MY REVIEW:
I can always count on books by Chautona Havig having a somewhat different approach than most that I read. Tempting Tait is definitely one of those with its unusual approach to marriage. If you have already read Bentley’s story you may have a tiny idea of what Tait’s story has in store for you.
Tait is not the usual romantic hero. Girls are not falling over themselves to date him. In fact the one girl he ever dated (once) married someone else. But Tait is an upstanding guy, one with very strong convictions – and those convictions lead him to make some very interesting choices as he follows what he believes to be God’s plan for his life.
Overall, the tale moves along at a decent pace with plenty of angst as well as humorous moments to keep it interesting. At times Tait’s approach to life can be a little frustrating, but hey, you have to respect a guy who stands up for what he believes. Tait never wavers. A cute story, Tempting Tait also deals with a very serious problem in our country, an issue on which more of us should take a stronger stand. Hopefully readers will be challenged and inspired by Tait’s story.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Book: Tempting Tait
Author: Chautona Havig Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance Release Date: July 30, 2020 Click here to get your copy! |
He chose to be a dad before he realized he’d need a wife, too.
When Tait took in an abandoned girl, he had no idea it would change his life.
Tait Stedtmann–accountant, fledgling do-it-yourselfer, and all-around nice guy. He’d been more than a little interested in Bentley Girard and had finally worked up the courage to ask her out. That was before that fateful day at the rest stop when he saw a girl shoved from a car and abandoned there.
She’s not like any girl he’s ever met, and now she’s given him an ultimatum. Adopt her baby, or she’ll abort it.
Eden doesn’t think he’ll do it. She can have the abortion and move on with her life–far away from these creepy Christians in Fairbury. But when Tait agrees, she finds herself keeping her word… and the pregnancy.
Nine months later, Tait is wracked by guilt as relief sets in when Eden leaves and terrified as he decides he can’t do this daddy thing alone. Bentley figured out how to make marriage happen for her.
Would she help him, find someone, too?
Tempting Tait is the second in the Marriages of Conviction series.
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:
How One Man Turns A Mess into a Miracle
It’s been ten… maybe fifteen years since Eden Pohl waltzed into my brain and settled in. Despite my focused attention on other books, her taunts never strayed far from my hearing.
If you really believed what you say about abortion, you’d tell my story.
You just don’t want to have to write the messy stuff.
Ouch. Worst of all, she was wrong. And she wasn’t.
I don’t mind attacking the hard things when it’s the right time, but I only had half a story. I knew what would not happen but not what would.
So, she languished there in what is probably the longest pregnancy in fiction.
After my friend, Sandy, killed my dreams of combining Tait and Bentley’s stories and added Tait’s (and therefore Eden’s) into a series, things clicked. Duh. Tait would need a wife. Being a single parent is hard. It isn’t how God designed things, you know? We’re supposed to have help. A spouse, extended family, the church.
But sometimes things don’t work in this fallen world. Sometimes we find ourselves parents—even by choice—without the daily support of another parent. Not only that, sometimes our own parents aren’t in a position to be able to help. Age, illness, or distance can remove us from the God-given networks we should have and don’t.
Finally, our decisions sometimes cause us to isolate ourselves even from God’s family, and the result can mean we don’t have that help that we otherwise would.
One verse came to mind over and over when I planned out the rest of Tait’s story.
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18)
Sometimes the words tried to transform themselves into, “It is not good for a father to be alone, so God will find him a helper parent suitable…”
And I had to silence that voice.
First, because we don’t just change Scripture to suit our purpose. Or rather, we shouldn’t.
Second, because that’s even more out of order than having a baby before marriage. It happens sometimes—sometimes by choice, as in Tait’s situation. However, the healthiest marriage will usually put a strong emphasis on the marriage relationship first (after the Lord, of course) and then focus on the children. Why? Because it is best for the children if their parents are in unity. Children find security and strength in knowing their parents love and are committed to each other.
So many times, I started to put that emphasis in the wrong place struggled to get it right. Then one day I realized that this was the very thing I needed to do. Show that struggle. I needed to show that Tait’s focus was wrong—that he created problems he could have avoided simply by being a good daddy… but also by being an even better husband.
I hope you’ll enjoy Tait’s story, and I pray that his heart for the unborn will touch your life in a real and tangible way.
BLOG STOPS:
Batya’s Bits, July 29Godly Book Reviews, July 29Among the Reads, July 30Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 30Texas Book-aholic, July 31Book of Ruth Ann, July 31Inklings and notions, August 1Cultivating Us, August 1For Him and My Family, August 2Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 3The Meanderings of a Bookworm, August 3Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 4Mypreciousbitsandmusings, August 4 |
Aryn The Libraryan ?, August 5deb’s Book Review, August 5Older & Smarter?, August 6Back Porch Reads, August 6Through the Fire blogs, August 7Daysong Reflections, August 8Pause for Tales, August 8She Lives To Read, August 9Spoken from the Heart, August 9Artistic Nobody, August 10 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)Locks, Hooks and Books, August 10Lots of Helpers, August 11Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, August 11 |
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy of Tempting Tait and an original watercolor of “Tait’s Wedding”!!
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/fe37/tempting-tait-celebration-tour-giveaway
This was one of my favorite books this year!