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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Happy Days Are Literarily Here Again–Thank Goodness!

by Chautona Havig · 4 Comments

Is The Thief of Blackfriars Lane as good as I hoped it would be? Nope. It's far better and I can't wait to read it again. via @chautonahavig

It happens to all of us–authors and readers alike. Sometimes books just don’t “click” with us. The worst is when “everyone” loves a book and you just don’t.  So disappointing and well… I mean, it’s easy to get the feeling there’s something wrong with you.  That happened with a book by Michelle Griep a while back, and I’ve been waiting for her next–hoping I’d love whatever it was just as much as I have her other books.

So, when I had a chance to read and review The Thief of Blackfriars Lane recently, of course, I accepted.  (More like begged and pleaded, but why get all technical.  But then the question must be asked.  Did I like it?

The thief of blackfriars lane

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

Happy Days Are Literarily Here Again–Thank Goodness!

Most of the time in historical fiction, when you find yourself in 19th century London, it’s not racing through the sewers as fast as your feet can fly through the sludge, clinging to the walls to avoid pursuers, or wedged in an alcove to avoid being flattened by trains.

Can I just say it was wonderful to read something different?  (I wanted to say refreshing, but that sewer is still taunting my nostrils!)

With all the wit and banter I fell in love within the first Michelle Griep book I ever read, The Thief of Blackfriars Lane kicks off with a bang and at a quick clip and doesn’t stop moving. I’ve seen some people say they found it difficult to get into the story, but I have to say that I was swept along from the first page.  The action only slows long enough for you to catch your breath and do a bit of thinking before the next thing hits.

The moral dilemma of deception as a way of convincing others to do what they should do anyway was played out well, I thought.  Kit had a fun twist on the “Robin Hood” mentality, and I loved that she worked hard not to break the law even while breaking the spirit of the law.  Her character growth also seemed realistic to me–not too neat and tidy, not too “justified.”  She’s awfully young, still.  And it takes years to mature enough to see past your thunderpuppy ideals at that age.

Writing style?

My complaints of last time–not here.  I didn’t feel the draggy info-dumping or the jarring jump from one style to the next. It wasn’t there this time.  My soul sings.

Characterization?

I loved Jackson and Kit.  I got a bit tired of a few of the “expletives” Kit and Jackson were fond of.  I’m not sure why. They weren’t on every page.  Flit!  Pah!  Gah!

Sigh.  Something about them really felt like they were overused, and I suspect that either it’s just me and the time I read it OR it’s that they’re unfamiliar so they stood out more than other ones would.  I remember noting a “blast” that didn’t bother me until something else followed and I remembered that.  Pretty minor, if you ask me.

Spiritual content?

Loved seeing Jackson’s faith drive him, make him waver, drive him again, and then sharing it with Kit.  After a bit of misplaced sermonizing in her last book, I was cheering this time.

What was my favorite part of The Thief of Blackfriars Lane?

Aside from just the funness of it all, this book has kind of a Miss Phryne Fisher feel to it (but clean!).  Kit is clever, but she makes mistakes. She’s not the heroine who does everything perfectly or comes up with the perfect ideas while the bumbling police officer looks like an idiot.  No, Jackson is a rookie and makes rookie mistakes, but he has a brain, he uses it, and together, they make a formidable team.  She has street smarts. He knows how to think outside the criminal box.

I guess basically, the part I loved best is that neither is a “Mary Sue” character.  Both have strengths and imperfections, they play well off each other, and they’ll each grow from one another.  And those things I loved.

Recommended?

Most definitely–for readers who love adventuresome historical fiction with a twist of faith and great banter. Not recommended for readers who expect the unsaved to act saved. It doesn’t happen in here.  Thank goodness. So glad I requested the free review copy.  Pleased that I loved it so much.

The Thief of Blackfriars Lane is on tour with Celebrate Lit

The Thief of Blackfriars LaneAbout the Book

Book:  The Thief of Blackfriars Lane

Author: Michelle Griep

Genre: Christian historical

There’s Often a Fine Line Between a Criminal and a Saint

Constable Jackson Forge intends to make the world safer, or at least the streets of Victorian London. But that’s Kit Turner’s domain, a swindler who runs a crew that acquires money the old-fashioned way—conning the rich to give to the poor.

When a local cab driver goes missing, Jackson is tasked with finding the man, and the only way to do that is by enlisting Kit’s help. If Jackson doesn’t find the cabby, he’ll be fired. If Kit doesn’t help Jackson, he’ll arrest her for thievery. Yet neither of them realize those are the least of their problems.

Michelle Griep The Innkeeper's DaughterAbout the Author

Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the Christy Award-winning author of historical romances: A Tale of Two Hearts, The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, A Heart Deceived, and Gallimore, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan. If you’d like to keep up with her escapades, find her at www.michellegriep.com or stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

More from Michelle

Zootopia in Victorian London

I admit it. I like kid’s movies. You know, the animated sort that entertain both young and old alike. One of my favorites is Zootopia, a rollicking adventure about a bunny whose dream is to be a police officer and make the streets of the big city safe for all animals. In fact, I loved it so much that I thought why not set it in Victorian London?

So I did.

And that’s what The Thief of Blackfriars Lane is all about, but that meant I had to do a little digging into the history of the police force of the late 1800s. Here’s what I learned…

The Metropolitan Police (founded in 1829 by Robert Peel) was composed mostly of young men, many of whom were recruited from rural areas. Few were from London, the philosophy being that they would thus be free from local patronage and influence.

It is a bit of an anomaly that hero Jackson Forge and his friend, Officer Baggett, carry a sidearm. Some did, but most relied on truncheons. It was up to the officer. Revolvers were usually only supplied after the death of a police officer by an armed criminal, at the discretion of the Divisional Officer, or if a constable requested to use one during night duty. In 1884, after the deaths of several police officers, the Home Office ordered nearly a thousand revolvers from Webley & Scott to be issued to branches of the London police. . .which is where I got the idea of a shipment of guns for the villain to attempt to steal.

Police detectives were recruited from within the ranks of existing uniformed officers.

There were actually women on the force at the time, employed as police matrons. But these were behind-the-scenes workers, tasked with guarding women and children. If my heroine, Kit, were to be out in public, serving as Jackson’s assistant, she’d have to keep her job secret. The first female police officer wasn’t seen on the streets until 1919.

And so, armed with that information, I wrote the adventures of not a police bunny and a con artist fox, but of Jackson Forge, a fresh-faced constable, and his thorn in the side, swindler Kit Turner. Snatch up your own copy and enjoy a visit to Victorian London!

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, January 23

Bigreadersite, January 23

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She Lives To Read, January 25

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Connie’s History Classroom, January 29

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Godly Book Reviews, January 31

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Artistic Nobody, February 2 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

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Blossoms and Blessings, February 2

Splashes of Joy, February 3

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 3

Vicky Sluiter, February 3

Pause for Tales, February 3

The Write Escape, February 4

Wishful Endings, February 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 4

Hallie Reads, February 4

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, February 5

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, February 5

To Everything There Is A Season, February 5

Daysong Reflections, February 5

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of The Thief of Blackfriars Lane!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1062a/the-thief-of-blackfriars-lane-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

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Comments

  1. Caryl Kane says

    February 6, 2021 at 4:40 pm

    Excellent review, Chautona! Michelle Griep is one of my favorite authors. Thank you for hosting.

    Reply
  2. Roxanne C. says

    February 6, 2021 at 3:36 pm

    Well, Chautona’s review just makes me want read The Thief of Blackfriars Lane even more than I did a couple of days ago.
    BTW, I loved the review.

    Reply
  3. Emma says

    February 4, 2021 at 7:53 pm

    This sounds really good! I think I’m glad I got a review copy (though it’s still waiting patiently in my Kindle!).

    Reply
  4. Amelia says

    February 4, 2021 at 3:26 pm

    Thanks for sharing!

    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.

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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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