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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Life Is Full of Second Chances What Was Yours?

by Chautona Havig · 8 Comments

Sometimes, second chances change the whole course of your life, and sometimes they don't last long enough to. Sometimes... sometimes it's both. via @chautonahavig

We planned a fiftieth wedding anniversary party–across the miles and one we never actually held.  My parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary happened smack dab between #1son’s and #5daughter’s graduations from college.  Oh, and just after that, I had to teach at a conference.

It would have been awkward, I told myself.  Dad’s in a home now.  Mom wasn’t.  Since being at my mom’s house in Noel, I know even better why the Lord decided that our grand plans for a party weren’t to be.  He’s pretty good at that stuff if we just don’t try to force our ideas about things.

Around that time, I had a chance to read a book about another woman’s experiences in marriage–a long one and a short one.  I figured it would be a good book, so I requested a free review copy.

My parents had a second chance, once.  I’ve had second chances.  How about you?

Second Chances Review

Links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.  Additionally, I received a free copy of the book for review purposes and the following review is my opinion alone.

Life Is Full of Second Chances What Was Yours?

The genre for this book is listed as “Family and relationships/Death, Grief, Bereavement.  I’d call it a memoir.  Written almost as a diary of the author’s life over the span of about five years, we learn much of the two very different men she married, what she learned from each of them, and how the Lord blessed her with both easy and difficult marriages.

Saying goodbye to one husband is hard enough, but having to do it back-to-back has to be one of the hardest things a woman can live through, and while Ms. Mozena is raw and real about her pain, her faith shines through.  She encouraged me by her trust in the Lord in difficult times.

Still, I have to admit that some parts confused me. I find it difficult to understand why people choose which details they share. Some of the details in this are clearly very important to the author–clothing, food, decor.  But aside from a couple of things, they only confused me because I kept waiting for the point to them to show up. Unfortunately, it didn’t.

I’m glad I chose to request a review copy of the book.  If I’d known it was a memoir, I wouldn’t have, and I would have missed some encouraging stories.  Recommended for people who enjoy memoirs, seasoned romance, and encouragement in the Lord’s goodness even when it seems that He isn’t.

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Comments

  1. Trixi says

    November 3, 2019 at 7:43 pm

    Thank you for your review on this book. I like to read how people find strength in the Lord through difficult circumstances because it gives me hope for when I go through my own. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Bea LaRocca says

    October 25, 2019 at 6:29 pm

    Thank you for sharing your review of Second Chances. Your comments on the story were helpful.

    Reply
  3. James Robert says

    October 25, 2019 at 5:49 am

    So happy to have gotten to know about your book. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Reply
  4. Melissa Wenger says

    October 25, 2019 at 4:56 am

    I’m always looking for ways to understand what others are going through. Sounds like this book will be helpful!

    Reply
  5. Amelia says

    October 24, 2019 at 10:30 pm

    This book sounds really good.

    Reply
  6. Dianna says

    October 24, 2019 at 8:02 pm

    I’m not typically a fan of memoirs but just finished two. So, maybe I should start reading more of them!

    Reply
  7. Debbie P says

    October 24, 2019 at 4:21 pm

    This book sounds like a fantastic read.

    Reply
  8. Rita Wray says

    October 24, 2019 at 11:30 am

    Sounds like a good read.

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 602: A Chat with Paul Headworth
byChautona Havig

Christians are fond of saying that Christ has already defeated Satan, but sometimes, it sure doesn’t seem like it. Listen in as I chat with Paul Headworth about his novel exploring this in his book, Prophetic Redemption.

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

Headworth focuses on the difficulties of cases and what happens when things go wrong. By the time we got done talking, I knew I’d have to read it.

Prophetic Redemption by Paul Headworth

This special novel is geared for the believer and nonbeliever, providing an engaging murder mystery while sowing many positive and possibly life-changing messages.

A judge from the 32nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Publishing Book Award cited, “The masterful use of suspense is key to maintaining reader engagement and greatly enhances the story’s captivating appeal. Additionally, the rich character motivations and development, especially evident in Charlie’s relentless pursuit of justice for his wife and son, alongside Paul’s transformative journey, render these characters both believable and relatable. Moreover, this book defies the stereotype that inspirational works lack depth. Instead of burdening readers with recipes, it proves that such books can be emotionally resonant and deeply thought-provoking.”

Learn more on Paul’s WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads.

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Episode 602: A Chat with Paul Headworth
Episode 602: A Chat with Paul Headworth
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Over halfway there! 🎉✨ I just crossed the 50,000-w Over halfway there! 🎉✨ I just crossed the 50,000-word mark on Dear Uncle Nick, and you know what that means… it’s time to open Box 4 of my Archer & Olive Advent Box! 🎁
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We can’t meet them all, but we can do what we can to help.
Everyone loves a good box social, but that can be expensive, especially this time of year.
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Ever heard of a box social? 📦✨ In 1934, during the height of the Great Depression, communities had to get creative to help neighbors in need.
This "unprinted letter" from the archives of my upcoming historical Christmas novel, Dear Uncle Nick, shows the exact heartbeat of a small farming town trying to survive winter with a little sweetness and a lot of grit.
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I’m currently sitting at 42k+ words for Dear Uncle Nick, plotting a storyline that is giving me all the feels.
Meet our Banker dude. He can handle the town's finances under the pressure of the Great Depression, but put him in a social setting and he completely freezes up. He is incredibly shy. But winter is coming, and he's being pressured into a marriage of convenience to save his late friend's daughter from the freezing 1934 streets. ❄️💍
Despite his quiet, protective pining and our main couple's semi-secret admirer flirting through the newspaper columns, this book is more than just romance. It's a huge found family of cast that I'm loving.
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