About the Book

Book: Christmas on Breakers Point

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian Contemporary Fiction, Christian Romantic Fiction, Christmas

One man’s last Christmas wish might change two lives forever.

Mallory Barrows has one last Christmas with her uncle. She’s determined to make it the best one he’s ever had.

She knows when she asks what he wants as his final gift, it won’t be a tie or a new mug. He won’t need those where he’s going, and he’s quite happy about that.

Mallory just didn’t think he wanted a miracle wrapped in paper and tied with a shiny red bow!

Christmas on Breakers Point is the introductory book to the Independence Islands Series.

Click here to get your copy!

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 howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More from Chautona

The book opens with a phone call that goes like this:

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—unseen. While she followed him around the edge of the imaginary room, her thumb swiped, tapped, and answered the call as if on autopilot.

Even as Mallory said, “Hello?” her breath caught. The guy had found his prey.

“Mallory, honey?”

Without a second look, she dropped the book and sat up, feet planted firmly on the floor and all attention on the call. “Is it time?”

“’Fraid so, darlin’. Doc says it’s a matter of weeks or a month or two. And I promised.”

“I’ll be there Friday afternoon.”

Just days after I wrote those lines, I woke up to a message from my sister. “Call Mom.”

I called. Mom said, “I need you to come.” That was Thursday. I walked into Mom’s house on Saturday evening and our lives changed forever.

I don’t 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! Everything went crazy for over a month as I tried to wrap up my mother’s affairs in Missouri, I had to try to finish three books in a time of upheaval and turmoil. No, it’s not the same as trying to help a young woman reclaim her True First Love so she could reclaim her first earthy love. It isn’t the same as starting a whole new life and a new business. But… oh, how it felt like it.

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. Mom struggled and hard just to swallow and just wanted to eat. 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. The result were these Coconut Lime Cookies. I hope you love them as much as Uncle Bud did.

Coconut Lime Cookies

Ingredients:

2 ¼ cups white flour

½ tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1 cup shredded coconut

1 cup sugar

3 oz room temp cream cheese—cubed

½ tsp vanilla

Zest of 1 lime (key limes may be preferred)

½ cup (1 stick) melted butter (warm)

1 egg

1 TBS milk (whole is the most delicious… and half & half is even better)

1 TBS lime juice (again, some may prefer key limes)

½ cup powdered sugar (reserved for rolling cookies in)

Directions: (oven preheats to 350)

Stir together the first five ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside

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.

Add dry ingredients slowly. Mix well.

Roll dough into approximately 1” balls. Roll each ball into powdered sugar and place on parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.

Bake for approximately 11-12 minutes until lightly golden.

Before you eat, close your eyes and imagine yourself beneath swaying palm trees with warm sand between your toes. Merry Christmas!

I have found a new book to add to my favorites for 2019. This book also is my favorite book from the author. It is an emotional journey I was hesitant to take because it deals with someone who has colon cancer. My brother passed away in March from colon cancer and I took care of him until he passed. The author does an excellent job of being sensitive to death as we get to know Uncle Bud.

I loved everything about him but especially his faith. Oh how that man loved God and wanted everyone else to know him as well. His relationship with Mallory is special and their time together was spent laughing, reminiscing and sharing God with each other. Uncle Bud has one last gift he wants from Mallory before he dies. Will she be able to give him the gift ?

Mallory is everything I hope for in a character. She is loving, giving and always thinking of others. Taking care of her Uncle Bud is a time for her to cherish memories and give him comfort and peace during the time he has left. I loved how faith is shared in the story and the discussions that take place between several characters. The doubt that someone has about God is well written. I have often asked some of the same questions in my walk. I do find that people get legalistic and judgmental. It is hard to fit in sometimes when you see things that don't line up with the bible.

The story is a beautiful reminder that life is short and we need to take every moment to share God, love each other and be a Godly example to others. I can't count how many times I cried throughout the story but I do know they were healing tears. I needed this book at this moment to help me grieve my loss. Before my brother passed, I was determined to lead him to Christ. The Friday before he passed he said the salvation prayer the best he could. With tears streaming down both our cheeks, he gave his heart to Jesus.

I appreciate an author that isn't afraid to give both sides of the debate whether God is real or not. The author's voice can be heard in the characters as they give their arguments and right there is sweet Uncle Bud loving how bold his niece is. His heart was full of love and he knew he could prepare himself for his "expiration date."

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