Book, Chapters and Vows by Chautona Havig Celebrate Lit Tour

Book Chapter & Vows Chautona Havig Celebrate Lit tour

About the Book

Book: Book, Chapter, & Vows Author: Chautona Havig Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance Release date: July 26, 2022

Book Chapter & Vows Chautona Havig Celebrate Lit tour

Falling in love with Benjamin wasn’t in the plan, but Mallory finds she’s all but lost her head and her heart after two and a half years of banter, memories, and now shared books.

But when her ex-fiance (does it count if it was just for a few hours?) shows up right in the middle of a writing project with Benjamin, the guy manages to ruin her happiness… again.

Benjamin has been keeping one tiny part of him back from Mallory–just the one thing that’ll repel her for good.
So when the ex-boyfriend-slash-fiance shows up, and things look serious again, he takes a giant step back and prays he can keep his heart intact in the process.

They’re clearly meant for each other. God obviously has a plan. So what’s it going to take for Mallory and Benjamin to work things out and get those vows made?

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

About the Author

Chautona Havig Author Picture

USA Today Bestselling author of Aggie and Past Forward series, 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

It Happened AGAIN!

I remember the first book I had trouble finishing. Beneath the Cloak. It was the last book of the Wynnewood series, and I was dying to reveal the big secret that had been a big part of the story line. I spent hours writing very few words. Someone asked if I had writer’s block, but I didn’t. I knew every word I wanted to put on that page, but I kept procrastinating.

For weeks. We’re talking long, agonizing weeks.

Finally, I realized a significant part of why I hadn’t finished was because I didn’t want to. I didn’t want the series to end. Say goodbye to beloved characters? Agony, okay? I wanted to spend the rest of my life in Wynnewood seeing what happened with all the characters and all the things that would happen.

I just wanted to write a bunch of other books, too. What can I say? It’s a thing.

So, as I dove into writing the book I’ve been dying to write since I penned the opening scene of Christmas on Breakers Point, you’d think I’d have been prepared for the inevitable. I mean, it’s happened with several other series since that first time, so… yeah. All ready to combat the problem, right? Not hardly.

To be fair, I was also coming off being very sick, my mother being even sicker, so being crazy behind on everything. I mean, that had a lot to do with it taking so long to get going on it. But once I did, I’d type like crazy and then ignore it for a day or two before the story demanded more telling.

Then, just as I neared the big scene of Book, Chapter, & Vows… I went nuts on doing everything but finishing that book. No joke. I did. Sigh. Again, you think I’d learn.

After much soul searching and even more wailing at God about the cruelty of it all (I was in a dramatic mood, okay?), the solution came to me. Okay, God smacked me upside the head with a 2×4 of memories on how I solved every other, “don’t wanna finish this series” crisis.

See, way back with Wynnewood, the only thing that got me to the finish line was a promise I made to myself. “It doesn’t have to end here. You can write more if you want to. There’s nothing to say you can do ‘Wynnewood, the Later Years’ or something like that.”

Just that one promise to myself that I didn’t have to say goodbye was all it took for me to get back on that trusty old Toshiba laptop and pound out those last few chapters.

And here I was again, not ready to say goodbye to a series—to these islands that feel so crazy real to me. I didn’t want to say goodbye to the characters and their quirky ways. Would you?

Now… you’re going to laugh at me. Go ahead. I mean, I did. See here’s the deal. I didn’t have to make that promise to myself again. “What?” you say? “What do you mean?”

Yeah. I don’t have to say goodbye to the characters or the islands. Why? Because we have another island series coming, the Suamalie Islands, and Mallory is going to visit those islands.

If that isn’t enough for me, I have another series all planned for the Independence Islands, too! Yeah. That. I mean, what was I not thinking?

As soon as I thought of that, I was able to get in there, get the last few scenes written and pass it off to the fabulous Christy for her editorial magic. As for me, I think I’m going to go play around just a little bit with one of the Josie Parker Mysteries. I mean, why not?

new series by Chautona Havig

Blog Stops

My Review

Mallory Burrows has been a key character throughout these Independence Islands books. Her bookstore has been one of the key locations. So it was definitely fitting that her story was the one that concluded the series.

I enjoyed Mallory’s relationship with Benjamin. Their relationship saw a lot of growth. Their kindness towards each other was lovely to see.

But when her ex-boyfriend shows up, there is definitely some conflict. Mallory cannot even figure out why is there. I did like how they worked through that part as I do think long term relationships are stronger when we deal with the past.

In the middle of the book, there was some theological confusion for me. I felt like it derailed the plot temporarily. Personally, I would have deleted that scene.

Also, there were some things overheard about Mallory that were never really resolved. The truth sort of came out. But yet there was not really a conversation of understanding that would have helped that relationship.

A plost twist happened at the end of Chautona’s previous book, Finding a Memory. They were trying to solve an issue regarding Uncle Bud that played a role in this title. But that part of the plot is not really explained well and is hardly mentioned. Then in the middle a bunch of characters are brought into the story that are helping with the wedding. They might have been in other Independence Islands books not even by this author as I did not remember them. I think readers could definitely be confused on both parts.

I did love how Chautona brought back many of her characters. As I mainly read her books (and not the entire Independence Islands series), they were familiar “friends.” I really enjoyed the community aspect. And I do love the cover!

I wanted to love this book as I had been looking forward to finally reading the conclusion of Benjamin and Mallory’s story. But I had a few misgivings that are mentioned above. I would say I liked it instead. Final rating 3.8 stars.

Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of the book!!

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

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