Cirrus@Austlit

'The festive season is coming, and so is the social event of the year for a group of residents in the country town of Thompson’s Ridge - a Christmas Day lunch for those without family. But while some members of The Christmas Orphans’ Club regard it with excitement and joy, others feel trepidation and uncertainty.

'For reluctant bachelor Bob Wilson, owner of the local school bus, the end of the academic year sees him reflect on the slow demise of the timber town he grew up in - now a shadow of its thriving past.

'Former primary school principal Maggie Hardcastle, regarded highly by the locals, rues the contraction of her old domain to a single teacher, one classroom school, while current teacher-principal Jamie Zammit worries the school will close completely if enrolments continue to fall. Jamie is also concerned for his star student, Becky Carmody, whose mother has become disturbingly reclusive since her husband’s death.

'Joely Davidson, who hosts the Orphans’ lunch at her cafe, invites Kirsty McJames and Ruby Weston, to the event. Christmas to divorced Kirsty means separation from her beloved twin boys as their father, unconcerned the rest of the year, claims holiday custody rights to take the boys away.

'Louise Smith is a newcomer to Thompson’s Ridge recovering from the shattering loss of her high-flying career in the city. Seen as standoffish by the locals, she is taken aback when Christmas Orphans’ Club founder Fran Hobart enlists her to take over running the event. It’s an opportunity for Louise to use her old skills, but can she take the baton and run with it?

'Another resident seeking to revive old talents is retired stage actor Charles Davenport. His drunken behaviour at last years Orphans’ Club lunch appalled no one more than him. He’s cleaned up his act in the intervening year, but can he play the most difficult role of his career - his real self - and will Maggie Hardcastle forgive him for what he did?

'Come Christmas Day, will the hopes and fears of The Christmas Orphans’ Club come to pass or fade away?'

Source : publisher's blurb

'A new year begins with the community of Thompson’s Ridge united in grief at the sudden death of much-loved local Fran Hobart. Her passing was not unexpected - everyone knew she was fighting a grim battle with cancer. However, her death at the height of a raging dust storm seems to underscore the woes that have befallen the small Australian town during a savage summer.

'The once-thriving community has slowly withered since the closure of the local saw mill. As families left, the high school was closed and businesses struggled. In more recent years, drought has seared the countryside, threatening the precarious survival of farm stock. And now a spate of dust storms torment the town with their cruel winds and rainless thunder and lightning.

'The townsfolk rally round Fran’s husband, Father George, the local priest, and her funeral is one of the biggest the town has ever seen. Ironically, it brings with it the end of the drought - a drenching rain storm that suggests hope for the future.

'Former primary school principal Maggie Hardcastle and recent Thompson’s Creek arrival Louise Smith discover that Fran had been trying to persuade troubled and reclusive widow Patricia Carmody to seek professional help. What’s more, she was simultaneously supporting Patricia’s daughter Becky who should be starting high school this year in the town of Coorbong 70km away.

'Maggie is able to secure a generous scholarship offer for Becky, but she and Louise meet with bitter resistance from the child’s mother.

'Bob Wilson’s dinner date with Kirsty McJames following the Christmas Orphans’ Club lunch went well, but, rather than the romance he hoped it might spark, he finds himself stuck in the friend zone and playing uncle to her twin boys.

'Then current primary school principal Jamie Zammit learns his and possibly the town’s greatest fear is about to come true - the authorities plan to close the school at the end of the year due to falling enrolments.

'And as the rain keeps falling too, it’s realized that the Diggers Lane hobby farm development promoted by a shonky real estate company a decade ago has never been tested by real downpours.

'Young Becky Carmody reflects on how Fran encouraged her to pray for rain, but she and everyone else in Thompson’s Ridge are about to learn it never rains, but it pours.'

Source : publisher's blurb