Bunny Elder

This second BRAG Medallion award winner in the Bunny Elder series finds Bunny flying off to romantic Italy as traveling companion to her newly widowed sister. It seems like the trip of a lifetime and a chance to recover from her pastor-husband's recent murder, as well. Little does she suspect this trip in search of a special Neapolitan nativity set for her sister's collection will ensnarl the two women in a muddle of smugglers, Italian mobsters, kidnapping and death. Can even an unexpected reunion with her first love prevent this dream trip from becoming Bunny's worst nightmare?

This clean, romantic thriller asks, "What happens when childhood sweethearts reconnect in middle age? Can they overcome the chasm of years spent apart and find lasting happiness even when their long-awaited honeymoon cruise is disrupted by a band of cutthroat pirates?" Pastor's widow, Bunny Elder remarries first love, Max, and sets sail for the Great Barrier Reef on a honeymoon trip certain to give the couple plenty of time to talk out separate pasts and disparate life styles, as their 36' sloop cuts through the waves toward Australia. The new bride distrusts the open sea, but commits to the journey to please Max. Her sacrifice is rewarded with romance and adventure, but little real communication until the newlyweds drift into the path of a hijacked cruise ship and are seized by seagoing marauders. Once aboard the ship, Max and Bunny must work as a team in order to survive and help the other prisoners escape the clutches of this band of ocean-going terrorists. Will Bunny's faith instill courage in her fellow travelers? Can Max's fledgling relationship with God withstand this new test, or will he revert to his previous rugged self-reliance and scuttle the couple's second chance at marital happiness? Christians and non-believers, alike, get a glimpse into the struggles of ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances while trying to live their faith in spite of weakness and doubt.

Bunny's fans have been wondering what she's been up to since sailing off on a "happily-ever-after" honeymoon with the love of her life, Max. (Readers of The First Ladies Club series may have seen a few hints in Bunny's frequent cameo appearances.) In this sweet holiday novella, we learn that not everything has been smooth sailing for Bunny. She approaches this Christmas with sadness. Will she be able to ever find joy again in the season? Christmas can be a magical time. However, despite the music, decorations, gifts, and festivities, the Holiday Season can be a sad time of year for some people. This is the case for twice-widowed Bunny Elder Banks. Since the tragic death of her second husband, Max, Bunny has been unable to rise above her profound grief. Hoping to experience a more spiritual holiday, Bunny retreats to her vacation cabin in the mountains of coastal Oregon, where she is jolted out of her doldrums by the mysterious arrival of a gaily decorated eight-foot tall Christmas tree.The tree arrives with no explanation or clue to who sent it. This extravagant anonymous gift becomes the catalyst to a magical holiday full of surprises.Her curiosity aroused, Bunny begins to reach out, renewing old friendships and making new ones. When an injured dog appears on her doorstep one snowy night needing Bunny's help, she forgets to feel sorry for herself as she tries to discover who has abused this animal. Join Bunny as she tries to solve these two mysteries and finds new joy in Christmas along the way.