The Because Fiction Podcast Chautona Havig

Ever wonder how a husband and wife team write a novel together?  Did either have unrealistic expectations?  Did they have to work through writing problems together?  Was it fun?  Listen in while I chat with Deb and Bruce Potts about their novel, Love on Life Support.
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Marriage is a beautiful thing, but sometimes it becomes ill and needs a jump start. Enter Deb and Bruce Potts.  After years of helping people with marriages, they've brought their vast experience together in a relatable, encouraging story that'll offer hope to readers who are dismayed at seeing what is happening to marriages in the church today.
I loved chatting about future projects and am looking forward to what comes next. 
Love on Life Support by Deb and Bruce Potts
A quest for a storybook marriage . . . a desperate emergency . . . can love pull through?

"A tender and harrowing story." Michael and Gina Kell Spehn, NY Times bestselling authors of The Color of Rain
"A vivid portrayal of a marriage in crisis that is transformed by faith." Shaunti Feldhahn, bestselling author of For Women Only and For Men Only
Chris's eyes are the color of hot chocolate with marshmallows melted in. When Amy's eyes meet his for the first time she's like one of those marshmallows. It doesn't take long for them to realize theirs is a bond that will never break. They vow to have a storybook marriage and they're sure they know how the plot will go.
But old patterns are hard to change. Unforeseen circumstances get in their way. Their vision of epic endings starts to waver.
Then, the unthinkable happens. They're faced with a desperate emergency. Can their love be resuscitated?
An inspirational romance that will satisfy your heart's cry for love, no matter what. 
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When an author tells me her book deals with cults, deception, and escape, well... what's not to love? Listen in and see why I'm eager to grab copies of this series by Rebecca Carey Lyles and start reading today!
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 Chatting with Rebecca Carey Lyles really gave me a hunger to check out her Children of the Light series. Seeing some of these polygamist cults through the eyes of those who might be hoodwinked into them as well as through a Christian lens? Count me in. Lyles focuses on 
Crimson Arches by Rebecca Carey Lyles
 Although Kasenia Clarke escaped Shadow Ranch a year ago, when Trent Duran asks her to visit Crimson Arches Ranch, his ranch that borders Shadow Ranch, she hesitates. She adores Trent and wants to see where he “hangs his hat,” yet she dreads going anywhere near the abusive polygamous cult. Then an unexpected connection with another “plyg” community changes everything, and she jumps in with both feet, unaware of the peril that awaits her down by the border.
Learn more about Rebecca on her  WEBSITE and follow her  on GoodReads and BookBub.
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When I learned about Sharon Srock’s Crafted with Love series, I knew I wanted to know more.  As an avid crafter myself, a series about a bunch of different artisans… eeep! Listen in to what kinds of women you’ll meet in this series!
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I love the concept for this series, but when I learned that Sharon’s next release was about a guy who comes back from the Vietnam War to find his sweetheart married to someone else, I couldn’t be more excited. I mean, it’s not the same story as the one I wrote, but it had so many similarities I knew I’d have to read it. EEEP!
 
Ruthie (Crafted with Love #7) by Sharon Srock
YOUNG LOVE FOUND.
In 1970, seventeen-year-old Ruthie Arnold found the love of her life. Six months later, she lost him to the horror and confusion of war. With Elliott missing and presumed dead, Ruthie had no choice but to go on—carrying regrets and secrets she never dared tell another soul. Even though she eventually built a good life with a good man, the decisions she made in her youth haunt her.

THE RAVAGES OF WAR.
When Elliot Drake returned to the states in 1975, he searched for Ruthie. He found her—happily married and expecting a child. Though it broke his heart, he never contacted her. What good would it do to insert himself into her life after she’d moved on without him?

CAN GOD HEAL THE WOUNDS THAT TIME HASN’T TOUCHED?
A chance meeting forty-five years later brings a widowed Ruthie Gates back into Elliott’s life. He’s convinced that God orchestrated their reunion. Ruthie isn’t so sure. If she follows where her heart is leading, she’ll have to be honest about events that she’s never shared with anyone. Her secrets could drive a wedge between her and everyone she holds dear, including the man she never stopped loving.

Family
Second chances
Found family
Secrets
Mature love and loss
 
Learn more about on her WEBSITE and follow  on GoodReads and BookBub.
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The riveting cover grabbed my attention. While not exactly what you expect for Biblical fiction, it had something that most Biblical fiction covers don’t. It asked a question as if taunting me to accept a challenge. “What’s in here?” it seemed to whisper.  Well, after a chat with Sarah Talbert, I now know. Listen in and see why I think the book sounds awesome and why I love a cover that might surprise some.
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Biblical fiction like you’ve not seen before.  That’s what I’m calling this.  I have no idea if I’m right about that, of course. I haven’t read it yet since it doesn’t release until April 30, 2024. Still, it says it’ll be in Kindle Unlimited then, so I plan to read it asap. Because come on! 
Look, we all know the familiar Bible stories of Abram from Ur of the Chaldees. About his wife Sari, and how they became Abram and Sarah.  We know God moved them from Ur because of how ugly things had become.  But… what about those people left behind? We often don’t realize the horrors they lived through, and Sarah Talbert has tackled that through the eyes of a fictional girl grieving for a sacrificed brother.  If that doesn’t grab you, well… why not? LOL!
 
Secrets of the Wildflowers by Sarah Talbert
 In the heart of ancient Ur, Secrets of the Wildflowers unfolds the captivating tale of Miu, a spirited young woman determined to bloom amid the constraints of her culture, family, and the ancient deities that hold sway.
When tragedy strikes, and her beloved brother becomes a sacrifice to the gods, Miu embarks on a courageous journey to break free from the shackles of societal expectations and unearth her true purpose. Motivated by the resilient wildflowers that grow wherever they please, Miu is driven to forge her own path and make her name great.
As Miu navigates running her own tavern, friendship with an unlikely courier, and supporting an abandoned child, she finds herself crossing paths with Abram, a figure of significance from the Bible. After losing and redefining freedom, Miu discovers that true freedom is found in working together with others and utilizing her God-given skills within a relationship with a loving God.
In a world where Miu's determination clashes with a strong religious culture, the story explores themes of true freedom, faith, and the transformative power of a healthy community. Secrets of the Wildflowers is a mesmerizing journey through the ancient city of Ur, where the seeds of rebellion sprout alongside the wildflowers, and the roots of faith run deep.
Secrets of the Wildflowers appeals to readers who crave a story of adventure, strong female leads, and characters evolving in their faith.
 
Learn more about on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads.
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 Wow. If you love Alaska, seeing life through that rugged lens, and fiction that shines God's light on dark and/or difficult topics, then I think Maryann Landers is a great author to check out. Listen in and see why I listened to her newest release, A Call to Embrace within days of recording this episode.
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 Maryann Landers, like many authors, is inspired by people, places, and events she's seen first hand. Taking one or more of those elements and weaving a story that points readers to Jesus, she's not afraid to tackle difficult topics. 
But on top of those things, she also gives a realistic glimpse of life in a place that is very different from most of our own lives. I have to admit that I shivered as I read A Call to Embrace. Alaska can be cold, so if nothing else, read it this summer if the AC goes out!
  A Call to Embrace by Maryann Landers
 She’s detached in a stormy marriage because of both of their unfaithfulness. Now she faces the aftermath of her compromise with an unwanted pregnancy. Will fleeing bring her the freedom she yearns for?
Emily Corentin wants to escape the jagged edges of her brokenness. She believes the only option she has is to take her young daughter, leave her husband, and end the unintended pregnancy with an abortion. But her plans take an unexpected turn when the homeless shelter she finds is not the type of help she wanted. She’d buried religion years ago with the death of her Gran. Any God-fearing place will only confirm how much God abandoned her.
An offer from a shelter volunteer may be the lifeline she and her daughter need, but Emily only sees it as a means to an end. The unlikely friendship that follows, draws her closer to the answers she may have carried with her all along. But rash decisions bring new challenges that drag her further into a sea of helplessness.
When all hope is lost in despair will she be washed away by the patterns of her past? Or will she answer the call to embrace the mercy of the cross and in turn bring reconciliation to her marriage?
Learn more about on  WEBSITE and follow  on GoodReads and BookBub.
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I love a great western, but there aren't that many in Christian fiction anymore, but I had a chat with a new-to-me author, Bethany Klassen about her book, Sins of the Past. Listen in why I promptly ordered the book!
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Set in Texas, Bethany Klassen's Sins of the Past explores a man hiding from a past he doesn't want to confront. We chatted about our love for western fiction, about her research process, books she enjoys, and more.
Sins of the Past by Bethany Klassen
One deadly mistake, one searching heart, one redeeming truth…
Matthew Ellison escapes his dangerous lifestyle to take refuge in the small town of Albury, Texas. Wanting only to forget his past and the pain associated with it, he settles into the community with hopes of a new beginning. But danger has a way of following him, and Matthew soon has to make a decision – leave town, or stay and protect it.
Emma Royce travels West with her brother after her heart is broken by the man she thought she loved. With a new home and new friends, she’s ready to start over. Before Emma has a chance to gain her footing, however, she has stumbled into a dark and puzzling mystery – the new stranger in Albury.
Learn more about Bethany on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.
Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at: Apple  Castbox  Google Play Libsyn  RSS Spotify Amazon and more!