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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

How One Fluffy Read Betrayed Me & Why I’m Thrilled

by Chautona Havig · 7 Comments

The post promised a great historical read—FREE through Tuesday, August 14. Well, the last time Smitten Romance informed me (through a friend) that I’d love this “great historical book,” I’d found myself lost among the pages of Among the Poppies. So, I dashed off to Amazon.

Then I saw it. Free for Kindle Unlimited.

Now, look. I’m an author. I get it. Free books are great ways to introduce people to your work and to get needed reviews. But writing is an expensive business. And yes, it may be a ministry for many Christian authors, but it is also a business. So, instead of the download, I hit the Kindle Unlimited button. At least the author will get paid for it, right?

The screen popped up with, “YOU GREEDY FOOL! YOU HAVE TOO MANY ALREADY! PUT ONE BACK, FIRST!”

Okay, that’s just how it felt. In reality, it said something like, “You already have ten books shelved. Please, return one and try again.”

There was just one problem.

I hadn’t read any of the ten that sat shelved on the page.

I might as well confess that I almost just said, “forget it” and bought the dumb book. But I am no quitter. If I must read a book so that I can shelve another, then I’ll make that sacrifice. Take one for the team and all that.

But which one? That wasn’t an easy prospect. I finally landed on a pink-covered book that screamed “fluff and nonsense” to me—with a fabulous title. Bookishly Ever After.

Bookishly Ever After by Sarah MonzonThe synopsis gripped me—with its promises of the fluff I needed.

Emory Blake is the ultimate bibliophile. She’d take curling up with a good novel over a night on the town any day of the week. But then best friend Tate Woodby accuses her of living between the pages of her paperbacks instead of the real world, and make a bet that will force her to experience the adventures of her fictional friends…instead of just reading about them. With her face no longer buried in books, Emory must confront the pain of the past. But is it also her perfect opportunity to discover the hunky hero who could be the happily-ever-after of her own story?

I’d skim that sucker—get it done in no time. After all, it was “just a sweet little romance” from what I could tell. They’re the easiest ones to skim.

How One Fluffy Read Betrayed Me & Why I'm Thrilled

Note: links may be affiliate links. they provide me with small commissions but don’t add to your cost at all.

How One Fluffy Read Betrayed Me & Why I’m Thrilled

Yeah. And so I began. Riveting opening… I jumped, even knowing what would happen, I jumped right when I should have. And the game (both literaturely and literally—within the context of the story, anyway) was afoot!

Emory? I’m half in love with her myself. She’s a delightful mix of flawed perfection. She has a sharp wit that doesn’t cut, she’s clueless but not indefinitely, and not stupid in her cluelessness, and she’s oh, so much fun.

I’d gotten two or three chapters in before I realized that I had read every stinkin’ word. Then I looked at my progress.  How many hours would this take!?

Confession: I did not have time to be reading a book today.  I was busy. Behind. Scrambling for time as it was!

But I was already at about twenty-five percent!  That’s when I realized I’d grabbed a novella!

Confession number two: I don’t usually enjoy novellas.  They feel rushed.

Yes, I recognize the irony there.

But Sarah Monzon pulled off a delightful novella that held my attention and made me slow down and savor every scene.

Yes, it was fluffy—in part.

The book is pure romance.  That didn’t surprise me at all.  What did surprise me was how into the romance I was.  Maybe it was because she kept it about people instead of piling emotion upon emotion. It could be.

But I suspect it was more.

Because even in this short, ninety-one-page novel, she also tackled a deep-seated issue in Emory.

And she used a great guy, Tate, to help with it.

I love a good best friend.  I mean, come on. Like I shared here, I married mine. And Tate has some first-rate qualities that remind me a little of the guy who got stuck with me for life.  (Hey, I finally “get” the whole “sorry, not sorry” thing…).

And Monzon wrote a great one.  He’s real, honest, raw, and flawed—just like every “hero” I’ve ever loved.  His patience spoke volumes. I’m just sayin’.

Did I mention she did it in first person?

Yeah, I just fell in love with a book written in first-person.

Confession: I didn’t notice until I was three-quarters of the way done with the book.  She should get five stars for that alone.  But Monzon earned it many times over.

Like how about taking something people complain about and turning it on its head?

Look, in so much of romantic fiction, a whole boatload of stuff could be solved if people just talked instead of “misunderstood” and brooded.

Sarah Monzon did something novel in this novella. She had her characters talk—or at least acknowledge an unwillingness to when something else got in the way (mostly Emory’s past issues).

Monzon earned five stars just for that.  But I didn’t give them to her for it.

Nope.  She gets five stars for writing a book with fabulous characters I’d love to have over for dinner and chat with. I’d love to hear more about their bookish dates and when he just…knew.  I’m giving her five stars for writing a book I loved and immersed myself into when I just wanted a skimmed read.

She gets five stars for writing fluff I couldn’t put down, with something substantial beneath that fluff, and for betraying my need for a quick read while giving it to me at the same time.

I didn’t skim this book. But being a novella, I read it in just over an hour and a half. Yes, it was fluffy. But writing something more than just fluff among the pages made it rich, too.

It was my first book by Sarah Monzon.  It will not be my last.

For my .02 on book two in this series, Literarily for Keeps, go HERE.

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Comments

  1. Linda Sue McKinney says

    August 14, 2018 at 10:08 am

    Thank you so much, I’ve had Bookishly Ever After in my kindle library for a while and kept reading other books. But thanks to your blog email I moved it up and bam!I was reading and twisting uncomfortably due to having a similar reaction to confrontation as Emory had. Satisfying reads, what else can make us read through so many “meh so so” books hoping to find an Aha. Thanks for pushing me to a satisfying aha.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      August 14, 2018 at 2:59 pm

      Wasn’t it good!

      Reply
  2. joyofreadingweb says

    August 13, 2018 at 3:11 pm

    I love reading Sarah Monzon’s books!! I’m glad you enjoyed this one and I hope you get the opportunity to read more of her wonderful books!

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      August 13, 2018 at 3:29 pm

      I have every intention of doing… um… Esther something next. It was recommended.

      Reply
      • joyofreadingweb says

        August 14, 2018 at 4:10 am

        Yes! The Esther Paradigm

        Reply
        • Chautona Havig says

          August 14, 2018 at 2:59 pm

          YES! That one. I may jus thave to buy it so I don’t have shelving issues.

          Reply
  3. Patty says

    August 13, 2018 at 5:16 am

    I also read this in the last week or so, thoroughly enjoyable! Also my first book by Sarah.
    I’ve had a Kindle for years, but never read that much on it. Instead, using it for email, Facebook etc. That is until authors started releasing Kindle only Novellas. Now I’ve actually started reading full length books on it ?

    Reply

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Episode 48: A Chat with T.E. Price
by Chautona Havig

What happens when you combine domestic violence with suspense?  A hair-raising ride you won’t want to miss.

On March 2, T.E. Price ‘s book, Take Flight, releases on eBook, and boy is this one excellent story.  Join me as I talk with Tiffany about her book, the inspiration, and all the excellence you’ll find within the can’t-put-it-down pages.

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

The 3 Best Things about This Domestic Abuse Suspense Novel

A new author to me, T.E. Price knocked her suspense (and almost thriller) out of the park with three excellent elements to the book.  

Aside from wonderful and realistic characterization and edge-of-your-seat storytelling, T.E. Price also digs deep into a subject Christians sometimes like to pretend isn’t a thing.  And boy does she do it well. 

So if a great story that grips you and won’t let you go isn’t the best thing, what is?  Well… I’ve got three.

First, the writing is stellar.

Let’s face it, domestic abuse victims have cyclical thought patterns and actions that can feel redundant and become boring when you see it on the page, but Tiffany managed to avoid that while still showing how real and confusing it can be both for the person going through it and for those watching from the outside.

Second, her laser focus on her subject.

Domestic abuse is a multi-layered and faceted subject that spans so many different aspects of life. It would be easy and natural, even, to try to show it all with the one person who experienced it all, but T.E. Price keeps her focus on one woman’s escape from that life and how it affects her relationship with the Lord and others. That’s it.  

Third, T.E. Price shows her heart for the Lord and His people in every word on the page.

While not preachy at all, and while often just the undercurrent of the story, there is no doubt in the reader’s mind that Price wants the reader to learn both how to overcome as the victim of domestic violence and how to aid others in the church going through it.  Additionally, that steady reminder of Who the only true support we truly have touches every aspect of Hallie McClain’s life.

There are so many other excellent elements to Take Flight, but I’d be chatting all day with Tiffany (and nearly did!) if I kept going.

Don’t forget!

T.E. Price’s book releases March 2, 2021 and on March 5, 2021  from 7-8 pm (EST) she is having a Facebook launch party with prizes and lots of information about it.  HERE is a link to that party and I hope to be there to celebrate with her!  Please join her and maybe you’ll win an eBook copy of Take Flight!

You can find more about T.E. Price (Tiffany) at her WEBSITE where you can also find her other novel, Love’s True Colors.

Title:  Take Flight Author: T.E. Price Synopsis:  

Within Take Flight, readers follow Hallie McClain as she is faced with numerous fight-or-flight decisions in her attempt to escape her abusive husband, Jonathan McClain.

Hallie has made the decision to leave him for good, but Jonathan has no intentions of complying. During their separation, Hallie grapples with trusting those closest to her, the gossip-mill of her small town, and her wavering trust in God. Living alone in a secret, secluded cabin in the woods, she is thrust into multiple circumstances where she has to balance her safety with the reality of inescapable encounters with her soon-to-be ex-husband. Jonathan soon discovers Hallie’s whereabouts, forcing her to escape to the city while awaiting the divorce, but her move isn’t the solution as her safety is still compromised.

Hallie has to learn to trust God with her safety while leaning on the church body for support. The tantalizing storyline of Take Flight weaves through one “fight-or-flight” scenario after the next, filling Hallie with angst regarding her constant need for escape. Take Flight addresses the ugliness of domestic abuse and the need for support from the church community. Furthermore, it affirms God’s trustworthiness in the midst of difficult, sometimes even life-threatening, situations.

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

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You can find the Blog post HERE.

Episode 48: A Chat with T.E. Price
Episode 48: A Chat with T.E. Price
February 23, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 47: The Drew Farthering Mysteries
February 16, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 46: What Romances Do I Think Are Perfect for Valentine's Day?
February 9, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 45: A Gush about Things We Didn't Say
February 2, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 44: A Chat with Carolyn Miller
January 26, 2021
Chautona Havig
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
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