"Secret Sisters" by Tristi Pinkston

Do you like a funny farce with characters you can't help but love? If so, you should definitely check out Tristi Pinkston's new book, "Secret Sisters." This light-hearted farce about a Relief Society presidency going the extra mile and beyond to figure out how to help a family in their ward is sure to bring plenty of chuckles.

If you're familiar with Tristi's historicals: Nothing to Regret, Strength to Endure, and Season of Sacrifice, or even her mystery/suspense novel, Agent in Old Lace, you'll know this new series of stories full of older women getting in hilarious capers while in the pursuit of answers to the mystery is a change of pace from her past work--and the stories she's got lined up for later in the series will be every bit as fun and entertaining.

Here's the official back cover blurb:

Ida Mae Babbitt, president of the Omni 2nd Ward Relief Society, didn't mean to become a spy. But when visiting teaching stats are low and she learns that one family under her care is in financial trouble, she'll do whatever it takes to make sure they have what they need. If that includes planting surveillance cameras in their home and watching them from a parked car in the woods, well, isn't that what any caring Relief Society president would do?

With the help of her counselors Arlette and Tansy, Ida Mae soon learns that there's more to the situation than meets the eye. It's all in a day's work for the Relief Society.

You can learn more about Tristi on her blog, or this blog, or this one, or this one, or, well, okay, so the woman likes to blog. Maybe you should just check out the full list on her profile.

"The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters" by Frank L. Cole

I've met Frank Cole before, but it wasn't until last weekend when we were part of a large group filming a music video that I really understood why this bookstore-manager come author writes books for kids--his zany sense of humor and willingness to try almost anything (even if it meant going home with bruises and strained muscles) showed that he's definitely still young at heart. Also, when he does signings, he gives away these pencils that are heat sensitive and change color where you're holding them--how cool is that?

The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters is Frank's first book, though the second one, Hashbrown Winters and the Mashimoto Madness was released recently as well.

Here's the backliner for the first book:

There I stood, hiding next to the vending machines, disguised as a potted plant. I brushed the plastic leaves from my face and stared down the hallway toward the front double doors. Snow Cone always said one day this ridiculous costume would come in handy.

Fifteen minutes had passed since the last student left for the buses, but I wasn t about to take any chances. Not with my life hanging in the balance. Leaning forward, I peered around the corner just as the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. Was this it? Could this be him? Was I about to be pulverized by Hambone while wearing an emergency disguise I had just pulled from my locker?

Hashbrown Winters and his treehouse club of buddies are well known around Pordunce Elementary, especially after Hashbrown's seminar last year on how to give the best show and tell performances... er, presentations.

But when Hashbrown accidentally crosses Hambone Oxcart, the death dealer of Pordunce, he'll need more than just the support of his friends to survive Hambone's wrath.

Join Hashbrown, Snow Cone, Whiz, and the rest of the gang in Frank Cole s hilarious debut novel of the trials and tragedies of fifth grade life. The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters will keep kids and parents alike laughing out loud, groaning in sympathy, and turning pages until well past bedtime.

You can learn more about Frank and his books (and twisted, crazy humor) on his blog.

Shannon Guymon's "Taking Chances"

Shannon Guymon has been publishing for several years now and I've reviewed some of her other books on my normal blog. This is a zany, lighthearted romance sure to brighten up any day. Here's the blurb:

Meet Maggie Tierney, a lighthearted, kind, free spirit who has a lot to be happy about: at 24, she is independent, successful, a wealthy artist, and she's just inherited a home in beautiful Alpine, Utah, the place where her mother, Lisa, grew up. However, her excitement is colored by the reality that Maggie has never been to Alpine, and that this home was left to her by her estranged great-grandmother, a woman Maggie never met. As Maggie makes the move from St. George to Alpine, she is haunted by her mother's past: a childhood filled with the misery and despair of childhood sexual abuse. However, she is determined to make amends with the relatives she's never met and help heal her mom's childhood wounds.

Armed with Propels, Doritos, and her favorite easel, Maggie dives into Alpine life, ready to make it her home. Despite being 24 and only having had one serious boyfriend in her life, Maggie quickly attracts the attention of Luke Petersen, a man dealing with the death of his fianc� but in need of a friend, and maybe more . . .

Between battling Luke's jealous admirers and quelling the gossip always present in any small town, Maggie has to muster all of her courage and black belt skills in Jujitsu to come to terms with her mother's past, overcome her own fears, and jump into a relationship with unknown but exciting prospects.

Shannon was a Whitney Awards finalist for her previous book last year. Her books are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deseret Book, Seagull Book & Tape and anywhere else LDS books are sold. You can read more about Shannon and her books here.

"the Bishop's Bride" by Elizabeth Watkins

I'd seen this on several store shelves before I broke down and bought it. I was glad I did. It's a fun story, a great, light read.

Andrew McCammon, a widower, knows that he shouldn't be nervous going in for an interview with the stake president. They are friends, after all, and have worked together closely over the past few years. But something is still niggling at the back of his mind . . .

In one sentence, his stake president deals Andrew two of the biggest shocks of his life: First, he is called to be the new bishop of his ward. The second is even more alarming-he has three weeks to meet a woman, fall in love, and get engaged.

What follows is a sweet, hilarious, and thoroughly enjoyable story of one man's faith and obedience, intertwined with a series of delightfully bizarre events that guide the right woman to him. Readers of all ages will love this rollicking, exciting novel.

I couldn't find a blog or website for Watkins, but the book can be purchased through Seagullbook.com or Amazon.com.

Stephanie Fowers' "Rules of Engagement"

Okay, so I admit I stayed up half the night freezing in the living room, wrapped in a blanket reading this because I couldn't put it down and didn't dare read it in bed (like I usually do) because I was laughing too hard and would certainly have woken my husband. Stephanie Fowers has two humorous romances out, and several other books in the works. Here's the blurb for her first one, Rules of Engagement:

It isn't about fun, it's about marriage

Samantha Skyler is determined to find the right man, except the wrong man keeps getting in the way.

"There are four noncommittal males in the LDS dating scene: Mr. Friendly, Mr. Flirty, Mr. "Fraid, and Mr. Freaked out."

Mr. Friendly is friendly to everyone…so friendly that all the girls love him, but no one knows who he really likes. In fact, he probably doesn't even know himself. It wouldn't be nice to have favorites.
Mr. Flirty can always be depended on for a scandalous comment. He melts the hearts of each girl in his ward, though no one has the skill to melt his heart in return…if he even has a heart.
Mr. "Fraid gives all the signals of interest, but he doesn't make a move. There is no way of knowing if he is shy or just not interested, so no one will go anywhere with him, not even to dinner.
And finally there is Mr. Freaked out. He asks the girls out, but when it comes to commitment, he runs out. Such a shame.

These are the men that Samantha Skyler, a BYU coed, has set her sights
on:

"You see, I have a problem, a big problem…guys. And I always like the wrong one."

After breaking up with Mr. Freaked Out (Marcus Gray), Samantha is determined to find and woo a guy that won't turn on her. But she is completely inexperienced at the game of love…until she meets up with Harrison Bean, a condescending student from Britain who condescends to put Samantha and her roommates under his wing:

Now, the only snag to snagging a guy is that Mr. Freaked out has discovered Samantha's plot for the manhunt and is determined to sabotage all her efforts.

To learn more, check out Stephanie's totally revamped website. You can also read about her other books, check out her fun and funny music videos, and find the link to buy her book. Traditionally books about college students are considered YA, but I honestly think this is much funnier if you've actually been to college first--especially if you've been to a school that is primarily LDS.

Humorous suspense in "Wake Me When It's Over" by Robison Wells

Robison Wells is one of the funniest guys I know (virtually), so there was no question when I picked up his books that I would be entertained. Rob published three books, then decided he needed to feed his family on a regular basis and returned to school to earn his MBA, just in time for him to graduate last spring after the economy tanked and jobs disappeared like a mirage. The good news is that unemployment has given him plenty of time to start writing again, so we look forward to yet more entertaining books. He seems to be managing to squeeze in writing with his family, blogging, and being president of the Whitney Awards committee again.

His second book, Wake Me When It's Over is a humorous suspense--the first of a three-book series whose back cover blurb follows:

It took months for Eric to work up the courage to ask Rebekah Hughes out, and now the woman of his recent dreams is gone. Kidnapped! At least that's what Eric believes. It's difficult to clearly recall recent events when you're lying semi-conscious, bleeding in the snow. Now it's up to Eric to rescue his new girlfriend--well, his almost-girlfriend. In the great teeter-totter of love, Rebekah has been sitting solidly on the ground, casually ignoring the fact that Eric is dangling four feet above the sandbox. So far, his brilliant, passive approach to winning Rebekah's love hasn't worked--now, perhaps, his unusually daring heroics will sway her. It's worth the trip to find out in this seriously funny, full-throttle ride into the human heart.

"Hire a babysitter, order up a pizza, and take the phone off the hook. Because once you pick up Wake me When It's Over, this book won't leave your hands until you've read it straight through to the last page." --Kerry Blair, author of This Just In.

You can find this book and the second in the series, The Counterfeit, at Amazon.com. you can read their first chapters on Rob's website. To read funny tidbits about Rob's life and writing experiences, check out the blog link at the top of the post.