From the award-winning author comes an uplifting story of friendship, bravery and discovery.

Arriving on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland with swash and bluster, three young American students are set to run a marathon the islanders know nothing about.

At first, it seems the lads are more interested in partying. Gradually, however, their reasons for making this journey, for running this race, come to the fore. JB has an overbearing father to appease. Drew needs to find his feet in more ways than one. And Taylor has history here – his mother was born in Harris but left when she was a teenager, never to return. Hidden in his backpack are four old pieces of Harris Tweed with family secrets tightly woven through the iconic cloth.

It’s spring on the island; a time of renewal and growth, of sunshine and snow, for putting distance between the dark days of winter and the promise of summer. In the tiny holiday cottage on the windswept dunes, friendship, ambition and identity are put to the test. Is the race all about the finish line? What is it that these three are running from – and towards?

PRAISE FOR Christmas at Flora’s House

‘How Freya creates such a sense of character and place in so few words is beyond me! What talent’
@the_sara_post

‘Full of heart; it made me laugh and it made me cry…a wonderful story about love, friendship, courage and hope’
@chapter1.page1

‘There is beautify in the descriptions, richness in the friendships and a resonance to the words which will sit with me for a long time’
@travels.along.my.bookshelf

‘One of the most heartfelt stories I’ve read and I cannot recommend it enough’
@helenlovesbooks

‘Some authors draw you in with their characters, some with their plots, and others with their settings but Freya North is one of the rare writers who captures all three’
@zoebeesbooks

‘A gentle, rich novel that reminds us that the most unexpected trips can change everything’
@nic_thebookworm

‘Freya’s writing is so lovely – absolutely effortless to read, with a real beauty to it’
@whatchrissiereadnext

‘This thoughtful and beautiful novella beguiles the reader with a deeply moving story of love, hope and the power of community and kindness’
@helen_t_reads

‘I was suffused with emotions reading this gentle story’
@salboreads

‘Its pages hold a richly layered story, brimful of heart, humour and emotion’
@hook.me.a.book

‘Perfect for readers who enjoy thoughtful contemporary fiction with warmth and depth…’
@nic_thebookworm

‘Written with heartfelt warmth, hope and compassion, I found the story incredibly moving’
@portybelle

‘Ultimately, an affirmation of the power of kindness, the resilience of the human spirit and the possibility of hope when all seems lost, this little book packed an uplifting punch’
@bookographia

‘A beautifully written and poignant story of community spirit… a love letter to Harris and its windswept and wild beauty. Emotional yet hopeful…an absolute delight to read’
@shortbookandscribes

‘A novella with a little bit of magic, truckloads of heart and warmth…the evocation of time and place is simply top-notch’
@sharada_reads_books