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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

So, Did I Find a Great New Series?

by Chautona Havig · 6 Comments

Like anyone, I love when I find a new author’s work, love it, and then discover there are half a dozen more books… in the same series! WOOT! It’s like my favorite thing.

So, when I requested a review copy of Ashley Dawn’s Shadows from the Past, I might have squealed a bit when I saw the cover.

First, it’s a gorgeous cover. The branding is on point for the kind of series (suspense) that it is, and I couldn’t wait to dive in. I mean, undercover cops? FBI agents, hired killers?

What’s not to love?

So, Did I Find a Great New Series?

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission but cost you nothing extra, I assure you! Additionally, I requested and received a free review copy of the book. I chose to leave the review and its contents of my own accord.

So, Did I Find a Great New Series?

Well, yes and no. While Shadows from the Past has a great premise and interesting characters (most of them, anyway), I just didn’t lose myself in the book like I hoped. In fact, a few problems made it difficult to read the book.

I want to say it again. This book has great potential. With a good editor (not necessarily proofreader—I found very few typos, considering), this book could be phenomenal. But there were several problems with the writing that made it difficult to plow through.

Info-dumps: there were lots of them. Not only were we treated to long dumps about the backstory, but they were also told in a passive way that made it hard to keep going.

Repetition. Several times, I wanted to say, “So… you were blaming yourself for his death, right?” Because, in case we hadn’t caught it the first half dozen times we saw it, here it was again.

Passive writing. There’s a lot of it. In fact, I think the verb in nearly every sentence on the first pages was… WAS.

Telling. Most of the emotion and action we were informed of rather than saw play out. This dragged down the pacing and made the suspense fall a little flat.

But these are personal preferences that not everyone will mind.

I want to make that clear. I tried to get past them. I really did. I failed.

But what I suspect is a formatting issue created another problem—head hopping. I think there should be chapter break images or asterisks or something that break up the narrative in spots that are just missing. Because they are missing, one minute we’re hearing Aurora’s opinion, and the next we’re in Joe’s head.

Then out of the blue, we’re in an office across town in someone else’s head we haven’t heard of yet and oops… let’s zip on over to the bad guy’s lair and get in his… all without any indication of a change in scene. No asterisks, border, or images.

I know it can happen, but this book has been out since 2016. Surely, by now someone has read it and told her? If not, I’m suggesting it now. Those need to be corrected because the mobi file I received was very difficult to follow.

I said “yes and no” to whether I’d found a great new series.

That’s because I am going to read the final book in the series. I certainly wouldn’t want someone to read the first book I ever wrote and stop there. Authors grow and mature in their writing. They learn from mistakes and become stronger.

And I really think this series has the potential to be great.

Shadows from the Past

Shadows from the Past- Ashley DawnBook Title: Shadows from the Past

Author: Ashley Dawn

Genre: Christian Fiction/ Suspense

Release date: November 27, 2016

Back Cover Synopsis: “…It is the price you pay for choosing to be a cop. Your brother’s life…”

Those words haunt her dreams and her waking moments. LAPD officer, Aurora Kavvan cannot rest until she finds her brothers killer. Digging into the past always brings back unpleasant things: memories, guilt…the hitman. Now she is in a race against time to find the murderer before he finds her.

“Kill her. I don’t care how, and I don’t care where, but I want her dead now!”

Someone was trying to kill his dead partner’s sister. FBI agent, Jordan Reiley will stop at nothing to protect the woman he loves. Even if it means going against her wishes; putting himself between her and the man who murdered her brother.

Will God keep them alive long enough for them to find the truth?

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Comments

  1. Karin says

    September 1, 2018 at 7:51 am

    I appreciate your honesty! The drawbacks you mentioned are exactly what make me crazy when reading a new book. I will say that in the past I have slogged through a book because I like the story line, even though it has some of these drawbacks, but I will put that author on my “not going there again” list. That may be too judgmental, but I can’t afford to spend the money or reading time when there are so many other Christian Fiction authors out there whose books I love (present company included).

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      September 5, 2018 at 7:09 am

      I cannot wait for the day I can say, “Oh, man. READ THIS ONE” by her. I really look forward to it because I’m sure it’s going to happen.

      Reply
  2. realworldbiblestudy says

    September 1, 2018 at 7:38 am

    This was exactly my impression…head-hopping included. I know a great chiropractor if you need one :). At the same time, the only way to get better at writing is to write, and I’m looking forward to see where she grows!

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      September 5, 2018 at 7:08 am

      I do think she’s going to be good. I really do.

      Reply
      • Patty says

        September 6, 2018 at 8:37 am

        I always appreciate your honest reviews! I think to many reviewers try to be to nice, when all I want is an honest review.

        Reply
        • Chautona Havig says

          September 6, 2018 at 3:20 pm

          I don’t see why people can’t be kind and honest. I work hard to ensure that I say what is true (of my opinion), but it is a lie if I only say what is positive or negative. Most books have both. But even the negative can be shared without attacking the author. She poured herself into this book. You can tell. I can say what bothered me without using careless language.

          Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
byChautona Havig

Nothing says fairy tale like a sweet western romance by an author like Karen Witemeyer… unless it’s a fairytale retelling set in Texas in the late 19th century, right?  Fairest of Heart takes the familiar “Snow White” and turns it on its head with retired cowboys, a self-absorbed actress, a Texas Ranger, and a sweet girl who knows the true Source of her beauty.  Listen in to see all the genius Easter eggs Witemeyer planted in this book.

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

Sometimes All a Girl Needs Is a True Change of Heart

I fell in love with the cover of Karen Witemeyer’s Head Over Heels a few years back (only to learn it’s much older than that, even), and meant to read that book.  I didn’t.  #BecauseIdiot. Well, that’ll be rectified just as soon as I’m done listening to her first book in a trilogy of fairytale retellings. I loaded it up on my Audible app tonight and wheeeeeeee. Here I go! So much for no new books until October. HA! 

Karen talks about her heart for young women today and how they’re taught by every bit of media blasting at them that they need to use their bodies to get what they need or want when the Lord has a better plan. And I can’t guarantee it, but I strongly suspect she does it without preaching. SQUEE!

Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer

Once upon a time in Texas . . .

Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the West, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters–and her jealous mistress plotting her demise.

After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas Ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from women and is rarely disappointed. So when a young lady found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather’s ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her.

With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus is assigned to investigate a robbery case tied to Penelope’s acting troupe, and all evidence points to Penelope’s guilt. But Titus might just be convinced that the fairest woman of all has a heart as pure as her last name . . . if only he can prove it.

You can learn more about Karen Witemeyer and her books on her WEBSITE. Don’t forget the book is 30% off on BakerBookHouse.com.  

Follow Karen on BookBub and GoodReads.

And don’t forget her Posse Group on Facebook.

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Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
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