Combining Women's Fiction with Romance, Cozy Noir Mystery and Suspense.

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book one through four of the guestbook series

All Four Books in the Guest Book Series Are Now Available

"Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty's The Husband's Secret and Linda Holmes's Evvie Drake Starts Over."
-Publisher's Weekly Booklife Review

When seven 1920 era cabins in Lake Arrowhead, California are restored to their original vintage charm, the new owner has no idea that the cabins have their own stories to tell.

Retailers who are carrying my books:

Lake Arrowhead:
Timberline in the Glen

(plus you'll love the store)
28956 Hook Creek Rd., Cedar Glen
909-337-4200 Tell Bob & Joe I said hi!

Orange County:
Book Carnival
348 S Tustin St, Orange, CA 92866
Wed–Sat. from 11am to 4pm. 714-538-3210

Book Reviews

“Annie and Alyce are two women without much in common, but whose lives intersect in a place that has surprises for both of them. In telling their stories, Chrysteen Braun blends memoir and mystery in an entertaining page-turner.” 

Susan Denley, former Associate Features Editor
Los Angeles Times

"Braun delivers a moving portrayal of a young woman searching for herself amid personal upheaval."

—Booklife

"Great for fans of: Liane Moriarty’s The Husband’s Secret, Linda Holmes’s Evvie Drake Starts Over.

A touching novel charting two women’s parallel lives, tied together by mysteries, transformation, and a cabin."

—Kirkus' BookLife Review

“An entertaining work that will keep the reader hooked until the end. Congratulations on an exceptional book.”

-Readers’ Favorite

“The picturesque description of the scenes and characters will appeal to readers who wish to get completely immersed and escape. Chrysteen Braun creates a masterpiece with smooth storytelling that juxtaposes the serenity of the mountains with the eruptive chaos of dangerous secrets and ends with a bang. What a terrific story! What a talented writer!”

-The San Francisco Book Review

“For those looking for a complex, engaging novel you won’t be able to put down, this book is for you” 

-Book Excellence

typewriter
Portrait - Chrysteen Braun, Author

The Guest Book Series

Book 1: The Man in Cabin Number Five

|  excerpt  |

You know how when people hear your life stories, they sometimes say, “You should write a book.” I suppose that means over the years, some of my stories must have been interesting to others, and lately, I’ve been thinking about writing that book. While I can’t always remember what I had for dinner last night, I can remember things that happened to me over my lifetime...and I’ve also been known to embellish a little here and there, so I’d be able to come up with stories to fill in any gaps.

It’s 1980 and I’ve just had my eightieth birthday, thank God, for I’m getting close. As much as I swore I hated the idea of a party, my family and friends had one for me anyway...and I ended up having the best time ever. People I hadn’t seen for years surprised me by coming, and of course, talking with them brought back a lot of old memories. Some reminded me of unpleasantness, but I recalled most with fondness. My husband’s daughter, Sissy, had gone through my drawers of old photos, much to my dismay, for some of them could have been considered damning. She made up some poster boards showing my life at various ages. She meant well, but I couldn’t help but feel that I was a spectator at my own funeral. Plus, I absolutely hated seeing photos of myself in private, much less on public display.

“Remember the old Helm’s Bakery truck?” my husband asked us all. “The moment we saw it stop down the street, we’d rush to our mother to ask for enough money to buy a doughnut or cookie,” someone said. We’d wait, almost jumping in anticipation, until that long wooden drawer rolled out, revealing all the goodies we had to choose from. I said, “I can picture it all clearly ...

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