About the Book These Simple Gifts

Book: These Simple Gifts

Author: Jennifer Sienes

Genre: Christian Christmas Contemporary Romance and Southern Fiction

Release date: November 8, 2022

This year, Annalee has more ugly to deal with than you can find at a Christmas sweater party.

After eighteen years of living in the shadow of danger, shame, and regret, preschool teacher Annalee Prichard just wants to keep life safe and simple. It’s worked so far, but her best friend has other ideas and guilts Annalee into helping with a Christmas charity event. When the event’s entertainment backs out, it’s up to Annalee to convince her high school crush, Nick Daniels, to step up and step into the gig.

Nick Daniels has never been accused of having but one oar in the water, and he learned the hard way that pride truly does come before a fall. He sacrificed everything to achieve the fame he desired above all else. But after hitting rock bottom, he returned home to Bedford County, clinging to a mustard-seed-sized faith.

That’s when homely Annalee Pritchard shows up, convinced he’ll be willing to flirt with fame once again—all in the name of Christian charity.

Nick’s friendship has Annalee grinning like a fool. Could there be more to life than shame and shadows? Could this be her most blessed Christmas ever?

Little does Annalee know that her fearsome past is about to rear its ugly and perilous head and drag her and Nick down together.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts on These Simple Gifts

These Simple Gifts is a great novel by a favorite author of mine. All of her books cover hard topics and give you something to think about.  This is book two in a series.  I always find reading books in order is the best way to read them but you could read this one on its own if you wanted to, I guess.  

In this novel, we meet some characters we’re casually met in other novels.  Nick had a hotshot career until he made bad choices and lost it all.  When he comes home with his tail between his legs it takes him a while to recover.  Now that he’s on his way he wants nothing to do with his previous career.  

Enter Annalee who does everything she can to stay under the radar.  When she’s helping with a charity event and they need an entertainer she steps out of her comfort zone to ask Nick to take over. 

From here the story builds and grows.  You’re going to love this one!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

About the Author of These Simple Gifts

Jennifer Sienes holds a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in education but discovered life experience is the best teacher. She loves Jesus, romance and writing–and puts it in inspirational contemporary fiction altogether.

Her daughter’s TBI and brother’s suicide inspired two of her three novels.

Although fiction writing is her real love, she’s had several non-fiction pieces published in anthologies–two in Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has two grown children and one very spoiled Maltese. California-born and raised, she recently took a step of faith with her real-life hero and relocated to Tennessee.

More from Jennifer

Who doesn’t love a good redemption story? The bad boy (or girl) gone good.

My husband and I have recently started watching the television show Nashville. Yes, I’m aware it’s probably considered a prime-time soap opera, and it certainly wouldn’t come close to passing as “clean” television, but we were hooked from the very beginning.

Why you might be asking?

First and foremost, the talent on this show is absolutely amazing. Take it from someone who can’t carry a tune to save her life, I am enamoured with people who can sing like the actors in this show. The second reason we enjoy it is because it was basically filmed in our backyard. We live an hour south of Nashville, and it’s always a treat to recognize your own surroundings on television. I remember my mom was a big fan of The Streets of San Francisco back in the day because she worked in this city and the scenery was familiar. I don’t think the fact it starred Michael Douglas hurt either.

How does this connect to a redemption story?

One character in Nashville, named Avery Barkley, starts out as someone that’s hard to stomach. Self-centred, arrogant, and immature. He reminds me of Nick Daniels in These Simple Gifts and Night Songs. So much so, had I been watching the show before I wrote Night Songs, I would’ve believed that I based Nick off of Avery.

However, that wasn’t the case.

And just like Avery in Nashville does a 180-degree (albeit slow) switch in his character, it is for Nick Daniels in These Simple Gifts. Redemption is every bit as attractive to me as romance. I love that we are all just broken jars of clay that the Lord shapes for our good and His glory, if we’re sensitive enough (and broken enough) to recognize it.

I didn’t care much for Nick when I created him—and neither did my readers.

More than one church lady-fans gave me an earful about how much they didn’t care for him.

But if I know one thing it’s that no one is all good or all bad. We are a combination of our upbringing and choices (both right and wrong). And until we leave this earth, God isn’t done growing our character. I like to believe anyone can be redeemed given the right circumstances and a heart toward the Lord. Even Nick Daniels.

Blog Stops for These Simple Gifts

Giveaway for These Simple Gifts

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card & a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/23058/these-simple-gifts-celebration-tour-giveaway