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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

What I Thought of For Love and Honor

by Chautona Havig · 9 Comments

There’s a man who used to live in our town—rather average in every respect. Height, weight, hair, eyes, skin. Well, not skin. You see, he had the largest port wine stain on half his face that I’d ever seen. It looked rather like the mask worn by the Phantom of the Opera.

I remember children being fascinated and afraid at the sight of him. Though, he always acted as if he didn’t mind, I can’t believe it didn’t hurt even a little. So, ever since then I’ve dreamed of writing a character like him. Someday. I have the book planned. In fact, I even have the opening scene written. I just need the time to finish…

What I thought of For Love and Honor

Note: links in this post may be affiliate links and provide me with  small commission at no extra expense to you.

All of that has a point to it, of course. You see, in For Love and Honor, Jody Hedlund has created a character with a rather large port wine stain on her arm—in medieval times. Look, my own research of medieval times shows some pretty scary superstitions about everything from cleft lips, to albinism, to other distinctions like port wine stains. So, when I saw that she had that stain, I requested to review the book, and Celebrate Lit provided it.

What I thought of For Love and Honor

Characters:

For Love and HonorSabine: I’d say that characterization is the best part of this book. By, oh… half a page into her first scene, I wanted to slap her. Oh, it was glorious! Seriously, I haven’t had so much fun disliking someone in a very long time.

She drove me nuts—and all in the best ways. Even better than that, I learned to love her to bits—without her really changing. She was the same character and yet she managed to change my opinion of her.

That is some seriously good writing right there.

Sir Bennet: what a cool guy. I couldn’t help but love his flawed but honorable self. Ms. Hedlund did a fabulous job of creating a consistent character who still managed to grow and be uncertain at times. Too often when authors do that, they create wishy-washy characters. I read another book this week and that’s exactly what I got from it. NOT in this one. This was fabulously done. Of course, it’s what you expect of a hero. She delivered.

Grandmother: Okay, she’s just the perfect blend of feisty, lady, bossy, and gentle—all when they needed to be. In fact, while she manages to keep herself in check with what is expected of her station, I do suspect we know where Sabine gets her sharp wit and repartee.

Don’t believe me? What about this bit between Grandmother and Sir Bennet?

Finally, she released me and stepped back “Can he sire children?”
“While he’s never had the opportunity to discover that,” I replied, unable to keep my sarcasm at bay, “it’s highly likely that he’s quite capable of doing his duty when the need arises.”

Speaking of repartee:

The book is full of it. Chock full of it. LOVE every single solitary absolutely amazing word of it. Not once did it fall flat. Not. Once.

Not only that, she also really pushes the repartee line. I’m not kidding. There are several times where the banter goes on and on—for pages! And it is just as sharp and witty at the end as in the beginning. I seriously love it.

Plot: I really thought the plot was beautifully developed. Hedlund takes those fabulous characters and matures and improves them through the course of a story that while not distinctly original is quite original in the execution of it. At bare bones, this story is like that of every fairy tale and of none. Come on, battles, secrets, priceless artifacts, romance—all wrapped up in a deep story that tugs at your heart. What more could you ask for?

Oh, yeah.  One more thing–a fabulous cover.  Just sayin’.

All things considered, I obviously recommend the book.

In fact, I’m giving it four stars because I really liked it. But for one thing, I would love it. However, that one thing did take away some of the enjoyment.

Honestly, I don’t know how to describe it. And it’s probably just me. I suspect that it is. But elements of the writing, the phrasing of things—they kept jarring me. Sometimes they just felt rather modern (phrases etc.) and other times it was probably the first-person aspect.

Yes, this book is written in first-person dual perspective.

And with that came things that just irritated me. Mostly some of the fatalistic elements.  Look, I know this is YA and therefore, authors feel like they have to do that, but you know what?  As a matter of fact, I don’t know any kids as fatalistic as so much of YA fiction portrays them to be.  For what it’s worth, and like I said. It’s probably just me.

And, you know what? I still really liked it—almost loved it. And I might actually change my rating later, because hey! Who doesn’t love a book with a line like this in it?

My silver coins are quite capable of doing all the impressing. They don’t need my interference.”

 

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Comments

  1. Cathe Swanson says

    May 10, 2017 at 12:07 pm

    I have to read this book!! I wonder if my 12 yo granddaughter is too young for the series….

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      May 10, 2017 at 4:14 pm

      If the 3rd is any indication of the other two, there’s nothing in it that I wouldn’t hand over to Lorna.

      Reply
  2. Jody Hedlund says

    May 6, 2017 at 5:44 am

    Thank you SO very much for hosting me in the Celebrate Lit blog tour! I appreciate your well-thought out review! Blessings to you! ~Jody

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      May 7, 2017 at 3:05 am

      Thanks! You’ve sold the first two in the series to me. I have to know what happened in those. And that’s saying a lot considering they’re first-person POV!

      Reply
  3. Emma says

    May 5, 2017 at 9:12 pm

    This is really sounding like one I’d like to read. I recently read my first book by this author, An Awakened Heart, and loved it (except for the kisses that took two pages to describe). Makes me want to read more of her books.

    Reply
  4. Karen says

    May 5, 2017 at 4:07 pm

    I can’t wait to read this! I just recently took in a piece of media that would’ve been spectacular and even somewhat okay for kids if it hadn’t been for all of the sex jokes. I’m glad that there’s still some classy media out there!

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      May 5, 2017 at 4:31 pm

      Doesn’t that just gall you? So annoying!

      Reply
  5. Kay Garrett says

    May 5, 2017 at 8:50 am

    Sadly, I think it has. Couples need to take their vows seriously and return to the golden rule in treating others, spouse included, in how we wish to be treated. I think mutual respect and doing that plus actually working on a relationship would get couples back to long marriages and not just giving up and moving on to the next thing. Happily I’ve been married 34 years to a marvelous man but it’s not always been easy but definitely well worth it.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      May 5, 2017 at 3:34 pm

      I agree with you, Kay. I know it isn’t easy, but I can’t help but think of that Roger Miller song, “Husbands and Wives.”
      “Two broken hearts, lonely, looking like houses where nobody lives. Two people each having so much pride inside neither side forgives. The angry word spoken in haste–such a waste of two lives. It’s my belief pride is the chief cause in the decline in the number of husbands and wives.”

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 231: A Chat with RomCom author, Shannon Sue Dunlap
byChautona Havig

Shannon Sue Dunlap isn’t new to rom-coms, and her first book in the Sweetheart Series promises to be a literary riot, and it lives up to that promise. I’m only halfway through it and am thinking mean, ugly thoughts of everything keeping me from being able to escape into the crazy small-town politics and quirky characters. So far the com far outweighs the rom, which makes me thrilled to bits. Listen in to discover what makes Lone Star Sweetheart so much fun.

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

Why Did This Author Write a Rom-Com about a Loveable Shrew?

Well, I think we can safely blame Shakespeare for that. Shannon Sue Dunlap has taken inspiration from Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew in her Katherine, but unlike Katerina, Dunlap’s character is actually trying to learn to tame the tongue. Maybe someone should send her over to the book of James. There’s that whole bit about not being able to tame it, being an “unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

Kate’s isn’t that bad, but not for lack of trying. Or something.

Shannon Sue Dunlap isn’t joking when she says that her Katherine is a “loveable” shrew. Seriously, I love this character. She’s forthright, no-nonsense, and “what you see is what you get” in her approach to life. I respect that. Add to that her boss who has shaken up the town of Sweetheart, Texas, and you’ve got the makings of a great story. I’m loving Lone Star Sweetheart.

But this isn’t all Dunlap has written.

Under the pseudonym, Shannon Kent, you can find her sweet and clean romances (including one Christian romance) inspired by Korean dramas. If you said I’d be not only chomping to read a sweet and clean romance about Korean tour guides and all that entails but also ready to watch a Korean drama on Netflix… Okay, I might not have laughed in your face, but I’d’ve been laughing on the inside.

Best part… one of them ties into her Sweetheart Series

Lone Star Sweetheart by Shannon Sue Dunlap

Katherine Bruno’s passionate, unfiltered temper makes her the shrew of small-town Sweetheart, Texas. When she’s drafted to help the mayor’s wife run against her own husband, Katherine meets opposing big city political consultant Ryan Park. The good-looking, flirtatious campaign manager gets under her skin, but fraternizing with the enemy is off-limits.

Katherine must battle her lack of experience, campaign sabotage, and her growing feelings for Ryan as she strives to succeed. His unprejudiced acceptance of her strong-willed character beckons her heart, but his jaded rejection of God is an insurmountable barrier. Will Ryan return to his faith and stay with her in Sweetheart or leave when the election ends?

You can find out more about Shannon Sue Dunlap AND get that first novella in the Korean Crush series free on her WEBSITE.

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Episode 231: A Chat with RomCom author, Shannon Sue Dunlap
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