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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Why This Is My Favorite Book of This Year!

by Chautona Havig ·

Bleak Landing by Terrie Todd appeared out of nowhere and instantly became my #1 book of 2020. See why in this unusual gush! via @chautonahavig

Some books are “once-in-a-lifetime” books.  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is one of mine for reasons I talk about in THIS post. Recently, I read what for me has become another one. Bleak Landing

In what feels like a delightful moment of happenstance, I saw it offered for just $1.99 on Amazon, and when I found the audiobook, listened a bit, and promptly decided I’d make it my next listen.  And yep.  I did. Oh, and remember how in Episode 34 I mentioned that you can save money by paying attention to Facebook groups and Instagram? Well… stay tuned for how!

Why This Is My Favorite Book of This Year!

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

Why Bleak Landing Is My Favorite Book of This Year!

Bleak Landing by [Terrie Todd]Bleak Landing. It’s kind of crazy, but the title alone grabbed me. I had to find out more about it when I saw that $1.99 sale. Once I heard the audio narration, I was sunk–especially when I saw that with my Kindle Unlimited subscription, I could listen to it free!  SQUEE!

I’m so glad I did because now I can buy the paperback as well!  Perfecto, right?

This episode is an unusual gush, but a gush it is. I loved Bleak Landing, and I hope talking about it will help me unpack why!

Talking about the writing itself, Terrie Todd uses a fabulous blend of simple writing that is deceptively complex. It becomes more and more so as the main character, Bridget O’Sullivan matures. Told in the first person, I loved even that part of it because of how Ms. Todd handled it.

Characterization is positively brilliant  I didn’t like Bridget after a while, but I loved her and cared about her, and I cheered when I could like her again. In fact, all of the characters possessed dual personalities in that even if we liked or disliked them, there was some aspect that contradicted their primary personality traits.  That kind of complexity worked well–beautifully, even.

Prayer, though–this author is big on prayer.

I’ve since listened to another of Terrie Todd’s books, and prayer was a big part of it as well–even bigger, actually.  What I love about it is how the author shows that prayer is something we do, but we have no right to expect results. Note:  The writer does this through excellent writing and plotting rather than actual preaching (thankfully!). Spiritual elements in this book are used in practical ways and shown in the lives of the characters rather than inserted to create a “Christian” book.  Instead, they are masterfully woven into the story.

Speaking of excellent writing, I saw parallels in Bleak Landing with a couple of other well-known books: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, as previously mentioned and Anne of Green Gables.

Bleak Landing is recommended for lovers of excellent Christian fiction, historical fiction, and WWII fiction.  Yes, this book has romantic elements, but it mostly reads almost like light literary fiction.  So beautiful.

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

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Episode 43: A Chat with Allison Pearl
by Chautona Havig

Great Things Happen When You Mix Danger and Donuts

Suspense is a personal favorite genre, so when I heard about Allison Pearl’s series, I knew I wanted to read them and chat with her about them.  I only made it about a quarter of the way into the book before the interview, but that’s mostly because I spent way too much time deliberating over whether I should finish the book, Sprinkled with Sabotage, or set it aside and go read the first two.  

That’s actually a difficult thing about books in a series that stand alone.  You can read them out of order, so the dilemma begins–kind of like whether to read The Narnia series in order of publication or in chronological order.

Nah, everyone knows you need to read in order of publication.  Hmm… maybe that solves my question on Allison Pearl’s books, too.  Hmmm…

From the fun way she named the protagonists to our discussing the idea of a high-speed chase through the West Virginia mountains (I bet she could get those folks up to forty miles-per-hour! Trust me, if you’ve ever driven some of those roads, you’ll know that IS high speed in that area!), we talked about just about everything.  Faith in fiction, what got Allison writing suspense in the first place, locales for books, and… of course, what is coming next!

The Love and Danger in St. Claire series by Allison Pearl is full of danger, tension, and sprinkled with romance for the heart-throbbers among us.

Sprinkled with Sabotage

Synopsis: Lizzy Bennet loves life as a lawyer in the city. And not just because of the miles it puts between her and her ex. However, when she’s attacked on the street just hours after learning her identity was stolen, she tries to call home for help and ends up with the last person she expects: the very same high school boyfriend who broke her heart.

He says he’s there to help, but she’s not so sure, and now, all the endless questions and regrets are clouding her judgment and preventing her from seeing the dangerous saboteur closing in. Small-town auto mechanic, Koby Knightly, is looking forward to seeing a car show in the city. But when an unexpected call from his old girlfriend disconnects suddenly, he rushes to her aid. Throwing his plans out the window, Koby makes it his mission to protect her and discover the identity of the person trying to frame her.

Will he also be able to figure out what went wrong between them back in high school or will a killer get to her first?

Available in print, on Kindle, and also through Kindle Unlimited.  Or, read the first books in the series:

  • Glazed Suspicion
  • Dunked in Trouble

You can learn more about Allison Pearl, her upcoming books, and more on her website.

Find out what else her publisher, Anaiah Press has to offer HERE.

Episode 43: A Chat with Allison Pearl
Episode 43: A Chat with Allison Pearl
January 19, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 42: A Chat with J'nell Ciesielski
January 13, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 41: A Chat with Jennifer Pierce
January 5, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 40: My Favorite Book of 2020
December 8, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 39: A Chat with L.K. Simonds
December 1, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 38: Dan Smith & Saving Ebenezer
November 24, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 37: A Chat with Sara Beth Williams
November 17, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 36: A Chat with Jennifer Beckstrand
November 10, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 35: What Is This NaNoWriMo Thing All About?
November 3, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 34: 5 Cheap & Easy Ways to Feed a Book Habit
October 27, 2020
Chautona Havig
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Just two days before Bookers on the Rocks releases Just two days before Bookers on the Rocks releases!  I'm so excited about this book. It's probably one of the best I've written.  There's just something about a man who will step out of his comfort zone and edge his wife out of hers to do what's best for their marriage--so inspiring to write.
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#ChristianFiction
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