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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Did I Love or Hate Shadow Sister and Why?

by Chautona Havig · 9 Comments

The synopsis of Shadow Sister grabbed me. C’mon, Spanish, vineyards, vinters, and family? It’s like my Legacy of the Vines series but in Washington. I had to read it.

Women’s fiction? Awesome! It wouldn’t be steeped in heavy romance. Score!

I signed up to request a review copy within seconds of reading blurb and squealed with the book arrived—signed by the author, no less.

As much as I wanted to read it that day, I knew I had a couple of months before it was due, and I had books due before that time. The books still aren’t finished, but um, the review is due.

So today, I started reading.

Curled up in bed, with the turbine engine that masquerades as a fan blasting me, I put my hair in a net to save me from face tickles, grabbed my cheaters, and cracked open the book.

At last. Just me, Washington vineyards, a couple of sisters, and the Lord.

Did I Love or Hate Shadow Sister and Why?

Note: Links in this post may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Additionally, I requested a review copy of this book and this is what I thought of it.

Did I Love or Hate Shadow Sister and Why?

The simple answer is yes.

But that won’t suffice. There’s so much to this book that I have to start with what I loved.

Characters: Katherine Scott Jones managed to create some of the most realistic and beautifully flawed characters I’ve seen in a long time. Every person in the story had multiple layers. Just as you became certain you knew what this one or that said or thought, another petal peeled away to reveal a sweeter, fresher fragrance to that person—one you didn’t know could exist.

She showed the strengths and the weaknesses of both protagonists and antagonists, and she never once fell into the trap of creating villains where they weren’t necessary just because that person was an antagonist. Neither did she justify people’s wrongs into poor, misunderstood fellows.

I loved that.

Settings: I don’t know if Ms. Jones has ever been to Bolivia or even to Washington state. I have no clue. What I do know is that she made me believe she had—that they were places deeply etched into her soul. This she did with careful, and where appropriate, lavish, description but never once with excess.

Story: We all know that for me it’s all about story. This one is a doozy. It jumps time, past and present, it shifts points of view, and it does it all without leaving the reader confused. Rather, she takes her time to anchor you into every moment before allowing it all to unfold, and she does this without dragging or weighing down the story.

You can understand why I said that I loved it, right? Who wouldn’t?

But I did say “yes” to whether I loved or hated it. There’s a reason for that. You see, despite the rich description, heart-rending story, and wonderful characterization, a shadow falls across the page that made every chapter work for me to read through.

Normally, I’d blame myself for that. You see, that shadow is that the entire book is written in present tense—both first and third person. I frankly despise present tense writing.

But recently, I was introduced to a book where it was done so skillfully that I didn’t even realize it was until three-quarters through the book. And that taught me something. Present tense can be done amazingly well. That one element of this book just wasn’t—not for me.

I thought I’d knock a star off for it.

Because it was hard work to slog through the writing style. But as I sit here thinking about the story, about the characters, about everything that I loved in this book, I realize that I do love it despite its glaring flaw. Like one of the characters in this book, it has what I consider to be a “birth defect.” A gaping slash that mars its initial beauty.

But the true beauty of the story comes from a deeper place than the method of telling it. And because of that, I’m giving it five stars after all.

Recommended for people who love novels of family, broken and restored relationships, and mild romance. For those like me who find present tense difficult to read, I’d recommend doing the “see inside” portion before purchasing.

Shadow Sister by Katherine Scott JonesAbout the Book

Book Title: Shadow Sister

Author: Katherine Scott Jones

Genre: Woman’s Fiction

Release date: August 28, 2018

Working on her father’s vineyard allows Sarah Lanning to bury memories of a lost love and a career that might have been. But then her fractured family receives word that her estranged sister, Jenna, is dead, leaving behind an unexpected request: that Sarah travel to Bolivia to scatter her ashes.

Accompanied by pilot Chase Maddox, Sarah embarks on an Andean journey that tests her devotion to home and exposes Jenna’s secret life. Each staggering discovery creates new mysteries—until the last, which leaves Sarah questioning everything she understood about family loyalty. At a crossroads, she must decide whether truth is worth the cost of forgiveness—and whether she can lay claim to a future of happiness without it.

Bittersweet and bold, Shadow Sister explores the mysteries of the human heart and the bond of unquenchable love.

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Comments

  1. Katherine Scott Jones says

    September 8, 2018 at 9:35 am

    Chautona, thank you for this wonderfully thoughtful, layered, and gracious review! I’m grateful.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      September 8, 2018 at 1:20 pm

      Thank you for Jenna and Sarah’s story. It’s still with me this morning.

      Reply
  2. realworldbiblestudy says

    September 8, 2018 at 7:31 am

    As I was reading this, I wondered: how does writing these (great and much appreciated, if horribly tempting) reviews affect how you write?

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      September 8, 2018 at 1:22 pm

      I really don’t know. Funny, isn’t it? I do get reminders of what I love to read myself and what I don’t, so I’m sure it helps me remember not to do certain things and to do others, but I haven’t really noticed. I’ll be paying attention, though. Maybe it’ll be a blog post. Writing that down…

      Reply
  3. Margaret Kazmierczak says

    September 8, 2018 at 6:25 am

    I enjoyed your review Chautona and glad that you put the don’t like bit in but chose to give five stars anyway because of the great story. I love your honesty, and I am sure the author will feel blessed by your opinion, and readers feel encouraged to give the book a try.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      September 8, 2018 at 1:23 pm

      I had every intention of four because reading it made it harder to like, but the more time that passed the more I just didn’t care. But if I’d had to review it in the middle or even near the end, I wouldn’t have. It’s just not my style. I find it hard to read.

      Reply
  4. susiesellnergmailcom says

    September 8, 2018 at 5:54 am

    Shadow Sister sounds intriguing and inspiring; I’m eager to read it!

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      September 8, 2018 at 1:22 pm

      I really think it’s a wonderful story.

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 155: Chatting with Heather Day Gilbert & Jen Cudmore
byChautona Havig

To Love a Viking by Heather Day Gilbert and Jen Cudmore has been released, and I got to chat with them about it last week. Guys, this series!  If the Christian influence on Viking history isn’t enough, what about adventure, fight scenes, and romance that won’t make you blush? How about that a damsel is in distress and… gets rescued by another woman instead of the stereotypical DUDE! Listen in!

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

Are You Ready for an Exciting New Viking Series from 2 Great Authors?

 

One of the biggest surprises I recall from researching books by different authors was that the cozy mystery and suspense author I liked and respected, Heather Day Gilbert, had also written historical Viking books! I made the erroneous assumption that they were romance and skipped them (for the time being… I knew I’d read them some day), and then something happened.

A few months ago, I saw this cover.  With Heather’s name on it.  And some other gal I hadn’t heard of–Jen Cudmore.  What is this deliciousness?  The cover was AMAZING… not stereotypical nor was it inauthentic.  It was just GOOD (not to mention gorgeous) and with the Celtic frame (the Vikings did go over to Scotland/Ireland after all), I just felt like it hit all the sweet spots.

Well… the book is here, folks.  And I’ve got a copy in my hot little hands.  No, really. It’s July. And I live in the desert.  My hands are totally hot and in totally all the wrong ways. Just throwin’ that out there.

Anyway, Heather and Jen chatted with me about To Love a Viking, and oh my!  This book sounds fabulous. We know Viking women were strong. Even those that weren’t warriors had to survive Nordic winters. Ergo, strong.  But what about strong enough to build a new society with people they’d once fought against. Oh, and rescue a damsel in distress #BecauseYeah!

I’m ready to dive in to To Love a Viking myself, and I hope you’ll grab a copy, too. It promises to be incredible.

To Love a Viking by Heather Day Gilbert and Jen Cudmore

Get swept up in an enthralling new romance series featuring women who rule the hearts of Viking men.

ELLISIF Forced into a financially advantageous marriage that spirals into a nightmare, Ellisif cannot help but imagine what might have been and ache for what was lost. The only lights in her life are her daughters and the friendships she’s forged with the household servants.

Though seven years have passed since Ellisif wed another man, Dagar still cannot forget the woman who captured his youthful heart. As the Viking warrior battles for his country’s future, he finds himself entangled in a personal war for Ellisif’s freedom that could cost his family their reputation and standing with the king. If he risks all, can he save the woman whose face still haunts his dreams? And if given another chance, will she choose him?

INARA Escaped slave Inara is determined to start a new life. Under the guidance of warrior and shipbuilder Håkon, her sword skill grows, as does her confidence that the Viking men will accept her as a warrior in her own right.

When she is selected to lead a perilous rescue mission to protect Ellisif, Inara finds herself blindsided by feelings for Håkon…and by threats to her freedom far closer than she feared. As dreams and desires collide, she wrestles against the lies holding her captive. Can she conquer her doubts before all that she’s hoped for slips from her hands?

Written by award-winning historical author Heather Day Gilbert and fresh voice Jen Cudmore, two love stories entwine in this sweeping Viking-era romance, the first novel in the Tavland Vikings series.

You can find out more about the series and the authors on Heather’s WEBSITE.

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Episode 155: Chatting with Heather Day Gilbert & Jen Cudmore
Episode 155: Chatting with Heather Day Gilbert & Jen Cudmore
July 1, 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
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Episode 152: A Chat with Contemporary Romance Author, Amy Anguish
June 14, 2022
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Episode 151: A Chat with Christian Romance Author, Carrie Padgett
June 10, 2022
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Episode 150: A Chat with Mystery/Thriller Author, Steven C Harms
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Episode 149: A Chat with Jennifer Sienes about Night Songs (and more!)
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Episode 148: A Chat with Author, James R. Hannibal
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Episode 147: A Chat with Biblical Fiction Author, Jubilee Lipsey
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Episode 146: A Chat about The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher
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