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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Why I LOVE The Black Midnight & This New Author

by Chautona Havig · 4 Comments

So, did The Black Midnight live up to its potential? Well, by the end of the first chapter, I was hooked, by the second, I didn't want to put it down, and... via @chautonahavig

Okay, she’s not a debut author, but she is new to me! When I learned that she’d written a book in the True Colors Crime Series, I knew The Black Midnight would be my first Y’Barbo book. Come on. Pinkertons, Jack the Ripper, and Queen Victoria???  Count me in!

NOTE: I’m only three chapters into this book, but I have to say that I love her writing style and the characterization alone are awesome.  I sneaked a peek at the author’s notes on her research, and LOVE that she draws her own conclusions based on what she discovered.  Usually, that means some seriously good research.  Oh, and Alice Anne calling Queen Victoria “Granny”?  Too adorable.

So, since I flubbed a deadline and HAVE to write tonight, what I’m doing is putting the podcast episode I did about this series below and you can listen to just the bit about why I wanted to read this book or you can listen to my take on the first three episodes of the series by skipping to 28:46ish

the black midnightNote: Links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Why I LOVE The Black Midnight & This New Author

Okay, I’ll be honest. There are flaws with this book. There. I said it. The ending is a bit rushed, there are a few inconsistencies, the royalty aspect (which I was really excited about) was interesting but stretched the suspension of disbelief, and the way the “we don’t know what happened” was handled… eeeeh.. not so much.

Okay, now that I got the honest criticism out of the way, how about we talk characters?  Loved them. Queen Victoria cracked me up. I love when people write her as a person instead of just a personage. Y’Barbo DID.

What about settings?  Great!  I loved that the author both gave Austin, Texas its best setting possible (snow!) while acknowledging that the actual snowfall was a year before or behind (can’t recall which).  That kind of transparency makes storytelling so much better!.  We can accept it if we’re not expected to ignore fact without acknowledgment.

I think what I loved most about the book was that the author didn’t try to create conclusions that would alter history while presenting possibilities that, if proven, would. Add to that the sheer fun of juxtaposing Victorian London with Austin, Texas and two crimes that could have been connected, and you have a book you don’t want to put down.

Recommended?

If you enjoy true crime stories, Jack the Ripper stories, and clean fiction without the gore that usually goes with both of those, I think Kathleen Y’Barbo’s The Black Midnight is perfect for you. Not recommended for people who expect every historical reference to any person or event to be perfectly verifiable. This is a novel and is presented as one.

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Comments

  1. Emma says

    September 4, 2020 at 7:42 pm

    While this wasn’t my favorite in this series, I did really enjoy it!

    Reply
  2. Amelia says

    September 3, 2020 at 1:59 pm

    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  3. Cheryl Arcemont says

    September 3, 2020 at 7:46 am

    I have always had a secret love to research Jack the Ripper and the Whitechapel Murders. To satisfy that lack of energy to do the actual research, I have allowed myself the selfish reading of as many books of such research as long as they are also fiction. What good is knowing the actual facts without some mild fiction to help with imagination to push for further research?! I will definitely find a way to get all of these books as they have all the elements I love in stories; clean reading all along the stories plus mysteries!
    Thank you, Chautona, for being a part of this very interesting series of books by great Christian authors! And thank you, Kathleen, for doing the history research to bring ‘The Black Midnight’ to life!

    Reply
  4. Andrea Stoeckel says

    September 3, 2020 at 6:19 am

    This looks wonderful. Hope all goes well on the tour1

    Reply

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Episode 48: A Chat with T.E. Price
by Chautona Havig

What happens when you combine domestic violence with suspense?  A hair-raising ride you won’t want to miss.

On March 2, T.E. Price ‘s book, Take Flight, releases on eBook, and boy is this one excellent story.  Join me as I talk with Tiffany about her book, the inspiration, and all the excellence you’ll find within the can’t-put-it-down pages.

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

The 3 Best Things about This Domestic Abuse Suspense Novel

A new author to me, T.E. Price knocked her suspense (and almost thriller) out of the park with three excellent elements to the book.  

Aside from wonderful and realistic characterization and edge-of-your-seat storytelling, T.E. Price also digs deep into a subject Christians sometimes like to pretend isn’t a thing.  And boy does she do it well. 

So if a great story that grips you and won’t let you go isn’t the best thing, what is?  Well… I’ve got three.

First, the writing is stellar.

Let’s face it, domestic abuse victims have cyclical thought patterns and actions that can feel redundant and become boring when you see it on the page, but Tiffany managed to avoid that while still showing how real and confusing it can be both for the person going through it and for those watching from the outside.

Second, her laser focus on her subject.

Domestic abuse is a multi-layered and faceted subject that spans so many different aspects of life. It would be easy and natural, even, to try to show it all with the one person who experienced it all, but T.E. Price keeps her focus on one woman’s escape from that life and how it affects her relationship with the Lord and others. That’s it.  

Third, T.E. Price shows her heart for the Lord and His people in every word on the page.

While not preachy at all, and while often just the undercurrent of the story, there is no doubt in the reader’s mind that Price wants the reader to learn both how to overcome as the victim of domestic violence and how to aid others in the church going through it.  Additionally, that steady reminder of Who the only true support we truly have touches every aspect of Hallie McClain’s life.

There are so many other excellent elements to Take Flight, but I’d be chatting all day with Tiffany (and nearly did!) if I kept going.

Don’t forget!

T.E. Price’s book releases March 2, 2021 and on March 5, 2021  from 7-8 pm (EST) she is having a Facebook launch party with prizes and lots of information about it.  HERE is a link to that party and I hope to be there to celebrate with her!  Please join her and maybe you’ll win an eBook copy of Take Flight!

You can find more about T.E. Price (Tiffany) at her WEBSITE where you can also find her other novel, Love’s True Colors.

Title:  Take Flight Author: T.E. Price Synopsis:  

Within Take Flight, readers follow Hallie McClain as she is faced with numerous fight-or-flight decisions in her attempt to escape her abusive husband, Jonathan McClain.

Hallie has made the decision to leave him for good, but Jonathan has no intentions of complying. During their separation, Hallie grapples with trusting those closest to her, the gossip-mill of her small town, and her wavering trust in God. Living alone in a secret, secluded cabin in the woods, she is thrust into multiple circumstances where she has to balance her safety with the reality of inescapable encounters with her soon-to-be ex-husband. Jonathan soon discovers Hallie’s whereabouts, forcing her to escape to the city while awaiting the divorce, but her move isn’t the solution as her safety is still compromised.

Hallie has to learn to trust God with her safety while leaning on the church body for support. The tantalizing storyline of Take Flight weaves through one “fight-or-flight” scenario after the next, filling Hallie with angst regarding her constant need for escape. Take Flight addresses the ugliness of domestic abuse and the need for support from the church community. Furthermore, it affirms God’s trustworthiness in the midst of difficult, sometimes even life-threatening, situations.

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

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You can find the Blog post HERE.

Episode 48: A Chat with T.E. Price
Episode 48: A Chat with T.E. Price
February 23, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 47: The Drew Farthering Mysteries
February 16, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 46: What Romances Do I Think Are Perfect for Valentine's Day?
February 9, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 45: A Gush about Things We Didn't Say
February 2, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 44: A Chat with Carolyn Miller
January 26, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 43: A Chat with Allison Pearl
January 19, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 42: A Chat with J'nell Ciesielski
January 13, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 41: A Chat with Jennifer Pierce
January 5, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 40: My Favorite Book of 2020
December 8, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 39: A Chat with L.K. Simonds
December 1, 2020
Chautona Havig
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