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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 145: A Chat with Debut Women's Fiction Author, Sara Brunsvold
byChautona Havig

Debut Author, Sara Brunsvold, is bursting on the Christian Women’s fiction scene with an amazing book, The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. With characters who have captivated my heart from page one (and enough quirkiness to keep my attention to the last), Sara Brunsvold is sure to become a favorite author, and this book is already on my top five of the year before it’s even released!

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

This Novel Isn’t Even Available Yet, and It’s in My Top 5!

If you’d told me that I’d fall so in love with two chapters of a book that it would push that book into my top five of the year so far, well… I’d have laughed.

The joke’s on me because it happened with Sara Brunsvold’s The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. This debut women’s fiction novel has a bit of a split-time element and is set in Kansas City. Trust me when I say that meeting Clara was one of the most fun introductions to a character I’ve ever had. I just love this woman, and I’m drumming my fingers to get to read more about her.  Not surprising considering it won the ACFW Genesis’s award a couple of years back. 😀

Sara says her passion is intergenerational stories, and you definitely get this with Aidyn and her “assignment,” Mrs. Kipp.  But you also get inter-cultural and ideological influences in this book as well.

And then there’s that next book she has coming out.  You know, the one about a gal cooking her way through her grandma’s German cookbook?  Yeah.  The one we have to wait until early 2024 for?  Yeah. That one.  Sigh.

When Sara told us about her favorite authors, a lot of things made sense.  Just sayin’. Find out which of Katherine Reay’s books are her favorites and how she fangirled over Reay’s response to an email (and why you should email your favorite author!).

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold

Aidyn Kelley is talented, ambitious, and ready for a more serious assignment than the fluff pieces she’s been getting as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. In her eagerness, she pushes too hard, earning herself the menial task of writing an obituary for an unremarkable woman who’s just entered hospice care.

But there’s more to Clara Kip than meets the eye. The spirited septuagenarian may be dying, but she’s not quite ready to cash it in yet. Never one to shy away from an assignment herself, she can see that God brought the young reporter into her life for a reason. And if it’s a story Aidyn Kelley wants, that’s just what Mrs. Kip will give her–but she’s going to have to work for it.

Debut author Sara Brunsvold delights with this emotional multigenerational story that shows that the very best life is made up of thousands of little deaths to self. You’ll want to be just like Mrs. Kip when you grow up!

This book is 40% off with free shipping from Baker Book House. That’s less than the Kindle version if you like paper!

You can learn more about Sara at her WEBSITE (and sign up for that newsletter so you can get Mrs.Kip’s 8 Rules to Live By). Oh, and if she does those videos of her cooking through that book, you’ll want to know when/where to find them.

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Episode 145: A Chat with Debut Women's Fiction Author, Sara Brunsvold
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