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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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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 448: A Chat with Nancy Naigle
byChautona Havig

 I fell in love with Nancy’s writing with The Shell Collector. Imagine my joy when I discovered she has a SEQUEL! Eeep! Listen in and discover which characters you’ll find in To Light the Way Forward and what’s coming next for one of America’s favorite authors!

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

It’s been three years since Nancy and I had a chance to talk, and in that time, she’s been BUSY.  So in addition to falling in love with her character, Tug, and wanting to give him his own story, she’s written a small-town duet (and maybe we talked her into a third?) as well as a romcom duo!  Think we can talk her into a third of that series as well?  Because… SPOILER ALERT… we’re getting a third Shell Collector Series book, too! EEEP!

To Light the Way Forward by Nancy Naigle

A novel of overcoming deep loss, taking risks, and learning that life—and love—often surprises you when you least expect it, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Shell Collector. “Bringing to life characters you can’t help but fall in love with, Nancy Naigle goes straight to the heart with this story of tragedy turned to triumph. A poignant reminder to never give up hope.”—Sheila Roberts, author of The Best Life Book Club Feeling adrift after the loss of her husband, Rosemary sets out to visit an old friend on Whelk’s Island, undeterred by the threat of a hurricane. Before the storm hits, she finds herself at Tug’s Diner where she quickly connects with the owner, Tug. But the storm destroys the diner, compounding Tug’s grief from losing his love the previous year. The longer Rosemary stays, the more she sees Tug’s deep sadness and resolves to help him. Together with Tug and friends Amanda and Paul, they all pitch in to help the close-knit community recover and rebuild. As Amanda and Paul reconnect after losing touch during the storm, their plans to take things slow seem increasingly impractical. While Rosemary and Tug help the young couple navigate their relationship, they also find themselves building a friendship that begins to restore them both. But can that friendship convince them that love is possible for anyone who’s willing to take a risk—even those who never hoped they’d find it again?

Learn more about Nancy on her WEBSITEand follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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Episode 448: A Chat with Nancy Naigle
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