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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

What Is Bliss at the End of a Long, Hard, Exhausting Day?

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

An Unexpected Gift by Melissa Wardwell is available and waiting for you. Sail away to the Suamalie Islands and enjoy that gift! via @chautonahavig

Head pounding, exhaustion seeping from every pore, she enters the house and drops her things on the table near the door. A book on the end table beckons, but the weariness of the day prevents picking it up. Hunger tickles at the recesses of her mind, but she just doesn’t have it in her to make anything.  The recliner in the front room waves an arm and promises feet up and relaxation in seconds.  To her right, down the little hallway, a bed promises horizontal refreshment. As if the frame were an enormous magnet, it pulls her until, with a fan blasting on her, she curls up under the covers and collapses in stunned exhaustion.

An Unexpected Gift

What Is Bliss at the End of a Long, Hard, Exhausting Day?

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

The sun has set by the time she crawls from the covers. A rumbling stomach demands to be satiated. Leftover enchiladas or a BLT?  As if it were even a question. She grabs a couple of tomatoes off the windowsill and begins slicing as bacon slices sizzle in a pan. Her head no longer pounds a beat suitable for a hard rock concert, her exhaustion has dissipated, and the promise of food offers the promise of rejuvenation, but exhaustion still hovers  It taunts her, mocks her.

She carries her meal to the reading room and lights a candle. With twinkle lights providing a warm glow and just enough light for a good read, she takes a bite while opening her current read. Page by page, bite by bite, peace returns. As her hands close the book after the last page, she closes her eyes and inhales.  Exhales.

Time for a cup of tea.

It could be  Zest Tea Blue Ladyor maybe Victorian London Fog.  As her ceramic electric kettle heats the water, she flips open her Kindle and scrolls through her books. That new ARC she’d just gotten last week?  Or maybe the mystery she’s been hoarding for just the right day?  A book pops up.  A sweet woman’s face shines back at her.  Of course… the new Suamalie Islands novel. A glance at the clock shows five minutes past midnight. Oh, yes.  An Unexpected Gift had released just minutes ago.  A perfect night’s read after a long, miserable day.  Yes… a perfect night’s read.

Yes… “she” is me.

And I told this little story about what I like to do after a long, hard day to relax and unwind.  Why?  Well, the end makes it obvious, no?

An Unexpected GiftAn Unexpected Gift by Melissa Wardwell released just a few days ago!

Something’s up in Suamalie, and it’s looking like love!

When Kiana, Lulu, and Meilani decide it’s time for the islands to have affordable wedding options, Something Suamalie becomes the marriage of skills, friendship, and wedding splendor on the islands.

Cruising around the island on a Moped in a business suit may seem incongruous, but Kiana knows how to blend practicality and professionalism, a strong work ethic, and relaxation. With no time for mistakes or changes in plans, she’s also decided to forgo romance (for herself). There just isn’t enough time in the day. That is until the early arrival of one of the groomsmen of Something Suamalie’s first booking throws everything off balance, including her thoughts on long-distance dating.

Beau was perfectly content with his job and the growing attraction to a girl back home; however, he hadn’t figured in the sassy and sometimes unprofessional wedding planner. Seeing her world begin to unravel while she and her partners fumble with their first weddings tugs at his heartstrings and leaves him second-guessing his choices in the romance department.

She’s a study in opposites. He’s attracted. So now what do they do?

Take a trip to the Suamalie Islands where palm trees sway, the sand and sea pulse with life, and the people will steal your heart.

Follow the posts of the other Suamalie authors to discover their ways of unwinding and to enter their giveaways!

Melissa Wardwell: August 29

Jennifer Pierce: August 30
Heidi Gray McGill: August 31
Chautona Havig: September 1
Susan K. Beatty: September 2
Amanda Tru: September 3

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 438: A Chat with Margaret Philbrick
byChautona Havig

 Oh, wow.  When I read the synopsis for House of Honor by Margaret Ann Philbrick, I knew this was going to be a fabulous book.  Forget all the endorsements and starred reviews, listen in to hear just how awesome this book is!  

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

When Margaret described the story within House of Honor, I not only learned a lot of art history, but I got a taste of Italy (sadly, without pasta and gelato… sniff). I can’t wait to see what she coes up with next.

 House of Honor by Margaret Ann Philbrick

Two Italian sons, one woman, linked by a masterpiece painting, are put to a test of loyalty and honor.

At the heart of this gripping tale is Orazio Bordoni, the wayward son of a construction magnate, living a reckless life like that of his artistic hero Caravaggio. He finds himself befriended by Nicolo Giotto, the devoted son of a powerful Sicilian mafia clan, who wants to uphold the honor of his family.

As the dark underbelly of the art world and the Vatican expose their true character, Orazio finds himself in a world where his loyalty is tested, honor is at stake, and the boundaries between life, love, and art blur. He and Nicolo discover just how far they’re willing to push those boundaries, even if it means sacrificing everything.

House of Honor is a pivotal story that weaves the threads of history, the ruthless allure of the mafia, the enigmatic power of the Vatican, and the timeless brilliance of Caravaggio.

Learn more about Margaret on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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

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Episode 438: A Chat with Margaret Philbrick
Episode 438: A Chat with Margaret Philbrick
June 14, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 437: A Chat with Kristen Hogrefe Parnell
June 9, 2025
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Episode 436: A Chat with Suzanne Woods Fisher
June 7, 2025
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Episode 435: A Chat with Rachel Keith
June 3, 2025
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Episode 434: A Chat with Lynn U. Watson
May 31, 2025
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Episode 433: A Chat with Megan Soja
May 26, 2025
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Episode 432: A Chat with Crystal Caudill
May 24, 2025
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Episode 431: A Chat with Heidi Gray McGill
May 19, 2025
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Episode 430: A Chat with Amanda Cabot
May 17, 2025
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Episode 429: A Chat with J. A. Webb
May 12, 2025
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