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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
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Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 264: A Chat with Romance Author, Sarah Monzon
byChautona Havig

Finally getting a chance to chat with Sarah Monzon was a total delight, and learning all about her latest release, All’s Fair in Love and Christmas was equally awesome.  My copy is here and waiting for me to dive into the battle of the celebrations!  EEEP! Listen in to see what that even means!

Note: I sound like I’m underwater. We heard it during our interview, but I couldn’t make it behave and couldn’t fix it. Sorry!

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

How Does an Intense Christmas Competition Lead to Love?

All’s Fair in Love and Christmas has so much going for it that I don’t know where to start! Fun mom who made our heroine’s childhood Christmases an international delight without ever leaving home?  Check!  Social anxiety adding to the stress of competing for a promotion?  Check?  Romcom hilarity?  Check, check?  And add to all that Sarah’s wonderful writing and delightful characterization?  I’m all in.

We also chatted about why she chose to write about a woman with social anxiety, her preferred reading methods, and some of my favorite books by her. For a refresher, those are The Isaac Project, 12 Days of Snowmen, and Book Nerds & Boyfriends (a collection of three novellas).

All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon

Two workplace rivals. One festive competition. And a romance that upends it all.

Every December two things are guaranteed for graphic designer Mackenzie Graham–Christmas celebrations and the annual promotion at her workplace. Those two things are by no means mutually exclusive. In fact, the better an employee is at harnessing the Christmas spirit, the more likely they’ll win the new job. With her social anxiety, Mackenzie never thought she’d be a contender in her company’s holiday competition, so how exactly has she found herself dueling her workplace crush with wrapping paper tubes and using tinsel as her weapon of choice for a much-needed raise?

Jeremy Fletcher’s life is meticulously planned out, including how to win this year’s promotion at work. Not only will the new position fulfill some of his career goals, but as a single guardian to his twin niece and nephew, he needs the salary increase to support his family. Jeremy has barely noticed Mackenzie Graham around the office, but now that she’s his rival, he can’t stop thinking about her. Her quirkiness intrigues him, and he’s afraid that if he can’t get his head on straight, the promotion isn’t the only thing he’ll end up losing to Mackenzie.

“Inspirational rom-com readers are going to love this one.”–BETHANY TURNER, bestselling author of The Do-Over

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

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Episode 264: A Chat with Romance Author, Sarah Monzon
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I love this book so much. And it wouldn't be an "A I love this book so much. And it wouldn't be an "Anne" story without Gilbert and Diana... meet Gage. He's not quite Gilbert, but he's got everything a Gilbert should have--including the ability to completely annoy Anne when he doesn't mean to. She's speaking to him here... barely.
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