A Heartwarming Holiday Tale

Jennifer Sienes delivers a heartwarming tale in A Canine for Christmas, blending humor, romance, and faith into a charming holiday story. The combination of small-town charm, engaging characters, and holiday spirit creates a story filled with warmth and depth.

Amelia Hutchinson is a relatable and endearing protagonist. With her quirky personality and comparisons of her life to Hallmark movies, she brings a mix of humor and longing that makes her feel authentic. Her role as a mail carrier becomes the perfect way for her to cross paths with Rayce Jasper, and their interactions are filled with witty banter and moments of genuine connection.

Rayce is a thoughtful contrast to Amelia’s bubbly demeanor. Struggling with family betrayal and the emotional weight of selling his grandfather’s farm, he is grounded and authentic. His more serious nature highlights the dynamic between them, creating a balance of humor and emotional depth.

The story seamlessly incorporates themes of forgiveness, second chances, and trusting in God’s plan. These elements add meaning to the story without overshadowing the lighthearted moments. The inclusion of a mysterious request and glimpses into the past adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, enhancing its complexity.

The large canine is more than just a source of comedy; it also symbolizes the unexpected blessings that life can bring. The dog’s presence adds charm and heart to the story.

The small-town setting, described with festive details and cozy atmospheres, enhances the book’s tone and draws readers into a snow-dusted holiday world. Jennifer Sienes’ vivid descriptions and thoughtful storytelling create a narrative that feels both timeless and uniquely engaging.

This is a story that brings together romance, mystery, and faith in a way that captures the spirit of Christmas and the beauty of human connection.

Note: I received a copy of this book from the author and was not required to write a positive review.

A Canine Christmas is on Tour with Celebrate Lit!

Author: Jennifer Sienes

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance, Christmas Fiction, and Southern Fiction

Release date: November 18, 2024

What do you get when you mix a mail carrier, a monstrously large canine and his surly owner, and a mysterious death?

Amelia Hutchinson can’t seem to find her place in the world. Or maybe she’s just watched too many Christmas Hallmark movies. But come on, how come Aurora Teagarden and Hallie Dean get more exciting careers and all Amelia gets to be is a mail carrier? Not to mention, she’s living in her sister and brother-in-law’s guest house and the only man she could find was one who didn’t appreciate the purity ring her daddy gave her.

Rayce Jasper just wants to sell his late granddad’s farm and throw away the painful past that comes with it as soon as possible. But the memories of the man who betrayed him, a ditzy mail lady, and a strange request put a kink in his agenda.

As Rayce’s and Amelia’s worlds collide, neither of them can deny that God must be weaving His own Christmas story for the two of them.

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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.

More from Jennifer

I’m often asked where inspiration comes for my books. Does it start with a character or a setting or maybe something from my own life? The answer is, “Yes.” Each of those have sparked story ideas. A Canine Christmas is my fourteenth book, but it’s the first (and possibly last) novel/novella motivated by a dog.

You would think it would be my own canine that inspired one of my books—but that’s not the case here. I have a short story in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons from the Dog titled “Soul Sniffer” based on my late Bichon Friese, Einstein. He was also in Providence—and his name was Dashiell. I have another short story in Inspire Joy titled “Canine Redemption” about Cheyenne, a rescue dog we had for a short time. But an entire book? Never.

It started with my granddaughters’ Cano Corso, Porter. The biggest (and I mean that in every sense of the word) baby I’ve ever encountered. He’s massive, and yet hides behind eight-year-old Kennedy at the slightest loud noise. His size alone is enough to intimidate the average person, but he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. However, he wasn’t the only inspiration for this Christmas novella.

The setting was influenced by my affinity for old family farms and historic cemeteries (of which there are over 33,000 in the state of Tennessee.) Add a ditzy mail lady who has an intense fear of dogs, and a disgruntled man trying to put his past to rest, and A Canine Christmas was born.

This is romance through and through, and it was a pure joy to write. I hope you’ll come to love Amelia and Rayce as much as I did—and of course, Porter, the canine matchmaker.