{"product_id":"thomas-kinkades-cape-light-christmas-blessings-isbn-9780451489173","title":"Thomas Kinkade's Cape Light: Christmas Blessings","description":"\u003cb\u003eRevel in the spirit of Christmas, and let your heart be an open book with a heartwarming novel set in Thomas Kinkade’s charming town of Cape Light...\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShortly before the start of the holidays, successful renovation business owner Sam Morgan has an accident on site that leaves him housebound. The timing could not be worse, as his wife, Jessica, just left her job to run an animal rescue shelter on their property. Now, not only are they without two regular incomes, but Sam has to recoup in the middle of a small zoo. His oldest son, Darrell, a senior in college, assures Sam that he can step in and run the business. But Sam is opposed to Darrell leaving college and doubts his son can fill his work boots. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMeanwhile, Jean Whitman has returned to her childhood home, Cape Light, to care for her ill mother. The relationship between Jean and her mother has never been easy; Jean has never been able to please Cynthia. To build common ground, Jean reopens Cynthia’s old bookstore café. But what Jean doesn’t know is that one of the first customers to walk through the door will change her life forever.\u003cb\u003eThomas Kinkade\u003c\/b\u003e emphasized simple pleasures and inspirational messages through his art. Thom believed that both the ability and the inspiration to create his paintings had been given to him as a gift. His goal as an artist was to touch people of all faiths and to bring peace and joy into their lives through the images he created.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eKatherine Spencer\u003c\/b\u003e was a fiction editor before turning to a full-time career as a writer. The author of more than thirty books, she also writes the Angel Island series, as well as the Black Sheep Knitting Mysteries under her real name, Anne Canadeo. She lives with her husband and daughter in a small village on the Long Island Sound. Outside of her office, she is active in many community charity projects. You can contact her at anne@annecanadeo.com and on Facebook.Chapter One\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That meal was delicious. Now I know how a stuffed turkey feels.\"      Jessica's stepfather, Ezra, patted his stomach while the rest of      Jessica and Sam Morgan's guests smiled and laughed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e There were only ten around the table this year, but enough food      for twenty, Jessica decided, surveying the leftovers. Family      holidays were often at her house, and there were often many more      guests. But their Thanksgiving dinner had been quiet and relaxed      this year with just her mother and stepfather; her sister, Emily,      and her husband, Dan, and their younger daughter, Jane. Emily's      older daughter, Sara, who lived in Boston, was spending      Thanksgiving with her husband's family this year. Sara and Luke      would come to Cape Light for Christmas. Of course, there was also      Jessica's husband, Sam, and their three children-Darrell, Tyler,      and Lily.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No room in that turkey for dessert?\" Emily's tone was teasing.      She emerged from the kitchen with an apple pie in one hand and a      pumpkin pie in the other. Her daughter, Jane, followed with a bowl      of rice pudding and a carrot-nut loaf.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ezra smiled, taking in the bounty of sweets. \"I might need a taste      of each. And a small scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jessica laughed at his hopeful look. She cut a generous slice of      each pie and served him first. \"Don't worry, I didn't forget the      ice cream.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'll get it.\" Lily, Jessica's youngest, headed back to the      kitchen, eager to help.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I hope you didn't forget the stomach antacids either.\" Jessica's      mother, Lillian, turned to her husband. \"Will I be kept awake all      night by your moans and groans?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ezra smiled in his good-natured way. \"If the need arises, I shall      take my moans and groans into the guest room. While I concede your      point, I must ask, what would Thanksgiving be without a little      overindulgence? I've heard the first Thanksgiving revelers carried      on for days.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Three days.\" Lily returned from the kitchen and placed a carton      of vanilla ice cream and a chrome scoop on the table next to Ezra.      \"Mrs. Gibson read us a book about it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Thank you, Mrs. Gibson.\" Ezra ladled a generous lump of ice cream      on his apple pie and picked up his spoon. \"Let us honor our brave      Pilgrim forefathers.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Just as Lillian seemed poised to for another volley, Sam lifted      his glass. \"And let us honor the cook. We may not keep everyone      here for  three days, but I bet we've had the best Thanksgiving      feast in town.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Hear, hear. To the cook,\" Dan echoed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jessica blushed. \"Correction-the many cooks. Thanks to Emily and      Jane, for their side dishes and the pudding. And Tyler,\" she      added, smiling at her middle child. \"He made the sweet potatoes      and the pumpkin pie entirely on his own.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Tyler glowed with pride. It was becoming apparent that he had both      interest and talent in the kitchen, and was even considering a      career in that direction.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Nice job, Ty.\" Darrell, Jessica's eldest, home from college for      the long weekend, reached over and ruffled Tyler's hair. \"We      should call you Iron Chef.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lillian raised her glass then leaned toward her husband. \"What      does that mean? Iron Chef?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"A cooking show, dear. On TV,\" Ezra explained.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I thought so. All these people cooking on television. I don't get      the point,\" Lillian murmured. \"In my day, you ate what was set in      front of you. No fuss or fanfare.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Thankfully, that day has passed,\" Sam said. \"Before I forget,      there's another part to my toast. Only about Jessica.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jessica knew what was coming. She stared at her plate and took a      breath. She and Sam had debated all morning whether or not to      share her news today. Sam had been eager to tell the rest of the      family, but she had felt unsure. He had promised he would leave it      to her. It was her news to tell. Or not tell, if she chose.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She also knew Sam could never keep a secret. It was one of the      things she loved about him-he was always so forthright and honest.      But it was not an endearing trait at this particular moment.      \"Jessica has some news,\" Sam announced. \"Right, honey?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Finally, he looked at her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jessica tried to telegraph her displeasure to the far end of the      table where he sat. But all eyes were on her. There was no      avoiding it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Don't tell me. You're pregnant.\" Her mother practically groaned      the words.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jessica almost laughed. \"Three is enough for me, Mother. And I'm a      bit past that stage.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Who knows these days? Movie stars seem to be having babies well      into their senior years,\" Lillian observed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"That might be true. But not me.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Emily had poured herself more coffee but didn't touch the cup.      \"What is it, Jess? Please tell us. I can hardly stand the      suspense.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jessica smiled and took a deep breath. But before she could speak,      Lily interrupted. \"Mommy started an animal shelter. We're going to      take care of animals that are homeless.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What a nice idea. You have plenty of property here, and you've      always loved animals. Especially the strays.\" Emily smiled softly.      \"Remember that stray cat you found when we moved to the house on      Providence Street?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jessica did remember. But she was surprised that Emily did.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Don't remind me,\" Lillian said. \"The minute your sister showed      that mangy creature attention, it set up shop under the porch and      had a boatload of kittens.\" Leave it to her mother to blame a poor      stray cat for seeking shelter for her offspring. \"It took us all      summer to give those kittens away. Are you really eager to go      through all that again . . . and again? That's quite a      time-consuming hobby.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jessica twisted her hands in her lap under the table, a nervous      habit, perfected during endless and often stressful meetings at      the bank. Sam gave her look. If she didn't tell all of her news,      he would.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"It's not going to be a hobby, Mother. I mean, not any longer. I'm      leaving the bank. I'm going to rescue animals full-time.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jessica paused, her gaze sweeping over the surprised expressions      around the table. Her relatives looked something just short of      stunned.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Her niece Jane recovered the fastest. \"I think that's great, Aunt      Jess. You have so many pets already. I don't think it will be much      different around here at all.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jessica smiled, grateful for the vote of confidence. \"I don't      think so either, Janie. Though we do have plans to build some      stalls in the barn and fence off different sections of the      property.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You'd be surprised. A lot of animals don't get along. Goats and      sheep, for instance,\" Sam offered.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Her mother stared at him, her lips a tight line. \"Is that all you      have to say?\" She turned to Jessica, her gaze withering. \"You quit      your job at the bank, manager of the loan department. In a few      more years, bank manager, to be sure. You tossed all that in the .      . . dung heap, let us say, to fuss over a pack of stray animals?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I don't expect you to understand, Mother. Please don't try to      change my mind,\" Jessica said. \"It's all settled. I've turned in      my notice and started taking in more animals.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lillian pressed her hand to her chest and took a deep breath. Ezra      leaned toward his wife, looking concerned.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Now, Lily . . . don't get yourself into a state. Jessica's old      enough to know her own mind.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Sounds like she's lost her mind to me,\" Lillian retorted. \"And      what do you think of this?\" she asked Sam. \"You don't care if your      wife ruins a perfectly good career for some midlife, wildlife      crisis?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jessica watched Sam rub the back of his neck, a gesture he used to      buy time and gather his patience. \"I'm totally in favor of the      career change, Lillian,\" he said. \"Jessica has wanted to take this      step for a long time. She's certainly paid her dues at that bank.      She's just not happy working there anymore. At this stage of her      life, I think she should work at a career that's fulfilling and      makes her happy.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Fine words,\" Lillian replied. \"What about her paycheck? I assume      it takes two salaries to run this house and take care of your      children. Jessica certainly won't make the same income running an      animal shelter-if she makes anything at all from the endeavor.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Mother, really. That's none of your business,\" Emily cut in.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm just curious. Since I happen to be the person most likely to      be asked for a loan, if the need should arise,\" Lillian added.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jessica thought Sam's temper was going to flare at the dig. But to      Jessica's great relief, he sat back and shrugged.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"It's nice to know you're ready to lend a helping hand, Lillian,\"      Sam said, intentionally misinterpreting his mother-in-law's words.      \"But there won't be any need. My business is doing well, thank      goodness. And we have plenty of savings. We know it will take time      for the shelter to turn a profit. We've already planned for that.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Not worried about making ends meet?\" Lillian sounded as if she      didn't believe him. \"Well, time will tell. That's all I have to      say.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes, it will,\" Sam agreed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jessica smiled at her husband, meeting his dark eyes with a look      of thanks. And love. All her annoyance about the way he had given      up her secret faded. She was immensely grateful for Sam's      understanding and the way he had encouraged her to follow through      on this \"someday\" plan-to open and run her own shelter. Not just      dabble with the work on the weekends.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Emily cut a slice of pumpkin pie and passed it to her husband.      \"Life is short. We must follow our bliss, whether it leads to      Thanksgiving pie . . . or caring for God's creatures, great and      small. Congratulations, Jessica. I think we should toast to your      new career and great success.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes, Aunt Jessica. That's very exciting news,\" Jane said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Everyone raised their glasses again. Everyone but her mother,      Jessica noticed. \"Go ahead. Clink away. I won't toast to this      harebrained idea. No pun intended,\" Lillian added.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Oh, Lily, don't be a spoilsport,\" Ezra muttered.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Her mother ignored him. \"I'll give it a month. Maybe two. By the      new year, you'll regret this impetuous decision, Jessica. But by      then it will be too late.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Was her mother right? Jessica hoped not. She shook off the doubts      her mother had just planted and reminded herself that she couldn't      let her mother's dire predictions get under her skin.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Think what you like, Mother,\" Jessica replied calmly. \"By the new      year, I'm sure I'll be thanking my lucky stars I had the courage      to take this leap . . . and thanking my husband for encouraging me      every step of the way.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Aww, Jess. That's so sweet.\" Sam smiled at her from the far end      of the table.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Hear, hear . . . to supportive husbands, everywhere,\" Dan said,      toasting again. Just as Jessica clinked glasses with her      brother-in-law, she heard her mother shriek and saw her tilt back      in her chair, her arms raised in alarm.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Good gravy-what's going on?\" Ezra turned to his wife.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Something is crawling up the tablecloth.\" Her mother stared down      at her lap and Jessica saw a soft, gray head emerge. One of the      kittens she was keeping had escaped the enclosure in the family      room.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e While everyone laughed, it scampered in confusion and fright,      straight through her mother's dessert dish, leaving      pumpkin-colored footprints on the tablecloth.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"For heaven's sake. Don't just sit there. Someone catch it,\"      Lillian snapped.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Several swipes were made but the kitten eluded capture. Finally,      it settled on the table, cowering in a small ball. Lily gently      lifted the cat, cooing softly as she removed it from the table,      then cradled it to her chest.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"She must have wiggled through the enclosure. Lily will put her      back,\" Jessica explained, wondering if there were any other      escapees on the loose.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jessica expected her mother to reply with some tart comment, but      Lillian just pushed her dessert plate aside. \"I'd like another      slice of pie, please. On a fresh dish. This one has cat      footprints.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Coming right up,\" Jessica replied, barely able to keep a straight      face.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She knew it wasn't going to be easy, this new path she had chosen.      A path \"less traveled by,\" as the poet Robert Frost had written.      But she was so eager to set off and put her whole heart into it.      Nothing could dim her high hopes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ÒEverythingÕs ready. Finally. I didnÕt expect the turkey to take      so long,Ó Jean Whitman admitted to her mother. ÒItÕs only a turkey      breast. I thought that would be enough for just the two of us.Ó\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"More than enough. It seems a waste to do all this cooking for      just two people. Though I will miss the dark meat.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jean had forgotten her mother's preference. Should have bought      some drumsticks. Oh well, next time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Cynthia had refused any help walking from her bedroom to the      dining room, though Jean felt anxious, watching every step as her      mother maneuvered her walker. When her mother reached the table,      Jean pulled out a chair and waited to help her mother sit.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"My place is on the other side, don't you remember?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes, of course. I'll move your place setting.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jean had remembered, but the other side of the table was so much      harder to reach with the walker. But she patiently took the dish      and silverware to the spot her mother preferred, then waited as      her mother made her way around.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jean had set the table with good china and silver flatware. The      dishes, rescued from the china closet, had been full of dust, and      the silver had needed polish. She had also bought a centerpiece of      autumn-colored flowers and found candles for the silver holders.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She thought her mother would appreciate the special touches.      Cynthia was an artist-or had been. Jean also thought the extra      fuss might lift her spirits a bit. But her mother didn't seem to      notice anything special about the table. She opened her napkin and      took a sip of water from a crystal glass with no change of      expression. She could have been eating off a tray in her bedroom,      Jean thought.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Jean returned to the kitchen and carried out the many dishes she      had prepared. It did seem like a lot for two, but they would      definitely use the leftovers. Jean's mother had not been a very      good cook. She was more interested in her painting and would toss      together a hasty supper after hours in her studio-often sandwiches      and soup from a can or pasta with bottled sauce.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But Jean loved to cook. She was always taking classes and gleaning      tips from TV shows and the Internet. She had already found some      interesting recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers and would try a few      this week. She wasn't just visiting Cape Light for the holiday but      had moved down from Portland, Maine, to take care of her mother      indefinitely, taking over the cooking and housekeeping from the      aides who stopped in daily.","brand":"Berkley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46302917525733,"sku":"NP9780451489173","price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780451489173.jpg?v=1767742538","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/thomas-kinkades-cape-light-christmas-blessings-isbn-9780451489173","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}