CelebrateLit Tour: Review {And Maybe a Rant, idk yet}: Ties That Blind by Chautona Havig

He may not be the only person in the Rockland area to wake up without a memory, but he might be the only killer…

Simon Prescott, the latest victim of spontaneous amnesia in Rockland, is under suspicion of murder. The evidence, though weak and circumstantial, points only to him. He’s confident he didn’t do it, but there’s no way to prove it. Grieving for a wife he doesn’t remember, Simon refuses to allow his family in, refuses to cooperate with police, and is heading straight for the pokey if he doesn’t figure out something and fast.

Enter: Ella Weeks and Vikki Jeffries. The previous two victims are determined to help him, and with jail time looming, Simon capitulates. But what Vikki and Ella find as they work through Simon’s life reveals astounding and rather chilling evidence of a bigger scheme than any of them could have imagined.

They’re on the verge of total discovery, but the closer they get, the less confident they are that they want to know.

Okay, where do I start? Can I start? I don't know. Someone send help. Or chocolate. Yes, just chocolate will do. But no. Let me continue with the... you know... the review... Like I'm supposed to be doing. insert rabbit trail here Anyway! First of all, this is book three in a series of books about people who have inexplicably lost their memories. Since none of the characters know what is happening, I suggest you read all three of these so you aren't hopelessly lost and confused. Simon, the MC, that was me. The style of writing just had me so drawn in that I almost couldn't remember anything. Simon's confusion was my confusion. The writing was... choppy. The sentences weren't complete most of the time. Because poor Simon couldn't. It was a genius ploy. There were a few times where the writing would jump unexpectedly into someone's thoughts or into a different speaker or someone would do something completely unexpected like open the front door when I thought they were still at the police station (Not necessarily that particular example. I was just using it) but I think that may have been a problem with how my phone was formatting the ebook paragraphs. I'm not sure. But really! I was so.... angry seems the right word.... for most of the book. It's silly. I love reading books about people with memory loss, but I get too invested. Like... so invested that I was angry that Simon and I couldn't remember anything. I couldn't pull my nose out of this book. The only reason I even went to bed was because I had to get up early for work. Otherwise I would have read through the night to see the resolution of the intense plot. I'm completely blown away, while also a little affronted at her boldness in daring to do this to me, by Chautona's genius in working out a plot that is almost too much to believe, but real enough to scare the willies out of you. 4 Stars for this crazy whirlwind of a something. {No literally. There is almost no way to predict what bizarre sentence will follow the last one you read!}

In case that was tooo ranty for you. Here's the condensed version: Good book. Read them in order. Hang onto your hat. Sign up for Chautona's newsletter. Read more of her books.

I received this book for review from CelebrateLit. All opinions are my own. As if you couldn't tell 🤣

About the Author

The author of dozens of books in a variety of genres, Chautona Havig lives and writes in California’s Mojave Desert where she uses story to nudge her readers to the feet of the Master Storyteller.

                                                                                       

Guest Post from Chautona

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN, ANYWAY?

“So why is this series called ‘Sight Unseen’ if it’s about people who lose their memories? Why the vision references?”

I can’t pretend I wanted to answer her question. She isn’t the first to ask, and I doubt she’ll be the last. I tried to explain.

Look, it’s a valid question. Originally, the first book was called From the Cinders, and if it had remained a stand-alone book, it still would be. But when I finished with another person waking up to no memories and a hint that something sinister might be behind it all, I had to change it to fit two books—no, three!

Recall. Rewind. Refresh. I liked those titles. But that still didn’t give me the name of a series. I kept studying. Tried again.

I read what would become None So Blind three times in a row, if I recall correctly. And as I read it, a theme emerged. Ella Weeks hadn’t been blind to her faults even before her memory loss. Even her husband hadn’t been, despite his obvious love for her. But those around her had been blind to her awareness of those faults—to her silent cries for help in overcoming them.

WILL NOT SEE EMERGED WITH A SIMILAR THEME.

Vikki had a past that she hid from and refused to acknowledge. And even as those around her drew closer to provide support, she still managed to block out all that she found frightening—even physically shutting down and shutting out life.

So, when it came time to plan the final book in the series, the one that would now tie together everything that had happened, I knew I wanted something that also fit with the other titles. And one night it came to me. Ties That Blind. So often our ties to people blind us to their faults—to the destructive influences they have in our lives. And Simon Prescott will learn that lesson in a rather lonely, horrible way.

THE SIGHT UNSEEN SERIES REMINDS US OF WHAT PAUL SAID IN CORINTHIANS.

Now we see through dark glasses… we can’t really make it all out. But with the Lord, when we’re truly with Him in eternity, we’ll see things as clearly as we do when we are face to face.

And that’s what faith is all about, right? It’s the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” When we “buy in” to the Lord Jesus, we’re taking it all in faith. We’re trusting in Him, “Sight Unseen,” just as the characters in this series do with every element of their lives.

I hope their journeys bless you as they have me as I wrote them.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away a grand prize of the entire Sight Unseen series in paperback!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d295/ties-that-blind-celebration-tour-giveaway

Make sure to stop at all the stops!

Blog Stops

Live. Love. Read. , August 18 {You are Here}

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 18

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Blossoms and Blessings, August 19

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Kaylee’s Kind Of Writes, August 21

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D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, August 22

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Cordially Barbara, August 23

All-of-a-kind Mom, August 23

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Christian Bookaholic, August 24

proud to be an autism mom, August 25

Bibliophile Reviews, August 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 25

Texas Book-aholic, August 26

Janices book reviews, August 26

A Reader’s Brain, August 27

Jeanette’s Thoughts, August 27

Maureen’s Musings, August 28

Carpe Diem, August 28

Margaret Kazmierczak, August 29

A Baker’s Perspective, August 29

Bigreadersite, August 30

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Pause for Tales, August 31

Readers cozy corner, August 31

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, August 31