Christmas, making it feel rather lovely and festive. Really enjoyed reading it.

[Stacey Houllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six very different storylines in one book, they are all set around Christmas time. They are written by Australian Authors

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Drover Comes Home for Christmas, Darry Fraser

This is an historical Christmas story set in the bush in Victoria and what a beautiful, magical story it is, widower Shep Miller needs to get his cattle to auction to try and save his farm and with the help of neighbour, Widow Jenny Wickley who minds his two children, he starts of on the journey. Visitors by the name of Alf and Bob Nicholas make an appearance delivering letters, between the pair, this starts some thinking by both, and with Shep’s return right on Christmas there is smiles all around, and I loved this story.

The Six Rules of Christmas Penelope Janu

MS Janu takes us to the small town of Warrendale, where we meet lawyer Ariella Blake and farrier Jack Adamson, Ariella doesn’t do Christmas, there are reasons for it and when she meets the gorgeous Jack he is determined to teach her the six rules, and in such a fun way. This is such an awesome story, Jack is to die for and Ariella the perfect match for him, falling in love was inevitable for these two lots of smiles and emotions in this one.

Newborn Baby for Christmas Fiona Lowe

Best friends forever Georgie and Hamish really put their feelings to the test when Georgie wants desperately to have a baby and gets Hamish the man who never wants to be a father to give her the best ever gift that friends could share. This causes some emotional changes for Hamish when at Christmas time they are forced to spend it together and Hamish is so drawn to the beautiful very pregnant Georgie, and when both realise that they have not only been best friends but have loved each other for a long time, there are smiles all around, gorgeous story.

A Tale of Three Christmas Wishes Eva Scott

This time we are on an avocado in Queensland and we meet Lexie and Geoff, both are single Lexi a widow and Geoff divorced, both wanted a family so much, Lexie decides to open up her farm as a B&B at Christmas time and her first guest, Geoff makes her think that she could finally have what she wants, although it took a long time for them both to get there, they did in the end for a lovely HEA.

The Christmas Wish Jacquie Underdown

When school teacher Brielle returns to teach at the little primary school in her home town she never dreams that a wish made at the Christmas school fete would come true. Brielle did not have a loving happy childhood and when she is teaching an old adversaries young daughter Poppy her emotions run wild, as too do Poppy’s father the gorgeous and caring Luke, bringing these two together was so beautifully done, oh my what a story this one had the emotions running high there were happy tears and lots of smiles.

I really enjoy all of these stories and can’t highly recommend this book enough, Christmassy and moving, thank you Ladies for lots of smiles for Christmas.

[Catsalive · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit early for Christmas, maybe, but I'm not one for themed reading, I just take the next on the pile that is MtTBR. I usually find that anthologies don't live up to their promise as not all the authors can write a good short story, no matter how superior their other writings may be. These tales are more novellas than short stories & I enjoyed them all.

My favourite is Darry Fraser's "The Drover Comes Home for Christmas" - historical, sweet & a little bit fantastical, although I must say that it would have been more neighbourly for someone to have mentioned the damn dam to Jenny instead of treating her poorly. Bunch of hard-nosed idiots. My next fave may Eva Scott's "A Tale of Three Christmases" - I like the serendipity of it.

I didn't really believe in the romance in Penelope Janu's "The Six Rules of Christmas", but Jack's a keeper even if Ariella isn't. Fiona Lowe's "Newborn Baby for Christmas" & Jacquie Underdown's "The Christmas Wish" are similar tales, feelings changing towards people we have always known: it's a definite "thing".

Light, easy-reading & entertaining.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to balance my two Northern Hemisphere Christmas novels with a Southern Hemisphere book after seeing this on display at our library. This was a light fluffy read (each story was a simple Christmas romance story really) and a good break during a reasonably busy and chaotic time in life. The stories were nice feel good sorts, but the writing in some of them wasn't particularly good quality and therefore the book left me disappointed at times. I'm very much looking forward to getting back into my deeper level of reading as I start a new school year with my boys.

[Talking Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved each of these stories, some I would have given 5 stars if they were on their own, others 4 stars. A great read no matter what time of year 👌

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like with any short story collection, a mixed bag. Didn’t like the first one, second one by Penelope Janu was particularly good.