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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

My Top Colors of Christmas Are All Bright Red

by Chautona Havig · 5 Comments

Shopping, cleaning, lists… great heaping gobs of lists. Planning, card making, and of course, writing. Always writing. Sweet movies, sweeter books. Music playing to keep me going. So much going on at once you might just implode. And forgetting stuff? Totally going to happen. Something going wrong?

Definitely. Something always goes wrong.

Sounds like any Christmas season, doesn’t it?

Yeah.

It’s also everyday life. And in everyday life, sometimes so much happens at once that you feel like you’re going nuts.

I’m definitely going nuts. Prayerfully, it’ll be a nice Brazilian nut or perhaps a cashew. I like macadamia, too.

One proof? My laptop died. Okay, that makes it sound like it made a choice to cease operations. No… the day I got back from my annual trek across the country for my writing retreat, a beloved member of my family showed how much he loved having me back by knocking it off the bookshelf. RIP, dear, little Toshiba.

So while I waited 36 agonizing hours to replace that trusty little friend, I had no email. And then for another 48-72 hours, we were getting the thing set up. What does that mean? Still no email. No access to my lovely folders that tell me what to do when I get lazy about putting stuff in my planner.

Note to the wise. NEVER get lazy about putting stuff in your planner. Guess who missed another deadline? My only consolation is that for the second time in a row, it was completely unavoidable.
So there I was, staring at this book that I was supposed to have posted a review for on Monday, not wanting to read it. And that’s really unfortunate because I’d been looking forward to it. Then I found out wonderful news. There’s two books in one—by the same author! WOOT!

I made a decision. I’d read one and review that. I’d have a pretty good idea of if I’d like the second based on the first. So, that’s part of why…

My top colors of Christmas are all bright red. With embarrassment.

My Top Colors of Christmas Are All Bright Red

Note: links in this post may be affiliate links that provide a small commission at no extra expense for you.

Seriously, though. Olivia Newport has written a wonderful novella full of faith, hope, and a lot of Christmas cheer. Kind of ironic considering much of the story reflects on an elderly woman’s difficult past in war-torn Germany.

Christmas in Gold is told from two perspectives. Astrid, the octogenarian from Germany and Carly, a single mom with a problem that just won’t go away. Each character has a distinct voice in the story, which makes switching back and forth rather smooth and easy.

Frankly, I wanted to slap Astrid’s son a few times. Astrid is in a difficult position, but she handles the frustration with tact and grace that I could learn to emulate myself. However, what made her response so wonderful wasn’t that it was so perfect, but that it was a choice. You saw her reactions as proof of a lifetime of growth and maturity rather than sloppy characterization. BRAVO, Ms. Newport. Bravo!

In contrast, Carly both makes wise decisions for the safety of her son while also making rather rash choices for how to execute those decisions. She’s a lovely mixture of responsibility and the immaturity of inexperience. And she’s real—oh, so refreshingly, stimulatingly real. I loved her.

I was afraid that the lapses into the past would become rather storytellish—like one prolonged info-dump. Au contraire! Ms. Newport s a gifted writer who keeps her readers interested with realistic dialogue, an engaging plot, and faith woven seamlessly through the threads of the story. I cannot wait to read the next in this dual book! I can’t tell you how glad I am that I requested a review copy from Celebrate Lit. Smartest Christmas fiction decision of 2017… so far!

Recommended for people who enjoy Christmas fiction that has substance and just a splash of romance. Seriously, the hint of romance that didn’t frost itself over the entire book until your throat tingles was one of my favorite parts of this story!

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Comments

  1. Rebekah A. Morris says

    October 30, 2017 at 5:46 am

    You’ve made me want to read this book even more! I love Christmas stories!

    And I sympathize with you about your computer. Mine crashed on me the end of last month. There’s a a really strange, not-so-good feeling that comes over you when your computer won’t turn on.

    Reply
  2. Susan (DE) says

    October 28, 2017 at 11:16 am

    Sounds interesting. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Ava Gunn Kinsey says

    October 26, 2017 at 6:14 pm

    Your description plus the author’s guest post makes me want to read this book!

    Sorry about your old laptop. Hopefully the new one won’t have touchpad issues.

    Reply
  4. Marleen Viola says

    October 26, 2017 at 6:40 am

    Sounds like a great read, can’t wait to read it! Thanks for the recommendation Chautona! 🙂 Always love your books and recommendations

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      October 26, 2017 at 2:10 pm

      I can’t wait to read the second. I hope it’s as good as the first!

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
byChautona Havig

Nothing says fairy tale like a sweet western romance by an author like Karen Witemeyer… unless it’s a fairytale retelling set in Texas in the late 19th century, right?  Fairest of Heart takes the familiar “Snow White” and turns it on its head with retired cowboys, a self-absorbed actress, a Texas Ranger, and a sweet girl who knows the true Source of her beauty.  Listen in to see all the genius Easter eggs Witemeyer planted in this book.

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

Sometimes All a Girl Needs Is a True Change of Heart

I fell in love with the cover of Karen Witemeyer’s Head Over Heels a few years back (only to learn it’s much older than that, even), and meant to read that book.  I didn’t.  #BecauseIdiot. Well, that’ll be rectified just as soon as I’m done listening to her first book in a trilogy of fairytale retellings. I loaded it up on my Audible app tonight and wheeeeeeee. Here I go! So much for no new books until October. HA! 

Karen talks about her heart for young women today and how they’re taught by every bit of media blasting at them that they need to use their bodies to get what they need or want when the Lord has a better plan. And I can’t guarantee it, but I strongly suspect she does it without preaching. SQUEE!

Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer

Once upon a time in Texas . . .

Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the West, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters–and her jealous mistress plotting her demise.

After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas Ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from women and is rarely disappointed. So when a young lady found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather’s ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her.

With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus is assigned to investigate a robbery case tied to Penelope’s acting troupe, and all evidence points to Penelope’s guilt. But Titus might just be convinced that the fairest woman of all has a heart as pure as her last name . . . if only he can prove it.

You can learn more about Karen Witemeyer and her books on her WEBSITE. Don’t forget the book is 30% off on BakerBookHouse.com.  

Follow Karen on BookBub and GoodReads.

And don’t forget her Posse Group on Facebook.

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Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
September 29, 2023
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