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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Is This Book Just the Right Escape?

by Challice Neipp · 8 Comments

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:22-25

Let’s face it. We all do it. We are confronted with the not-so-flattering reality of some fault or another and we turn a blind eye. It’s hard to hear just how messed up we are.

That’s one of the reasons I love fiction so much. 

In the pages of a book, I can see my faults played out by a character, and it shows me just where I need to change, to grow, to become.

That might feel a little contradictory when I like to say that I work to provide the “write escape” for readers, but um… it’s not.

Because, if I don’t learn something from a book I’ve invested myself in, well… I tend to get discouraged. And that lesson is often the difference between thinking a book is just “okay” or liking it. Even more, it’s the difference between liking and loving a book.

Sometimes… those lessons make things that would otherwise pull me out of a story and annoy me not matter so much. That happened last night with a book I’d requested to review.

Is This Book Just the Write EScape?

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Also, I requested a review copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

Is This Book Just The Right Escape?

Jen Turano creates magnificent characters. Her people have every strength, virtue, flaw, and weakness they should to make them believable. If I had a quibble, I’d say that sometimes her villains are just a little too perfectly evil, but seriously, I like them just the way they are regardless.

Not only that, she manages to create storylines that aren’t the same old, done a million and one times, plots that just get tied up in a different colored ribbon. Even the most unbelievable scenarios become believable when filtered through her imagination. She’s truly a gifted story-crafter.

Last night’s book, Flights of Fancy, is no exception. In fact, unlike the previous two books of hers that I’ve read, there were no dull spots that made me ache to put it down. I was captivated from beginning to end.

Yes, certain writing issues that I’ve written about in Behind the Scenes and Out of the Ordinary are still there. Many people probably wouldn’t be bothered. Others might. The redundancy in phrasing, the info dumping, the explanations… yes, they were there. I’ve decided it’s Ms. Turano’s style, and since so many people love her work, I’ll have to ignore it—just as sure as she’d probably hate my overuse of em dashes or preference for minimal kissing scenes or whatever.

Having issues that aren’t your favorite doesn’t mean a book isn’t excellent. And that’s just what I realized as I closed this book. Page by page, I felt like I was reading a four-star book.

I was wrong.

The reason I was wrong is simple. This book was a brilliant escape—both figuratively and literarily. 😉

However, that’s not the reason.

The reason this book is a five-star book for me is that I loved it—because of those lessons. Because I saw a beautiful portrait drawn of a woman who took an honest look at herself, found the picture wanting, and did something about it.

The process of becoming Izzie wasn’t overnight, preachy, or too perfect. It was real.

Yep. Flights of Fancy truly was just the right escape for this reader. Bravo, Ms. Turano.

About the Book

Flights of Fancy

Title: Flights of Fancy

Author: Jen Turano

Genre: Christian Historical Romance, Gilded Age

Release date: January 1, 2019

Publisher: Bethany House

Miss Isadora Delafield may be an heiress, but her life is far from carefree. When her mother begins pressuring her to marry an elderly and uncouth duke, she escapes from the high society world she’s always known and finds herself to be an unlikely candidate for a housekeeper position in rural Pennsylvania.

Mr. Ian MacKenzie is known for his savvy business sense and has built his reputation and fortune completely on his own merits. But when his adopted parents are in need of a new housekeeper and Isadora is thrown into his path, he’s unexpectedly charmed by her unconventional manner.

Neither Isadora nor Ian expected to find the other so intriguing, but when mysterious incidents on the farm and the truth of Isadora’s secret threaten those they love, they’ll have to set aside everything they thought they wanted for a chance at happy-ever-after.

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Comments

  1. KatsCorner says

    January 16, 2019 at 7:41 am

    Great review! And you’re writing about writing styles driving some nuts – I love Jen’s quirky writing, descriptions, explanations, etc. but your minimal kissing drive me nuts, but I still think you’re an awesome writer. I also liked that she learned lessons and did something about it. At one point I really wanted to smack Ian. I also <3 Buttercup.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      January 16, 2019 at 7:51 am

      She has wonderfully quirky writing, doesn’t she? And yes, my kisses hardly exist. I leave that to the imagination. LOL

      Reply
  2. txjessy says

    January 15, 2019 at 4:42 pm

    This is such a wonderful giveaway! ?

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      January 15, 2019 at 10:04 pm

      Isn’t it? I LOVED seeing that! I want to enter!!!

      Reply
  3. Amada (a.m.a.th.a) says

    January 15, 2019 at 4:40 pm

    FANTASTIC GIVEAWAY! 😀 CAN’T WAIT TO READ THIS ONE! 😉

    Happy Reading!
    Amada (pronounced: a.m.a.th.a)
    amada_chavezATyahooDOTcom

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      January 15, 2019 at 10:05 pm

      I really did love it.

      Reply
      • Deana Dick says

        January 16, 2019 at 7:05 am

        I love reading your reviews. You always have a beautiful way of saying things about a book that causes me to think. I loved this book and especially loved Izzy. Your reviews are so much fun to read and I wish I could write them as well as you.

        Reply
        • Chautona Havig says

          January 16, 2019 at 7:25 am

          Deanna, you write exactly what the Lord knows you need to write for the person who needs to read it. I’m always encouraged by your reviews.

          Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 263: A Chat about The Love Script w/ Toni Shiloh
byChautona Havig

I had another lovely conversation with Toni Shiloh last month. Her latest book, The Love Script released and boy does it promise to be another #BookTouchdown!  Listen in to what you’ll find in this Love in the Spotlight series and especially in The Love Script.

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

How Many Lies Does It Take to Expose the Truth That Love Brings?

Authors tell me over and over that they experience the same things I do when I’m writing. You start helping your characters work through their problems, and as you do, the Lord starts exposing your own.  He helps you understand where you need growth and helps pull weeds that try to choke out that growth.

The Love Script has a great twist of someone trying to use a lie to smooth over the gossipy ripples of false reporting (genius way to handle it, eh?) and oh the fall out.

Toni promises we’ll see some great wisdom from Lamont’s mother and some deep truths that Neveah discovers.

The Love Truth by Toni Shiloh

A Hollywood hair stylist.

Nevaeh Richards loves making those in the spotlight shine but prefers the anonymity of staying behind her stylist chair, where no one notices her. But when a photo of Nevaeh and Hollywood A-lister Lamont Booker goes viral for all the wrong reasons, her quiet life becomes the number-one trending topic.

The silver screen’s latest heartthrob.

Lamont Booker’s bold faith has gained him a platform, and the authenticity of his faith is well known . . . until the tabloids cause the world to question everything he claims to be. With his reputation on the line, he finds himself hearing out his agent’s push for a fake relationship–something he never thought he’d consider in a million years.

A love that goes off script.

With their careers at risk, Nevaeh and Lamont have to convince the world that their scripted romance is more than just an act. But when fake seems to turn into something real, can Nevaeh trust her heart in a world where nothing is ever as it seems?

You can find out more about Toni on her WEBSITE.  Follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

And don’t forget that you can get 30% off the book with free shipping at BakerBookHouse.com. And you can get You Make It Feel Like Christmas, too!

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

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Episode 263: A Chat about The Love Script w/ Toni Shiloh
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I love this book so much. And it wouldn't be an "A I love this book so much. And it wouldn't be an "Anne" story without Gilbert and Diana... meet Gage. He's not quite Gilbert, but he's got everything a Gilbert should have--including the ability to completely annoy Anne when he doesn't mean to. She's speaking to him here... barely.
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