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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

What Does My Dream Island Vacation Have to Do with a New Book?

by Chautona Havig · 3 Comments

Reclaiming Hope released yesterday, and oh, this story has so much to offer. More than just an opposites attract., it's a glimpse at hope. via @chautonahavig

“If you could visit any island in the world, which one would it be?”

I’ve had people ask me this question before. I don’t know how to answer it, frankly. Why Fiji and not Hawaii?  Why Nantucket and not Prince Edward Island?  For that matter, why Guernsey instead of Catalina?

I’ve had a dream of taking a two-week cruise to Hawaii. I figured it would be the best way to have a full cruise experience AND see the Hawaiian islands. I could make a whole book about it.  And it would be awesome.

But if someone said, “Here’s ten thousand dollars.  Go to an island for a week or two,” I can’t even begin to choose which one I’d… well, choose!

So, I’m asking you guys to choose for me.  This is what I’d want for sure.

  • A nice place to stay. Doesn’t have to be glamorous, just clean, comfortable, and with clean water. #becauseImADesertRat
  • Fun history to explore
  • Good food that is safe to eat (please no third-world places… I’m not interested in that for a “dream vacation.”
  • Not desert (I don’t need to travel to see desert, so something different.
  • Not ONLY touristy (I’m not a big “attractions” kind of gal. I like to wander, spend time alone, observe, etc. I don’t want a “nightlife” or a bunch of tour stuff. Just a chance to explore another world.

So, where am I going? And better yet…

Reclaiming Hope release

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

What Does My Dream Island Vacation Have to Do with a New Book?

Well, Carolyn Miller’s latest book in the Independence Islands Series released yesterday, and for her release, she asked us to tell her our dream island vacation.  And well… um… I don’t know, hence shamelessly using you to help me!

I think this book is my favorite of hers in the series… but only just. She has some fabulous books in here!

Reclaiming HopeReclaiming Hope by Carolyn Miller

Opposites attract—and repel. But which is more powerful?

Callie Steele might be a bit…focused on work, but despite what her employers say, she enjoys her well-ordered, productive life.

When she’s sent to meet the owners of an estate requiring post-hurricane landscaping, Callie meets their son, Kai Brody, a super-chilled pro surfer, who is as opposite from her as they come. Though initially smitten, Callie knows a relationship with Kai is a bad idea—a very bad idea.

Kai, however, can’t help but be intrigued by someone who challenges him to make something of his life again. He’s determined to pursue her, if she’ll give him half a chance.

The more time they spend together, negotiating the challenges of work, illness, and family, the more their opposing outlooks clash and connect. What do these unlikely friends really want from life? Is it best to focus on work or recreation?

As Kai and Callie seek answers from the Lord, they also must consider if such complete opposites have enough in common to make a relationship last.

Reclaiming Hope concludes the Hooper Island stories of the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

Don’t forget to read the other authors’ posts about their dream island escapes and enter their giveaways.

Carolyn Miller (Dec. 7th)
Chautona Havig (Dec. 8th) 
Melissa Wardwell (Dec 9th )
Kari Trumbo (Dec. 10th)
Rachel Skatvold (Dec. 11th)
Tabitha Bouldin (Dec. 12th)
Sandy Barela–Publisher (Dec. 13th)

And get your entry in here!

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Comments

  1. Kathleen Garley says

    December 8, 2021 at 5:25 pm

    Oahu,Hawaii. I went Abita more than 2 years ago to see my grandson and his family. Beautiful!!! So much to see. Went to a great luau and wet to the Arizona and WWII sites.

    Reply
  2. AVA says

    December 8, 2021 at 1:55 pm

    We went to Hawaii for our honeymoon. We went to three islands: Oahu, the Big Island, and Kauai. We enjoyed each one for what they were, but Kauai was probably the most relaxing and typical of what you think Hawaii is like. The best thing we did was take a helicopter ride over the islands — Big Island and Kauai. Totally worth it and would do it 1,000 times over. Visiting Pearl Harbor was sobering but I also wouldn’t have missed that. We also did a submarine ride which Robert wanted to do, but I could’ve skipped it — and not because that’s where I threw up on my new husband! (I’ll tell you the story some other time.). The Dole Plantation was fun, especially the maze. The Audobon trail thing was great, too. Just driving around and viewing everything was fun. Oddly enough, we never got in the ocean water, just a swimming pool at one of the places we stayed. Visiting various markets was fun and eating out.

    Reply
  3. Deb Jones says

    December 8, 2021 at 1:24 pm

    Since New Zealand is made up of Islands, I would suggest it. It is also a country so you are getting several benefit. I have never been there but would love to go. There are so many things to see & it definitely fits your requirements. I want to go to Hawaii too, but if I look at your requirement list there is very little about Hawaii that isn’t touristy. NZ has tourists but it isn’t their main point of income.

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episod 560: A Chat witih Melanie Dobson
byChautona Havig

No one does split-time like Melanie Dobson, and boy has she got a fabulous one for us now! Listen in to what she shares about her latest, The Lost Story of Via Belle.

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

I love hearing about authors’ research, but actually getting to see Grace Livingston Hill’s WRITING ROOM? WHAT?

The Lost Story of Via Belle by Melanie Dobson

Searching for a story to adapt for film, an aspiring screenwriter becomes captivated by a bestselling classic novel and the mysterious disappearance of the woman who wrote it.

1940. Via Belle’s sweet romance novels made readers believe in happily ever after. But Via’s reality was much more complicated. While her first husband was alive, her creativity thrived in a beautiful stone estate situated above a pristine lake and moonflower garden. After his tragic death and a whirlwind second marriage shrouded in secrets, Via vanished from public life, leaving behind a shadow of scandal . . . and her final story.

2006. Screenwriter Harper Rayne is desperate for a breakthrough, if only she can find the right story to tell. But when she digs into the life of her late mother’s favorite novelist, she never expects it to become personal. Drawn to the quaint Pennsylvania town where both her mother and Via once lived, Harper discovers more than a mystery to solve—she finds echoes of her own longing for love, healing, and home. As long-buried secrets come to light, Harper must decide if she’ll protect the past or rewrite this particular ending.

Described as a “powerhouse in dual-timeline Christian fiction” (Library Journal), Melanie Dobson delivers another rich, atmospheric novel about the legacy of sacrificial love and the redemptive power of truth.

  • Standalone dual-timeline historical mystery filled with drama, faith, and intrigue
  • Clean, suspenseful historical fiction, perfect for fans of Susan Meissner, Lisa Wingate, or Patti Callahan Henry
  • Includes discussion questions for book groups

You can learn more about Melanie Dobson on her WEBSITE. Also follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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Episod 560: A Chat witih Melanie Dobson
Episod 560: A Chat witih Melanie Dobson
July 13, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 559: A Chat with Lisa Phillips
July 11, 2026
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Episode 558: A Chat with Felicia Hurd
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Episode 557: A Chat with Laura DeNooyer
July 4, 2026
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Episode 556: A Chat with Sharon Wilharm
June 29, 2026
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Episode 555: A Chat with Jil Koller
June 27, 2026
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Episode 554: A Chat with Gloriaea
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Episode 553: A Chat with Chris Underwood
June 20, 2026
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Episode 552: A Chat with Laura Ashwood
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Episode 551: A Chat wth Kayla E. Green
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