Guest Blogger Caprice Hokstad and Blood and Brine

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CAPRICE HOKSTAD,  spends most of her time dreaming up other worlds to live vicariously in. Her first half-million words were lavishly spent on the fantasy setting of Byntar (where her published Ascendancy Trilogy novels are set). Caprice lives in a mobile home in southern California, but regularly stares at her simulated aquarium screensaver. Her ultimate aspiration is to live in the first undersea colony, Atlantica, currently being built off the coast of Florida. She is assured they will have electricity and internet and that there will be room for her laptop, so she can continue to write. At that point, she may change her screensaver, but no promises.

http://caprice.splashdownbooks.com (blog)
http://Latoph.com (commercial fiction)
http://UnderseaAdventure.net (fan fiction)

BLOOD AND BRINE
by Caprice Hokstad
Published by Splashdown Books

ABOUT THE BOOK

Book 3 in Ascendancy trilogy

What should be a season of rejoicing over Duke Vahn's newly-recovered son is overshadowed by fear of an uncertain future. Vahn's brother, King Arx, expands the war with neighboring Ganluc, while enemies at home seek to shatter the Rebono dynasty forever. Strained relations between royal twins harden into cold suspicion and treasonous accusations while a deadly plague sweeps across the land.

As the royal bloodline is torn asunder, two races, the Elva and Itzi, discover that only together can they stop the plague and restore their unraveling kingdom.

Readers, buy your copy of Blood and Brine today!

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR

My publisher asked me to be a guest blogger here after she heard of the opportunity. She’s big on “getting your name out there.” I’m with a small press and it’s a struggle to find an audience. Those who have read my books have said good things, but the trouble is finding people interested in reading. But back to why I’m here.

Being the dutiful writer I am, I agreed for the sake of marketing, but I really didn’t know what in the world I was going to write about. In fact, the whole idea made me panic big time. I am not good at non-fiction nor do I have any “expert advice” to dispense or “special knowledge” to endow. So I checked amberstockton.com to see if I could figure out what her readers might be interested in.

Then I found it. I gasped out loud. There’s a fan fiction link! The minute I read the confession about how many people visited the fanfiction page, I knew what I would write about.

I, too, write fanfiction.

Yes, I know there’s a stigma. By some perceptions, writing fanfiction places me in the category of black sheep. Some have told me I shouldn’t admit to it in public. I know some professional writers who use pen names which they guard as if they’re secret-agent identities. It’s a big, dark secret they write fanfiction.

I do use a pen name, but it’s no secret. Fanfiction.net forced me to choose one, but I lay claim to it on my blog very openly and I have told my fanfiction readers my real name on my profile. I like using a pen name to keep my genres separate, not because I am ashamed. The fact is, I have more fanfiction readers than readers of my original fiction.

Fanfiction writing is nothing to be ashamed of. About eighteen years ago, three novels in the fandom I write for were published by a Big Six publisher in New York. Not just trade paperback, but “pocket” books that ended up in airports and grocery stores as well as the bookstores. These three books are now out of print, but I found them used. Two out of the three I can truthfully say, “I could do better than that.” And actually, I have done better than that. I have written two novels I would submit to these folks for consideration as authorized if I could. I’m just eighteen years too late.

My point is those other four authors who got published (one book has two authors named) were no different than me. None of the three books are authored by the man who created the original characters and background, including the book that is simply a novelization of the pilot screenplay (which was written by the creator)! So if others got paid to write novels when they were not the creator, how am I or any other fanfiction writer inferior? If the show hadn’t gone defunct, I would be submitting for authorization. If my reader’s comments are any indication of quality, I think I’d have a pretty decent chance, too.

Writing fanfiction isn’t easy (see http://amberstockton.com/fanfic.html for a good description of why) and I think I’ve made a case for it being respectable. Now if I could just figure out how to make it pay…

* * * * *

Thank you, Caprice, for sharing with us today.

Guest Question: Do you read or write fanfiction and if so, do you hide it? If not, why not?

ENTRY RULES Readers, leave your email address (name at domainname dot com/net) along with your answer to the question for your chance to win a FREE eBook copy of the book above via a coupon code for the download. If you do not answer the question, and your email address isn't provided, you will not be entered.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

Congratulations to 2012 ACFW Genesis Semi-Finalists

I don't often veer off my author guest posts, but since I'm a category coordinator for this contest, I wanted to take the time to tip my proverbial hat and post the list of the ACFW Genesis semi-finalists, just announced yesterday.

I especially want to give a big shout-out to local friends and writers here in Colorado: Michael Ehret, Brandy Cole-Vallance, Becca Witham, Kelli Hughett, Linda Abels, Carla Laureano, and Dena Netherton.

An extra kudos to friends, Shannon McNear, Sarah Hamaker, Michelle Shocklee, Martha Ramirez, and Rich Bullock.

The Genesis contest is for unpublished authors, and it provides budding novelists with excellent feedback on their writing, plus it offers the chance of having your work read by industry professionals such as editors and agents for major houses and agencies.

The top 3 finalists in each category will be announced at the end of May, and the overall winner will be announced at the ACFW conference gala in September. The semi-finalists comprise the top 20% of scores from the initial round. Please Join me in congratulating these up-and-coming authors. Here's the complete list:

Contemporary Fiction

Kimberli Buffaloe
Michael Ehret
Casey Herringshaw
Melissa Lewis
Michelle Massaro
Colleen Shine Phillips
Anne Prado
Will Schmitt
Sarah J. Smith
Chris Storm
Linda J. Truesdell
Brenda J. Young

Contemporary Romance

Cora Allen
Brenda Anderson
Jennie Atkins
Pepper Basham
Kimberly Buckner (double semi-finalist)
Tari Faris
Sarah Hamaker
Kara Isaac (double semi-finalist)
Ava W. Jenkins
Kimberly Johnson
Jessica Keller
Amy Matayo
Shannon McNear
Carol Moncado
Sherri Murray
Andrea Nell
Melissa Tagg
Cindy R. Wilson

Historical Fiction

Heidi Chiavaroli
Jessica Clochesy
Nancy Diekmann
Kathleen L. Maher
Christina Miller
Vanessa Morton
Rachel Neal
Leslie J. Payne
Sarah Thomas
Mary Kay Tuberty
Terri Wangard
Renee Yancy
Elizabeth Byler Younts

Historical Romance

Lance Albury
Whitney M. Bailey
Crystal L. Barnes
Karen Barnett
Debra Calloway
Brenda Carroll
Kay Chandler
Dawn Crandall
Barbara Curtis
Susanne Dietze
Terri Haynes
Lyndee Henderson
Kristi Ann Hunter
Melissa Jagears
Diane Kalas
Susan Anne Mason
Marilyn Rhoads
Christina Rich
Michelle Shocklee
Ginger Takamiya
Brenda B. Taylor
Brandy Vallance
Lanna Webb
Becca Whitham
Rachel Wilder
Lora Young

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

Jerusha Agen
Rich Bullock
Morris Christen Civiletto
Joseph Robert Courtemanche
Randall Gannaway
Dena Netherton
Deborah Quigley Smith
Matthew Sheehy
Chris Storm
V.B. Tennery
 Larry W. Timm (double semi-finalist)
Michael J. Webb

Romantic Suspense

Sally Bayless
Paula Boire
Suzanne Bratcher
Arlene Coulter
Normandie Fischer
Kelli Hughett
Lesley McDaniel
Carrie Padgett
Ellen Parker
Pat Trainum
Katy Vorreiter
Terri Weldon

Speculative Fiction

Caleb Jennings Breakey
Dennis Brooke
Jo Hall
Stephanie Karfelt
Carla Laureano
John Leatherman (double semi-finalist)
William Ramirez (double semi-finalist)
Luke Scott
Regina Smeltzer
Amanda G. Stevens (double semi-finalist)
Heidi Treibel

Women’s Fiction

Connie Almony
Brenda Anderson
Robin Archibald
Sally Bradley
Kathy Buchanan
Diane Chase
Emily Conrad
Susan Hill
Kara Hunt
Ginger Marcinkowski
Susan Miura
Rachel Moore
Christina Nelson
Julie Scorziell
Katherine Scott-Jones
Dawn Alicia Shipman
Amy K. Sorrells
Julia Toto
Pamela Trawick
Erin Taylor Young

Young Adult

Linda Abels
Sandra Barnes
Kathleen Freeman
Sara Goff
Glenn Haggerty
Mary L. Hamilton
Barbara Hartzler
Katherine Hyde
Teresa Lockhart
Rondi Olson
Rajdeep Paulus
Martha Ramirez
Chawna Schroeder
Sarah Tipton
Cynthia Toney

Guest Blogger Laura Hilton and Promised to Another

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LAURA HILTON,  her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools three of her children. Her two oldest children are homeschool graduates and are in college.  Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.

Her publishing credits include Hot Chocolate and Shadows of the Past from Treble Heart Books; a devotional in a compilation from Zondervan; and the first book “Patchwork Dreams” in her Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House, which released in April 2011. The second book, “A Harvest of Hearts” released in September 2011, and Promised to Another in April 2012. Laura has her business degree from Ozarka and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Laura is a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with over a thousand book reviews published at various online review sites.

PROMISED TO ANOTHER
by Laura Hilton
Published by Whitaker House

ABOUT THE BOOK

Book 3 in Amish of Seymour series

Annie Beiler is an Amish school teacher. She was in love with an Amish man, Luke Stultz, but Luke left the Amish community during his rumspringa, but not without begging Annie to go with him. Now Luke is back, trying to win back Annie’s love. Joshua Esh may be Amish, but he has been bitten by the travel bug. He sees the opportunity to relocate from Pennsylvania to Missouri as a way to satisfy his longing to see another place yet remain with people of his faith. Josh quickly notices the beautiful Annie, but Annie is slow to respond. With Luke in the picture, and Josh’s admission that he willingly left his district, will either man be steady and dependable enough to win the gift of Annie’s heart?

Readers, buy your copy of Promised to Another today!

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR

It’s a Wednesday, typically a busy day around this house. I have to take my oldest son to college so I can have my van to run errands. I need to go to the post office, take recycling over to the recycling center, stop at Wal-Mart for a few groceries and a few other jobs, then come home and start homeschooling my three daughters.

My oldest daughter is in ninth grade, and she is doing DVD school from ABeka Academy. She has “real teachers” and is learning the typical subjects taught in public schools, such as Algebra, World Geography, English, etc with the addition of Bible classes, and, of course, everything is taught with a Christian world view. I sort school out for my younger two daughters; one is in fourth grade and the other in first. They don’t use any set curriculum, just a bunch of miss-matched things that were given to me from people who bought a program and didn’t like it, or that a friend bought where she works at the St. Louis science museum, or that I was sent to review, or that I actually bought myself.

I get them started on their seatwork, then I open up my email, check to see if there’s anything important going on that I need to know about, and then I close that down and open up my word document where I’m typing the current story. Sometimes I don’t get very much writing done, because I have to research some things. And sometimes the girls need more help than usual with their school work, so I have to show them how to do problems, give oral quizzes, and I don’t get much writing done due to that.

I like to write at least one thousand words a day, but that’s not always possible, especially not on Wednesdays when I have all the before mentioned errands and there’s the midweek service at church. Plus an easy, quick, and healthy meal to prepare before hand. I like to use the slow cooker on Wednesdays so I can start our dinner in the morning and not think about it.

* * * * *

Thank you, Laura, for sharing with us today.

Guest Question: What meals do you like to fix in your slow cooker? Do you have a link to a recipe to share?

ENTRY RULES Readers, leave your email address (name at domainname dot com/net) along with your answer to the question for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of the book above. If you do not answer the question, and your email address isn't provided, you will not be entered.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

Guest Blogger Carla Olson Gade and The Shadow Catcher's Daughter

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CARLA OLSON GADE has been imagining stories most her life. Her love for writing and eras gone by turned her attention to writing historical Christian romance. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and Maine Fellowship of Christian Writers. An autodidact, creative thinker, and avid reader, Carla also enjoys genealogy, web design, and photography. A native New Englander, she writes from her home in beautiful rural Maine where she resides with her “hero” husband and two young adult sons.

THE SHADOW CATCHER'S DAUGHTER
by Carla Olson Gade
Published by Heartsong Presents/Harlequin

ABOUT THE BOOK

Colorado/New Mexico, 1875: Eliana Van Horn aims to make her mark by joining her father as his photography assistant on an expedition to survey and document the placement of a marker at the intersection of four southwest boundaries. Living in the shadows of his native heritage, a half-Navajo guide, Yiska Wilcox, is thrown off course when The Shadow Catcher’s Daughter opens up the uncharted territory of his heart. As they travel through dangerous terrain in New Mexico and overcome barriers of culture, faith, ideals, and secrets that they both keep, they at last discover common ground and stake a chance on love.

Note: The Shadow Catcher's Daughter is not available via any online retailer, but it IS available from the Harlequin Reader Service and as an autographed copy directly from Carla through Signed by the Author.

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR

Search for Significance

In my debut novel, The Shadow Catcher’s Daughter, the protagonist longs for significance. Eliana would like to make her mark in a world that does not value the talents this young woman possesses, nor are women given the same opportunities as men. But there is more. She understands that the marks people bear can be positive and negative. How hard she must strive to make her good impression and find a way to work around the obstacles in her way. Yiska has goals of his own. And as a half-breed Indian he is caught between cultures and it is difficult to find the place where he belongs and will be accepted.

Although the 19th century rural setting of this book makes it difficult for Eliana and Yiska to fulfill their dreams, I believe many of us can relate to the longings they have. We have our own obstacles to overcome. Sometimes we just can’t seem to get out of our own way. And often we are subject to the opportunities and events in our lives — positive and negative. How frustrating it can be when the opportunity, perhaps a talent you have and an event, becoming a caregiver for example, seem to keep you in a perpetual state of inertia. How do you realize your significance then? Is it knowing what you are capable of doing even though your talent remains hidden? Is it understanding the importance of what you are doing during that particular season in your life? These things can help, but to be frank, there are times in our lives that even these considerations can leave us unsatisfied. Why? Because they are based on what we do. So I ask you this, if Eliana and Yiska never achieve their goals are they significant persons? Are you?

As life would have it, irony seems to rule. I have worked very hard and prayerfully pursued my own goal of becoming a published author. Twenty years ago, when my sons were small, I had the first inklings of hope to become published someday. My boys were very close in age and I also suffered from serious health issues for many years. My life circumstances changed time and again. The timing wasn’t right for me, but the hope lived on and I wrote for enjoyment’s sake as I was able. Fast forward and my first novel is published. I am officially an author. An author who cannot write! I was in a car accident and broke my wrist at the time of my book’s release. I could not write, type, sign an autograph, work on my current book contract...nadda. Frustrated, yes. But I held on to the knowledge that my worth does not rest on my fleeting capabilities.

What I do is not who I am. Nor is what I do not, or cannot do. Although gratifying, writing is not what makes me significant. Being published or not does not change who I am in God’s sight. He is fulfilling His purpose for me in who I am as His child, shaping every facet of my being, not just what I do. Yes, I have dreams and goals. I pray they merge with His purposes. But I am fulfilled in trusting that he satisfies the deep desires of my heart. Sometimes the ones that I am unaware of that He later brings to light. My prayer is that you will find your significance in Him. Through Him. Just as Eliana and Yiska do.

* * * * *

Thank you, Carla, for sharing with us today.

Guest Question: What makes you feel significant?

ENTRY RULES Readers, leave your email address (name at domainname dot com/net) along with your answer to the question for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of the book above. If you do not answer the question, and your email address isn't provided, you will not be entered.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

Guest Blogger Kelly Long and Arms of Love

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KELLY LONG was born and raised in North Central Pennsylvania. There was an Amish hitching post at the small grocery store in her town. She loves to write Amish romance and is the author of novel, Sarah's Garden, the novella Amish Christmas Expanded Edition with some other great Amish authors, Amish Love with Beth Wiseman and Kathy Fuller, and Lilly's Wedding Quilt--the sequel to Sarah's Garden. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and children.

ARMS OF LOVE
by Kelly Long
Published by Thomas Nelson

ABOUT THE BOOK

The year is 1777. America is in turmoil.  And Amish life is far different than today.

Pennsylvania in the late 18^th century, once called William Penn's Woods, was an assortment of different faiths living together for the first time in American history. Included in this tapestry was a small and struggling population called Amish.

Surrounding this peaceful people were unavoidable threats: both Patriots and the British were pillaging land and goods for the sake of the war, young Amishmen were leaving the faith to take up arms and defend freedom. A simple walk in the untamed forests could result in death, if not from bullet or arrow, then from an encounter with a wild animal.

Amid this time of tumult, Adam Wyse is fighting a personal battle. To possibly join the war efforts and leave his faith, which would mean walking away from the only woman he's ever loved: Lena Yoder. But for that love he's made a promise that may keep them apart permanently.

When Adam withdraws from Lena, she's forced to turn to his brother, Isaac, for support. Must Lena deny her heart's desire to save Adam's soul? And will life in this feral and primitive New World be more than this peace-keeping people can withstand?

Readers, buy your copy of Arms of Love today!

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR

Dead Men Tell No Tales

The origin of the phrase "Dead Men Tell No Tales" is most often associated with a time of piracy but actually dates to the mid-1500's and a more proverbial "Dead men reveal no secrets." Obviously, the author was excluding one Man---Jesus Christ. Despite our fascination as a culture with remaining eternally young (looking at least), and despite incantations, potions, and prescriptions for longevity, every man must die. The secret that Christ tells from His resurrection is that dead men are not always dead men.

During lean years of college, my husband was the caretaker of a large cemetery up in the mountains of Pennsylvania. He had to dig the graves by hand, and me, being me, would often come and visit him with a picnic lunch for a digging or a burial. (Yes, odd, but that's a whole other blog). In any case, I remember this burial on St. Patrick's day for two reasons---because I brought green iced cupcakes and because the sun was shining brightly in a usual blah March sky...In any case, as I considered the sprays of flowers, and the new tombstone of the woman, as clear as a bell it came into my head "Why seek you the living among the dead?" I felt a joyous exuberance, a freedom, because somehow, God had let me know that this woman had been a believer in Christ. She didn't lie within the earth....she was far and away.

Too often we forget the triumph that Jesus has, that we have because of Him, over the secrecy of death. The Bible says that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us in our daily lives, yet we so often grope along fearfully, scared of getting hurt, afraid to die. Seek to loose your life for Christ (not random sky diving with no parachute) but daily surrender to the power and the wonder of the once dead man who now tells the tale of eternal life...and follow hard after Him.

* * * * *

Thank you, Kelly, for sharing with us today.

Guest Question: What has Jesus told you in times of darkness that you feel you should proclaim in the light for His glory?

ENTRY RULES Readers, leave your email address (name at domainname dot com/net) along with your answer to the question for your chance to win a FREE copy of the book above. If you do not answer the question, and your email address isn't provided, you will not be entered.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

Guest Blogger Jennifer Fromke and A Familiar Shore

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JENNIFER FROMKE was born and raised in Michigan, and now writes from North Carolina where she lives with her family and their needy Prozac dog. When separated from her laptop, you can find her curled up in a corner with a latte in one hand and her e-reader in the other, awaiting her annual escape to a lake in northern Michigan. Jennifer’s debut novel won the 2010 ACFW Genesis Award for Women’s Fiction. Her website: www.jenniferfromke.com.

A FAMILIAR SHORE
by Jennifer Fromke
Published by Write Integrity Press

ABOUT THE BOOK

Meg Marks is a young lawyer raised off the coast of the Carolinas. An anonymous client hires her to arrange his will, and sends her to meet his estranged family at their lake home in northern Michigan. After a shocking discovery, she finds herself caught between his suspicious family and a deathbed promise her conscience demands that she keep. Will she sacrifice her own dreams for revenge, or will she choose something more?

Readers, buy your copy of A Familiar Shore today!

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR

I’m a lover, not a fighter.
I’m a reader, not a writer.

Wait a minute, I am a writer. Some days it’s like I have a split personality. I’ll sit in my chair, laptop in my lap, and stare across the room at my e-reader. My mind will travel to that place I left the night before sometime after midnight, where my new best friend was in the middle of a war, bombs crashing around her, and she learned that her one true love had just succumbed while rescuing their only child from . . . well, you get the point. I want to leave the world I’m in and get back to that story.

To read or to write, that is the question. But reading IS writing some days. I read things for research, non-fiction books, blogs, websites, letters, etc . . . I also read novels that carry with them a “feel” similar to the “feel” I’m hoping to convey in my book. Mostly I read novels for “story.” When I say “story,” I am looking at the plot, characters, and the experience of the reader in that story. At least that’s my goal.

But when I read a book I truly love, sometimes I forget to analyze it. I find myself finishing the last page and thinking to myself, Uh oh, that research just turned into a delightful distraction from work. So then I force myself to go back and think about what I just read.

Since I began life as a reader, my natural tendency is to read first, write second. As a writer with deadlines, this becomes a challenge. I write in the cracks of my normal life, which looks like this: mornings while kids are at school, in the carpool line, at the barn, at the tennis courts, during the piano lessons and late at night. Incidentally, those times coincide exactly with my free-time previously filled with personal reading.

When I’m reading, I could be writing. When I’m writing, I could be reading. Both activities are my favorite thing to do, so I fight this battle within. Both are good, but at any given time, both things are not necessarily beneficial. For instance, after 11pm, the writing will suffer. Also, snippets of time shorter than 20 minutes are better for reading. There’s nothing worse than being on a roll, having a thought you MUST get out of your head before you forget it, and having to pull forward in the carpool line and suffering dirty looks from the traffic controllers. (I exaggerate)

So I’m learning to enjoy the book before me, whether it’s the one I’m writing or the one I’m reading. Forget looking across the room at the lonely laptop. I am blessed to be steeped in story, mine and others’. But ultimately, it’s the story I live that must come first and that Author knows what He’s doing better than anyone.

* * * * *

Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing with us today.

Guest Question: So, are you a reader, or a writer? Even if you've never written a novel or article, and your writing has only been in a journal, which do you prefer more? To read or to write? Why?

ENTRY RULES Readers, leave your email address (name at domainname dot com/net) along with your answer to the question for your chance to win a FREE copy of the book above. If you do not answer the question, and your email address isn't provided, you will not be entered.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide (international winner will receive an eBook version of the book; domestic winner will have his/her choice of format).

CFBA Presents Bonnie Calhoun and Cooking the Books

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingCooking the BooksBarbour Books (April 2012)byBonnie Calhoun
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

As the Owner/Director of the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Bonnie has helped use the 220+ blogs of the Alliance to promote many titles on the Christian bestseller list. She also owns and publishes the Christian Fiction Online magazine which is devoted to readers and writers of Christian fiction. She is the Northeast Zone Director for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). At ACFW she was named the ‘Mentor of the Year,’ for 2011, and she is the current President of (CAN) Christian Authors Network. Bonnie is also the Appointment Coordinator for both the Colorado Christian Writers Conference and the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference.

In her spare time she is an avid social media junkie, and teaches Facebook, Twitter, Blogging and HTML as recreational occupations. She also has a novel coming out in the Abingdon Quilts of Love series. Her novel Pieces of the Heart will release in August of 2013.

Bonnie and her husband Bob live in a log cabin on 15 acres in upstate area of Binghamton, New York with a dog and cat who consider the humans as wait-staff.

ABOUT THE BOOK

After her mother dies from a heart attack, Sloane Templeton goes from Cyber Crimes Unit to bookstore owner before she can blink. She also "inherits" a half-batty store manager; a strange bunch of little old people from the neighborhood who meet at the store once a week, but never read books, called the Granny Oakleys Book Club; and Aunt Verline, who fancies herself an Iron Chef when in reality you need a cast iron stomach to partake of her culinary disasters. And with a group like this you should never ask, “What else can go wrong?”

A lot! Sloane begins to receive cyber threats. While Sloane uses her computer forensic skills to uncover the source of the threats, it is discovered someone is out to kill her. Can her life get more crazy?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Cooking The Books, go HERE

Watch the book video:

If you'd like to read interviews with Bonnie, try these:
Everbody Needs A Little Romance
A Christian Writers World
Novel Rocket
ACFW - Fiction Finder

MY REVIEW

All right, so I know the author of this book quite well. We go back a number of years, and we've been up into the wee hours of the late night some nights emailing back and forth or chatting on the phone. That being said, I knew I was in for a real treat with this book. Bonnie has a flair for the dramatic, but her real-life quick wit and wicked sense of humor found their way into the main character (Sloane Templeton) in spades! Sloane's poor taste in men and desire to do everything herself without asking for help seemed rather familiar to me (except Bonnie married herself a real gem), but there came a point when I was ready to slap the woman and tell her to call the cops!

Nevertheless, this novel is chock full of likable characters, memorable lines, and a good old-fashioned mystery. I don't normally read mysteries, but this one I had no choice. The author would likely whip me with a wet noodle and string me up if I passed on her book, but no worries. I wasn't coerced in any way. The humor, supporting cast, and great story meld together to produce a fantastic literary delight. For a debut novel, this one is a keeper! You won't be disappointed.



*** I received a free copy from the publisher through the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance in exchange for this review. No compensation was given or received, and I was not required to give this book a favorable review. Thank you to CFBA, Hamby Media, and Abingdon Press for providing this book.