Book Description

It's Christmastime in the pocket-sized village of Briarcliff Manor. With yuletide spirits flying high, life seems close to perfect in this quaint suburb of Manhattan. But not everyone feels the holiday cheer. While most go about their joyful holiday pursuits, young Charlie Riverton is restless. Compassionate by nature, he's especially mindful of the lonely and forlorn. At the same time, he's the unofficial leader of a close-knit group of sixth-grade buddies. Together they grapple with pre-teen hijinks, newfound freedoms and an emerging, nerve-wracking interest in girls. Meanwhile, there's a curiously gifted newcomer in town. Charlie develops a special friendship with the handsome stranger and together, they set out to craft a God-honoring Christmas gift for the whole community. Along the way, lives are changed and people begin to look at Christmas a little differently. Come spend the holidays in Briarcliff with this feel-good, coming of age story set in small-town America in the early 1970s. Congratulations to Tom for writing a heartwarming Christmas story that evokes the traditional Christmas spirit. A Gift Most Rare focuses on a God-honoring relationship between a young boy, a guardian angel and a whole village that rediscovers how best to celebrate Christmas. -Kevin Sorbo, Actor, Producer, and Director A Gift Most Rare is a gift to every reader. Bringing you back to a time when Christmas was filled with thanks to God, it is a great reminder to care for those around you, giving to those in need and coming together to celebrate God's gift of Jesus. -Rev Anthony Karlik, Sr. Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, Briarcliff Manor, NY, and Eastern Region President of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren This novel is sweet and affectionate, with a strong spiritual uplift. A lovely debut. -Jamie Malanowski, author of The Coup and Commander Will Cushing, Daredevil Hero of the Civil War Every once in a while comes a magical story, an exquisite jewel of a book, a piece of fiction that more than makes up for all the ordinary books. Leihbacher is an amazing storyteller. He economically imbues his plot and characters with life's truths. -Karen Smith, Historian, Briarcliff Manor A Gift Most Rare is a thoroughly feel-good holiday tale, reminiscent of the things we love about It's a Wonderful Life, but for our times. -Martha Higgins Ferguson, Chappaqua, NY