Tuesday, November 14, 2023

About the Book

Book: Tangles and Tinsel

Author: Jennifer Sienes

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance, Christmas Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and Southern Fiction

Release Date: November 21, 2023

Why didn’t her life get the memo regarding Christmas being about peace on Earth and goodwill to men?

For the first Christmas in years, Kimberley Saint John may actually get that peace on Earth she’s been dreaming of. Daddy has been sober for going on two years (a record), and if he stays that way, she might have a chance for a life of her own. Maybe even a family. And between you, her, and the fence post, she’d love it if that family included her childhood friend Jax Jenson and his kids.

Except he’s still mourning the loss of his wife.

Jax doesn’t understand why no one has snatched up sweet, beautiful, and funny Kim. Then again, the way she carries hurt and betrayal around like battle gear might have something to do with it. And he is not knight-in-shining-armor material. His wife could’ve told her that.

Kim’s dreams are shattered when Mama shows up, after a twenty-year absence, sending Kim into a tailspin of worry for her daddy. Desperate, she turns to the one man who gets her—Jax.

What will it take for Kim and Jax to untangle emotions that keep them from trusting in God’s sovereignty and find purpose through the pain?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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 altogether in inspirational contemporary fiction. 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.

Enjoy An Excerpt from the Book!

Why was it people made such a fuss over the holidays? Seemed to me, even if you had a perfect family, which I surely didn’t, it was still a crazy time when everyone one-upped each other. It was kind of like playing holiday poker. I’ll take your worries over how to seat twenty of your closest relatives and raise you one need to order a pre-cooked meal because I can’t even find time to shop. Of course, the shame of not having a homemade Thanksgiving supper raised the ante quite a bit, so I generally won.

Because Daddy and me would have a couple of kids with us this year, I vowed things would be different. I was even willing to shop, cook, and bake, which was the trifecta of disaster as far as I was concerned. I had nothing against shopping—it was part of my everyday life. Hunting down great deals on vintage furniture was in my job description. But food? Only as a source of survival. Spent too many years cooking for Daddy after Mama left us, and baking was downright messy and time consuming. I’d never be held up as a great example of a Southern lady. But I’d push through it for Nora and Chandler. And if I was going to be completely honest, maybe a little for their daddy, too.

Never could see myself with my own children. For one thing, though it might stretch the imagination of most to believe it, I was a traditionalist. Even if I hadn’t stepped foot into a church since I was fifteen, there was an order to life and love that shouldn’t be forsaken. Since I hadn’t been on a date for more months than I could count on both hands, it wasn’t likely I’d be getting married anytime soon. Might be my lack of culinary skills played into that some.

For another thing, I’d heard a couple of the older ladies in my apartment complex refer to me as a spinster. It would appear, unless God miraculously plopped Mr. Perfect-for-me on my doorstep this very day, I’d be too old to have kids even if I ever did get married. At thirty-five, I was already stretching the limits of my biological clock. Add to that a year or two of dating, then a proper engagement, and I might as well accept my lot in life—once I figured out what that was exactly.

MY REVIEW

There is a lot of emotional turmoil in this book which you may think is hard to read. However I found it helpful and easy to relate to the characters. Forgiveness is definitely a big topic in the story and how we all struggle with that at times. I found the story to be a realistic look at how people deal with grief, forgiveness and second chances.

Kim is ready for the holidays and just enjoying some quiet time. She has had a hard time the last few years helping her dad overcome drinking. Things seem to be going well for both of them until someone unexpectedly shows up. . Kim can’t seem to let go that her mother abandoned her and left her alone with her dad.

Jax is a great character who has been through so much after losing his wife. He tries to do the best he can raising their children while working long hours. He and Kim have been friends for a long time and some people hope that they will get together. Two lonely hurting people looking for hope at Christmastime makes this story so special.

The author makes a good point of how we hold on to things. In order to move on we need to deal with them straight on. If you are having a problem with someone, talk to them and allow God to restore the relationship. We allow the enemy to separate us when we get hurt or offended. Kim must face her past and allow forgiveness to set her free. Kim’s friend tells her, “You push people away like you gotta reject them before they can reject you.” Well I can relate to that as well. It is a defense mechanism that I use to protect myself. Kim oh how I know your pain of feeling alone.

I did get a surprise in the story when Kim finds out the real reason her mother left. It was very emotional and could be a trigger for some readers. The topic is one that the author handles very well. It illustrates how we never know what someone has been through. It also shows that when we allow ourselves to forgive and ask forgiveness we can finally be free. The ending is beautiful and shares that family is important.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.