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Carol and the Belles
Who knew meeting a childhood penpal could change three lives forever?
As part of an international school pen pal program, Carol and Michal began writing monthly letters twenty years ago. So, when Carol’s artisan guild decides to send an emissary to the United States to investigate a new gift store and potentially negotiate contracts for importing Romanian handcrafts to several major American cities, Carol applies.
Finally, the chance to meet Michal after all these years!
But Carol’s arrival in Rockland is fraught with surprises, misunderstandings, and a string of both awkward and delightful dates. Michal and the “belles” do everything possible to make the visit memorable and special, but when Carol decides to apply for a work visa, things get really interesting.
As a self-professed “world’s most non-spontaneous person,” Michal discovers that following your heart and the Lord’s leading just might also lead you into unexpected places and spontaneous decisions.
Carol and the Belles takes place in the community of HearthLand which has its own serial novel.
As part of an international school pen pal program, Carol and Michal began writing monthly letters twenty years ago. So, when Carol’s artisan guild decides to send an emissary to the United States to investigate a new gift store and potentially negotiate contracts for importing Romanian handcrafts to several major American cities, Carol applies.
Finally, the chance to meet Michal after all these years!
But Carol’s arrival in Rockland is fraught with surprises, misunderstandings, and a string of both awkward and delightful dates. Michal and the “belles” do everything possible to make the visit memorable and special, but when Carol decides to apply for a work visa, things get really interesting.
As a self-professed “world’s most non-spontaneous person,” Michal discovers that following your heart and the Lord’s leading just might also lead you into unexpected places and spontaneous decisions.
Carol and the Belles takes place in the community of HearthLand which has its own serial novel.
296 pages, ebook
Published November 25, 2015
41 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Chautona Havig
274 books1,840 followers**fingers skittle across the keyboard. Stop. Eyelids blink over the top**
Oh, was this bio day? Oops! I forgot. I was lost in my latest manuscript. Umm... bio. Yeah.
Hi! I’m Chautona Havig. (for those who care, that’s Shuh-TONE-uh HAVE-ig). Yeah. Just work with me here. I should have used a pseudonym, but when you grow up with a name like Chautona, it kind of sticks.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. ~ Hebrews 10: 23–25
Those aren’t just words on a page for me–they’re why I write. I write to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ. The stories I create are to make people laugh, cry, question, consider.
They’re for you.
When the world screams for hope, I try to point you to the true Source of hope–Jesus.
Sometimes life in the church no longer seems a refuge from the pain of a self-serving world around us, but through my stories, I try to point you to the only Refuge that can truly help–the Father’s Everlasting Arms.
And sometimes we just need an escape from the monotony, the emptiness we see around us. We need joy, laughter–what I like to call “just the write escape.”
Christian fiction without apology or pretense–lived, not preached.
What does that even mean?
It means I care–about you. About your walk with Jesus. I care about the words you put before your eyes, the mental pictures those words conjure. It’s difficult to express just how much I love my brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s difficult to share just how much I love you.
But I do.
And I write for you. I sit in my little house in California’s Mojave Desert and I write to show you why one sister believes one thing, why a brother believes another. I write to show you how some Christians handle trials or triumphs–for you. So when you’re faced with something–good or bad, it doesn’t matter–maybe it’ll spark a memory. Maybe that memory will smolder until you pull out your Bible and see what the Lord said about it–about His great love for you. For YOU!
And maybe, just maybe, you’ll share that love with another hurting, confused, or blessed-with-more-than-she-knows-what-to-do-with soul.
I just happen to think that’s the most blessed giving anyone could hope to receive.
Oh, was this bio day? Oops! I forgot. I was lost in my latest manuscript. Umm... bio. Yeah.
Hi! I’m Chautona Havig. (for those who care, that’s Shuh-TONE-uh HAVE-ig). Yeah. Just work with me here. I should have used a pseudonym, but when you grow up with a name like Chautona, it kind of sticks.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. ~ Hebrews 10: 23–25
Those aren’t just words on a page for me–they’re why I write. I write to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ. The stories I create are to make people laugh, cry, question, consider.
They’re for you.
When the world screams for hope, I try to point you to the true Source of hope–Jesus.
Sometimes life in the church no longer seems a refuge from the pain of a self-serving world around us, but through my stories, I try to point you to the only Refuge that can truly help–the Father’s Everlasting Arms.
And sometimes we just need an escape from the monotony, the emptiness we see around us. We need joy, laughter–what I like to call “just the write escape.”
Christian fiction without apology or pretense–lived, not preached.
What does that even mean?
It means I care–about you. About your walk with Jesus. I care about the words you put before your eyes, the mental pictures those words conjure. It’s difficult to express just how much I love my brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s difficult to share just how much I love you.
But I do.
And I write for you. I sit in my little house in California’s Mojave Desert and I write to show you why one sister believes one thing, why a brother believes another. I write to show you how some Christians handle trials or triumphs–for you. So when you’re faced with something–good or bad, it doesn’t matter–maybe it’ll spark a memory. Maybe that memory will smolder until you pull out your Bible and see what the Lord said about it–about His great love for you. For YOU!
And maybe, just maybe, you’ll share that love with another hurting, confused, or blessed-with-more-than-she-knows-what-to-do-with soul.
I just happen to think that’s the most blessed giving anyone could hope to receive.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 7, 2015
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the author in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.
Carol and the Belles is a sweet Christmas story. Penpals since grade school (for 25 years), Carol and Michal finally get the chance to meet when Carol travels to the U.S. However, when they meet in person, they find out that neither is what the other was expecting.
What I liked:
I loved the language. The descriptions of things, and a lot of Carol's insights were really beautifully phrased. There are several quotes in particular where I had to read and sigh over them several times because they were just perfect.
The humor. I liked the witty interactions between different people: Michal and Micaiah, Carol and Michal's friends (the "belles") :)
The characters. I found the characters very well developed. Each had their own little quirks and relatable . I also found parts of Michal and Carol to be very relatable. And Crystal, I loved what a good friend she was. :)
The setting. I love how Chautona ties her books together :) It was cool to recognize the names of places and characters from some of her other books.
Also, it was really interesting to read about Carol, who came from Romania, the orphanage and school, and Michal's program idea.
What I disliked:
There were a couple of spots I thought might've gone somewhere, but they just sort of fizzled out. So that was a little disappointing. But overall, this was a great book!
4.5 shiny silverwork stars, and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes romance, realistic fiction, and different cultures.
Carol and the Belles is a sweet Christmas story. Penpals since grade school (for 25 years), Carol and Michal finally get the chance to meet when Carol travels to the U.S. However, when they meet in person, they find out that neither is what the other was expecting.
What I liked:
I loved the language. The descriptions of things, and a lot of Carol's insights were really beautifully phrased. There are several quotes in particular where I had to read and sigh over them several times because they were just perfect.
The humor. I liked the witty interactions between different people: Michal and Micaiah, Carol and Michal's friends (the "belles") :)
The characters. I found the characters very well developed. Each had their own little quirks and relatable . I also found parts of Michal and Carol to be very relatable. And Crystal, I loved what a good friend she was. :)
The setting. I love how Chautona ties her books together :) It was cool to recognize the names of places and characters from some of her other books.
Also, it was really interesting to read about Carol, who came from Romania, the orphanage and school, and Michal's program idea.
What I disliked:
There were a couple of spots I thought might've gone somewhere, but they just sort of fizzled out. So that was a little disappointing. But overall, this was a great book!
4.5 shiny silverwork stars, and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes romance, realistic fiction, and different cultures.
November 26, 2015
Wow, this was one of the most unique books by Chautona Havig that I have read. And she’s pretty good at not writing cliched story-lines! She kept me guessing almost the whole time, and I seriously wondered how it was going to end. I’m still trying to fully formulate my thoughts on it, because I honestly wasn’t sure how I even wanted it to end. Without giving anything away, suffice it say, she created two likable male characters, and I almost ended up rooting for the wrong guy.
I thought she did a great job of developing her characters, and you could see where they all had strengths and weaknesses, yet they desired to identify what they were, and work through them. Crystal was definitely one of my favorite secondary characters, but really all of them (okay, maybe minus one) found a special place in my heart.
I will say for one reason and another, this was not my favorite of her books that I’ve read, but I think it was mainly for personal reasons. I personally found the ending to be a little rushed. I kept expecting a certain event to happen sooner than it did, but then when it finally happened, the following of events seemed to “snowball” (pun only slightly intended ;-).
Overall, a good story with some elements that made me thankful for the blessings God has given me.
I thought she did a great job of developing her characters, and you could see where they all had strengths and weaknesses, yet they desired to identify what they were, and work through them. Crystal was definitely one of my favorite secondary characters, but really all of them (okay, maybe minus one) found a special place in my heart.
I will say for one reason and another, this was not my favorite of her books that I’ve read, but I think it was mainly for personal reasons. I personally found the ending to be a little rushed. I kept expecting a certain event to happen sooner than it did, but then when it finally happened, the following of events seemed to “snowball” (pun only slightly intended ;-).
Overall, a good story with some elements that made me thankful for the blessings God has given me.
November 27, 2015
To be honest, I can’t decide whether I love this book or not. It is definitely an incredible read on many levels, and I’m so glad I read it, and I even know that I’ll read it several more times. I highly recommend it as I believe that reading it will be a powerful and positive experience …. but I can’t promise that you’ll love it.
Michal, an affluent American athlete, and Carol, a Romanian orphan, have been pen pals for twenty-five years – since they were nine. Carol has grown up to be part of an artisan guild in Romania and is given the opportunity to go to Michal’s area in the US to represent the guild (in Hearthland!!!) The book is about the transition of their friendship from paper to in person. It is full of awkwardness and misunderstandings, cultural and linguistic gaffes, meddling in each other’s love lives, and a deep friendship that stretches and changes and becomes even more beautiful. I loved it in the book when Michal described Carol as “a childhood friend who is everything you hoped and nothing like you imagined.”
It is written in first person, jumping back and forth from Carol to Michal. This adds a lot of depth to the story and lets you in on some of the raw emotions involved in culture shock, friendship, and personal growth. But it also made it a little harder for me to connect with some of the characters.
I felt fairly sure I knew where the story was going, but the twists and turns made me doubt that a number of times and even doubt whether I wanted it to go there. I’m still not sure how I feel about the ending – things really could have gone a number of different ways, all leaving me with mixed feelings, I think.
But, the ending aside, I loved the rest. I loved (and hated) learning more about Romanian orphans. I loved getting to know Michal’s friends and am hoping for some spin-off books about several of them. And, of course, I loved every single scene that happened in Hearthland and am looking forward to the next episode of Hearthland having a few scenes from this book from other perspectives.
I'm giving this book five stars since Goodreads doesn't allow halves, but for me this is a 4.5 star book. It’s far better than a 4 star book, but didn’t quite attain that 5-star “I-loved-loved-loved-this-book” feeling for me.
Michal, an affluent American athlete, and Carol, a Romanian orphan, have been pen pals for twenty-five years – since they were nine. Carol has grown up to be part of an artisan guild in Romania and is given the opportunity to go to Michal’s area in the US to represent the guild (in Hearthland!!!) The book is about the transition of their friendship from paper to in person. It is full of awkwardness and misunderstandings, cultural and linguistic gaffes, meddling in each other’s love lives, and a deep friendship that stretches and changes and becomes even more beautiful. I loved it in the book when Michal described Carol as “a childhood friend who is everything you hoped and nothing like you imagined.”
It is written in first person, jumping back and forth from Carol to Michal. This adds a lot of depth to the story and lets you in on some of the raw emotions involved in culture shock, friendship, and personal growth. But it also made it a little harder for me to connect with some of the characters.
I felt fairly sure I knew where the story was going, but the twists and turns made me doubt that a number of times and even doubt whether I wanted it to go there. I’m still not sure how I feel about the ending – things really could have gone a number of different ways, all leaving me with mixed feelings, I think.
But, the ending aside, I loved the rest. I loved (and hated) learning more about Romanian orphans. I loved getting to know Michal’s friends and am hoping for some spin-off books about several of them. And, of course, I loved every single scene that happened in Hearthland and am looking forward to the next episode of Hearthland having a few scenes from this book from other perspectives.
I'm giving this book five stars since Goodreads doesn't allow halves, but for me this is a 4.5 star book. It’s far better than a 4 star book, but didn’t quite attain that 5-star “I-loved-loved-loved-this-book” feeling for me.
July 8, 2019
Having lived abroad for a full fifth of my life, I really enjoyed the cross-cultural aspect of this book! In fact, I didn't read Chautona's dedication explaining all her research until just now -- after I finished the story -- but I can tell you that her research really showed, and that Carol felt very real! I liked her decision to present his interior voice in good English, even though his speech was so broken, because that's just the contrast between a language learner (who sounds, and may feel, like they are in kindergarten) with the rich, intelligent person they (and perhaps only they) know themselves to be.
Having read her Hearthland series, I was keenly anticipating the solution to Carol's dilemma as it appeared so tantalizingly there, and I wasn't disappointed. Chautona kept me guessing up until the very end.
While I felt like that end was briefer and not as satisfying as Chautona's books normally are, she did hold true to her talent of making me ponder important issues, hours after the story was over. But don't think this is a serious and heavy book -- it's a delightfully heart-tingling plot, and Michal and Carol -- ok, well, especially Carol are very easy to love.
Having read her Hearthland series, I was keenly anticipating the solution to Carol's dilemma as it appeared so tantalizingly there, and I wasn't disappointed. Chautona kept me guessing up until the very end.
While I felt like that end was briefer and not as satisfying as Chautona's books normally are, she did hold true to her talent of making me ponder important issues, hours after the story was over. But don't think this is a serious and heavy book -- it's a delightfully heart-tingling plot, and Michal and Carol -- ok, well, especially Carol are very easy to love.
September 1, 2021
I enjoyed reading about the two pen pals who finally meet. Micah lives in America, Carol is from Romania. It is comical when they meet because then they both realize they had made assumptions that were wrong about each other.
I didn't care for Micah's boyfriend Lloyd from the start. He seemed to genuinely care for her, but I felt like she was always working to keep him happy, and he didn't really reciprocate. They felt wrong to me as a couple. I was rooting for Carol the whole time. It was funny how Micah kept setting Carol up with all her friends. It seemed she was not wanting to get out of her comfort zone, as she kept trying to ignore her feelings.
The two main characters were growing in their faith during all this, and both cared about how their actions would impact others. Chautona did a fantastic job of showing how differences in culture and language can make it difficult at times to understand where people are coming from.
I didn't care for Micah's boyfriend Lloyd from the start. He seemed to genuinely care for her, but I felt like she was always working to keep him happy, and he didn't really reciprocate. They felt wrong to me as a couple. I was rooting for Carol the whole time. It was funny how Micah kept setting Carol up with all her friends. It seemed she was not wanting to get out of her comfort zone, as she kept trying to ignore her feelings.
The two main characters were growing in their faith during all this, and both cared about how their actions would impact others. Chautona did a fantastic job of showing how differences in culture and language can make it difficult at times to understand where people are coming from.
December 13, 2019
What a delightful book! I love stories of pen pals, perhaps because I grew up having one, and because my husband and I courted mostly by letters/emails.
I really appreciated the way the author told this story . . . how she had Carol making mistakes with English that are likely for a non-native speaker to make, especially one who is new to the language and the country. I never realised how many common English idioms would absolutely befuddle someone unfamiliar with them, until I saw them through Carol's thoughts.
I also loved the way that faith was woven through this book . . . how both Michal and Carol were both willing to go to God when they erred, and how seeking His will was a deep part of both of their lives.
This is my first Chautona Havig book, but it certainly will not be my last!
4.5 stars
I really appreciated the way the author told this story . . . how she had Carol making mistakes with English that are likely for a non-native speaker to make, especially one who is new to the language and the country. I never realised how many common English idioms would absolutely befuddle someone unfamiliar with them, until I saw them through Carol's thoughts.
I also loved the way that faith was woven through this book . . . how both Michal and Carol were both willing to go to God when they erred, and how seeking His will was a deep part of both of their lives.
This is my first Chautona Havig book, but it certainly will not be my last!
4.5 stars
January 1, 2022
I always love Chautona Havig's book. They are funny and light but always pack a punch.. sort of a hidden lesson amidst the laughter. Well this one was different for me. Let me quickly add I loved it and it has lessons for sure, but it was not her normal lighthearted rom-com type of book. At least not to me. It was a bit heavier and a bit tense at times as the main characters dealt with their warring emotions and actions.
Please please do not let that deter you from reading this one. It really is a great read! But if you have read others by Havig and expect to laugh a lot, you won't.
Please please do not let that deter you from reading this one. It really is a great read! But if you have read others by Havig and expect to laugh a lot, you won't.
January 1, 2025
This author's "Christmas books" just don't feel very Christmasy to me. We had to get to 75% in before it was anything Christmasy. If it was just marketed as a general romance maybe I would have liked it slightly better.
December 20, 2018
A good read from Chautona Havig. I enjoyed the story and the plot. The dialogue of a non native English speaking person was well done. Chautona writes well.
November 15, 2019
This is one of my all time favorite Christmas stories. I love the miscommunications and uncertainty and just. LOVE IT ALL. I reread it often!
August 6, 2020
I loved this story!
A book I wish had not ended. It was such a greatly written enjoyable book. Love all of this authors books.
A book I wish had not ended. It was such a greatly written enjoyable book. Love all of this authors books.
December 6, 2020
Different
This was a different kind of book. The premise was definitely unique and it took me longer than usual to really get into the story. But once I did I really enjoyed it.
This was a different kind of book. The premise was definitely unique and it took me longer than usual to really get into the story. But once I did I really enjoyed it.
November 30, 2015
[ I received this book free from the author Chautona Havig as part of her "street team": the Launch Escapeables. I thank her for her generousity. In exchange, I was simply asked to write an honest review, and post it. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising]
Carol Stefan and Michal Hargrave have been pen pals for many years, and in some ways utterly clueless to each other. He thinks that she is a he; her name is Michal. And she is sure that Carol is a girl. I have no idea why either of them didn't understand that things aren't as they seem. However, that's just the beginning.
Michal and her boyfriend of many years are reaching a sort of decision plateau. And Carol Michal's oldest friend may have added the dimension of jealousy to the mixture. Lloyd, a doctor, whose first marriage ended in divorce, is a perfect gentleman whom Michal feels she can trust to remain so until their assumed wedding. Her family, while not enamored of her boyfriend, have accepted where he is and how he'll remain until their marriage.
As this fast paced book evolves, mis/understandings abound. Carol, an artistic silversmith, is representing his guild back in Romania as they negotiate sales of gift items he has brought with him, and will supply in the future. Michal, who through her connections with Carol, has a heart for mission outreach at her non-profit foundation. She's very good at organizing and raising awareness (and money) for Romanian orphan outreach. Will meeting her pen pal in person change that? And now that Carol is settling down at HeartLand, will this change his plans? Where does faith fit into their future?
This book is so very different from other books of Ms. Havig's that I have read. It's still amazing to me that each if her books is so....memorable. Each has a strong faith foundation and even though my personal belief system is far more liberal, I find them very appealing, in part because its a given. Over the years I have known this author I have read and shared many of her books and my enthusiasm hardly wavers. Read this lovely romantic romp and find out why.
Carol Stefan and Michal Hargrave have been pen pals for many years, and in some ways utterly clueless to each other. He thinks that she is a he; her name is Michal. And she is sure that Carol is a girl. I have no idea why either of them didn't understand that things aren't as they seem. However, that's just the beginning.
Michal and her boyfriend of many years are reaching a sort of decision plateau. And Carol Michal's oldest friend may have added the dimension of jealousy to the mixture. Lloyd, a doctor, whose first marriage ended in divorce, is a perfect gentleman whom Michal feels she can trust to remain so until their assumed wedding. Her family, while not enamored of her boyfriend, have accepted where he is and how he'll remain until their marriage.
As this fast paced book evolves, mis/understandings abound. Carol, an artistic silversmith, is representing his guild back in Romania as they negotiate sales of gift items he has brought with him, and will supply in the future. Michal, who through her connections with Carol, has a heart for mission outreach at her non-profit foundation. She's very good at organizing and raising awareness (and money) for Romanian orphan outreach. Will meeting her pen pal in person change that? And now that Carol is settling down at HeartLand, will this change his plans? Where does faith fit into their future?
This book is so very different from other books of Ms. Havig's that I have read. It's still amazing to me that each if her books is so....memorable. Each has a strong faith foundation and even though my personal belief system is far more liberal, I find them very appealing, in part because its a given. Over the years I have known this author I have read and shared many of her books and my enthusiasm hardly wavers. Read this lovely romantic romp and find out why.
December 9, 2015
Michal was named after King David's wife. An elementary school project introduces her to a pen-pal in Romania named Carol. The two correspond for years and Michal considers Carol her BFF. Since Carol is an orphan, as an adult Michal gets involved with missions to help orphans overseas. Eventually, Carol comes to the US and they meet for the first time.
MIchal is so excited to have Carol coming that she plans a big party with all her other girl-friends. A mani-pedi party. But when Carol arrives, they both learn that the person they had thought they were writing to was far different from what they expected. For starters, Michal learned that Carol is a boy's name in Romania, while Carol learned that Michal is not a boy's name.
And the fun ensues as Michal now tries to find a girlfriend for Carol while he tries really hard not to disrupt Michal's plans to marry Lloyd.
It was a wonderful story, there are some great lines as the story moves back and forth between the points of view of Michal and Carol.
I gave the book 4 stars rather than 5 because there were s few times when I felt like the story dragged a bit. Sadly, I can't quite put my finger on the problem. The story line was fine, the characters were great, well defined. There was just some little element missing. Sort of like what Michal felt was missing in Lloyd's kiss at the Christmas party.....
BUT, having said that, it is well worth the read!
MIchal is so excited to have Carol coming that she plans a big party with all her other girl-friends. A mani-pedi party. But when Carol arrives, they both learn that the person they had thought they were writing to was far different from what they expected. For starters, Michal learned that Carol is a boy's name in Romania, while Carol learned that Michal is not a boy's name.
And the fun ensues as Michal now tries to find a girlfriend for Carol while he tries really hard not to disrupt Michal's plans to marry Lloyd.
It was a wonderful story, there are some great lines as the story moves back and forth between the points of view of Michal and Carol.
I gave the book 4 stars rather than 5 because there were s few times when I felt like the story dragged a bit. Sadly, I can't quite put my finger on the problem. The story line was fine, the characters were great, well defined. There was just some little element missing. Sort of like what Michal felt was missing in Lloyd's kiss at the Christmas party.....
BUT, having said that, it is well worth the read!
November 26, 2015
Carol and the Belles can perhaps be categorized as a romantic comedy. You will likely find yourself laughing, hoping the right person gets the girl, and maybe even shed a tear or two. A perfect light-hearted read but not fluff! There is depth gently woven into this story. How we see people, how they present themselves…what is real and true? Do we trust in the comfortable or are we willing to take a step of faith? Are we willing to sacrifice our happiness for what is true and right? We also find out the perfect traveling attire. Ha!
I enjoyed seeing the story of Carol and Michal play out and appreciated that it didn't follow the predictable path my mind had created. It is definitely a well done Christian fiction novel. The Christian faith is gently woven in through out the story without being overbearing.
If you enjoy seasonal/holiday reads, Carol and the Belles is an excellent choice.
I enjoyed seeing the story of Carol and Michal play out and appreciated that it didn't follow the predictable path my mind had created. It is definitely a well done Christian fiction novel. The Christian faith is gently woven in through out the story without being overbearing.
If you enjoy seasonal/holiday reads, Carol and the Belles is an excellent choice.
January 25, 2016
WOW! This book had lots of twists and turns.
Have you ever had a pen-pal from another country and wondered what it would be like if you met. Would you have lots to talk about, would it be awkward, would you know what each of you were saying? Well, Michal has been writing to Carol for 25 years and they have never met, but things happened and they got that opportunity when Carol came to America from Romania. In this book, Chautona Having shows us the fun sides of different languages and all the many factors that come with cultural differences. She also weaves in this story the sweet love we can experience from God. She has truly written a fun, entertaining, and warm-hearted story. At first I wasn't sure I'd like the ending, but I LOVE how it all turned out!! WAY TO GO CHAUTONA!!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review
Have you ever had a pen-pal from another country and wondered what it would be like if you met. Would you have lots to talk about, would it be awkward, would you know what each of you were saying? Well, Michal has been writing to Carol for 25 years and they have never met, but things happened and they got that opportunity when Carol came to America from Romania. In this book, Chautona Having shows us the fun sides of different languages and all the many factors that come with cultural differences. She also weaves in this story the sweet love we can experience from God. She has truly written a fun, entertaining, and warm-hearted story. At first I wasn't sure I'd like the ending, but I LOVE how it all turned out!! WAY TO GO CHAUTONA!!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review
November 17, 2022
Carol and Michal have been writing to each other for 25 years, ever since they were about 9 years old. When Carol travels from Romania to America to visit Michal and help with the gift shop at Hearthland, both of them get the shock of their lives. All through Carol’s visit, both struggle with what true love is and how to know who God really wants them to spend their life with. As with all of Chautona’s books, the romance in Carol and the Belles is very clean; I appreciated that she even referred to Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount about how even to look at someone lustfully is sin. Christian values are very much a part of the story, though not in a preachy way. You will love the twists and turns this story takes!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2015
This month I was able to read Chautona's newest book Carol and Belles early as part of her launch team in exchange for an honest review. It has been a privilege to see the writing progress up close and read a good book at the same time. This newest book is full of delightful twists from two pen pals who meet after writing to each other for years. I love how Carol from Romania tries to figure out the American culture and idioms. Michal is harder to get to know but I love her big heart. You never are sure what Michal is going to do next which keeps you reading. So if you are looking for good book to read for this holiday season that has a bit of romance to it plus some holiday spirit, I would suggest Carol and the Belles.
November 27, 2015
As usual Chautona’s natural “tell it like it is” style flows through each page, and while this book does deal with some serious issues, I didn’t find it to be too serious or heavy. If you add this to your stack of easy and enjoyable winter reading, you won’t be sorry. The story almost reminded me of Jane Austen’s “Emma” meets “The Shop Around The Corner.” I don’t want to give too much away, because that would just be a shame. It will no doubt be a Christmas favorite for years to come.
I was provided a free copy of this book so I could lovingly review it for you. All the opinions mentioned are my own.
I was provided a free copy of this book so I could lovingly review it for you. All the opinions mentioned are my own.
December 7, 2015
I had the wonderful opportunity of pre-reading this book. As with all of Chautona's books, I loved this one! This is a great story about two childhood pen pals separated by the Atlantic Ocean who not only learn about each other's very different cultures, languages, and stations of life in their own countries. Michal and Carol become close via their lifelong correspondence and are thrilled at the opportunity to finally meet when Carol travels to America to sell Romanian art at HearthLand. The surprises in store for Michal and Carol make for a fascinating read!
December 7, 2015
I just can’t resist a book about letters. Especially when it includes international pen pals who finally get to meet! If you’re already a fan of Chautona Havig, you’ll love this tale that parallels part of Hearthland. But if you’re not, Carol and the Belles will be a great introduction to her inimitable style. Settle in for a tale full of twists and turns from one of my favorite modern-day authors!
(Disclosure: I received a free ecopy of this book to review.)
(Disclosure: I received a free ecopy of this book to review.)
August 18, 2016
Fun
What a fun storyline! Ms. Havig never fails to leave me feeling happy and satisfied with the "beginning" at the end of her books. Most of all I appreciate the way she weaves in Biblical principles as a part of the daily lives of the characters and applies them to life without making it appear they are super spiritual; just normal people with normal struggles with Biblical solutions. This was truly an enjoyable read. A beautiful example of 1 Corinthians 13 love!
What a fun storyline! Ms. Havig never fails to leave me feeling happy and satisfied with the "beginning" at the end of her books. Most of all I appreciate the way she weaves in Biblical principles as a part of the daily lives of the characters and applies them to life without making it appear they are super spiritual; just normal people with normal struggles with Biblical solutions. This was truly an enjoyable read. A beautiful example of 1 Corinthians 13 love!
July 18, 2022
Excellent book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Yet another great book by Chautona Havig. I can't wait to read her next book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Yet another great book by Chautona Havig. I can't wait to read her next book.
December 4, 2025
Fun read, not very deep or realistic but funny and sweet. And sometimes that's just exactly what I need :)
January 26, 2021
A cute long time friends to more story. I liked the culture and language barriers in the book and the humor it created. The ending was a bit long but it was an enjoyable read.
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