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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Why This is The Book to Read This Summer

by Challice Neipp · 5 Comments

Summer by the Tides was fun, sad, quirky, engaging, and just a nice, relaxing read. If you're headed out this summer, bring it along for a perfect read. via @chautonahavig

It happens every year. Someone, somewhere asks the question. “Where’s your favorite place to read?”

The question holds heavy implications, though. It just doesn’t mean “at home” or “on the couch” or “at the beach.” Wrapped up in one six-word question are dozens of interrelated ones. Questions like:

  • Sunshine or rain?
  • Paperback or Kindle?
  • Hot tea or chocolate or… maybe a fruity iced drink with a little umbrella?

Yeah, the “favorite place to read” question comes well wrapped and tied with nuances that make it interesting.

I never know how to answer it, either.

I’ve lived in so many places—rolling countryside, orange groves, the base of the Superstition mountains, the beach, the desert, the Ozarks. In all of those places, I read books—deep books, fluffy ones, and everything in between.

I’ve also read books in places I didn’t live—the mountains, by a stream, in the sky whizzing through clouds at speeds that you just feel like you should feel. But you don’t.

So if you ask me that book one day, I may say in a house by the fire, on a couch, snuggled up in a blanket with rain beating against the windows.

On another day, I may dream of The Barn in North Carolina—that wonderful retreat place with its golden pine walls, trickling stream outside, and sneaky raccoons on the roof.

Today, after reading Summer by the Tides, I’d say the beach. Ocean breezes, sand between my toes, massive amounts of sunscreen that will do nothing to protect me from getting red and miserable, an icy Coke, and a book. A good one.

This is happening on Saturday. Our family is going down to Irvine for #5daughter’s graduation from UCI and #7daughter’s request was a beach—not Newport. We’ve done that one too much, apparently.

I’ll be reading a book by an author who, coincidentally, I’ll be seeing on Wednesday—all the way from Wisconsin. Go Pack Go?

I kind of wish, however, I could have been reading the book I just finished.

Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter. The minute I saw the title and the author, I knew I had to request a review copy. It’s been a few years—probably a decade since I read anything by Denise Hunter, and I remembered liking her.

There was, however, this tiny niggle of trepidation. Why? Well, because I’ve discovered that if you take time off from reading an author’s works, or they take a sabbatical from writing, sometimes you go back, reread, and just aren’t impressed anymore.

It’s happened to me a few times, and I’m sure it’s happened to my readers, too. I didn’t want it to happen again.

Why This is The Book to Read This Summer Summer by the Tides review

Note: Links 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 chose to review it.

Why This is The Book to Read This Summer

After about a decade of not reading anything by Denise Hunter, I’m glad I chose Summer by the Tides to break my unintended hiatus. Maybe I should clarify. I did not purposefully choose not to read Ms. Hunter’s work. It was just one of those life things.

But seriously, this book was exactly what I needed this week. See, I’ve just read two really good books—both put out by Ms. Hunter’s publisher. While I really enjoyed them, I had gotten nervous about Thomas Nelson and the direction it seemed the company might be going.

Well, I didn’t see it in this book.

Seriously, Summer by the Tides has everything a good summer read should as well as some solid, spiritual encouragement. I really can’t find anything to object to. The author even dipped her toe into spiritual waters that I don’t theologically agree with—and left it there. She brought up a possibility without stating, “This is how things are. Thus saith the Lord” in any way, shape, or form.

I looked for problems—trust me. Full confession here. I was on high alert for them. When two characters show some hint of attraction, I was ready to scream, “INSTA-LOVE! Unrealistic!”

Then it hit me.

I was being ridiculous. At that point, I went back a few chapters and started over. So glad I did.

From page one rich, multi-layered writing captures your attention and your heart. Everything is layered like a good phyllo pastry. And, like said pastry, it crumbles as you bite into it.

In the best way.

Because when characters crumble on the pages of our books, we see who they are underneath all those layers. Sometimes authors do that, you know. The pile on layers to characters until those poor fictional people look ready to brave a Minnesota blizzard. Except the book takes place in July. In Cancun.

Hunter was brilliant. She wrapped her characters in that phyllo dough and allowed them to be laid bare for us to see, to understand, to empathize and sympathize with.

Even the bits that might have seemed implausible just… weren’t. Every time I wanted to snap at one character for being so unforgiving—for not even listening to apologies—I’d realize those apologies hadn’t been made.

Not lately.

And looking at pain I see play out in my life, I see that this is exactly how it works.

Maybe that’s what’s so great about this book. Perhaps it’s just that it feels like I’ve seen it play out before—and yet I haven’t. Not this exact story. Not this exact way.

Sure, it’s a family drama/romance. It’s romantic women’s fiction, actually. Twenty years ago, I might have even said it was unrealistic and soap-operatic. But I’ve learned in the last couple of decades that there are more deep, ugly, unbelievable things in more “normal” families than I’d ever imagined.

It doesn’t just touch the unsaved. Christian husbands wake up to discover wives they don’t recognize anymore. Christian kids discover a lifetime of secrets their parents hid from them. And, sometimes, Christians even “put God on a shelf” while they try to live their lives without Him. Books like this one show what happens when we do those things.

Even better, this book has something for everyone.

For the romance buff—it’s there. In spades. And for people like Pepper Basham, there’s even one totally “stick-your-head-in-the-freezer-kiss.” I actually read it.

Okay, that’s a lie. But I did read part of it. Made it through a bit before I just turned that page. But for me, that’s equivalent to saying I read it three times or something. It’s kind of the beach read equivalent to the “train kiss” at the end of North and South.

That’s high praise—the only kiss I’ve ever NOT turned my head from. Just sayin’.

Okay, in the interest of full disclosure, I should admit that most of the time I do. I’ve seen it over and over. But I recall making myself watch the whole thing when I realized I wasn’t squirming and miserable inside the first time.

I digress.

For people who love family drama? Got it. Want a good misunderstanding? It has that, too. How about unexpected romance? Yep! Learning what the Lord means when He calls us to trust? One character learns that one.

It even has an adorable dog, okay?

Once upon a decade ago, Denise Hunter had a row of books on my shelf. Time passed, people asked to borrow something good to read, and I passed them on. Now her “spot” sits empty.

Well, it did. Summer by the Tides just took up residence there. As for me, I’m off to find another Denise Hunter book to join it. After all, it should have a sibling close, don’t you think

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Comments

  1. Sara says

    June 12, 2019 at 3:44 pm

    I really enjoy reading your reviews! I find Denise Hunter books to be pretty light and quick reads. This book was right in line – an easy, fun beach or pool read. I haven’t read one in a while, but you are so on target about reading an author after a long hiatus.

    Reply
  2. Andrea Stoeckel says

    June 12, 2019 at 12:22 pm

    Been a long time since I’ve read a Denise Hunter book….hopefully that’ will change

    Reply
  3. Patty says

    June 12, 2019 at 10:50 am

    I just love your reviews Chautona! Denise Hunter is usually a pretty safe bet for me, I almost always enjoy her books. Glad to hear that there is a little depth to this one.

    Reply
  4. Rachel Dodson says

    June 12, 2019 at 10:24 am

    I think you have convinced me to try this one. I’ll be honest and say that I have read acouple of her books and didn’t enjoy them. However you make this one sound like one I’ll really like! Great review as always!

    Reply
  5. Pam says

    June 12, 2019 at 8:35 am

    Morning Chautona,
    I agree with you on reading an author you read in the past, then read something new. Sometimes it continues on, sometimes it feels like something is missing. That said, I love Denise Hunter and will look at getting this book.
    Thanks for the review and have a wonderful time at the beach!
    Pam

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

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Episode 263: A Chat about The Love Script w/ Toni Shiloh
byChautona Havig

I had another lovely conversation with Toni Shiloh last month. Her latest book, The Love Script released and boy does it promise to be another #BookTouchdown!  Listen in to what you’ll find in this Love in the Spotlight series and especially in The Love Script.

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

How Many Lies Does It Take to Expose the Truth That Love Brings?

Authors tell me over and over that they experience the same things I do when I’m writing. You start helping your characters work through their problems, and as you do, the Lord starts exposing your own.  He helps you understand where you need growth and helps pull weeds that try to choke out that growth.

The Love Script has a great twist of someone trying to use a lie to smooth over the gossipy ripples of false reporting (genius way to handle it, eh?) and oh the fall out.

Toni promises we’ll see some great wisdom from Lamont’s mother and some deep truths that Neveah discovers.

The Love Truth by Toni Shiloh

A Hollywood hair stylist.

Nevaeh Richards loves making those in the spotlight shine but prefers the anonymity of staying behind her stylist chair, where no one notices her. But when a photo of Nevaeh and Hollywood A-lister Lamont Booker goes viral for all the wrong reasons, her quiet life becomes the number-one trending topic.

The silver screen’s latest heartthrob.

Lamont Booker’s bold faith has gained him a platform, and the authenticity of his faith is well known . . . until the tabloids cause the world to question everything he claims to be. With his reputation on the line, he finds himself hearing out his agent’s push for a fake relationship–something he never thought he’d consider in a million years.

A love that goes off script.

With their careers at risk, Nevaeh and Lamont have to convince the world that their scripted romance is more than just an act. But when fake seems to turn into something real, can Nevaeh trust her heart in a world where nothing is ever as it seems?

You can find out more about Toni on her WEBSITE.  Follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

And don’t forget that you can get 30% off the book with free shipping at BakerBookHouse.com. And you can get You Make It Feel Like Christmas, too!

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Episode 263: A Chat about The Love Script w/ Toni Shiloh
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