Title: The Man in Cabin Number Five, Guest Book Trilogy Book One
Author: Chrysteen Braun
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb:
When Annie Parker discovers her husband’s infidelity, she doesn’t let it destroy her. She packs her bags and heads to Lake Arrowhead, Ca, the mountainside town where her family used to summer. Immersing herself in the restoration of seven 1920s era cabins, Annie begins to put the pieces of her life back together. But starting over is never easy.
Alyce Murphy needs closure. When she discovers her father did not die from a heart attack, as she’s been led to believe for the last 30 years, but in a murder/suicide, she is determined to uncover the truth of his death. But when she visits the cabin where her father ended his life, Alyce has to accept she may never know the true story.
Annie is looking towards her future while Alyce needs to put the past to rest. In parallel stories, both women are drawn to the rustic mountainside cabins as they search for the missing pieces---but they soon discover that the cabins have their own stores to tell.
Watch the book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StvcOfaNocc
Excerpt:
“Hey, there.” I heard a man’s voice and looked up. I hated it when men just walked up to a woman to check them out. I gave him a look.
He noticed and put his hands up in mock surrender. “Hey, I’m Noah,” he said. “I met you at the cabins. With Sam,” he added. “While you were checking in.”
I’d not been able to see his face, but when I looked down at his work boots, I recognized them as the ones I’d seen when I was checking in. Because the sun hadn’t been in his eyes, he’d obviously had a better glimpse of me than I’d had of him. He was cute. Handsome, even. A little dirty from working, but still cute. I could tell he worked out in the sun a lot, for his arms were tan, and while a baseball cap covered most of his brown hair, several longer strands had escaped. His beard was neatly trimmed and short, and his eyes were a gorgeous blue.
Noah apparently didn’t notice the ring on my finger when he asked, “Mind if I join you?”
“Sure.”
“Are you by yourself?” he finally asked.
“Yes, I am.”
“Where’re you from?”
“Long Beach.”
“I’m originally from up here. Never did like it down the hill.”
He was full of questions, and I liked his openness. And his smile. He was very friendly and comfortable to be around.
“How long are you up here?” he asked.
I sighed. “A week, or maybe two. Depending how I feel. I’d forgotten how beautiful it is here, and I need a break.”
“So you’re not new to the mountain. What break, if you don’t mind me asking?”
I thought about my answer for a moment, which made him say, “I didn’t mean to be so blunt. It’s just not usual to see a single woman come up here,” Noah said. Then I could tell he didn’t quite say that the way he’d intended. “I mean, there are single women here, but not many come up by themselves.” His face colored a little.
“Well, I’m not really single. My husband’s on one of his business trips, and I’m tired of sitting at home. So I decided to break out and do something for myself for a change.”
Noah nodded slightly, “I admire that.”
He was studying me, so I asked, “What about you? What do you do up here?”
Leaning back in his chair, he said, “I’m a carpenter by trade. I also build homes now and then. So I stay pretty busy.”
“Have you lived up here your entire life?” I was interested to see how someone made a living here, especially in an area where there didn’t appear to be much commerce or many business opportunities.
“Yup. I tried moving down once. While I was seeing someone, but neither worked out very well for me. I wanted to be up here and she wanted to be down there. And my work was up here.” He shrugged his shoulders slightly, as though that explained it all.
“I’m sorry,” I said genuinely. I momentarily thought about my own situation.
“Well, I’ve interrupted your lunch, so I’ll let you go,” Noah said, rising from the table. “If you find you need something to do at night, there’s a local cowboy bar just across the street. It’s very casual, and you don’t need to wear boots,” he said with a smile that made me smile back.
“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind. I’m sure I’ll be looking for things to do,” I said.
He then looked down at my heeled shoes and said, “I do suggest that if you’re going to be here for a while, you get out of those city shoes and put on tennis shoes. Or mountain boots,” Noah said, still smiling. Was he flirting with me, or was he just a charmer?
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
He turned to leave, and I rearranged my unfinished sandwich and started to eat. He seemed nice enough, and I felt a little flush.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Amazon ebook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Y9KGZ3R
Amazon paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1647044626
Amazon hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1647044642
B&N paperback: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-man-in-cabin-number-five-chrysteen-braun/1141373079?ean=9781647044626
B&N hardcover: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-man-in-cabin-number-five-chrysteen-braun/1141373079?ean=9781647044640
If money were no object, where would you go for a Spring Break vacation and why?
If money were no object, I'd go to a ranch somewhere where it's green and open. I'd love to breath in the clean crisp air, to listen to the sounds of nature, and to see animals roaming the property.
Why is your featured book a must-read this spring?
Spring is a perfect time to be up in the mountains, and to sit outside and read.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon US or Canada gift card
Open internationally. You must have a valid Amazon US or Amazon CA account to win.
Runs April 1 – 30, 2023.
Drawing will be held on May 1, 2023
Author Biography:
Chrysteen Braun is a California native, born and raised in Long Beach.
The mountains, where she and her husband had a second home, were the inspiration for her first three books, The Guest House Trilogy. These fictional restored cabins from the late 1920s all had their own stories to tell.
Her writing crosses genres of Women’s Fiction with relationships, and a little mystery and intrigue. She’s published articles about her field of interior design and remodeling, both for trade publications and her local newspaper.
She lives in Coto de Caza, with her husband Larry and two Siamese cats.
Contact her at chrysteenbraun@gmail.com, or www.chrysteenbraun.com
Social Media Links:
Website: www.chrysteenbraun.com