Books published by publisher Brown Bag Books

What if your nemesis challenged you on your home turf? A sense of community. Quaint surroundings. Deadly rivalries. Welcome to Whispering Pines. As the weather turns crisp, Jayne O’Shea and the other villagers prepare for the last big tourist draw of the season: the autumn equinox festival. It’s a time to enjoy a bounty of food, the company of others, and the ever-popular cooking competition. Events in the baking division, however, turn from friendly to fatal when one of the contestants, a beloved nationally known chef, is found dead in the woods. As all eyes turn to one of the villagers as the killer, Jayne knows that what’s seen on the surface isn’t always the truth, especially in Whispering Pines, and digs deep to clear the name of one of their own.What Readers Are Saying“I can clearly see the thatched roof houses, their wood and stucco exteriors. It reminds me of Shakespeare's house in London."“I've read them all and just want to go back.”“I wish Whispering Pines was a real place”“If you enjoy honest, rather raw characters seeking direction, and the consequences of past mistakes, you'll enjoy this series as much as I have.”“My mind is still in Whispering Pines. I can clearly see the thatched roof houses, their wood and stucco exteriors. It reminds me of Shakespeare's house in London." “I really enjoy how the characters continue to evolve in this series and the new eccentrics fit right in!”“I totally fell in love with both the village and the story.”“I would gladly plan my next trip to Whispering Pines.”Whispering Pines Mystery SeriesFamily Secrets, book 1Kept Secrets, book 2Original Secrets, book 3Hidden Secrets, book 4Rival Secrets, book 5Veiled Secrets, book 6Silent Secrets, book 7Merciful Secrets, book 8

What if your nemesis challenged you on your home turf? A sense of community. Quaint surroundings. Deadly rivalries. Welcome to Whispering Pines. As the weather turns crisp, Jayne O'Shea and the other villagers prepare for the last big tourist draw of the season: the autumn equinox festival. It's a time to enjoy a bounty of food, the company of others, and the ever-popular cooking competition. Events in the baking division, however, turn from friendly to fatal when one of the contestants, a beloved nationally known chef, is found dead in the woods. As all eyes turn to one of the villagers as the killer, Jayne knows that what's seen on the surface isn't always the truth, especially in Whispering Pines, and digs deep to clear the name of one of their own.

Tucked next to a pristine lake, the part-Medieval Europe, part-Renaissance Faire hamlet of Whispering Pines, Wisconsin, is a utopia...except for the recent murders. One month after arriving in the Northwoods, former detective Jayne O'Shea has settled comfortably into small-town life and is making good progress with her task of getting her grandparents' house ready for sale. Then, the shocking death of one of the carnies rocks the community, and the villagers look to Jayne for help, placing her in an impossible middle ground of not wanting to get involved and needing to ensure justice is served. When a second carney turns up dead and the newly hired sheriff - more concerned with ticketing tourists than catching the killer - dismisses the death as an accident, Jayne has no choice but to step in. Can she uncover the truth before the murderer strikes again?

A fatal choice, after a string of bad choices, leaves Desiree broken and dying in a ditch. With seconds left to live, a genie appears. She can live again, he says, if she agrees to serve him for fifty years. She agrees, but after more than four decades of granting other people’s wishes and never getting her own, the former hippie has developed an attitude problem. Mandy Matteo is the perfect daughter and student, never breaking a rule for fear of the repercussions. But her friends want fun, not perfection, and abandon Mandy for parties and boys. Miserable, she makes a wish. Nothing extravagant, just a whisper to the universe to be happy. Never dreaming it will come true. Then Lexi, her childhood imaginary friend, shows up in the field outside her house and life is good again. Magical wishes have conditions, though. Once started, they cannot be altered or revoked. And once Mandy is truly content with her life, Lexi must go back to wherever she came from. Turns out, Lexi likes being alive and she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to stay that way.What Readers Are Saying“Fantasy at its best!”“Not only do we get to follow along on Mandy’s adventure with Lexi, we also get to learn bits about Desiree — the wish mistress who I absolutely fell in love with.”“Desiree is this quirky, hippy chic genie. She lives in the present with her mind in the past. She marches to her own rhythm, her own way of thinking. Desiree doesn’t really fit in, but she has a uniqueness about her that defies rigidity. And she’s ever-evolving, always learning something else. It might take her moment to find the lesson, but she’ll get there. Eventually.”“Desiree even has her own back story that we slowly get to peel away as the story progresses.”“These books are wonderful. They take you into a world where you find you want to live.”The Wish Makers SeriesSticks and Stones, Book 1Break My Bones, Book 2Never Hurt Me, Book 3Had a Great Fall, Book 4Back Together Again, Book 5

Everyone wants a home. Will Ainsley ever get one?A best friend, a boyfriend, and a coveted spot in the talent show. Ordinary things for most teens, but uncommon pleasures for Ainsley Blue. For fifteen years, Ainsley has zigzagged across the country, moving to a new town every few months. Now, after a year at the same school, Ainsley believes her life is finally normal. Then one afternoon, she comes home to find Mum packing, and everything changes again.Heartbroken, Ainsley sends a wish into the universe. All she wants is to have a home she never has to leave and to understand why they live like drifters. Desiree, a stressed-out hippie genie, arrives to grant Ainsley’s wish but warns that the truth may not be easy to accept. Ainsley insists she can handle whatever happens, but little can prepare her for what she’s about to learn.

After nearly fifty years as an indentured genie, Desiree escaped the magical world . . . for a few weeks. Now she’s the leader of the Wish Makers and it’s been anything but a peaceful transition. The cross-country move was meant to be a fresh start for Robin Westmore. But on the first day at his new high school, Robin ends up face-to-face with the school’s biggest bully. The exact wrong place at the exact wrong moment and right back into his old role of victim. Hopeless, Robin begs for it all to stop. It’s childish, wishing on a dandelion, but he can’t take it anymore and needs a way out. Distracted by her duties, Desiree passes Robin off to a new, inexperienced genie who takes things from bad to so very much worse. What Readers Are Saying“Fantasy at its best!”“Not only do we get to follow along on Mandy’s adventure with Lexi, we also get to learn bits about Desiree — the wish mistress who I absolutely fell in love with.”“Desiree is this quirky, hippy chic genie. She lives in the present with her mind in the past. She marches to her own rhythm, her own way of thinking. Desiree doesn’t really fit in, but she has a uniqueness about her that defies rigidity. And she’s ever-evolving, always learning something else. It might take her moment to find the lesson, but she’ll get there. Eventually.”“Desiree even has her own back story that we slowly get to peel away as the story progresses.”“These books are wonderful. They take you into a world where you find you want to live.”The Wish Makers SeriesSticks and Stones, Book 1Break My Bones, Book 2Never Hurt Me, Book 3Had a Great Fall, Book 4Back Together Again, Book 5

Desiree is bitter. Understandable. Decades of granting heart’s-desire wishes to other people have turned the hippie girl this way. Fortunately, her fifty years as an indentured genie are almost up, and she can hardly wait. A real life again in the real world. Not having to worry about what others want. Pure bliss. Crissy Sheets is trapped. Her family adores her boyfriend, Brad, and are thrilled over her great catch. They don’t know the truth, though. They don’t see the bruises she hides. Terrified by the future she’s headed for, Crissy makes a wish for a better life. Just a few desperate words uttered as a star shoots by in the night sky. And suddenly, a new path appears. Desiree isn’t supposed to get involved with her charges’ wishes. In fact, it’s forbidden. But when Crissy’s wish goes from bad to worse to a living nightmare, she has no choice.What Readers Are Saying“Fantasy at its best!”“Not only do we get to follow along on Mandy’s adventure with Lexi, we also get to learn bits about Desiree — the wish mistress who I absolutely fell in love with.”“Desiree is this quirky, hippy chic genie. She lives in the present with her mind in the past. She marches to her own rhythm, her own way of thinking. Desiree doesn’t really fit in, but she has a uniqueness about her that defies rigidity. And she’s ever-evolving, always learning something else. It might take her moment to find the lesson, but she’ll get there. Eventually.”“Desiree even has her own back story that we slowly get to peel away as the story progresses.”“These books are wonderful. They take you into a world where you find you want to live.”The Wish Makers SeriesSticks and Stones, Book 1Break My Bones, Book 2Never Hurt Me, Book 3Had a Great Fall, Book 4Back Together Again, Book 5

For years, hippie-genie Desiree has been living in a sort of limbo, granting wishes for others while never receiving her own.Then she learns she’s finally getting what she asked for that day so long ago while laying in that ditch. A second chance at life.She has two choices: her future or her past. Moving forward will allow her to have the normal, independent life she’s dreamed of for so long. Going back to 1969—to when her best friend, boyfriend, brother, and parents are still alive—means she can prevent the tragedies that happened to them. Both options take her away from Kaf. Her intense, exasperating, gorgeous boss. Nothing ever goes smoothly with wishes, however, and Desiree’s path twists again when she meets a beggar girl wearing new, designer clothes. What Readers Are Saying“Fantasy at its best!”“Not only do we get to follow along on Mandy’s adventure with Lexi, we also get to learn bits about Desiree — the wish mistress who I absolutely fell in love with.”“Desiree is this quirky, hippy chic genie. She lives in the present with her mind in the past. She marches to her own rhythm, her own way of thinking. Desiree doesn’t really fit in, but she has a uniqueness about her that defies rigidity. And she’s ever-evolving, always learning something else. It might take her moment to find the lesson, but she’ll get there. Eventually.”“Desiree even has her own back story that we slowly get to peel away as the story progresses.”“These books are wonderful. They take you into a world where you find you want to live.”The Wish Makers SeriesSticks and Stones, Book 1Break My Bones, Book 2Never Hurt Me, Book 3Had a Great Fall, Book 4Back Together Again, Book 5

The most trusted study guide to learning The Screwtape Letters!Reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis can be a little difficult and confusing at times. Not so with The Screwtape Letters Study Guide! This comprehensive Bible study workbook breaks down each of the thirty one letters into easy-to-understand segments helping you understand and be able to confidently share with others.The Screwtape Letters is a brilliant and satirical look at spiritual warfare and the dynamics of temptation. Screwtape, a senior demon in the bureaucracy of Hell, writes letters to his incompetent nephew Wormwood, a junior devil. The younger demon's assignment is to corrupt a young man living in London during the tumultuous days of World War II.Using Scripture references, discussion questions, and related commentary, The Screwtape Letters Study Guide examines each letter through a Christian lens of morality, temptation, and good and evil. This complete Bible study experience is perfect for book clubs, church groups, and independent study.Detailed character sketches and an easy-to-read book summary provide deep insights into each character and letter of the book. To help with those more difficult discussion questions, a complete Answer Guide and Scripture Reference Guide is available for free online.The Screwtape Letters Study Guide includes:Twelve sessions of study with multi-week options includedComprehensive Bible study workbook with studies for each weekComplete character sketches and summaries to go deeperBible study questions that are ideal for group discussionAnswer Guide for all questions and Scripture Reference Guide available for free onlinePerfect for book clubs, small groups, or individual Bible studyAvailable in print or e-book formatsExplore every shocking and amusing detail of this iconic classic to better understand Christianity and the foolish war raging against it. There's no better tool for making that happen than with The Screwtape Letters Study Guide!Frequently Asked Questions:Do I also need the actual book The Screwtape Letters to do the study?Yes. The study guide includes discussion questions, character sketches, commentary, and more, but you will need the book to read corresponding chapters that go with each weekly lesson.How long is the study?The study is twelve weeks covering two-three chapters per week. However, the study can easily be formatted to an eight or ten week study based on your schedule.Does each person in the study need their own study guide?Yes. It’s most helpful for learning purposes if each person has their own study guide to answer questions and to make notes. However, couples might find it convenient to share the C.S. Lewis book for reading purposes.Can anyone lead the study?Absolutely! The study is created in a discussion based format allowing any leader to simply guide participants through each study question at weekly meetings.Can I get access to the answers for each discussion question?Yes. The answers for each discussion question are available for free online! In addition, we provide a Scripture Reference sheet for each Bible passage to save valuable class time.What about Lewis’s sequel Screwtape Proposes a Toast?We created a free short study guide for it as well that can be covered in just a week! Search for Screwtape Proposes a Toast Study Guide.Do you have other C.S. Lewis book studies?Yes! We have created studies for Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters for Teens, The Great Divorce, The Great Divorce for Teens, and The Problem of Pain.

A series about wishes granted by a genie with an attitude problem? What could possibly go wrong?Mandy simply wants to be happy. Crissy dreams of a better life. Desiree would love a second chance.Get the first three books in the series for one low price!SF Benson – author of The Alliance Chronicles “Desiree is this quirky, hippy chic genie. She lives in the present with her mind in the past. She marches to her own rhythm, her own way of thinking. Desiree doesn’t really fit in, but she has a uniqueness about her that defies rigidity. And she’s ever-evolving, always learning something else. It might take her moment to find the lesson, but she’ll get there. Eventually.”Toni @ My Book Addiction – 5 stars – YA Fantasy at its best! “Not only do we get to follow along on Mandy’s adventure with Lexi, we also get to learn bits about Desiree — the wish mistress who I absolutely fell in love with.”Jan F – 4 stars – “Desiree even has her own back story that we slowly get to peel away as the story progresses.”Jennifer F – 5 stars – “These books are wonderful. They take you into a world where you find you want to live.”

In this Mom's Choice Gold Award-winning guide to proper manners for kids, Nancy Dorrier provides easy rules for parents to teach and children to follow. She includes tips such as listening when spoken to, speaking clearly, being polite and welcoming when meeting new people, and being on time. This book helps kids understand that being polite and having proper manners is important for everyone, and that there is much more to it than please and thank you! With fun illustrations and relatable examples, Dorrier makes it easy-peasy for all children to follow along and learn on the way.

Help Teens Study and Share The Screwtape Letters! For over 70 years, teenagers have loved reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis but have struggled to completely understand and share what they read. Today, The Screwtape Letters Study Guide for Teens makes it easy for teens to not only read the book, but to study and share this iconic classic with their friends. The Screwtape Letters is a brilliant and satirical look at spiritual warfare and the dynamics of temptation. Screwtape, a senior demon in the bureaucracy of Hell, writes letters to his incompetent nephew Wormwood, a junior devil. The younger demon's assignment is to corrupt a young man living in London during the tumultuous days of World War II. Using Scripture references, discussion questions, and relatable stories, The Screwtape Letters Study Guide for Teens takes teens on a journey through each of the book's thirty-one letters demonstrating the Christian struggle with morality, temptation, and good and evil providing them with the solution found in the grace, love, and power of God. Detailed character sketches and an easy-to-read book summary provide deep insights into each character and letter of the book. To help with those more difficult discussion questions, a complete Answer Guide and Scripture Reference Guide is available for free online. This complete Bible study experience is perfect for youth groups, homeschool groups, and independent Bible study. The Screwtape Letters Study Guide for Teens includes: Daily Bible studies that take no more than 20 minutes Easy-to-read workbook with questions relatable to teenagers Complete character sketches and summaries to go deeper Answer Guide to all questions and Scripture Reference Guide available for free online Perfect for all teenagers Available in print or e-book formats Even today, a version of Screwtape is carefully targeting teenagers, providing a host of temptations to take their minds away from God. The Screwtape Letters Study Guide for Teens is the perfect tool to help teens avoid those pitfalls by recognizing the enemy's subtle attacks on their faith. Review: This study guide does a great job of making The Screwtape Letters relate to the world facing teens today. The concepts in the book are timeless, but teens might not see that, so this help parents and teens apply the letters to life today. Camp "C" Mom, Amazon Review