Noble Pursuits

by Chautona Havig

Nolan Burke has everything a man could hope for- well, except for a wife. In his search for a genuine relationship, he's come up empty handed. Desperate for a change of scenery (and desperate for an escape from the attentions of aggressive Rockland women), he's relocating to Brunswick. He is not prepared for Grace. Independent, strong, and decidedly feminine, Grace Buscher is living her childhood dream. While friends and family watch concerned and amazed, she pinches pennies into dollars as the most successful (and only) house-spinster in the greater Rockland area. When Nolan meets Grace, two worlds collide resulting in accidents, misunderstandings, and one silly serenade to a mouse. Noble Pursuits is the introductory book in the Rockland Chronicles series by Chautona Havig. Coming soon: Past Forward- diamond of yesteryear in a contemporary setting.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Christian, Contemporary, Clean Romance

260 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2008

About the author

**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.

Reviews

[Jes Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet little (okay, big) romance with all the usual Havig charm. Somehow she pulled off having a love story that is quite unlike others I've read, while also being so realistic it felt like I was watching mutual friends fall in love. The main characters were quite interesting- she is a professional homemaker... of her own home, and he is an eligible bachelor fleeing from forward women. Together, they become the best of friends.



The secondary characters are also fun, from the heroine's overprotective brother and his wife, to her pretty but shy friend, the annoying guy in church, and his nice brother, to the hero's father's business partner and family. It was fun watching them all interact with each other as they dealt with the ups and downs of life together.



Overall, this was a delightful read to watch a man realize there is more to women than the outside, and a woman learn that there are spiritual benefits in a temporal relationship.


I received a copy of this book from the author, and the views and opinions are my own.

Review first posted on my blog: https://agencyofbooksandspies.blogspo...

[Tressa (Wishful Endings) · Rating 2 out of 5]

OH, GRACIOUS! is a story about seeking love, letting go of fear, faith, friendship and family. Readers may enjoy this one.

I'm going to be honest, I really struggled with this story. I've enjoyed the last two books I've read from this author, so I was expecting to really enjoy this one. There were some elements of it that I liked, but also several that I didn't.

What I Liked:
- I really liked the characters. Grace was down-to-earth, talented and sweet. Nolan was such a gentleman. He somewhat came from money, but also made his own, and he wasn't stuck up about it.
- I liked seeing Nolan have to figure out how to chase someone for once. It was quite humorous in some ways since he'd always been chased before.
- I liked Grace's friends and how she interacted with others, particularly the kids.
- I loved the kids in this story! Their honesty and frankness brought some humor as well as some sweet moments.
- The romance was sweet and clean.

What I Didn't Like:
- The story was kind of jerky in the beginning. It jumps in without much explanation and the dialogue and writing felt very fragmented. It got better about a fourth to a third of the way through.
- There was no introduction to many of the characters. I felt like the author knew what was going on and who was who in her head, but didn't convey that information very well to the reader.
- There were POVs from side characters that weren't necessary to the story and at random places. Also sometimes the POV was a single sentence and it just felt off. If something needed to be said, it could have been said out loud or omitted altogether instead, in my opinion.
- Quite a few of the side characters didn't feel necessary to the story, particularly as they were very flat and one-dimensional. They either needed to be fleshed out more and play a bigger role or just omitted.
- Grace's brother was over-the-top protective to the point that it came across unrealistic without some serious drama in their history to explain it.
- Grace was super paranoid and also super emotional without anything in the story to support her being so drastically that way.
- I couldn't quite buy Grace choosing to be a homemaker and stress about money in this situation. A few things I think needed to be different for it to work for me.
- There was a suspense sub-plot about a serial rapist. I'm not sure why it was in the story. It just felt wrong and unnecessary for this story and made the story drag even more.
- I felt zero chemistry between Grace and Nolan. I felt almost pity for her, but not the emotional investment that would have been ideal as a reader, especially after a specific fiasco where Grace and her brother, Craig, totally go off on Nolan and they don't even let him say anything or explain.
- Honestly, as the story went on and Grace goes totally crazy, that's how I started to feel about her... that she was a crazy woman with a crazy brother and aunt and Nolan should run far, far away.
- The religious element was very strong with specific terminology. Grace also says that she has prepared her whole life for marriage and then doesn't know if she is actually open to it because of her relationship to God. Maybe there are people like this, but I felt like it missed the mark in whatever the author was trying to teach. It needed to feel a lot more realistically genuine.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This story just didn't work for me. It was a rough start, then it got better and I was hopeful, and then by the end it was painful to finish. I feel like the author tried to fit in all these pieces and characters that made the story drag and also made everything not feel very fleshed out. I also feel like anyone can be attractive, especially as we get to know them better, but this was extreme with Nolan not even knowing what Grace looked like and zero chemistry. He still needed to be attracted to her on some level and I think he was, but it wasn't worked into the story as it seemed like the author was really pushing Grace's attractive values and personality.

Content: Some references to rape and women being attacked that are not detailed.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first of Chautona Havig's books that I have read. I had heard and read several praising reviews of her books from friends and was interested to see just what all the fuss was about. Now I know.

Havig has such a great way of storytelling. I loved the characters, loved the sweet romance, and loved the plot line.

There wasn't much in this book which caused me to cringe or feel uncomfortable. The romance was spot on. The only uncomfortable stuff, was one mistake a character makes in referencing a wrong bible verse (it turned out to be song of solomon level. Whoops!) and one secondary character that is attacking women (mostly just info in the newspaper).

I found myself laughing numerous times throughout this book. But maybe that was because the lead female character was almost an exact copy of my older sister.

I'm excited to read more of Havig's books (both in this series and of her other works) and I would recommend her books to any of my friends.

One quick note: Some of the subject matter was definitely of an adult level. I wouldn't recommend this book to younger teen girls.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book and this author is fast becoming one of my favorites. She has high moral standards but her characters have real emotions. Her only real weakness? She changes point-of-view without warning and often.

This story was refreshing. Grace is a plump, single, educated lady who is trying to make it as a homemaker for a year. Nolan is a dashing, rich, man trying to get away from women pursuing him and find the woman of his dreams.

This is a great book for those who like strong values, and stories of everyday people.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The cover is gorgeous. And the author is a favorite of mine. The subject brought to mind a movement I’d read about recently about stay at home daughters. Basically women who’ve decided to stay under the head of their father, aka stay in his home, while waiting for their husband.

Now, Grace can’t do that because her father is dead, and she no longer lives with her brother as he’s married and expecting. But her brother does still have a say over her life as her father would.

I really loved the premise of Grace being a stay at home woman. She’s not a wife. She’s not a mother. Neither of those things is because she doesn’t want to be. She’s actually amazing with kids. And can she cook! Also, she’s super crafty. I’d love to be half that crafty!

Nolan moves to get away from the fortune-seeking women. He wants a woman he can marry, an old fashioned woman who wants kids and isn’t career-driven. Grace is pretty much the antithesis of the women who have been in his life up until now. Is he interested in her just because of that or for a deeper reason?

I loved that there was some mystery thrown into this book as well and that all of the characters have their own story to tell. I can’t wait to read some of the other stories!!

This is a book and an author that I highly recommend. Definitely read this book and then start reading ALL of her others. They’re great!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read several books by this author and enjoyed them greatly, I've also started a few others and didn't like them, so I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. I did end up enjoying it for the most part.

Things I liked:
I did like the main characters though Grace drove me crazy a few times and I wanted to tell her she was acting like a child. And Nolan was sweet.
Craig–well, let me say that he wasn't my favorite character, but I loved his wife and baby.
The storyline was good, and I enjoyed that it was a man looking for a wife, not a woman chasing a man. It was rather fun that quite a bit of it happened during Christmas time.

Things I didn't like:
I don't mind point of view changes in scenes, but there were a few times it felt really strange.
I really got confused when someone would start speaking and I knew it wasn't, or at least I didn't think it was, one of the characters in the room, and then, at the end of their lines, you would find out that someone new had walked in the room.
Another thing that bothered my reading was that in one small paragraph the characters might be eating dessert, and then suddenly one of them was walking home.
But my biggest complaint was Thanksgiving. It was, I thought, a family affair, at Craig's house, with Grace and Nolan. And Aunt Fran. They had arrived, gotten the food ready, eaten, and then suddenly, while everyone was relaxing, there appeared three others. Where had they come from? Had they been there all along? Did I miss a page? Was there a mix-up of scenes? I was really thrown for a loop there.

Overall, I did enjoy the story, but not as much as some of the others I've read.

[Emily Yager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another sweet and charming romance by Chautona Havig. I loved Grace’s character. She’s smart, down to earth, and just full of life. I enjoyed seeing Grace and Nolan’s story unfurl and their determination to help out a friend who had been attacked.

There were a couple of spots where the POV suddenly switched to a minor character, it disrupted the flow off the story a little. There is also mention of rape and women being attacked, but it just in passing and not gone into detail.

The main characters faith is played out in a realistic way. Faith, hope, and love are all major themes in this story. Overall this is a fun and delight read.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would say that this quirky character is in line with other characters this author writes, from her struggles with living very frugally and doing odd things like closing off her house rather than make more money.

It is not your typical romance, with the Grace struggling with thinning hair, weight issues and no need for a man. I found it very enjoyable.

[Emma Filbrun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful story. I loved Grace and Nolan. They felt like real people, and I liked that both had faults they had to work through. I really liked a story with a woman as the main character who loved staying at home and making her living doing homemaking things and useful handcrafts!
I received a free copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

[Vendethiel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked bits and pieces of this book, but on the whole found it confusing and a little too much. There were so many characters and so many subplots and so much advice. Let me explain, no, there is too much, let me sum up:

There were at least 2 fights involving punching by Christians, which went unremarked upon by the characters in the book. (Maybe I live a sheltered life, but I have never actually seen anyone punch anyone else in real life - apart from stunts and acting.)

The author had opinions on everything and shared these opinions - which is fine, everyone has opinions, and for the most part I liked the opinions - but it just seemed like so much in a book. There were several passages of advice on child-rearing - by a woman who doesn't have children (which, again, is fine, but in my experience most people don't even listen to those that do have children and aren't going to listen to someone who doesn't.) There was advice on courting/dating, birth control, children, women working/staying at home, jobs, churches, moving, friends, marriage, wedding planning, fighting, dealing with offenses. There was just so much ground covered that I got bored, because it didn't really have to do with the plot at hand.

There were also some subplots that seemed to just be there for filler. For example, one character is losing her hair and everyone is fine with it for quite a while. (You should not be fine with large amounts of hair loss! See a doctor!) And then she visits a doctor, gets a prescription, and it's really never mentioned again. Also there was a rapist and then there was the annoying guy who only showed up now and then and then there was the neighbor who appeared so rarely that I kept forgetting who he was. The heroine explains she doesn't want marriage for spiritual reasons, then she seems to change her mind for no reason.

I liked that this was old fashioned - I'm old fashioned. I liked that it was sweet and clean and that the Christians seemed to be real, but there was just so much stuff. The plot didn't shine through, the characters seemed lost under conversations that seemed more like veiled opinions of the author, and in the end, it didn't really seem finished, there were little things that never felt like they were resolved. I think the author had a good idea, but I just didn't really enjoy it.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chautona’s books are well known for little/light romance. As a big kiss lover, I’m sometimes at odds with this approach, but Oh, Gracious! struck the right note for me. While it’s not filled with toe curling kisses, it is filled with a real relationship and two people trying to honor God as they walk along their path. Chautona balances the sexual tension with faith building in a sweet romance for readers from teens on up.

It takes all types to run the world, but I was alternately in love and frustrated by all the characters. While I related to aspects, I had a hard time relating to one specific character all the way.

Grace is a canner. Woot! I’m all for that. I wish I could do more in our tiny apartment. Applesauce is one I do every year along with jams. She is very resourceful and has learned to budget to the nth degree. While I admire her frugality, it is also her downfall. I related to her exhaustion, struggle to be healthy, and frustration of not being able to do as much as she wants. Like Grace, I have a chronic disease and tend to want to do everything and push myself too far. It’s been a hard lesson to learn that my body can’t sometimes. I wanted Grace to learn that relationships are give and take, but she insisted on doing everything herself and that grew defeating after awhile.

I liked that Chautona goes more into depth during the engagement season. So often romance books skip over this period to the “happily ever after,” but any of us that have planned a wedding know it’s not that easy of a jump. I like the authenticity of the stress and struggling how to do this couple thing that Chautona creates, but their big argument (without giving it away) seemed like huge overreactions. However, I can’t talk because hubs and I got into the BIGGEST argument during our wedding planning about whether carrot cake should be our top tier and whether or not it should have raisins. I was so mad. I sobbed. We didn’t talk for THREE DAYS. #relationshipgoals #sarcasm

One overarching theme to me is the importance of communication for a successful relationship. There are many things that should be talked about prior to marriage and I think Chautona shows how it can be an issue when you don’t have those conversations. For example: finances! I know it’s a big struggle for most couples, and I myself have been in plenty of arguments over ours. But, I wish I saw more movement from both Nolan and Grace on this issue. In the end, they start to find their way forward and I know this is just the beginning of learning how to compromise.

Nolan – at first, I was a little ruffled about his approach to finding a wife, but then it started to make so much sense. Nolan is an older character for typical romance and has clearly not sparked with anyone yet in his life. So, instead of looking online, he moves! It sounds odd to us today in the world of online dating, but I like how his friend Mel supported him and brought perspective on intentionally seeking a wife. But, I also got frustrated with his search for perfection. While I didn’t have a problem with his list, it seemed like when someone didn’t live up to his expectations, he really struggled.

I liked that he wanted a down-home girl who like being female. Some may struggle with this aspect of the book; that Nolan knows what he wants. Some may see this as Nolan wanting a woman who’ll cook and clean and therefore have less worth. But, I encourage you to stick with the book. Nolan does not believe it’s subservient to be a homemaker and Chautona does a great job of getting this across.

To me, this is feminism – the balance of the fact that I love being a woman. I can dress up and look pretty and be smart and intelligent. But, I love that hubs takes out the garbage and cleans the toilet. Can I do all of that? Absolutely! I adore that it’s a way I can let hubs live out his manhood – because those are gross and he doesn’t mind gross stuff. When Nolan takes out the mouse for her – some variation of this has happened in our house many times. Feminism is knowing I can chase that mouse and kill it and clean up the body, but that I don’t have to and I’m comfortable with that.

I also think while Nolan kept saying “I have money, don’t worry,” he didn’t really open up about it. I kept thinking if they sat down and had a real conversation of just what that meant, that it would’ve been much smoother. I still think there would have been struggles on both sides to learn how/when to spend money versus save, but I just wanted to lock them in a room until they talked about it.

In summary, if you’ve kept reading my long thoughts, I think Chautona brings a real relationship to life. While there is some manufactured drama, I know some of the stupid arguments I’ve gotten in (the latest over a bag of tater tots), so it’s still realistic as well. She brings her humor and squeaky clean romance together to illustrate how a bond for a long-lasting marriage is formed.

I received a complimentary copy of this story for the purpose of this tour. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review appears on my blog: https://confessionsofabookwormweb.wor...

Let me start by saying that this is the light-hearted read I have been wanting to read for the last couple of weeks! I loved it and I flew through it. I enjoyed getting to know this lovely cast of characters, or rather I should say reacquainted with them because I had read Noble Pursuits. However, I could not remember much from when I read it several years ago, except the two main characters…and that one scene (apologies if this is a spoiler) when Nolan sends Grace a plant and accidentally writes down Proverbs 5:19 in the card, and the chaos that ensues after that.

And having just igven away one of my favorite scenes in Oh, Gracious, here is the rest of my review.

As I mentioned before, this was the pick-me-up book I have been looking for, it was funny, sweet, had a great cast of characters and contained some great nuggets of truth throughout the novel.

First, the characters. Nolan Burke is a great character, he has depth, is not shallow. I appreciate that he knew love and marriage is not based on marrying someone who is externally beautiful, but that it is a person’s character that truly matters.

And then there is Grace, who I also loved, especially since she is beautiful both inside and out, even if she isn’t what the would would deem classically beautiful. However, I did find her a little too old-fashioned and stubborn at times. While I understand she is single and it is wise to check in with her brother, she is also 32 years old and capable of making her own decisions – but at the same time I also liked this aspect of the novel.

And then there is her brother, Craig, who needs to get a life! I swear for most of the book I wanted to throttle him … he was way too overprotective of Grace and it was aggravating at times. I also did not like how there were times when he questioned Grace’s judgment, again, she’s 32 and perfectly capable of making good decisions. But I wil admit that his overprotectiveness did add some comic relief to the novel too.

And before I continue, I need to note Chuck Majors, who I have met in some of the other books in the Rockland Chronicles. Even though he is a piece of work, I would love to see him have a sort of redemption story arc (maybe it already exists?).

The plot was cute and had some great laugh-out-loud moments. It is a perfect read for the uncertain times we are going through right now! I am looking forward to re-reading this in the future, as well as read (and re-read) Chautona Havig’s other books. Oh, Gracious is definitely going on my favorite reads of 2020 list! 4.5/5 Stars.

[Melissa Wardwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I WANT TO BUT …

I am an avid Chautona Havig fan. Some of her stories have been guiding lights in the middle of some very dark times for me (Aggie Series to name one). The connection between a few of my struggles and that of the characters makes the storylines more believable for me. It is very rare for me to find something that I cannot relate to in a Chautona Havig book and I love it.

Oh, Gracious! did not do any of that for me, and that makes me sad.

Don’t get me wrong, there were funny moments as well as touching ones, but I felt nothing. I waited for the chemistry between Grace and Nolan. I waited for a personal connection with their plights. I waited for something that said, “You must have this in paperback so you can brag that you have it.” Sadly, none of that came.

Now, this does not mean that the book was poorly executed or that the characters were not well thought out–no way. This story was well written and plotted and much care was taken in the development of it. For all I know, it could be something as simple as my head just wasn’t in it or exhaustion at the end of the day hindered me from truly enjoying one of my favorite authors. And I think I can safely say that we have all been there.

At the end of the day, I would still encourage anyone to pick up this Chautona Havig book, and here is why. Just because it isn’t a favorite of mine or I didn’t fall head over heels in love with it, doesn’t mean you won’t. There may be something about Grace’s determination to make it as a “Single homemaker” that will resonate with you. Or that Nolan’s decision to be picky about the kind of woman he wants to spend his life with that will encourage you to make your own “list”. You could be looking for a book that is calming and simple to enjoy on your back porch this summer with a glass of tea. Whatever your case may be, please don’t completely turn away from this book because I couldn’t get into it.

**I was given a copy of this book from the publisher through CelebrateLit Publicity. The views expressed are entirely my own. A favorable review was not required. Only a honest one.

[Abigail Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

There has never been a more appropriate title than Oh Gracious!

As a lover of every one of Chautona Havig's books I could get my hands on. I knew that I had to see what the rewrite of her first published book was like, how much she had changed it, and what was new.

First off, I read the first version several years ago and since then my taste in reading has changed … It has grown and I no longer like books I once did due to the hated ability to tell a well written book from a badly written one. (Plot, style, character, etc.) Which is why I am glad I did not reread this book before the rewrite, I would not have enjoyed it as much as I did the first time, I would likely have found it painful.

A favorite read becoming dissatisfying is a sad day, indeed. But! But, but, but, with the changes, growth, and learning that the author has made since she first published this book it was in no way a disappointment. On the contrary, it made it stronger.

Noah has long been a favorite romance hero! I loved his arc the first time I read his and Grace's story in Noble Pursuits, they were the same in the first book and in the rewrite.

Grace had me fascinated, her way of life so beautiful, so much what I'd love to have for myself … If I could but I can't so, oh, well.

The new cover had me torn, it is so different! Now, I am in love with the way it fits the story.

You do not want to miss this embarrassing need to read romance.

I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Donna C · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I think you should know:
Oh,Gracious! is a contemporary Christian fiction/ romance by Chautona Havig. Formerly released as Noble Pursuits, Havig has rewritten it. It is part of her Rockland Chronicles, a set of interconnected books and series that take place in her Fictional Rockland and surrounding towns. You will be introduced to some characters from her other stories in this book, however since this was originally her first book it will not contain any spoilers.

What I think about this book:
I am so torn about this book, as much as I enjoyed the story and as much as I wanted to LOVE Grace I found myself frustrated with her and found myself wishing that she would have had a more mature female spiritual leader to help her at times in the story. Grace felt that her calling in life was to be a homemaker and she was so determined to do it even if it was at the expense of having a family of her own. I felt she hid behind her relationship with God to keep from being hurt by a man. Nolan was easier for me to love. Yes he was portrayed as a typical man in that he was initially drawn to the woman he felt was physically attractive, but he redeemed himself by seeing beyond the physical. I thought that their story was beautiful and one of the best kinds of romances, a sweet friendship that grew into love. If you have never read one of Havig’s books this would be a good one to start with, and IF you have read any of the Rockland stories this might be a great time to see some beloved “friends”.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

[Patti Whitson Stephenson She Lives to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chautona Havig’s books are always delightful. There’s much to love about the two main characters, Nolan and Grace. Both are caring and giving people who are devoted to their faith. They quickly become great friends. Romance would not seem to be likely to develop between the two of them, but that’s what makes this story so sweet.

I wasn’t sure about this book in the beginning. Although it was necessary to set up the rest of the story, I thought there was a little bit too much emphasis on Nolan’s problems with women coming on to him because of his wealth and good looks. But Nolan is not a shallow character, and we see his true measure as the story progresses. The book finds its heart with the character of Grace. Her attitude in the way she wanted to live her life as a godly, independent woman was a nice contrast to the women who had previously been in Nolan’s life. She’s not “fashion model perfect”, but she’s a young woman who’s known for her love for God and being a loyal friend.

There’s a section of this book that did not seem to fit with the rest of the storyline. Paige, one of Grace’s friends, suffers a violent attack, and Nolan and Grace want to help Paige identify her attacker. Although this is all handled quite appropriately, it did not seem to fit with the overall storyline. I could see Paige’s story being in another book in this series, but not this one. Overall, I enjoyed this book with its emphasis on faith, hope, and love.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Robbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Gracious. . .or should I say, oh, Grace!

Chautona Havig’s latest story, Oh, Gracious, is full of delight and joy. Of course, everything’s not always a bed of roses, either. There are trials, too. However, without the trials, the blessings would not be so sweet.

I was intrigued by the premise of a single Christian woman becoming a homemaker. I add, Christian, because Grace is allowing Christ, following Biblical principles, to become her husband, protector and provider.

Chautona also writes a realistic portrayal of a slightly overweight woman completely comfortable and happy with her body. I was gratified to see Grace’s joie de vivre and enjoyed her ability to throw caution to the wind and go for the gusto. For example, she rakes up a huge pile of fallen leaves and takes a running slide into it! What fun!!

I fell in love with all the characters, laughing and crying with them as the situation warranted. Anyone with friends and family like Grace’s has received a true blessing.

Oh, Gracious is a wonderful story, not to be missed. (And I have a sneaky suspicion that Grace’s personality mimics Chautona’s in many ways!)

I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating. I take so much pleasure in Chautona’s fun quirky sense of humor, and I appreciate her commitment to God. I have read several of her books and follow her on social media, which has helped me to get to know her some. Her humor never ceases to amaze me.

I received Oh, Gracious from Celebrate Lit. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"'I am anything but sophisticated...' 'You're better', Traci insisted.'You're real'"

Grace Buscher is a woman who lives alone in the house she was born in in the Rockland suburb of Brunswick. After her father died, and her brother got married, she chose to remain in the house, alone, and seemingly cares for everyone neglecting herself at times. Educated, with an advanced degree, she chooses not to work outside of her home, doesn't even drive, and gets by by making and selling canned fruit and caring for kids whose parents are struggling at times themselves.

Nolan Burke is tired of being chased for his money and his looks (maybe not in that order even). He moves into the house across the street from Grace, and his life changes. Armed with a "laundry list" of things he thinks should be part of a lifelong mate, his entire world is changed by a brief encounter with the woman across the street. Be careful what you pray for Nolan!

This was a fun, long ranger view of a slow building mature relationship. I am so glad I took my time and read it. It's a "feel good" story. I am constantly amazed at the breadth of Author Chautona Havig's writing. From the fantasy/fairy-tale to speculative fiction all injected with faith without apology, she is a consistently believable author I share with many people. Highly recommended. 5/5

[disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntairly read and reviewed it]

[Tabitha Bouldin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this version of Noble Pursuits. I will have to admit I’ve not read the original edition, but that doesn’t stop me from loving Oh, Gracious!

Grace and Nolan, well, they kind of took the story and ran with it, taking a piece of my heart in the process. They are opposites in so many ways, and it only makes their relationship stronger.

One thing I always know when I read a Chautona Havig novel: I’m going to learn something about being a Christian. Her characters are unapologetically Christian, and they show me things I didn’t know about myself, things I could do better.

Every character in this book felt like they could walk off the page. Their emotions and reactions were deeply grounded in unique personalities that made them vulnerable and relatable.

I couldn’t read fast enough, and yet, I wanted to slow down and savor the layers of spirituality within the story. I’ll need to read it again someday, because I know I’ll find more I could learn.

I requested a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are so many things to love about a novel by Chautona Havig, and Oh, Gracious! certainly gave me much to love.

It's obviously written for a Christian reader. But Havig doesn't just give you nice characters and their story. The characters in this story are wrestling with theological issues, and working through how the Bible actually applies to their lives. Then they are given new issues to work through as Christian people living in community, and in submission to the authority of their local church.

The book is good-sized, and kept me reading happily. I liked both Nolan and Grace right away. Nolan was a great guy, and Grace was a little quirky, but lovable. It was delightful to watch Grace transform into someone ready to receive love. It was also great to see how Nolan and Grace worked through their many conflicts.

This novel had plenty of humor and feel-good moments, but it was not fluffy. It was an entertaining, solid read, with lessons for the reader throughout.

I received a copy of this book from the author, through Celebrate Lit, for review purposes. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

[Esther Filbrun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet story! I rooted for the two main characters all the way through, but also loved Grace’s perspective of wanting to keep God front-center in her life.

For some reason—perhaps because I read this in a fairly stressful time?—I didn’t feel like it had as much depth as some of the author’s other books. But in saying that, there were so many little things I loved in here. The care and protection of family working together to help everyone. The love and concern shown to a family member who is blatantly against God. Much of this book is about love in action—in many different forms. And that is beautiful.

If you’re looking for a sweet story about a godly couple wanting to do what pleases and glorifies the Lord most, this would be a great choice. Grace’s decision to try to be a single homemaker was fascinating, and perhaps others would find it encouraging to see some of her reasons behind that as well. It’s not a glamorous life, but it can be very rich if such a path is chosen. A highly recommended story!

I requested a free review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Chautona Havig. I like her style of writing and look forward to reading more.
This book is a modern day Christian romance. He is looking for the woman that meets his wish list. She is his new neighbor. Their first meeting was unusual and totally unexpected. From there the story progresses in a well set out manner.
The characters are pretty well developed and the story flows quite well. The editing was well done, which can ruin a good book if not done well. I enjoyed the fun in the story and I really enjoyed that it was truly a Christian book. That God was shown.
What I did not enjoy was that it seemed to just jump into the new characters and you had to wade through a bit to learn who they were, but it wasn't too badly done, it didn't take too long.
This book was given to me through Celebrate Lit and the review is my own, freely given and a good review was not required. I give this book a 4 out of 5 star rating. Three stars is a good book, 4 is a really good book, and 5 stars are rarely given by me.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chautona Havig’s Oh, Gracious! is part of the Rockland Chronicles. It is probably my favorite I have read by her to date. I was entertained with this fun and delightful story all the way through. I really enjoyed Grace from the start. I felt a connection to her from page one. I love the interactions between her and Nolan. The book does deal with some issues that many readers could relate to. I know I sure did. I had no problem having the whole book read in one sitting.
I am giving Oh, Gracious! a very well deserved five plus stars. I look forward to reading more by Chautona Havig in the near future. She is beginning to be one of my go to authors. She is a talented storyteller.
I recommend Oh, Gracious! for readers who enjoy a fun and clean romance. I do believe many will find some inspiration with in the pages.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace knows a bit of what she wants - just to be a homemaker. Forget that she is not married and that does mean that she has to be a bit frugal but she wants to try it. Can she do it?

Craig is the big brother who loves Grace and is protective. Maybe a bit too much.

Nolan is tired of being chased by women who are looking for a good looking guy who has money to go with the looks.

You can't forget Aunt Fran. What a character but a bit of a sad lady but again that is the result of living life without God.

I love the way you meet the real Grace with fears and challenges in life. I love seeing slowly as Craig changes and works through letting go a bit.

This is a updated rewrite of an earlier book. I remember reading the earlier book. I did remember bit of the story I did enjoy the rewrite.

[Lew · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book felt a little disjointed to me. I read fast and there were so many times that I had to go back and reread because I thought I missed something. I didn't; the scene just seemed to skip ahead for no reason.

I liked the thought of Grace because she's old-fashioned. She would be even keeled in one moment and in the next would come completely undone.

There were also a lot of subplots that didn't make a lot of sense. There's a guy who is assaulting women and instead of allowing the police to track him down (which they could have...very easily), Grace spends money (that she doesn't have) to have delivery men at her house every day so that her friend can identify the attacker.

[Marguerite Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each one of Chautona’s books challenges me to look inward at my life and choices. I loved investing in the lives of Nolan and Grace in this one. Even though Grace has many characteristics different from me, I admire her gumption and goals. My personally could not risk so much for life choices, at least not the same choices. Grace is so unique with the way she reacts to situations. She challenges me to consider a simpler lifestyle and what it would take to achieve it. It reminds me of our world today with the stay at home mandate. Simple life and simple choices. Grace would fit right in with few changes.
Nolan loves “her quirky little ways”—his words, not mine. A person’s value needs to be seen through the eyes of Jesus not the world. Nolan seeks to follow his list for a perfect wife and finds someone the world would not have picked for him. It reminds me that God made us each so different with our quirks, flaws, talents. He never wanted us to be cookie cutter copies of each other. Size, color, height, wealth, education—each makes an individual unique.
As I read more from this author, I admire how she can present a subject—homemaker, poverty, homeschooling—and have others not criticize or demean the personal choices. It’s important to accept those choices in others.
Have fun with this one! I did.
I received a copy for my honest review.

[Vitoria Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm happy to say this is one of the best books i have read!
It's really hard to find a good romance, but this author wrote the perfect slow burn story from the start. You really can see and apreciate the relationship growning from friendship to love.
Not to say I didn't found Nolan's list a little bit weird, but If a woman can write what to wait from a man, why not do the opposite, really? Another thing that was hard to like at times was her brother with an atittude.
But this don't change my rating. Really great story and writing.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Gracious!" by Chautona Havig is a book that is about friendship and love and family. There are scenes in this story that makes you laugh out loud. Scenes that included Grace's hatred of mice and a wrong Biblical passage.

If you like clean romances with characters that are real and clearly shows Christian principals then I say you will really like "Oh, Gracious!" by Chautona Havig.

I was given a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. These opinions are my own.

[Faith]

I seem to have a new favorite by this author every time I read a new book by her. I really did enjoy this story as much as the first edition that I read some time ago. I liked that Nolan was open to falling for a woman based, not on her outward appearance, but on her inner beauty. The relationship that developed was such a sweet friendship. I can always recommend, without hesitation, whatever I've read by Ms. Havig!

[Patti Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me perfectly blunt, there is only one thing I dislike about reading a novel by Chautona Havig. The one thing I dislike is that once I begin reading I have a terrible time putting her books down until I finish them. Then I realize I also dislike a second thing about her books – and that is that inevitably they have to end. You see I am someone who loves reading. I read this novel in its original form, Noble Pursuits, and thoroughly enjoyed it. So I have to say I was interested in seeing how the updated book would turn out. And I have to say I loved it.

Nolan Burke portrays all the characteristics of a Godly man who wants to find a Godly woman. I think one of my favorite parts of this story is when he is going through his list of what he is looking for in a woman. At the beginning of the book, I appreciated reading his observations about the women he came in contact with through various situations. More importantly, I appreciated when his friend Traci enters the ladies’ room and heard the primarily “catty” comments the women were making. Suddenly she understood what Nolan was experiencing.

Grace is a character I fell in love with immediately. She exudes everything a woman should be. The two make a perfect match. So if you want to read a wonderfully captivating story, check out this book for yourself.

I received a copy of this book for my fair and honest review.