The Christmas Angel

by Kerk Murray

She lost her way. He lost his purpose. But one rescue dog isn’t letting either of them give up.

Kat Dawson left Sugarberry Ridge with big dreams and came back with none. Forty-five, divorced, and standing in the empty cottage she swore she’d never set foot in again, the last thing she needs is the town asking her for something she’s not sure she has left to give.

Eli Mercer carved the town’s Christmas Angel twenty-seven years ago—before the tragedy that took everything from him. Now his workshop sits locked, and he wants nothing to do with the angel, second chances, or the woman who shows up at his cabin uninvited. But his rescue dog, Comet, has other plans.

When the angel is found damaged beyond repair, fate pulls them together—and closer to everything they've been running from.

With Christmas Eve approaching, will two people who've forgotten how to hope find a reason to try? Or will they let the one thing worth saving slip away?

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Each book in the Sugarberry Ridge Holiday Romance series can be read as a stand-alone novel that ends with a happily-ever-after and no cliffhangers. If you enjoy clean and wholesome, feel-good stories, you'll want to binge them all.

🎄Book 1: The Christmas Angel
🎄Book 2: The Christmas Star
🎄Book 3: The Christmas Wish
🎄Book 4: The Christmas Miracle
🎄Book 5: The Christmas Train
🎄Book 6: The Christmas Cottage

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 12, 2026

About the author

Kerk Murray is an Amazon Top 50 and Barnes & Noble bestselling author of clean contemporary romance. His series include Dog Lovers, Hadley Cove Sweet Romance, and Sugarberry Ridge Holiday Romance.

Fans of Rachel Hanna and Debbie Macomber will love his Southern small-town stories about second chances—featuring swoony heroes, strong heroines, and rescue animals that you'll fall in love with too.

Beyond writing, Kerk is the founder of The Lexi's Legacy Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps animal rescues save more lives. A portion of his book proceeds supports this mission because every animal deserves a forever home.

Connect with Kerk and sign up for his newsletter at www.kerkmurray.com for new releases and exclusive sneak peeks of upcoming books.

For film and subsidiary rights inquiries: info@kerkmurray.com

Follow Kerk:
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/2171938...
Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/kerk-murray
Amazon: www.amazon.com/KerkMurray/e/B09C39NLYT
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kerkmurray
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@kerkmurray
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kerkwrites

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the six-book Sugarberry Ridge Holiday Romance series by new-to-me author Kerk Murray. It’s a beautiful story set at Christmas and centered around hope, broken things, grief and grace.

I appreciated (1) authentic characters, ones who showed up even when it wasn’t comfortable or when they didn’t feel brave enough, and (2) the reminder that our best days haven’t happened yet. I liked the reminder to be cognizant of how I carry my past.

Kat Dawson and Eli Mercer experience healing in this inspirational and festive book featuring a cute rescue dog, Comet, and a nurturing community. It’s the perfect holiday read.

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Christmas Angel, by Kerk Murray, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book one in the Sugarberry Ridge Holiday Romance series. Kat Dawson is back home, but not thrilled about it. Sometimes change is good for the soul. This was a nice holiday read.

[sjane34 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3 ★★★

Genre: Romance; Women's Fiction

Tropes/Themes: Love after loss; Grief & Culpability; Isolation

Note: I have tried to avoid specific spoilers for the book.

Thoughts: The book is not heavy on the romance, more focused on friendship so the romance development is subtle and sweet. The main focus of the MC's is their own versions of grief they are still trying to cope with, neither have fully processed their losses.

What I loved:
• Comet, Eli's dog, added the subtle meet cute element for Kat and Eli to become reacquainted after many years.
• It acknowledges grief in a realistic way, the ongoing struggles and self-isolation.
• The connection Kat builds with Eli is subtle, an earnest companionship from a mutual goal.

What didn’t work for me:
• I think it would have had a stronger impact to know more past details of the characters that caused their grief. Specifically with Kat, as I feel we get more depth for Eli than her.
• Would have preferred to see more obvious signs of them connecting beyond just companionship for most of the book.
• Another chapter before the epilogue to explain how their relationship progressed, would have added more depth.

Writing & pacing:
• I enjoyed the pace, how the flashbacks were integrated with the current storyline.
• I would have preferred to see a bit more history of Kat's experiences, as I felt the impact of Eli's losses more.

Final thoughts:
Grief is painful but you can also experience relief you can find when connecting with someone who understand it just as well.

There is comfort in the silence - that seems to be what bonds Eli and Kat together at the beginning. It allows them to connect from a realistic understanding of how painful and longstanding grief can be.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎄 Sometimes the best gifts are the ones we didn’t know we needed. 🎄

I just finished The Christmas Angel by Kerk Murray and it was such a beautiful, heartwarming start to the Sugarberry Ridge Holiday Romance series. This was my first time reading Kerk Murray and I enjoyed how he handled a sweet, clean romance while diving into deep emotional territory.

The story follows Kat, who is returning home after a difficult divorce, and Eli, a man who has spent years hiding from a tragedy. Both are working through loss and grief and watching them slowly open up to each other was moving.

Why I loved it:

Comet: I absolutely loved Comet! Any book with an adorable rescue dog who plays matchmaker is a winner in my book. He really stole the show.

The Vibe: It’s a great Christmas romance. It has that cozy, small-town feel that makes you want to curl up with a blanket and hot cocoa.

The Message: It’s a story about second chances and the idea that it's never too late to find a new purpose.

If you’re looking for a gentle, uplifting read that captures the spirit of the holidays, you definitely need to add this one to your shelf!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pub Date: March 12, 2026

Series: Sugarberry Ridge Holiday Romance #1

Disclaimer: Thank you BooksGoSocial for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kat Dawson left Sugarberry Ridge with a heart full of big dreams, but returned with a heart that’s cracked. Now divorced, she left her job as an art restorer and came home. Eli Mercer had a wonderful life until a tragedy broke his heart, too. He has rebuffed the many people who have reached out to him over the years, preferring to be alone with his grief. Now, the town has a request that Eli doesn’t want to do: they want him to fix the angel he carved years ago which suffered a broken wing while being moved. The angel represents hope for the town, and has been part of their Christmas lighting ceremony for years. Kat is willing to take on the task, but additional problems occurred that need Eli’s help. With Kat’s encouragement and his trusty rescue dog Comet by his side, Eli finally begins to heal. This sweet Christmas romance is one of hope and second chances. The characters of Kat and Eli are well developed and come alive on the page, so much so that readers will empathize with them and their problems. The angels in the story are almost characters as well, and they play a significant role in the storyline. This is a clean romance, a well-written and tender tale, perfect for Christmas but just as entertaining and enlightening anytime.

I was given an advance copy for free through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Traci Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting patiently for the release of Sugarberry Ridge: The Christmas Angel, and it was absolutely worth the wait. From the very first pages, I was pulled into the story. The characters are so likeable and relatable that they felt like old friends. As I read, I truly felt like I was transported to Sugarberry Ridge, experiencing every heartfelt moment right alongside them.

I especially loved the connection to the Hadley Cove series. Little touches like that make the story feel even more special for readers who have followed the author’s books for a while.

This was such a sweet, heartfelt, clean romance that left me smiling long after I finished the last page. The story is full of warmth, hope, and the kind of moments that remind you why you love reading in the first place.

I’ve read all of this author’s books, and every one of them has been a five-star read for me. The only downside to finishing this one is the same as always—having to wait for the next book!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed books by this author but this one didn't hook me as soon as others. It was over halfway in before I didn't want to stop (hence the 4 stars) but I was glad I did stick with it.

Kat has had a rough life and really didn't want to return back to her hometown but life didn't give her much choice. Eli has been hibernating away from everyone after his wife and unborn son were killed in an accident. Comet is his rescue dog and an important part of the story. Both are skilled artisans in their own ways. It was great to see how each pulled out the best in each other.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely short holiday story!

Set in the fictional small town of Sugarberry Ridge, Kat returns home. She has fond memories of her time there, her mother recently passed and Kat is going through a divorce. Eli has tragic memories in his past, but somehow the two of them overcome the negative to create a beautiful town tradition.

This was a clean, sweet fast read. Recommend!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

[Becky Durstenfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story. I enjoyed how the main characters helped each other get over their grief as they worked together on the angel. We found out what his loss was but we didn't hear too many details about her losses. The story is also about community in a small town caring for one another, which I liked.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ree · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like sweet, clean, G rated romances, this could be for you! As a bonus, it's also a Christmas romance! I'm definitely going to read more of this series around Christmas for my festive reads. Love that they are short, sweet and super easy to read.

Thank you Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and Kerk Murray for this complimentary read.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Christmas Angel, the first of the new Sugarberry Ridge series, is an amazing new romance by Kerk Murray. Just when I didn't think he could surpass the Hadley Cove series he surprised us all. Heartache turns to love and dreams come true.