How to Read Bonnie S. Calhoun’s Books
Bonnie S. Calhoun is best known for her high-stakes, action-packed storytelling that spans multiple genres, including Christian fiction, cozy mysteries, and young adult dystopian sci-fi. Because her work covers distinct styles, the best path for your reading list depends entirely on what kind of story you are looking for.
Option 1: The Dystopian Path (Stone Braide Chronicles)
If you love post-apocalyptic worlds, survival stories, and high-tension action, you should start with the Stone Braide Chronicles. This is Calhoun's largest and most popular body of work. It follows a young woman named Selah Chavez navigating a gritty, futuristic landscape. To fully appreciate this series, you should read it in chronological order, including the short stories and novellas that bridge the major novels.
Option 2: The Cozy Mystery Path (Sloane Templeton Mysteries)
If you prefer lighthearted mysteries with a dash of romance and humor, start with Cooking the Books. This is the first—and currently only—entry in the Sloane Templeton Mysteries series. It features a cyber-forensics specialist who inherits a cozy Brooklyn bookstore and finds herself tangled in a murder investigation.
Option 3: The Historical Romance Path (Quilts of Love)
For readers who enjoy emotional historical fiction, Calhoun contributed a standalone novel called Pieces of the Heart to the multi-author Quilts of Love series. Set during World War II, it stands completely on its own and requires no prior reading.
The Stone Braide Chronicles Reading Order
Set 150 years after a catastrophic societal collapse known as "The Sorrows," the Stone Braide Chronicles is a continuous story. While you can skip the novellas if you only want the major novels, reading the entire series in chronological order provides the richest character development and fills in critical backstory. Here is the recommended reading order:
- Tremors (Book 0.5) (2014) – This prequel short story introduces readers to Selah Rishon Chavez, her family, and the harsh rules of the post-apocalyptic world before the events of the first full-length novel.
- Thunder (Book 1) (2014) – The first full-length novel in the series. Selah's life is turned upside down when she discovers dangerous secrets about her heritage and the mysterious "Landers" who arrive by boat.
- Aftershock (Book 1.5) (2015) – A bridging novella that picks up immediately after the explosive events of Thunder, following Selah as she deals with the initial fallout.
- Lightning (Book 2) (2015) – The second major novel. The action intensifies as Selah is forced to flee into the wild, dodging enemies while trying to uncover the truth about her past.
- Surge (Book 2.5) (2016) – A transitional novella that bridges the gap between Lightning and the final book, building the suspense and setting up the ultimate stakes.
- Storm (Book 3) (2016) – The final novel in the trilogy, bringing Selah’s journey and the conflict surrounding the Stone Braide to a definitive conclusion.
Sloane Templeton Mysteries: A Standalone Cozy
Calhoun's cozy mystery debut, Cooking the Books (2012), was designed to launch the Sloane Templeton Mysteries. Although it has "Book 1" energy, no further novels have been published in this specific series. It remains a satisfying, standalone read for fans of digital-age sleuthing, quirky family members, and bookstore settings.
Quilts of Love Series
The Quilts of Love series is a collection of over two dozen novels written by various inspirational fiction authors. Each book is a standalone story bound by a common thread: a quilt that plays a central role in the plot. You do not need to read these books in any particular order. Calhoun's contribution is:
- Pieces of the Heart (2013) – A historical romance following Cordelia Grace as she sews a "Pine Cone" quilt while waiting for her love to return from the battlefields of World War II.
What to Know Before You Start
While Bonnie S. Calhoun writes for the Christian and inspirational market, her dystopian works are notable for their intensity. Readers should expect genuine suspense, action, and high stakes. Her novels seamlessly weave faith elements and moral questions into fast-paced plots, making them appealing to both general young adult readers and fans of Christian fiction alike.