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The Second Noel
A scam, a scare, and two secret Santas—sorta .
When one young woman learns that a local family got scammed out of thousands for a Diabetic Alert Dog for their little boy and must find the money for another one ASAP, she embarks on the seemingly impossible task of raising $25,000 dollars.
Breanne Homestad— Determined, driven—fierce even. And after seeing what the town did for her nephew years ago, she's convinced that Fairbury needs to step it up and help again. Finding people to help—not so easy, but nothing worth doing ever is.
Mark Keating— He and Breanne had one date. One, wonderful, perfect date. But he never called her again. Five years later, Mark finds himself working with her to help a little boy with medical needs—again. And, to his consternation, finds himself drawn to her even more than before.
Breanne, friends, and Mark, who she still hasn’t forgiven for that “date and dash,” work to fulfill one little boy’s Christmas wish—and maybe a second chance at romance.
When one young woman learns that a local family got scammed out of thousands for a Diabetic Alert Dog for their little boy and must find the money for another one ASAP, she embarks on the seemingly impossible task of raising $25,000 dollars.
Breanne Homestad— Determined, driven—fierce even. And after seeing what the town did for her nephew years ago, she's convinced that Fairbury needs to step it up and help again. Finding people to help—not so easy, but nothing worth doing ever is.
Mark Keating— He and Breanne had one date. One, wonderful, perfect date. But he never called her again. Five years later, Mark finds himself working with her to help a little boy with medical needs—again. And, to his consternation, finds himself drawn to her even more than before.
Breanne, friends, and Mark, who she still hasn’t forgiven for that “date and dash,” work to fulfill one little boy’s Christmas wish—and maybe a second chance at romance.
160 pages, Paperback
Published December 10, 2017
65 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Chautona Havig
275 books1,833 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 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 25, 2019
This was a really fun book! Very Christmasy and thought it had a kinda predictable ending, I loved it! :D Though there were a few parts that were pretty surprising. (like Neil, hehe) The characters were awesome too!!
I've heard about this author before and this is my first time reading one of her books. I don't regret it! ;) Definitely looking forward to reading more! :D
Recommended for 13+
I've heard about this author before and this is my first time reading one of her books. I don't regret it! ;) Definitely looking forward to reading more! :D
Recommended for 13+
December 7, 2021
Adele Martingale and her husband had scraped and their friends had helped raise enough money to purchase a diabetic alert dog for their young, adopted son Toby whose diabetes was not under control. But the company had scammed them, and the dog was not properly trained nor would the company give them their money back. So once again the small town is busy trying to raise the money for a new DAD for Toby. They want to give it to him for Christmas, but will they be able to do it?
I loved the premise of this novella as it was so different and focused on the problems of young diabetics who can't get their numbers under control. I also did not know much about DADs and it was quite interesting and informative. The story line was so good as the members of the small community, especially Breanna, worked so hard and came up with so many different ways to raise the money. The anonymous benefactors also played wonderful roles in the story line.
I loved the premise of this novella as it was so different and focused on the problems of young diabetics who can't get their numbers under control. I also did not know much about DADs and it was quite interesting and informative. The story line was so good as the members of the small community, especially Breanna, worked so hard and came up with so many different ways to raise the money. The anonymous benefactors also played wonderful roles in the story line.
September 9, 2018
I really liked this storyline. Toby was especially endearing, and walking with his parents through their sleepless days and nights checking his blood sugar to keep him from slipping away was both eye-opening and heart-wrenching.
I also enjoyed Mark and Breanne's romance. My only complaint was that I felt like I had picked up their story midstream, like I had started reading in the middle of a book, and I don't particularly like that feeling. Many of Mrs. Havig's books take place concurrently and involve characters from other books, but I've never felt confused before like I did in this one. I especially felt that I was supposed to know Breanne's family, but I didn't. The author's note at the end indicated that some of the characters from this book occur in Mrs. Havig's A Bird Died and Silenced Knight so I'm off to read those and see what I missed. This wasn't a huge deal, but it bothered me enough to make me knock off one star since this book hadn't been marketed as part of a series.
I read this book as part of a box set that I purchased. The box set has now been broken apart and the books are being sold separately. I recommend this book as a great read, but if you care about reading books in order, maybe check out those other two I mentioned above first.
I also enjoyed Mark and Breanne's romance. My only complaint was that I felt like I had picked up their story midstream, like I had started reading in the middle of a book, and I don't particularly like that feeling. Many of Mrs. Havig's books take place concurrently and involve characters from other books, but I've never felt confused before like I did in this one. I especially felt that I was supposed to know Breanne's family, but I didn't. The author's note at the end indicated that some of the characters from this book occur in Mrs. Havig's A Bird Died and Silenced Knight so I'm off to read those and see what I missed. This wasn't a huge deal, but it bothered me enough to make me knock off one star since this book hadn't been marketed as part of a series.
I read this book as part of a box set that I purchased. The box set has now been broken apart and the books are being sold separately. I recommend this book as a great read, but if you care about reading books in order, maybe check out those other two I mentioned above first.
September 14, 2023
This book is a great pick up to read, and in my book (pun intended), while it does have Christmas atmosphere, it can be enjoyed all year round. The community coming together is something I have experienced and just getting to see it play out in a fictional way but with pure inspiration from real life, was beautiful. I can't think of a better way to word it.
I think my favorite part of this story was when someone said, "when the people of this town work together, whether to save the high school from water damage, save food during power outages, raise money for a little boy's medical bills or another little boy's medical needs, something beautiful happens here." And that is what this book does well in illustrating. It may be about a woman with a quick temper that was left hanging on a relationship, or the guy that left the woman hanging, but really, its about what happens when a community will help a family get the help they need.
I think my favorite part of this story was when someone said, "when the people of this town work together, whether to save the high school from water damage, save food during power outages, raise money for a little boy's medical bills or another little boy's medical needs, something beautiful happens here." And that is what this book does well in illustrating. It may be about a woman with a quick temper that was left hanging on a relationship, or the guy that left the woman hanging, but really, its about what happens when a community will help a family get the help they need.
December 29, 2019
This books includes a lot of religious references and praying. The blurb didn't mention that. Had I known, I probably would have skipped it altogether. The values presented in this novel are so different from mine that I couldn't relate to anyone in the story. Whether it was the Christian values or the quality of the writing, I don't know, but I spent a lot of my time reading this feeling confused.
November 29, 2021
Very bad grammar
Parts of this book I didn't understand as there were words in sentences that did not belong. I stuck with it as I liked the concept of the story. Storyline was very good.
Parts of this book I didn't understand as there were words in sentences that did not belong. I stuck with it as I liked the concept of the story. Storyline was very good.
Read
December 20, 2021I fell asleep reading it!
The parts with Toby were okay, but the whole Mark and Brennan issues were really boring. I think bringing awareness to dAds is great, I give that 5 stars. But you could do better on the rest!
The parts with Toby were okay, but the whole Mark and Brennan issues were really boring. I think bringing awareness to dAds is great, I give that 5 stars. But you could do better on the rest!
January 3, 2019
A nice story
A good story line, but it felt like the details bogged it down. A nice story worthy of a Hallmark movie.
A good story line, but it felt like the details bogged it down. A nice story worthy of a Hallmark movie.
January 22, 2019
A charming story about people who go beyond themselves to help a boy get the diabetic alert dog that he needs. The little boy is a heart stealer for sure and you won't want to miss this one.
December 16, 2021
I liked the sweet story of helping a boy in need. But there were too many POVs, and it wasn't always well established whose POV the story was being seen from.
December 22, 2021
Really sweet Christmas story! Romance yet, but the main focus is more on helping others and giving of ourselves.
December 24, 2021
A fun book with interesting characters.
December 24, 2021
DISAPPOINTED
This is a good storyline, but doesn’t have an ending or conclusion… the reader is just instructed to go to Amazon to continue the story. (NOT RECOMMENDED!).
This is a good storyline, but doesn’t have an ending or conclusion… the reader is just instructed to go to Amazon to continue the story. (NOT RECOMMENDED!).
August 26, 2023
Good story line. I thought it started a little slow, interesting in the middle then rushed the ending.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews