Customer Reviews

Simple Gifts

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Okay this was a fun read but yet I found myself not warming to Marlene just because I have a difficult time with someone who lies as much as she does. The book actually made me nervous wating for her to stop lying. She has lived her whole life as a lie because of pride and I realize that is the essence of the book but it's not until the last few pages that she finally apoligizes to the man who has loved he all her life. Besides the lying, she allows her daughter who is spolied rotten to manipulate her and be at her beck and call. That was another part I never understood; MArlene won't marry the man she has always loved and who loves her because he will want children and she is afraid they will be like her parents, so she runs off with another man and has a child with him. I didn't understand that reasoning. I like all the other characters in the book and Lori Copeland's humor. I especially liked Vic's character and wasn't sure Marlene deserved him but then he forgave her just as God did but she threw so many years away, you just wanted to shake her.

I loved this book. It will go on my shelf of to be kept. Her dialogue between characters and descriptions make the story so real. I just felt the entire story. I love her other books too and recommend all of them highly.

The book begins with " My momma always said ' Life is like a box of chocolate. You never know what you're gonna get.' Forrest Gump's mom was right.....my life...It was a box of chocolates - and someone had eaten the creams and left me the nuts."

Lori Copeland writes a humourous book that includes insight,inspiration and much enjoyment. I very much enjoyed it! I have also read Monday Morning Faith by Lori Copeland and enjoyed it - but this is even better!

I work as my church's librarian, and Monday Morning Faith has been one of most popular new fiction books - and I predict with great certainty that this book will prove even more in demand.

A wonderful, easy , fun read!

Marlene Queens returns to Parness Springs, Missouri, to help wrap up her elderly Aunt Beth's affairs and becomes involved in the various disputes and problems of her kin. Since Marlene has a lot of family intrigue, this carries the novel much farther than one might expect. In fact, the book itself is much better than one might expect, given the lightweight and cliched fluff that fills many inspirational romances (yes, even the spiritually minded sometimes turn to mush when love is in the air).

Lori Copeland has written a number of books and sold over three million copies --- so she clearly knows something about what fans are looking for, and that seems to involve smart, sassy narration. Marlene opens her story by telling us that her life, just as Forrest Gump's mother said, really is like a box of chocolates: "... and someone had eaten the creams and left me the nuts." (The candy metaphors are numerous, and include references to Payday candy bars, caramels and more.)

Slowly, Marlene realizes that the nuts are far more nutritious and long-lasting than those easy-to-eat creams. Our heroine is by no means the lithe, beautiful ingenue of many a romance: she has an overly dependent daughter, a case of diabetes and an old flame in Parness Springs whose path she has to cross now that she's coming home --- because he's the acting mayor. Despite the eccentricities and demands of her elderly relatives, Marlene finds herself struggling to keep her life together and her lifelong secret hush-hush.

Naturally, neither of these efforts meets with success. What fun would it be if they did? Marlene's great sin is not lying, but pride, which is something that so many readers will recognize in themselves. While she may have lied to keep her "secret" (no spoilers here!), the motivation behind her lying is the all-too-common sin of pride.

SIMPLE GIFTS is a fast read --- some might say a simple one --- but like strawberries and cream or peach cobbler in the summer, it's simplicity of the finest kind. This is a book I highly recommend for your end-of-summer beach bag.

--- Reviewed by Bethanne Kelly Patrick

Such a quick easy book to read! Such vivid characters! They immediately feel like close friends... When you start smiling with the first page... the first sentence actually, you know it will be well worth your time. So sit back, relax and enjoy another wonderful novel from one of the best inspirational authors out there! Sometimes the best gifts are the simplest ones. We all need to remember that. A little predictable, but thoroughly enjoyable!

Ahhh! Reading, Simple Gifts, is like eating a smooth, piece of Dove chocolate. The first sentence hits your sensory perception like chocolate on the tip of your tongue. Wonderful!
I love a story that grips my heart but yet leaves me with the warm fuzzy feeling. Simple Gifts does just that!
A zany aunt, a true love come-back and a woman seeking a place to fit in. Not to mention a mystery <ahhh> This story has it all! With God's gracefulness He leads Marlene back to the starting place so that she may receive what He has for her. Somewhat like some of us who know of Him but don't truly know Him. Marlene finds that her childhood place is a place of peace and rest. And she finds that lies don't make life easier.
Even though Marlene lies (a lot!) I did find the lesson of lying to be a good reminder that truth will always prevail.
If you've ever lived in a small town then you'll definitely find this book entertaining! A fantastic 4 star read! Once again, another favorite author, Lori Copland, hits a home run!
This book is labeled christian/ romance/fiction but I like to think of this read as great chick lit.

*I reviewed this book for Zondervan*

Lori Copeland pens an enjoyable book about a woman who feels pulled in all directions. Marlene has lived a life of difficultly. The child of two mentally challenged parents and a town sandal, she has trudged through life, not really enjoying it, but surviving. She returns to her hometown, haunted by the secrets she's kept from everyone, including the one man she has loved all her life. Telling lie upon lie, she finds herself digging herself a hole that she feels is too big to crawl out of while dealing with the needs of a feisty aunt and a needy daughter.
I've always enjoyed Lori Copeland's book when I am looking for something enjoyable, but not too deep. Her style is always written with a light-tone, even when dealing with difficult subjects. SIMPLE GIFTS is a relaxing summer read.

I have read most of Lori Copeland's books and enjoyed most of them. This one seems to have been written with no real plot in mind.This lady has the worst possible luck of all time.
I found it totally unbelievable that that she would have lied to her old friends in this town about her ex-husband and her life and poof-they forgave her.
In theory it might have been a good idea, but it wasn't well exceuted.

This book interested me because of the blurb on the back, but I did not enjoy it as much as I thought that I would. I think that it tries too hard to be funny. To me, it seemed like it was trying to copy the Jan Karon's Mitford series about a townful of delightful personalities. But fighting over a buried foot, a preacher that tries out his inventions on his church, a heroine that continuously lies, etc. does not ring true. To me, it is contrived and silly. There are not many Christian "funny" books that I have enjoyed so maybe I was prejudiced from the start.

I enjoyed this book so much. It was very inspirational and very different. Her writing is so vivid and truly gets you involved in the story.