From Publishers Weekly
A pregnant woman finds love after fleeing from her abusive ex-husband in this syrupy holiday concoction from Kinkade and Spencer, which is set in Kinkade's familiar New England locale of Cape Light, Mass. Leigh Baxter has a jarring first encounter with the idyllic coastal village when her trip through a snow storm leads to a collision with the local minister, James Cameron, a missionary who has returned home from Nicaragua to recover from malaria. Cameron finds Baxter a place to stay with his landlady while her car is repaired, and initially Baxter sticks to her story about being newly widowed. But her trip was actually triggered by her ex-husband, Martin Garret, a corrupt, brutal corporate mogul who abused her during their marriage and promised to use his wealth and power to get custody of their child. Cameron and Baxter's budding romance is as predictable as the lyrics of a Christmas carol, but the narrative pace turns positively glacial once Baxter settles in town as the local doctor's receptionist. A few ineffective subplots fill in the gaps until Garret's detective tracks down Baxter, and she must tell Cameron her real story. The cast of characters is engaging and well-drawn, but the combination of leaden, generic scenes and a formulaic story line make this the literary equivalent of a holiday fruitcake in February: sweet but stale. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Book Description
The holiday season is upon the townspeople of Cape Light, and the village has a special guest. James McDougal, a minister who runs a mission in Central America, has decided to make a trip to Cape Light to work with Reverend Ben and spend some time with its warm-hearted residents.

It's during the season's first snowstorm, when James's car collides with another car, that the first hint of trouble befalls this close-knit community. No one is hurt, but out-of-towner Leigh Baxter is forced to stay until her car is fixed. Trying to escape a troubled past, Leigh figures Cape Light will make a decent hiding place for a few days. What she doesn't expect, however, is that the charm of this beautiful, seaside hamlet and its citizens will soon win her over-and that she will fall in love with James, the compassionate minister who has so generously welcomed her into his life. A few days quickly turns into a month, and suddenly Leigh finds herself wondering whether James will still accept her in his heart if her dark secrets ever come to light.

In the meantime, Jessica and Sam Morgan find their relationship put to the test. More than anything else this Christmas, they want a baby to call their own. But they soon discover that life's most precious gifts often come in unexpected packages.


About the Author
Thomas Kinkade is America's most collected artist, a painter-communicator whose tranquil, light-infused paintings bring hope and joy to millions each year.

Katherine Spencer was a fiction editor before turning to a full-time career as a writer. She is the author of more than 20 books.

FROM OUR EDITORS

In Thomas Kinkade's fifth faith-based novel, the townspeople of Cape Light have a special guest for Christmas. Rev. James McDougal has left his Central American mission to work with Rev. Ben and spend his holidays with this warm-hearted community. His plans hit a bump when his car suffers a collision during a snowstorm. Nobody is serious hurt, but Leigh Baxter, the other driver, is forced to stay in the village until her car is repaired. Attempting to evade a troubled past, she extends her stay and becomes infatuated with the compassionate missionary. Eventually, she faces a crisis: Will James reject her because of her dark secrets? A precious Christmas gift of a novel.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The holiday season is upon the townspeople of Cape Light, and the village has a special guest. James McDougal, a minister who runs a mission in Central America, has decided to make a trip to Cape Light to work with Reverend Ben and spend some time with its warm-hearted residents.

It's during the season's first snowstorm, when James's car collides with another car, that the first hint of trouble befalls this close-knit community. No one is hurt, but out-of-towner Leigh Baxter is forced to stay until her car is fixed. Trying to escape a troubled past, Leigh figures Cape Light will make a decent hiding place for a few days. What she doesn't expect, however, is that the charm of this beautiful, seaside hamlet and its citizens will soon win her over-and that she will fall in love with James, the compassionate minister who has so generously welcomed her into his life. A few days quickly turns into a month, and suddenly Leigh finds herself wondering whether James will still accept her in his heart if her dark secrets ever come to light.

In the meantime, Jessica and Sam Morgan find their relationship put to the test. More than anything else this Christmas, they want a baby to call their own. But they soon discover that life's most precious gifts often come in unexpected packages.

Author Biography: Thomas Kinkade is America's most collected artist, a painter-communicator whose tranquil, light-infused paintings bring hope and joy to millions each year.

Katherine Spencer was a fiction editor before turning to a full-time career as a writer. She is the author of more than 20 books.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly