Sunday, January 22, 2012

Cooking the Books

I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post. The holidays, writing, and reading have kept me tied up for a while.

Speaking of reading, I have another great book for your review. It's titled Cooking the Books (A Sloane Templeton Story), written by debut author Bonnie S. Calhoun, and it will publish in spring of 2012. What a debut this novel makes!

It’s not easy being Sloane Templeton. Whenever something comes up that’s considered dangerous or reckless, Sloane’s name is usually attached somewhere.
Poor Sloane. Can you imagine?
Even Sloane’s mother, God rest her soul, always told her, “Fools rush in where angels dare to tread.”
Well, Sloane is sure the angels must practice running for the clouds every time her name turns up as an assignment, especially these days.
After her mother’s death, Sloane goes from Cyber Crimes Unit to bookstore owner before she can blink. Beckham’s Books & Brew, located in a crime-ridden area of New York, isn’t all she obtains as an inheritance. She also receives possession of her mother’s .38.
How will she carry herself like her fearless mother, brandishing a weapon, when she’s never held anything more deadly than nail clippers?
Well, she’s about to find out.
Saints, give her strength!
As Sloane's on her way to work one morning, she hears a woman’s screech echo from the interior of a car. Just as she pulls the .38 from her pants, the thumb hammer snags on top of her pocket, flipping the weapon out of her shaky hand.
Run, angels, run.
Much to her relief, the woman isn’t hurt. Sloane invites her to come to the bookstore, where she finds out the stranger’s name is Barbara Nelson. Barbara informs Sloane that she’s been watching her—every day. What’s up with that?
Rob Landry also shows up at the store, pestering Sloane to sell the business. Although Sloane doesn’t like being a bookseller, she likes even less the idea of selling him the building she’s grown up in. It’s the only home she’s known for most of her thirty-five years of life.
Men.
At least her ex-husband, who kept trying to divorce her by way of Shady Grove Cemetery—most likely in a cardboard box, mind you—the man probably wouldn’t even spring for pine—is out of her life.
Why do men behaving badly seem to gravitate to Sloane like insects to grease?
Andreas, however, is different. After meeting him at a Neighborhood Concerned Citizen meeting, and to the complete ticked-off dismay of her ex-boyfriend, Trey Alexander, she and Andreas become an instant item.
Now that Sloane has a good man in her life, everything should be okay, right?
Wrong.
Two doctors begin inquiring about a rare book in her store. One of the physicians tells her that her life could be in danger if it’s widely known that Sloane has physical possession of the book—worth one million dollars.
Soon after, Sloane starts receiving threats via emails on her computer. She uses her computer forensic skills to find out the source of the threats and discovers someone is out to kill her.
Could things get any worse?
Detective Griffen Justice shows up, determined to find out who wants her dead, and he doesn’t want Sloane in the way. But his voice, smooth as Godiva chocolate, intrigues her.
The angels sure have their work cut out for them on this assignment.
I absolutely loved this book. Who doesn’t love a good mystery? The added humor, though, not to mention the cast of well-crafted characters, definitely makes this one a keeper. You won’t be disappointed.
I highly recommend Cooking the Books.   
About the author:
Bonnie is the Director of the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, a 220+ member organization that conducts weekly blog tours for the latest in Christian fiction from the major publishing houses.
She also is the Publisher of Christian Fiction Online magazine, featuring 35+ of the best and brightest in Christian fiction as columnists and feature writers.  

She is the Northeast Zone Director for the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). http://acfw.com

And she is a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) http://www.awsa.com/

And she is also permanent staff and the Appointment Coordinator for the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference every August, and the Colorado Christian Writers Conference every May.

You can find out more about Bonnie at the following links:

2 comments:

  1. Your sure this isn't an autobiography? Cause that Sloane character sure sounds a lot like the Bonnie Calhoun I know and love. LOL

    Wow, this one sounds as if Bonnie's knocked it out of the ballpark.

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOL, Nike. There are some similarities, such as the hysterical, snarky humor, which is one of the many things I loved about this book.

    Bonnie did knock this out of the ballpark, at least in my opinion.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, Nike. I appreciate you.

    ReplyDelete