Sunday, December 13, 2020

Book Review and Giveaway - Christmas Stalkings & New Year’s Revolutions Author: Chautona Havig On Tour with Celebrate Lit

 


About the Book

Book: Christmas Stalkings & New Year’s Revolutions

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Fiction / Christian / Romance / Holiday

Release Date: January 29, 2017 and December 31, 2016


Christmas Stalkings

If her life had to transform into a TV movie, couldn’t it have been a sweet romance instead of a creepy suspense?

Wendy Nabity has redefined “crazy cat lady,” and she’s just fine with that. She’s got a tree and a stocking for reach of them, too.

All that festivity turns ominous when things begin turning up in odd places—places her fur babies couldn’t move them. The local police? They think she’s as crazy as the fleas jumping from cat to cat—or something like that.

Her neighbors aren’t much help. The nice one won’t come near her, despite his obvious interest, and the other hates her enough to torment her every chance he can. Seriously, if Neal Kirkpatrick makes one more rude demand of her, she might just start dumping the litter box on his front porch!

However, when a threatening note appears in one of the stockings, even Fairbury’s police officers have to admit no cat could have written it, and one officer takes it upon himself to do something.

Who knew Christmastime could feel so sinister?

____________________________________

New Year’s Revolutions


His life is spinning out of control, and his heart isn’t far behind!

Neal Kirkpatrick: project manager, staunch atheist, and town grump. Aside from an apparent soft spot for a neighborhood boy, the man has nothing to recommend him.

So when he overhears criticism from a neighbor he secretly respects, Neal decides maybe it’s time for professional help. With the same straightforward tenacity he uses in his job, Neal goes on a hunt for a therapist to help him unravel the mystery of himself.

His therapist says he’s in love, but Neal Kirkpatrick does not do relationships.

Does he?

Is any woman worth changing his entire life for?

Is He worth it?

You met him in Christmas Stalkings. Now it’s time to get to know him.

Discover what happens when the town curmudgeon steps out of his comfort zone and into a psychologist’s office to learn what’s up with his heart.

 

Click here to get your copy of Christmas Stalkings!

Click here to get your copy of New Year's Revolutions!

 

About the Author



Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

 

More from Chautona

Sometimes, You Just Can’t Let a Character Go

I met him in my book, A Bird Died. Neal Kirkpatrick. Grumpy, snappish, the man just seemed to look for something to grouse about. Except when it comes to a little boy in the town, and then a soft side came out that no one expected.

A few years later, I got the idea for a Christmas comedic suspense “noella” (Christmas novella), and the minute I knew what I wanted to write, I knew I’d be writing about him, too. He’d be the main character’s neighbor and always on her case about something. Instant conflict and subplot. Oh, yeah!

Something unexpected happened as I wrote the story, though. I fell in love with the cranky guy and didn’t want to let him go. Did I have time to write a book for New Year’s, too? I mean, how cool would that be? After much deliberation, I decided to go for it.

I’m kind of glad I didn’t know what kind of Christmas our family would have that year or I would never have decided to do it, and I doubt Neal’s story would still be languishing in the slush-pile of my mind (for the story of our family’s Christmas that year, you might want to check out Sand & Mistletoe).

That story turned into something unexpected.

First, there was more to his story than I’d ever imagined. A dysfunctional family, a past that he didn’t even choose himself, and a rather immoral life I wouldn’t usually care to consider. But reality made me admit that a man with no concern for what the Lord says about things wouldn’t necessarily live the kind of life I think people should! Don’t worry, I didn’t do deep into those kinds of details! My prudish streak got pushed, but not pushed aside.

More than just “his side of the story,” New Year’s Revolutions tells the story of a man who sees himself through the lens of someone he respects and goes on a journey to see why he is as he is and if there is something inherently wrong with it or if the trouble lies with others (as he suspects).

Both a personal and a spiritual journey ensued that made me dig deep into Scripture to discover what it had to say about Jesus, relationships, and honesty. Neal’s discovery of what the Word says about things drove me to study and restudy things that I believed. We didn’t always come to the same conclusions, but it was interesting and I learned more than I would have expected to.

I hope you love Neal as much as I do. I know one thing for sure… this isn’t the last we’ll see of him.

My Thoughts

I am thrilled to be kicking off this tour with the first stop. I have  been able to read SEVERAL of Chautona's books this year and I love how vast her writing is. She can write in so many genres and every story is unique. 

Christmas Stalkings 


Ahhh every book I read by this author gets better and  better. In this book we are introduced to Wendy and Neal. We also find a mystery you need to solve. 


Wendy had me laughing out loud several times. She loves to talk to her cats. (Any pet owners will understand. I talk to my dog all the time. I’m also pretty sure she understands me :) ) Wendy is the definition of a crazy cat lady. She can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t love them. 

Neal is well interesting.  He comes across as gruff. However in the second edition of this book he will grow on you. 


The author has crafted a fun, laugh out loud, whodunit novella that you will enjoy reading. 

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do 


I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate lit blogging program. All thoughts are my own. 


New Year's Revolutions


This is a follow up to the story “Christmas Stalkings” I do recommend reading them in order so that you can grasp the full story.  In this story we see where Neal is starting to fall for Wendy. However she is a Christian. Neal is an atheist. I love how the author introduced this. This is something that many have experienced in the world today. The author as usual has done an amazing job handling this. Another thing that the author does a great job handling is some of the sins of this world. Neal is kind of a play boy. He leaves places with women and head back to their place. Or a hotel. She doesn’t go into details. But you know what she means.  This didn’t make me uncomfortable or anything. 


We do see the process that Neal goes through to become a Christian. From the first book where he made it very clear that he wasn’t going to ever become a Christian to finding salvation will make your heart smile. 


There is a great biblical message throughout this book. As always the author writes from the heart. Well written characters, original story line and biblically sound. 


I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program. 

All thoughts are my own 

Blog Stops

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 14

For Him and My Family, December 15

Get Cozy Book Nook, December 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 16

Captive Dreams Window, December 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 17

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 18

Holly Jo Morris, December 18

Inklings and notions, December 19

Ashley’s Bookshelf, December 20

Mary Hake, December 20

Sara Jane Jacobs, December 21

deb’s Book Review, December 22

Blogging With Carol, December 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 23

CarpeDiem, December 24

Godly Book Reviews, December 25

Artistic Nobody, December 26 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Simple Harvest Reads, December 26 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Texas Book-aholic, December 27

Batya’s Bits, December 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of each book, Christmas Stalkings & New Year’s Revolutions!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/104a9/christmas-stalkings-new-year-s-revolutions-celebration-tour-giveaway


6 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on these books, they sound like excellent reads

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  2. Aw, glad you "got" my friend Neal. Wendy's a fave, too. Hee hee. I want to reread my favorite scene... Neal buying kittens.

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  3. Thanks for sharing more from this awesome author! These sound the llike the perfect Christmas stories to read.

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  4. This sounds intriguing and like a great Christmas read. Nice cover!

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  5. Wonderful review! Sounds like one not to miss. Thank you for sharing.

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  6. We tease my daughter about being the Cat Lady. Maybe I should get her to read this!

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