Bookstrings

Two believers and one skeptic walk into a Christian bookstore. Words ensue-including cross ones. CrossWords has thrived for over fifty years, and Shiloh Scott runs it with equal parts Scripture, encouragement, and wholehearted hugs. So when she moves the store to a new location, she expects shelving chaos. She does not expect to learn her nephew is done with Jesus. Judah Hensley isn't rebelling. He isn't doubting. He's never really believed. The last thing he needs is a spring break spent hauling Bibles-or a summer of cheerful "blessed days." Unfortunately for him, Panda Marie-sunshine with a beta fish named Sushi-has questions. And opinions. And a stubborn refusal to let him hide behind sarcasm. Their banter crackles. Their arguments dig deeper. And somewhere between cinnamon roll diplomacy and alphabetizing devotionals, Judah's certainty begins to wobble. Meanwhile, Milton Coleridge heads to Maine to wrangle an injured, sharp-tongued aunt with strong opinions about everything-including him. But he won't stay away long. Even successful CrossWords might just need his help after all. Especially since his parrotlet, Atticus (not Finch), has decided he's hopelessly devoted to a fish. It may take love, laughter, and a little holy nudge to steady CrossWords again. Because sometimes faith isn't something you lose. It's something you discover when you finally stop winging it alone.

Noel: where cookies & ornaments collide. Books and cookies–a match made in heaven? Not hardly. Josh Hart just wants his fledgling bookstore to have a chance, and with every car in the tiny town of Noel parking in front of his store, you'd think he had a good one. Again, not hardly. They're all taking up his prime parking to get into Honey Pott's Bakery. Josh is certain if Honey would quit parking her own oversized SUV right smack-dab in front of his door, maybe people could see the store. Enter Milton Coleridge and his trusty parrotlet, Atticus (not Finch). He loves the store, but he has bad news for Josh. Without some major changes, Noel's first bookstore may be its last.

♥ Books are the strings that tie hearts together. ♥ With a month to get from Orange County, California to Delaware for his next corporate challenge, Milton Coleridge decides to spend a week at Joshua Tree National Park. He never expected to find a floundering bookstore in need of his particular business skills. Will his methods of saving companies from bankruptcy or takeover work on such a small scale? And can he convince two people to risk their hearts? Step into the Spines & Leaves, Tamarisk, California's oldest (and only ever) bookstore. Come in out of the harsh, desert sun and wind and peruse all the store has to offer. It might just be more than you think. One man, one store, thousands of books. What'll it take to keep this bookstore from becoming a book ghost town... and what'll it take for Milton to tie two heartstrings together? Spine & Leaves is the introductory novella to the Bookstrings series.