• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Bookshelf
    • Audio
    • Complete List of Chautona’s Books
    • The Rockland Chronicles
      • The Vintage Wren
      • The Aggie Series
      • The Hartfield Mysteries
      • Sight Unseen Series
        • Sight Unseen Series Archives
      • The Agency Files
      • Christmas Fiction
    • Legacy of the Vines
    • Meddlin’ Madeline
      • Madeline Blog Archive
    • Ballads from the Hearth
      • Ballads from the Hearth Blog Archive
    • Legends of the Vengeance
    • Journey of Dreams
    • Wynnewood
    • Webster’s Bakery
    • The Not-So-Fairy Tales
    • Heart of Warwickshire
  • Start HERE
    • If You Like…
    • Characters
    • Suggested Reading Order
    • Free Books
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Podcast
    • Advertising
    • Podcast Guest Information
    • Podcast Interview FAQ
  • Merch Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Bonus
  • Speaking
  • New & Coming
Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

3 Reasons You’ll Love and Hate This Book

by Chautona Havig · 2 Comments

Let me let you in on a secret: I doubt you'll actually hate anything. I didn't. But there were things I loved and didn't... and they're all in this review. via @chautonahavig

How many times have I sat across from one parent or another and tried to explain what I’d done and why.  Here’s a hint.  I never knew. That’s why I couldn’t explain.

When you know something is wrong, you don’t want to do it, and yet you do it anyway—well, Paul isn’t the first to do that.  I won’t be the last.

My parents never understood.  They often insisted that I was “deceiving myself.”  That if I didn’t really want to do something, I wouldn’t.

Don’t get me wrong. I firmly believe that they wouldn’t. It’s who they are.  Alas, I’m a different person, and especially as a young girl trying to figure out how to navigate a difficult world, sometimes I found myself doing things that I knew weren’t right.

Hours later, I’d be sitting at home, confessing some stupidity or another—how I’d lied to a friend’s parents to get that friend out of trouble.  How I’d ignored my schoolwork for a book I wanted to read.

It all culminated in the day that I called home and confessed to doing something I hadn’t done to cover what someone else had—all in a desire to protect myself and my family.

Trust me, I understand how people can do and say stupid things out of self-preservation.  Even when they know better.

Even when they don’t want to.

What does that have to do with anything?

Well, a couple of months ago, I requested a review copy of a book, A Living Hope  by E.C. Jackson. The synopsis hinted at a story I might love… and even maybe one I might understand.

I was right. I did love and understand parts of A Living Hope.   Not all of it, unfortunately, but maybe enough to give you an idea if you’ll enjoy it.

3 Reasons You'll Love and Hate This Book

3 Reasons You’ll Love and Hate This Book

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.  Additionally, I requested a review copy of this book and chose to share what I thought of it.

Love it:

  1. Layers—

The plot of A Living Hope has layers and depth that keep characters from being utterly predictable and the story following every single step that you expect them to. Conversely, the reverse is true as well.  Some of the characters have layers to them that also enhance the plot.

  1. Faith—

The way the characters live out authentic faith that isn’t too perfect or too… scripted either to the negative or positive—this creates a relatable way to learn from how other Christians behave.  Excellently done.

  1. The relationships—

I think one of the things that Ms. Jackson does best is how she shows relationships as they really are.  We see the best, the worst, and how the best and worst moments define other moments.  She’s so good at showing how different people can bring out sides of us that we may not even know we have.

“Hate” it:

Okay, first.  Hate is a strong word.  I didn’t actually “hate” anything and I doubt you will, too.  I came up with the title of this review before I read the book, and I’m too lazy to change it.  So, for the purpose of this review, let’s define hate as “the stuff I didn’t love and you might not, either.”

  1. Info-dumping.

There’s a bunch in A Living Hope . I kept finding myself skimming through the story.  It took me a long time to realize that, even, because unlike other books where I’d have to backtrack every chapter or two and figure out what I’d skimmed so I could understand what was going on… yeah. I didn’t.  I think that’s because there is so much info-dumping. I don’t think we needed even half of what we got.

  1. Characters—

This is both true and not. I actually liked many of the characters, but even the ones I did like could be a little one-dimensional—flat.  Predictable.  Only when those relationships I mentioned kicked in and caused people to act on a deeper level did I see what I think is there… hidden.

Then again, to be fair, the main character is young.  She’s twenty-two.  Even young women who have a lot of depth to them don’t always show it at twenty-two.

  1. Plot—

I don’t think I’ve ever said this before, but I think this book might have been best as a novella or even an “on the longer side” short story.  The plot felt bloated and awfully predictable. While there were those awesome layers, the plot itself was just a little lackluster.  Others, however, may love it. I can totally see that.

I need to say something, though.

I give Ms. Jackson HUGE thanks for tackling a difficult and important subject.  She did it well, with grace, and without hiding the ugliness or dredging you through it. In that respect, this is an important book.

Recommended for readers who love a book that takes them on a journey.  If you enjoy authentic faith and don’t mind lots of backstories dropped into almost every other chapter, you will love this book.

A Living Hope isn’t the first book I’ve read by E.C. Jackson.  I read A Gateway to Hope recently. I’m not sorry I requested a review copy, and I’ll be looking into her other books in the future.

A Living Hope CoverA Living Hope:

It was a match made in heaven. Or so everyone thought. Sadie Mae Cummings is all set to marry her childhood sweetheart, Kyle, when she is assigned to tutor Lincoln, the new college football running back. This sophomore phenomenon has all the girls on campus knocking on his door. But Sadie isn’t interested in his advances.

Lincoln’s overblown ego doesn’t take well to being shunned, and he resolves to make Sadie his own. He pursues her relentlessly, until finally Kyle finds himself shut out of Sadie’s life, with their shared future crumbling around him.

After two years, Sadie’s relationship with Lincoln ends, and she is left having to put the pieces of her life back together. She desires nothing more than to recapture her relationship with Kyle. He has stayed true to the dreams they had planned together, living the vision even without Sadie by his side.

When she moves back to her hometown, she labors to rekindle their love. But things have changed, and Kyle has moved on. Sadie quickly discovers how hard it is to rebuild burned bridges.

Follow Sadie’s story as she fights for a chance to restore broken dreams. Will love endure?

E.C. JacksonAbout the Author:

E. C. Jackson began her writing career with the full-length play Pajama Party.

For three and a half years she published the Confidence in Life newsletter for Alpha Production Ministries, in addition to writing tracts and devotionals.

Teaching a women’s Bible study at her church for eleven years naturally led to her current endeavor of writing inspirational romance novels and teen and young adult fiction. Her mission: spiritual maturity in the body of Christ through fiction.

Share237
Pin
Tweet
Email
239Shares
Share
Pin
Tweet
Email
239Shares

Related

Filed Under: Book Reviews

Previous Post: « What Happens When a Good Book Lies?
Next Post: What’s Going on In the Christian Fiction World Right Now? »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Or, you can subscribe without commenting.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  1. E C Jackson says

    June 15, 2019 at 9:15 am

    Chautona, thank you for the review and for spotlighting A Living Hope for your reader community. I appreciate your time!

    Reply
  2. Caryl McAdoo says

    June 9, 2019 at 7:56 am

    Everything you write is worth the reading, Chautona! You have a remarkable gift. Great and very intreresting review!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 231: A Chat with RomCom author, Shannon Sue Dunlap
byChautona Havig

Shannon Sue Dunlap isn’t new to rom-coms, and her first book in the Sweetheart Series promises to be a literary riot, and it lives up to that promise. I’m only halfway through it and am thinking mean, ugly thoughts of everything keeping me from being able to escape into the crazy small-town politics and quirky characters. So far the com far outweighs the rom, which makes me thrilled to bits. Listen in to discover what makes Lone Star Sweetheart so much fun.

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

Why Did This Author Write a Rom-Com about a Loveable Shrew?

Well, I think we can safely blame Shakespeare for that. Shannon Sue Dunlap has taken inspiration from Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew in her Katherine, but unlike Katerina, Dunlap’s character is actually trying to learn to tame the tongue. Maybe someone should send her over to the book of James. There’s that whole bit about not being able to tame it, being an “unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

Kate’s isn’t that bad, but not for lack of trying. Or something.

Shannon Sue Dunlap isn’t joking when she says that her Katherine is a “loveable” shrew. Seriously, I love this character. She’s forthright, no-nonsense, and “what you see is what you get” in her approach to life. I respect that. Add to that her boss who has shaken up the town of Sweetheart, Texas, and you’ve got the makings of a great story. I’m loving Lone Star Sweetheart.

But this isn’t all Dunlap has written.

Under the pseudonym, Shannon Kent, you can find her sweet and clean romances (including one Christian romance) inspired by Korean dramas. If you said I’d be not only chomping to read a sweet and clean romance about Korean tour guides and all that entails but also ready to watch a Korean drama on Netflix… Okay, I might not have laughed in your face, but I’d’ve been laughing on the inside.

Best part… one of them ties into her Sweetheart Series

Lone Star Sweetheart by Shannon Sue Dunlap

Katherine Bruno’s passionate, unfiltered temper makes her the shrew of small-town Sweetheart, Texas. When she’s drafted to help the mayor’s wife run against her own husband, Katherine meets opposing big city political consultant Ryan Park. The good-looking, flirtatious campaign manager gets under her skin, but fraternizing with the enemy is off-limits.

Katherine must battle her lack of experience, campaign sabotage, and her growing feelings for Ryan as she strives to succeed. His unprejudiced acceptance of her strong-willed character beckons her heart, but his jaded rejection of God is an insurmountable barrier. Will Ryan return to his faith and stay with her in Sweetheart or leave when the election ends?

You can find out more about Shannon Sue Dunlap AND get that first novella in the Korean Crush series free on her WEBSITE.

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

  • Apple 
  • Castbox 
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn 
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Stitcher
  • Amazon
  • and more!

 

Episode 231: A Chat with RomCom author, Shannon Sue Dunlap
Episode 231: A Chat with RomCom author, Shannon Sue Dunlap
May 26, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 230: A Chat with Bryan Timothy Mitchell
May 17, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 229: A Chat about Murmur in the Mud Caves with Kathleen Denly
May 12, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 228: A Chat with Author Emilie Haney
May 9, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 227: A Chat about the New Jewels of Kalispell Series
May 5, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 226: A Chat with Archaeological Thriller Author, Doug Powell
May 2, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 225: A Chat with Dani Pettrey
April 28, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 224: A Chat with Author Megan Besing
April 25, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 223: A Chat with Tosca Lee about A Long March Home
April 21, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 222: A Chat with Regina Rudd Merrick
April 18, 2023
Chautona Havig
Search Results placeholder

Love Audio Books?

audio book ad

Check out the Sparrow Island novels. A tiny island with a lot of heart

independence islands series

Featured Books

A Ransomed Grete

A Ransomed Grete
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon Kindle
A Ransomed Grete
Buy now!

Twice Sold Tales

Twice Sold Tales
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Twice Sold Tales
Buy now!

Under the Hibiscus

Under the Hibiscus
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Under the Hibiscus
Buy now!

Upcoming Posts

Sorry - nothing planned yet!

Or just subscribe to the newsletter

Recent Blog Posts

  • Why Did This Author Write a Rom-Com about a Loveable Shrew?
  • What Made This Author Use Hell as Inspiration for His Novel?
  • Rumor Has It, Murmur in the Mud Caves Promises to Be Excellent!

I buy my stickers here! (affiliate)

Custom Stickers, Die Cut Stickers, Bumper Stickers - Sticker Mule
Reposted from @lianaygeorge Authors love getting r Reposted from @lianaygeorge Authors love getting reviews! This one particularly warmed my heart because Erin emailed directly and had such lovely things to say.…
Welcome to Red Wing, Minnesota. Home of Hanisch's Welcome to Red Wing, Minnesota. Home of Hanisch's Bakery, Mandy's Cafe, the Uffda Shop, and Pepie the Lake Monster (who knew?)

Oh, and home to Twice Sold Tales, a charming bookstore in a charming town--but not for long.  Unless Milton arrives with his trusty parrotlet, Atticus (not Finch!), this local gem of a store may soon be out of print--so to speak.

Some might blame owner Harper Brevig. Let's face it. Her "bookside manner" isn't much to write home about (although I did write a book about it...). But no, she's making enough money, and she's not spending too much money (much to her disgust), so where's it going?

Find out in Twice Sold Tales while I write and send Atticus and Milton down to Berne, Indiana to help Cezanne with he new and dying bookstore. 

Links to more info in my bio!

#TheMosaicCollection
#Bookstrings
#TwiceSoldTales
#ChristFic
#BookishBooks
My next book in the Suamalie Islands series is on My next book in the Suamalie Islands series is on tour with @celebratelit .

Ezra has started her business, is elbow-deep in wedding prep for her father, and gets roped into helping an old friend fight off the eligible females of Lafoina. 
And frankly, she's tired of it all--except the fighting off females thing. The women can just back off. Henri is hers... not that she'd admit that. Yet.
A combination second-chance romance and fake relationship (but not) surrounded with tropical breezes, sandy beaches, and ocean waves lapping against the side of a floating bookstore--perfect for this summer's TBR!
Just check out the link in my bio for a list of blogs and my panic momentwith how the romance wouldactuallywork!
Available on KindleUnlimited
#SuamalieIslands
#ChristianRomance
#ChristFic
#PreorderSpecial
Guys, this book!!! Loving! Reposted from @shannon Guys, this book!!! Loving!

Reposted from @shannonsuedunlap I had a blast with Chautona on the Because Fiction podcast. (Link to the episode in the bio.)
Reposted from @thechosenkidssaga <title>“The Kin Reposted from @thechosenkidssaga <title>“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’… | Instagram</title>
Reposted from @shannonsuedunlap Lone Star Sweethea Reposted from @shannonsuedunlap Lone Star Sweetheart has launched! (Link in bio.)
#happybookbirthday #cfauthors #romcom #launchparty
When your hair is never long enough to need clips, When your hair is never long enough to need clips, but you haven't had time for @eleahyandrews to work her magic,  you grab a binder clip and move on.
#MessyHairForTheWin
#HairNeedsHelp
  • Home
  • Bookshelf
  • New & Coming
  • Blog
  • News!
  • Disclosure & Policies
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Chautona Havig · All Rights Reserved · Coding by Gretchen Louise

Don't go before you grab your FREE short story collection!