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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Was This Book Really the Best I’ve Read by This Author?

by Chautona Havig · 6 Comments

Won't deny it. To Steal a Heart by Jen Turano is the best book I've read by her. I'm anxiously awaiting the next in the series! via @chautonahavig

“I don’t notice point of view or historical anachronisms. I just like to read a good book.”

It’s not that I don’t envy my mother that.  I do.  It would be nice to just be able to sit down, read a book, and not notice repetitive words, anachronisms, or if the book was written in present tense.  Then again, Mom notices more than she lets on.  Like British spelling.  Drives her CRAZY that those Englishers can’t spell English correctly.  I still snicker at that one.  And in a recent book, she had a few words to say about the convenient landing of a head blown off a body.  Apparently, it ends up on a pillow.  When I asked what kind of metaphor she thought the author was going for, Mom said, “Quit while you’re ahead, I imagine.”

But Mom knows me well.  I do notice those things.  Real or imagined–in other authors’ works or my own, when I catch something off, I can’t ignore it.  But sometimes an author makes me not care.  Like that time I read this new book from this new series…

Was This Book Really the Best I've Read by This Author? steal a heart

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

Was This Book Really the Best I’ve Read by This Author?

Yes.  Definitely. To Steal a Heart did something fabulous for me. This book made me a Jen Turano fan.  Look, I’ve enjoyed other books by her, but I’ve never loved a book like this one.  And when you consider a few quibbles that I should have with it, that’s pretty impressive.

Laugh-out-loud funny (no, really. I cracked up all night long while I read it. No joke), the story kicks off as many of Turano’s do… at a party. And what a party it was!

In Turano’s classic style, she’s created some amazing characters.  Gabby–brilliant.  Look, this author took one of my pet peeves and thumbed her nose at it.  I hate it when authors turn all the girls in historical novels into strong, independent women who don’t care about conventions.  But Jen Turano did it again, and again, she made me love what she did with it.  She made the reasons believable even in their wacky improbability.

Did I roll my eyes at a guy from the 1880s telling a young lady to use “pirate speech” with his dog?  Yeah!  It felt insanely modern.  Did I care?  Nope. I was too busy cracking up at the whole scene (and taking a picture of the page and sharing with another author) to bother caring.

And that’s what I’m talking about.

Sometimes, an author is just so good that she can break rules and blow raspberries at all my pet peeves and I don’t even care.  Because see, when you write such a great story with engaging characters and a sweet and subtle message woven in and left unstated in all the subtext, you can get away with that.

When you write a book that readers can’t put down and with characters they can’t wait to see again, you’ve done it. You’ve succeeded at your job. To Steal a Heart is recommended for anyone needing a good laugh, anyone who loves a fun mystery, and everyone who likes their fiction sprinkled with faith that sparks life in their hearts instead of choking the life out of the story.  Not recommended for folks who like to be miserable.  It’s impossible to be miserable while reading To Steal a Heart.

In fact, I’d go so far as to say To Steal a Heart will steal your heart, but come on.  That’s about as cliche as you can get.  (Psst… it will, though!)

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Comments

  1. Faith says

    November 20, 2020 at 12:29 pm

    Okay, can someone explain to me how the Celebrate Lit and the blog stops work. I got lost in what I’m supposed to do etc. the couple of times I tried it, so I just quit trying. Didn’t even go there with this one. HELP! Sounds fun if I could figure it out.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      November 20, 2020 at 3:59 pm

      Each day thre are one-two-three or so posts. You can enter the giveaway on any one of those posts. OR… you can go to each blog each day and comment on each one. Enter the giveaway again and tell them how you commented on the post. That gets you more entries and a better chance of winning. 😀

      Reply
  2. Paula Shreckhise says

    November 20, 2020 at 9:51 am

    Love your post about this funnier than funny book!
    Great responses by Jen, too! She is a favorite.

    Reply
  3. Andrea Stoeckel says

    November 20, 2020 at 9:15 am

    This sounds right up my alley! Yay!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Tour and Giveaway for To Steal A Heart by Jen Turano | splashesofjoy says:
    November 29, 2020 at 6:42 am

    […] The Write Escape, November 20 […]

    Reply
  2. To Steal a Heart Book Review – Michelle De Bruin says:
    November 22, 2020 at 5:46 am

    […] The Write Escape, November 20 […]

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 217: A Chat with Biblical Fiction Author, Terry Garner
byChautona Havig

Terry Garner joined me tonight to chat about his fascinating Biblical Fiction series, Magi Journey. Starting way back in Assyria, through Babylon, and into Persia, the series chronicles two timelines–first that of the Israelite kings, and then of a fascinating family back in Persia… Listen in to see the hope this Magi family found in Scripture and how it led them to Bethlehem. 

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

This isn’t just another “traveling to Bethlehem with gold” story of the Magi. No, Terry Garner links the Israelite kings from Ahaz through the destruction of the temple and into captivity with a family who discovers that God has promised redemption for those outside Israel as well. Follow a physical and a faith journey across the ages all the way to the hope of an age.

With extensive and meticulous research, Terry Garner looks at Scripture and compares it with historical secular accounts. Even more exciting, however, are the things he discovered along the way. He talks about Jewish historians discounting Scriptural accounts of historical events to explain away the supernatural as if God Almighty… isn’t!

And then, Terry explains how he’s also writing a nonfiction book to help readers pull all the pieces from Scripture and see what God has promised us… so that we may know His plans. I’m excited about that book, but I confess, learning he’s working on a spinoff of the Magi series excited me even more. EEEP!

Terry Garner has all his books on sale right now!

The paperbacks are on sale for 9.95 and the box set (also available on Kindle Unlimited) is on sale for 4.99!

Magi Journey by Terry Garner

A sweeping historical saga from the courts of Tiglath-Piliser III in Assyria to the sleepy town of Bethlehem. History is seen through the eyes of the Magi as they journey from 734 BC to -0- AD.

Explore with the Magi the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel. Witness God’s judgment on Israel, Assyria, and Babylon. And rejoice in the redemption of Israel and the coming of the Messiah.

Join the Magi as they answer the question that is critical to every man and woman, “Who Is This Messiah?”

Learn more about Terry on his WEBSITE.

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Episode 217: A Chat with Biblical Fiction Author, Terry Garner
Episode 217: A Chat with Biblical Fiction Author, Terry Garner
March 31, 2023
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March 28, 2023
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Episode 211: A Chat with Lynn H. Blackburn about Under Fire
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Episode 208: A Chat with Author, Hallie Lee
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