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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Do You Know What I Know: a book review

by Chautona Havig · 19 Comments

Do you?  Do you know what I know?  I know about a great Christmas read that I can’t wait to share with you.  That’s what I know.

Becky Melby, author of quite a few books, including the “Lost Sanctuary” series, has come out with a Christmas novella that will make you want to curl up with a quilt and a mug of hot chocolate and read straight through.  No joke.  Really.  I meant to read just a bit to get a feel for the tone of the book and sank back in that “after book glow” just a couple hours later. So I was supposed to be writing.  Who cares?  Sometimes you need a book, and this book was “just the write escape” for me!

Do you know what I know Melby review

(Links in this post may be affiliate links and will provide me a tiny commission at no extra cost for you.)

My “Quick and Easy” Review:

If you recall, a couple of months ago I wrote a blog post about how to write a super-easy review when you’re in a rush.  Well, I’m racing through NaNoWriMo and need that super-fast review option! So I’m going to give an example here for you.  To read that post (and maybe encourage you to give your favorite author a review today), go HERE.

Do You Know What I Know?:

Do You Know what I know - melbyI loved everything about this book, but I think what I loved most was how perfectly the author managed a complicated plot in such a short book. Because I became so quickly invested in the characters, I found myself hating the pain simple misunderstandings and mix-ups caused them, but that’s what makes a story great, right?

Melby’s Do You Know What I Know isn’t a comedy, by any stretch, but seriously, who wouldn’t laugh at a chicken in church?  Think “Mississippi Squirrel Revival” meets Milwaukee!  And because I’m kind of a heartless creature, so I didn’t cry. But I guarantee you I would have cried for Elizabeth when she thought things were all wrong in her marriage. Don’t blame the author.  I just don’t cry.

All in all, Do You Know What I Know was a delightful read that I recommend.  Those with convictions against surrogacy and/or IVF may have a problem with one of the subplots, but it was quite tastefully done and gave an alternate perspective on something I’ve never been comfortable with.

So….

Have you read anything by Becky Melby?  If you haven’t, I think Do You Know What I Know is a great introductory book.

*giveaway ended. Congrats, Susan E.*

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Previous Post: « NaNo’s Raven Is Rapping:
Next Post: Do You Know What I Know? I know the winner! »

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Comments

  1. Lori D says

    November 4, 2016 at 5:49 pm

    I haven’t read it and would love to!!!

    Reply
  2. Andrea Stephens says

    November 4, 2016 at 12:23 pm

    I believe I’ve only read one of Becky’s books a long time ago. “Parting Secrets” is in my “books I’ve read” folder on my Kindle.
    Thanks for doing a giveaway. I’d love a chance to win this book.

    Reply
  3. MS Barb says

    November 4, 2016 at 9:25 am

    I haven’t read anything by Becky Melby, YET…but I WILL put this book on my Book request list for the next County Bookmobile visit! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Andrea Rossignol says

    November 4, 2016 at 8:48 am

    I haven’t read anything by her, but I would like to!

    Reply
  5. Sarah says

    November 4, 2016 at 7:01 am

    Never heard of her. I’ll have to check her books out.

    Reply
  6. Sarah K says

    November 3, 2016 at 11:42 pm

    Becky is a new author to me. Guess I need to do some research. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Emma Filbrun says

    November 3, 2016 at 10:25 pm

    Never heard of her. Sounds interesting.

    Reply
  8. Kathy says

    November 3, 2016 at 8:18 pm

    I have NOT read anything by this author yet, but if you say you love it, then I hope to win it or check it out soon.

    Reply
  9. Dacia says

    November 3, 2016 at 7:47 pm

    This is a new author to me, so hopefully I’ll win this book and if not I’ll be searching Amazon for her books on sale. =)

    Reply
  10. Lucinda says

    November 3, 2016 at 7:44 pm

    Not yet but I hope to win this so I can change my answer to yes?!

    Reply
  11. Melissa says

    November 3, 2016 at 7:17 pm

    I have not read any of her books but since I like to pack as many wintery books as I can into December, this sounds like a good one to start with!

    Reply
  12. Marleen Viola says

    November 3, 2016 at 6:58 pm

    No, but I will definitely look for this one!

    Reply
  13. Connie Tillman says

    November 3, 2016 at 6:56 pm

    I have not read anything by her. This looks like a good read.

    Reply
  14. Michelle Stewart says

    November 3, 2016 at 6:34 pm

    No I haven’t but you certainly have me intrigued! lol

    Reply
  15. Tina at Mommynificent says

    November 3, 2016 at 5:55 pm

    I’ve heard of her and might even have one of her books in my TBR pile but haven’t read any yet. Thanks for bumping her up on the list!

    Reply
  16. Alexandra says

    November 3, 2016 at 5:14 pm

    No, I haven’t, but I trust your judgment and thank you for the review – I will wait to see if I won the book 🙂 and, if not, will have to get it myself.

    Reply
  17. Sue Snyder says

    November 3, 2016 at 5:06 pm

    No I had never heard of her.

    Reply
  18. Susan (DE) says

    November 3, 2016 at 4:22 pm

    Well, I think the question above was, have I ever read anything by Becky Melby. No. I have not. 🙂

    Reply
  19. Colleen says

    November 3, 2016 at 4:13 pm

    Not yet! I have been intrigued with this story idea since I first saw it on Amazon!

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 162: A Chat with Author, Nancy Naigle
byChautona Havig

Hey, we’re back after a couple of weeks of vacation, and boy did I need it. And, have I got a fabulous interview for you. Nancy Naigle and I talked about her books, her most recent release, What Remains True as well as her Christmas books and the one I’m most anxious to read, The Shell Collector. Listen in and learn about what Nancy says about this bet she has going on in What Remains True. Great stuff!

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

Need a Great Romantic Read to Wind Up Your Summer Reads?

As I said in the podcast, a while back, someone told me I’d LOVE The Shell Collector–one of those people who recommends books you HAVE to read if they say you do.  So I bought it and it’s been sitting on my shelf ever since. Well, now it’s on my GoodReads shelf, and I’m about to start it (and I optimistically thought I’d be done with it by the time this episode released. Oh, me of too much faith in myself and my time management!)

Author of over thirty books, not to mention a bestselling author who also has movies made of her novels (And The Shell Collector has been optioned! EEEP!), Nancy loves to write Christmas books and small-town stories. Seriously, as we talked, I felt like she was talking about me half the time. We’re so very alike in so many ways. It was fun.

Nancy also pointed out that her first books (if you go WAY back) are not Christian fiction and are a bit spicier than she prefers to write and definitely more than she writes today. So be warned there, but she did assure us that they are all closed-door books.

What Remains True by Nancy Naigle

One woman wants to win a bet. One man wants to become a rodeo champion. One little girl may give them both something even better—from USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle.

“A commitment-phobic rodeo star and a divorcée with secrets find love in this wholesome romance. . . . As uplifting as it is sweet.”—Publishers Weekly

Working at a little shop on Main Street in a small town is exactly the break that executive Merry Anna Foster needs following her divorce. She’s made a bet with her ex-husband that she can live on the amount of money she’s giving him in alimony. If she can do it, then Kevin will have to stop complaining and leave her alone. But after three months of this new life, will she even want to leave Antler Creek?

Adam Locklear, bull rider and owner of the local feedstore, is having the best year of his rodeo career. He’s also a bit distracted by the pretty new neighbor living in his old bunkhouse. But Adam has no time for matters of the heart. He’s got his future all mapped out, and that future doesn’t involve a woman just yet. It doesn’t involve parenting a little girl either. However, Carly Fowler still suddenly leaves five-year-old Zan—the daughter Adam didn’t know he had—in his care.

Is it possible that the future holds a life even better than what Merry Anna and Adam had each dreamed of? One that includes both tenderness and even love—not just for each other but for Zan too?

You can learn more about Nancy’s books and movies on her WEBSITE.

Oh, and PSST… I’m loving the audiobook of this one!

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Episode 162: A Chat with Author, Nancy Naigle
Episode 162: A Chat with Author, Nancy Naigle
August 9, 2022
Chautona Havig
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July 26, 2022
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July 22, 2022
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July 12, 2022
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July 8, 2022
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July 5, 2022
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Episode 154: A Chat with Romantic Suspense Author, Sami A. Abrams
June 28, 2022
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Episode 153: A Chat with Historical Author, Tracie Peterson
June 21, 2022
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