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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Could You Still Trust God if You Were Sold to the Highest Bidder?

by Chautona Havig · 7 Comments

Every Star in the Sky will rip your heart out, stomp on it, and leave it shattered in pieces that only the Lord can heal. And He does. via @chautonahavig

I remember the horror I felt the day I discovered that some women sold their bodies to survive, but that was next to nothing compared to the day I learned that some were sold, literal modern-day slaves. If I recall correctly, I vomited. It’s kind of a reasonable response, you know?

Some authors have the strength to tackle tough topics like this.  Authors like Kathi Macias, Francine Rivers, Melody Carlson, and a new-to-me author who I also call friend, Sara Davison with her recent release of Every Star in the Sky.

Every Star in the Sky

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

Could You Still Trust God if You Were Sold to the Highest Bidder?

Where, oh where do I begin?

Sara Davison should probably get a medal for tackling the topic of human trafficking with such unbelievable skill. Seriously, not once did she hide the ugliness that these girls went through, but at the same time, she didn’t throw so much detail out that the reader feels violated as well. It’s a very delicate and difficult balance, and even if the story wasn’t good, that fact alone would have earned her four stars all by itself.

But the story is better than good. The characters have genuine growth arcs that don’t feel too rushed or too convenient. Each character has things to overcome, sure, but even growth comes at a price sometimes…

just as it should.

One of my favorite elements of the story is how Sara Davison weaves faith into each aspect. Sometimes it blends into the background so smoothly you have to look for it. Other times it’s a focal piece, and still others it becomes something in between. Beautifully done.

Though I can’t say much without giving away spoilers, the suspense elements in this book are unexpected and brilliant. I sat on the edge of my metaphorical seat (and sometimes literally) waiting for certain things to happen. How and when and where… perfect. Davison knows exactly when to do things to give them their greatest impact–not just the “thing” but also to illustrate a point and never once making the reader feel like she said, “See what I did there?” No, Davison trusts the reader to be smart enough to figure it out for herself. Thank you.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am part of the Mosaic collection and was given a copy of this book to review. Those who know me know that I say what I think regardless of who gives me what, but I wanted to be transparent about that.

Recommended for lovers of romantic suspense, for lovers of strong, faith-filled books, and for someone wanting a picture of what it might be like for women trapped in these horrible lives. Not recommended for sensitive readers who may not handle the gritty reality that human trafficking isn’t just morally repugnant, it’s brutal, too.

Doctrinal note: For those bothered by it, this book does contain a woman as a pastor. It’s a minor role in the scheme of the story (mentioned only a couple of times).

Every Star in the Sky by Sara DavisonEvery Star in the Sky by Sara Davison

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: March 2, 2022

She is willing to testify against her trafficker.
If she can stay alive that long.

“You’re safe here, Starr.”

How many times has Detective Cole Blacksky said that to her since helping her escape the life she’d been forced into eight years earlier?

Starr desperately wants to believe him, but she knows Brady Erickson, her former captor, too well. Although Cole has promised her protective custody on his family’s remote ranch, no place on earth is safe enough. Brady will stop at nothing to permanently silence her before she ever reaches the witness stand.

And he is powerful enough to do it.

If Starr wants to help the other women, she has no choice but to put herself in God’s hands. And Cole’s. But the longer she and Cole stay hidden, the more her life is at risk. And her heart.

TW: human trafficking, some violence, sexual intimacy inferred (clean and closed door)

About Sara Davison

Sara Davison is the author of four romantic suspense series—The Seven Trilogy, The Night Guardians, The Rose Tattoo Trilogy, and Two Sparrows for a Penny, as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, she is a Word, Cascade, and Carol Award winner. She currently resides in Ontario with her husband Michael and their three mostly grown kids. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason. Get to know Sara better at www.saradavison.org and @sarajdavison.

Sara, tell us more!

A lot of Christian authors have recently released books on the theme of human trafficking. While it feels like a trend, I think it is a great deal more than that. I truly believe that El Roi, the God who sees, is revealing His heart for these precious women (and some boys and men).

When the idea for Every Star in the Sky came to me, I was in the middle of writing another book. I tried to shelve the new idea to work on when I finished my current project, but it refused to wait its turn. I had to set what I was working on aside and write Starr’s story out in its entirety before I was able to return to the original project.

This was a powerful lesson to me that it is God who is laying these stories on authors’ hearts, asking them to put names and faces—even fictional ones—to these beautiful, hurting, traumatized souls in order to bring them to the forefront of readers’ attention.

These stories are not only for entertainment. They are a call to action. After reading them and thereby gaining a deeper understanding of this heinous practice that exists and is prevalent in every corner of the world, including North America, readers may then feel compelled to do more. Our primary responsibility as believers is to pray. Pray that these modern-day slaves will be freed. That they will find healing in Jesus Christ and hope for their future.

And that all those perpetrating this evil will be brought to justice.

While continuing to pray, some may also want to look into organizations that help those caught up in the sex trade to escape and begin a new life. I mention a couple of these organizations in my letter to readers at the end of Every Star in the Sky, but there are many others that are working—often at risk to staff or volunteers—to free involuntary sex workers and to support them in their journey of healing. Donating money or becoming involved in these organizations in other ways is a powerful response to God’s call to remember and to fight for these women and men that He loves.

My hope and prayer for this book and all others written on this topic is that God will use them as He sees fit to help accomplish these objectives. And that readers will not only be drawn to pray for the victims of trafficking but will also be reminded that the God who placed every star in the sky and knows each of them by name knows their names too.

The theme of the two sparrows for a penny series is the same as it is for all my books—that we are never alone. God has promised that He will not leave us or forsake us, whatever we are going through. May you be reminded and deeply impacted by that as you read Every Star in the Sky and as you pray for all victims of human trafficking, that they will experience the truth of that promise for themselves.

Every Star in the Sky Banner

Additional Blog Stops

March 2­

Cardinal Bluff

Angela D. Meyer

March 3

The Adventures of a Traveler’s Wife

Brenda Anderson Books

March 4

Daysong Reflections

March 5

Library Lady’s Kid Lit

Candace West

March 6

Batya’s Bits

March 7

Milla Holt

March 8

Chautona Havig

Johnnie Alexander

Connect with Sara Davison

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub | Subscribe

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Comments

  1. Lilly says

    March 11, 2022 at 9:13 pm

    This is beautiful and curious, lately I have been concerned about a trend in the secular market of novels called Dark Romance that deal with love stories between women victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse and their kidnapper/rapist/abuser and these things are romanticized. And of course without Jesus there can be no real arc of redemption for these criminals (hard to believe sometimes but grace is for everyone). I was wondering what Christian writers would make of this trend in the secular market to talk about more and more dark, depraved and wicked things when Christian fiction tends to want to steer clear of that. This is a beautiful way to respond.

    Reply
  2. Marie Edwards says

    March 8, 2022 at 8:42 pm

    Such a difficult subject that she tackles, but it needs to be done.

    Reply
  3. Marisela Zuniga says

    March 8, 2022 at 7:01 pm

    This sounds like a great book

    Reply
  4. Priscila says

    March 8, 2022 at 6:32 pm

    Great review! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  5. Amelia says

    March 8, 2022 at 12:36 pm

    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  6. Sara Davison says

    March 8, 2022 at 10:28 am

    Thank you so much for this incredible review, Chautona – it moved me deeply. And thank you to everyone who stopped by on The Novel Way tour!

    Reply
  7. Barb F says

    March 8, 2022 at 9:00 am

    Hi Chautona,I am currently reading the Lynette Eason series Blue Justice, & the second book is about human trafficking. It is unbelievable to me the sickness of some people’s minds to do the the things they do to each other.
    Take care & God Bless.

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
byChautona Havig

Nothing says fairy tale like a sweet western romance by an author like Karen Witemeyer… unless it’s a fairytale retelling set in Texas in the late 19th century, right?  Fairest of Heart takes the familiar “Snow White” and turns it on its head with retired cowboys, a self-absorbed actress, a Texas Ranger, and a sweet girl who knows the true Source of her beauty.  Listen in to see all the genius Easter eggs Witemeyer planted in this book.

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

Sometimes All a Girl Needs Is a True Change of Heart

I fell in love with the cover of Karen Witemeyer’s Head Over Heels a few years back (only to learn it’s much older than that, even), and meant to read that book.  I didn’t.  #BecauseIdiot. Well, that’ll be rectified just as soon as I’m done listening to her first book in a trilogy of fairytale retellings. I loaded it up on my Audible app tonight and wheeeeeeee. Here I go! So much for no new books until October. HA! 

Karen talks about her heart for young women today and how they’re taught by every bit of media blasting at them that they need to use their bodies to get what they need or want when the Lord has a better plan. And I can’t guarantee it, but I strongly suspect she does it without preaching. SQUEE!

Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer

Once upon a time in Texas . . .

Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the West, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters–and her jealous mistress plotting her demise.

After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas Ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from women and is rarely disappointed. So when a young lady found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather’s ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her.

With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus is assigned to investigate a robbery case tied to Penelope’s acting troupe, and all evidence points to Penelope’s guilt. But Titus might just be convinced that the fairest woman of all has a heart as pure as her last name . . . if only he can prove it.

You can learn more about Karen Witemeyer and her books on her WEBSITE. Don’t forget the book is 30% off on BakerBookHouse.com.  

Follow Karen on BookBub and GoodReads.

And don’t forget her Posse Group on Facebook.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
September 29, 2023
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Episode 264: A Chat with Romance Author, Sarah Monzon
September 26, 2023
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Episode 263: A Chat about The Love Script w/ Toni Shiloh
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Episode 262: Chatting about The Legacy of Longdale Manor with Carrie Turansky
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Episode 261: Chatting with Christian Youth Fiction Author, Candice Yamnitz
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Episode 260: A Chat with Rachel Hauck
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Episode 259: A Chat with Debut Author, Laura Conaway
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