Book excerpt: Miles away from home, can you survive Christmas alone? A holiday family saga in the bestselling Destiny series from the author of Tilly and Anna. Singleton Grace loves Christmas and having all of her family with her on the day. But this year things will be different. One by one, each of her three children announce they have other plans for the holidays, leaving Grace home alone with a dilemma. Should she put on a brave face or admit she is hurt? After deciding it’s time for a change, Grace books a cottage in the French countryside for Christmas. Max is also at life’s crossroads after coming to terms with the end of his marriage. Making a spur of the moment decision, Max heads to the Loire where he hopes to clear his head, see the sights and escape the festivities. In the meantime, Grace’s children embark on their own Yuletide journeys. Heidi faces the dreaded in-laws, Amber heads to New York to bag herself a fiancé, and Seth can’t wait to hit the slopes. But when their plans begin to fall apart, they are all left wishing they were at home with their Mum for Christmas. Will Grace get what she originally wanted or is a surprise in store? This book was previously published under the title The Christmas Cottage. Praise for the Destiny series “I really enjoyed this tale of family, heartbreak and love, with its beautiful descriptions of the Loire region of France and great, likeable characters . . . a fun, heartwarming summer read.” —White Tulip Candles “Patricia Dixon creates characters who are likeable and believable.” —Jan’s Book Buzz