For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) [Kindle Edition]

Chautona Havig (Author)

Book Description

Her first six months of "motherhood" included an ant infestation, a major move, house renovation, and lessons in how to be a mom to eight lively children. Now that the house is nearly complete, her children are headed back to school, and she has a few tantrums under her hymn-singing belt, Aggie is certain life will settle down. Poor Aggie... William makes his intentions known, Luke and his mother are always there for her, and between a new kitten, a box full of puppies, and chicken pox, Aggie's home begins to resemble the local zoo! Her children keep testing the waters, the unrealistic budgets she makes refuse to balance, and she learns that life with children means that nothing stays done and perfect for long. Add Geraldine and her histrionics to the mix and it's no wonder she's ready to run away from home. When a surprise letter arrives, everything could turn upside down. Relief is in sight, but can she bring herself to jump to plan B? Has this just been a practice game, or is she playing for keeps? Will her household shrink drastically, or will it expand?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chautona lives and writes in California's Mojave Desert with her husband Kevin, nine children, and three grandchildren. When not lost in another world with her imaginary friends, she home educates her children, enjoys a variety of hobbies, and glances longingly at her trusty laptop.

Product Details

• File Size: 717 KB
• Print Length: 508 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004MYFT10
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,718 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 89 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A review from a non-religious reader July 4, 2012

By K. Fowler

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

First of all, I want to be upfront. I am not religious. Not at all. I don't currently attend a church, I don't have any strong feelings at all about any religion, and I don't particularly want to. I have been exposed to many, and I am tolerant and accepting, but I have no place for it in my life. And this book...well, it definitely has strong religious undertones. So there, now that's out of the way. Suffice it to say, if you like the Duggar family or if you relate to them/are interested in them, you will like this book. If not, you might like this book anyway.

Perhaps you are like me. I downloaded the first book of the series, "Ready or Not", for free during a Kindle special. I was so absorbed and loved it so much that I bought the second book. Perhaps you enjoyed the first one so much you are also curious about a sequel. If you loved the first book and are not especially religious, I think you should consider this book carefully. I found it still very good and definitely worth the read, just be aware of what you are getting yourself into.

During "Ready or Not," I had some trepidation about the book. The story was so engaging, the dialogue so wonderful, the characters very real...except for the religious aspects. I could not relate to the constant hymns and some of the thoughts of and actions in the church (which I considered strange and almost fanatical). If you felt the same, you should be warned - *****there is a lot more religion in this book!***** Particularly religious ideas which in my community are considered "fringe" at best, fanatical to most.

I'm not sure what "label" best fits the religion in this book. Quiverfull? Evangelical? Providentialism? Fundamentalist? Pentecostal? I'm not trying to be insulting, and I have tried to figure it out, but I am not honestly sure what religion Aggie/Luke/Libby/Allie, et al are portrayed to be. Suffice it to say that this second book has a lot more religious ideas, particularly very conservative ones. It is revealed that the family girls do not wear pants, only skirts. They decide to homeschool. They very carefully audit all material that everyone sees. And perhaps the biggest one for me - no kissing until MARRIAGE! I am aware that this is a belief some people have, but it is not one that anyone I ever have known shares. It is very foreign and unrealistic to me.

The writing is great. The dialogue is fantastic. I'm 26, and Aggie is a lot like I was at 22-23. The non-religious parts of her are real. I even see a LOT of similarities between her and Luke and myself and my amazing partner. Perhaps since I am not part of this uber-conservative Christian community, I don't get it. I will say one other really great thing, this book was NEVER preachy. I never felt like it was trying to get me to convert or trying to browbeat me. Every god-related action had a purpose in the characters' lives, and I really felt their earnestness and how much they believed in it, and that's what is important. I mainly wanted to write a review from the viewpoint of someone who is very opposite these beliefs, yet enjoyed the book anyway. Will I buy the third one? Probably not. Simply because I can see the series ramping up the conservative-ness in each book, and I'm not sure I want to read a 3rd book that includes a wedding in this style. I just can't see honestly believing in a healthy, modern relationship where the bride and groom don't kiss until their wedding.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Even surpasses the first! June 26, 2012

By J. Gigowski

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I wondered how Chautona would keep up with the great story of the first book, but this one was even better. More humor, more fun, and a love story that just sneaks up on you. Again, Aggie is truly believable and relatable, and we really see she's not a superwoman. The kids' personalities really shine, and I just fell in love with Luke and his family.
This book is now one of my favorites, and it made me so excited to read the next in the series!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Didn't make it past the first chapter... July 10, 2012

By Aly-oops!

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

...not b/c it's bad, necessarily (although the characters immediately struck me as a bit too holy & not so human), but because 1) I couldn't figure out who was who or what in the world was going on, & 2) the last 3 pages of chapter 1 were written like a script, not a book. Ummmm...was that intentional? Did anyone else not notice that? Is something wrong with my Kindle Fire?

My guess is that, if I were to read the first book (apparently there is a first book), then I would know who these 84 (or however many) people are & what they all mean to each other. Is this character a kid? An adult? Family? Friend? Boyfriend? How old are these people? Why are they there? Where are they? Just a few of the questions that ripped through my brain in the 10 minutes it took me to figure out I am not going to read this book.

I'm a Christian. I like Christian fiction (generally). I probably would have considered struggling through at least a few more chapters to see if I could catch up with the story & figure everything out. (What can I say? I like puzzles.) Then I came across those couple of pages at the end of the first chapter written like a script. Sorry, but I didn't download a script. I thought I was getting a book. Seriously, did this happen to anyone else??? The book is not engaging enough by half to keep reading past such a major editorial flaw, for me anyway. I'm more than happy to overlook errors when the story engages me, but this one just doesn't.

So, I'm off to check out another book. Sorry I couldn't say anything positive here. (No, seriously...did anyone else have a screwed up last couple pages of chapter 1? This is gonna bug me.)

More About the Author

Chautona Havig began her love affair with words as a very young child. An early reader, she spent most of her childhood devouring books at the speed of a paper grocery bag full each week during summer vacation. Blessed with a vivid imagination, she often escaped into worlds of her own creation.

When asked about her first attempts at writing a novel, Chautona said, "The summer I turned thirteen, I wrote the most insipid, pietistic, self-righteous pile of wasted paper that anyone has ever attempted to put on paper. Looking back, I guess it was a good reminder of what I don't want to write! Twenty years later, in 2001, I suddenly felt compelled to write, and I haven't stopped since."

With over a hundred books in various stages of editing or completion and three in print, Chautona doesn't see herself ever running out of ideas.

Chautona strives to write about average people with genuine problems, and how they strive to live their lives to the glory of God. Some of their methods are unconventional and their situations aren't pristine and free from the taint of sin in this world, but all care more about serving the Lord and each other than obtaining some Utopian ideal.

She can be found at chautona.com

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#84 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

#84 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality