International Cat Day! Celebrate by cuddling your cats, reading about cats, and/or helping cat rescues. #internationalcatday #cats #catlovers #books #romance

International Cat Day takes place on 8 August of every year. It was started in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare as a way to raise awareness and teach ways to help and protect cats. Celebrate by cuddling your cats, reading about cats, and/or helping cat rescues. 

There are many local rescues and shelters doing great work in trying to reduce the population of feral pet animals, through Trap-Neuter-Release programs and finding homes for strays. They can always use donations, volunteers, foster families, and people to adopt.

The Magical Cat Café and Teashop: Fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop will find a new favorite healing story in this cozy novel about six people finding family, healing, and home. Find it at your preferred store or buy directly from my online shop.

Readers say: "A heartwarming story.” 
“What a sweet book!” 
“This book made me smile many times.” 
“This book is the absolute coziest! Cats, and tea with cakes and human connection.”

Kris Bock writes romance, mystery, and suspense. Her Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats. Start the series for 99c with Coffee and Crushes at the Cat Café: Kari doesn’t have time for love when she’s opening her new cat café. But when a sexy master baker walks in, how can she resist?

Get a free novella, Lions and Love at the Cat Café when you sign up for Kris Bock’s Romance and Mystery newsletter. You’ll also get a printable copy of "22 recipes from the cat café,” a Tales of a Reluctant Psychic short mystery, and a free Accidental Detective mystery short story with bonus material.

The Treasure Hunting Romantic Suspense series stars a feisty orange cat named Tiger! Desert Gold follows the hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. In Valley of Gems, estranged relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex clues. In Silver Canyon, sparks fly when reader favorites Camie and Tiger help a mysterious man track down his missing uncle. See the Treasure Hunting Romantic Suspense series (only on Amazon).

Kris's other novels include the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series: a Texas ranching family wins a billion-dollar lottery. Can they build new dreams and find love amidst the chaos? 

In the Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. 

“This is a remarkably enjoyable start to a brand new cozy mystery series.” ~Books a Plenty Book Reviews

“A great start to a new series... Readers will enjoy this new cozy mystery and eagerly wait for more sleuthing with Kate and the Coffee Shop Irregulars!” ~Reading is my Superpower

In the Tales of a Reluctant Psychic mysteries, a quirky loner who can read the history of any object with her touch gets drawn into mysteries at the museum of oddities where she works. Readers say: “... one of the most vivid books I’ve ever read. Kris Bock doesn’t just tell a story—she immerses you in it.” 

“This is exactly the kind of book I crave—tightly plotted, emotionally rich, and impossible to put down. Kris Bock blends murder, mystery, and psychic suspense seamlessly, and I’m obsessed.”

Kris also writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. The Felony Melanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie. The series starts with Felony Melanie in Pageant Pandemonium. Sign up for their romantic comedy newsletter and get Felony Melanie Destroys the Moonshiner’s Cabin. Or find the books on Amazon US or All E-book retailers.

Learn more at KrisBock.com. Sign up for Kris Bock’s Romance and Mystery newsletter. 

Christmas Cookies at the Cat Café is a perfect #ChristmasInJuly treat! #Romance lovers will love this mature #SweetRomance

Christmas isn’t the same since Diane’s kids grew up and her husband died – so when her high school sweetheart comes back to town, maybe it’s time for some cozy new holiday traditions.

Christmas Cookies at the Cat Café is in Kindle Unlimited or $4.99 to buy. Plus, book 1, Coffee and Crushes at the Cat Café, is just 99 cents/pence!

Visit the Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series on Amazon US or Amazon UK or see the series with links to all retailers. 

“In many ways a story of how we must reinvent ourselves. It really was a joy to read and I can't wait until the next one.” - 5 stars from PAR  

Diane had a great marriage and a wonderful life. Now she’s a widow at 53, and her grown children are encouraging her to slow down and do less – but she wants more. She starts planning for a new career by arranging a photo shoot at the cat café her daughters run. Unfortunately, the cats won’t cooperate.

Rick loved Diane in high school, but he chose to travel the world while she settled down with another man. Now he’s back for a visit, but he’s not planning to stay – even if Diane still tugs at him. He’ll help her get what she wants from life, and then he’ll say goodbye.

Rick temps Diane to quit her job, sell her house, and travel. But she can’t leave the people she loves so dearly, the family that might still need her just a little bit. Diane tempts Rick to end his wandering ways, but he can’t simply step into the hole left by her husband’s death. As the weeks pass from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the holiday season brings out complicated emotions.

Can Diane and Rick find a way to make a new life together while holding onto the best parts of the past? They'll need more than attraction and affection. They might even need a Christmas miracle.

“I especially appreciated Bock’s insights into a ‘second chance romance’ as it reflects on the hopes and fears in a later-life relationship I’m experiencing in my own life.”  – reader Linda W.

The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the workers and customers at a small-town cat café, and the adorable cats and kittens looking for their forever homes. Each book is a complete story with a happy ending for one couple (and maybe more than one rescued cat). These sweet romances will leave you with the warm feeling of cuddling a purring cat.

Visit the Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series on Amazon US or Amazon UK or see the series with links to all retailers. 

“This is a sweet and clean book full of hope, joy, delicious baked goodies, and cats.” – reader Lori on BookBub

For more "Christmas In July," check out Snowed In With a Cowboy, book 1 in the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series!

In the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a billion-dollar lottery. Can they build new dreams and find love amidst the chaos? 

Kris Bock writes romance, mystery, and suspense. Get a free 30-page story set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café when you sign up for Kris Bock’s Romance and Mystery newsletter. You’ll also get a printable copy of "22 recipes from the cat café” and a free Accidental Detective mystery short story with bonus material.

Kris also writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. The Felony Melanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie. Find the books at all E-book retailers.

In the Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. Learn more at KrisBock.com. 

In the Tales of a Reluctant Psychic mysteries, a quirky loner who can read the history of any object with her touch gets drawn into mysteries at the museum of oddities where she works. In 

Chocolatey, moist date #cookie #recipe from the magical cat café (gluten-free and dairy free) #cats #books

The Magical Cat Café and Teashop: A cozy magical realism novel with warm drinks, purring cats, and unexpected second chances. A perfect comfort read for fans of healing stories like Before the Coffee Gets Cold, The Midnight Bookshop, and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop.

“Very sweet story with subtle magic, charming cats, and connections formed between people that need them. Heartwarming and encouraging, and did I mention cats?” 

“This book is the absolute coziest! Cats, and tea with cakes and human connection. This book is a collection of interconnected short stories that intertwine customers of the Cat Cafe lives in the exact way that they need.”

“The magic in the story is subtle, while the cats are not. And the true magic happens in the connections between the characters and the way they come together to not only support each other, but to become a family.” 

Find it at your preferred store or buy directly from my online shop. 

Date Chocolate Cookies

In the book’s magical cat café, server Greta knows the perfect treat for everyone who enters. These Date Chocolate Cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free, and sweetened with dates instead of refined sugar. They are also quick and easy in a food processor. Best of all, they are chocolatey and delicious, and they stay moist for a long time!

• 10 ounces/300 grams pitted dates
• 6 tablespoons peanut Butter or other nut/sunflower seed butter
• 3 tablespoon cocoa powder
• chocolate chips, optional (be sure to use chips free of any ingredients you’re avoiding)

1.      Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly oil with cooking spray.

2.      Cover the pitted dates with boiling water (in a heatproof bowl). Let soften for 10 minutes.

3.      Drain the dates, reserving a bit of the water.

4.      Add dates, peanut butter or other nut/sunflower butter, and cocoa powder to a food processor.

5.     Blend in short bursts. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula in between two fully mix everything into a sticky dough. If the dough is dry or crumbly, blend in a spoonful of the warm water.

6.      Divide the dough into 12-15 balls of the same size. Place them an inch apart on the baking sheet. Optional, flatten each ball a little and press a few chocolate chips on top.

7.      Bake the cookies for 10 minutes. Test with a toothpick and bake another two minutes if they are still sticky inside.

8.      Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Transfer them to a cooling rack to finish cooling. Store in an airtight container.

Get The Magical Cat Café and Teashop in print or ebook.

Kris Bock writes mystery, suspense, and romance, often with smart, snarky heroines finding adventure (sometimes against their will) in the Southwest. She lives in New Mexico where she enjoys hiking with her husband and playing with their ferrets.

In the Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series stars the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats. In the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery and discovers winning the lottery causes as many problems as it solves. Kris also writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. The Felony Melanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie.

Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter and get short stories from the Tales of a Reluctant Psychic and Accidental Detective series plus other freebies. Then every two weeks, you’ll get fun content about pets, announcements of new books, sales, and more.

Get 60% off on the #audiobook of Something Shady at Sunshine Haven at Audiobooks until July 30! A humorous female amateur detective #mystery perfect for summer. #books #audiobooks

Click this text for 60% off audiobook 

Something Shady at Sunshine Haven: War correspondent Kate Tessler has followed the most dangerous news stories around the world. But can she survive going home? 

With humor and high stakes, the Accidental Detective mysteries prove that danger and friendship don’t retire quietly.

Get 60% off on the audiobook at Audiobooks.com until July 30! (Also in ebook and print at all major retailers.)

Injured in a bombing, Kate returns to her hometown in Arizona to recover. For the first time in her life, she’s starting to feel her age (49), even though she’s living like a teenager again: staying with her father, trying to understand why her sister resents her so much, and running into people who still think of her as Kitty. 

Seeing her mother in an Alzheimer’s unit is the hardest part – until an old friend asks her to investigate suspicious deaths at that nursing home. Is a self-appointed “Angel of Mercy” killing patients to end their suffering? Are family members hastening their inheritance? Is an employee extorting money and removing the witnesses? Kate uses her journalism skills to track clues, but the puzzle pieces simply won’t fit. 

If Kate can’t uncover the truth, her mother could be next on the killer’s list.

“This is a remarkably enjoyable start to a brand new cozy mystery series.” ~Books a Plenty Book Reviews

“A great start to a new series... Readers will enjoy this new cozy mystery and eagerly wait for more sleuthing with Kate and the Coffee Shop Irregulars!” ~Reading is my Superpower

“This is a fast-paced book that keeps you thinking. It’s a great jump start for this new series. I will anxiously await the second book.” ~Socrates’ Book Reviews

“Something Shady at Sunshine Haven by Kris Bock grabbed me from the first page to the last.” ~Novels Alive

Audiobook review: “This book is utterly and completely captivating. The story is brilliant and full of twists and suspense, and I loved the characters. Kate is awesome, even with her insecurities and limitations. Christina Delaine totally nailed the narration.” – Lavender Jade on GoodReads

Get the audiobook 60% off at Audiobooks.com until July 30 or get the links to the ebook and print at all major retailers. Read a sample here.)

Kris Bock writes mystery, suspense, and romance, often with smart, snarky heroines finding adventure (sometimes against their will) in the Southwest. She lives in New Mexico where she enjoys hiking with her spouse and playing with their ferrets.

In the Tales of a Reluctant Psychic mystery series, a quirky loner who can read the history of any object with her touch gets drawn into mysteries at the museum of oddities where she works.

Kris’s romantic suspense novels include stories of treasure hunting, archaeology, and intrigue. Readers have called these novels “Smart romance with an Indiana Jones feel.”

The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series stars the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats. In the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery. Who wouldn’t want to be a billionaire? Turns out winning the lottery causes as many problems as it solves.

Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter and get a free novella set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café, a printable copy of 22 recipes from the cat café novels, and short stories in the Accidental Detective and Reluctant Psychic worlds. Then every two weeks you’ll get fun content about animals, books, and more.

Kris also writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. The Felony Melanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie.

Enjoy #ChristmasInJuly with two sweet and fun cowboy billionaire #romance novels! #Books

Who wouldn't want to be a billionaire? Turns out winning the lottery causes as many problems as it solves.

When a Texas ranching family wins a billion-dollar lottery, they're overwhelmed. The standard advice is to go into hiding, but how can they when they have animals needing care? They'll have to stay and fend off envious friends, scammers, and fortune hunters. Can they build new dreams and find love amidst the chaos?

The Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series includes two sweet holiday romances!

Snowed in with a Cowboy  

He has everything this Christmas, but all he wants is the quiet ranch life he’s losing…

When Josh Tomlinson’s mama wins a fortune in the lottery, the formerly tight-knit Texas ranching family is suddenly on edge. Josh contacts family friend and now attorney, Carly Garza for advice.

Carly’s crushed on Josh for years, but now his client and billionaire statuses put him firmly out of reach. They’re already keeping the family’s lottery win a secret from the town. Can they also hide their budding romance during the most magical time of year?

Readers say: “What a wonderful book! I loved every word of this book and highly recommend it.”

“I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see where these characters go next.”

“I can hardly wait for the next in this series. I highly recommend this clean, romantic Christmas story.”

Cowboys, Snowflakes & Spurs  

Ava Tomlinson raised four sons to adulthood but lost her husband too young. When her boys start pairing up and planning families of their own, Ava doesn't want to be a bother to them or her future daughters-in-law. Most of all, she doesn't want to grow old alone. 

But now that she’s rich, Ava doesn't trust herself to find a man who wants a 59-year-old woman for herself. She has friends and work managing the family charitable fund, but will she ever have love again?

Readers say: “All of these books have been marvelous.”

“I was hooked from the start. This book series just keeps getting better.” 

“Kris has created a beautiful family with special significant others. I highly recommend this book and series.”

“This book proves you’re never too old for love. This is a well written story with great characters. It is a story about family, friends and love. This book is the perfect way to end this series.” 

Get the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series in print or ebook at all retailers.

Kris Bock writes romance, mystery, and suspense. Learn more at KrisBock.com. 

Get a free 30-page story set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café when you sign up for Kris Bock’s Romance and Mystery newsletter. You’ll also get a printable copy of "22 recipes from the cat café” and a free Accidental Detective mystery short story with bonus material.

The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats. 

In the Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty.

This small-town cat café is more than a place for sweet treats and playful cats—it's a sanctuary for lonely people. Get this cozy comfort read now! #books #cats

 

The Magical Cat Café and Teashop is a cozy comfort read about finding family, healing, and home. 

It is now rated 4.9 out of 5 stars! Readers say: “What a sweet book!”

“This book is the absolute coziest! Cats, and tea with cakes and human connection.”

“I adore the connections and the utter sweetness of this tale. I'd love to visit that are for real...but I don't know if I would ever leave!”  

This small-town cat café is more than a place for sweet treats and playful cats—it's a sanctuary for people who each need something different: 

• Leslie’s carefully managed life is missing a vital piece.
• Saul is a lonely senior seeking connection. 
• Miranda, a mother stretched thin, longs for support.
• June, a newly retired woman, feels invisible.
• Harriet and her 12 year old son Danny have each other but deserve so much more.

This cozy refuge soon becomes the stage for transformation and surprising friendships as the ordinary and the magical blend over steaming cups of tea and a parade of friendly felines. Enjoy this comfort read now: get The Magical Cat Café and Teashop in ebook or print at major retailers.

Kris Bock writes mystery, suspense, and romance, often with smart, snarky heroines finding adventure (sometimes against their will) in the Southwest. She lives in New Mexico where she enjoys hiking with her husband and playing with their ferrets.

In the Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series stars the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats. In the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery and discovers winning the lottery causes as many problems as it solves. Kris also writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. The Felony Melanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie.

Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter and get short stories from the Tales of a Reluctant Psychic and Accidental Detective series plus other freebies. Then every two weeks, you’ll get fun content about pets, announcements of new books, sales, and more.

Get an ebook box set with six #RomanticSuspense novels set in the Southwest—free in #KindleUnlimited! #books #romance

Now get six romantic suspense novels set in the Southwest, by Kris Bock, in one box set—$9.99 or free in Kindle Unlimited! 

This set contains:

Desert Gold: A legendary treasure hunt in the dramatic–and deadly–New Mexico desert.

When a quiet history professor uncovers a clue to the lost Victorio Peak treasure, she prepares for adventure with her best friend and a feisty cat. But she’s not the only one on the hunt. Is the handsome pilot a hero or the enemy?

“The story has it all - action, romance, danger, intrigue, lost treasure, not to mention a sizzling relationship....”

Desert Gold is the first of the Southwest Treasure Hunters novels. Valley of Gems is book 2 and Silver Canyon is book 3. Each novel stands alone and is complete, with no cliffhangers. This series mixes action and adventure of treasure hunting fiction with romance. These Southwestern adventures are set in New Mexico and Arizona.

Valley of Gems: Rebecca Westin’s grandfather left a buried treasure, and a complex series of clues. Her half-siblings are determined to reach the treasure first. Good thing Rebecca has Sam, making their desert adventure sexy and fun. But a treacherous enemy also wants that treasure – and revenge.

“I can’t say enough how much I loved this book! It has mystery, adventure, danger, romance, and above it all family remains a huge theme.”

Silver Canyon: Camille Dagneau – beautiful, brilliant, and prickly – and Ryan MacAllister are on the hunt for a lost treasure and a missing uncle. The clues will take Camie, Ryan, and the feisty cat Tiger on a trail through the Southwest. If you love suspense and romance, don’t miss this gripping adventure!

“Silver Canyon is a light, breezy action/adventure/romance that’s perfect for summer reading.”

The Kris Bock Romantic Suspense Box Set also contains three standalone romantic suspense novels.

Whispers in the Dark: Archaeology student Kylie Hafford craves adventure when she heads to the remote Puebloan ruins of Lost Valley, Colorado, to excavate. Romance isn’t in her plans, but she soon meets two sexy men: Danesh looks like a warrior from the Pueblo’s ancient past, and Sean is a charming, playful tourist. The summer heats up as Kylie uncovers mysteries, secrets, and terrors in the dark. She’ll need all her strength and wits to survive—and to save the man she’s come to love. 

“The plot was full of twists and turns, always keeping the reader rooting for the heroine. The writing kept me guessing until the end. Excellent read!”

What We Found: When Audra stumbles on a murdered woman in the woods, more than one person isn’t happy about her bringing the crime to light. She’ll have to stand up for herself in order to stand up for the murder victim. It’s a risk, and so is reaching out to the mysterious man who works with deadly birds of prey. But with danger all around, some risks are worth taking.

“Another action-packed suspense novel by Kris Bock, perhaps her best to-date.”

Counterfeits: Jenny returns to her grandparents’ art camp in a remote New Mexico town after her grandmother’s sudden death. That night she wakes to the noise of intruders. What do the strangers want? As more bizarre vents unfold, Jenny realizes the people she thought she knew are not what they seem – least of all Rob, an old friend whose past may be coming back to haunt them all.

“Counterfeits is the kind of romantic suspense novel I have enjoyed since I first read Mary Stewart’s Moonspinners.” – Roberta at Sensuous Reviews blog

These are sweet low spice novels.

Get the Romantic Suspense Box Set here.

Sign up for my newsletter to get a free 30-page sweet romance set around a cat  and a printable copy of “22 recipes from the cat café,” and free short stories: an Accidental Detective mystery, a Tales of a Reluctant Psychic mystery and a Sweet Home Alabama romantic comedy story.

Kris Bock is the author of the Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys sweet romance series, the Felony Melanie: Sweet Home Alabama romantic comedy novels, and the Furrever Friends cat cafe sweet romance series.

The Magical Cat Café and Teashop: cozy magical realism for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, The Midnight Bookshop, and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop.

“What is magic anyway? Maybe it’s just opening ourselves to possibilities."

The Magical Cat Café and Teashop is a tender, cozy novel about finding family, healing, and home for fans of healing stories like Before the Coffee Gets Cold, The Midnight Bookshop, and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop.

This small-town cat café is more than a place for sweet treats and playful cats—it's a sanctuary for people who each need something different:

• Leslie’s carefully managed life is missing a vital piece.
• Saul is a lonely senior seeking connection.
• Miranda, a mother stretched thin, longs for support.
• June, a newly retired woman, feels invisible.
• Harriet and her 12 year old son Danny have each other but deserve so much more.

This cozy refuge soon becomes the stage for transformation and surprising friendships as the ordinary and the magical blend over steaming cups of tea and a parade of friendly felines.

The Magical Cat Café and Teashop is a tender, cozy novel about finding family, healing, and home. 

Readers say: "A heartwarming story.”

“What a sweet book!”

“This book is the absolute coziest! Cats, and tea with cakes and human connection.”

“Very sweet story with subtle magic, charming cats, and connections formed between people that need them. Heartwarming and encouraging, and did I mention cats?” 

“This book made me smile many times, it is so lovely and heartwarming. I loved every minute of it. Highly recommended!” 

Get The Magical Cat Café and Teashop in ebook or print at major retailers.

I’m participating in MFRW Book Hooks—browse the current hop here.

Sale on Felony Melanie in Pageant Pandemonium: The Teenage Adventures of Felony Melanie based on characters from the movie Sweet Home Alabama! #books #romcom #romance

Felony Melanie in Pageant Pandemonium is marked down to 2.99 for the ebook (in the regional currency) in the US, Canada, Britain, Australia, and Europe, until May 25! 

Meet teen “Felony Melanie” years before the movie Sweet Home Alabama in this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy series. Follow the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends as teens. Available at all retailers in ebook and print!

Before Melanie Smooter became hot fashion designer Melanie Carmichael, she was known as Felony Melanie, the teenage troublemaker of Pigeon Creek, Alabama. Aching to escape the boredom of small-town life, she gets into many reckless adventures. Her boyfriend, Jake, is always by her side – and the local sheriff is usually close behind.

Melanie’s mother has been shoving her into every beauty pageant within twenty miles since Melanie was a toddler. Melanie is getting a little sick of it. She’s on the verge of quitting when she qualifies for the Miss Alabama Princess Pageant in the big city of Mobile. The first prize scholarship could be her ticket out of Pigeon Creek, not to mention that one of the judges is a real, live New York fashion designer. The competition will be fierce. Can a “trailer trash” girl outshine the snooty debutantes?

Meanwhile, Jake and his friends go to Mobile to support Melanie – and to party in the big city. But when strange disasters befall pageant events, the gang suspects someone is sabotaging the contest. They try to figure who’s behind it and why, but it isn’t easy when everyone dismisses you as redneck kids.

Melanie needs to prove herself on stage. Jake and the gang need to make sure she gets the chance. Can they show they’re more than what people see on the surface? 

Readers love reconnecting with their favorite characters from the Sweet Home Alabama movie. Head back in time to the early 1990s for this laugh out loud rom com based on one of the best rom coms of all time, by the movie’s scriptwriter, Douglas J. Eboch, and his sister.

Don't miss the rest of the series!

Suitable for ages 12 and up.

Readers say:

“Laugh out loud funny with high school hi-jinx and beauty pageant drama — and hi-jinx there too.”

“If you liked the movie Sweet Home Alabama, you’ll love the books that tell the stories leading up to the movie.” 

“The author did a great job of capturing the characters we know and love from the movie. The twist and turns at the end made for a fun finish. Great read!”

“Even if you haven’t seen Sweet Home Alabama, I predict you will thoroughly enjoy this prequel to the movie story. Melanie Smooter is like many of us who grew up in a small town and couldn’t wait to leave it behind... a thoroughly enjoyable way to escape from reality into the world of some thoroughly lovable characters.” 

Douglas J. Eboch is a screenwriter and author who wrote the original screenplay to the movie Sweet Home Alabama starring Reese Witherspoon. His sister is the author of over 100 books under the names Kris Bock and Chris Eboch.

Douglas J. Eboch grew up all over the world, living in such diverse places as Saudi Arabia and Juneau, Alaska. He settled in Los Angeles to be a professional screenwriter. His master’s thesis from USC’s Graduate Screenwriting Program was the original screenplay that became the movie Sweet Home Alabama, starring Reese Witherspoon, which set a box office record for a September opening. 

In his novel Totally Rad Wormhole, two nerds from the eighties accidentally open a wormhole to today, go to their high school reunion, and meet their future selves. Horrified at what they’ve become, they set out to change their fate.

Visit Doug’s website or see his books on his Amazon US page or his Amazon UK page.

Kris Bock writes mystery, suspense, and romance novels with characters you’d like to know, often with smart, snarky heroines finding adventure in the Southwest. Her Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats. In the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family discovers winning the lottery causes as many problems as it solves. Kris’s stories of treasure hunting, archaeology, and intrigue in the Southwest will grab fans of romantic suspense by Mary Stewart or Barbara Michaels.  

Learn more at www.krisbock.com or visit Kris Bock’s Amazon US page or Amazon UK page. (For other countries click here.) Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter and get a sweet romance novella, Lions and Love at the Cat Café for free, plus recipes, mystery short stories, and more!

The Well of Sacrifice: A Middle Grade Historical Adventure About The Maya is “Well-researched historical fiction and a good read.” - SLJ #History #kidlit #books #backtoschool

Kirkus Reviews said The Well of Sacrifice, “…. shines not only for a faithful recreation of an unfamiliar, ancient world, but also for the introduction of a brave, likable and determined heroine.”

For ages 9 and up.

Eveningstar Macaw lives in a glorious Mayan city in the ninth century. When the king falls ill and dies, the city begins to crumble. An evil high priest, Great Skull Zero, orders the sacrifice of those who might become king, including Eveningstar’s beloved brother. Suspicious of the High Priest’s motives, Eveningstar attempts to save her brother, thus becoming an acknowledged enemy of the High Priest. 

Eveningstar must find a way not only to save her own life but to rescue her family and her city from the tyrannical grasp of Great Skull Zero. Set against the vivid background of everyday life at the height of the Mayan golden age and illustrated with striking black-and-white paintings, Eveningstar’s candid, gripping, and not-for-the-faint-of-heart account of the last days of a great city will have readers at the edge of their seats. 

with 7 interior illustrations

A Brooklyn New School teacher said, ‘The fifth graders loved the book. Students described it as gripping, suspenseful, plot-twisting, riveting, and entertaining. One student said, “It had me up all night thinking about what was happening.” Another said, “It kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to read more.” Another crowed, “The excitement went up up up!” We agreed it was incredibly detailed. We could “picture it in our mind as if we were living in the Maya times.”’ 

“The adventures of this tenacious heroine are suspenseful and entertaining, providing readers with an exciting story and a realistic feel for everyday life in and ceremonial practices of the ancient Mayan culture. Well-researched historical fiction and a good read.” – School Library Journal

Get the Well of Sacrifice: A Middle Grade Historical Adventure About The Maya, available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover at various retailers.

Get Lesson Plans for The Well of Sacrifice or schedule a Virtual School Visit with the author. Find out more here.

Chris Eboch is the author of over 100 published books for young people. 

THE EYES OF PHARAOH, set in Egypt in 1177 BC, brings an ancient world to life. When Reya hints that Egypt is in danger from foreign nomads and then disappears, Seshta and Horus spy on merchants, soldiers, and royalty. Can they rescue Reya and stop the plot against Egypt?

“Mid School students and their teachers will love this fast paced mystery that has so much history and culture hidden in plain sight…. You won't be able to put the book down until you learn what happens to the three friends.”

THE GENIE'S GIFT is a lighthearted action novel set in the fifteenth-century Middle East, drawing on the mythology of The Arabian Nights. Shy and timid Anise faces magical challenges in her quest to claim the Gift of Sweet Speech. 

“The joy of a journey to find oneself.“

“Because this book presents realistic life in 15th C Arabia, it could easily fulfill CCSS needs to integrating literature into the Social Studies curriculum.”

BANDITS PEAK - While hiking in the mountains, Jesse meets a strange trio. His new friends have deadly secrets, and it will take all Jesse’s wilderness skills and courage to survive. Readers who enjoyed Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet will love Bandits Peak.

The HAUNTED series follows a brother and sister who travel with their parents' ghost hunter TV show. In each book, the TV show researches a new ghost at a new location. The kids try to help the ghosts, while keeping their activities secret from meddling grownups.

JESSE OWENS: YOUNG RECORD BREAKER: Through hard work and courage, African American runner Jesse Owens overcame racism, poverty and poor health and proved Black athletes could compete at the highest level.

MILTON HERSHEY: YOUNG CHOCOLATIER: Learn about the many challenges he faced before founding his famous chocolate company.