About the Book

Book: The Trouble with Nancy

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian Historical Romance, Western

Release Date: July 18, 2019

Her reputation precedes her, whether the bad guys realize it or not.

Nancy Harrison has finally stepped out of her prissy box and tried to do something helpful–but did she go overboard in her first self-less act?

She can’t ride, she hates horses, and she’s terrified of being alone. What’s a girl to do?

Join the Pony Express, of course.

When Nancy Harrison’s family receives a tax bill they can’t pay, there’s only one option open to them. Her brother, Lewis, will have to join the Pony Express and earn the money that way.

It would have worked, too, if ruffians hadn’t attacked him and broken his leg.

She doesn’t want to do it, of course, but what choice is there? Lose everything or ride a stupid, smelly horse for a few weeks? Nancy decides that she’ll chop off her hair, take to the dusty overland trail, and prove that she isn’t a “flighty little thing.”

But things go from bad to worse as she discovers that riding astride is worse than sidesaddle—especially when you’re not used to it.

Can’t she just go back home to balls, teas, and the hope of a suitor before her twentieth birthday? Sans her hair, of course, because that’ll entice the fellows. Sigh.

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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 on the web and say hI owdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

I love reading historical fiction books because I can get a glimpse of what happened during different time periods. The journey the author takes us on in this book is about the Pony Express. I did learn a lot by the details the author includes. I had no idea that young boys in their teens were the target age to be a rider for this group. They also preferred if they were orphans. The danger they faced on their long journey was overwhelming.

I loved the direction the author took in this story and used a young woman to infiltrate a dominated male profession. Nancy feels like she has no choice but to join the Pony Express when her brother has an encounter that causes him to not be to be able to ride. Nancy's determination to help her family out of a financial crisis was exciting to read. I loved how the author took a character who didn't like horses and had her face her fears.

There is much to learn in this story as Nancy takes off alone to travel across barren land to do her job. It was easy to feel like I was there as the author describes the terrain with such vividness. Nancy has always seemed to be carefree and not really serious. This journey she takes allows us to watch a character mature and find a lasting relationship with God. Trust was hard for Nancy as she sees her family struggling day after day.

This has been a delight to read and as the title says, The Trouble With Nancy is really what troubles us also. We all at one time doubt God and find ourselves in situations we don't know how to get out of. We operate in fear and allow the enemy to whisper lies to us. Nancy for me represented each of us in our struggle to trust God. I thought the book had a great message and I appreciate an author that is gifted in the area of showing readers "God will never leave us nor forsake us."

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.