The first book for April's CFBA Tour features the first novel from the lady who makes this all happen. One of the busiest women on the planet - and particularly in supporting Christian Fiction online - Bonnie S. Calhoun gives us the sometimes hilarious Cooking the Books published by Abingdon Press. If you'd like to read an interview with the *giggle, snort* master of communication, go here.
Cooking the Books presents Sloane Templeton, divorced and displaced Cyber Crime Unit forensic computer geek, who takes over the ownership of Beckham's Books and Brew bookstore after her mama's sudden death. Fifi, her mother's longtime friend and manager of the store, knows everything about the place except for the operation of the computers which is Sloane's specialty. We're thrust into the conflict of the big developer wanting to purchase the bookstore, hoping if they can get Sloane to sell, the other small shops in the area will follow suit. However, Sloane has no intention of selling her mother's building where she also lived in a multi-level apartment above the bookstore that Sloane now occupies. This shop and home is all Sloane has left of her mom besides Fifi and her mom's sister Verlene.
Pistol-packin' Fifi assists Sloane in realizing the value of a particular antiquated book that her mother traveled to Europe to purchase. Aunt Verlene, who fancies herself an apprentice chef, has also happened upon a very valuable book which she hopes to cash in on only Aunt Verlene doesn't follow Sloane's instruction to keep silent about it, which leads to all kinds of trouble. Trey, Sloane's gangsta ex-boyfriend isn't happy about Sloane's new crush, Andreas Comino, Greek shrink who has a practice not too far from the store, and threatens Sloane with violence which is why he's her ex in the first place. His threat of physical violence is accompanied by unrelated heavily cyber-incrypted threats to Sloane for which she must contact a friend in her old unit to get help in discovering their source.
Mixed in with these colorful and often amusing characters are the Mick Jagger lookalike hairdresser, the Denzel Washington lookalike detective, the elderly group which occupies time and space regularly at the bookstore and who are all packin' heat, and the weird woman who talks to herself, shifts moods and lucidity, and draws sympathy from Sloane.
Just when we get comfortable with the humorous dialogue and flow of the story, the drama increases. The clues get jumbled and the suspects begin to expose themselves in subtle ways. The tension rises and climaxes with fear and violence, but ultimately humor prevails.
One thing I might say is negotiable in this story . . . I'm not anti-prologues as so many professionals seem to be. I think they often serve a purpose. This one - maybe not so much. I don't think it adds - or subtracts - from the story which is why I think it's negotiable.
The story is really centered on Sloane's adjustment to life outside her comfort zone in business and relationships. She recognizes her inability to connect to the bookstore's value, and she struggles with faith issues. She's a spitfire when pushed except with Aunt Verlene, and she longs to do the right things but often fails to discern what those things are. Sloane Templeton, self-depracating Red Velvet Cake fanatic, makes us love her even when she's wrong. The ability to gain our sympathy when her decisions cause us to question her is a sign of good writing.
Well done, Bonnie. If you want to read a unique voice in CBA fiction, pick up Cooking the Books by Bonnie S. Calhoun.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1426733887
Father, few people can keep up the pace that Bonnie does. I pray your divine protection over all of her efforts, and I ask that you would continue to supply the stories you have for her to write. Please help her to rest in you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.