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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

What Do Love, Forgiveness, and Trust Have to Do with a Good Book?

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

Waiting on the Tides offers a heartwarming story about love, forgiveness, and rising above the mistakes of your past. via @chautonahavig

My dad was probably drunk the night he said the worst things anyone has ever said to me. I can still hear the guttural growl as he spewed horrible accusations on a girl who had made a foolish, new mom mistake. Truth is, I hadn’t known any better, Challice was fine (thanks to the Lord’s mercy), and even as the words smarted, a tiny part of me was grateful he said something.  See, I hadn’t known that an hour in a moving car with the windows down (AC had died) meant I shouldn’t take the baby out in the heat–shade or no shade–when I got home. Lesson learned, though. I never kept my newborns out in the heat for too long again!

But the words…

Do you know, I don’t even know if he remembers that night? He probably never knew that he lost my trust then. But he did. I never trusted him with my heart after that. I’ve forgiven much worse (and I did forgive him for the pain he caused in HOW he told me), but forgiveness doesn’t equal trust. That night is when I learned that lesson. Or rather, it’s when that lesson began to imprint itself on my heart.

But forgiveness has usually come easy for me. Maybe that’s because I often need it myself. Perhaps it’s just that Jesus is such a good example of it. I don’t know. That was one of the rare times that I’ve had to choose forgiveness more than once before it became permanent. Oh, and that’s another lesson I learned about forgiveness in the whole mess.

Sometimes forgiveness is complete and instantaneous. Other times you forgive for that day and have to do it again later.

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

What Do Love, Forgiveness, and Trust Have to Do with a Good Book?

A lot. See, forgiveness is a huge part of Tabitha Bouldin’s, Waiting on the Tides which released on Tuesday. It’s crazy how every time she writes a new book, I say, “This one’s my favorite…” and the whole thing is ridiculous. Because they all can’t be favorites!  Or can they?  After all, I say that about my kids. Today one makes me laugh and is my favorite. Tomorrow one scrubs the kitchen and is definitely my favorite. Until the next day, when another sends a sweet note and steals the favorite trophy for herself. It’s a thing.

So yeah. Favorite books are like favorite children, I suppose–it’s the one right before me, right now, blessing me in some way. That’s my favorite. Today that’s Waiting on the Tides.

Waiting on the Tides Tabitha BouldinWaiting on the Tides by Tabitha Bouldin

People are more than the sum of their mistakes.

After a life lived in her older brother’s shadow, Abby Solomon is ready to take on the world—or at least a teaching position that puts her face to face with the one guy who thinks she’s nothing more than an immature nuisance.

When his daughter’s mother abandoned them, Christian Johnson swore off women and the trouble they bring. No wife—no drama. Just how he likes it.  But as Christian struggles to juggle his job as a cop with raising his daughter and tracking down a runaway teen, he’s forced to ask the one woman who reminds him of his wife for help.

Abby is thrilled with the opportunity to show Christian that there’s more to her than what he thinks. But just as Christian begins to trust Abby, she makes a colossal mistake that threatens to ruin everything.

She just wanted to be accepted. He wanted to be left alone. 

It’ll take a runaway teen to show them that love is not measured by a single mistake.

This Breakers Head novel is Tabitha Bouldin’s final book in the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

Get your entry in for the giveaway, and check out the other authors’ posts!

 Tabitha Bouldin  November 29

Carolyn Miller: November 30

Chautona Havig: December 1

Melissa McKay Wardwell: December 2

Kari Trumbo: December 3:

Rachel Skatvold: December 4

Sandy Womack Barela: December 5

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 472: A Chat with Shelley Shepard Gray
byChautona Havig

 It may seem weird, but my favorite way to read Amish fiction is with mystery or suspense added. I think I like the juxtaposition of the “simple, quiet” life and the upheaval. Listen in to my chat with Shelley Shepard Gray about her newest book, Unshaken.

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

There are so many questions about the Amish, their ways of life, and their differences from us and from each other. We talked about the differences between people, sure, but we also looked at how the Amish look for the ways people are similar to them etc.

Of course, we also talked about the Rumors in Ross County series and how her newest book connects.

 Unshaken  by Shelley Shepard Gray

He helps her hide until danger has passed. She hopes her cover lasts long enough. When Stephanie Miller planned her visit to a dollar store in southern Ohio, she was expecting to pick up a few items she couldn’t find in her Amish community. She was not expecting to find herself an innocent bystander as a drug deal went horribly wrong. The sole witness to a murder, now Stephanie is targeted by the gunman. Hardy Anderson is always ready to help his social worker sister, Bev–which now includes hiding an Amish woman until a killer can be brought to justice. Surely if they dress her in English clothing, Hardy can hide her at the sprawling ranch where he works. But the killer is desperate–and there’s no telling what lengths he will go.

You can learn more about Shelley on her WEBSITE.  Don’t forget to follow her on BookBub and GoodReads.

AND!!!  Don’t miss her Buggy Bunch group on Facebook, too! 

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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Episode 472: A Chat with Shelley Shepard Gray
Episode 472: A Chat with Shelley Shepard Gray
September 29, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 471: A Chat with Heather Wood
September 27, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 470: A Chat with JPC Allen
September 22, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 469: A Chat with Niki Florica
September 20, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 468: A Chat with Ann H. Gabhart
September 19, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 467: A Chat with Elizabeth Goddard
September 15, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 466: A Chat with Jennifer L. Wright
September 13, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 465: A Chat with DiAnn Mills
September 8, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 464: A Chat with Amy R. Anguish
September 6, 2025
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Episode 463: A Chat with Jenelle Hovde
September 5, 2025
Chautona Havig
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