Day 10 ~ Emergency Reunion

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Emergency Reunion, novel #10 in my countdown, is another in which I learned so much while researching the heroine’s occupation. She’s a paramedic quietly battling PTSD. It’s also a reunion romance, which are always fun to write, since the hero and heroine already have some history from the outset. 

You can read an excerpt of the story here: Emergency Reunion Excerpt by Sandra Orchard

Book Cover for Emergency Reunion by Sandra Orchard

The heroine of this story is the cousin who made a cameo appearance in Identity Withheld, which…not wanting to sound like a broken record, but if you haven’t heard…is on sale for $1.99 (at Kobo, Amazon, Google, B&N) for a few more days. 

Review of Boughs of Folly

Please visit Pat Bradley’s blog where she is sharing her review of my upcoming release, Boughs of Folly.The 3-book Jingle Bell Mysteries bundle will soon be available from Annie’s Fiction. 

Click here to Enter the draw for 1 of 10 copies of Boughs of Folly

Day 9 ~ Desperate Measures & Our Next Giveaway Recipient

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Yesterday, my eldest granddaughter told me she’d just read my entire Port Aster Secrets series. As she recounted the ending and told me how much it surprised her, I realized it surprised me too.

Because I didn’t remember the ending! 

I’m not kidding.

I’d forgotten my own ending’s twist! 😳 

But it explains, Nora’s reference to “a fresh and unique twist” in her review of this one.   😆 

Review and Image of Desperate Measures, Book 3 in Port Aster Secrets by Sandra Orchard

Each book in this series was honoured with a Word Award from The Word Guild, and Desperate Measures was also a top pick from Night Owl Reviews. Their reviewer Arlena Dean said of it: 

“…I loved how the author was able to give me a mystery with lots of conspiracy as well as non-stop action. The author’s writing will have you guessing you know the answer but later finding out you didn’t have a clue….” 

I hope you enjoy reading this series as much as I enjoyed writing it. And one added note, I highly recommend reading this series in order, as later books are spoilers for the mysteries in prior books.

Also please, please, please…

don’t read the ending first. My granddaughter admitted doing so with Deadly Devotion and I was soooo disappointed. I try very hard to craft plots that will keep readers guessing whodunit right to the end. 

And without further ado…

The next book recipient (this one from visitors to my Seekerville post) is Lee-Ann. Lee-Ann please email me to let me know your mailing info and which book you’d like to receive.

BTW, Rochelle, if you missed the announcement a couple of days ago that you won Critical Condition, please be sure to check your bulk/promotions folder in gmail or spam, if you haven’t seen my email in your inbox. I need to hear back from you! 

More Goodies for Everyone

I’m hesitant to repeat these everyday, but for those who might be visiting this blog for the first time, this is the list of current deals, giveaways and freebies: 

Book Cover of Deadly DevotionDownload Deadly Devotion for Free (before June 11)

 

 

 

Buy Identity Withheld for only $1.99 (before June 14th)

 

 

 

Boughs of Folly cozy mystery

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for 1 of 10 copies of Boughs of Folly before Father’s Day

 

 

I will also randomly select recipients from among newsletter subscribers, those who interact with my Facebook page, and commenters on this month’s blog posts. 

Many thanks to all who are making this month’s celebration so much fun!

Day 8 ~ Identity Withheld

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

image of dog Rusty from Identity Withheld

This is Rusty, the self-proclaimed hero of Identity Withheld. “After all,” he says, with a tongue-lolling grin, “Kara is always hugging me.” 

Of course, our firefighter hero (my FBI agent’s brother), did suspect the heroine of being an arsonist upon first sight, whereas, Rusty adored her at first sight. 🙂 

Another fun fact: the heroine, Kara Grant, is named after one of my newsletter subscribers!

Back Cover Blurb: 

WITNESS IN HIDING

After exposing an illegal adoption ring, newly named “Kara Grant” is promised safety in Witness Protection. But someone has found her—and wants her dead. If only she could trust the handsome firefighter who catches her fleeing from a suspicious fire. Jake Steele seems to think she’s guilty of burning her own home. But how can she tell him who she really is and what she’s been through without bringing danger to the widowed father’s door? Yet with the criminals fast closing in, taking such a risk might be her only chance at survival. Because the price she’ll pay for her silence could be her life.

The Special price of $1.99 on this multi-award-winning novel is good until 6/14/2022. 

Your Turn: Do you like firefighter heroes? What about animals in novels? 

 

Day 7 ~ Featuring Blind Trust & Announcing 3 More Recipients

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Blind Trust is the second award-winning instalment in the Port Aster Secrets series from Revell Publishing. 

Cover for Blind Trust and Review from Booklist

Check out my Day 5 post for more about the series.

Catnip Hair Rinse & Reducing Grey

Funnily, a bonus feature connected to my research for this series has one of the highest number of search hits on my website, second only to “How to Escape Jury Duty.” 🙂  

It’s a recipe for Catnip Hair Rinse. Our yard has an abundance of catnip. I dry it for a sleepy-time tea, although I have tried the rinse.  

One of the tips I include in the recipe is that while steeping your catnip, to add an 1/8th cup each of rosemary and sage per cup of water if you wish to reduce grey hair. Despite anticipating the arrival of my 12th grandchild this summer, I haven’t developed more than the odd strand of grey just yet. So…I can’t speak to how well that works, but I’d love to hear how it works for you, if you try it! 🙂 

Three More Recipients of Complimentary Books

From my visit to the Suspense Sisters blog: Lucy R will receive a copy of Deadly Devotion

From my newsletter subscribers: Carolyn Coo… will receive Hidden Threats from the Sweet Intrigue collection

From those who have commented so far on my blog: Rochelle receives a copy of Critical Condition. 

P.S. I will be drawing from amongst all the blog comments another time or two before the 25th  

Writers & Aspiring Writers, Join me on Seekerville Today

banner for Seekerville & Sandra's post on Giving Distinctive Voices to the People in Your Head

I’ll be giving away a book while I’m there this week, too. 

For Everyone: 

Download Deadly Devotion for Free: 

 

 

 

 

Buy Identity Withheld for only $1.99: 

 

 

 

 

Boughs of Folly cozy mystery

Enter a Rafflecopter Giveaway for 1 of 10 copies of Boughs of Folly

Day 6 ~ Revisiting Perilous Waters

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

The idea for Perilous Waters came to me while taking an Alaskan cruise for our 25th wedding anniversary, and I attended an art auction aboard. I’d already been researching the work of the FBI Art Crime Team, so when I saw the art auction, I knew I’d found my setting! 

scene from art auction

I learned so many things about art crime while researching my FBI agent’s background, which eventually became the springboard for my Serena Jones Mysteries. 🙂 

book cover for Perilous Waters, a cruise ship and glacier

Back Cover Blurb:

For FBI agent Sam Steele, there’s no room for error or emotions on his latest undercover assignment. Getting close to gallery owner Jennifer Robbins while on an Alaskan cruise is the only way to catch her dealing stolen art. Out on the icy seas, Jen suddenly goes from suspect to victim when she’s targeted by a deadly enemy. And Sam’s mission goes from investigating an art crime to protecting the woman who’s begun to melt his heart. As danger looms closer, he’ll do anything to save her life—even if it costs him his own. 

Let me know if this sounds like a book you’d like to read. 

Special Deals & Giveaways

Sam Steele of Perilous Waters is the brother to the hero of Identity Withheld, currently on sale for $1.99.

book cover for mystery called Deadly Devotion by Sandra Orchard

Win 1 of 10 copies of Boughs of Folly

 

Download Deadly Devotion for Free ~ Day 5

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Murder by Marigolds was the working title for what later became my 5th published novel and first mystery trade book–Deadly Devotion. 

The idea germinated from a dream about the greenhouse where my children worked. As I researched herbal remedies and gleaned valuable insights from my daughter, a student at the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture at the time, the story blossomed and flourished into a three-book series–Port Aster Secrets. 

Admittedly, I received a lot of hate mail after this book released, because while each book tells a stand-alone mystery story, a romantic suspense thread arcs the series. So, the letters all said something along the lines of:

“How could you make me wait a year to find out what happens next?!” 😕 

Fortunately, today, readers can read the next two books as soon as they want.  

Herbal Remedies

The heroine is a herbal researcher and my own research for the series sparked a growing passion for herbs. It also proved my husband’s steadfast faith in me!

You see, for three years, a Book of Poisons sat on my kitchen counter as I squeezed research in during meal prep time. And my dear hubby never sweated it…much. 😆 

Set in Niagara, Canada

I set the series in the fictional town of Port Aster modelled after Niagara, as it existed thirty to forty years ago. Sadly, since then rampant housing developments have overtaken much of the farmland and the borders between towns have blurred. People familiar with the area, however, will recognize my own version of what we once called the experimental farm in Vineland, and of Balls Falls, and the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture. 

Download it now for FREE 

Did I mention that for a limited time you can download the Ebook version for free?

Check it out on Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Kobo, Nook, Google Play, iBooks, EPub from ChristianBook.com

Tell your friends!

There’s also still time to download Identity Withheld for only $1.99 from your favourite retailer

 

And there’s still time to enter the rafflecopter giveaway

Win 1 of 10 copies of Boughs of Folly

Day 4 ~ Fatal Inheritance

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Inspired by my own century farmhouse nightmares paired with a friend’s passion for antique cars, Fatal Inheritance, generated more reader letters than any of my earlier books.

Fatal Inheritance

Oh, and the discovery of an abandoned car at an old quarry inspired a scene in the book too!

submerged car that inspired a scene in Fatal Inheritance

Thankfully, it wasn’t Becki’s inherited antique car. 🙂 

antique car Becki inherited from her grandparents

I had so much fun doing research for this book. You can see more pics and other bonus features here: https://sandraorchard.com/extras/bonus-book-features/#fatalinheritance

Back Cover Blurb for Fatal Inheritance

Someone wants to stop Becki Graw from claiming her inheritance. Police officer Joshua Rayne is just as determined to keep his beautiful neighbor safe. She may not be the tomboy Josh remembers, but she’s just as stubborn. Becki is intent on keeping her grandparents’ remote farmhouse-no matter the danger. Becki’s feelings for her childhood crush may be rekindled, but she’s seen too much to risk opening her heart. As the threats against Becki escalate, the list of suspects grows longer. Josh must convince Becki to trust him with her heart-and her life-before a madman ends their chance at happiness…permanently.

Counting the Days…

If you’ve missed the scoop, I’m counting the days to the release of my 25th book and giving away 25 books along the way, together with great deals and free downloads. See my first post for all the details.

Our second book recipient is:

First of all, I want to mention that I thought today’s recipient would be drawn from those who commented on the Suspense Sisters Interview I did yesterday. But my host wanted to give blog readers more time to checkin, so…you still have ALL weekend to hop over there and  include your name in the comments. At the moment, the odds are looking really good! 😀 

I also decided to give visitors to my blog a few more days to chime in in the comments with which book they’d most love to read. Don’t be shy!

So, I opted to draw from the FB gang for our second recipient. If you’re wondering how I did it…I counted up all the interactions (likes, loves, comments, shares etc) for all my posts since I first announced my silver celebration there on May 30th, then I used an online random number generator to find my target and started counting from the newest post down through the interactions, until I reached that number, which corresponded to…

Linda Lavigne! Congratulations, Linda. 🙂  Please email or message me your book preference and I’ll get that sent out to you.

Don’t Miss Out: 

Tomorrow, I’ll be announcing a 6-day free Ebook download.

And there’s still time to enter the rafflecopter giveaway for one of ten copies of Boughs of Folly, and to snag the $1.99 download deal on Identity Withheld from Love Inspired Suspense.

Have a great weekend!

 

For The Medical Suspense Aficionado

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

My third novel, Critical Condition, appeals to both medical suspense aficionados and romantic suspense readers. 

Medical Suspense by Sandra Orchard

RT Book Reviews awarded Critical Condition the 2012 Reviewers Choice Award, saying: “Well-developed characters and fast-paced action keep readers fully engaged in this wonderful tribute to spouses struggling with a loved one’s illness.” 

Back Cover Blurb:

A nurse. An undercover cop. A killer who’ll stop at nothing to avoid being caught.

EVERYONE’S AT RISK There’s a murderer in the hospital, and nurse Tara Peterson is determined to prove it. With mysterious deaths in the cancer ward, anyone could be next. But no one wants to believe her…except for undercover agent Zach Davis. The murderer wants Tara’s suspicions silenced, permanently. To protect Tara, Zach lets her in on his secret, and unwittingly into his heart. Tara and her three-year-old daughter are like the family he lost years before. Zach will risk everything to keep them safe, no matter the cost. 

Medical Suspense Giveaway

I’m giving away a print copy of Critical Condition or another of my undercover cop novels, this month. Are you interested? Let me know in the comments. 

Psst…Shop at Harlequin on Fridays for more Free Books

Shop for Love Inspired Suspense at Harlequin.com with coupon code JUNEGET2

 And buy Identity Withheld, for only $1.99. 

 

Finally, check out today’s author interview at Suspense Sisters 

Leave a comment there for another chance to win!

 

I’ll post later in the day tomorrow and announce our second book recipient then!

 

⇓STILL TIME TO ENTER⇓

Win 1 of 10 copies of Boughs of Folly

Day 2 of Romantic Suspense Reminiscing

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

My first few published novels were all inspirational romantic suspense titles for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line. And with the release of my 25th novel this month, I’m revisiting a novel a day as part of my silver celebration. 

If you enjoy reading romantic suspense, and haven’t read this one yet, check out Shades of Truth–a Harlequin bestseller. 

Shades of Truth by Sandra Orchard - a romantic suspense

Although first released in March 2012, you can still purchase Ebook versions for kindle, nook or Kobo etc. As an extra bonus, Harlequin has temporarily dropped the price on another of my titles, Identity Withheld, in honour of my celebration. Don’t miss this great deal at $1.99.

Back cover Blurb:

A compassionate youth worker fighting to preserve her dying father’s legacy battles the justice-driven detective who threatens her mission and her heart.

Big city detective Ethan Reed is working deep undercover at a Christian youth detention center. The kind of place he spent some harrowing time in as a kid. Ethan’s mission: ferret out who’s recruiting resident teens for a drug ring. He expects help from the lovely, devoted director of Hope Manor. But Kim Corbett won’t tell Ethan anything— even when she’s threatened and attacked. When Ethan discovers what Kim is protecting, his guarded heart opens just a bit wider. Enough to make this the most dangerous assignment of his career.

Have you read my romantic suspense titles? 

I’d love to hear which one was your favourite and why. Let me know in the comments. I have 5 more romantic suspense titles contracted. The first two release in February and September next year. 

25 Book Giveaway!

Of course no celebration is complete without gifts. And I’m giving away 25 books this month. 

If you haven’t already, be sure to enter the rafflecopter giveaway for one of 10 copies of my 25th book, Boughs of Folly, a Christmas-themed cozy mystery. 

Be sure to drop by each day, because there are more freebies and giveaways to come.

 

 

Inspirational Romantic Suspense Giveaways & Promos

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

For the first 25 days of June 2022,

I’m celebrating the publication of my 25th novel with freebies, giveaways and special promotions.  

This is day one–time to reintroduce my debut novel–the award-winning, inspirational romantic suspense, Deep Cover, from Love Inspired Suspense, released September 2011.

inspirational romantic suspense by Sandra Orchard

Back Cover Blurb for Deep Cover by Sandra Orchard:

Maintaining his cover cost undercover cop Rick Gray the woman he loved. Sweet Ginny Bryson never really knew Rick–he never gave her the chance. Not then, and not now, when he’s back with a new alias to gather evidence against Ginny’s uncle. The man’s crimes led to Rick’s partner’s death, and Rick wants justice to be served. But his investigation is stirring up trouble, and Ginny is in the middle of it. Someone wants Ginny to pay the price for what her uncle has done. But how can Rick protect her without blowing his cover, jeopardizing his assignment…and risking both their lives?

Special Promotion from Love Inspired Suspense

For two weeks only, my eighth novel, the multi-award-winning, inspirational romantic suspense, Identity Withheld is only $1.99 at Love Inspired’s main retailers and Harlequin.com. There’s never been a more economical time to add it to your E-library! 

Congrats to Lisa J–the recipient of book one of my 25-book giveaway.

We’ll randomly select recipients from newsletter subscribers, Facebook followers, blog visitors and rafflecopter entrants. 

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway 

Boughs of Folly -a cozy mystery - #1 in Jingle Bells Mysteries
Click the image or link to enter the rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win 1 of 10 copies of my 25th novel, Boughs of Folly. Draw to be held Jun 19

If you haven’t already…

Tell me in the comments which of my novels you’d most like to add to your collection. You can find the complete list here: https://sandraorchard.com/my-books/

Then come back each day through to the 25th for more news. Or subscribe to the blog feed in the side bar. 

Thanks so much for sharing this celebration with me! 

You can also visit me today at Susan Mathis’s blog.