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The Love Journey #1
Christmas Dinner
A 2021 EMMA RODGERS AWARD-WINNER
A damsel in distress who needs more than one rescue...
How do you celebrate the holidays after losing a loved one?
Take the journey and accept the invitation to dinner.For months, Darcelle Price has suffered depression in silence. But things are about to change as she plans to celebrate Christmas Eve with family and share her journey. Darcelle invites them via group text, not knowing she had included her ex. Evanston Giles is surprised to hear from the woman he loved after months following their breakup. Seeking closure, he shows up on her doorsteps for answers. A lot can happen on Christmas Eve. Restoring family ties, building her faith in God, and falling in love again are just the beginning of the night of miracles.
A damsel in distress who needs more than one rescue...
How do you celebrate the holidays after losing a loved one?
Take the journey and accept the invitation to dinner.For months, Darcelle Price has suffered depression in silence. But things are about to change as she plans to celebrate Christmas Eve with family and share her journey. Darcelle invites them via group text, not knowing she had included her ex. Evanston Giles is surprised to hear from the woman he loved after months following their breakup. Seeking closure, he shows up on her doorsteps for answers. A lot can happen on Christmas Eve. Restoring family ties, building her faith in God, and falling in love again are just the beginning of the night of miracles.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 17, 2020
46 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Pat Simmons
96 books361 followersPat Simmons is a multi-published Christian romance author of forty-plus titles. She is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth who is passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She is a five-time recipient of the RSJ Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance: Still Guilty, Crowning Glory, The Confession, Christmas Dinner, and Queen’s Surrender (To A Higher Calling). Pat’s first inspirational women’s fiction, Lean On Me, with Sourcebooks, was the February/March Together We Read Digital Book Club pick for the national library system. Here for You and Stand by Me are also part of the Family is Forever series. Her holiday indie release, Christmas Dinner, and traditionally published, Here for You were featured in Woman’s World, a national magazine. Here for You was also listed in the “7 Great Reads That Help to Keep the Faith” by Sisters From AARP. She contributed an article, “I’m Listening,” in the Chicken Soup for the Soul: I’m Speaking Now (2021). Pat is the recipient of the 2022 Leslie Esdaile “Trailblazer” Award given by Building Relationships Around Books Readers’ Choice for her work in the Christian fiction genre.
As a Christian, Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as a life-altering experience. She has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country. Pat has converted her sofa-strapped sports fanatical husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, GPS-guided chauffeur, and administrative assistant who is constantly on probation. They have a son and a daughter. Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts and has worked in radio, television, and print media for more than twenty years. She oversaw the media publicity for the annual RT Booklovers Conventions for fourteen years. Visit her at www.patsimmons.net.
As a Christian, Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as a life-altering experience. She has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country. Pat has converted her sofa-strapped sports fanatical husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, GPS-guided chauffeur, and administrative assistant who is constantly on probation. They have a son and a daughter. Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts and has worked in radio, television, and print media for more than twenty years. She oversaw the media publicity for the annual RT Booklovers Conventions for fourteen years. Visit her at www.patsimmons.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 6, 2020
Mysterious Love and Lost
Love abounds in this Christmas story. I really loved the main characters and their families. This love during the holidays book brings grief, family drama, job stress and faith center stage throughout. If you like a book that takes you on an emotional roller coaster this book is for you. Be sure to have tissues, be prepared to laugh out loud, and to want to shake the heck out of folk. My kind of book from beginning to end. You may even SHOUT!
Love abounds in this Christmas story. I really loved the main characters and their families. This love during the holidays book brings grief, family drama, job stress and faith center stage throughout. If you like a book that takes you on an emotional roller coaster this book is for you. Be sure to have tissues, be prepared to laugh out loud, and to want to shake the heck out of folk. My kind of book from beginning to end. You may even SHOUT!
January 2, 2021
Christmas Dinner, was a beautiful love story that had a primary focus on Family, Relationship and Mental Health. The Price vs The Giles, oh how you will grow to love these families. Loving families who only want the best spiritually and naturally for all family members. The Price welcoming love was just infectious.
CeCe and Vans relationship was beautiful. At times, I felt their love and their hurt. The author took them on a journey often experienced, but not followed through for true LOVE understanding.
Mental health, equally important as our physical health. Ms Simmons did an awesome job of enlightening readers of the importance of taking care of our mental health. She showed how friends intervention, Christian counseling, family support could all lead to a healthier outcome.
I enjoyed the book. It was a nice holiday book to read.
CeCe and Vans relationship was beautiful. At times, I felt their love and their hurt. The author took them on a journey often experienced, but not followed through for true LOVE understanding.
Mental health, equally important as our physical health. Ms Simmons did an awesome job of enlightening readers of the importance of taking care of our mental health. She showed how friends intervention, Christian counseling, family support could all lead to a healthier outcome.
I enjoyed the book. It was a nice holiday book to read.
December 1, 2021
After a slow start, this Christmas jewel began to shine at 50%.
I enjoyed "Van and "CeCe's" Christian love story and how it evolved in a few short months. I must admit, the commitment to the relationship that Evanston exemplified had me mystified, however after a long internal debate, I resolved that this was a message "rooted" in patience and "covered" in divine intervention.
In addition to grief resolution and depression, there are several collateral topics that will be interesting for our book club discussion on Saturday.
Enjoyable holiday read!
I enjoyed "Van and "CeCe's" Christian love story and how it evolved in a few short months. I must admit, the commitment to the relationship that Evanston exemplified had me mystified, however after a long internal debate, I resolved that this was a message "rooted" in patience and "covered" in divine intervention.
In addition to grief resolution and depression, there are several collateral topics that will be interesting for our book club discussion on Saturday.
Enjoyable holiday read!
December 11, 2020
Author Pat Simmons has wrote a excellent storyline that happens to a lot of people today but are ashamed to admit because they don’t want to be stigmatized and put into a category that can cause, family and friends to not be there for you in your time of need. Mental illness can happen to all races, cultures and backgrounds. It does not discriminate.
This is what has happened to Darcelle Price who is dealing with grief from a recent loss of her father, in a new unexpected relationship, working extra hard on her job to be made partner to only lose the promotion to someone that is not as qualified and a male. Now with all this stress and disappointment and Evanston Giles who is the man of her dreams and soulmate, their relationship becomes strain because Darcelle won’t open up to him as to what is happening in her life and pushes Evanston away.
I love how the characters felt so real like they could be a family member or friend and you can feel the emotions of each one. Some characters like Darcelle’s Mother and Evanston sister I just wanted to shake some common sense into them for being so quick to judge a person.
There are a lot of takeaways from the storyline that there can be a chance for second love, depression is real and not keep it as a secret and it is okay to talk to a professional person, prayer and reading God’s Word the Bible can be your source of strength to overcome life obstacles.
I highly recommend this book to read and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Cassandra H.
This is what has happened to Darcelle Price who is dealing with grief from a recent loss of her father, in a new unexpected relationship, working extra hard on her job to be made partner to only lose the promotion to someone that is not as qualified and a male. Now with all this stress and disappointment and Evanston Giles who is the man of her dreams and soulmate, their relationship becomes strain because Darcelle won’t open up to him as to what is happening in her life and pushes Evanston away.
I love how the characters felt so real like they could be a family member or friend and you can feel the emotions of each one. Some characters like Darcelle’s Mother and Evanston sister I just wanted to shake some common sense into them for being so quick to judge a person.
There are a lot of takeaways from the storyline that there can be a chance for second love, depression is real and not keep it as a secret and it is okay to talk to a professional person, prayer and reading God’s Word the Bible can be your source of strength to overcome life obstacles.
I highly recommend this book to read and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Cassandra H.
December 25, 2020
This story highlighted mental illness and the stigma surrounding it within the Black community, especially in families where faith and spirituality supersedes all and Black women are expected to remain strong despite obstacles. Losing her father around the holidays, stress from her job and the demands of a new relationship caused Darcelle to sink into a deep depression. She suffered in silence as many people do until her good friend, Shana intercepted. We all need a friend like Shana. I loved her character. The story moved slow for me at first because I wasn’t sure where it was headed but it was a really good read with a great message. Self care is the best care which is something I’m trying to practice more myself.
February 6, 2022
A chance meeting at a car lot introduces us to this sweet couple named Darcelle and Evanston. Seeing the cover and title, I thought one thing that the book would be about. However, I was pleasantly surprised as I kept reading and the story developed into what is sometimes a taboo topic: mental health. I've had this book for over a year (signed copy from the author actually ;) ) , but my reading of it was timely. I could relate to some things that happened to the main characters. I was left with the feelings of grief, loss, and loneliness, but finished reading full of hope for Darcelle and Evanston. I also have hope. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to experience a different read and looking for something family-oriented and sweet.
December 4, 2020
Denial
A chance meeting between two broken people, Darcelle Price and Evanston Giles leads to searching, but what will they find. Will the chaos which surrounds their lives make or break them. For me the story started a little slow, the characters were well rounded. I appreciated the fact Ms. Simmons dealt with subjects that are normally not talked about openly in the black community.
#Cillasbookmaniacs ##Mamatoni
A chance meeting between two broken people, Darcelle Price and Evanston Giles leads to searching, but what will they find. Will the chaos which surrounds their lives make or break them. For me the story started a little slow, the characters were well rounded. I appreciated the fact Ms. Simmons dealt with subjects that are normally not talked about openly in the black community.
#Cillasbookmaniacs ##Mamatoni
December 14, 2020
A Perfect Holiday Read
I finished this book in two days, which is something I hadn’t done in years. I was invested from the very beginning. I could relate with Darcelle in the incredible loss she suffered. My dad was a big presence in my life and holidays without him aren’t the same anymore. I loved how Pat showed God at work in every area of their lives. Stress, depression, and the black church are very real issues and Pat brought it all together beautifully.
I finished this book in two days, which is something I hadn’t done in years. I was invested from the very beginning. I could relate with Darcelle in the incredible loss she suffered. My dad was a big presence in my life and holidays without him aren’t the same anymore. I loved how Pat showed God at work in every area of their lives. Stress, depression, and the black church are very real issues and Pat brought it all together beautifully.
December 13, 2020
The Christmas Dinner is a very heartfelt read, it was an emotional read for me. I was able to relate to Darcelle on so many levels. This was a true love story and I enjoyed it. I did not agree with how the family dealt with her situation but I understand. We have to remember that God created all these people, yes some do things for the wrong reason but we have to do our research and let God guide us the correct way. Great Christmas story I recommend it.
January 14, 2021
Mental illness
I'm absolutely grateful for purchasing this book due to today's society and as a black woman mental illness is sign of weakness. There are times we go through obstacles that we can't talk about with family members, seeking spiritual and professional help is the first step towards treatment. MS.Simmons as always your writing is great this book has hit home for me. 😇 God Bless you!!!
I'm absolutely grateful for purchasing this book due to today's society and as a black woman mental illness is sign of weakness. There are times we go through obstacles that we can't talk about with family members, seeking spiritual and professional help is the first step towards treatment. MS.Simmons as always your writing is great this book has hit home for me. 😇 God Bless you!!!
January 14, 2021
Christmas Dinner was right on time!
As one of my favorite authors, Pat Simmons creates relatable stories that touch your heart. Christmas Dinner is no different. This story deals with the ups and downs of Darcelle's life and the challenging journey back to herself. This story was powerful, engaging, heart warming and left me wanting more. I look forward to the next book in this series. Well done again Pat Simmons!!!
As one of my favorite authors, Pat Simmons creates relatable stories that touch your heart. Christmas Dinner is no different. This story deals with the ups and downs of Darcelle's life and the challenging journey back to herself. This story was powerful, engaging, heart warming and left me wanting more. I look forward to the next book in this series. Well done again Pat Simmons!!!
January 15, 2021
Excellent read
Excellent read, I loved the characters and storyline. Darcelle and Evan are a great match and love came quickly to their relationship. Darcelle was grieving her fathers death which was sudden. Then she didn’t get a promotion on her job, that she worked hard for. She was fragile and depression took over recking havoc in her life. This book gives insight to mental illness in the black community and the church.
Excellent read, I loved the characters and storyline. Darcelle and Evan are a great match and love came quickly to their relationship. Darcelle was grieving her fathers death which was sudden. Then she didn’t get a promotion on her job, that she worked hard for. She was fragile and depression took over recking havoc in her life. This book gives insight to mental illness in the black community and the church.
December 11, 2020
Christmas Dinner
All I can say is what a great story! I have enjoyed all of this author's book. I could not put this one down. It deals with a very real issue depression and how it is perceived by some families and some in the black community. Great storyline, great characters and a great love story.
All I can say is what a great story! I have enjoyed all of this author's book. I could not put this one down. It deals with a very real issue depression and how it is perceived by some families and some in the black community. Great storyline, great characters and a great love story.
December 12, 2020
Pat Simmons has written another thought-provoking read. It is a beautiful story of Darcelle and Evanston's love. This book also focuses on depression and mental illness something that touches really deep and some are afraid to talk about it. Especially in the African American community. I look forward to reading more books by this author and I love the messages you receive from her books.
December 15, 2020
Get Your Priorities In Order!
While reading this book this is the one statement that kept coming to the forefront of my mind. In this life we are going to have trouble. But are you mentally ready for this life’s trials and tribulations if and when they hit? We never know when something could happen. Placing God at the forefront of is the best place to start this road to Adulthood. Take the journey with Darcelle and Evanston this Christmas season and learn how placing God, love and family in the right order can make your life worth living and your heart more giving. Merry Christmas!
While reading this book this is the one statement that kept coming to the forefront of my mind. In this life we are going to have trouble. But are you mentally ready for this life’s trials and tribulations if and when they hit? We never know when something could happen. Placing God at the forefront of is the best place to start this road to Adulthood. Take the journey with Darcelle and Evanston this Christmas season and learn how placing God, love and family in the right order can make your life worth living and your heart more giving. Merry Christmas!
January 2, 2021
Christmas present for me
An excellent read! Enjoyed the strong family ties, the friendships, the love, and most of all the faith and the Godly connection which were so much a part of the book. There were struggles, but a very happy ending. Depression and mental issues are real and can become a part of our life very easily. God can lead us to the right solution.
An excellent read! Enjoyed the strong family ties, the friendships, the love, and most of all the faith and the Godly connection which were so much a part of the book. There were struggles, but a very happy ending. Depression and mental issues are real and can become a part of our life very easily. God can lead us to the right solution.
Read
January 8, 2021Christmas Love and Challenges
A wonderful and romantic novel that highlights a subject that is often hidden. You can feel the love of Darcel and Evan. The story leaves you feeling warm and blessed knowing the love of God, family and friends can help you endure life's obstacle. It leaves you wanting more on Darcel and Evan's romantic relationship.
A wonderful and romantic novel that highlights a subject that is often hidden. You can feel the love of Darcel and Evan. The story leaves you feeling warm and blessed knowing the love of God, family and friends can help you endure life's obstacle. It leaves you wanting more on Darcel and Evan's romantic relationship.
December 29, 2020
Christmas Dinner Good!
I learned something new about mental illness and that depression comes in many forms. Good job, Pat Simmons! Always a good storyline mingled with love and the Word!
I learned something new about mental illness and that depression comes in many forms. Good job, Pat Simmons! Always a good storyline mingled with love and the Word!
May 9, 2021
Sweet story that tackles real issues
I enjoyed Darcelle and Evanston's story. The author did a great job showing how depression can happen to those of us who are considered strong.
Solid love story with a powerful message.
I enjoyed Darcelle and Evanston's story. The author did a great job showing how depression can happen to those of us who are considered strong.
Solid love story with a powerful message.
June 4, 2021
Just a good read
I simply loved this book. The main character seems like a old friend. Her struggles and triumphs are a true reflection of everyday life for so many. Couldn't put it down until the end!!
I simply loved this book. The main character seems like a old friend. Her struggles and triumphs are a true reflection of everyday life for so many. Couldn't put it down until the end!!
December 3, 2021
Easy Read
Depression is real in our community. I like how the author handled the topic, depression is
nothing to be ashamed of but something that we need to seek counseling to heal.
Depression is real in our community. I like how the author handled the topic, depression is
nothing to be ashamed of but something that we need to seek counseling to heal.
December 4, 2021
Christmas Dinner
This was a great christian fiction novel that depicted love, faith, mental health awareness, and life daily set backs. The characters traits were developed sufficiently. Nevertheless, the story had a very slow beginning, but the ending was worth the wait.
This was a great christian fiction novel that depicted love, faith, mental health awareness, and life daily set backs. The characters traits were developed sufficiently. Nevertheless, the story had a very slow beginning, but the ending was worth the wait.
December 16, 2020
I absolutely loved the characters!
January 17, 2021
Growth in Life and Love
CeeCee and Van’s story is filled with ups and downs. However, the love is what will get you through any situation!
CeeCee and Van’s story is filled with ups and downs. However, the love is what will get you through any situation!
Read
February 13, 2021DNF
This book was not a good fit for me.
This book was not a good fit for me.
December 22, 2021
The fun of love, and whamm some setbacks in Darcelle's that caused her to start spiraling. After an extended time, after help she was able to enjoy life and love.
December 24, 2021
Great read! All the Christmas feels:)
December 23, 2023
Great Story
Great story involving faith, family love, romance, mental illness. I enjoyed the story and the info provided regarding mental health.
Great story involving faith, family love, romance, mental illness. I enjoyed the story and the info provided regarding mental health.
January 31, 2024
Awesome read book of resilience
I loved the story. More people need to understand mental health and understand they is nothing wrong with getting help
I loved the story. More people need to understand mental health and understand they is nothing wrong with getting help
March 12, 2021
Intriguing
Once I started it reading it was very hard to put down. I loved her friend Shana for being there to persuade her in getting help for depression. Mental health needs to be addressed and handled without judgment. Inspiration for those dealing with depression to see that it can be handled.
Once I started it reading it was very hard to put down. I loved her friend Shana for being there to persuade her in getting help for depression. Mental health needs to be addressed and handled without judgment. Inspiration for those dealing with depression to see that it can be handled.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews