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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 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
byChautona Havig

I had a chat with actor and author Henry O. Arnold a while back, and boy did we have a lot of fun. His Song of Prophets and Kings series features the advent of Israel’s kings from Samuel’s birth through David hiding from Saul (so far) and onward. Listen in as we chat about his most recent release, The Singer of Israel.

 

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

What Made David Such a Man after God’s Heart?

I think this series will show us. I love that Henry O. Arnold started back at Samuel’s story to prepare us for the story of arguably the most influential king of Israel. Yes, Solomon was the wisest and richest, but David offered something that Solomon didn’t have. He was an average guy—a shepherd, no less—chosen by God to lead his country.

In a sense, it’s kind of the ancient Jewish version of a poor, everyday guy growing up to become President of the United States. If you know what I mean.

This five-book series is available as an eBook, in print, and as an audiobook, too! Henry read a snippet of it to us, and boy you get a feel for his love of Scripture and God’s people as he reads.

And if that wasn’t enough, he even gave us a hint of his upcoming Christian suspense/thriller “series. He says he has two books planned for sure, so… at least a duology, but maybe we can talk him into a trilogy at least? Get those odd numbers and everything?

The Singer of Israel by Henry O. Arnold

A singer’s voice inspires a troubled nation…A shepherd’s courage vanquishes a giant

The last official act of the prophet of Yahweh was to secretly anoint a replacement for the king of Israel who has been brought low by an unbalanced mind. The great prophet of Israel lives in fear of the wrath of the king. Then out of the hills of Bethlehem emerges the last-born son of a family of shepherds to become the unforeseen hero of Israel.

When David sings of the glory of Yahweh, this shepherd wins the hearts of the royal family and restores King Saul’s troubled mind. But when the singer/shepherd defeats the champion of the Philistines in single combat, David becomes forever known as “the giant slayer.” Saul quickly sees that David is now a threat to his kingdom and secretly plots to have him killed.

David may be the champion of the people of Israel, but he must live under the constant threat of Saul’s wrath until he is finally forced to flee for his life.

The Singer of Israel is a tale of triumph and tribulation, deepest love, and burning rivalries; the new epoch is given a voice…and it is The Song of Prophets and Kings.

You can learn more about Henry on this WEBSITE.

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Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
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