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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

What Does My Dream Island Vacation Have to Do with a New Book?

by Chautona Havig · 3 Comments

Reclaiming Hope released yesterday, and oh, this story has so much to offer. More than just an opposites attract., it's a glimpse at hope. via @chautonahavig

“If you could visit any island in the world, which one would it be?”

I’ve had people ask me this question before. I don’t know how to answer it, frankly. Why Fiji and not Hawaii?  Why Nantucket and not Prince Edward Island?  For that matter, why Guernsey instead of Catalina?

I’ve had a dream of taking a two-week cruise to Hawaii. I figured it would be the best way to have a full cruise experience AND see the Hawaiian islands. I could make a whole book about it.  And it would be awesome.

But if someone said, “Here’s ten thousand dollars.  Go to an island for a week or two,” I can’t even begin to choose which one I’d… well, choose!

So, I’m asking you guys to choose for me.  This is what I’d want for sure.

  • A nice place to stay. Doesn’t have to be glamorous, just clean, comfortable, and with clean water. #becauseImADesertRat
  • Fun history to explore
  • Good food that is safe to eat (please no third-world places… I’m not interested in that for a “dream vacation.”
  • Not desert (I don’t need to travel to see desert, so something different.
  • Not ONLY touristy (I’m not a big “attractions” kind of gal. I like to wander, spend time alone, observe, etc. I don’t want a “nightlife” or a bunch of tour stuff. Just a chance to explore another world.

So, where am I going? And better yet…

Reclaiming Hope release

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. 🙂

What Does My Dream Island Vacation Have to Do with a New Book?

Well, Carolyn Miller’s latest book in the Independence Islands Series released yesterday, and for her release, she asked us to tell her our dream island vacation.  And well… um… I don’t know, hence shamelessly using you to help me!

I think this book is my favorite of hers in the series… but only just. She has some fabulous books in here!

Reclaiming HopeReclaiming Hope by Carolyn Miller

Opposites attract—and repel. But which is more powerful?

Callie Steele might be a bit…focused on work, but despite what her employers say, she enjoys her well-ordered, productive life.

When she’s sent to meet the owners of an estate requiring post-hurricane landscaping, Callie meets their son, Kai Brody, a super-chilled pro surfer, who is as opposite from her as they come. Though initially smitten, Callie knows a relationship with Kai is a bad idea—a very bad idea.

Kai, however, can’t help but be intrigued by someone who challenges him to make something of his life again. He’s determined to pursue her, if she’ll give him half a chance.

The more time they spend together, negotiating the challenges of work, illness, and family, the more their opposing outlooks clash and connect. What do these unlikely friends really want from life? Is it best to focus on work or recreation?

As Kai and Callie seek answers from the Lord, they also must consider if such complete opposites have enough in common to make a relationship last.

Reclaiming Hope concludes the Hooper Island stories of the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

Don’t forget to read the other authors’ posts about their dream island escapes and enter their giveaways.

Carolyn Miller (Dec. 7th)
Chautona Havig (Dec. 8th) 
Melissa Wardwell (Dec 9th )
Kari Trumbo (Dec. 10th)
Rachel Skatvold (Dec. 11th)
Tabitha Bouldin (Dec. 12th)
Sandy Barela–Publisher (Dec. 13th)

And get your entry in here!

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Comments

  1. Kathleen Garley says

    December 8, 2021 at 5:25 pm

    Oahu,Hawaii. I went Abita more than 2 years ago to see my grandson and his family. Beautiful!!! So much to see. Went to a great luau and wet to the Arizona and WWII sites.

    Reply
  2. AVA says

    December 8, 2021 at 1:55 pm

    We went to Hawaii for our honeymoon. We went to three islands: Oahu, the Big Island, and Kauai. We enjoyed each one for what they were, but Kauai was probably the most relaxing and typical of what you think Hawaii is like. The best thing we did was take a helicopter ride over the islands — Big Island and Kauai. Totally worth it and would do it 1,000 times over. Visiting Pearl Harbor was sobering but I also wouldn’t have missed that. We also did a submarine ride which Robert wanted to do, but I could’ve skipped it — and not because that’s where I threw up on my new husband! (I’ll tell you the story some other time.). The Dole Plantation was fun, especially the maze. The Audobon trail thing was great, too. Just driving around and viewing everything was fun. Oddly enough, we never got in the ocean water, just a swimming pool at one of the places we stayed. Visiting various markets was fun and eating out.

    Reply
  3. Deb Jones says

    December 8, 2021 at 1:24 pm

    Since New Zealand is made up of Islands, I would suggest it. It is also a country so you are getting several benefit. I have never been there but would love to go. There are so many things to see & it definitely fits your requirements. I want to go to Hawaii too, but if I look at your requirement list there is very little about Hawaii that isn’t touristy. NZ has tourists but it isn’t their main point of income.

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 553: A Chat with Chris Underwood
byChautona Havig

A chilling read from Chris Underwood… literally. What happens if you’re in the Midwest in winter and the power goes out? Listen in as I chat with Chris Underwood about his Cold Winter series.

Content warning: While these books do have characters who are Christians and live their faith, the first book (not sure about the rest) does include a few instances of foul language in the first few chapters. I’m switching from audio to print to finish.

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Talking about all the research he did for this series was a blast. I loved hearing about his travels with the crew and the prepper side–everything.

The Cold Winter Grid-Down Series by Chris Underwood

The Cold Winter Series begins with a power grid failure at Niagara Falls three days before Christmas, as a snowstorm approaches.

Welcome to The Cold Winter. It follows a group of families in Central Ohio who want to help stranded motorists who end up on their porch. Even when doing the right thing doesn’t work out, they keep on trying. There is a sense of morality and faith as the emergency continues to worsen.

In the second book, they learn that the power outage is an attack on the nation, and join a civilian minuteman militia to fight back.

The third book of the series ramps up the action and features the first major battles of the minutemen militia. Since modern machinery cannot be trusted, vintage military equipment is utilized by the militia, such as a Huey Helicopter and a WWII Landing Ship, the LST-325.

This ship is an actual floating museum on the Ohio River and is used by this militia to go upstream to rescue a VIP and bring him to safety. River locks are liberated from the enemy, and a dramatic battle is staged on Wheeling Island, where the landing ship performs much as it did on D-Day in Normandy: Landing aground with troops and equipment pouring out the front for battle!

The fourth installment of the series introduces more vintage equipment, including a Cobra Attack Helicopter and a P-47 Thunderbolt, to fight modern naval ships in an effort to liberate the Niagara Falls power station from the enemy.

Even the WWII Destroyer, USS The Sullivans, in its current engineless state at the Buffalo Naval Museum, is somehow used in the battle! It’s an epic showdown of antique airpower against modern naval might!

Learn more on Chris’s WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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Episode 553: A Chat with Chris Underwood
Episode 553: A Chat with Chris Underwood
June 20, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 552: A Chat with Laura Ashwood
June 17, 2026
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Episode 551: A Chat wth Kayla E. Green
June 15, 2026
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Episode 550: A Chat with Joan Lovestrand Farley
June 13, 2026
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Episode 549: A Chat with Laura DeNooyer
June 8, 2026
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Episode 548: A Chat with Sarah Heatwole
June 6, 2026
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Episode 547: A Chat with Terri McAdoo
June 1, 2026
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Episode 546: A Chat with Chuck Richardson
May 30, 2026
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Episode 545: A Chat with Gina Holder
May 25, 2026
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Episode 544: A Chat with Nicholas Teeguarden
May 23, 2026
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