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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Baggage: Claim It or Not, We All Have It

by Chautona Havig · 10 Comments

Look, anyone who knows me knows that I’m a very frank person.  I say what I think.  I try to do it kindly, but I rarely mince words.  Don’t ask my opinion if you don’t want it.  No.  Really.

Baggage Claim by Cathe Swanson

Note: links in this post are likely affiliate links and will provide me with a small commission at no extra cost for you.

What does that have to do with a book review? Glad you asked. Something odd happened to me in 2016. I read lots of books by lots of authors (including my new favorite author), and my favorite book was a little novella by a first-time author. The fact that I’ve known this woman for over fifteen years (EEEP!) is irrelevant.  I didn’t have to say it was my favorite.  Another of my friends, someone I see EVERY week, also published her debut novel. While it was one of my favorites (and I suspect her second may be my absolute favorite of 2017), Snow Angels by Cathe Swanson was definitely my favorite.

Confession time.

I was nervous about number two.  Did I think it would be garbage? Of course, not!  I know Cathe, and I know the work and dedication she puts into everything.  The woman makes perfectionists look lazy. A retired homeschool mom of three boys, this woman could scare drill sergeants into compliance if she needed to.  Not bad for the sweet, soft-spoken woman in the videos with me.  Here’s one just in case you need proof.

 

But I’d seen the original version of the story, and well… it was on of the first things she wrote. I’d read other first things, but only tiny snippets of this.  I was concerned.  Not because it was going to be just worthless. THAT would never happen.  But because coming after something so fresh and new as Snow Angels, I feared it might not be as good. And it needed to be.  I never told her that.  She put enough pressure on herself.  So, I waited.  And I prayed.  And I chewed off my nails.  One. By. One.

Stupid me.

My review of Baggage Claim

Baggage Claim
Kindle: 4.99 through 2-14-17

Cathe Swanson has done it again. In Baggage Claim, you’ll find fun, unique characters in interesting settings and with enough twists and turns to keep you from predicting every next move.

One of my favorite parts of this book is how she used every component of the story in a fresh way. We have a single dad.  But his story isn’t your typical father that we’ve seen a million times. You have someone searching for biological parents, but this isn’t a Hallmark moment, folks. I guarantee they don’t and won’t ever make a card for this moment! Deadbeat dad?  Yep.  Almost won’t recognize him, though!  Battered wife?  Yep!  Sheltered homeschool girl?

Seriously, folks.  That one right there is worth reading the book for all by itself. This sheltered girl can babysit my kids ANY day.

You get introduced to the unique folks up in the Upper Peninsula, travel the freeways of Chicago, and if that’s not enough for you, fine. How about a trip to Disney World?

If you love real kids with interesting, if not sparkling, personalities, flawed humans struggling to make it in a flawed world, Christians leaning more on Jesus every day, and enough suspense to make the book exciting without being a full-on, edge-of-your-seat joy ride, I’d say Baggage Claim is for you!

So far, it’s holding strong for my favorite book of 2017.

Then again, it’s only February.  😉

My only complaint?  Having to wait for the next book. Seriously.  It was just that good.

Cathe?  I’m stinkin’ proud of you.  You set out to “do this writing thing” and voila.  You did.  And, as with everything you do, you did it with pure excellence.

Congratulations on another amazing release!  

Now get cracking. I need to know if I have to chew off my fingernails for Phoebe or not.

Want to win a copy of Baggage Claim?  Tell me if you read Snow Angels!  (Psst… if you didn’t, you should!)  But remember, this is still the pre-order price.  On 2-15-17, it goes up to 5.99, so you might not want to wait.

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, New Release

Previous Post: « When Authors Blow It (nearly, anyway)
Next Post: Questions That Plague Me (or something like that) »

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Comments

  1. Emma Filbrun says

    February 15, 2017 at 1:29 am

    I loved Baggage Claim! I told Esther today that Cathe is as good an author as you. I’m sure hoping for a sequel; Ben has an issue at the end of the book that simply must be resolved. If I happen to win a copy of it, I’d like to send it to my mom; I’m sure she’d love it, too.

    Reply
    • Emma Filbrun says

      February 15, 2017 at 1:29 am

      And yes, I’ve read Snow Angels and loved it, too.

      Reply
  2. Courtney says

    February 14, 2017 at 7:39 pm

    I read Snow Angels and really enjoyed it!

    Reply
  3. Melissa W says

    February 14, 2017 at 6:13 pm

    I did read Snow Angels and loved it! I’m looking forward to more in this series!

    Reply
  4. Natasha Metzler says

    February 14, 2017 at 4:39 pm

    I have not read Snow Angels, but will be putting it on my list! ?

    Reply
  5. MS Barb says

    February 14, 2017 at 4:09 pm

    YES, I read Snow Angels & loved it! 🙂 (I got it w/ the Christmas set!)

    Reply
  6. Joan Jones says

    February 14, 2017 at 2:07 pm

    I haven’t read the first book but they both sound awesome

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      February 14, 2017 at 2:24 pm

      I recommend it! It’s just wonderful. I laughed so hard that I had to go stand in my friends’ garage so I wouldn’t wake up their family!

      Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      February 15, 2017 at 4:29 pm

      Congrats! You won!

      Reply
      • Joan Jones says

        February 16, 2017 at 7:15 am

        awesome,thank you, can’t wait to read it

        Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
byChautona Havig

I had a chat with actor and author Henry O. Arnold a while back, and boy did we have a lot of fun. His Song of Prophets and Kings series features the advent of Israel’s kings from Samuel’s birth through David hiding from Saul (so far) and onward. Listen in as we chat about his most recent release, The Singer of Israel.

 

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

What Made David Such a Man after God’s Heart?

I think this series will show us. I love that Henry O. Arnold started back at Samuel’s story to prepare us for the story of arguably the most influential king of Israel. Yes, Solomon was the wisest and richest, but David offered something that Solomon didn’t have. He was an average guy—a shepherd, no less—chosen by God to lead his country.

In a sense, it’s kind of the ancient Jewish version of a poor, everyday guy growing up to become President of the United States. If you know what I mean.

This five-book series is available as an eBook, in print, and as an audiobook, too! Henry read a snippet of it to us, and boy you get a feel for his love of Scripture and God’s people as he reads.

And if that wasn’t enough, he even gave us a hint of his upcoming Christian suspense/thriller “series. He says he has two books planned for sure, so… at least a duology, but maybe we can talk him into a trilogy at least? Get those odd numbers and everything?

The Singer of Israel by Henry O. Arnold

A singer’s voice inspires a troubled nation…A shepherd’s courage vanquishes a giant

The last official act of the prophet of Yahweh was to secretly anoint a replacement for the king of Israel who has been brought low by an unbalanced mind. The great prophet of Israel lives in fear of the wrath of the king. Then out of the hills of Bethlehem emerges the last-born son of a family of shepherds to become the unforeseen hero of Israel.

When David sings of the glory of Yahweh, this shepherd wins the hearts of the royal family and restores King Saul’s troubled mind. But when the singer/shepherd defeats the champion of the Philistines in single combat, David becomes forever known as “the giant slayer.” Saul quickly sees that David is now a threat to his kingdom and secretly plots to have him killed.

David may be the champion of the people of Israel, but he must live under the constant threat of Saul’s wrath until he is finally forced to flee for his life.

The Singer of Israel is a tale of triumph and tribulation, deepest love, and burning rivalries; the new epoch is given a voice…and it is The Song of Prophets and Kings.

You can learn more about Henry on this WEBSITE.

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Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
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