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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

When the Unexpected Delights You with Its Uniqueness

by Chautona Havig · 4 Comments

As many of you know, I’ve been rather scatterbrained and uncommunicative in recent weeks. Thanks to computer deaths and publishing glitches, I’ve even been late with reviews.

So, when I finally finished everything I needed to last night, I took a deep breath, inhaled beautiful sweet, dusty, desert air, and sighed in relief.

Then I remembered that other little thing I had to do—review another book.  One I hadn’t quite been sure about when I requested it. from Celebrate Lit

Not excited.  After all, it’s NaNoWriMo!  I am supposed to be writing about the Pony Express (if you missed that, you can find the post HERE)!

But, I got done with a few other things, and started reading, fully expecting to skim much.

Sometimes, I’m rather ridiculous.  Nah, who am I kidding. I’m often ridiculous. This was one of those times.  Completely, utterly ridiculous.  How, you ask?

When the Unexpected Delights You with Its Uniqueness

Links in this post may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

When the Unexpected Delights You with Its Uniqueness

My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate Utah: Leanna’s Choice gives the very deceptive appearance of yet just another “prairie bonnet” story.  I mean, it has all the makings of it.  Miners, Mormons, and schoolteachers.  How cliche can you get?

But Angie Dicken didn’t “go there.”  She took all those elements we’re so accustomed to seeing and gave us more from them.  A rich story that kind of takes all the best of a Romeo and Juliet story (and I admit, there’s not much that you can call good in that) and fixes it.  Bravo for that.  It has the personal self-sacrifice—without the tantrum death scenes.  It has the disapproving families, and it has Perfect love conquering all.

Funny thing about this book? 

I can’t tell you if it’s well-written.  There certainly wasn’t enough in it that jumped out and disappointed me.  Why?  I was too engrossed in a little-shared story of American immigrants—the Greeks who came to make a better life for themselves after the Greco-Turkish war.

I have a Greek friend now.  If you’ve ever seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding, you know exactly what it is like to talk and laugh with her.  She’s that rich, loving, vibrant.

And you see it in these people in this book.  I wanted to lambaste my forefathers for being such narrow-minded jerks. And actually, that’s the only thing that ticked me off about the book.  Ms. Dicken (for reasons, I don’t know but am sure she has) continually referred to the Anglo folks as “Americans” but the American Greeks were only Greek.  It perpetuated that divide—kind of like we see today with [insert ethnic group here-]Americans vs. [insert ethnic group here].

Forgive the political rant, but [clickToTweet tweet=”for the love of the God who made us all one people can we just be people! ” quote=”for the love of the God who made us all one people can we just be people! “] Can we love and embrace our heritage and our rich cultures without them being a means of looking down on or dividing others?  We’re different!  So what! That’s beautiful in my not-so-humble (obviously) opinion.

Okay, political rant over.

This book is recommended for anyone who just loves a good story.  If you want to see a side of the American west we don’t often see, this is the one for you.  If you want to see Utah without the stereotypical Mormon wives and the polygamy that gets a little old and cliched (twice, I could have sworn Ms. Dicken was going there—was going to try to force Leanna into some kind of arrangement only to be saved at the last minute.  Thankfully, she didn’t), anyway. If you’re ready for that kind of change, this book is for you.

I will say, though.  Characters follow a bit of a stock market graph for their growth arc instead of a lovely, smooth rainbow.  It’s more realistic, but sometimes you want to scream, “Can’t you make up your mind?”

But that’s how life is, isn’t it? 

Thinking we have it all figured out and then life throwing something at us we couldn’t have anticipated?  Yeah.  It’s actually rather well done, but it isn’t classic.  So if that bothers you, be warned.

One last issue… There is an agenda in this book.  Leanna is… progressive in her ideologies.  And while I don’t disagree with many of the things she stood for, I do get just a little weary of every historical book showing only the new and improved woman instead of women embracing where they were and working within that.  It is, after all, what the majority of women did.  So if that bothers you (and usually it does me), then you should know it’s in here.  Honestly, though, it more fit this character’s personality than felt like the author’s agenda.  I give Ms. Dicken excellent kudos for that.

Again, I can’t tell you if it’s a “good book” or not.  I can just tell you that I loved it and I can’t wait to give my copy to my friend, Vicky from Greece. Seeing so many of the things she’s talked about mentioned in here—that was beautiful. Well done, Ms. Dicken!

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Comments

  1. NZ Filbruns says

    November 3, 2017 at 8:57 pm

    I found this book on NetGalley, so I’m looking forward to reading it soon!

    Reply
  2. Paula Shreckhise says

    November 3, 2017 at 2:30 pm

    I’m awaiting this book to arrive in the mail. I enjoy these My Heat Belongs In: stories. Thanks for the review and interview.

    Reply
  3. agdicken says

    November 3, 2017 at 6:52 am

    Chautona, I love the uniqueness of YOUR review! Thank you so much for taking time to read my story, and for giving such a thoughtful perspective on the book. I am excited that you have a Greek friend to share it with. I grew up with a Yiayia like Mrs. Pappas, and a huge Greek family on both sides. 🙂 Thanks for being on the tour!

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      November 3, 2017 at 1:39 pm

      I’m thrilled you liked it. I have no idea what I wrote, even. I was on a book drunk… such a fun and DIFFERENT story!

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
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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
Episode 231: A Chat with RomCom author, Shannon Sue Dunlap
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