Welcome to the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to start at Stop #1, and collect the clues through all the stops, in order, so you can enter to win one of our top 5 grand prizes!
- The hunt BEGINS on 6/15 at noon MST with Stop #1 at LisaTawnBergren.com.
- Hunt through our loop using Chrome or Firefox as your browser (not Explorer).
- There is NO RUSH to complete the hunt—you have all weekend (until Sunday, 6/18 at midnight MST)! So take your time, reading the unique posts along the way; our hope is that you discover new authors/new books and learn new things about them.
- Submit your entry for the grand prizes by collecting the CLUE on each author’s scavenger hunt post and submitting your answer in the Rafflecopter form at the final stop, back on Lisa’s site. Many authors are offering additional prizes along the way!
Whether you’re already a fan or I’m a new-to-you author, welcome! I’m Crystal Caudill, and I love to write spiritually rich historical romances fraught with danger and suspense. I do a ton of research with each of my books, and I have an entire shelf dedicated to what my children call “the murder shelf,” aka my criminal investigation, how to commit crimes, and poisonous plants books. You can find out more about me, my books, and my monthly reading challenge here on my website and on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, or BookBub. Despite what my “murder shelf” indicates, I’m not a criminal. I just write romance stories that often contain crimes. You can read about my latest crime-related release, Counterfeit Faith, below:
As Matron of Final Chance House of Refuge, Gwendolyn Ellison is responsible for the care and reformation of children deemed delinquents by society. When she discovers someone is abusing the children, she seeks to expose the abuse. But someone wants to keep it and their other secrets hidden, even if it means committing murder. Secret Service operative Josiah Isaacs can’t help but rescue a damsel-in-distress, but saving Gwendolyn leads to his discovery of a counterfeiting scheme that jeopardizes both Gwendolyn’s and the children’s lives. As they work together to solve the case and protect the children, attraction sparks between them. But Josiah is put off by Gwendolyn’s faith in a God he no longer trusts. If they survive, is a future together even possible when their beliefs are at odds?
The idea for this novel’s crime came from newspaper clippings I found while researching counterfeiting and the Secret Service. And now, it is my nerdy little joy to teach you something criminal . . .
How to Con a Con
I think everyone on the internet has received at least one email where a scammer tries to trick you into buying something fake so they can take your money. Generally, these con men are preying on innocent people. However, late 19th-century con men had their eyes on a completely different mark for their scheming ways: other con men. This tactic was so often used and so well-known that the newspapers consistently printed warnings and example letters. This con even had its own special name: The Green Goods Game. Â
So for your entertainment purposes only, I present “How to Con a Con.”
Example circular of a Green Goods Game scheme as printed in the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette on 8/10/1890.
The Target: Merchants and shop owners who are likely to pass counterfeits off to their customers as they conduct regular business. Identify struggling merchants, particularly those who are more likely to bend their moral stances to save their stores or those you already know or suspect will buy counterfeits.Â
The Strategy:Â Mail circulars to targeted businessmen and indicate you have counterfeit money of good quality to sell at a reasonable price. Flatter and appeal to their sense of working with a friend. Have them respond to you by mail with their signature, address, and the phrase: “Please send me terms, particulars, &c.’
If they respond, provide an “example” of your work in the form of a genuine one-dollar note. Then, when they purchase said counterfeit money, either have them meet you to pick up their product or mail it to them.
1880 One Dollar Legal Tender Bank Note
The Trade and the REAL Product: If your client wishes to see the product before exchanging money, it may be necessary to set up a switch. Show them some genuine notes, cause a distraction, and then provide them with a roll of green-dyed paper with a genuine note facing out on each side. Otherwise, if they mail you the money, there is no need to mail them anything back.
Why It Works: What person will report to the police that they were conned while attempting to purchase counterfeit money? After all, purchasing counterfeit money is a punishable crime in and of itself.Â
WARNING:Â If the Post-office Inspector discovers you are participating in this scheme, you will be arrested and held with a default bail of $2,500 (about $83,000 today).
So reader, are you willing to take the risk to con a con?
Here’s Your Critical Stop #13 Info:
If you’re interested, you can order Counterfeit Faith on Amazon, Baker Book House, Barnes & Noble, Christianbook.com or at your local bookstore!
Clue to Write Down: and just
Link to Stop #14, the Next Stop on the Loop: Roseanna M. White’s site!
But wait!!! Don’t go yet!!
I’m holding my own giveaway right here! All you have to do is sign up for my newsletter. (You’ll get Counterfeit Truth free out of the deal too!) Bonus points to those who follow me on Bookbub and/or Facebook. Just use the King Sumo widget below. This is open to everyone who is legally able to participate, but if you are an international reader, I will send you an Amazon gift card and some bookmarks, stickers, and a signed bookplate instead. The winner of this giveaway will be selected on June 19th and notified by email afterward. What are you winning? Glad you asked . . .
Prize: Homemade Booksleeve, Set of Page Flags, Bible Journaling Stickers, Set of Book Quote Stickers, Metalic Ink Pens, Counterfeit Love Notebook (to journal in or better yet! Keep track of all your great reads), Counterfeit Money Detector, and a Set of Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age bookmarks.
And if you are having trouble getting entered, just shoot me a note through my contact form, or comment below. Bonus entries for signing up for my newsletter, following me on BookBub, GoodReads, or Facebook.
Your book sounds like a great read, It sounds and looks very intriguing! Thank you so much for this valuable information it is so very interesting. I was not able to enter the giveaway , when I clicked to enter it it said Bad Gateway.
I’m so glad you found it interesting!
Which giveaway? And when did you try? The giveaways didn’t start until noon Mountain time which was 2:00 pm EST. Here is the direct link, as they both show up for me:
My Giveaway: https://kingsumo.com/g/reukhz/summer-scavenger-hunt
The Scavenger Hunt Giveaway: https://lisatawnbergren.com/2023/06/christian-fiction-scavenger-hunt-stop-30-grand-prize-entry/
Mine said Bad Gateway also. You are new to me and your book sounds perfect for me!
Interesting. It’s showing that entrants are getting through. Are you using Chrome or FireFox? Explorer and Safari aren’t friends with this for some reason. Have you tried these direct links? I’m trying to figure out how to fix it. — Updated: I’ve switched it over to RaffleCopter and am manually adding everyone’s entries who has already entered. Try using this link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/884ac8a178/?
@Jan, let me know if that doesn’t work and I can manually add you to the giveaway. There are bonus entry points for signing up for my newsletter, following me on BookBub, or following me on Goodreads. (Links up above.) I’m so sorry. It seems to be no matter which provider I use, there ends up being problems.
I never read any of your books but they sound very interesting can’t wait to read one.
Yay! I hope you enjoy it whenever you get to read one! Happy hunting!
So glad I gave your books a try. They are really great read, and I thoroughly enjoyed all of them, including the prequel.
Thank you so much! That is so encouraging to hear!
You are a new to me author. I look forward to reading your books.
Blessings,
Robin
Yay! I love finding new authors. Happy reading!
Thank you for the amazing hunt
I am so glad you are able to participate! Happy hunting!!!
Thank you for being a part of this scavenger hunt and for offering such fun giveaway prizes, Crystal!
I don’t think I would risk conning a con ;-). But I do like to read about it! 😀
Thank you for participating! I wouldn’t risk it either, but it is fun to read about.
You’re welcome!
You are a new author to me. I look forward to reading one of your books, I just need to find one. Are your books in the public libraries? I haven’t found very many Christian authors in our library here, but I’ll look for yours. Thank you for being in the scavenger hunt.
Yes! My books are! And many libraries will order books you request. Just give them a call and they’ll tell you how to do that. The more people they have request books, the more likely they are to order Christian Fiction. Thanks for joining the hunt. You can also read an ecopy of my novella for free when you sign up for my newsletter. You can always unsubscribe afterward. I feel like the novella is a nice way to see if you like my writing without spending money. The short link is bit.ly/CounterfeitTruth
I’ve read Counterfeit Truth. I have the others on my TBR. Loving the hunt.
I’m so glad you are enjoying yourself!!! And that you enjoyed Counterfeit Truth. 🙂
I’ve been wanting to read this one, since I’ve read and reviewed Counterfeit Love.
Thank you so much for reading and reviewing Counterfeit Love! That is such an honor! Happy reading and happy hunting!
For some reason Rafflecopter quit working for me after the second or third one I entered in this scavenger hunt. I would like to enter your giveaway.
Thanks so much. I’m so sorry that you’re having trouble with Rafflecopter. Technology is such a pain! I’ve got you manually entered. 🙂
I love your stories.
Thank you so much, Virginia! That’s such an encouragment!
I did not think that your style of writing would appeal to me but I have just finished reading Counterfeit Truth. I couldn’t put it down. I read the whole thing in 2 days and loved it. I thought I did not like crime or suspense books but your writing has made me change my mind. I had to find out what happened to Felicity and if Haydn was able to save her. Thank you so much for this. I will be asking our Public Library to get more of your books. We have a Christian Librarian and she outs in requests for us and the Local Library purchases them. Lots of people read the books we request. Keep up the good work. God Bless you
Wow, Beryl!that is one of the honest honors an author can receive. I’m so glad you were pleasantly surprised! And thank you for requesting it from your library. That is such a wonderful gift. Happy reading!!!
Thanks for the chance! I love your books!
Awwww!!! Thank you!!! Happy hunting!!!
Don’t you love a good con? 🙂 I don’t want to be on the receiving end of one, mind you lol
I am right there with you. I love reading and learning about them, but I don’t want to be a part of one!
Your book sounds really interesting! I tried to enter the giveaway and subscribe to your newsletter, but it said something went wrong and the links weren’t working for me.
Oh no! You might have to refresh your cookies. For the newsletter, bit.ly/CounterfeitTruth. For the Rafflecopter, clear your cookies and try again. If that doesn’t work, let me know and I will manually enter you. Here is the direct link to the Rafflecopter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/884ac8a178/?
Thanks for being a part of this great giveaway! I signedy up for your newsletter, and followed you on BookBub, GoodReads, & Facebook.