Oh, happy day! I just received a new 5-star rating for my latest novel, ONE, in the Sydney Jones Series.
I love it when readers love my novels and leave a rating. This one is from an excellent book blogger, Kathleen Van Lierop, My Crazy Life Full With Books. Click below to read the full blog post. Also, I’d appreciate your sharing this with your mystery lover friends.
Writing novels that readers find interesting and noteworthy is a passion of mine. If you’re a mystery lover, and enjoy reviewing novels, join my VIP group to receive advance copies of my latest novels. We have some great surprises planned for you in 2021.
This is an excerpt from an interview I prepared for an author’s platform. I hope you enjoy the backstory!
The questions were about my latest mystery thriller, ONE, the 3rd in the Sydney Jones Series.
Questionsand Answers Below:
What is your book all about?
ONE, Sydney Jones Series Book 3 is the dramatic conclusion to the mystery series. The novel highlights the life of ace attorney Sydney Jones whose personal life is in shambles after learning the father of her son was killed in an accident. Now, she’ll never know the answers she was seeking.
Her law practice is flourishing and she along with her son, David took a much-needed break to their island villa. Little did she know but old enemies and an impostor friend were checking out the island.
They returned to their home in Atlanta and Sydney was looking forward to meeting her friend Special Agent Thomason for coffee near her office. On the drive down GA 400, a grenade was lobbed into her sports car. Thomason was several car links behind her and sped to the explosion. He was the first official on the scene and quickly put their worst-case exit plan in motion. According to his report, Sydney was pronounced dead at the scene.
Will she survive to have the chance to get targets off her back and raise her son? Would the love for her son and desire to be reunited tilt her chances of recovery to die another day?
Inspiration for ONE – A Novel
Writing ONE was a natural progression from the previous novels in the series, Primed for Revenge and Chance –A Novel. Sydney Jones is fearless in taking on cases most attorneys would run from and it put a target on her back. The depths of feelings of betrayal, grief, and passion for living her life on her own terms was a motivating force behind the story.
Target Audience
Mystery lovers who love twisty-turny psychological fiction are the target audience for this book. The underlying theme of romance adds a spark to the story and captures your heart.
Takeaway from ONE
Every person has their own unique understanding of life. How one sees themselves and others is seen through a kaleidoscope of personal life’s experiences and their environment. For instance, Sydney’s grief when learning of Walker’s death and coming to terms with it fit her personality. My desire is that we learn to practice compassion for others walking their own path.
Future Goals – ONE
This is the latest release in the Sydney Jones Series, and I plan to market this novel to mystery-thriller readers at every opportunity online and in person when possible (Zoom).
About the Author
CAROLYN BOWEN is a mystery author who calls on her life escapades and an adventurous, imaginative spirit to inspire and entertain. Bowen uses travel as a muse to explore cultures and dialogue to bring her stories to life.
Her writing credits include Cross-Ties, a romantic adventure; The Long Road Home, a contemporary crime fiction mystery; The Sydney Jones Series Mystery Thrillers; Book 1: Primed For Revenge, Book 2: Chance, and Book 3: ONE.
The featured novel this month is ONE — Sydney Jones Series, Book 3. Grab your favorite beverage and download or order your paperback for a thrilling mystery read. This is a limited offer – 99 cents for an eBook and FREE to download with Unlimited. (November 16th-23rd)
Expect to be blown away by Carolyn Bowen’s latest thriller in the Sydney Jones Series — ONE.
Ace attorney Sydney returns in this gripping thriller that sends her into a chilling tailspin when enemies attack with vengeance. Will her desire for answers about her ex-military former lover be her undoing or will the hand of fate set her free to live and love again?
Sydney needed time to reflect on her lover and son’s father’s death. She’d never learned the reason he disappeared years earlier when she wanted him to fight for justice when charged with the Rock star Roxanne’s murder. She had her suspicions for the CIA had tried to recruit him for a special op coinciding with his former military background.
Her personal caseload reeked of deadly consequences if she fails in her role as the defender. She’d dodged a bullet more than once so much as her friend Deputy Director Thomason insisted, she develops an exit plan with a new identity.
She and David, her son, were returning to Barbados for their summer vacation. What she didn’t know was the island would become the melting pot for unsavory characters out for blood and the unraveling of dark secrets from her past.
Returning to Atlanta, she was ready to put the past behind her and start fresh. Driving in for her first day back to work, someone lobbed a grenade into her convertible sports car and ended her life as Sydney Jones.
She fought to recover and meet her son again in Barbados where his former nanny took him to live in their dream home. The day finally arrived when she could meet her son again, but this time it was as his aunt Gabrielle from Tuscany where she’d been unknowingly recovering at a family estate.
Their world was rapidly changing since a monster virus broke out in China, old enemies surfaced, and the CIA was tracking her son. Could their new friend and secret guardian, Jim Godwin, tip the scale in their favor with a way out? After years of anguish, would fate smile on them as they fought to become ONE?
This spellbinding new novel by the imaginative Carolyn Bowen will hold you in suspense until you turn the final page.
The featured setting in my latest release ONE, Sydney Jones Series, book 3 is Barbados. Ah, and what a beautiful scenic destination with beautiful people dedicated to keeping their culture alive.
In all my novels, food is important to the family and cultural exploration of the scenic vistas. The recipe below is one of Sydney’s son, David’s favorite dishes. He believes no one can cook it like a native, and he’s right!
Macaroni Pie – Bajan Recipe (Barbados.org)
1/2-pound tubed macaroni
4 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 cup evaporated milk
1/3 cup ketchup
1 tbsp. yellow mustard
1 small onion, grated
1 egg, beaten
Bring salted water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Break the macaroni tubes into thirds and add to the boiling water. Cook uncovered until macaroni is tender but still firm.
Preheat oven to 350F (180C).
Drain the macaroni and return to the saucepan.
Add the onion, cheese, milk, ketchup, mustard, and egg. Add salt and pepper to taste. Herbs such as marjoram and thyme can also be added.
Pour into a greased dish and top with more grated cheese. Fine breadcrumbs can also be added as a topping.
Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.
Macaroni pie can be served as a side with fish, chicken, pork, stew… whatever you wish really.
Do you want to explore touristy destinations with mystery and political suspense hidden behind every dune, then the Sydney Jones Series (Trilogy) is your next read! The complete series is now available at Amazon in the box set. I can’t wait for your ah-ha moment!
Follow on Pinterest for my attempt on the dish’s native to the regions in the Sydney Jones Series! Warning, David, Sydney’s son has it right the natives serve it up best! Join the fun and post to my novel fan pages with cultural and/or scenic images that remind you of the book. Thanks, Carolyn Bowen
Exciting news! Today, the paperback version of ONE, Sydney Jones Series Book 3, is available at Amazon. The eBook is FREE for download with Unlimited. Read today and travel without moving your feet to a tropical paradise – Barbados.Scroll to the end of the post for the book trailer.
As mentioned in a previous post, I enjoy learning about cultures especially in the regions that become settings in my novels. I found that food plays an important role in the world. As family and friends gather to celebrate important occasions, the local delicacies are abundant for the guests.
In all my novels, food preparation and dining have been important elements for developing scenes and showcasing the setting, while character building. A fun and courageous feat for me!
Many of the scenes in my latest novel, ONE, are set in Barbados. So, of course, Bajan cooking found its way onto the pages. Here’s one of my favorite dessert dishes — Bajan Pineapple Pie.
Bajan Pineapple Pie Recipe
Ingredients
1 – 14 ½ oz can of chunky pineapples
1 – 8 oz Cream Cheese
1 – Envelope Unflavored Gelatin
1 – 8-inch Graham Cracker Pie Crust
Directions
Drain pineapple chunks – keep syrup, add water if necessary, to make one cup.
Heat syrup and add gelatin, stir till dissolved – divide in half. Keep one half in the pot.
To the half in the pot, add cream cheese. Heat and stir until melted and smooth. Pour into graham cracker crust. Chill until firm.
Once firm, place pineapple chunks on top and pour the remainder of the warm ½ gelatin mixture over the pie to glaze. Chill and enjoy it!
A new book trailer for ONE is now ready to view. I hope you enjoy it!
I’m excited to announce the release today of my latest mystery-thriller, ONE, Sydney Jones Series, Book 3. Tap the link below to download and read FREE with Kindle Unlimited.
ONE Sydney Jones Series #3
Reviews for ONE from Advance Readers
ONE ~ 5 Stars
“All the action and surprising twists and turns this story takes kept me turning the pages quickly hungering for more.” Chick Lit Café
ONE ~ 5 Stars
“This fast-moving thriller will hold your attention, as no one is really safe.”Theodocia McLean (Book Marketing Global Network)
ONE ~ 5 Stars
“This psychological thriller is an outstanding addition to the Sydney Jones Series and is sure to gratify any mystery lover’s thirst for a great read.” Amazon Reviewer
Here’s a little background info about my quirky writing life during the research and writing of this novel.
I began writing ONE immediately following the release of Chance, Book 2, in the Sydney Jones Series. I’d already begun plotting the new story and named it before beginning the manuscript. This is a mysterious phenomenon for me and hopefully, it will continue for future books. This knowing adds to the excitement of writing for I’m trying to understand why I chose the name while the story unfolds. If you’re an author, I’d like to know your decision-making process for naming your novel.
Getting in the mood…
Mentally I prepare to write by listening to the music from the settings in the novel before beginning my day. I research the favorite foods of the locale and prepare them to add flavor to my writing. I take on the persona of someone living the story sometimes including clothing and accessories, a fun activity for me.
You’ll find from reading my novels, I enjoy adventure and scenic locations. I hope that I’m able to give you a taste of the land in my writing and you’ll embrace the culture.
Travel is an important part of my writing process. At times, I sense a story is waiting at my destination. This is a great experience and I attempt to take in the sight, sounds, smell, and feel of cities and towns in my stories.
I hope you enjoy reading ONE and look forward to your comments and reviews. The Sydney Jones Series, book 1: Primed for Revenge, book 2: Chance, and book 3: ONE.
Stay safe and believe we’ll travel again! Carolyn Bowen
Carolyn M. Bowen, Author 