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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
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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
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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
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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 →
Buy This Book Online
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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
Buy now!

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
Buy from Amazon
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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 indie bookstore was nearing extinction, but Mi The indie bookstore was nearing extinction, but Milton is determined to save them, one book and store at a time. With his trusty sidekick parrotlet Atticus (not Finch), he'll ressucitate even the most unsalvagable stores somehow!
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Who is he, who is after him, and why is a woman ab Who is he, who is after him, and why is a woman abducted to protect her from him?  Bioterrorism, Russian mafia, and what? Another agency?  What's going on in The Agency now?
Listen to the whole book FREE, narrated by the fabulous @ChristaDelSorbo (don't forget to subscribe!!!). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-TZlGhUFcE&list=PLGJaJiSo6mQ1Cg738W1MSQlHIuFe45v_WListen Available as individual chapter videos or the entire book in one video The previous four Agency books are also available to listen to FREE.
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Keith can’t help but wonder: will his first assign Keith can’t help but wonder: will his first assignment with The Agency be his last?

One missing man. One new agent. One chance to keep the (uncertain) client alive
The prequel novel to The Agency Files, Induction is Keith Auger's interview and... well.. induction into The Agency. Listen FREE on YouTube to the audiobook narrated by @ChristaDelSorbo .
Listen to each chapter separately for ease of finding where you are OR the whole book in one video.
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Austria, 1939. Before the "death trains," Hitler's Austria, 1939. Before the "death trains," Hitler's regime deported ten thousand children to Holland, Sweden, and even England on what was known as the Kindertransport. Two desperate mothers send their only childrent to safety on this Kindertransport, but when those children arrive, nothing is as it seems or should be.  A war-time mystery twist on "Hansel and Gretel" set just before the invasion of Poland.
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When Erika is ripped from her bed (literally) by s When Erika is ripped from her bed (literally) by strangers claiming to be doing it for "her own safety," she's not convinced. Can you blame her?
Listen FREE daily (or to each chapter so you can find your place easily), or all at once on a long car ride or while avoiding... wait. Shouldn't say that.
Check out the other books @ChristaDelSorbo has on her channel... also free! AND, please subscribe and make her day (it's a lot of work!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hnf_Ztodag&list=PLGJaJiSo6mQ2CQxqZjoGUiFK5mPPbJIbb

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14h
Hiding from the gang that tried to kill him, Leo j Hiding from the gang that tried to kill him, Leo just wants to keep a low profile and start over. He didn't count on his first friend being someone like Allison.
The Kasimirs won't let him go unpunished.
Allison won't let him go unfriended.
What's a guy to do?
Listen FREE chapter by chapter OR the complete book all at once https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eLI5ZH6YUk&list=PLGJaJiSo6mQ2dDLCnbGRORVFd5Rg1y7rR&pp=iAQB
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Narrated by the fabulous @ChristaDelSorbo
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Been waiting to send this package for WEEKS (silly Been waiting to send this package for WEEKS (silly Amazon took forever to get me my books)!
Finally on its way to @chantelreadsallday. (Watch, she'll hate it #BecauseMurphy). Mmmwwwaahaha.  Meanwhile, back to writing the CrossWords Book Club novella.
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