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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Just What Does God Have to Do With Her Love Life, Anyway?

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

If you're looking for rich Christian fiction with diverse cultures and relatable topics then look no further than Joan Embola! via @chautonahavig

Sovereign Love. The words evoke that rich, deep, faith-filled fiction I love so much, and Joan Embola has a whole series focused on God’s sovereignty in all areas of our lives–even love. What more could a romance lover ask for? Rich characterization? Got it. Diverse cultures? Yep. More books to come?  Mmm…hmmm… Listen in and learn why I opened the first book on my Kindle tonight.

Joan Embola

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

Just What Does God Have to Do With Her Love Life, Anyway?

Look, life is too short and love is too important to get it wrong, right? Yet how often do we dive into it without even considering what the only omniscient Being in history might think about it? Just throwing that out there!

Joan Embola has a series of Christian romances that deals with much more than warm fuzzies and “following your heart” (thank the Lord for that!). Instead, she deals with some pretty deep topics, adds some rich African culture, and weaves it all through the threads of faith. What more could you want from Christian fiction?

I’ve only read the first chapter, but I’m already hooked, so there’s that!

Joan’s books deal with the after-effects of high school bullying, family expectations, floundering faith, and so much more. Even better… get this. Joan (a Brit from London), wrote these books and set them in America and added West African culture in to spice things up for us. How cool is that?

One of the things we talked about was how the darker times are often when we learn to rely on the Lord (or we run from Him) the most. It reminded me of this song here, and I was so excited to find this acapella version.  The words to one line go, “The darker the valley the more I learn to pray.”

There is another line that these guys seem to sing a bit differently from the words I know, but I can’t quite understand what they say. The words go, “Thank You for every hill I’ve climbed–for every time that the sun didn’t shine. Thank You for every lonely night I prayed ’til I knew everything was all right.”  But I don’t quite understand the word they use instead of “climb.” Can you tell?

 

Joan Embola The one who sees meThe One Who Sees Me: A Contemporary Christian Workplace Romance by Joan Embola

IS GOD SOVEREIGN OVER MISTAKES AND FAILURES?

Heather Osborne’s past consisted of partying, drugs, and thriving on the attention of men… until her cycle of pain and rejection brought her to the feet of Jesus. For four years, she has been struggling to shake off her demons, and when her business fails, she returns home to start a marketing internship. But Heather gets more than she bargained for when she is assigned to work with the handsome son of the CEO.

Emmanuel Madu, the managing director of Madu Health, is not sold on his father’s plan for him to take over the family business. When he is coerced to supervise the new marketing intern, he accepts it for fear of disappointing his father. But when the red-haired, green-eyed intern walks into his life and challenges his cowardice, their budding friendship forces Emmanuel to reassess his values and convictions.

When Heather starts developing feelings for Emmanuel, she finds herself torn between returning to her old habits and fighting to embrace her new life of faith in God. And with time running out for Emmanuel, he must decide whether to continue living in his father’s shadow or break up his family by walking away.

The One Who Sees Me, book three in the Sovereign Love series, is an uplifting standalone novel about forgiveness and learning to take comfort in the sovereign goodness of a loving God who sees all our struggles.

Learn more about Joan Embola on her WEBSITE.

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 512: A Chat with Tim Bishop
byChautona Havig

I had the best time chatting with Tim Bishop about his book, The Road Unveiled. If you want to learn about the phobia that I never knew I had, listen in. I mean, there’s a great story you won’t want to miss learning about as well.

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

I loved Tim’s heart for people, cycling, and the Lord as we chatted about his books, his later-in-life marriage, and their own long cycling trips!

And I’m really glad my husband likes to cycle alone! Far away from tunnels.

The Road Unveiled by Tim Bishop

Two wounded hearts. Long, winding roads. And second chances neither saw coming. Lauren Baumgartner pedals toward Yellowstone National Park, anticipating a grand celebration when she reaches the Atlantic Ocean. But when her wedding plans collapse, old wounds resurface—and a haunting secret still holds her heart hostage. Traveling alone with bear spray and a one-woman tent, she shares the highway with motorcyclists bound for a massive rally, including gang members who eye her as theirs for the taking. Doug Zimmer, another lone cyclist, is grappling with loss and wondering if anyone will be alongside him when he figures out what’s next. He isn’t the only one drawn to Lauren’s vitality and spirit. But Lauren may already be in too deep. What she faces on the Golden Prairie Indian Reservation tests her courage—and her faith—more than anything she encountered as a missionary in Uganda. A woman with a secret and a man healing from loss pedal the rugged roads of the American West on a quest for love and purpose that leads to unexpected horizons.

Visit Tim’s online store HERE and put in code: FRIEND for 25% off your order!

Learn more about Tim on his WEBSITE and follow 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!
Episode 512: A Chat with Tim Bishop
Episode 512: A Chat with Tim Bishop
February 2, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 511: A Chat with Tessa Afshar
January 31, 2026
Chautona
Episode 510: A Chat with Sarah Sundin
January 26, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 509: A Chat with Stacy J. Ladyman
January 24, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 508: A Chat with Katelyn Pfeiffer
January 19, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 507: A Chat with Sarah Hanks
January 17, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 506: A Chat with Suzanne Woods Fisher
January 12, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode:505 A Chat with Becca Wierwille
January 10, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 504: A Chat with Julie Klassen
January 5, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 503: A Chat with Megan Soja
January 3, 2026
Chautona Havig
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Not all romance soars on silver-lined clouds with Not all romance soars on silver-lined clouds with a #9 dangling from it. Some people can't get it right no matter how hard they try. Meet Heath Karras. Bless him, he's about as awkward with women as they come. Need proof? How about the fact that he has a string of first dates and no second dates.  Or what about the gal who went home and informed her mother that he'd be single for the rest of his life?
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Bentley Girard’s about to propose… to a guy she do Bentley Girard’s about to propose… to a guy she doesn’t even love.
Not THAT way anyway.
After studying everything the Bible has to say about marriage, she’s decided she wants in. Now. So who’s going to take her up on that offer?
And just why did no one remind her that those vows include that little word, “love?”
Oops!
With her Bible in her hip pocket and a shiny new ring on her finger, Bentley navigates this new world of marriage with grace and… oh, who is she kidding? She flounders until she gets a sure footing and hangs on tight.
Grab the first book of this unusual series today! https://amzn.to/49UP8Oh #affiliatelink
Available on Kindle Unlimited, too!
#Christfic
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#MarriageOfConvenience
Who is he, who is after him, and why is a woman ab Who is he, who is after him, and why is a woman abducted to protect her from him?  Bioterrorism, Russian mafia, and what? Another agency?  What's going on in The Agency now?
Listen to the whole book FREE, narrated by the fabulous @ChristaDelSorbo (don't forget to subscribe!!!). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-TZlGhUFcE&list=PLGJaJiSo6mQ1Cg738W1MSQlHIuFe45v_WListen Available as individual chapter videos or the entire book in one video The previous four Agency books are also available to listen to FREE.
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And if only Christian Books & Gifts would create that Airbnb for me... because it's all about me, right?  WRONG! It's about the lovely folks @christianbookandgiftgrv.  Thanks for letting me fictionalize you! I'm having a blast!
#ChristFic
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#CrossWords
#Bookstrings
Not all romance soars on silver-lined clouds with Not all romance soars on silver-lined clouds with a #9 dangling from it. Some people can't get it right no matter how hard they try. Meet Heath Karras. Bless him, he's about as awkward with women as they come. Need proof? How about the fact that he has a string of first dates and no second dates.  Or what about the gal who went home and informed her mother that he'd be single for the rest of his life?
https://amzn.to/45Vo3rV
#AffiliateLink
#ChristianFiction
#ChristianRomCom
#AwkwardRomance
#KindleUnlimited
Bentley Girard’s about to propose… to a guy she do Bentley Girard’s about to propose… to a guy she doesn’t even love.
Not THAT way anyway.
After studying everything the Bible has to say about marriage, she’s decided she wants in. Now. So who’s going to take her up on that offer?
And just why did no one remind her that those vows include that little word, “love?”
Oops!
With her Bible in her hip pocket and a shiny new ring on her finger, Bentley navigates this new world of marriage with grace and… oh, who is she kidding? She flounders until she gets a sure footing and hangs on tight.
Grab the first book of this unusual series today! https://amzn.to/49UP8Oh #affiliatelink
Available on Kindle Unlimited, too!
#Christfic
#ContemporaryChristianRomance
#MarriageOfConvenience
CrossWords--an absolutely fictional store inspired CrossWords--an absolutely fictional store inspired by a real and lovely treasure in Greeneville, Tennessee.  Have a slice of pizza at The Gentry with Milton and Atticus, grab a cup of coffee from Catalyst or Iris Books and Coffee, but whatever you do, don't leave town without grabbing a salted caramel bachelor's button from Peggy Ann's Bakery. YUM.
And if only Christian Books & Gifts would create that Airbnb for me... because it's all about me, right?  WRONG! It's about the lovely folks @christianbookandgiftgrv.  Thanks for letting me fictionalize you! I'm having a blast!
#ChristFic
#BookishBooks
#CrossWords
#Bookstrings
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