Praise for Alison Roberts:
âWritten with plenty of warmth and heart, TWINS FOR CHRISTMAS is bound to touch the heart of every single reader!â
âcataromance.com
Two beautiful linked stories
ALISON ROBERTS lives in Christchurch, New Zealand. She began her working career as a primary school teacher, but now juggles available working hours between writing and active duty as an ambulance officer. Throwing in a large dose of parenting, housework, gardening and pet-minding keeps life busy, and teenage daughter Becky is responsible for an increasing number of days spent on equestrian pursuits. Finding time for everything can be a challenge, but the rewards make the effort more than worthwhile.
Recent titles by the same author:
NURSE, NANNYâ¦BRIDE!
HOT-SHOT SURGEON, CINDERELLA BRIDE
THE ITALIAN SURGEONâS CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
THE BABY GIFT
A gift so special itâs priceless
Dear Reader
Iâm not lucky enough to have a sister, but I do have an amazing daughter and many truly wonderful friends, so Iâm well aware of what an astonishingly powerful thing the bond between women can be.
Friends, mothers and daughtersâ¦sisters. I started thinking about the kind of bond that might be created if it encompassed all of these possibilities. Could it be enough to overcome obstacles that seem impossible?
Neither Julia nor Anne Bennett envisages a future that involves children. Their reasons might be different, but the effect their convictions have on their relationships has the potential to be disastrous.
But Jules and Annie are more than simply sisters, and their bond is such that they will go to extraordinary lengths to help each other.
As far, even, as carrying a child for the one who canât.
That kind of bond is amazing all on its own, but I wanted to give these sisters even more. Men who love them for exactly who they are and futures that will allow all their dreams to come true.
Cherish the women in your life. The bond is magic.
With love
Alison
âNo.â He spoke softly now. âDonât you see, Jules?â The words were being forced out. He shouldnât be saying them. But he could no more not say them than take in another breath. âItâs not that I have to protect you so much. Itâs that I want to. Too much.â
Slowly, her gaze lifted. Caught his and held it.
Macâs hands fisted by his sides as a defence against the urge to reach out and pull her into his arms. He tried to smile but could only manage a brief, one-sided twist of his mouth. âItâs a bit of a problem,â he confessed. âIt has been ever since thatâ¦kiss.â
THE train lay like a jagged open wound across the soft, misty Scottish landscape.
One carriage was still on the bridge, anchored by the tangled metal of broken overhead beams. The engine and two more carriages were in the gully, some thirty metres below, partially submerged by the small but fast-moving river. Another hung, suspended somehow by the mess of twisted steel on the bridge, a gigantic pendant that encased goodness knew how much human misery.
âTarget sighted.â
The quiet statement from the man staring down from beside the helicopter pilot was superfluous except that the inflection on the second word said it all. This wasnât the usual kind of target they set out to locate. This was, quite probably, a once-in-a-career, major, multi-casualty incident.
This wasâ¦huge.
Juliaâs determined intake of breath was clearly communicated via the equipment built into their helmets.
âHow âbout that, Jules?â The rich, male voice of her partner filled her earphones again. âNot something youâd see every day back home, is it?â
She wouldnât want to either but it was exactly what sheâd come to the other side of the world in search of, wasnât it? In a small country like New Zealand, the chance to be involved with a rescue mission of this size was highly unlikely. Working in the UK was all about getting the experience in case it did happen. Having the opportunities to hone the skills she knew she had.
She hadnât anticipated this sudden rush of adrenaline, however. A sinking, almost sick-making dive occurring in her belly. Julia swallowed hard.
âItâs what I signed up for,â she said. âBring it on!â
âHold your horses, lassie.â It had been nearly three months since Julia had joined this new specialist emergency response team and the pilot, Joe, had learned to hide his vague incredulity that such a slender, feminine creature could be so keen to hurl herself into danger but there was still the suggestion in his tone that she had to be at least halfway crazy. âThereâs a Medivac chopper taking off. We havenât got clearance to land yet.â
âAnd then weâll have to check in with Scene Command,â her partner reminded her. âSee where weâre needed first.â A hint of tolerance born of understanding crept into his voice. âJoeâs right. Hold those horses.â