A Christmas to Cherish

by Kimberly Thomas

Emma Sullivan thought she had it a thriving career as a top family lawyer in Boston, a loving daughter, and an enviable lifestyle. But beneath the surface, an unshakable emptiness gnaws at her. When a cryptic letter from her father beckons her back to Rockport, the seaside town she fled years ago, Emma is drawn into a whirlwind of past secrets and unresolved tensions.


Returning to Rockport for Christmas was never part of Emma's plan. The town is filled with memories—some painful, some magical—that she’s tried to forget. As she reconnects with old friends, faces her estranged parents, and rekindles an old flame, Emma is forced to confront the life she’s built and the one she left behind.


Amidst the festive charm and the mystery of an eclipse promising to unveil the Sullivan family treasure, Emma must decide if she can find healing and happiness in the place she once called home. With the spirit of the holidays in the air and the support of her daughter, can Emma finally piece together the life she truly wants?


"A Christmas to Cherish" is a heartwarming, cozy drama filled with adventure, hope, and the magic of second chances. Dive into this Christmas tale of family, love, and the enduring power of coming home. Book four in the series promises to enchant and inspire, set against the picturesque and serene backdrop of Rockport. Rediscover the magic of the holidays.

Genres: Christmas

224 pages, Paperback

Published November 12, 2024

About the author

Kimberly Thomas has a passion for writing heartfelt stories that resonate with her readers. With two adult children and a loving husband, she understands the complexities of family dynamics and uses this knowledge to create relatable characters. When she's not writing, she loves to travel and explore new cultures. She finds inspiration in the people she meets and the places she visits, and often incorporates her experiences into her stories.

Kimberly specializes in feel-good women's fiction, clean and wholesome contemporary romance. Her stories focus on love, loss, and the everyday situations that families face. Her writing style is engaging and relatable, and she has a talent for drawing readers in and keeping them hooked until the very end.

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma left her parents in her hometown of Rockport years earlier. They had not approved of her desire to move to Boston and become a lawyer. When she first visited with her new husband, they were rude to him and made no secret of the fact that they didn't approve of him. When Emma gets a letter from her Dad asking her to come home, she isn't sure what to do. Her daughter wants to visit her grandparents but Emma is worried that they will reject their granddaughter like they rejected their son in law. When she arrives in Rockport, her parents are less than friendly to her but very accepting of her daughter. As she spends more time in down and re-connects with her best friend and boyfriend from high school, she begins to question whether she should stay in town or return to her job in Boston which she realizes is not the dream job that she originally thought it was. This book about family and love and second chances is a wonderful look at re-discovering the magic of Christmas.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma left her hometown years ago, after a disappointing encounter with her parents and husband. Years later, she's living in the city, has a successful lawyer career and loving daughter.

Receiving a cryptic letter from her father brings back anxious feelings and wondering if she should go home.

Returning home and trying to rebuild a relationship with her parents isnt easy. However, rumor of a family treasure, has Emma reconnecting with old friends, an old high school flame and her parents.

Miracles and healing can happen at Christmas! The Sullivan family experiences much needed healing and new paths forward in this cozy, captivating Christmas tale.

[Pam Fleming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Sullivan receives an odd request/summons from her father to return home. She has been absent for years after her parents shunned her husband Andrew.

Thinking she would not reach partner in her law firm she returns with her daughter Jules. Her parents house and yard seem a bit shabby, and the townspeople seem to know secrets about her mother’s healthier and her parents finances. Emma spends time with her high school friends as she ponders her future. Throw in a mysterious family treasure and Emma has lots to think about

Thank you to the author for this ARC. This review is my honest opinion.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story about finding your way back home. Emma has been estranged from her parents for years because they didn't approve of her husband because he wasn't who they wanted for her. Emma moved away many years ago because she was afraid of how her parents would treat her daughter. She receives a letter from her father asking her to come back home, and she returns with her college daughter and finds out so many secrets her parents have been keeping from her.

This is a great story have restoring faith and hope in family and renewing old friendships and starting over. Great read!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma and her daughter come home to her hometown when she gets a cryptic message from her dad. She's confronted with parents that she thinks aren't proud of her - as well as a town-wide mystery that seems to need solving. During all of this - she's confronted by former best friends and a former boyfriend - as well as the Christmas spirit that she seems to have lost. It's a story of finding oneself and coming to terms with the past so that you can move on. Plus - a little Christmas love thrown in there too. Great story!

[Jennie Fortna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas to Cherish is book 4 in A Festive Christmas series by Kimberly Thomas 4.5 stars

What happens when Emma receives a letter from her estranged parents..she heads back home but what she finds is family secrets, reconnecting with old friends, facing her past and maybe finding something that has been missing in her life…

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Margaret Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheers to the end!

I found myself immersed into a town who really celebrated Christmas. Reading about the trials and tribulations of the characters brought home how much of our lives hinge on specific moments and how we made decisions impacting our life. This was an engaging read and I’m thoroughly happy with the ending.

[James A. Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Families Are Complicated - Particularly at Christmas

A striving young lawyer received a cryptic letter from her Dad...in a few words it asks her to come home to visit. She reluctantly goes. The situations she encounters are complex and highly nuanced...if I say any more I will start revealing spoilers. Read the book to learn more...it is worth your time!

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book full of family drama. There’s some second chance romance and a small mystery to solve. It’s set before Christmas but it didn’t really feel too Christmasy to me. It’s another good one by this author

[Lisa Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much packed into 200 pgs

This felt SO much longer than 200 pages. So many things to keep track of, all of it felt really heavy and just one issue/thing after another. Wow, need something a more upbeat after this.

[Lisa Downey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas cheers

Moving ahead on life provides many glances in the past. The Sullivan family exhibit life's journey has many unsaid mysteries of love, loss, and promise for a life in the future

[Jeanni Orazine · Rating 2 out of 5]

JO from Alabama

The book was a little hard to follow. It really was a tough read. This wasn’t one of her best books.

[Donna Kale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story