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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

People are always asking me, “Where do I start?”

Sometimes, that’s an easy question to answer. I send them over to the Suggested Reading Order page and let them have at it. But not everyone wants to jump into the whole Rockland universe. It’s a lot of books, and why commit to it all if you don’t even know anything about it–or about my writing?  I get it. Sometimes folks are looking for a stand-alone, or for something for their kids, or they want a defined series of just a few books. They want mystery or women’s fiction rather than general or romance!

Gotcha covered. I came up with this as a solution. 🙂

Romance? Mystery? Suspense? Historical? Cozy? I’ve Got a Great Book for You!

Just find your favorite genre or trope below, and see what I recommend. I’ve tried really hard to give only one recommendation for each one BUT… I did do a couple where there are opposite styles in that genre!

Novellas:  Sometimes a novella is a great way to check out an author’s work, so if you want a short intro into my style, I’d go with

Random Acts of Shyness

Random Acts of Shyness

$9.99eBook: $3.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: The Rockland Chronicles
Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance
Tags: Novella, Romance

Heath Karras can tell you a dozen bizarre zoological facts, but he can't get a second date.

More info →
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Random Acts of Shyness
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Romance: Okay. Just to note, I don’t have a lot of straight-up romance books. Most of my books are romantic at some point, but as far as typical romance formula… I don’t often follow it. So there’s that. A good example of how that has worked in my books is

Not a Word

Not a Word

$14.99eBook: $4.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: The Rockland Chronicles
Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance
Tags: Rockland, Romance

Every story has two sides, but not always are both told. Mac's silence left his reputation in shambles, but after years of trying to rebuild, two people re-enter his life who just might change his life for good.

More info →
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Not a Word
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Historical Romance: One of my most popular books fits in this one. This is a mail-order bride story like you’ve never seen.

Penelope’s Pursuit

Penelope’s Pursuit

$12.99eBook: $4.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: Westward Home and Hearts
Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical, Romance, Suspense, Western
Tags: Historical, Romance, Suspense

Mrs. Millie Crenshaw's selection process should ensure that her men and women have the best chance at a satisfactory (if not happy) lifetime together. If the rest of the world would just play by her rules, life would turn out just fine.

But they don't. And when young women go missing, one disappointed homesteader and a grieving young woman join forces to discover just where these brides-to-be are!

More info →
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Penelope’s Pursuit
Buy now!

Women’s Fiction: Hands down, Shattering Secrets.

Shattering Secrets

Shattering Secrets

$14.99eBook: $5.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Genres: Christian Fiction, Women's Fiction
Tags: Recommended Books, Rockland

An annual Christmas project sends a professional blogger in search of a little boy's one and only Christmas wish—his father—and unearths a story with the potential to rip apart a family forever.

More info →

Mystery: Oh, this one is hard. I’m going to split it between historical and contemporary because those are very different.

Historical:

The Nutcracker’s Suite

The Nutcracker’s Suite

$9.99eBook: $4.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: Christmas Fiction, Book 5
Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical, Mystery
Tags: Christmas Fiction, Collection, Historical, Mystery, Rockland, Romance

A painter at the Meyer’s Toys factory, Clarice Stahl, knows something is strange about the way so many men come and go through Mr. Meyer’s office, especially one in particular. Then murder strikes a little too close to home and uncorks a barrel of secrets.

More info →
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The Nutcracker’s Suite
Buy now!

Contemporary:

Manuscript for Murder

Manuscript for Murder

12.99 / 3.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: The Rockland Chronicles, The Hartfield Mysteries, Book 1
Genres: Christian Fiction, Mystery, Romance
Tags: Mystery, Recommended Books, Rockland, Romance

Meet Alexa Hartfield, one of Fairbury's most eligible bachelorettes, not to mention fashion connoisseur and celebrity author. She seems to have everything going for her... until someone starts replicating the murders she writes in real life. Can the police end this killing spree, or will this be the end of Alexa's writing career?

More info →
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Manuscript for Murder
Buy now!

Suspense: This is another split one.  I have two options… slowly becoming more and more suspenseful through a series and jump into the suspense right now.

Slow burn (a very relationship-oriented book that ends with the kickoff of the suspense):

None So Blind: (Sight Unseen Book 1)

None So Blind: (Sight Unseen Book 1)

$12.99eBook: $4.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: The Rockland Chronicles, Sight Unseen Series, Book 1
Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance, Suspense
Tags: Rockland, Romance, Suspense

Lost in a mind without memories, Dani Weeks fights expectations, desires, and doubts to rise above her unusual and heartbreaking situation. Fully aware that she could walk out on her family with no regrets, her husband, David, must fight to save his marriage and get to know the woman he vowed to love until death.

More info →
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None So Blind: (Sight Unseen Book 1)
Buy now!

Traditional suspense:

Justified Means

Justified Means

12.99 / 4.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: The Rockland Chronicles, The Agency Files, Book 1
Genres: Christian Fiction, Mystery, Suspense
Tags: Mystery, Recommended Books, Rockland, Romance, Suspense

“You steal me from my house, drag me out here bound and gagged, hold me at gunpoint, and you’re worried about getting the tape off me gently? You’ve got some nerve!”

More info →
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Justified Means
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Christmas: I’ve written a TON of Christmas fiction. Novellas, full-length novels… EVEN a general market Santa book (I know… I know). I’m just going with one of my personal favorites.

The Matchmakers of Holly Circle

The Matchmakers of Holly Circle

14.99 / 4.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: Christmas Fiction
Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance
Tags: Christmas Fiction, Rockland, Romance

They've been in love for ten years, but it takes an interfering neighbor with a penchant for poker to unravel the mystery of their persistent platonic relationship.

More info →
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The Matchmakers of Holly Circle
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Middle-Grade/Youth: This one is hard, too. It would take a lot to explain why, so I’m going to go with where I’d want a kid (or kid at heart!) to start.

Shadows & Secrets

Shadows & Secrets

$13.99eBook: $4.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: The Annals of Wynnewood, Book 1
Genres: Action & Adventure, Christian Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Youth
Tags: Fantasy, Historical, Recommended Books, Youth Fiction

Follow Philip and the cloaked creature as they rescue a lame child, discover 'pirate treasure,' and test the mettle of true friendship. Shadows & Secrets is the first book in the Annals of Wynnewood

More info →
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Shadows & Secrets
Buy now!

Sci-Fi: Yes! I have one!

Volition

Volition

$14.99eBook: $5.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: The Rockland Chronicles
Genres: Christian Fiction, Sci-Fi
Tags: Futuristic/Sci-Fi, Rockland

Andi Flanders planned a nice wedding, a happy life, and anything but being abducted to the future. What's with that?

More info →

And for favorite tropes and elements:

Most popular character: This one is tough. It’s pretty evenly split between Aggie and Willow AND… those series are kind of intertwined, so I’d start with Aggie only because it’s a traditional series instead of a serial novel.

Ready or Not

Ready or Not

14.99 / 4.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: The Rockland Chronicles, The Aggie's Inheritance Series, Book 1
Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance
Tag: Rockland

It's Mom's Night Out meets Cheaper by the Dozen when 22-year-old Aggie "inherits" her eight nieces and nephews.

More info →
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Ready or Not
Buy now!

Most impactful: I don’t know if this still true, but it’s the one people refer to the most that I remember. Note: it does have a slow (deliberately so) beginning.

Prairie

Prairie

12.99 / 4.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: Journey of Dreams, Book 1
Genre: Christian Fiction

Join Jessa Davidson as she wakes up in the land of her dreams, but is Prairie the dreams of her life come true--or her worst nightmare? Is it real? Is it permanent? Or will she awake to discover that she's lost her mind--or worse, her life?

And the biggest question on Jessa's heart? Does she care?

More info →
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon Kindle
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Prairie
Buy now!

Fun kids: If you want a series:

Ready or Not

Ready or Not

14.99 / 4.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: The Rockland Chronicles, The Aggie's Inheritance Series, Book 1
Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance
Tag: Rockland

It's Mom's Night Out meets Cheaper by the Dozen when 22-year-old Aggie "inherits" her eight nieces and nephews.

More info →
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Audible.com
Buy from Barnes and Noble
Purchase with Paypal
Ready or Not
Buy now!

if you want just one kid and one book:

{Operation Posthaste}

{Operation Posthaste}

$9.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: The Rockland Chronicles
Genres: Christian Fiction, Comedy/Humor, Mystery, Romance
Tags: Mystery, Novella, Rockland, Romance

In class, Dylan learns all about secret British operations to ensure the security of their homeland. Well, he's got one of his own now.

More info →

Mature-Age Romance:

Finding a Memory

Finding a Memory

$9.99eBook: $4.99Audiobook: $12.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: Independence Islands: the Book Barrow, Book 5
Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance
Tag: Romance

The fifth book in the Independence Islands series focusing on Sparrow Island, Finding a Memory will touch your heart and fill it with hope and love.

More info →
Buy This Book Online
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Finding a Memory
Buy now!

Western: Technically, Penelope’s Pursuit is a western, but for straight-up western with just a little romance (and a lot of humor) in it…

The Trouble with Nancy

The Trouble with Nancy

$12.99eBook: $4.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Genres: Historical, Romance, Western
Tags: Historical, Romance

Nancy Harrison has finally stepped out of her prissy box and tried to do something helpful--but did she go overboard in her first self-less act?

More info →
Buy This Book Online
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The Trouble with Nancy
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Marriage of Convenience: I have a couple, including a whole series devoted to that idea. But for straight up… I’d go with

Dual Power of Convenience

Dual Power of Convenience

Author: Chautona Havig
Series: Independence Islands: the Book Barrow, Book 2
Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance
Tags: Collection, Romance

Richard Danforth--a brand, spankin' new (barely but it counts) billionaire and his new property manager, Lyla Santana. It was a match made on paper—never have to see each other again.

 

More info →

WWII:

Deepest Roots of the Heart

Deepest Roots of the Heart

12.95 / 5.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: Legacy of the Vines
Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical, Romance
Tags: Historical, Recommended Books, Romance

Avelino Carrillo returns home from WWII with one goal in mind--to regain his family's vineyards and preserve the legacy passed down for generations.

More info →
Buy This Book Online
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Purchase with Paypal
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Deepest Roots of the Heart
Buy now!

Bookish books:  I have a lot, but I recommend the Bookstrings series. Start with:

Spines & Leaves

Spines & Leaves

$7.99eBook: $2.99
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: Bookstrings, Book 0
Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction
Tags: Collection, Novella

One man, one store, thousands of books.  What'll it take to keep this bookstore from becoming a book ghost town... and what'll it take for Milton to tie two heartstrings together?

More info →
Buy This Book Online
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Spines & Leaves
Buy now!

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 483: A Chat with Sarah Loudin Thomas
byChautona Havig

When I looked at the cover of These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas, I couldn’t help but think of the cover from the early editions of Anne of Green Gables. Listen in to see what Sarah has to say about that.

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

We talked about so much that I have a hard time remembering everything, but I loved hearing about how Sarah writes the stories that inspired previous books and her next one, too.

Inspired by the book, The German Invasion of Western North Carolina by Jacqueline Burgin Painter

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness. German pianist Hedda Schlagel’s world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda is stunned to see Fritz’s name in a photograph of an American memorial for German seamen who died near Asheville, North Carolina. Determined to reclaim his body and bring closure to his ailing mother, Hedda travels to the US. Her quest takes a shocking turn when, rather than Fritz’s body, his casket contains the remains of a woman who died under mysterious circumstances. Local deputy Garland Jones thought he’d left that dark chapter behind when he helped bury Fritz Meyer’s coffin. The unexpected arrival of Hedda, a long-suffering yet captivating woman, forces him to confront how much of the truth he really knows. As they work together to uncover the identity of the woman in the casket and to unravel Fritz’s fate, Hedda and Garland grow closer. But with Hedda in the US on borrowed time while Hitler rises to power in Germany, she fears she’ll be forced to return home before she can put the ghosts of her past to rest.

Learn more about Sarah on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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

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Episode 483: A Chat with Sarah Loudin Thomas
Episode 483: A Chat with Sarah Loudin Thomas
October 31, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 482: A Chat with Lara d’Entremont
October 27, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 481: A Chat with Patricia Bradley
October 25, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 480: A Chat with Tracie Peterson
October 20, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 479: A Chat with Connilyn Cossette
October 18, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 478: A Chat with Julie Klassen
October 17, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 477: A Chat with Kate Angelo
October 13, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 476: A Chat with Katie M. Reid
October 11, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 475: A Chat with D. T. Powell
October 6, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 474: A Chat with Ann Swindell
October 4, 2025
Chautona Havig
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The fabulous @ChristaDelSorbo has narrated many of The fabulous @ChristaDelSorbo has narrated many of my books, including TheNutcracker's Suite--a mystery set among the mob activity during the Prohibition era.
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When protectors become targets, no one is safe.
Mark created The Agency to shield the innocent—but now an unknown foe fights to assume command. As shadowy threats tighten around Mark and his team, danger erupts on every front: terrorists at sea, betrayal within their ranks, and an enemy who always seems one step ahead.
While a Caribbean cruise turns deadly and secrets unravel in the agency’s halls, one shocking betrayal proves the enemy is closer than anyone imagined. Mark faces the fight of his life—not just for the future of his organization, but for the people he loves most. As faith and romance grow amid the fallout of shattered dreams, the stakes rise higher than ever.
The countdown to the series finale has begun… and survival is anything but guaranteed.

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It feels so good to get back ti reading again!!! D It feels so good to get back ti reading again!!!
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