It’s a holiday here in Canada, but…with the release of book 2 in my Port Aster Secrets series mere weeks away, I figured it was time to whet your appetite.

Whoops, wrong picture. I’ll get to that one in a minute!

Here we go.

Here’s what Booklist had to say about Blind Trust in their May 15th issue:

“The second of Christian romantic-suspense author Orchard’s Port Aster Secrets novels, Blind Trust finds Kate Adams still reeling from her friend’s murder as she attempts to get her life back in order. However, what begins as a seemingly small-time counterfeit operation soon spirals into something much bigger, with Kate at the center. Detective Tom Parker has his eye on Kate, and not because she’s a suspect. His feelings for her continue to grow, as does his desire to protect her, but Kate’s determination to get to the truth on her own means that Tom is often getting her out of trouble, rather than keeping her from it. When the action shifts from mere counterfeiting to poisoning, theft, and decades-old secrets, Kate insists on researching her way to the facts. Orchard infuses romance with suspense and keeps the excitement coming page after page. Readers will love the ever-deepening mystery as Kate extends her investigation and finds herself and her long-dead father tangled up in an international corporate conspiracy. Will Kate be able to clear her father’s name, and stay safe?”

Intrigued?

Today, I’m hanging out at Jennifer Shirk’s blog sharing some tidbits about the book and some fun stuff about me–because she asked. 😉 And giving away a copy of Blind Trust to one randomly chosen commenter (ends Sunday). So hop on over, but…

before you go, I’d like to share the recipe for the yummy Mother’s Day breakfast my daughter made me.

French Toast with Spiced Pears

What you’ll need:

• 1/4 cup liquid honey
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp each ground ginger & cinnamon
• 1 pear, cored and thinly sliced
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup mild
• 4 slices whole wheat breat
• 1/4 cup toasted, sliced almonds

Here’s what you do:

• Preheat oven to 350 F. Stir 3 tbsp honey with lemon juice and 1/4 tsp each of cinnamon and ginger. Spread evenly in a greased 8 inch square baking dish. Arrange the pears over top
• Beat the eggs with milk and remaining honey, cinnamon and ginger then soak each piece of bread in mixture and arrange over the pears. Pour any excess over the bread.
• Bake for 20 mins or until golden. Cut into triangles and turn onto plates pear-side up. Sprinkle with almonds and drizzle with syrup from baking dish.
• For an extra touch add yogurt or maple syrup
• Enjoy! we did. 😀

Your Turn: What’s your favorite breakfast treat? Or the most unusual breakfast you’ve been served?

 In addition to the giveaway on Jen’s blog, Goodreads members can enter to win a five-book giveaway here: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/92614-blind-trust

I’m delighted to have fellow Love Inspired Suspense author, Katy Lee, here today to share.

Hello, Sandra and Sandra’s readers! Thank you for inviting me to share about my trip to Milwaukee, where I attended Barbara Vey’s Reader Appreciation Luncheon to promote my latest book release, Grave Danger. Now, when I say reader appreciation, I really mean readers were appreciated! There were 440 readers in attendance, along with 60 authors who went out of their way to make every person’s day special. I would have to say every attendee experienced the day a little differently, depending on what author they spent their day with.

For example, the seven wonderful ladies who sat at my table were met with these very personal table favors I put together for them.

There was not one table that was the same, and the first speaker, Author Sharon Sala even stated that this event resembled a family reunion, and she was right. The favors matched the personality and genre of the author who hosted the table. But it was more than that. I really felt like I was visiting with family.

And that’s when it hit me that this event was more than just promo and marketing. This event was the best thing I could have ever done. In fact, it didn’t even feel like marketing. It felt like lunch with good friends.

Social media has been a tremendous help in uniting reader and author, but even with these connections, true friendships and bonds are hard to make. Luncheon’s like Barbara Vey’s really do bring the reader and author face to face and give them an even more personal connection they wouldn’t have had on social media sites.

Barbara Vey is not the only one holding these luncheons. Harlequin has started to look into them, knowing it could be a really great attraction for their dedicated readers. This past January, a few Love Inspired authors met up in Florida to spend the day with some eager readers. I was not at this event, but I heard wonderful reports and know it was also positively received.

YOUR TURN: So, if you’re a reader and your favorite author was coming to town (Or nearby) for a reader luncheon, would you jump at the chance to spend the afternoon with them? Keep an eye out. It just might happen!

About Katy’s New Release: GRAVE DANGER

BONES OF CONTENTION: When skeletal remains are found on a small Maine island, forensic anthropologist Lydia Muir is sent to investigate. It’s Lydia’s job to determine whether the homicide happened long ago—or more recently. Island sheriff Wesley Grant seems sure the murder didn’t happen on his watch. But when Lydia uncovers the victim’s identity, someone goes to great lengths to get Lydia off the island. Wes vows to protect her, but is the handsome lawman holding something back?

4 1/2 Stars! Fantastic…A Keeper! “Multiple false leads will keep the reader guessing. The action is intense in this character-driven suspense. Fans of the TV show “Bones” will enjoy Lydia’s character and her knowledge of the field of forensics.”   ~Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine

About Katy Lee:

As an inspirational romantic-suspense author, Katy Lee writes higher-purpose stories in high-speed worlds. Through her writing, ministry work, and teaching, Katy dedicates her life to sharing tales of love– from the “greatest love story ever told’, to the sweet romantic tales of falling in love. Katy and her husband are lifelong New Englanders, and have been known to travel far and wide on a whim with their three adventuresome children.   Connect with Katy anytime at www.KatyLeeBooks.com. There you will see her Facebook and Twitter links to connect with her further.

Sandra again: Wow, I’m totally jealous! Sounds like a fabulous event. The table favors you made are adorable.

Katy’s book hits bookstore shelves this week. And they are always great! I can’t wait to read this latest release!!

Also this week…if you’re looking for books for your middle-grader, check out Stephanie Faris’s cover reveal for her upcoming release.

I’m blessed with witty kids, with keen psychological insights, who don’t even mind snapshots of their lives occasionally being turned into a fishbowl for others to read about on my blog.

With both my daughter and I struggling to get the opening chapters of our current works-in-progress just right, the men in our house have had to listen to a lot of lamenting.

And men, being fixers, always try to offer helpful, or not so helpful, suggestions.

Yesterday at lunch, for example, I commented on how concerned I was that my heroine didn’t seem likable enough.

My son (oops, an anonymous male sharing our lunch meal with us), helpfully responded:

“You’ll never be able to make a girl fully likable.”

Yes, he really said that.

My response?

An aside to my daughter — “We’re never going to be able to marry him off.” 🙄

Of course, meanwhile, I’m frantically jotting down what he said, because hey, it’s a great line for my next nursing-a-broken-heart sidekick, right? And I did ask if I could quote him…hence the use of “anonymous.” 😉

My husband wisely remained silently, but my daughter had an equally helpful insight:

“You can’t make a girl fully likable because then all the other girls will hate her!” 

😆  Isn’t that so true?

P.S. This is the last week that Perilous Waters will be in stores before it’s pulled from the shelves to make room for Love Inspired’s May releases!

Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It’s a holiday–Family Day–in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario today. 

So…I’m playing hooky and hanging with my family. 😀

But I’ll be posting tomorrow at The International Christian Fiction Writer’s Blog about a fun picture book I recently picked up for my grandkids Little Copper Pennies for Kids by Susan Harris.

Wow, can you believe it’s already another year?!

Do you have any special plans for 2014?

At the moment, I’m hunkering down in my writing cave to finish the third book in my Port Aster Secrets series. And the blustery weather we’re having is a perfect compliment…as long as we don’t lose electricity. 😕

Our internet service has been spotty for weeks due to a hardware problem on a 300 foot tower that no one wants to climb in -30 windchill temps. So…if I seem kind of scarce online, that’s probably why.

But today, I’m excited to be posting at the International Christian Fiction Writers blog, talking about “Precious Gifts” and sharing pictures.  🙂

Tomorrow, I’ll be at the Craftie Ladies of Love Inspired Romance blog talking about finding that perfect someone…sort of. 😉

In the meantime, if you’ve never visited the Craftie blog, check out the serial romance we’re doing on Thursdays and Fridays between now and Valentine’s. A different author picks up the story with each new installment. It starts here: Her Secret Valentine part 1

Oh, oh, oh, and did you see the new pic in my sidebar? Got the cover art for my April release, Perilous Waters. What do you think?

Have a great week!