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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

5 Reasons to Hire This Guy Next Time You Need a Bodyguard

by Chautona Havig · 2 Comments

He wore a Stetson. Boots. Jeans. And plaid. He had a mustache some years and a beard, others. And a twang. His voice had that distinct Okie twang that always reads “home” to me.

My Uncle Gene. A short man. Wiry. I always pictured Marty Robbins’ “Mr. Shorty” as being like Uncle Gene. And when I put Shorty in one of my books, I made him look like a young version of the man who first let me sing with him. Even when I probably sounded horrible.

I never doubted that Uncle Gene loved me. Pest that I was.

He wrote songs—lots of them. He wrote about his first wife, the grief of their failing marriage, of his love for his second wife—for his son. For the daughters he inherited when he married their mother. Oh, how he loved his kids and grandkids. How he loved my Aunt Leta.

I never hear “Thank you for being you” without Uncle Gene’s voice in my head—singing it. “…thank you for just being you.”

He was a cowboy—a real one. One who had a bull that took one look at me from fifty feet away and broke through the fence to get away.

I was an intimidating child. What can I say?

But when I say he was a real cowboy, I don’t joke. People who grow up around ranchers and farmers know the difference between a city boy with “cowboy boots” and a cowboy. Uncle Gene was the real deal.

I’d forgotten about the distinction until I asked to review Cowboy Bodyguard. Then I wondered. Would this cowboy be real? Authentic? Would I roll my eyes?

Gonna tell the truth. I almost asked if I could back out. But I didn’t. And I think I’m glad.

5 Reasons To Hire This Guy Next Time You Need a Bodyguard

Note: May contain affiliate links. That means if you click something, I might get a small commission, but no worries!  It won’t cost you anything extra!  I also requested a review copy of this book from Celebrate Lit.  Opinions didn’t come with it.  They’re all mine. 😉

5 Reasons to Hire This Guy Next Time You Need a Bodyguard

Let’s start with our cowboy’s name. Jack. Best cowboy name ever in my book. She got points for that right off the back. My family, on the other hand, is probably sick of me singing the ballad about “Cowboy Jack.” Tuff.

But I promised five reasons to hire Jack, and well, my mom taught me to keep my word. So here goes:

First: Genuine, selfless love for people.

Jack may have balked a time or twenty, but he always gave up self to protect others—those he loved and those who needed love.

Second: Loyalty.

Of all the things that I admire about him, I think Jack’s loyalty may top it—even more than #5. After all, we kind of expect that one in Christian Fiction. But time, pain, and hardship can’t break his loyalty to those he loves—despite every effort to try.

Third: Forgiveness.

One of the most beautiful things about Jack is that despite the pain he endures, he has learned that lesson of forgiveness from the Lord and learned it well.

Fourth: Tenderness and strength.

Just call him the “Timex Cowboy.” Dude, this guy, no matter what happens, bounces back. Beat him, shoot at him, send him through the fiery furnace, and he’ll come out almost unscathed, while holding the baby close and keeping her from being afraid. Almost. Seriously.

Fifth: Faith.

Jack knows Who is in charge, Who he belongs to. Who to turn to when trouble surfaces. And since this book is full of trouble, that’s a good thing. It’s something Shannon could learn. I suspect she will, too.

Did I like the book?

Yes and no. There was a lot I did like about it. Jack’s character had that lovely blend of utterly human and worthy of being a hero all wrapped in one. He was a character I could follow and believe.

Okay, occasionally the cowboy idioms became cliched, but I could overlook that. After all, cowboys are a bit larger than life, you know.

But a few things bothered me. Shannon’s “big lie” about herself that she believes.

All characters have one (or most good ones do, anyway). And frankly, hers is a good one. But I felt like I was just told about it every now and then—just in case I forgot—rather than seeing it play out on the page.

And a few things jarred—mostly regarding their impending divorce. I found myself wanting to shake the screen and say, “The day you file for divorce is not the day your marriage is legally over. Stop counting down to filing day as if it’s the end.”

The faith aspect, for the most part, I found rather refreshing. It was one of the strongest I’ve ever seen in a “Love Inspired” anything. I want to give the author huge kudos for that. But I have to take issue with one statement. At one point, Jack assures Shannon that God was a part of her life-saving measures in her past. He says, “Your skill plus His will—it takes both.”

Um… it takes His will. Period. He may use her skill to accomplish His will, but God certainly doesn’t need it.

And being the semantical stickler I can be about things like that, I had to note it.

Still, it was an interesting book and I think readers of Love Inspired Suspense will find it a fresh take in that respect. If you like unusual situations handled with a relatively realistic focus and a reasonable romance, I think you’ll enjoy it.

If you like cowboys, well… there might be a hint here and there that dances over the stereotype line, but really… she got enough right that I suspect it’s just that I’m used to the cowboy commoners vs. the “gentry” so to speak. Nothing screamed “New York City cowboy to me. That was a blessed relief right there.

Cowboy Bodyguard About the Book

Title: Cowboy Bodyguard

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Western, Mystery

Release Date: July 3, 2018

In this Gold Country Cowboys novel, Jack Thorn gets a surprise call from the woman he married in secret years ago. Shannon Livingston needs his protection for herself and the baby she’s hiding from a biker gang targeting the mother. Now Jack must help Shannon, even if shielding her means pretending to be a true husband to the only woman he’s ever loved.

 

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Comments

  1. James Robert says

    July 14, 2018 at 8:47 am

    Thanks for hosting this great, fun tour and letting us find out about terrific books to read. Thanks also for the great giveaway.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      July 14, 2018 at 3:00 pm

      It’s a lot of fun. Not the best book I’ve ever read, but I liked it for the most part. 🙂

      Reply

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Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 164: A Chat with Christian Fantasy Author, Ernest Yip
byChautona Havig

When I talked to Ernest Yip last month, I was crazy excited to learn about his fantasy novel, The Shattered King, an allegory about the attributes of God. Ernest talks about his inspiration, how he got started, and what’s coming next for us. I loved hearing more about the story and my copy is on its way to me now. EEEP! Listen in to learn more.

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

Experience the Attributes of God in a Whole New Way

In the tradition of Pilgrim’s Progress or the parables of Jesus, Ernest Yip brings us a story that introduces to a King like no other through the various attributes our main character meets through out the book. I love a good allegory, and listening to Ernest talk about his book had me choming at the bit to get started.

Though written for teens, The Shattered King is sure to appeal to anyone who loves fantasy and adventure. I especially love how it is a great introduction to who God is without being a heavy or preachy tome of apologetics. Instead, we’re taken on an adventure to discover it all for ourselves.

I can’t wait to see what Yip does next!

The Shattered King by Ernest Yip

Finding his way home means finding something else first—someone else.

When a dark force shatters the benevolent and mighty king Eloa, the land of Astrea lies broken and dying. Though Eloa lives, he is a shadow of his true self, unable to restore his kingdom unless he is reunited with the living Fragments of his being and made whole again.

Catapulted into this unfamiliar world and gifted with a magical sword, teenager Jax faces the ultimate test—finding the lost Fragments of Eloa. Only by fulfilling this quest will he be able to return home. But there are new forces in power, forces that will do whatever it takes to thwart Jax’s efforts and defeat Eloa.

But Jax will soon find that Eloa is no ordinary king, and neither are his Fragments—

A creator of living stone beings A father of orphans in a storm-filled land A desert warrior of limitless power

And they aren’t the only ones out there…

Encounter the Fragments of The Shattered King, a tale of danger and discovery that explores timeless truths about the world we live in, where justice and mercy are sometimes the most powerful weapons.

You can find out more about Ernest from his WEBSITE.

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