• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Bookshelf
    • Audio
    • The Rockland Chronicles
      • The Vintage Wren
      • The Aggie Series
      • The Hartfield Mysteries
      • Sight Unseen Series
        • Sight Unseen Series Archives
      • The Agency Files
      • Christmas Fiction
    • Legacy of the Vines
    • Meddlin’ Madeline
      • Madeline Blog Archive
    • Ballads from the Hearth
      • Ballads from the Hearth Blog Archive
    • Legends of the Vengeance
    • Journey of Dreams
    • Wynnewood
    • Webster’s Bakery
    • The Not-So-Fairy Tales
    • Heart of Warwickshire
  • Start HERE
    • Characters
    • Suggested Reading Order
    • Free Books
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Podcast
    • Advertising
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Bonus
  • Speaking
  • New & Coming
Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

3 Things I Love Most about “That Boyfriend Book”

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

Secret Beach Boyfriend releases today with a fun contest for the series authors, giveaway for readers, and a great book for all! via @chautonahavig

The manuscript hit my inbox with an electronic thud that still rings in my ears.  No joke. Secret Beach Boyfriend.  What had I gotten myself into?

Seriously!  One of the best things about these Independence Islands Series books is that I’m the content editor.  That means I get to read them first.  Or, in the case of Secret Beach Boyfriend, I have to read them first.

Yep. That’s how I saw it.  I’m not proud of that… but it’s what it is.

Here’s the thing. I knew I’d like the book. I really did.  What I didn’t know is that I would absolutely fall in love not only with the characters, their plots and quirks, but I’d fall in love with the book itself, too.

That’s the sign of a great writer, folks–when they can take something you’re not really interested in and make you a raving fan… look out!

secret beach boyfriend

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

3 Things I Love Most about “That Boyfriend Book”

 1.  Characters

In Secret Beach Boyfriend, you’ll find raw, real characters with the kinds of flaws and uncertainties that we all have in some way or another.  They’re recognizable, infuriating, and endearing.

2. Issues

Yes, Secret Beach Boyfriend is a contemporary Christian romance.  Most definitely. But it goes beyond “boy meets girl” and tackles real issues that many of us face in our daily lives: abandonment, mental health, and compensation to start. Annie and Rafe come from deeply dysfunctional pasts, or rather, their pasts have created dysfunction in some instances. Not only that, but this all created a twist that I did not see coming.  Brilliant.

3. Faith

One of my common complaints about contemporary Christian romance is that often the faith element feels tacked on as an afterthought. This isn’t what you find in Secret Beach Boyfriend. Instead, you have a woman trying to live her faith even in awkward and difficult circumstances and a guy who just doesn’t get that faith isn’t something you check off your life to-do list.

Secret Beach Boyfriend releases today!

And do the authors have a great celebration planned. Since Kari’s main character is an event coordinator (party planner), we decided to have a contest among ourselves. We’d all create a table centerpiece/setting and share it with you guys.  You can go from blog to blog to see which one you like, and on the last one, you can vote for your favorite! Your votes get you entries into a fun giveaway including gift cards, e-books, and audiobooks!

First, we were given a list of items and required to use at least SIX of the items on this list. 

  • Table Theme
  • Something silver or gold
  • Something crystal
  • Or maybe something unique to you
  • Something that represents your writing
  • Something floral
  • A gift
  • Something that offers light
  • Something borrowed
  • Food-related something or other

And this was my entry.  I’ll explain each thing below.

secret beach boyfriend

Table theme:

I chose “Time to Write” as my theme.  I confess that this is a bit of a cheat on the right side, because most of that sit just like that on my desk in my room.  Still, it is me and I loved it.  I had decided to use some super-cute vintage figurines (phone, radio, phonograph, camera, etc.) that Sandy had given me, but they just didn’t work–were too small.

Something silver or gold:

I chose… shockingly enough, “silverware.”  I know it’s kind of cheating, but really, nothing realy worked.  So, I put all two of my “silver” things away and went with simple.

Something crystal:  

Okay, so technically that hourglass isn’t “crystal.”  However, the only crystal thing I have just did not work at all.  So, I left it out and called this glass “crystal.”  #4daughter said I could, so I’m going with it.

Or maybe something unique to you:

I’ve slowly begun a random bottle collection. None of them are worth anything or are even that pretty. They’re just random things like #4daughter’s leftover face cleanser bottles and such. They just make me smile.

Something that represents your writing:

That little Brownie camera I bought off eBay as a memento of my Madeline. and while it is a much newer one than the tiny cardboard box one she had, it makes me smile every time I look at it.  Additionally, I have this little resin typewriter that doesn’t take up much room, but is a representation of my little typewriter logo (because I’ve never seen the little one that I actually use!).  Besides, black looks better against my duck blue walls. 🙂

Something floral:

While lavender isn’t my favorite flower (that would be lilacs or even daisies), I love the scent, flavor, and of course the sprays of lavender. #4daughter allowed me to use her potted lavender and I brought in my little bottles with faux lavender sprigs in them.  #becausebottles.

A gift:

The feather pen in the bottle was a gift to me from #4daughter from her trip to Ireland. It got a bit “ruffled” in the suitcase on the way home, but despite Neville’s best efforts to save me from the evil feather, it is one of my favorite decor items (and the nib really does work). Additionally, that same daughter bought me the small book on another trip.  I use that one as a commonplace book as I shared in THIS post.

Something that offers light:

I forgot to put the candle on the table!  Unfortunately, I cannot see the light!  😉

Something borrowed:

I borrowed the lavender pots from #4daughter, as mentioned above with the floral one.

A food-related item:

Okay, so we stretched it a bit with the tea bag and the pumpkin, but hey. I couldn’t get the single piece of chocolate I wanted, which turned out to be a good thing because…

Confession time:

That “tablecloth” is a door curtain.  The “napkin” is a tieback.  Because, you see… nothing I have matches the new plates I got for my birthday (two years ago).  It works… right?

Be sure to check out all the author’s tables before heading over to Celebrate Lit to vote on your favorite!

Kari Trumbo

Rachel Skatvold

Tabitha Bouldin

Carolyn Miller

Melissa Wardwell

Chautona Havig

Celebrate Lit!

secret beach boyfriendMeanwhile, be sure to get your copy of Secret Beach Boyfriend.

I seriously LOVE this book.  Here’s more about it.

Synopsis:  Annie Roman believes love is a fairytale.

She met Rafe on the beach when she was just five and it seemed like fate tied them together. When a chance encounter returns him to the islands twenty years later, Annie finds her beach friend has grown up and now needs her help.

Damaged and scarred from a past that still hasn’t healed, Annie needs help of her own. True to character, Rafe comes up with a perfect solution, but a temporary island romance does not fit into his agenda at all.

Will an offer to be her secret boyfriend give her heart a second chance? How can it turn into something more and prove there’s power in prayer and that love can triumph over a painful past?

He was Annie’s hero long ago, but can the man he has become save her now?

Secret Beach Boyfriend is the third “Merriweather book” in a new series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

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

Share
Pin
Tweet
Email
Share
Pin
Tweet
Email

Related

Filed Under: Giveaways, New Release

Previous Post: « The Best Romance in History in One Stop
Next Post: Why It’s Always Good to Make Dreams Come True »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You have to agree to the comment policy.

Or, you can subscribe without commenting.

Primary Sidebar

The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast
Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Podcast Subscription Menu

  • Visit Website
  • RSS Feed
Episode 42: A Chat with J'nell Ciesielski
by Chautona Havig

The cover got me first.  It was “my” Madeline, but of course, no one could tell if they didn’t know the photographer’s work. So, combine WWI, poppies, and “my” Madeline… well, I had to read it, right?  Yeah. Among the Poppies (review here) by J’nell Ciesielski was the best debut novel I’ve ever read.  Bar none.  I became an instant fan of J’nell Ciesielski that day, and I’ve read everything she’s written ever since.

So, when I heard about her newest release, of course, I wanted to read it.  I wanted to talk to her about it–all the things. So, let’s talk about this book.

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

My First “Top Book” of 2021 Begins HERE!

I had a wonderful discussion with J’nell about her newest release (as in releases TODAY!), Beauty Among Ruins, about her vision for writing Christian fiction, and the goals Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins has for some of their Christian fiction titles/authors!

Let’s start with this book: Beauty Among Ruins.  Guys… this book. Lily and Alec just hit the top tier of favorite characters ever. Not only that, but J’nell Ciesielski adds depth and richness to her cast by having supporting characters that I’m dying to know more about.  Sequel perchance?  I’d love that. Just sayin’…

We learned the history of the book, how it got its title… hint, the original was hilarious but um… yeah.  Not one that I’d grab off the shelf unless I saw J’nell’s name on it!), and some of the research she had to do to keep her from using the hackneyed old solutions to familiar problems in early 20th century England… well!  WHEW!

Oh, and speaking of those problems… One of J’nell’s most brilliant skills is taking the spine of a story you think you’ve read before and turning it into something fresh and new. For example, in Beauty Among Ruins, you have an American heiress, an aristocratic family who are floundering to keep up the family estate, a crumbling manor house turned into a hospital, and wounded soldiers.  Sound familiar?

It’s not. And that’s the brilliance of J’nell.

Add to that a storyline that keeps you guessing and full of rich history that never weighs you down with preachiness (seriously, preachy fiction isn’t just for Bible. It also happens with science, politics… and history!

Speaking of preachy fiction…

As much as I loved talking about her book, one of the highlights of the interview is getting an insider’s understanding of where Thomas Nelson is taking some of their fiction.

I’ve been an outspoken critic of the lack of spiritual content in the Christian Fiction coming out of Thomas Nelson in recent years. When you buy “Christian fiction,” you expect to find something other than just “clean fiction.”

In my discussion with J’nell, she described the publisher’s goal of using fiction with a Christian worldview and subtle elements to bridge the gap between Christian fiction and the general market. Knowing this is the plan rather than just a watering down of faith or something. Knowing that those elements are woven into subtext to be a gentle reach to readers who otherwise might not pick up Christian fiction makes that lack of overtness much more palatable.

Additionally, J’nell didn’t just write a “clean” book. The spiritual elements are in there. They’re just layered into that subtext. I found myself going to the Bible to see what it said about several things.  This is what I want from my Christian fiction.  I don’t’ need a token prayer or Bible verse.  Those do nothing for me. But give me something to chew on for a while, and I’m thrilled.

J’nell Ciesielski does that beautifully and has from the very first book of hers I read.

She also told me about a book coming out this summer… The Ice Swan.  Isn’t that cover GORGEOUS?

I’m so excited about Beauty Among Ruins  that I’m also giving away a copy of J’nell Ciesielski ‘s book to one commenter.

Go to https://chautona.com/because-fiction-42 and tell me if you’ve ever read anything by J’nell and what your favorite was if you have. I’ll try to draw next week when I do episode 43.

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

  • Apple 
  • Castbox 
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn 
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Stitcher
Episode 42: A Chat with J'nell Ciesielski
Episode 42: A Chat with J'nell Ciesielski
January 13, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 41: A Chat with Jennifer Pierce
January 5, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 40: My Favorite Book of 2020
December 8, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 39: A Chat with L.K. Simonds
December 1, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 38: Dan Smith & Saving Ebenezer
November 24, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 37: A Chat with Sara Beth Williams
November 17, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 36: A Chat with Jennifer Beckstrand
November 10, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 35: What Is This NaNoWriMo Thing All About?
November 3, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 34: 5 Cheap & Easy Ways to Feed a Book Habit
October 27, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 33: 2020 Christmas Collections
October 20, 2020
Chautona Havig
Search Results placeholder

Love Audio Books?

audio book ad

Book 1 Now Available on Preorder!

independence islands series

Join My Birthday Club!

Featured Books

Not a Word

Not a Word
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Barnes and Noble
Buy from Book Depository
Not a Word
Buy now!

Out of the Blue Bouquet Collection

Out of the Blue Bouquet Collection
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Out of the Blue Bouquet Collection
Buy now!

Upcoming Posts

  • The Best Marriage Advice We Got Accidentally (January 26, 2021)

Or just subscribe to the newsletter

Recent Blog Posts

  • My First “Top Book” of 2021 Begins HERE!
  • When Your Creativity Fails, Kill a Beloved Character:
  • The World is Full of Depraved People

Footer

What Am I Working On?

Ghosted at the Altar
Ghosted at the Altar
Phase:Writing
100%
The Bells of New Cheltenham
The Bells of New Cheltenham
Phase:Writing
100%
Get Book Updates

Featured

Oh, Gracious!

Oh, Gracious!

Disclosure:

Disclosure: Links on this website may or may not be affiliate links and as such, I may receive compensation from the retailer indicated for linking to their product. This money keeps me in Coke and chocolate and enables me to write more. It also helps me pay for the many Amazon Gift Cards I give away each month.

Note: I DO NOT link to products that I do not recommend.

Privacy & Cookies. This website uses cookies (not the delicious kinds that make life grand) to do stuff it needs to do. By staying on the site, you agree to this evil substitution of yummy cookies for internet calorie-free substitutes. For more info, click here and read the boring stuff. Cookie Policy
I can scribble!!! Justified Means: book one in the I can scribble!!!
Justified Means: book one in the Agency Files, is on tour with Celebrate lit. Visit celebratelit.com to find a link to follow the blog tours and check out the reviews. 
#christiansuspense
#christianfiction
#Christfic
#KindleUnlimited
Reposted from @karitrumbo Repost from @tabithaboul Reposted from @karitrumbo Repost from @tabithabouldin
•
Guess What Just Happened 😃
Check out my newsletter for news and updates
Who wouldn't want it?  Justified Means: book one Who wouldn't want it? 
Justified Means: book one in the Agency Files, is on tour with Celebrate lit. Visit celebratelit.com to find a link to follow the blog tours and check out the reviews. 
#christiansuspense
#christianfiction
#Christfic
#KindleUnlimited
Reposted from @becausefictionpodcast Episode 42: A Reposted from @becausefictionpodcast Episode 42: A Chat with J'nell Ciesielski

I had a wonderful discussion with J'nell about her newest release (as in TODAY!), Beauty Among Ruins, about her vision for writing Christian fiction, and the goals Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins has for some of their Christian fiction titles/authors!

Stay tuned for more in depth show notes in just a bit!

© © Chautona Havig 2020
@jnellciesielski
#becausefiction
#podcasts
#Christfic
#christianfiction
Kind of depressing but true... Justified Means: bo Kind of depressing but true...
Justified Means: book one in the Agency Files, is on tour with Celebrate lit. Visit celebratelit.com to find a link to follow the blog tours and check out the reviews. 
#christiansuspense
#christianfiction
#Christfic
#KindleUnlimited
Justified Means: book one in the Agency Files, is Justified Means: book one in the Agency Files, is on tour with Celebrate lit. Visit celebratelit.com to find a link to follow the blog tours and check out the reviews. 
#christiansuspense
#christianfiction
#Christfic
#KindleUnlimited
Lots of great books up for grabs for a lucky winne Lots of great books up for grabs for a lucky winner... not to mention that gift card!
Happy New Year to you!! To celebrate you along with the new year, I have teamed up with Celebrate Lit to do a special giveaway!

We want you to have a chance to win 40+ books or a $500 Amazon card to buy a ton of books yourself in Celebrate Lit's Have a Fab New Year Multi-Author Giveaway!

Click the link in my bio to enter!

The event and giveaway is going on now through January 17.
  • Home
  • Bookshelf
  • New & Coming
  • Blog
  • News!
  • Disclosure & Policies
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Chautona Havig · All Rights Reserved · Coding by Gretchen Louise

Don't go before you grab your FREE short story collection!