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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Do You Know What I Know: a book review

by Chautona Havig · 19 Comments

Do you?  Do you know what I know?  I know about a great Christmas read that I can’t wait to share with you.  That’s what I know.

Becky Melby, author of quite a few books, including the “Lost Sanctuary” series, has come out with a Christmas novella that will make you want to curl up with a quilt and a mug of hot chocolate and read straight through.  No joke.  Really.  I meant to read just a bit to get a feel for the tone of the book and sank back in that “after book glow” just a couple hours later. So I was supposed to be writing.  Who cares?  Sometimes you need a book, and this book was “just the write escape” for me!

Do you know what I know Melby review

(Links in this post may be affiliate links and will provide me a tiny commission at no extra cost for you.)

My “Quick and Easy” Review:

If you recall, a couple of months ago I wrote a blog post about how to write a super-easy review when you’re in a rush.  Well, I’m racing through NaNoWriMo and need that super-fast review option! So I’m going to give an example here for you.  To read that post (and maybe encourage you to give your favorite author a review today), go HERE.

Do You Know What I Know?:

Do You Know what I know - melbyI loved everything about this book, but I think what I loved most was how perfectly the author managed a complicated plot in such a short book. Because I became so quickly invested in the characters, I found myself hating the pain simple misunderstandings and mix-ups caused them, but that’s what makes a story great, right?

Melby’s Do You Know What I Know isn’t a comedy, by any stretch, but seriously, who wouldn’t laugh at a chicken in church?  Think “Mississippi Squirrel Revival” meets Milwaukee!  And because I’m kind of a heartless creature, so I didn’t cry. But I guarantee you I would have cried for Elizabeth when she thought things were all wrong in her marriage. Don’t blame the author.  I just don’t cry.

All in all, Do You Know What I Know was a delightful read that I recommend.  Those with convictions against surrogacy and/or IVF may have a problem with one of the subplots, but it was quite tastefully done and gave an alternate perspective on something I’ve never been comfortable with.

So….

Have you read anything by Becky Melby?  If you haven’t, I think Do You Know What I Know is a great introductory book.

*giveaway ended. Congrats, Susan E.*

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Filed Under: Book Reviews

Previous Post: « NaNo’s Raven Is Rapping:
Next Post: Do You Know What I Know? I know the winner! »

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Comments

  1. Lori D says

    November 4, 2016 at 5:49 pm

    I haven’t read it and would love to!!!

    Reply
  2. Andrea Stephens says

    November 4, 2016 at 12:23 pm

    I believe I’ve only read one of Becky’s books a long time ago. “Parting Secrets” is in my “books I’ve read” folder on my Kindle.
    Thanks for doing a giveaway. I’d love a chance to win this book.

    Reply
  3. MS Barb says

    November 4, 2016 at 9:25 am

    I haven’t read anything by Becky Melby, YET…but I WILL put this book on my Book request list for the next County Bookmobile visit! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Andrea Rossignol says

    November 4, 2016 at 8:48 am

    I haven’t read anything by her, but I would like to!

    Reply
  5. Sarah says

    November 4, 2016 at 7:01 am

    Never heard of her. I’ll have to check her books out.

    Reply
  6. Sarah K says

    November 3, 2016 at 11:42 pm

    Becky is a new author to me. Guess I need to do some research. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Emma Filbrun says

    November 3, 2016 at 10:25 pm

    Never heard of her. Sounds interesting.

    Reply
  8. Kathy says

    November 3, 2016 at 8:18 pm

    I have NOT read anything by this author yet, but if you say you love it, then I hope to win it or check it out soon.

    Reply
  9. Dacia says

    November 3, 2016 at 7:47 pm

    This is a new author to me, so hopefully I’ll win this book and if not I’ll be searching Amazon for her books on sale. =)

    Reply
  10. Lucinda says

    November 3, 2016 at 7:44 pm

    Not yet but I hope to win this so I can change my answer to yes?!

    Reply
  11. Melissa says

    November 3, 2016 at 7:17 pm

    I have not read any of her books but since I like to pack as many wintery books as I can into December, this sounds like a good one to start with!

    Reply
  12. Marleen Viola says

    November 3, 2016 at 6:58 pm

    No, but I will definitely look for this one!

    Reply
  13. Connie Tillman says

    November 3, 2016 at 6:56 pm

    I have not read anything by her. This looks like a good read.

    Reply
  14. Michelle Stewart says

    November 3, 2016 at 6:34 pm

    No I haven’t but you certainly have me intrigued! lol

    Reply
  15. Tina at Mommynificent says

    November 3, 2016 at 5:55 pm

    I’ve heard of her and might even have one of her books in my TBR pile but haven’t read any yet. Thanks for bumping her up on the list!

    Reply
  16. Alexandra says

    November 3, 2016 at 5:14 pm

    No, I haven’t, but I trust your judgment and thank you for the review – I will wait to see if I won the book 🙂 and, if not, will have to get it myself.

    Reply
  17. Sue Snyder says

    November 3, 2016 at 5:06 pm

    No I had never heard of her.

    Reply
  18. Susan (DE) says

    November 3, 2016 at 4:22 pm

    Well, I think the question above was, have I ever read anything by Becky Melby. No. I have not. 🙂

    Reply
  19. Colleen says

    November 3, 2016 at 4:13 pm

    Not yet! I have been intrigued with this story idea since I first saw it on Amazon!

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
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Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 556: A Chat with Sharon Wilharm
byChautona Havig

Three Women. One Unlikely Mission. One Town Forever Changed. If that doesn’t grab you, nothing will! Listen in as I chat with Sharon Wilharm about this intriguing book.

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

Loved our conversation–life in Florida during the late 19th century, authors, books, and movies she reminded me of, and even…

THE NEXT BOOK! Can’t wait to see what publisher snaps that one up! EEEP!

The Amazing Crab Alley Revival by Sharon Wilharm

In 1897 Florida, a widowed woman searching for purpose finds herself drawn into an unexpected friendship—and a revival that will transform an entire town.

The year is 1897 and wealthy widow Lydia Culpepper is evaluating her mundane existence. For sixty-three years, she’s faithfully gone through the motions of fulfilling everyone else’s expectations for her life, but nothing she does is ever enough. She longs for something more.

When a young boy comes to her house in search of his missing coon dog, she gets her wish. She meets Emily Reed, a young finishing school instructor, and Opal Jackson, an Irish single mother, and the three women join together on a mission that turns the First Baptist Church on its head.

Suddenly, the town is in an uproar as lives are being changed. When Yellow Fever hits, it looks like their efforts may have been in vain, but the epidemic isn’t enough to thwart the fruits of the Crab Alley Revival.

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

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Episode 556: A Chat with Sharon Wilharm
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