• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Bookshelf
    • Audio
    • Complete List of Chautona’s Books
    • 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
    • Podcast Guest Information
    • Podcast Interview FAQ
  • Merch Shop
  • 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

The Secret Confessions of a Disappointed Reader

by Chautona Havig · 9 Comments

“So… you write Christian fiction. I didn’t know that was a thing. Is there a market for that?”

I tried not to laugh. No, really. I did. I mean, is there a Christian fiction readership?

Thankfully, the gal didn’t notice that I’d choked back a laugh that morphed into what was probably a maniacal grin. “Um… yeah. A big one.”

It was her turn to grin. “I take it you’re rather successful.”

What do you say about that? To Bill Gates? Not hardly. But many authors would love to be where I am right now. I went with the obnoxious, “I can’t complain.” For the record, I felt pompous and condescending.

“Christian fiction…” You could see wheels churning. “So where do you find out what books are good? Are they on Goodreads or…?”

This time, I didn’t bother trying not to laugh. She wouldn’t be offended. “Um, yeah. But really, if you want good advice, check out Avid Readers of Christian Fiction on Facebook. They’re even doing cool giveaways right now in honor of hitting over 10K members.”

“Ten thousand people reading Christian fiction?”

I just nodded. “A drop in the bucket. I have a third of that on my mailing list. And mine isn’t huge.”

That caught her attention. We talked about the types of sub-genres until she said, “So what you’re saying is that basically, take any main genre, add a Christian faith element, and there’s a book for that?”

“Basically.”

Then she hit me with a question I hadn’t expected. “So… do other authors like you get recommendations for books to read there?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Have they ever given you a bad recommendation?”

I’m just sayin’. If it was this easy to sell people on essential oils, leggings, wax melts, kitchen gadgets, or Amway, there would be some seriously happy direct sales people out there.

“No. But,” I felt like I needed to qualify my answer, “I also know what I like. I know the authors I don’t enjoy. So if someone recommends Francine Rivers, I know I’m not going to take that advice. If someone else always recommends Amish fiction, I’ll probably ignore that, too. But usually, I word the question specifically enough that I’ll get stuff closer to what I like. I mean, sometimes people will ask, ‘Do you know of any books that take place in Okinawa in the 4th century and are about silk traders?’ They get really specific sometimes.”

“Cool. I’m going to check that out.”

I went away from the conversation (which I modified a tiny bit to include the current giveaway information for your benefit) feeling rather pleased. It is a great group of interesting people who know their books.

Secret life of sarah hollenbeckSeveral weeks later, I asked for a recommendation.

I can’t recall what I asked for, but I am pretty sure it was something along the lines of, “What book that people are raving about did you love, too.”

They gave me several options including Dear, Mr. Knightley and The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck.

Dear, Mr. Knightley, I loved. You can read that review HERE. And with that super-cute typewriter on the cover… the aqua cover of SLOSH… hee hee. That’s funny. Anyway, I knew I had to get that one.

Publisher’s Synopsis: Becoming a Christian is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to Sarah Hollenbeck.

Best because, well, that’s obvious. Worst because, up to this point, she’s made her very comfortable living as a well-known, bestselling author of steamy romance novels that would leave the members of her new church blushing.

Now Sarah is trying to reconcile her past with the future she’s chosen. She’s still under contract with her publisher and on the hook with her enormous fan base for the kind of book she’s not sure she can write anymore.

She’s beginning to think that the church might frown on her tithing on royalties from a “scandalous” book. And the fact that she’s falling in love with her pastor doesn’t make things any easier.

The Secret Confessions of a Disappointed Reader

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission. No worries, doesn’t cost you extra!

The Secret Confessions of a Disappointed Reader

By chapter six, I was done. Seriously. I did not like the character, I didn’t like the plot, I didn’t like any of it. I couldn’t see where it was going. And usually, if you don’t get me by the end of the fourth chapter, I’m not going to finish. Why? Because I get precious little reading time in my life. I don’t want to waste it on a ho-hum or worse, unenjoyable book.

I went and looked at reviews.

Because, for the first time in a long time, I actively disliked a book rather than “didn’t like” it. There’s a difference, you know. When you “don’t like,” it can mean that you don’t care, either. You just don’t like it. But when you dislike, you actively don’t enjoy… you don’t care for it. You are done.

That’s where I was.

And it didn’t make sense.

I read a few things that said what I thought. But some of the good reviews hinted that I might like it better later. I kept reading because I really wanted to love this book.

Here’s what I discovered (minor spoilers).

This really is kind of a modern telling of Sense and Sensibility. Sarah Hollenbeck is Marianne Dashwood. Her practical friend who says it like it is (my favorite character), is Elinor. Sarah’s ex-husband would be Willoughby, and Ben (the hunky pastor who has the same insta-love for her that she has for him) is Colonel Brandon.

Except in this book, I don’t get what Colonel Ben sees in Sarah Marianne.

This is what the publisher says about the book.

With a powerful voice, penetrating insight, and plenty of wit, Bethany Turner explodes onto the scene with a debut that isn’t afraid to deal with the thorny realities of living the Christian life.

I agree with the first and last comments. This book, written in the first person, has a very authentic voice that helps you get to know the character well and quickly. And no, she does not shy away from the grittier areas of living in this fallen world through that character.

I just don’t like Sarah Hollenbeck. Trust me, I want to. I feel like there’s an interesting person behind that insecurity. Instead, however, I am glad she’s fictional so I don’t feel guilty about knowing that I’d have to fight avoiding her if she became a part of my life.

For the record, I like flawed, unlikeable characters.

I really do. Usually. I just don’t like this one. And it’s not because she wrote erotica novels before she became a Christian at the end of chapter 5 ish (Don’t have the book with me). We all know what I prude I am, but I hope people know that I am not afraid of dealing with the ugly stuff.

And I’ve been planning a book with an erotica writer for a couple of years now. I just haven’t figured out how to make it work to show what I want to show while leaving the erotica off the page. I do not want to go there. And trust me, you don’t want me to, either. I’d never make it in that genre, thank you, Jesus!  So, until that happens, that book’ll just languish somewhere.

But in this book, the second half of the book is dripping with sex.

Not played out on the page, but it’s still there in every one of Sarah’s thoughts. Every. Single. One. I’m sure of it.

Look, Ms. Turner made an important point. Christian men and women are not immune to attraction and desire simply because the Holy Spirit dwells within them. Sometimes, Christian fiction acts like marriage turns on a switch that is otherwise completely shut off. I’ve been guilty of that, okay?

Choosing to address that was brilliant—important. But honestly, when did she address the lust? Because there was a whole lotta lusting going on, too.

Somewhere around the three-quarter mark, I thought I might like it better.

I didn’t. Instead, I ended the book feeling like a deflated balloon and walked away one disappointed reader.

What SLOSH has going for it:

Great writing. Seriously, the author has a brilliant, authentic voice that gets you into the head of the character right away.

And while it does have “insta-love,” it addresses it!  What a novel idea!  I soooooo appreciated that.  Because it does happen.  And when you act like it’s normal, that’s annoying.  Ms. Turner didn’t do that.  She acknowledged that it was an anomaly.  Thank you.

Ms. Turner addresses real problems not only in the church today but in Christian fiction. She makes her characters be sexual creatures—as we were created to be!!! And she does have some good humor in it. I laughed out loud in a few places. Honestly, the funny bits, if I could have liked other parts a bit more, might have made me bump my star rating up. Unfortunately, two stars were the best I could do.

And I feel guilty about that.

Lesson learned. Don’t ask open-ended questions like that again. 😉

Have you read it? Did you like it? What am I missing?

Share194
Pin
Tweet
Email
195Shares
Share
Pin
Tweet
Email
195Shares

Related

Filed Under: Book Reviews

Previous Post: « So, Did The Captured Bride Steal My Heart?
Next Post: What Awesome Book Did I Drown My Literary Sorrows In? »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Or, you can subscribe without commenting.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  1. Natasha Metzler says

    June 17, 2018 at 8:01 am

    So, I am totally with you on this. I wanted to like the book, and did like some moments, but I didn’t even finish it. I have a novel coming out that is first-person women’s fiction so I like understanding the market but…uh, I am more on the hint-at-attraction-but-focus-on-the-character’s-character band wagon. Hopefully readers will enjoy that just as well. ?

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      June 30, 2018 at 1:43 pm

      This gal will! Send me a link when you’ve got it. I need something I can get behind. I SO wanted to get behind this.

      Reply
  2. Robin Helm says

    June 12, 2018 at 12:40 pm

    Since the book is on KU, I downloaded it. I’ll let you know what I think later.

    Reply
  3. Ava Gunn Kinsey says

    June 11, 2018 at 2:33 pm

    I always appreciate your reviews — knowing which ones I might like and which ones, like this one, to avoid.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      June 11, 2018 at 4:35 pm

      You know, a LOT of people love this book. I just didn’t. I so wanted to. But I didn’t.

      Reply
  4. Florence Wright says

    June 11, 2018 at 6:48 am

    I feel your pain. But at least you have reason to not like. I HATE it when I can’t see the reason, and it is a genre that I love, which has happened to me recently. Good post, thanks.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      June 11, 2018 at 4:36 pm

      This had everything I should have loved. But I didn’t expect so much obsession with sex.

      Reply
  5. Phyllis says

    June 11, 2018 at 6:25 am

    I haven’t read this one. I have had a few books lately that I had committed to read for blog tours that I just couldn’t like, as much as I tried to. I’m always so disappointed when I can’t bring myself to give a book at least 3 stars. I fight with myself and try to justify why it should get a better rating, but in the end, there are unfortunately some books I just don’t like. And ironically, many times those same books have others giving them 5 stars and raving over them.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      June 11, 2018 at 4:38 pm

      I know that sometimes I’ve given a book 5 stars that had I read at any other time, I probably wouldn’t have loved as well. That’s always awkward, too. But I do it. Because, hey. I can’t be sure of that, and I loved it when I read it…

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
byChautona Havig

Fans of Lisa Phillips’ Last Chance County series are doing happy dances following the release of an exciting new spin-off series, Last Chance Fire and Rescue. Expired Return brings back a few favorite characters and kicks off another of Sunrise Publishing’s author/mentor led fiction seasons! Listen in to find out what happens when an author brings back a guy she dropped a building on a couple of books back…

 

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

When Fans Want More Exciting Stories, Smart Authors Listen and Deliver!

Let’s face it. Authors might SOMETIMES be “done” with a series, but readers often want more… indefinitely. Well, with the brilliance of Sunrise Publishing’s mentor model, authors get to collaborate with authors they trust to do their “worlds” proud while still having time to write new, exciting things as well. And some of the Sunrise lead authors even write in the spin-off series–like Lisa Phillips and Trisha Goyer!

This new Last Chance County series promises everything we love about Lisa Phillips’ world–danger, intrigue, heart-stopping suspense, drama… you know… all the feels. But in addition to her own release, Expired Return, this series also introduces us to new authors who have been carefully vetted and selected to ensure they do justice to Lisa’s Last Chance characters. I, for one, can’t wait to check it all out.

Lisa and I chatted about what she plans for the series,Lisa hinted about a possible super-secret reveal coming soon, and I even poked her with the idea of a Last Chance Christmas.

Help me convince them on that, will ya?

But this new book… Whoa…

Expired Return by Lisa Phillips

Pepper stood up. “How dare you.” She could spit fire at him right now. She’d loved and supported Victory since the day she was born. “You know nothing about me.”

“What’s this?”

Pepper whirled around at that voice. Heart. Breaking. She loved that gruff, commanding voice more than anything else in the world.

He wore a look a lot like Aiden’s. Blank, which she knew—or hoped—had to do with protecting his heart because he still cared for her. Except he probably hated her.

Donaldson sat back in his chair. “Allen.”

Former police officer Allen Frees had both hands on the wheels of his chair. He wore a fire department uniform of slacks and a white shirt. Emblems. A badge. His life of service hadn’t ended when he landed in that chair after a building blew up over his head.

As far as she’d been able to tell, it barely slowed him down.

She’ll give everything to protect her family.

He always knew she was the one.

Veterinary tech Pepper Miller lives a quiet life in Last Chance County. She’s watching her niece until her sister shows up…if she ever does. When Victory’s father demands he take over her care, Pepper knows something has gone wrong. With a new drug in town, and her sister embroiled in a dangerous bargain, it’s up to Pepper to protect the people she loves.

Even if it costs every secret she’s ever kept.

Fire Department liaison Allen Frees lives with the injuries he sustained as a police officer in a raid gone wrong. He’s put his life back together but getting the truck crew and engine squad to succeed might be his toughest assignment yet. When Victory is nearly kidnapped at a community event, Allen steps in to help Pepper keep her niece safe. The one thing he couldn’t fix was the love he lost, but he isn’t going to let Pepper walk away this time.

No matter what walls he has to break down.

Last Chance County returns in this blazing new series from Sunrise Publishing.

Last Chance Fire and Rescue

  • Book 1: Expired Return
  • Book 2: Expired Hope (coming soon)
  • Book 3: Expired Promise (coming soon)
  • Book 4: Expired Vows (coming soon)

Last Chance County

  • Book 1: Expired Refuge
  • Book 2: Expired Secrets
  • Book 3: Expired Cache
  • Book 4: Expired Hero
  • Book 5: Expired Game
  • Book 6: Expired Plot
  • Book 7: Expired Getaway
  • Book 8: Expired Betrayal
  • Book 9: Expired Flight
  • Book 10: Expired End

Learn more about Lisa and her books on her WEBSITE.

Learn more about the different seasons (series) offered by Sunrise Publishing or how to audition with them on the Sunrise Publishing WEBSITE.

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

  • Apple 
  • Castbox 
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn 
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Stitcher
  • Amazon
  • and more!
Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
February 7, 2023
Chautona Havig
BONUS Episode: The Bookish Podcast Tag!
February 4, 2023
Chautona
Episode 205: A Chat about Cold Light of Day with Elizabeth Goddard
February 3, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 204: A Chat with Sarah Sundin about The Sound of Light
January 31, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 203: A Chat with Heather Greer about Window of Opportunity
January 27, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 202: A Chat with Historical Christian Author, Laura Frantz
January 24, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 201: A Closer Look at This YA Dystopian Series
January 20, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 200: Comparing & Contrasting Two Split-Time Novels
January 17, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 199: A Chat about Karl May with Robert Stermscheg
January 13, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 198: A Chat about Everything Is Just Beginning with Erin Bartels
January 10, 2023
Chautona Havig
Search Results placeholder

Join a Reading Challenge

2022 Write Reading Challenge

Love Audio Books?

audio book ad

Check out the Sparrow Island novels. A tiny island with a lot of heart

independence islands series

Featured Books

A Ransomed Grete

A Ransomed Grete
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon Kindle
A Ransomed Grete
Buy now!

Twice Sold Tales

Twice Sold Tales
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Twice Sold Tales
Buy now!

Under the Hibiscus

Under the Hibiscus
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Under the Hibiscus
Buy now!

Upcoming Posts

  • When Fans Want More Exciting Stories, Smart Authors Listen and Deliver! (February 7, 2023)

Or just subscribe to the newsletter

Recent Blog Posts

  • My (not so) Brilliant Answers to the Cool Bookish Podcast Tag
  • Are You Eager for This Thrilling, Suspenseful New Series?
  • How I Fell in Love With This Haunting Title

I buy my stickers here! (affiliate)

Custom Stickers, Die Cut Stickers, Bumper Stickers - Sticker Mule
Reposted from @courtneywalsh MY PHONY VALENTINE is Reposted from @courtneywalsh MY PHONY VALENTINE is officially available in e-book, paperback and in #kindleunlimited ♥️♥️

Treat yourself to this swoony, sweet romance! 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A chance meeting. A hunky hockey player. A fake romance.
Hardly an ordinary day in the life of Poppy Hart.

My days usually consist of agonizing over my failing restaurant, worrying about my mountain of debt and nursing my broken heart.

Everything changes when I bump into a man in the coffee shop and claim him as my new boyfriend. To my absolute horror, he turns out to be hockey’s most renowned bad boy, Dallas Burke. To my absolute delight, he goes along with my story.

When his no-nonsense manager and meddling grandmother jump in the picture, they see a win-win solution for my failing restaurant and Dallas’s less-than-stellar reputation.

A full-fledged fake romance complete with contract negotiations, pretend dates and phony PDA.

But as I get to know the real Dallas Burke, who is not the man the press says he is, it becomes clear that if this isn’t real. . . someone better tell it to my heart.

Link in bio 

 #amreading #readersofinstagram #readersofig #igreads #holidaybooks #newbooks #kindleunlimitedromance #kindleunlimited #readersgonnaread #bookstagram #booknerdigans #booknerd #holidaybooks #newbooks #sweetromance #bookworm #bookshelf #authorsofinstagram #authorsofig #amwriting #amwritingromance
Reposted from @steampunk_tales Death stalks Alice Reposted from @steampunk_tales Death stalks Alice at every turn, but will he catch up to her?
 #fantasyreads #fantasy #bookstagram #books #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookworm #book #bookaddict #reading #booknerd #bookish #bibliophile #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookcommunity #booklove #bookaholic #bookrecommendations #instabook #bookobsessed #instabooks #bookaesthetic #booklovers #readmorebooks #readingtime #bookishlove #booksofig #fantasybooks
Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first da Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first dates... no second dates. With his propensity to spout random (and often bizarre) animal facts while nervous (he's always nervous around women) it's no wonder. 
His sister has a solution--lots of dates. Great, heaping gobs of them. Go ahead. Be awkward. Get used to it. Then... then try with someone you really want to get to know. He's not so confident, but when a man gives his word... (Note to self: no more agreeing to Selby's plans without knowing what they are!)
Find out what happens in Random Acts (or is it Facts?) of Shyness.

This book just got a fresh makeover, thanks to the genius of @PlethoraCreative & @PerryElizabeth.
There's a link to how to find it in my bio.
#ChristFic
#ChristianRomCom
#InspiredByATrueStory
Reposted from @katherinereay My next novel A SHADO Reposted from @katherinereay My next novel A SHADOW IN MOSCOW will be available on June 13, 2023!! I can’t wait for you to meet Cold War spies, Anya Kadinova and Ingrid Bauer. You can pre-order your copy today!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
#authorsofinstagram #authorlife #authorsofig #authorsofinsta #authors #writersofinsta #writersofinstagram #writerlife #writersofig #readersofinstagram #booklovers #booklove #readersofinsta #readersofig #stories #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstragramreels #bookstagramreel #booktok #books #bookreels #booksofig #storytime #newrelease
Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first da Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first dates... no second dates. With his propensity to spout random (and often bizarre) animal facts while nervous (he's always nervous around women) it's no wonder. 
His sister has a solution--lots of dates. Great, heaping gobs of them. Go ahead. Be awkward. Get used to it. Then... then try with someone you really want to get to know. He's not so confident, but when a man gives his word... (Note to self: no more agreeing to Selby's plans without knowing what they are!)
Find out what happens in Random Acts (or is it Facts?) of Shyness.

This book just got a fresh makeover, thanks to the genius of @PlethoraCreative & @PerryElizabeth.
There's a link to how to find it in my bio.
#ChristFic
#ChristianRomCom
#InspiredByATrueStory
Reposted from @sarahsundinauthor The Sound of Ligh Reposted from @sarahsundinauthor The Sound of Light is now available from @revellfiction , and it received a starred review from Booklist!

In WWII Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt assumes the identity of a common shipyard worker, rowing messages to Sweden for the Resistance. His life depends on keeping his secret hidden--a task that proves challenging when he meets Else Jensen, an American physicist who seems to see right through him.

Read more and find purchase links in the Linktree in my bio!
.
.
#thesoundoflight #thesoundoflightbook #wwiifiction #wwiinovel #histfic #historicalfiction
Reposted from @celebratelit ONE MORE WEEK! ⁠ ⁠ Reposted from @celebratelit ONE MORE WEEK! ⁠
⁠
One more week until the release of Promise of Purity by Marguerite Martin Gray! Preorder now for 30% off plus free shipping or the ebook copy for only $2.99. Bonus gift with either! ⁠
⁠
Click on the publishing page in the linktree in our bio then the 30% off in the menu! ⁠
⁠
⁠
#celebratelit #christianfiction #bookstagram #bookloversofinstagram #readersofinstagram #christian #fiction #books #christianbooks #christianbookstagram #faith #christianhistoricalromance #historicalromance #historical #romance #laboroflove #gardensintime #margueritemartingray #promiseofpurity
  • Home
  • Bookshelf
  • New & Coming
  • Blog
  • News!
  • Disclosure & Policies
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Chautona Havig · All Rights Reserved · Coding by Gretchen Louise

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