About the Book
Book: Bird’s Eye View
Author: Chautona Havig
Genre: Fiction / Christian / Historical / Mystery
Release Date: February 18, 2020
If everything looks so perfect, how does she know it’s all wrong?
Madeline just wanted to learn to develop her own pictures. It seemed an innocent enough pastime until she sees something in the developer’s tray that piques her meddlesome curiosity.
Now she’s on the hunt for clues to spare a man’s life, and she might just land her father in hot political waters while she’s at it.
The fifth book in the Meddlin’ Madeline Series, Byrd’s Eye View sees Madeline back at home in Rockland and determined to stay out of trouble, although that’s not likely to happen, is it?
My Thoughts:
I have been enjoying the Meddlin’ Madeline books ever since the first one was written four years ago. These historical novels are such fun mysteries! I really appreciate the work this author goes to to make sure the books are historically accurate, and she weaves a great story.
Byrd’s Eye View isn’t finished yet, as you can see by reading the guest post here. I have read the first nine chapters, though, and can tell you that this book will be great—I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of it! You can preorder your copy now, and if you enjoy historical mystery stories with a Christian worldview, you will like this book. Don’t break into the middle of the series, though; start at the beginning with Sweet on You. You can find my review of it here, and I have also reviewed Such a Tease, Fine Print, and Dead Letter.
I received a free copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
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:
It’s Like This Book Didn’t Want to Be!
It’s an hour and a half from my mother’s old house in Missouri to the Springfield airport—a perfect distance for plotting out a book. So, when I had to drive back to swap out rental cars, I decided to work on the early 2020 books. Up first… Madeline #5.
Often when I’m plotting out a new book, the first few minutes are kind of jumbled messes as I consider this plot point or that and get into a work flow, and that day was no exception. However, by the time I hit the interstate again, I’d done it. Madeline would learn how to develop pictures in this one. The plot would revolve around that new skill.
By the time I hit Noel, I’d really come up with a cool book idea. I was so excited. You have no idea. Then, as I passed Noel on my way to the hospital in Gravette, Arkansas, I stopped on the side of the road so I cold turn off the voice recorder and start working on another book.
The recorder was off. All my “brilliant ideas” were gone.
Sometimes, I wish I was a crier. It would have been appropriate right there. Just sayin’.
Determined to record the ideas all over again before I forgot them, I started the first few things, watching the recorder bars rise and fall with the inflection of my voice. It worked great.
The only problem was I couldn’t remember anything I’d come up with. Photography. That was it.
That’s when I called my friend and wailed.
Look, it had been a hard couple of weeks, a rough day, and now this. But, complaining about it offered enough catharsis that by the time I went back to Springfield the next week, I was able to record most of it again. Some of it was actually better.
Little hint: it usually is the second or third round of ideas.
By the time I’d finished, I knew what happened and what havoc it would cause, but not to whom or why. Enter Clark.
You know, the guy who made me split the first book into two separate books (you can read about that HERE), and the guy who tried to make things get really gruesome in book four (you can read about that HERE—halfway down the pageish—and be assured that I didn’t do it).
So, just as I was getting into Byrd’s Eye View, Clark and I met up at Denny’s to figure out how to make all the elements I had work.
My one issue became another one. Why became totally different from anything I’d considered. Who became a great reason for it to make things tough on Madeline’s father, and a previous thing I’d thought was a bit excessive became more so… and more believable at the same time. How cool is that?
There was still one problem, though.
I wasn’t done with the book I needed to finish before I could immerse myself in this one.
And this book needed to be done yesterday.
Look, I had actually considered not doing this book until later in the year. For a few minutes, I wished that I had. But Madeline always comes out in February/March and I’d kind of like to keep it that way. So…
Despite losing my notes, having plotter’s block, having Clark upset everything I’d planned and making it better… again. It’s here. And I think it’s my favorite one yet. Who am I kidding? Of course it is!
To purchase your copy, click here.
To visit more of the blog stops on this tour, click here.
To enter a fun giveaway, click here.
