• 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

Is Above the Fold Really the Best Place to Be?

by Chautona Havig · 10 Comments

Above the Fold--Is it a great fiction novel to kick off the new year or... well, shocker of shockers, you'll have to read and find out. *whistles via @chautonahavig

“I found a picture.”

Okay, so I should point out that I can’t remember who I said this to. Was it my friend? My launch team? In my Reader Group? Whoever I said it to wasn’t surprised. But I couldn’t stop talking about it.

“Can’t you see it? She could be Madeline’s daughter—a reporter. But with a mother like Madeline… she couldn’t help but be curious. And observant. Not only that, she’d be just about the right age in the 1920s…”

And just like that, I had a new series planned.

Is it any wonder that when I found out about a new book about a female wannabe reporter in 1920s Pittsburgh, I immediately decided to review it? Although I requested and received a free review copy of Above the Fold, I read it on Kindle Unlimited #becauselostbook.

Okay, so my Reading Challenge just happened to have a need for a “Book set in the 1920s.” How convenient was it that this just happened to fit that? Woot! But… would I like it?

Is Above the Fold Really the Best Place to Be?

Note: links are likely affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Additionally, I was provided with a free copy of the book and chose to review it.

Is Above the Fold Really the Best Place to Be?

Well, if you’re a newspaper reporter, definitely. It’s such a big deal, that website designers still call the first full screen when you land on a website “above the fold.” So, what about the book? Um… I’d say behind Above the Fold is where you want to be… those words right in front of your eyes so you don’t miss a single one.

Why? So many reasons, but one of the biggest is that Rachel Scott McDaniel tackled a bunch of things that I usually groan to see and did them well. I can’t tell you all of them without giving some spoilers, but I’ll say this.

In novels, sometimes girls’ attitudes about why they won’t trust a guy grow old and tedious—predictable. You’ve seen that same thing, over and over again. It bores the brain. Ms. McDaniel seems to have walked in and said, “Someone has to do something decent with this idea, and if no one else will, then I’ll have to.”

Abandoned years ago, Elissa Tillman still smarts. Her childhood “traumas” still fester and affect her decisions. Everything she said and did had been tainted and influenced by her past, but in a way so believable it didn’t annoy. Thank goodness!

Okay, so I tend to figure out mysteries pretty quickly.

It comes from inhaling them from age about eight. Or so I assume. Did I know who did it and why pretty early? Most of it. But not all. And a surprising twist at the end really did catch me by surprise. It shouldn’t have. It wasn’t a cheap trick like some authors have done. There were plenty of clues. I just was so wrapped up in the story that I missed it.

Just as Rachel Scott McDaniel intended. Well done.

For some foolish reason, I thought I’d remembered it being a Thomas Nelson book and was thrilled at the depth of spiritual truths layered into the story. Then I saw that I’d been wrong. Thank you, Smitten Historical Romance, for publishing rich Christian fiction. I’m grateful for the free review copy I was provided with, but I read the book on Kinde Unlimited. Maybe now I’ll find that copy… *whistles*

There’s more to Above the Fold than immersion into the 1920s newspaper and Prohibition scene. Amid speakeasies and the seedier side of Pittsburgh, a solid mystery, a beautiful tale of faith, and a troubled but tender romance flourish on the pages.

My first book to make my favorites of 2020 list. Impressive.

Recommended for lovers of Christian fiction, historical fiction, 20s fiction, and words. In the words of Publisher Tillman: “I work with words every day, but in the end, only His Word matters.”

Amen.

Oh, and don’t’ let the lackluster synopsis/description dissuade you.  The book is a million times better.

Above the FoldAbout the Book

Book: Above the Fold

Author: Rachel Scott McDaniel

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: December 3, 2019

Confined behind a secretarial desk at her father’s struggling newspaper, Elissa Tillman longs for her father and the world to take her seriously—not just as a suffragette, but also as a full-fledged journalist.

Cole Parker regrets the day he’d abandoned Pittsburgh to chase a high-profile journalism job in New York, but now he’s returned to the steel city to amend his mistakes and win back the woman he once spurned.

The murder of a millionaire offers the perfect chance for Elissa to nab the headline and prove her skills. But there’s a catch. To get her story above the fold, she must compete for it. Her rival is none other than Cole Parker, the very man who shattered her heart.

Share139
Pin
Tweet
Email
142Shares
Share
Pin
Tweet
Email
142Shares

Related

Filed Under: Book Reviews, New Release

Previous Post: « What Happened When King Met the King of Kings?
Next Post: Isn’t It Amazing How God Is in the Tiniest Details? »

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. Peggy Nunn says

    January 20, 2020 at 5:17 am

    This sounds very interesting and I am looking forward to reading it.

    Reply
  2. Caryl Kane says

    January 17, 2020 at 3:03 pm

    Above the Fold sounds like one not to miss! Thank you for being part of the tour.

    Reply
  3. Arletta says

    January 16, 2020 at 6:15 pm

    I have not read very much CF that takes place in the 20s. I love this synopsis. Sounds like an interesting read.

    Reply
  4. Rachel McDaniel says

    January 16, 2020 at 10:48 am

    This made me tear up. Thank you for your honest and thoughtful review of Above the Fold. It made my day ??

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      January 16, 2020 at 3:54 pm

      Aw… glad you liked it?? I loved the book. Brilliant. And I think you and your husband and I and my husband would really enjoy chatting movies. We’re Marple fans, too. 450 to Paddington is my favorite, but I do love The Moving Finger.

      Joan Hickson is my favorite Miss Marple, and not just because Agatha Christie handpicked her YEARS before she was old enough to play the role.

      Reply
      • Rachel McDaniel says

        January 17, 2020 at 5:03 pm

        450 to Paddington was genius. I didn’t see that ending coming!!! The Moving Finger is a great one, too. I LOVE Megan’s character. I also really liked Sleeping Murder that whole premise is just brilliant. One of those- Oh man, I wish I would’ve thought of that first!- kinda things.
        And I totally agree with you Joan Hickson is Miss Marple as much as David Suchet is Poirot! ????

        Reply
        • Chautona Havig says

          January 18, 2020 at 7:53 am

          Is sleeping murder the one where it’s the house she lived in as a little girl and had forgotten about?

          Reply
          • Rachel McDaniel says

            January 18, 2020 at 5:29 pm

            Yes! That’s the one!!

  5. Suzanne Sellner says

    January 16, 2020 at 9:12 am

    I’m impressed with Above the Fold and look forward to reading it!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Review of “Above the Fold” by Rachel Scott McDaniel-A “Celebrate Lit” Book Tour - She Lives to Read says:
    January 21, 2020 at 5:37 am

    […] Just the Write Escape, January 16 […]

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Because Fiction: A Chat with Split-Time Author, Melanie Dobson
byChautona Havig

I chatted with Melanie Dobson a few weeks ago, and boy was it a wonderful time of talking about my favorite books of hers and her latest release, The Wings of Poppy Pendleton. Listen in to the heartwrenching story that sparked the idea for the book and the delicious (and fascinating) research she did to write it!

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

How a Family Mystery Sparked the Idea for a Beautiful Story

The Wings of Poppy Pendleton takes place during the dichotomous Gilded Age among New York’s famous Thousand Islands.  Combining a family mystery with that era, Melanie Dobson creates a wonderful story that echoes the tumultuous time at the turn of the 20th century.

We chatted about the research involved–both for Melanie’s family mystery of a missing child who was in a photo but no one knew who she was and for the era and area as well.  I loved hearing how her mother got involved in trying to discover what happened to… was it Marjorie?  I think.  And, of course, how that helped shape the story of this book.

The Wings of Poppy Pendleton by Melanie Dobson

In this compelling new time-slip mystery, a little girl goes missing from her family’s castle in the Thousand Islands of New York. Eighty-five years later, a journalist teams up with a woman living on Koster Isle to find out what happened to Poppy, once and for all.

1907. On the eve of her fifth birthday, Poppy Pendleton is tucked safely in her bed, listening to her parents entertain New York’s gilded society in their Thousand Islands castle; the next morning, she is gone, and her father is found dead in his smoking room.

1992. Though Chloe Ridell lives in the shadows of Poppy’s castle, now in ruins, she has little interest in the mystery that still captivates tourists and locals alike. She is focused on preserving the island she inherited from her grandparents and reviving their vintage candy shop. Until the day a girl named Emma shows up on Chloe’s doorstep, with few possessions, save a tattered scrapbook that connects her to the Pendleton family. When a reporter arrives at Chloe’s store, asking questions about her grandfather, Chloe decides to help him dig into a past she’d thought best left buried. The haunting truth about Poppy, they soon discover, could save Emma’s life, so Chloe and Logan must work together to investigate exactly what happened long ago on Koster Isle.

You can learn more about Melanie Dobson on her WEBSITE.  Also follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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

  • Apple 
  • Castbox 
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn 
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Amazon
  • and more!
Because Fiction: A Chat with Split-Time Author, Melanie Dobson
Because Fiction: A Chat with Split-Time Author, Melanie Dobson
November 25, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 281: A Chat with Angela Hunt
November 23, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 280: A Chat with Debut Author, Johanna Rojas Vann
November 21, 2023
Chautona Havig
Because Fiction 279: A Chat with Amish Author, Leslie Gould
November 17, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 278: A Chat with WWII Author, Amanda Barratt
November 14, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 277: A Chat with M. D. House about Sophia
November 11, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 276: A Chat with Jaime Jo Wright about Her New Release
November 7, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 275: A Chat about Knowing You by Tracie Peterson
November 3, 2023
Chautona Havig
Because Fiction 274: A Chat with Sara Beth Williams about No Matter How Far
October 31, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 273: A Chat with Debut Author Holly Varni
October 28, 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
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

  • Why This Author Sold Me on a Whole Series in One Fun Interview (October 28, 2023)
  • because fiction 283 (November 28, 2023)

Or just subscribe to the newsletter

Recent Blog Posts

  • How a Family Mystery Sparked the Idea for a Beautiful Story
  • How Angela Hunt Keeps Delivering Great Books to Her Fans
  • How One Fascinating Book Could Change Your Perception of Colombia

I buy my stickers here! (affiliate)

Custom Stickers, Die Cut Stickers, Bumper Stickers - Sticker Mule
I should be editing the podcast or writing, but i I should be editing the podcast or writing,  but it's been a long day,  and I haven't read all week. So, quick reading break with some Hungarian coffee cake and a cup of tea. Oh, and On Moonberry Lake by @hollyvarni 
#AmReading 
#LyonsGold
Or just love a suspenseful novel? Reposted from @ Or just love a suspenseful novel?

Reposted from @lisaphillipsbks Now that the weather has turned chilly, are you pining for the summer sun? ☀️🌴 Well, you're in luck because it's not too late to get your copy of Come What May, volume 3 of our Summer Heat series, and escape to summer in collection of FOUR novels! Head over to my link in bio to find your copy before it's gone.

 #weekendreading #weekendreads #summerheat #SummerReading2023 #summerreading #summerheatseries #avidreadersofchristianfiction #deals #bookseries #weekendread #bookshelf #2023reads #tbr #readmorebooks #bookstack #faithwriter #ChristianFiction #authorlisaphillips #ebooks #readerlove #christianromanticsuspense #romanticsuspenseseries #comewhatmay
Oh... how I need to learn this lesson! Sigh. Comin Oh... how I need to learn this lesson! Sigh.
Coming December 6! Preorder coming VERY soon! EEEP!
#Bookstrings
#ClockTowerBound
#BerneIndiana
#BookishBooks
#ChristFic
#AmWriting
How did I manage to wait this long to start this? How did I manage to wait this long to start this? I'm ready to move to Moonberry Lake.
@hollyvarni 
#AmReading 
#ChristFic
Tonight's reads. What's on your TBR tonight? #AmR Tonight's reads.  What's on your TBR tonight?
#AmReading 
@nadinebrandes 
#ChristFic 
#Eschatology
Day 4: Vacation Read I LOVE collections for vacati Day 4: Vacation Read
I LOVE collections for vacation reads. They're usually a bit shorter (these aren't novellas but they are shorter novels) and there are usually several options to choose from. 
I love the Summer Heat Series, and not just because I've got a book in there!
#BookishChallenge
Day 3: Colorful Colors Well, I made myself choose Day 3: Colorful Colors
Well, I made myself choose books that are in the shed-i-ffice instead of going and looking at what I had throughout the house. These were some that were bright and vivid. I've only read parts of two of them (plan to finish The Major and the Missionary tomorrow and Fawkes I'll start reading on the 5th for obvious reasons). #BookishChallenge
  • 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!