Would You Rather with Jessica R. Patch & Giveaway

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I’m delighted to have author Jessica R. Patch and the hero and heroine from her debut Love Inspired Suspense, Fatal Reunion, with me today. I’ve had the privilege of being a guest on Jessica’s blog a few times, answering her “Would you rather” questions on behalf of myself and my characters, so I’m thrilled to now be able to turn the tables on her and ask the questions of her!

To orient us, here’s the back cover blurb for Fatal Reunion:

Fatal ReunionWRONGLY ACCUSED

When her beloved grandmother is almost killed during a home invasion, Piper Kennedy isn’t surprised that she’s a suspect—especially since Luke Ransom is on the case. The handsome detective she once loved thinks she knows more than she’s telling about the attack. And given her crooked past and the heartbreaking way she’d been forced to betray Luke years ago, Piper understands why he doesn’t trust her. But when attempts are made on her life, Luke insists on keeping her safe and finding out who wants her dead. And Piper and Luke soon realize a remorseless criminal will do anything to keep them from the truth…or an unexpected second shot at a future.

Piper is such a cool name! And let me just add: I had the chance to read this book last week. Two things that made it particularly interesting for me were Piper’s unique occupation–she’s a karate expert and dojo owner, a skill that comes in handy a few times in the story  😉 –and Jessica managed to add twists I didn’t see coming, which is always a fun surprise!

Okay, on to my questions for Jess and her characters:

Would you rather have loved and lost or never have loved at all?

Luke: That’s tough because I have loved and lost. I guess loved and lost because I can’t imagine not ever loving Piper.

Piper: I’d say love and lost since I never really experienced romantic love before Luke. Just people who said they loved me but only wanted to manipulate me.

Jessica: Loved and lost. I think everyone needs to experience love. And heartbreak can be healed.

Agreed. 😉

Would you rather change the past or be able to see into the future?

Luke: Well, asking me that today I’m saying change the past so I could have done things differently concerning Piper. Had you asked me that before Piper came back into my life, I’d say see the future—I’d want to know if I was ever going to fall in love again. Not that I believe I ever could have.

Piper: Luke, you are so sweet, but I know you’re buttering me up for a puppy. Okay, now to answer the question. I don’t want to know the future. But there are so many things in my past I would love to have done differently. For one thing, not getting involved with Chaz Michaels and his crew.

Jessica: I’m with Piper. I don’t want to know the future, unless I can change something bad that might happen to one of my children. But I would like to change a few mistakes I’ve made.

Ooh, do tell… 😛 

Would you rather get stuck in a broken elevator or stuck on a broken ski lift?

Luke: Ski lift. I want to snuggle with my honey under a blanket….and with our puppy. wink wink

Piper: LOL! Elevator. With a puppy we’re only watching for one day. Then when you have no way to clean up the mess, you’re reminded of why I said I didn’t want pets. (Luke: You’re harsh.)

Jessica: Definitely an elevator because I hate the cold and heights. Although, if I happened to get stuck with Luke, Piper, and a puppy…scrunches nose

Hmm, I’m with Luke, although a squirming puppy up there could make it a tad dicey!

Here’s more about Jessica:

JessicaRPatchJessica R. Patch lives in the mid-south where she pens inspirational contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. When she’s not hunched over her laptop or going on adventurous trips in the name of research with willing friends, you can find her watching way too much Netflix with her family and collecting recipes to amazing dishes she’ll probably never cook. Her novel, Fatal Reunion, releases with Love Inspired Suspense in January, 2016. She is represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary Management.

Links:

Get Patched In! Jessica’s newsletter subscribers get first looks at book covers and excerpts as well as receive notifications of new book releases and other cool news. Sign up at www.jessicarpatch.com

Join in the conversation on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jessicarpatch

and Twitter! https://twitter.com/jessicarpatch

Check out Jessica’s Pinterest story board where you can meet the cast of Fatal Reunion and peruse some of the scenes set in the book. https://www.pinterest.com/jessicarpatch/fatal-reunion/

Your Turn: Answer one of the questions I posed to Jessica and her characters for a chance to win a copy of her book. (winner will be randomly drawn from comments  made before midnight EST Jan 9, 2016

Happy Birthday Canada!

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

It’s a new month, with a brand-spanking new book hitting bookstore shelves in the coming week.

And we’re celebrating with a giveaway!

Emergency Reunion small

This is the final book in my connected stories of members of the Steele family that began with Perilous Waters last April, and continued with the award-winning Identity Withheld, last November. Click the image to learn more.

I was thrilled to learn that Emergency Reunion received a “Top Pick” designation from RT Book Reviews

and the reviewer Leslie McKee had invited me to share about the inspiration for the story on her blog today, where…

we’re giving away a copy!

So please click through above and enter at her blog for a chance to win an autographed copy!

And check out super fun interviews with all my summer release characters here for another chance to win: http://www.jessicarpatch.com/2015/06/win-book-and-play-fun-game-w-sandra.html

And…the fabulous and super-generous reviewer, Kav, will also be reviewing the book later this week and giving away a copy. Check out all of her week’s reviews and giveaways, as they post, here: http://bestreads-kav.blogspot.ca/

And check out the fun bonus features I’ve added to the site for it. Aspiring writers might especially be interested in the editor’s commentary and deleted scenes.

Research Holiday

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Today’s a holiday here in Canada. Yippee!!!

Man lifting child

But… I’m not taking a total cyber holiday. I’m visiting Camy’s Loft, talking about the research for my newest release: Fatal Inheritance, which, by the way, should be in brick-and-mortar stores this week. 

Fatal Inheritance

And… for those writers amongst my blog readers…

On Friday, I’ll be a guest at Be a Real Writer, talking about goals–your characters’.

Target Goals

If you’re having difficulty garnering an editor’s interest in your manuscripts, this is an area you may need to scrutinize.

Stop by and feel free to ask questions. I’ll be happy to answer them.

In the meantime, have a great day! I’m turning off comments here, this week, but… I see that hand– 😆 — and am waving back at you!

 

Silhouette Image courtesy of arztsamui at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Target Image courtesy of bplanet at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What’s Your Favorite Sore Throat Remedy?

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Okay, I know what you’re thinking… what do throat remedies have to do with fiction books or conversations about characters?

Well…

Tomorrow, the final book in my Undercover Cops series, Critical Condition, releases from Love Inspired suspense. As you might guess from the title, it’s a medical mystery/suspense.

Alternative medicine plays a role in the suspense plot, so I thought it would be intriguing to explore the realm of alternative medicine and home remedies with you.

With the onset of autumn, at least in the Western Hemisphere, comes the beginning of cold and flu season. Everyone seems to have their own little ritual for what they do when they feel a sore throat or cold coming on.

And commercials abound with commercial remedies promising to lessen your symptoms.

But what works for you?

Image courtesy of photostock at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

For me, when I feel a sore throat coming on, I take a few drops of Amol® in water. It is a traditional herbal medicine originating from Germany that I have never seen in any store. My friend purchased the bottle–which has long since expired–for me in her local pharmacy. Yet, even supposedly past its prime, the stuff still works great.

It contains: oil of clove; oil of cinnamon; oil of peppermint; and oil of lavender. It clears my sinuses and soothes my sore throat like nothing else I’ve ever tried. And if I take it at the first sign of a sore throat coming on, my condition often doesn’t worsen.

Your Turn: What’s your favorite or most effective remedy or ritual for battling a cold or sore throat?