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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Which Author Writes the Best Novellas Ever?

by Chautona Havig · 10 Comments

Deadline looming, I had one thing and one thing only on my mind.  No, it was not, “Get that book done.”  It should have been. This I admit.  Cathe Swanson is probably going to throttle me for this, but it wasn’t.

It wasn’t even, “Set up the order page” or “Tweak the cover.”

Nope.  It was, “How do I justify reading this novella?”

There’s a certain amount of irony in ignoring your own novella for another one, but is it my fault that Sarah Monzon came out with another bookish novella when I am supposed to be writing?

I don’t think so!

Bookishly Ever After by Sarah MonzonI mean, I’d already gone through this with Bookishly Ever After (link goes to my review). That was just supposed to be a quick skim so I could get more room on the bookshelf of my Kindle Unlimited account.  For another book.  That I still haven’t read.  Ahem.

Instead, I’d lost myself in a delightfully romantic tale of bookish dates and adorable characters.

So, when I saw Literarily for Keeps pop up on my Facebook feed, well.  We all know what happened.  Some poor book that I really did want to read got booted off my Kindle Unlimited shelf so fast it’s probably still spinning, and there sat Literarily for Keeps.  Looking all sweet and adorable.

I held out for a week.

Some might say that this is because I have amazing willpower.  It’s not. It’s because I was traveling for most of that time.  Just keepin’ it real, folks.

I know what you’re all thinking—asking.  You want to know if it was worth it?  Was it really worth the wrath of Cathe?  (Okay, I think I’m mixing her up with Ashley now).

Which Author Writes the Best Novellas Ever?

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

So worth it.

Literarily for Keeps is a delightful romp through that oft-written and the seldom-interesting trope of “pretend marriages.”

Look, I may be a snob about it, but it is what it is.  After watching Deanna Durbin’s, It Started with Eve, I got a little fussy about those things.  It’s too easy to make them all wrong.  But this has everything one should—an unwilling participant, what seems like a good reason (that isn’t), and the knowledge this is all wrong and isn’t going to work.

But aside from great characters, wonderful settings and description, and a predictable plot that felt fresh and unique, this book has two things going for it—two things that made it impossible to put down.

First, Ashleigh’s voice.  It’s a wonderful blend of sarcasm, raw honesty, and a little mocking self-deprecation at just the right places. While the others have their own unique voices, told in first-person (that I LIKED!  What’s with that?) Ashleigh makes you want to read her story with humorous asides spoken directly to the reader.

Second, and perhaps even more impressively… Monzon used “insta-love” to tell her story.  Oh, yeah. She did it.  Despite the whole insta-love thing.  It’s so annoying.  But not Monzon’s.  She took it, hung it upside down, shook out the junk from its pockets, and set it back up with what I imagine was a stern talking-to.

I can hear her now, “You will work.  You will fall for him, but you will not make it seem like this happens every day.  It’ll rock you to your core, do you hear me!?!?!

Apparently, Ashleigh heard and obeyed.

But that’s not all.

Monzon took this fluffy little book and added a deep sucker-punch. She took hard topics that are relevant to the church today and set them out there for us.  Almost as if to say, “Here.  Chew on them apples for a bit.”

We like to pretend that homosexuality is “out there” somewhere but never crosses our lives.  We like to think that sexual sin of any kind is absent from the church.  Monzon took this “fluffy little book” and said, “Oh, yeah?”  And with it, she called us to both compassion and Biblical truth.  She wisely reminds us that these are not mutually exclusive.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance with a heavy dollop of humor.  Knowledge of classic literature is a plus but not necessary.  Oh, and if you need a quick read, how’s this?  She offers one without it feeling rushed or incomplete.

Do I want more?  Absolutely.  Do I need more?  Nope. She created a perfect literary meal more suited to Sunday dinner than Thanksgiving.  And that’s just about perfect, no?

So, Which Author Writes the Best Novellas Ever?

Sarah Monzon.  And as for Literarily for Keeps?  Read it.  If you didn’t read Bookishly Ever After, then maybe start there.  Both are available on Kindle Unlimited.  Just sayin’.

literarily for keepsSynopsis: Literature professor Ashleigh Darmody never imagined her life would turn into a classic trope, but that’s exactly what happens when her sister Claire calls with a bizarre request–quickly find a fake husband. Backstory is a powerful thing, and Ashleigh’s has plenty of shadows, but is her past so shady that it requires an elaborate scheme to ensure Claire’s prospective father-in-law, renowned TV evangelist Ken Abrams, will give her his blessing to marry his son?

Already divorced from a man who turned out to be other than he claimed, Ashleigh now has to pretend to be blissfully married to a stranger for the next five days. But when the lines of fiction and reality blur with each tick of the clock, could a temporary deal turn into something for keeps?

For my .02 on book one in this series, Bookishly Ever After, go HERE.

For my .02 on book two in this series, Novelly Upon a Time, go HERE.

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Comments

  1. Mary says

    October 7, 2018 at 10:16 am

    Completely agree with you here. I read Bookishly Ever After and smiled through the whole thing. It is such a sweet book. Now I have to get my hands on this one…

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      October 7, 2018 at 3:01 pm

      You’ll smile all over again. 😀

      Reply
  2. realworldbiblestudy says

    October 6, 2018 at 5:00 pm

    You’re killing me. Just started my KU trial. I may justify keeping it while I’m trying to get out of debt by saying (the truth) that I don’t pay for cable. Lol.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      October 6, 2018 at 10:51 pm

      I totally get that, but I think you may find it’ll keep you from wanting to splurge on other things. Sometimes allowing tiny luxuries keeps you from feeling deprived.

      Reply
  3. Toni says

    October 5, 2018 at 3:13 pm

    I adore Sarah’s writing and especially her novellas. It’s great to see another fan!

    Reply
  4. Jessica Baker says

    October 5, 2018 at 2:00 pm

    I adore Sarah’s books and this post 🙂

    Reply
  5. Phyllis - Among the Reads says

    October 5, 2018 at 1:17 pm

    You are so spot on with your review! 🙂 Sarah Monzon’s novellas are fantastic.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      October 6, 2018 at 10:51 pm

      Seriously, she’s MASTERED the art of it. And novella writing IS an art.

      Reply
  6. Lucinda says

    October 5, 2018 at 12:50 pm

    I remember it well, as if it were yesterday, oh, wait, it WAS yesterday! The conversation went kinda like this, slightly edited…..Chautona-“I’m going nuts” Me-? C-“Because I need this book done yesterday” Me-“Can I help?” (And right there was my mistake) C-“Tell me to stop reading Literarily For Keeps (you should go do it now, it’s awesome)” Me-“blah blah blah, sample, link?” C-“you need the link. I got the link.” Me-“done, money spent” Book devoured.
    Loved it. It was such a fun read, and even though it touched on some hot button topics, it did so in a way didn’t weigh the reader down, yet completely covered it. I didn’t think it was possible, yet here’s the proof! Have mercy, I’ll probably get Bookishly Ever After next.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      October 6, 2018 at 11:00 pm

      You should buy it now. Do not go past go. Do not collect 200 other books.

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

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Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 155: Chatting with Heather Day Gilbert & Jen Cudmore
byChautona Havig

To Love a Viking by Heather Day Gilbert and Jen Cudmore has been released, and I got to chat with them about it last week. Guys, this series!  If the Christian influence on Viking history isn’t enough, what about adventure, fight scenes, and romance that won’t make you blush? How about that a damsel is in distress and… gets rescued by another woman instead of the stereotypical DUDE! Listen in!

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

Are You Ready for an Exciting New Viking Series from 2 Great Authors?

 

One of the biggest surprises I recall from researching books by different authors was that the cozy mystery and suspense author I liked and respected, Heather Day Gilbert, had also written historical Viking books! I made the erroneous assumption that they were romance and skipped them (for the time being… I knew I’d read them some day), and then something happened.

A few months ago, I saw this cover.  With Heather’s name on it.  And some other gal I hadn’t heard of–Jen Cudmore.  What is this deliciousness?  The cover was AMAZING… not stereotypical nor was it inauthentic.  It was just GOOD (not to mention gorgeous) and with the Celtic frame (the Vikings did go over to Scotland/Ireland after all), I just felt like it hit all the sweet spots.

Well… the book is here, folks.  And I’ve got a copy in my hot little hands.  No, really. It’s July. And I live in the desert.  My hands are totally hot and in totally all the wrong ways. Just throwin’ that out there.

Anyway, Heather and Jen chatted with me about To Love a Viking, and oh my!  This book sounds fabulous. We know Viking women were strong. Even those that weren’t warriors had to survive Nordic winters. Ergo, strong.  But what about strong enough to build a new society with people they’d once fought against. Oh, and rescue a damsel in distress #BecauseYeah!

I’m ready to dive in to To Love a Viking myself, and I hope you’ll grab a copy, too. It promises to be incredible.

To Love a Viking by Heather Day Gilbert and Jen Cudmore

Get swept up in an enthralling new romance series featuring women who rule the hearts of Viking men.

ELLISIF Forced into a financially advantageous marriage that spirals into a nightmare, Ellisif cannot help but imagine what might have been and ache for what was lost. The only lights in her life are her daughters and the friendships she’s forged with the household servants.

Though seven years have passed since Ellisif wed another man, Dagar still cannot forget the woman who captured his youthful heart. As the Viking warrior battles for his country’s future, he finds himself entangled in a personal war for Ellisif’s freedom that could cost his family their reputation and standing with the king. If he risks all, can he save the woman whose face still haunts his dreams? And if given another chance, will she choose him?

INARA Escaped slave Inara is determined to start a new life. Under the guidance of warrior and shipbuilder Håkon, her sword skill grows, as does her confidence that the Viking men will accept her as a warrior in her own right.

When she is selected to lead a perilous rescue mission to protect Ellisif, Inara finds herself blindsided by feelings for Håkon…and by threats to her freedom far closer than she feared. As dreams and desires collide, she wrestles against the lies holding her captive. Can she conquer her doubts before all that she’s hoped for slips from her hands?

Written by award-winning historical author Heather Day Gilbert and fresh voice Jen Cudmore, two love stories entwine in this sweeping Viking-era romance, the first novel in the Tavland Vikings series.

You can find out more about the series and the authors on Heather’s WEBSITE.

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Episode 155: Chatting with Heather Day Gilbert & Jen Cudmore
Episode 155: Chatting with Heather Day Gilbert & Jen Cudmore
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Episode 149: A Chat with Jennifer Sienes about Night Songs (and more!)
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