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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Hidden Treasures, a Mystery, and a Lonely Girl: What Isn’t to Love?

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

It's release day for The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel, and we chatted about what readers will find in this book! via @chautonahavig

Happy Book Release Birthday to Jennifer Deibel and her newest historical romance, The Maid of Ballymacool. I chatted with her about this book a while back and have been biting my nails for release day. My book arrived a couple of days ago, and I’ve been anxious to start reading.  Listen in to learn about why I’m going to love the bits of her in the forest (that’s what Jennifer said!).

the maid of ballymacool

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

Hidden Treasures, a Mystery, and a Lonely Girl: What Isn’t to Love?

So, I’m about to utter a bit of literary blasphemy here, but when Jennifer described the background of The Maid of Ballymacool, it struck a familiar cord.  I mean… a small child dropped off at a school and just left there for life. Yeah. Am I the only one who thinks, “Okay… so like Jane Austen’s Emma?”

Here’s the thing, though. Even if that’s the only similarity the two stories have, I’m already predisposed to love this book more. Why?

How about the fact that Brianna of Ballymacool had to put herself into God’s hand and trust His creation for her instruction in Him since she wasn’t given any other? I can’t wait to see what that looks like!  How about No Frank Churchill?  That’s gotta be an improvement! And while I’ll miss the silly Miss Bates… well, I think I can manage. I’ll have Brianna after all. 😉

Jennifer gave us a lovely rundown of her first two books, but… shhh…

**looks around to make sure no one is listening too closely**

I think I’m even more excited about her next one!  Then again, Jennifer might be mad at me for giving her an idea too late. Oh, well. I have every confidence her marketplace matchmaker book will be perfect the day it releases.

Next year. Sigh.

The Maid of BallymacoolThe Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel

Brianna Kelly was abandoned at Ballymacool House and Boarding School as an infant. She has worked there since she was a wee girl and will likely die there. Despite a sense that she was made for something more, Brianna feels powerless to change her situation, so she consoles herself by exploring the Ballymacool grounds, looking for hidden treasures to add to the secret trove beneath the floorboards of her room.

When Michael Wray, the son of local gentry, is sent to Ballymacool to deal with his unruly cousin, he finds himself drawn to Brianna, immediately and inescapably. There is something about her that feels so . . . familiar. When Brianna finds a piece of silver in the woods, she commits to learning its origins, with the help of Michael. What they discover may change everything.

Fan favorite Jennifer Deibel invites you back to the Emerald Isle in the 1930s for this fresh take on the Cinderella story, complete with a tantalizing mystery, a budding romance, and a chance at redemption.

Learn more about Jennifer (and get the first bits of news… you know, like the COVER REVEAL) on her WEBSITE.

Note: The book IS 30% off and DOES have free shipping as of today over at Baker Book House.

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 595: A Chat with Jeremiah Friedli
byChautona Havig

Have you ever had to choose between saving one life or twenty? Fifty? Listen in as Jeremiah Friedli and I chat about his Core Decipher and whether his character Seth should save one life at a time or if he risks his life to save many.

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

This Core series is so timely–with the way surveillance becomes more intrusive every day, ummmm. Yeah.

Core Decipher by Jeremiah Friedli

One hacker. One impossible mission. Zero margin for error.

Seth Alvarez has the ultimate power in a surveillance state: cyber invisibility. Using stolen tech that makes him a ghost to the all-seeing CORE system, he’s the resistance’s most valuable protector. But when CORE prepares a deadly upgrade that will crush all hope of freedom, Seth must make an impossible choice: stay hidden and keep saving lives one at a time, or risk everything by going undercover inside CORE’s fortress for a chance to liberate thousands. Allying with a former enemy, Seth must pull off the most dangerous hack in history—one that will either liberate an entire nation or destroy everyone he loves.

Learn more about Jeremiah on his WEBSITE and follow him on GoodReads.

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

  • Apple
  • Castbox
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Amazon
  • YouTube
  • and more!
Episode 595: A Chat with Jeremiah Friedli
Episode 595: A Chat with Jeremiah Friedli
October 21, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 594: A Chat with Joy Crain
October 19, 2026
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Episode 593: A Chat with Thomas Goodman
October 17, 2026
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Episode 592: A Chat with Heidi Main
October 14, 2026
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Episode 591: A Chat with Jenny McLeod Carlisle
October 12, 2026
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Episode 590: A Chat with Shilo Creed
October 10, 2026
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Episode 584: A Chat with James Finke
October 6, 2026
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Episode 589: A Chat with Amanda Cabot
October 5, 2026
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Episode 588: A Chat with Christine Suntz
October 3, 2026
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Episode 587: A Chat with Four Authors
September 30, 2026
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Meet Mitchell Bogaert (yes, that was a bit on the Meet Mitchell Bogaert (yes, that was a bit on the nose, but come on! I had to!). He's a great guy, if a bit of a drifter. But he has a storytelling degree, and an inheritance--under one condition. He must participate in the New Cheltenham Annual Christmas
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Meet Mitchell Bogaert (yes, that was a bit on the Meet Mitchell Bogaert (yes, that was a bit on the nose, but come on! I had to!). He's a great guy, if a bit of a drifter. But he has a storytelling degree, and an inheritance--under one condition. He must participate in the New Cheltenham Annual Christmas
Storytelling Contest to receive said inheritance. What could go wrong? Get it FREE through Wednesday, October 21st HERE: https://amzn.to/3WfPj22 #Affiliate
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Meet Mitchell Bogaert (yes, that was a bit on the Meet Mitchell Bogaert (yes, that was a bit on the nose, but come on! I had to!). He's a great guy, if a bit of a drifter. But he has a storytelling degree, and an inheritance--under one condition. He must participate in the New Cheltenham Annual Christmas
Storytelling Contest to receive said inheritance. What could go wrong? Get it FREE through Wednesday, October 21st HERE: https://amzn.to/3WfPj22 #Affiliate
#ChristFic
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Meet Mitchell Bogaert (yes, that was a bit on the Meet Mitchell Bogaert (yes, that was a bit on the nose, but come on! I had to!). He's a great guy, if a bit of a drifter. But he has a storytelling degree, and an inheritance--under one condition. He must participate in the New Cheltenham Annual Christmas
Storytelling Contest to receive said inheritance. What could go wrong? Get it FREE through Wednesday, October 21st HERE: https://amzn.to/3WfPj22 #Affiliate
#ChristFic
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Meet Mitchell Bogaert (yes, that was a bit on the Meet Mitchell Bogaert (yes, that was a bit on the nose, but come on! I had to!). He's a great guy, if a bit of a drifter. But he has a storytelling degree, and an inheritance--under one condition. He must participate in the New Cheltenham Annual Christmas
Storytelling Contest to receive said inheritance. What could go wrong? Get it FREE through Wednesday, October 21st HERE: https://amzn.to/3WfPj22 #Affiliate
#ChristFic
#ChristianFiction
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