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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Hidden Treasures, a Mystery, and a Lonely Girl: What Isn’t to Love?

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

It's release day for The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel, and we chatted about what readers will find in this book! via @chautonahavig

Happy Book Release Birthday to Jennifer Deibel and her newest historical romance, The Maid of Ballymacool. I chatted with her about this book a while back and have been biting my nails for release day. My book arrived a couple of days ago, and I’ve been anxious to start reading.  Listen in to learn about why I’m going to love the bits of her in the forest (that’s what Jennifer said!).

the maid of ballymacool

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

Hidden Treasures, a Mystery, and a Lonely Girl: What Isn’t to Love?

So, I’m about to utter a bit of literary blasphemy here, but when Jennifer described the background of The Maid of Ballymacool, it struck a familiar cord.  I mean… a small child dropped off at a school and just left there for life. Yeah. Am I the only one who thinks, “Okay… so like Jane Austen’s Emma?”

Here’s the thing, though. Even if that’s the only similarity the two stories have, I’m already predisposed to love this book more. Why?

How about the fact that Brianna of Ballymacool had to put herself into God’s hand and trust His creation for her instruction in Him since she wasn’t given any other? I can’t wait to see what that looks like!  How about No Frank Churchill?  That’s gotta be an improvement! And while I’ll miss the silly Miss Bates… well, I think I can manage. I’ll have Brianna after all. 😉

Jennifer gave us a lovely rundown of her first two books, but… shhh…

**looks around to make sure no one is listening too closely**

I think I’m even more excited about her next one!  Then again, Jennifer might be mad at me for giving her an idea too late. Oh, well. I have every confidence her marketplace matchmaker book will be perfect the day it releases.

Next year. Sigh.

The Maid of BallymacoolThe Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel

Brianna Kelly was abandoned at Ballymacool House and Boarding School as an infant. She has worked there since she was a wee girl and will likely die there. Despite a sense that she was made for something more, Brianna feels powerless to change her situation, so she consoles herself by exploring the Ballymacool grounds, looking for hidden treasures to add to the secret trove beneath the floorboards of her room.

When Michael Wray, the son of local gentry, is sent to Ballymacool to deal with his unruly cousin, he finds himself drawn to Brianna, immediately and inescapably. There is something about her that feels so . . . familiar. When Brianna finds a piece of silver in the woods, she commits to learning its origins, with the help of Michael. What they discover may change everything.

Fan favorite Jennifer Deibel invites you back to the Emerald Isle in the 1930s for this fresh take on the Cinderella story, complete with a tantalizing mystery, a budding romance, and a chance at redemption.

Learn more about Jennifer (and get the first bits of news… you know, like the COVER REVEAL) on her WEBSITE.

Note: The book IS 30% off and DOES have free shipping as of today over at Baker Book House.

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 550: A Chat with Joan Lovestrand Farley
byChautona Havig

High school is hard enough without trying to navigate all the ups and downs without your mother. Listen in as I talk with Joan Lovestrand Farley about Letters to Cassie, what you’ll find inside, and why she wrote it.

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

I love the idea of a mother being so proactive as to write letters of encouragement and guidance when she realized she wouldn’t be there to offer it in person.

My copy is at my house now, and I can’t wait to get started on it.

Letters to Cassie by Joan Lovestrand Farley

Cassie always imagined her high school graduation would be a moment of celebration, surrounded by her family. But when her mother passes away from cancer just before her senior year, that dream shatters, and her future feels empty.

Grief consumes her, and the path ahead seems impossible without her mom’s steady guidance. Who am I? What are my strengths? What will I do with my life? Why does it all feel so meaningless? Even the smallest decisions feel overwhelming without her mom by her side-until her dad reveals something extraordinary: nine letters her mom wrote, each with a special task for her senior year.

These letters become a lifeline, not just a series of challenges but a journey of healing, self-discovery, and faith. With each letter, Cassie is led closer to understanding her purpose and finding her identity as “God’s girl,” uncovering the depth of God’s love for her.

Follow Cassie on this emotional and empowering journey, and discover how these letters might inspire your own personal growth, one challenge at a time.

Learn more on Joan’s WEBSITE or her other WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads.

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

  • Apple
  • Castbox
  • Google Play
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  • RSS
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  • and more!
Episode 550: A Chat with Joan Lovestrand Farley
Episode 550: A Chat with Joan Lovestrand Farley
June 13, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 549: A Chat with Laura DeNooyer
June 8, 2026
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Episode 548: A Chat with Sarah Heatwole
June 6, 2026
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Episode 547: A Chat with Terri McAdoo
June 1, 2026
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Episode 546: A Chat with Chuck Richardson
May 30, 2026
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Episode 545: A Chat with Gina Holder
May 25, 2026
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Episode 544: A Chat with Nicholas Teeguarden
May 23, 2026
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Episode 543: A Chat with Stephanie Cardel
May 19, 2026
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Episode 542: A Chat with Megan Schaulis
May 16, 2026
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Episode 541: A Chat with Demi Griffin
May 11, 2026
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