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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Will This Book Be a Direct Threat to Your Weekend?

by Chautona Havig · 8 Comments

We all love a good book that holds us fast and won't let us go, right? Well, Direct Threat has that potential. It all depends on a few things... via @chautonahavig

You’ve got a TBR pile the size of Mt. Everest or at least Mt. Whitney (for those of us in the continental US).  It’s threatening to turn you into that Facebook cartoon about how the guy dies crushed by all the books on his nightstand.  But, some sicko who does not understand the value of losing yourself in four or five books over a couple of days says, “Pick one.  Only one.”

I don’t know about you, but if that happens to me, I want a book that will hold me hostage and keep me riveted to every word on every page.

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

Will This Book Be a Direct Threat to Your Weekend?

Maaaybeee…

Here’s the thing.  This book has a lot of things going for it and a few that made me frustrated.  All in all, I liked it. But first, I’ll tell you what didn’t do it for me.

Repetition. There’s a lot of it.  In fact, I suspect ten percent of the book at least could be cut without actually cutting anything. You’d never miss it.

Instant attraction. Thank goodness we didn’t get treated to “instalove” but I think the story would have been a whole lot stronger if the relationship aspect didn’t begin almost from the moment the couple meet.  After all, they’re trapped together in the same place for quite a while.  And it’s not just a preference of mine, it’s actually a problem for me in the story because how quickly things jumped in and back out and all around just didn’t ring true.  Had it had some sort of a build, the personal issues wouldn’t have felt like we were getting jerked back and forth like that.

Convenience.  Okay, this one might not be fair of me.  Here’s the thing.  The author did a good job of setting up a history of behavior that made certain events plausible–even understandable. So, kudos for not just throwing that convenience in there and letting us have to choke it down.  The problem was for me that it still was a convenience instead of a real problem followed by a real solution.  Can’t say more without giving away spoilers, but it’s a thing.

One generalized thing… they keep calling the little girl a “drama queen” but seriously, she wasn’t half as dramatic as the whole protection team.

But with all that, there were serious strengths, too.

The suspense.  Spot on.  Seriously. Tension, conflict, uncertainty.  You name it, she’s got it and it’s done well. If there had been a bit more tightening of the narrative, this would have been on par with some of my favorite suspense authors.  I kept turning the page, even when I needed to do other things instead.

The plot. The primary storyline–protecting someone from the bad guys, figuring out who the bad guys are, and getting the job done–excellent. Seriously, the author did a great job of keeping me guessing and second-guessing.  The whats and whys, the red herrings… it’s all great because you CAN figure it all out if you pay attention, but for those who like to be surprised, you won’t be slapped upside the head with every little nuance until you’ve lost the joy of the story.

The faith.  At first, this was going to be a negative.  Initially, it felt as though faith were tacked on here and there to make it “Christian.”  But then somewhere in the middle, it began weaving in, and the preachiness and awkwardness factors went away.  I’m not sure why it made a big difference, but it did.

In the end, I’m not sorry I requested and received a free review copy, and I do look forward to seeing what else this author has to offer.

Recommended for…

Readers who love clean fiction with characters who either live their faith or begin to grow in their faith will enjoy Direct Threat.  Additionally, if you enjoy suspense that follows logical storylines and don’t mind a bit of repetition, you’ll probably also enjoy the book.  Looking forward to the next. I’m curious if this is an author style or unique to this book.

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Comments

  1. Julie Waldron says

    August 9, 2020 at 7:37 am

    Thanks for sharing, this sounds like a wonderful book that would keep me busy reading.

    Reply
  2. Debbie P says

    August 8, 2020 at 12:33 pm

    This sounds like a good read and a great page turner.

    Reply
  3. James Robert says

    August 8, 2020 at 12:42 am

    Thank you for sharing your book with us. I always look forward to finding out about another great read.

    Reply
  4. Amelia says

    August 7, 2020 at 12:47 pm

    Thanks for the review! I will probably give this one a try at some point.

    Reply
  5. Rita Wray says

    August 7, 2020 at 8:30 am

    Sounds like a great book.

    Reply
  6. Linda Palmer says

    August 7, 2020 at 7:47 am

    The book sounds interesting. Christian romantic suspense is a fun genre to read.

    Reply
  7. Andrea Stoeckel says

    August 7, 2020 at 6:31 am

    Kimberly is a new author to me, this looks great

    Reply
  8. Caryl Kane says

    August 7, 2020 at 6:14 am

    Thank you for your honest review! “Direct Threat’ sounds like a page-turner.

    Reply

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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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