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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 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
byChautona Havig

Fans of Lisa Phillips’ Last Chance County series are doing happy dances following the release of an exciting new spin-off series, Last Chance Fire and Rescue. Expired Return brings back a few favorite characters and kicks off another of Sunrise Publishing’s author/mentor led fiction seasons! Listen in to find out what happens when an author brings back a guy she dropped a building on a couple of books back…

 

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This new Last Chance County series promises everything we love about Lisa Phillips’ world–danger, intrigue, heart-stopping suspense, drama… you know… all the feels. But in addition to her own release, Expired Return, this series also introduces us to new authors who have been carefully vetted and selected to ensure they do justice to Lisa’s Last Chance characters. I, for one, can’t wait to check it all out.

Lisa and I chatted about what she plans for the series,Lisa hinted about a possible super-secret reveal coming soon, and I even poked her with the idea of a Last Chance Christmas.

Help me convince them on that, will ya?

But this new book… Whoa…

Expired Return by Lisa Phillips

Pepper stood up. “How dare you.” She could spit fire at him right now. She’d loved and supported Victory since the day she was born. “You know nothing about me.”

“What’s this?”

Pepper whirled around at that voice. Heart. Breaking. She loved that gruff, commanding voice more than anything else in the world.

He wore a look a lot like Aiden’s. Blank, which she knew—or hoped—had to do with protecting his heart because he still cared for her. Except he probably hated her.

Donaldson sat back in his chair. “Allen.”

Former police officer Allen Frees had both hands on the wheels of his chair. He wore a fire department uniform of slacks and a white shirt. Emblems. A badge. His life of service hadn’t ended when he landed in that chair after a building blew up over his head.

As far as she’d been able to tell, it barely slowed him down.

She’ll give everything to protect her family.

He always knew she was the one.

Veterinary tech Pepper Miller lives a quiet life in Last Chance County. She’s watching her niece until her sister shows up…if she ever does. When Victory’s father demands he take over her care, Pepper knows something has gone wrong. With a new drug in town, and her sister embroiled in a dangerous bargain, it’s up to Pepper to protect the people she loves.

Even if it costs every secret she’s ever kept.

Fire Department liaison Allen Frees lives with the injuries he sustained as a police officer in a raid gone wrong. He’s put his life back together but getting the truck crew and engine squad to succeed might be his toughest assignment yet. When Victory is nearly kidnapped at a community event, Allen steps in to help Pepper keep her niece safe. The one thing he couldn’t fix was the love he lost, but he isn’t going to let Pepper walk away this time.

No matter what walls he has to break down.

Last Chance County returns in this blazing new series from Sunrise Publishing.

Last Chance Fire and Rescue

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Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
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His sister has a solution--lots of dates. Great, heaping gobs of them. Go ahead. Be awkward. Get used to it. Then... then try with someone you really want to get to know. He's not so confident, but when a man gives his word... (Note to self: no more agreeing to Selby's plans without knowing what they are!)
Find out what happens in Random Acts (or is it Facts?) of Shyness.

This book just got a fresh makeover, thanks to the genius of @PlethoraCreative & @PerryElizabeth.
There's a link to how to find it in my bio.
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