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A Christmas Homecoming
Make it a merry Christmas with this holiday novella, now adapted into the hit Hallmark movie Unlocking Christmas!
Former Air Force Pararescueman Kevin Matthews is back home in Texas, working at his family’s Christmas tree farm while deciding his next move. Or maybe he won’t move at all, if sparks keep flying with the town’s new surgeon, Kate Stafford . . .
Former Air Force Pararescueman Kevin Matthews is back home in Texas, working at his family’s Christmas tree farm while deciding his next move. Or maybe he won’t move at all, if sparks keep flying with the town’s new surgeon, Kate Stafford . . .
- GenresChristmas
104 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2024
97 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
428 books6,545 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 1, 2025
Kevin was on his way home after 6 years with the Air force to his hometown of Cedar Park at the same time Kate Stafford and her daughter were moving there. Kate was a pediatric orthopedist. She had gotten a job at the Cedar Park Medical Center. She and Kevin met at church the first Sunday she had taken Emma to Sunday school. Let's see how this works out . It seems every time they meet Kate is lying in the dirt. Do they ever get together? You must read to how this works out. A VERY GOOD READ
November 24, 2024
After six years of duty, former Air Force Pararescueman Kevin just returned home to his parents Christmas tree farm and meets up with the new Orthopedic surgeon Kate and her lovely young daughter.
I loved all the characters, the excitement of the little girl, and the welcoming spirit of the home town folks. A perfect book for the holidays!
I loved all the characters, the excitement of the little girl, and the welcoming spirit of the home town folks. A perfect book for the holidays!
December 18, 2024
Nice Christmas Story
This was a nice quick read. I’ve read most of Fern Michaels’ books and this one didn’t disappoint. It kind of made me wish lived back in a small town when life was more simple.
This was a nice quick read. I’ve read most of Fern Michaels’ books and this one didn’t disappoint. It kind of made me wish lived back in a small town when life was more simple.
December 22, 2024
Good novella
Short but sweet. A little too much teenage acting between the two main characters. Still a good feeling story .I would like a follow up book about the couple and their families and her career with the children in her care.
Short but sweet. A little too much teenage acting between the two main characters. Still a good feeling story .I would like a follow up book about the couple and their families and her career with the children in her care.
November 28, 2025
Kate thinks Kevin is having an affair with a married woman but doesn't ask about it? She just accepts a dinner date? I feel like the author didn't care because she handled Kevin's misunderstanding, so who cares about the female character. Very disappointing and confusing end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2024
Excellent Book
Fern did it again another fabulous book I love all of her books this book should be a ten star book I highly recommend this book to everyone. Dorothy Schaefer
Fern did it again another fabulous book I love all of her books this book should be a ten star book I highly recommend this book to everyone. Dorothy Schaefer
December 30, 2024
Excellent Book fern did it again I love all of her books this book should be a ten star book I highly recommend this book to everyone. Dorothy Schaefer
January 4, 2025
Holiday Happiness!
Excellent Holiday reading!🎄🎄
I couldn’t put the book down.
Fern Michael did a magnificent job with this heartwarming story about the holiday.
Excellent Holiday reading!🎄🎄
I couldn’t put the book down.
Fern Michael did a magnificent job with this heartwarming story about the holiday.
January 5, 2025
It was good for what it was, which is a quick Christmas romance. Nothing groundbreakingly great about the book, but it was fine.
January 6, 2025
Nancy
This was a wonderful little book to read. The characters were fun, and the storyline was a short adventure with romance and a lot of Christmas spirit.thanks
This was a wonderful little book to read. The characters were fun, and the storyline was a short adventure with romance and a lot of Christmas spirit.thanks
January 12, 2025
Short but sweet!
January 18, 2025
I am a sucker for feel-good books like this one. You may know the outcome before you even start to read, but these types of books make my heart happy! ❤️
February 2, 2025
A Christmas Homecoming
I have never been disappointed in a Fern Michels book and this one is a great feel good reading. Cuddle up with a blanket hot chocolate and enjoy.
I have never been disappointed in a Fern Michels book and this one is a great feel good reading. Cuddle up with a blanket hot chocolate and enjoy.
February 26, 2025
fun read
A nice break from reading suspense novels.
She portrayed the characters well to where you could picture them. Looking forward to her next Christmas novel
A nice break from reading suspense novels.
She portrayed the characters well to where you could picture them. Looking forward to her next Christmas novel
January 6, 2025
Uplifting book. Needed to be longer. I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews