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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

3 Delightful Ways This Romance Made Me Swoon

by Chautona Havig · 8 Comments

Driftwood Dreams turns a delicate, delightful romance into a deep, spiritual lesson in the steadfast, tender, paitent love of the Lord. via @chautonahavig

Sometimes, waiting until the last minute to read a book is the best way to read it. Other times, it’s the worst. See, there’s always this temptation to rush through as the clock ticks closer and closer to deadlines. Sometimes, it’s also this waste of time, because as soon as the review is written, I turn around and read it again. Savor it. Revel in the words.

It’s been a hard few weeks. Mid-May, I lost four friends, one after the other in the span of three days. One of those friends has been a huge support to me over the years, and this morning, I had to delete her from my newsletter so her family wouldn’t keep getting emails to her every week. At about the same time, I learned that a woman whom I’ve loved since I was fourteen went home to Jesus this week.

To say I wasn’t in the mood to read anything was an understatement.

Still, I’d promised myself that I was going to try a book by T.I. Lowe, and since I’d requested a free review copy of Driftwood Dreams, I kind of needed to honor that commitment.

“I’ll just read fast,” I told myself.

Read fast. Sure… I chose to do it with a book steeped in Southern sweet tea and lazy, muggy summer days. Didn’t happen, as you can imagine.

Can you say frustrated? Here I’d waited until the last minute to read Driftwood Dreams and now… now I couldn’t even speed-read. I didn’t have time for a slow, leisurely read. I’ve got obligations, baby!

And what had threatened to be a frustration in needing to get something done became an unexpected delight that soothed my heart, wooed my spirit, and reminded me Who the Author of romance really is. Let’s talk about this book.

3 Delightful Ways This Romance Made Me Swoon

Note: this post likely contains affiliate links that tosses a bit of change at me whenever someone makes a purchase. No worries, those coins come from Amazon’s accounts rather than yours. (so to speak).

3 Delightful Ways This Romance Made Me Swoon

I’m not a swooner. In fact, “sap,” as I like to call it, doesn’t warm the cockles (revolting sounding thing if I’ve ever heard one) of my heart. Romantic gestures are just that—pantomime for the sake of an audience watching or reading the relationship’s genesis.

Not my thing.

This book? With this book, I swooned. With all the beauty, tenderness, reserve, and intensity of the restraint shown by Margaret Hale and John Thornton in North & South, this story festoons every page with such delicate, deliberate, and determined romance that I should have run screaming.

Instead, I slowed my reading pace, drank in every word. Every look. Each moment.

I don’t know how she did it, but T.I. Lowe made me believe in romance in the span of one, delightful, tender novel that made me love and care for the characters who lived it.

How did it make me swoon? Let me count the ways.

I swooned over August’s steadfastness.

He’s loved her since high school, and now he’s returned home to win her heart—no matter how long it takes. Despite her insecurities, her determination to go a different direction for reasons he can’t grasp, and her constant pushing back, he’s there waiting, ready, loving. Sounds like someone else I know. Or is that Someone?

I swooned over August’s tenderness.

I’ve only watched one movie or TV kiss in my entire life. Well, I watched a certain spit string in a certain horrible version of a beloved classic book about four sisters, once, but I don’t count that. In books, I skip the kissing scenes, too. They’re not my thing, (although one other book has a fun twist on them that I read most of—just keeping it honest). I don’t do kisses.

I read every line of this book. Somehow, Lowe manages to write out the tender, intimate details of that sort of private moment so that you live it with the character without feeling like you’re intruding or worse, participating in their private moment. I don’t know how she does it, but I’ll be rereading several spots to learn from her. This book. NAILED IT.

Reduced to its simplest form, I believe the tenderness that August shows, the patience, the deep love and care that waits for acceptance and encouragement—those are the things that make even kissing scenes beautiful. Again, the whole thing reminded me of the tenderness the Lord shows when He woos broken, hurting, skittish people back to His tender embrace.

I swooned over August’s patience.

By the end, August doubts his own ability to be patient, even as he waits. The entire book is the story of August waiting for Josie to yield and trust. Kind of like another Book I know of… that I love.

You know, the spiritual element in the book is rather understated, but for me, it glowed in neon lights.

“You are loved,” it says. “I will be here.  With you. I will never leave or forsake you.” If that weren’t enough, with heavenly hands cupped around your face, it whispers assurances that all will be well. “My love will never fail you. I’ll keep you close. Always,” He says.

And T.I. Lowe shows that on every page of Driftwood Dreams.

I have only one tiny complaint. At one point, Josie wishes she could let her heart lead all the time as if following one’s heart is a good thing. Scripture says otherwise. I know what the author meant, but it’s such a dangerous turn of phrase that it jerked me out of the story while I stamped down my frustration. It wasn’t enough to make me regret requesting and receiving the free review copy I got. I’ll be buying a few more of hers this weekend.

Recommended for anyone who loves romance done right. No trumped up drama, no insta-love, no ridiculous “misunderstandings.” Only life lessons and a picture of the Lord’s love for His people shown in the flawed actions of one very fine character.

About the Book

Book: Driftwood Dreams

Author: T.I. Lowe

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 1, 2020driftwood dreams

Josie Slater has allowed the circumstances anchoring her in Sunset Cove to become a life sentence. Since her mother’s death years before, she’s spent most of her waking hours helping her dad run the Driftwood Diner. As her best friends, Opal and Sophia, make their dreams come true, Josie watches her own art school aspirations drift on by. But when a French-speaking Southern gentleman from her past moves back from Europe, Josie is launched into a tizzy of what-ifs and I-sure-do-hope-sos.

August Bradford left Sunset Cove six years ago to sow some life oats and conquer his ambitious career goals. Finally ready to lay down some roots, the successful artist is back in town and determined to win Josie’s heart. When he enlists Josie’s help in the preparations for a children’s art camp, Josie finds herself unleashing her artistic side in a way she hasn’t since before her mother’s death. August hopes to convince Josie to paint a life with him, but the problem is convincing her to let go of her apprehensions and give him—and her dreams—a fair chance.

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Comments

  1. Melissa Wardwell says

    June 5, 2020 at 5:31 am

    I loved this book. Well, really, I love all her books so far….lol

    Reply
  2. James Robert says

    June 5, 2020 at 12:30 am

    I am enjoying these tours and finding all the terrific books my family is enjoying reading. Thanks for bringing them to us and keep up the good work.

    Reply
  3. Julie Waldron says

    June 4, 2020 at 3:35 pm

    I enjoyed your review, this sounds really good.

    Reply
  4. Patty says

    June 4, 2020 at 2:21 pm

    Fellow Carolina girl, I am sorry that I am just discovering T. I. Lowe. I read the first in the series and have downloaded another one of hers to read sometime soon.

    Reply
  5. Paula Shreckhise says

    June 4, 2020 at 11:26 am

    You have sold me! I won a copy if her Beach Haven. Now to squeeze it in!

    Reply
  6. Andrea Stoeckel says

    June 4, 2020 at 10:58 am

    Ms. Lowe looks vaguely like a cousin of mine. When I saw Chautona’s post on my Goodreads feed and then here, it was time to see what the deal was, and I’ve been “hooked”

    Reply
  7. T.I. Lowe says

    June 4, 2020 at 10:08 am

    Your lovely words make me want to go read this book! And I wrote it! Ha! Thank you so much for taking a chance on it in this trying time. I understand the difficulty to read right now. I truly appreciate your honesty about Josie.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      June 4, 2020 at 10:14 am

      I’ve got all your books in my Amazon cart. As soon as the family tells me that they do/don’t need anything ordered, they’ll be on their way to my house. I feel a podcast coming on. Sarah Monzon told me to read your books. She’s not steered me wrong yet. But wow. Just… thank you. I needed your book TODAY, and I truly believe the Lord held me off until this moment #becauseLove.

      Reply

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Episode 204: A Chat with Sarah Sundin about The Sound of Light
byChautona Havig

A chat with Sarah Sundin is always fun, so when I learned we’d be discussing her upcoming release, The Sound of Light, last October, I was excited. Well… we chatted, and it’s finally time to share that interview. Listen in to what the title means, where Sarah came up with it, and the delightful story that she’s got waiting for us. I’m glad this episode came out in time for me to get the 40% off and free shipping deal from Baker because I apparently didn’t order it back when we chatted!

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

How I Fell in Love With This Haunting Title

I didn’t know much about Denmark and WWII, so chatting with Sarah about The Sound of Light shed definite light (no pun intended) on the history of the Danes and how they stood up to Hitler… and got away with it (for the most part).

The Sound of Light tells the story of a physicist who meets a “slow, dull” guy who intrigues her in spite of herself. Come on… if that doesn’t grab you… Maybe the fact that this slow dude is really an Olympic rower in disguise who uses his father’s company as a front for who he is and how he helps Jews escape?  Yeah. That.

As always, Sarah Sundin has done her research and the result is a gripping story of resistance, protection, and ultimately love for God, our fellow man, and maybe… each other.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for my copy of The Sound of Light to arrive.

The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin

When the Germans march into Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt exchanges his nobility for anonymity, assuming a new identity so he can secretly row messages for the Danish Resistance across the waters to Sweden.

American physicist Dr. Else Jensen refuses to leave Copenhagen and abandon her research–her life’s dream. While printing resistance newspapers, she hears stories of the movement’s legendary Havmand–the merman–and wonders if the mysterious and silent shipyard worker living in the same boardinghouse has something to hide.

When the Occupation cracks down on the Danes, these two passionate people will discover if there is more power in speech . . . or in silence. Bestselling author of more than a dozen WWII novels, Sarah Sundin offers pens another story of ordinary people responding to extraordinary circumstances with faith, fortitude, and hope for a brighter future.

You can also grab this book from Baker Book House at 40% off with free shipping! (which is cheaper than the Kindle version!)

And you can learn more about Sarah Sundin on her WEBSITE.

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