Premeditated Serendipity Review, Guest Post and Giveaway!

Posted by abakersp in Contemporary / 3 Comments

premeditated Serendipity
It’s always a joy to read a book by Chautona Havig 🙂 So glad to be a part of this tour!

About the Book

Premeditated Serendipity Cover

Title: Premeditated Serendipity

Author: Chautona

Genre: Christian romance

Release date: November 16, 2017

…make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you. ~ I Thessalonians 4:11

That’s all Reid wanted to do–just serve the Lord for a year before concerning himself with anything else. Yeah, the idea came from an odd “prophesy” one of the watchmen of Fairbury’s new Prayer Room spoke over him. Sure, he didn’t know if such “prophecies” were even Biblical–arguments on that score abounded. But since the words she spoke were pure Scripture, and since yielding to them couldn’t be wrong, he thought, “Why not?”

Was it always easy? No. People made judgments about him that weren’t accurate. Shy? Nope. Stuck up? Not hardly. Committed to a celibate life?

Good news, girls–just for the year.

But when the local florist hears Reid’s story and sees a few things that give him a glimpse into the man’s heart, he decides on a little premeditated serendipity to move things along, unaware of the serious havoc he’s about to wreak.

Premeditated Serendipity

Take a few Bible verses, stir in a little godly interference, give a pinch of meddling, and mix well. Bake in the oven of misunderstanding until true feelings rise and come out clean.

Part of the Out of the Blue Bouquet Collection

Click here to purchase your copy of the Out of the Blue Bouquet Collection

My Perspective

Anytime I read a book by Chautona Havig, I know I’m in for a treat. First, you have her characters. They are flawed, they are human, they have an itch for the gospel, and sometimes have a little bit of spunk (kind of like the author!). It’s so easy to connect to characters like Reid and Kelsey because they have traits that so many of us have. You just can’t help liking them!

Then there’s Havig writing style. It is spunky, fun, and witty at times. But something she is not afraid to do? Loudly share how the Lord can help you. Maybe loudly isn’t totally the correct word – perhaps boldly would better portray what I’m trying to say. She doesn’t shy away from a faith element in her books, and she does it in a variety of ways. Here we have Reid, someone who is really hungering for God’s Word and leading. Does he have a past? Yes. Don’t we all? Then Havig has to plan out exactly how Kelsey is going to react to every situation and conversation with Reid. Many authors would go the straight Christian route, but almost that fake Christian response. Like the response that almost none of us would have in real life. Not Havig. I think she kept Kelsey realistic and human. To be honest, I appreciate her more for that.

Listen, this may be a short story, but it’s got a lot going on. Not the confusing, don’t understand what I’m reading stuff. I’m talking emotion, though provoking conversations, and lessons that will stay with you for years down the road. Do I recommend this novella to others? You bet. Just one suggestion – read it more then once (it’s short so this shouldn’t be a problem for most). The first time read it for fun. Get to know the characters a bit, and just learn about their story. The second time, read for content. See what Havig is trying to show you between the lines. Trust me when I say it will be well worth it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Chautona

Author of the Amazon bestselling Aggie and Past Forward series, Chautona Havig lives and writes in an oxymoron where she uses story to connect readers with the Master Storyteller.

Guest Post from Chautona

What Important Life Lesson Do Simple Daisies Teach Us?

It all began with a barrel of daisies. There I was, writing a simple scene with a character walking up the street of my fictional town of Fairbury, and this man appeared in front of a florist’s shop—The Pettler. He handed my character a daisy, and I soon learned that he did this for everyone—handed out a free daisy to anyone who passed.

Since then, in almost any book that takes place in Fairbury, someone receives one of those daisies. So, when Amanda Tru told me about a collection featuring novellas about floral fiascoes, I knew it was time for Wayne Farrell of The Pettler to make a solid showing in a book.

I just wasn’t ready for it to be his story.

However, as I wrote about Reid and Kelsey, Wayne kept creeping in more and more. A backstory emerged. His faith bloomed. Yes, his heart has a few weeds that need to be pulled, but those weeds provided the conflict for this story.

And one thing that happened is he planted a seed in my own heart. I sat there thinking about what those daisies meant to him when the old “He loves me, he loves me not” ditty came to mind. I imagined that a florist would likely love or hate that. I mean, you don’t want people to have negative connotations with flowers, but on the other hand, people buying daisies to pluck… that’s good business.

Thinking of it in terms of Jesus changed everything, though. Suddenly, I had his story. Because, like Wayne shares with Reid in Premeditated Serendipity. When you pluck a daisy thinking of the Lord, there is no not. It’s just, “He loves me. He loves me. He loves me.” You can cross out every not. (I even have a short videoon this.)

Because, as John 3:16 reminds us, “For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

He loves us. Period.

Note: for Wayne’s full story, check out Tangoed in Tinsel, part of the Under the Christmas Star set—the CrossRoads Collection 3.

Blog Stops

Real World Bible Study, January 5

Cultivating Us, January 6

Back Porch Reads, January 7

Aryn, the Libraryan, January 8

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 9

Texas Book-aholic, January 10

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 11

Bibliophile Reviews, January 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 13

Mary Hake, January 13

Janices book reviews, January 14

Carpe Diem, January 15

A Baker’s Perspective, January 16

Bigreadersite, January 17

Multifarious, January 18

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away a grand prize of a bouquet sent to anyone the winner wants in the U.S.!!

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/d8a5/premeditated-serendipity-celebration-tour-giveaway

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