Operation Bonnet–Not Your Grandmother’s Amish Fiction
February 25, 2011
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
David C. Cook; New edition (February 1, 2011)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kimberly says:
I am a writer of comedic fiction, and would like to suggest that you laugh regularly when reading my books. Let’s also try for one to two teary moments. If you are crying more than that, you don’t understand my sense of humor and should move on to another author.
I grew up in a book-loving home. Actually, that’s not entirely accurate. My mom loves books. My dad loves to read the first chapters of books and then make us all listen as he recites his favorite passages. I, however, enjoy reading books in their entirety and came into writing as a result of book-love. After earning two fancy degrees in education and Spanish, I promptly let the thinking part of my brain take a breather and instead became pregnant. (I’m sure a lot of other things happened between early literacy and pregnancy but I don’t really remember any of that. If you also have shared your uterus with another human, you understand.)
In an effort to author a book that would entertain my sassy, irreverent, breast-feeding/drooping friends, I wrote my first novel, Balancing Act. People were so nice to me after that, I decided to continue with writing. Also, I can’t craft, knit, or scrapbook, so what else was a nice, Christian girl to do?
In addition to writing books to make my friends laugh and cry, I observe the chaos at the home I share with my unfailingly supportive husband and three offspring. We’re doing our best and so far, no one’s been to prison.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Twenty-year-old Nellie Monroe has a restless brilliance that makes her a bit of an odd duck. She wants to be a private investigator, even though her tiny hometown offers no hope of clients. Until she meets Amos Shetler, an Amish dropout carrying a torch for the girl he left behind.
So Nellie straps on her bonnet and goes undercover to get the dish. But though she’s brainy, Nellie is clueless when it comes to real life and real relationships. Soon she’s alienated her best friend, angered her college professor, and botched her case.
Operation Bonnet is a comedy of errors, a surprising take on love, and a story of grace.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Operation Bonnet, go HERE.
Watch the book video trailer:
Cut Here
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Sally Says: The back of the book says this isn’t your grandmother’s Amish fiction, and I would agree. Operation Bonnet is a comedy which just happens to include a young man who’s left the Amish world and is catching up on modern-day culture with the help of eighties’ reruns.
The book is worth reading for that alone.
The rest of the characters are just as fun and memorable. There’s Tank who likes to yell out random words in his dialogue. There’s Nona who’s reached the sad part of aging, and Matt who’s grown up with our heroine, Nellie. And of course, Nellie herself. The star of the show with her out-of-control red hair and determination to make it as a P.I. in a town where nothing happens. Until Amos, the ex-Amish guy, shows up looking for a Magnum P.I. of his own.
This isn’t Amish fiction at all; it’s comedy at its best. Think Jenny B. Jones humor. Anyone who’s looking for a fun, light-hearted, laugh-a-page read should definitely buy a copy of Operation Bonnet.
When There Are No Words
February 16, 2011
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Words B&H Books (February 1, 2011) by Ginny Yttrup
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ginny Yttrup is an author, freelance writer, and writing coach. As she writes, speaks, and coaches, her prayer is that God will use her words to replace the lies so many believe about themselves with the truth of His unconditional love and grace. To see someone grasp, perhaps for the first time, the truth of God’s love, is truly an honor. Through a relationship with the Truth, Jesus Christ, the bonds of shame are loosed and freedom abounds!
When Ginny is not working, she loves spending time with her two college-age sons or with friends. She is surrounded by the most amazing people–each a gift in their own way. If she can spend time outdoors with those she love, it’s even better. And she thoroughly adores her dog, Bear. He’s a book lover too.
She has two grown sons and lives near Sacramento, California. Words is her first novel.
ABOUT THE BOOK
“I collect words. I keep them in a box in my mind. I’d like to keep them in a real box, something pretty, maybe a shoe box covered with flowered wrapping paper. Whenever I wanted, I’d open the box and pick up the papers, reading and feeling the words all at once. Then I could hide the box. But the words are safer in my mind. There, he can’t take them.”
Ten-year old Kaylee Wren doesn’t speak. Not since her drug-addled mother walked away, leaving her in a remote cabin nestled in the towering redwoods-in the care of a man who is as dangerous as he is evil. With silence her only refuge, Kaylee collects words she might never speak from the only memento her mother left behind: a dictionary.
Sierra Dawn is thirty-four, an artist, and alone. She has allowed the shame of her past to silence her present hopes and chooses to bury her pain by trying to control her circumstances. But on the twelfth anniversary of her daughter’s death, Sierra’s control begins to crumble as the God of her childhood woos her back to Himself.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Words, go HERE.
Sally Says: I haven’t yet received my copy for review, but I am hearing really good things about the book. Sounds like an extremely well-written tearjerker. I better stock up on Kleenex!