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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Buried Secrets by Rachel J. Good: a book review

by Chautona Havig · 19 Comments

Buried Secrets. Don’t know about you, but the title makes me think of some archaeological mystery. I could almost see Amelia Peabody with her parasol standing over workers, demanding they be more careful. “Emerson, I think this poor mummy was shot! That’s not possible! They didn’t have guns. Great, Scott! This isn’t a mummy at all—not a proper one!”

Okay, so that sounds more like her husband than dear Peabody, and well… then, of course, that leaves us bereft of the mystery I never read.

Except I did.

Only, instead of an abandoned tomb outside of Cairo, Rachel Good uncovers the secrets to Emma’s past.

Buried Secrets: a review

Note: links in this post are likely affiliate links and will provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

My review:

Buried Secrets is one of the best-named books I’ve ever read. The title alone contains more subtleties than you suspect until you reach that last page. Rachel Good wrote a well-layered story of love, loss, growth, forgiveness, and redemption. She drew me into characters who weren’t your typical Amish folks and made me care about even the ones who made me want to slap them. That’s pretty impressive.

A Change of Heart: Rachel J. GoodThis book includes a lot you don’t expect from Amish fiction and most of it in a very good way. One of the primary characters didn’t grow up Amish. Let’s face it. You don’t see that every day. Another character did something so heinous, you’d never expect it of someone a part of a group known for “non-violence.” The characters are consistent, even when that consistency fits outside the normal expectations for the Amish. Unlike historical fiction where they often attribute modern ideals and ideas to historical characters, Buried Secrets shows people who keep themselves separate from “the world” still being impacted by that world. And that’s important to see.

And one of the best parts?  LOVE that cover.  I mean, look at it! They blended the Amish objection  to being photographed with the modern preference for people on covers and did it without making that girl too made up and polished OR too raw and unappealing (because on covers “plain” photography can look rather amateurish. It’s just a beautiful cover–even more so than the other book I saw by this author, A Change of Heart. After reading this one, I suspect I know what that’s about! And, I will probably buy the book and read it.

As Amish fiction goes, I really loved Buried Secrets.

Buried SecretsIn the interest of full disclosure, however, sometimes showing that intrusion of modern life into a world that eschews most of that modern sometimes felt incongruous. I don’t know that they are. I want to be very careful not to say that Ms. Good is “wrong” about any of it, but a few things jerked me out of the story. The reference to the babies’ nursery… I just never picture the Amish with nurseries! Even if the author meant the bedroom the children would sleep in, I just see them calling it a bedroom or something like that. Nursery conjures up the idea of a rather trendy, “not plain,” thing.

She made references to not dating and having a girlfriend—again, they felt removed from what I’m accustomed to in Amish fiction. And again, I refuse to say she’s “wrong” about it. However, that’s one problem with very specific genre fiction. They tend to create expectations.

Revised:

However, since discovering that some Old Order Amish DO have “nurseries” and it is common to “date” and have “girlfriends,” I can’t help but wonder if perhaps I SHOULD be jerked out of the story.  I mean, if my understanding is severely outdated, isn’t it an author’s job to educate me?  For example, the time period for one of my books called recipes “receipts.” Some people were bothered by that. They thought I’d been caught by the spellcheck bug or something.  I was just being accurate to the time period. And so is Ms. Good. So, I’m revising my opinion on this one.  I think that’s a pretty cool thing–learning something new that challenges your expectations!

On the other hand, a few of the Amish-isms got a little old. Okay, only one that really made a lasting impact now that I’m removed from the story a bit. I know that the Amish word for baby is boppli. And if I didn’t, by the time I got done reading this book, I would never be able to forget it. In speech, using that word makes so much sense, but in narrative, it really became a bit burdensome. It’s a bit nit-picky of me, but since it annoyed me, I thought I’d throw it out there for those who are also bothered by such things.

There was one thing though…

The thing that bothered me the most about the book were certain bits of repetitiveness. Sometimes the author would state something, and right away, state it again. I couldn’t tell if she rewrote it one way and then the other, only to forget to remove one or if she just wanted to make sure we really understood what she wanted us to take away from it. And honestly, this was big enough for me that she almost lost a star over it.

Buried Secrets is just a really great story with interesting characters and a rather unique plot for Amish fiction. If it were not Amish, most of my “complaints” would be moot. However, the big plot twist would not have had the same impact.  Now… do you think we could talk her into an Amish archaeologist in Cairo… with a kappe and buggy?

 

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Comments

  1. Rachel J. Good says

    March 23, 2017 at 7:51 pm

    Thanks so much for hosting me, Chautona! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your review, and you gave me some things to think about — so I appreciate that as well. Good luck with your own writing!

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      March 23, 2017 at 7:54 pm

      Thanks! And thanks for teaching me more about the Amish. If you didn’t see, I added a revision to my review. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Mary Esh says

    March 19, 2017 at 7:42 pm

    I have many Amish friends that I do social things with all of the time. One thing we can’t do is say, “The Amish do or don’t….” because all Amish are different. They can’t be generalized. Some of my friends have nurseries and some do not- although they are all Old Order Amish. They decorate them just as the English do. Some of the very strict Amish would not. All communities are different and rules within church districts vary. Emma is correct when she says they either speak English or Dutch, they don’t mix Dutch words in when they are speaking English. But I do know that authors sprinkle the Dutch words in for the reader’s sake and some publishers ever request it. I found Rachel Good’s book very authentic compared to some others I have read. I enjoyed your review and insights!

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      March 19, 2017 at 9:39 pm

      That is excellent, and you know, the more I think of it, as much as it jerked me out of the story because it’s not what I’m accustomed to, I think it’s good that it did. Because this helps show just how much things have changed. This gives an accurate view of it. I think I’ll be revising my review to reflect this. I suspected that it was me rather than her (hence why I said I wasn’t saying she was wrong). But perhaps we should be jerked out of misinformation and shown accuracy, no?

      Reply
    • Rachel J. Good says

      March 23, 2017 at 7:28 pm

      Mary, It’s so true. We can’t pigeonhole the Amish because they’re individuals, and each group is different as well. I found out as I got to know Amish, I’ve learned just how true that is. So glad you stopped by.

      Reply
  3. Emma says

    March 19, 2017 at 11:53 am

    Just so you know, I believe you’re right about “nurseries”, but they do talk about dating and girlfriends. In fact, in some communities, they’ll have a date with a different person every week (at least the popular ones will) until they finally settle down with one person. Not that I approve, that’s just the way it is. I agree with you about the use of “Amish” words. It seems like a lot of those authors pick out some words they think are cute and use them a lot just to try to give atmosphere. As someone who knows a lot of Amish and former Amish, I know they don’t mix languages like that. When they talk English, they talk English, usually very well. Their “Dutch” language has a lot of English words mixed in.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      March 19, 2017 at 2:58 pm

      That’s really fascinating. I guess for me, it was a lot like using the words “cool” or “snarky” in Madeline. They may have been accurate in how I used them, but they felt anachronous. Every time I saw them, it jerked me right out of the story.

      Reply
    • Rachel J. Good says

      March 23, 2017 at 7:36 pm

      Hi, Emma (You have the same name as my heroine, which makes me smile.)
      So glad you stopped by. You’re right about not mixing the languages. Publishers do ask us to use some words to add “flavor,” but you wouldn’t actually find that happening in a real conversation.

      Reply
      • Emma says

        March 23, 2017 at 11:26 pm

        So it’s the fault of the publishers! I’ll have to say, that is something that really irritates me about Amish fiction, and one of the biggest reasons I don’t read much of it.

        Reply
        • Chautona Havig says

          March 23, 2017 at 11:52 pm

          Until now, I hadn’t identified that it was one of the things that pushed me off, too. It creates a fakeness. That’s why, even in Wynnewood when I could have used SOOOOOOo many cool words from Old English, I MADE myself stick to names only–and even that, more place names and insults (scynthaltha for example). It made more sense to do it that way than a bunch of words that jerked people out of the story all the time. I think in dialogue, you can pull it off better than in narrative, though.

          Reply
  4. Andrea Stoeckel says

    March 19, 2017 at 7:35 am

    I really love your reviews Chautona, no I think Buried Secrets might be my choice

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      March 19, 2017 at 2:59 pm

      Thanks! I find it difficult to share what I loved and balance that with what might bother another reader. It’s also hard to how what jarred me without making it sound like it SHOULD bother others.

      Reply
      • Rachel J. Good says

        March 23, 2017 at 7:40 pm

        Hi, Andrea,
        Thanks for stopping by! I agree that Chautona does a great job with her reviews. It was so much fun to read her intro to the book. (Peabody is one of my favorite characters, so I loved that part!) She really knows how to grab your interest and hold it throughout.

        Reply
  5. Susan (DE) says

    March 19, 2017 at 6:48 am

    I would want Buried Secrets. 🙂

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      March 19, 2017 at 3:00 pm

      I think, based upon what I read about the first book, I will like Buried more, but I am going to read that first one. I think it’s kind of cool that it doesn’t sound like the lessons learned in book 1 were instant and long-lasting. Which is kind of how that is, right?

      Reply
    • Rachel J. Good says

      March 23, 2017 at 7:43 pm

      So glad you were here, Susan. Good luck with the drawing & I hope you enjoy the book!

      Reply
  6. Eileen says

    March 19, 2017 at 4:46 am

    After reading your review I’m interested in reading Buried Secrets. ?

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      March 19, 2017 at 4:52 am

      I’m glad! I haven’t read a lot of Amish fiction in the past 10 years, but it’s quite different from anything I read before that for sure.

      Reply
    • Rachel J. Good says

      March 23, 2017 at 7:48 pm

      Hi, Eileen,
      So glad you were able to stop by. I hope you’ll have a chance to read Buried Secrets.

      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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