The wish list - Martina Reilly

Like any married couple, Allie and Tony have had their fair share of heartache. But when Tony's actions force Allie and her young sons out of their home, things take a desperate turn for the worse. Without her husband around, Allie must cope with two increasingly inquisitive children - as well as the reappearance of her estranged father.

So when her eldest son Mark befriends a mysterious next-door neighbour, Jeremy, Allie's glad he's found a distraction. The only trouble is that Mark believes Jeremy is Santa Claus - and that he can put the family back together. While Jeremy becomes increasingly mortified at the mix-up, a little magic never did anyone any harm - did it?

Martina Reilly was a columnist with Ireland's Evening Herald, but gave it up to write full time. She has had three successful novels published by Poolbeg in Ireland.