Reading from An Island Christmas

Since it’s nearly Christmas, I thought you’d enjoy a reading from An Island Christmas.

An Island Christmas

Although An Island Christmas is Book 2 in Love on the Island series, it can also be enjoyed as a standalone read. The story centres around Alicia, who after returning home to the Scandinavian Åland Islands, is looking forward to the perfect Christmas. But family secrets, her on-off love affair with the tall, dark, and handsome Swedish journalist, Patrick, and her ex-husband, all conspire to try to spoil the season’s festivities.

Here’s a short blurb:

When best friends Alicia and Brit return to their beloved island community, they’re anticipating a holiday season filled with mulled wine and relaxation. But between a tempting new boss, an unwelcome visitor, and a life-changing surprise, can they sort out their messy lives in time for Christmas?

The Reading

The reading is taken from the latter part of the book, Chapter 49. It’s Christmas Eve and Alicia has managed to get nearly all of her family and friends together to celebrate the holiday. But she’s in for a surprise.

The text of the reading is below.

Patrick turns into the Ulsson’s drive and parks the car next to a VW Golf. He turns off his lights and stays in the car for a moment. On the passenger seat is a paper bag filled with Christmas presents wrapped up expertly by one of the assistants at the fashionable interior design shop in town. They are beautifully understated, in white paper with wide red ribbons.

There’s also the large box containing a magnum of vintage champagne resting on the floor of the car. He wonders if that is overkill. Should he perhaps leave the bottle behind and fetch it later, if he gets a good reception from Alicia?

He gazes up to the house, shining brightly in the dark afternoon light, the downstairs windows decorated with large star lanterns. The freshly fallen snow has formed a blanket over the sloping roof and the landscape. With the large pine draped with white lights, the whole scene looks serene and festive, like a TV advert.

Damn it, be brave.

Hilda will appreciate the champagne, he’s sure, so he picks up the box, takes hold of the paper bag, slams the door of his car, and makes his way up to the house.

Alicia cannot believe her eyes. Responding to her mother’s call, she moves into the kitchen and watches as Patrick gets out of the car, picking something up from the passenger seat. She has her phone against her ear, still talking to Frida. The baby is crying in the background.

‘Can I ring you later?’ Alicia says and ends the call.

‘Is that who I think it is?’ Hilda says, her mouth open, forming an ‘o.’

‘What the hell does he think he’s doing?’ Alicia says and hurries to the door.

But Patrick is quicker than she is, and by the time she opens the door, he is already standing there, a wide grin filling his face. He’s carrying a bag full of presents and a large box.

‘Surprise!’ he says.

Alicia stands there, dumbfounded. She cannot speak.

‘Can I come in?’ Patrick asks. ‘It’s bloody cold out here.’