{"id":25034,"date":"2019-12-01T21:11:44","date_gmt":"2019-12-02T02:11:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=25034"},"modified":"2019-12-01T21:11:44","modified_gmt":"2019-12-02T02:11:44","slug":"christmas-on-breakers-point-by-chautona-havig","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=25034","title":{"rendered":"Christmas on Breakers Point by Chautona Havig"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n
\n

MY REVIEW:<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I signed on to review Christmas at Breakers Point<\/strong> I expected it to be a seaside Christmas romance due primarily to its cover. Truthfully I found very little romance in this novel and what was\u00a0 there actually took a back seat to the rest of the story. Not to say that was a bad thing. In fact this is a heart-warming yet sometimes poignant tale of the people in a small island town who rallied around an elderly man and his niece as they lived through the last days before his final breath on earth.<\/p>\n

Honestly, I probably would not have chosen to read this book had I known I would read much of it sitting in my mother’s room in a hospice facility – just a little too close to home to my own situation. Yet it turned out to be an encouraging experience as I witnessed the interaction between Bud and his niece Mallory and her determination to make his last Christmas a wonderful experience for him. I loved how hard Mallory worked to make his Christmas wish come to pass, especially the numerous faith-building conversations between her and her friend whose disillusionment with other Christians had brought her to a crisis in her faith.<\/p>\n

Strong characters, difficult situations, and a very strong Gospel message worked together to make Christmas at Breakers Point an excellent read even if it was not at all what I expected.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n

ABOUT THE BOOK:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Book:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Christmas on Breakers Point<\/p>\n

Author:\u00a0<\/strong>Chautona Havig<\/p>\n

Genre:\u00a0<\/b>Christian\u00a0Contemporary Fiction, Christian Romantic Fiction, Christmas<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to get your copy!<\/td>\n

\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

One man\u2019s last Christmas wish might change two lives forever.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

<\/b><\/i>Mallory Barrows has one last Christmas with her uncle.\u00a0 She\u2019s determined to make it the best one he\u2019s ever had.<\/p>\n

She knows when she asks what he wants as his final gift, it won\u2019t be a tie or a new mug. He won\u2019t need those where he\u2019s going, and he\u2019s quite happy about that.<\/p>\n

Mallory just didn\u2019t think he wanted a miracle wrapped in paper and tied with a shiny red bow!<\/p>\n

Christmas on Breakers Point\u00a0<\/i>is the introductory book to the Independence Islands Series.<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Chautona Havig<\/strong> 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\u00a0It\u2019s a Wonderful Life\u00a0<\/em>sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her on the web and say howdy\u2014if you can remember how to spell her name.<\/p>\n

MORE FROM CHAUTONA:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The book opens with a phone call that goes like this:<\/p>\n

Her phone buzzed. Without taking her eyes from the page, Mallory Barrows fumbled about until her hand closed around it. The book held her bound in ropes of suspense as the villain slipped into the party unannounced\u2014unseen. While she followed him around the edge of the imaginary room, her thumb swiped, tapped, and answered the call as if on autopilot.<\/p>\n

Even as Mallory said, \u201cHello?\u201d her breath caught. The guy had found his prey.<\/p>\n

\u201cMallory, honey?\u201d<\/p>\n

Without a second look, she dropped the book and sat up, feet planted firmly on the floor and all attention on the call.\u00a0 \u201cIs it time?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019Fraid so, darlin\u2019. Doc says it\u2019s a matter of weeks or a month or two. And I promised.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be there Friday afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Just days after I wrote those lines, I woke up to a message from my sister.\u00a0 \u201cCall Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n

I called.\u00a0 Mom said, \u201cI need you to come.\u201d\u00a0 That was Thursday.\u00a0 I walked into Mom\u2019s house on Saturday evening and our lives changed forever.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know if God prepared me for this change by having me write that scene just days before, but I have to say it felt like it!\u00a0 Everything went crazy for over a month as I tried to wrap up my mother\u2019s affairs in Missouri, I had to try to finish three books in a time of upheaval and turmoil.\u00a0 No, it\u2019s not the same as trying to help a young woman reclaim her True First Love so she could reclaim her first earthy love.\u00a0 It isn\u2019t the same as starting a whole new life and a new business.\u00a0 But\u2026 oh, how it felt like it.<\/p>\n

Another parallel in the story and my life was how Mallory struggles to try to get Uncle Bud to eat. I did the same thing for most of my time in Missouri.\u00a0 Mom struggled and hard just to swallow and just wanted to eat.\u00a0 So, while I was writing, I worked hard to come up with a recipe that Mallory might use to convince Uncle Bud to eat something.\u00a0 The result were these Coconut Lime Cookies. I hope you love them as much as Uncle Bud did.<\/p>\n

Coconut Lime Cookies<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n

2 \u00bc cups white flour
\n\u00bd tsp baking soda
\n1 tsp baking powder
\n\u00bd tsp salt
\n1 cup shredded coconut
\n1 cup sugar
\n3 oz room temp cream cheese\u2014cubed
\n\u00bd tsp vanilla
\nZest of 1 lime (key limes may be preferred)
\n\u00bd cup (1 stick) melted butter (warm)
\n1 egg
\n1 TBS milk (whole is the most delicious\u2026 and half & half is even better)
\n1 TBS lime juice (again, some may prefer key limes)
\n\u00bd cup powdered sugar\u00a0 (reserved for rolling cookies in)<\/p>\n

Directions: <\/strong>(oven preheats to 350)<\/p>\n

Stir together the first five ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside<\/p>\n

Stir together sugar, cream cheese, and lime zest in a large mixing bowl. Cream butter in. Repeat with egg, milk, and lime juice, one at a time. Make sure your ingredients are thoroughly mixed.<\/p>\n

Add dry ingredients slowly. Mix well.<\/p>\n

Roll dough into approximately 1\u201d balls.\u00a0 Roll each ball into powdered sugar and place on parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.<\/p>\n

Bake for approximately 11-12 minutes until lightly golden.<\/p>\n

Before you eat, close your eyes and imagine yourself beneath swaying palm trees with warm sand between your toes.\u00a0 Merry Christmas!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

BLOG STOPS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among the Reads<\/a>, December 2<\/p>\n

She Lives to Read<\/a>, December 2<\/p>\n

Daysong Reflections<\/a>, December 2<\/p>\n

A Reader\u2019s Brain<\/a>, December 3<\/p>\n

Mamma Loves Books<\/a>, December 3<\/p>\n

Aryn the Libraryan ?<\/a>, December 4<\/p>\n

CarpeDiem<\/a>, December 4<\/p>\n

A Baker\u2019s Perspective<\/a>, December 5<\/p>\n

Hebrews 12 Endurance<\/a>, December 5<\/p>\n

Betti Mace<\/a>, December 6<\/p>\n

For the Love of Literature<\/a>, December 6<\/p>\n

Library Lady\u2019s Kid Lit<\/a>, December 7<\/p>\n

Cultivating Us<\/a>, December 7<\/p>\n

Inklings and notions<\/a>, December 8<\/p>\n

For Him and My Family<\/a>, December 8<\/p>\n

janicesbookreviews<\/a>, December 9<\/td>\n

SusanLovesBooks<\/a>, December 9<\/p>\n

Texas Book-aholic<\/a>, December 10<\/p>\n

Connect in Fiction<\/a>, December 10<\/p>\n

Lots of Helpers<\/a>, December 11<\/p>\n

My Devotional Thoughts<\/a>, December 11<\/p>\n

Wishful Endings<\/a>, December 11<\/p>\n

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy<\/a>, December 12<\/p>\n

Stories By Gina<\/a>, December 12<\/p>\n

Quiet Quilter<\/a>, December 13<\/p>\n

Batya\u2019s Bits<\/a>, December 13<\/p>\n

Godly Book Reviews<\/a>, December 14<\/p>\n

Emily Yager<\/a>, December 14<\/p>\n

Blossoms and Blessings<\/a>, December 15<\/p>\n

Debbie\u2019s Dusty Deliberations<\/a>, December 15<\/p>\n

Back Porch Reads<\/a>, December 15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

GIVEAWAY:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize of\u00a0a 6 Month Kindle Unlimited subscription!!<\/p>\n

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/promosimple.com\/ps\/f1b8\/christmas-on-breakers-point-celebration-tour-giveaway<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MY REVIEW: When I signed on to review Christmas at Breakers Point I expected it to be a seaside Christmas romance due primarily to its cover. Truthfully I found very little romance in this novel and what was\u00a0 there actually took a back seat to the rest of the story. Not to say that was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,57,60,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-christmas","category-contemporary-fiction","category-romance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25034"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25034"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25034\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25042,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25034\/revisions\/25042"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25034"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25034"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}