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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Is Anything Better Than Christmas at the Inn?

by Chautona Havig · 11 Comments

The Facebook post appeared. A seemingly generic post about… something. I will confess now that I might not have read it right away had anyone else posted it. But Liz Johnson… Something told me I’d want to know.

Something was right.

My brain, tired from a long night of writing (or maybe from just waking up—now I can’t remember)–read it something like this. “Blah, blah, blah, special project, blah, blah, blah, Prince Edward Island, blah, blah, blah Red Door Inn, blah, blah, Christmas.”

I blinked and reread. If her Red Door Inn was on sale for Christmas, my FB followers would want to know.  This time, I paid attention.

Then I squealed. Then I begged for a review copy. Of what?  Christmas at the Red Door Inn.  I read the post again, and again.  I canceled that review copy request.

It was on Kindle Unlimited.  Just for the record, if a book is on Kindle Unlimited, I read there first, unless buying it is at full price.  Why?  Because on a book that’s under a buck, the author makes a maximum of thirty-four cents.  She makes much more than that on Kindle Unlimited.  So, I’ll read the book through KU, and then I go buy it if I want to own it.

Hint: I wanted to own it.  So I bought it.

Is Anything Better Than Christmas at the Inn?

Note: links are likely affiliate links that provide me with a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you any extra, I assure you. 😀

Is Anything Better Than Christmas at the Inn?

I can’t remember the movie right now (would love it if someone could tell me), but a guy says, “There’s a double meaning in that.”  Feels like it’s an older movie if that helps.  Thanks!  ETA.  Got it.  Kenneth Branagh in Much Ado about Nothing. *pumps fist*

But really, is there anything better than Christmas at the inn?  Just throwing this out there, but Christmas began in an inn—or rather the lack of one.  One could argue that as an extension of the inn, the first Christmas did occur there. You know, on inn property and all that.  I don’t know if Liz Johnson did that deliberately or not, but I just loved the tie-in with the original Christmas love story—God coming to earth as a man to save man from the mess we’d made of His earth and creation. In other words, His love for us.

And then there’s Prince Edward Island.  The little town of Rustico.  Am I the only one who hears that name, Rustico, in Colleen Dewhurst’s voice?

What could be better than Christmas after a snowstorm?  It might be a chance to be alone and make Christmas special with just yourself.  But making it special with the guy you’ve crushed on for years?  With the guy you think doesn’t really get that you’re not a kid anymore?  With that guy?

How about discovering that he’s not as immune as you think?  That’d be cool.  If it only happened.

Look, it’s a romance… a last chance romance.

We know it’s going to happen. The idea of it not happening—ridiculous.  But how.  How those barriers get torn down, how things get mixed up, how they get sorted again in what I’m calling a “last chance romance”—that’s the story here.

And Liz Johnson, in her usual masterful way, does it more than justice.  She creates a magical setting and characters who grab your heart, hold it captive, and only lets it go when everything is completely resolved and all the happy heart, warm fuzzies have settled into place.

Fred Savage would ask Peter Falk if it was a “kissing book.”  Columbo—I mean, Peter—would have to confess that yes, this is a kissing book.  This is one of those books that kissing aficionados will adore.  Those of us who like to skip the kisses… well… not so easy this time, I’m afraid.

Sorry. 

Ms. Johnson weaves the story so closely with those kisses, that you’re trying to skip words rather than paragraphs or pages.

But it was worth the torture.  Even for me.  Because seriously, this might be my favorite Christmas book of the year.  It combined a setting I know and love, with new characters who stole my heart, and gave me a true Christmas treat.

And it’s short enough that I can read it again.  Just like I did the last book in the series.  No joke.

Recommended for anyone who loves Christmas books, loves Liz Johnson’s story, loves a sweet romance, or even better, loves them all.  And if you’re a huge fan of kisses, well, I’m calling these, “Stick-your-head-in-a-blizzard-kisses.”  Pepper Basham will get that.

Christmas at the Red Door InnPublisher’s Synopsis:

One blizzard. Two friends. Three days to fall in love.

Lifelong islander, Brooke Kane, doesn’t know what to do with her college degree, her dreams, or her future, but she knows better than to venture far from home when there’s a storm brewing. But a promise to check on Rose’s Red Door Inn prompts Brooke to venture out. By the time she arrives at the inn, the snow is knee-deep and visibility almost non-existent. She settles in to spend a few days alone at the inn until a familiar figure appears at the door.

Pastor Chuck O’Flannigan has never felt like a bigger fool. So focused on his recent decision to leave Prince Edward Island, he’s caught unaware by the blizzard while on a walk. He can only see the inn’s red door, a promise of safety. But when he discovers that Brooke—the only woman who could tempt him to stay on the island—is also taking refuge there, he knows he’s in trouble.

With Christmas only three days away, Brooke is determined that they’ll celebrate—even if it’s just the two of them. Happy to play Scrooge to her Tiny Tim, Chuck wiles away his hours dreaming of a return to Ireland—praying that God may have plans for him there. After all, God seems to have forgotten him in North Rustico. But as Brooke brings Christmas to life, her joy makes him wonder if God may not have forgotten him. In fact, God may have big plans for both of them—if they can only survive Christmas at the Red Door Inn.

Tell me… are you a Prince Edward Island Dreams fan?  I think I should give a copy of this away, don’t you?  Leave a comment and I’ll draw a name after Bible Study tomorrow night. 🙂  It’s all written down in my planner, even.

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Comments

  1. Phyllis says

    December 5, 2018 at 8:59 am

    This sounds like a great book! I love reading your thoughts on it. 🙂 Christmas novellas are the best!!

    Reply
  2. Amelia says

    December 4, 2018 at 8:35 pm

    I loved The Red Door Inn! I’m sure I’ll love this one too!

    Reply
  3. Courtney says

    December 4, 2018 at 2:07 pm

    I loved Red Door Inn so I’m sure this one will be great, too!

    Reply
  4. Sheila says

    December 4, 2018 at 10:13 am

    I would love to read the book I don’t mind kissing books around the holidays for some reason weird right I know

    Reply
  5. Barbie D says

    December 4, 2018 at 7:42 am

    Yes, I would love to read this book! I like how in the synopsis Pastor Chuck is praying that God has plans for him in Ireland… yeah, I want to know how that works out for him!

    Reply
  6. Heather says

    December 4, 2018 at 7:26 am

    Loved the last Red Door Book!

    Reply
  7. Rachel says

    December 4, 2018 at 5:21 am

    Sounds like a lovely book!

    Reply
  8. Rebekah Walker says

    December 4, 2018 at 4:52 am

    I’ve not read this series, but it certainly sounds like my kind of reading for those quiet, down times between work and homeschooling. I can’t wait to pick this up!! Thanks for sharing about it. ?

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      December 4, 2018 at 5:05 am

      I think you could read it, out of order, and not get any more spoilers than you’d find on the backs of the other books in the series. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Kristy Herring says

    December 4, 2018 at 4:12 am

    I thought “kissing book,” too!!! It fairly sizzles compared to what I usually read but I did really enjoy the story. I was hooked from the first page.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      December 4, 2018 at 4:23 am

      Right?

      Reply

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Episode 155: Chatting with Heather Day Gilbert & Jen Cudmore
byChautona Havig

To Love a Viking by Heather Day Gilbert and Jen Cudmore has been released, and I got to chat with them about it last week. Guys, this series!  If the Christian influence on Viking history isn’t enough, what about adventure, fight scenes, and romance that won’t make you blush? How about that a damsel is in distress and… gets rescued by another woman instead of the stereotypical DUDE! Listen in!

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

Are You Ready for an Exciting New Viking Series from 2 Great Authors?

 

One of the biggest surprises I recall from researching books by different authors was that the cozy mystery and suspense author I liked and respected, Heather Day Gilbert, had also written historical Viking books! I made the erroneous assumption that they were romance and skipped them (for the time being… I knew I’d read them some day), and then something happened.

A few months ago, I saw this cover.  With Heather’s name on it.  And some other gal I hadn’t heard of–Jen Cudmore.  What is this deliciousness?  The cover was AMAZING… not stereotypical nor was it inauthentic.  It was just GOOD (not to mention gorgeous) and with the Celtic frame (the Vikings did go over to Scotland/Ireland after all), I just felt like it hit all the sweet spots.

Well… the book is here, folks.  And I’ve got a copy in my hot little hands.  No, really. It’s July. And I live in the desert.  My hands are totally hot and in totally all the wrong ways. Just throwin’ that out there.

Anyway, Heather and Jen chatted with me about To Love a Viking, and oh my!  This book sounds fabulous. We know Viking women were strong. Even those that weren’t warriors had to survive Nordic winters. Ergo, strong.  But what about strong enough to build a new society with people they’d once fought against. Oh, and rescue a damsel in distress #BecauseYeah!

I’m ready to dive in to To Love a Viking myself, and I hope you’ll grab a copy, too. It promises to be incredible.

To Love a Viking by Heather Day Gilbert and Jen Cudmore

Get swept up in an enthralling new romance series featuring women who rule the hearts of Viking men.

ELLISIF Forced into a financially advantageous marriage that spirals into a nightmare, Ellisif cannot help but imagine what might have been and ache for what was lost. The only lights in her life are her daughters and the friendships she’s forged with the household servants.

Though seven years have passed since Ellisif wed another man, Dagar still cannot forget the woman who captured his youthful heart. As the Viking warrior battles for his country’s future, he finds himself entangled in a personal war for Ellisif’s freedom that could cost his family their reputation and standing with the king. If he risks all, can he save the woman whose face still haunts his dreams? And if given another chance, will she choose him?

INARA Escaped slave Inara is determined to start a new life. Under the guidance of warrior and shipbuilder Håkon, her sword skill grows, as does her confidence that the Viking men will accept her as a warrior in her own right.

When she is selected to lead a perilous rescue mission to protect Ellisif, Inara finds herself blindsided by feelings for Håkon…and by threats to her freedom far closer than she feared. As dreams and desires collide, she wrestles against the lies holding her captive. Can she conquer her doubts before all that she’s hoped for slips from her hands?

Written by award-winning historical author Heather Day Gilbert and fresh voice Jen Cudmore, two love stories entwine in this sweeping Viking-era romance, the first novel in the Tavland Vikings series.

You can find out more about the series and the authors on Heather’s WEBSITE.

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Episode 155: Chatting with Heather Day Gilbert & Jen Cudmore
Episode 155: Chatting with Heather Day Gilbert & Jen Cudmore
July 1, 2022
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June 28, 2022
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June 21, 2022
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June 14, 2022
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Episode 151: A Chat with Christian Romance Author, Carrie Padgett
June 10, 2022
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Episode 150: A Chat with Mystery/Thriller Author, Steven C Harms
June 7, 2022
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Episode 149: A Chat with Jennifer Sienes about Night Songs (and more!)
June 3, 2022
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May 31, 2022
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May 24, 2022
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