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The Salt Keeper's Daughter
"Salt doesn’t just preserve food—it preserves time itself, holding the essence of something valuable until it’s needed again."
When Dr. Mira Chen returns to Martha’s Vineyard after her mother Elena’s sudden death, she expects to inherit a crumbling salt works and a family burden. Instead, she uncovers a hidden a century-old network her mother ran to help women escape abuse and rebuild their lives. As Mira and her estranged sister Zoe delve into Elena’s secrets, they must confront painful truths about their family, their responsibilities, and the price of preserving what matters most.
With the salt works on the brink of being sold to developers, the sisters face a let go of their mother’s dangerous work or risk everything to continue it. Guided by the wisdom of their community, the courage of women who came before them, and the delicate art of salt-making, they begin to transform the salt works—and themselves—into something new. The Salt Keeper’s Daughter is a poignant story of legacy, resilience, and the power of women’s stories to shape the future.
When Dr. Mira Chen returns to Martha’s Vineyard after her mother Elena’s sudden death, she expects to inherit a crumbling salt works and a family burden. Instead, she uncovers a hidden a century-old network her mother ran to help women escape abuse and rebuild their lives. As Mira and her estranged sister Zoe delve into Elena’s secrets, they must confront painful truths about their family, their responsibilities, and the price of preserving what matters most.
With the salt works on the brink of being sold to developers, the sisters face a let go of their mother’s dangerous work or risk everything to continue it. Guided by the wisdom of their community, the courage of women who came before them, and the delicate art of salt-making, they begin to transform the salt works—and themselves—into something new. The Salt Keeper’s Daughter is a poignant story of legacy, resilience, and the power of women’s stories to shape the future.
- GenresFictionWomens Fiction
366 pages, Paperback
Published August 30, 2025
About the author
Kimberly Thomas
49 books232 followersKimberly 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 25, 2026
Thank you for the Giveaway!
I didn't immediately get into this book. It started off slow, but without me realizing it, I was fully invested in the plot with all the characters. While I liked both Zoe and Mira, I related to Mira more. I often run away from my beginnings, trying to find something better or just to avoid things that I don't want to confront. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It confronted hard topics in a way that made them understandable to all, not just the survivors. (I hate using the word victims as it does not convey their strength, so I use the work survivor as it makes people understand that they went through something and were able to come out of it stronger and not allowing for the aggressor to win) The author did a wonderful job conveying the complexities behind how domestic abuse survivors feel and act in a way that their abuser has forced them to feel: the feeling of that they deserve what happens to them and even are the reason it is happening to them, the feeling of not being able to escape because they don't deserve to/have any where to go. This was a fantastic book. I love how the author addressed, just, everything. I would definitely recommend this to everyone.
I didn't immediately get into this book. It started off slow, but without me realizing it, I was fully invested in the plot with all the characters. While I liked both Zoe and Mira, I related to Mira more. I often run away from my beginnings, trying to find something better or just to avoid things that I don't want to confront. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It confronted hard topics in a way that made them understandable to all, not just the survivors. (I hate using the word victims as it does not convey their strength, so I use the work survivor as it makes people understand that they went through something and were able to come out of it stronger and not allowing for the aggressor to win) The author did a wonderful job conveying the complexities behind how domestic abuse survivors feel and act in a way that their abuser has forced them to feel: the feeling of that they deserve what happens to them and even are the reason it is happening to them, the feeling of not being able to escape because they don't deserve to/have any where to go. This was a fantastic book. I love how the author addressed, just, everything. I would definitely recommend this to everyone.
January 27, 2026
Two sisters. A family legacy to continue but underlying secrets may threaten it.
Mira loses her job and mom on the same day. Returning home and avoiding her sister is unavoidable. After returning home, Mira and her sister Zoe are at odds on what to do with the family business/legacy of the salt works. Both grew up around the business but each have their own reasons for keeping or selling. However, they soon discover that continuing the family business means much more than they ever knew. Uncovering secrets causes anger and a feeling of betrayal and questioning whether they are up for the work ahead of them.
The author does add a disclaimer/trigger warning at the beginning of the book. I was surprised at how woven into the book it was.
My rating is more of a 3.5 only because this one was a difficult read based on the spousal abuse storyline.
Mira loses her job and mom on the same day. Returning home and avoiding her sister is unavoidable. After returning home, Mira and her sister Zoe are at odds on what to do with the family business/legacy of the salt works. Both grew up around the business but each have their own reasons for keeping or selling. However, they soon discover that continuing the family business means much more than they ever knew. Uncovering secrets causes anger and a feeling of betrayal and questioning whether they are up for the work ahead of them.
The author does add a disclaimer/trigger warning at the beginning of the book. I was surprised at how woven into the book it was.
My rating is more of a 3.5 only because this one was a difficult read based on the spousal abuse storyline.
January 22, 2026
The Salt Keeper’s Daughter by Kimberly Thomas is a standalone read filled with emotions about the past and present
When her mother passes, Mira heads back home and the estrangement of her sister, Zoe to deal with all their past issues and the secrets their mother was hiding in plain site along with the salt works. This read takes you on a journey of discovery, helping the women in abusive situations like their mother, becoming a family again, danger, community backing them just like they did their mother, loss, learning the art of salt making and more…
I voluntarily read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When her mother passes, Mira heads back home and the estrangement of her sister, Zoe to deal with all their past issues and the secrets their mother was hiding in plain site along with the salt works. This read takes you on a journey of discovery, helping the women in abusive situations like their mother, becoming a family again, danger, community backing them just like they did their mother, loss, learning the art of salt making and more…
I voluntarily read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 20, 2026
What a beautiful story about family, traditions, and the courage of women.
January 20, 2026
This was a great story about loss, despair, and confusion. These two sisters are both going through their own personal problems and then lose their mother. They find out some important things about their mother they had no idea was going on and have a hard time processing it all. Great story about family and love.
January 22, 2026
This was a story about two sisters grieving the loss of their mother. Still reeling from their loss they find an unexpected legacy.
I thought this was a well written story. It was a little intense at times and deals with a sensitive issue. The story was full of strong women. I love the cover and the book!
I thought this was a well written story. It was a little intense at times and deals with a sensitive issue. The story was full of strong women. I love the cover and the book!
January 18, 2026
Two estranged sisters are thrown together after the death of their mother. Mira left Martha's Vineyard to work as a professor and rarely got home. Zoe stayed home with her adult son and faced health problems plus the death of her husband on her own. There is a lot of resentment between the two sisters and the more they find out about their mother's secrets, the more the distrust grows between the sisters. Will they be able to come a family again and work to follow their mother's path?
The Chen family owns the local salt works and distributes their products to local restaurants. Zoe sees it as a family burden and wants to sell to developers who want to put a resort on the property. Zoe had problems at the college and when she gets home, she wants to follow in her mother's footsteps and learn the delicate art of salt-making. When they find out that their mother had a secret life helping abused women find a place to escape to, the sisters are really divided. Zoe feels like they don't know enough about how to help other women and doesn't want to get involved while Mira feels just the opposite. When they are approached by a woman needing help, they both realize that it's dangerous for them but they have many people on their side who used to help their mother and are now willing to help the sisters. Can they learn to be sisters again and transform the salt works plus continue their mother's legacy by helping women escape violence and abuse? This is a story of legacy, resilience, and the power of women’s stories to shape the future. Both women are stronger than they realize and know that if they work together they can be successful.
This was a well written and interesting story about two strong women who were willing to face danger to help other women. It was a wonderful look of what women and community can do to help those who need help the most.
The Chen family owns the local salt works and distributes their products to local restaurants. Zoe sees it as a family burden and wants to sell to developers who want to put a resort on the property. Zoe had problems at the college and when she gets home, she wants to follow in her mother's footsteps and learn the delicate art of salt-making. When they find out that their mother had a secret life helping abused women find a place to escape to, the sisters are really divided. Zoe feels like they don't know enough about how to help other women and doesn't want to get involved while Mira feels just the opposite. When they are approached by a woman needing help, they both realize that it's dangerous for them but they have many people on their side who used to help their mother and are now willing to help the sisters. Can they learn to be sisters again and transform the salt works plus continue their mother's legacy by helping women escape violence and abuse? This is a story of legacy, resilience, and the power of women’s stories to shape the future. Both women are stronger than they realize and know that if they work together they can be successful.
This was a well written and interesting story about two strong women who were willing to face danger to help other women. It was a wonderful look of what women and community can do to help those who need help the most.
February 5, 2026
The death of Mira’s mother happens at a critical time
In her career. False accusations send her running home. Her
Sister Zoe is facing money issues and battling lupus. The sisters are at odds how to move forward. Should
They sell the business and continue life. Zoe’s son,
Diego and the mysterious Kenji seem to secrets about Elena’s
Life.
The disclaimer of spousal abuse triggers may be hard for some, but it is definitely connected to Elena’s life and mission.
What secrets are hidden? What do the codes and notes mean?
Thank you to the author for this ARC. This review is my honest opinion.
In her career. False accusations send her running home. Her
Sister Zoe is facing money issues and battling lupus. The sisters are at odds how to move forward. Should
They sell the business and continue life. Zoe’s son,
Diego and the mysterious Kenji seem to secrets about Elena’s
Life.
The disclaimer of spousal abuse triggers may be hard for some, but it is definitely connected to Elena’s life and mission.
What secrets are hidden? What do the codes and notes mean?
Thank you to the author for this ARC. This review is my honest opinion.
March 2, 2026
Powerful is the first word that comes to mind after reading this book. Kimberly creates characters with remarkable depth and emotion. The story beautifully explores the strength of family; both the ones we’re born into and the ones we choose. It stays with you long after the final page.
June 10, 2026
Enduring & Endearing
Women working together to safeguard women and their children. Sisterhood in all it iterations. Proving that we are always better, stronger, and smarter when we work with purpose.
Women working together to safeguard women and their children. Sisterhood in all it iterations. Proving that we are always better, stronger, and smarter when we work with purpose.
Want to Read
December 19, 2025need not a want <3
March 3, 2026
I really enjoyed the story, timeliness and characters. Well written.
March 27, 2026
A brilliant story that unfolds gradually, piecing together family, legacy and purpose for all of them including the lives of those they touched.
May 27, 2026
Great book, must read!
June 22, 2026
A great read
This author is powerful and gives life to her pages. It held my interest to the very end. Very exciting
This author is powerful and gives life to her pages. It held my interest to the very end. Very exciting
July 10, 2026
Interesting story about how they harvest salt from the ocean. Their lives are complicated due to keeping the mothers legacy of helping battered women.
July 15, 2026
Wonderful story about women empowerment.
May 22, 2026
Really good book!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews