Download Deadly Devotion for Free ~ Day 5

Posted on: June 5, 2022May 30, 2022 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

Desperate Measures is Almost Here!

Posted on: May 1, 2015April 8, 2015 by Sandra Orchard

Have you been enjoying the Port Aster Secrets series?

If so, you have only one more month to wait to read the final installment.

But…if per chance, you haven’t checked out this series yet, you now have the opportunity to try the first award-winning book, Deadly Devotion, for FREE in Ebook format from now until the end of summer.

Check it out at your favorite retailer and please, tell your friends!

Your Turn: For those who’ve been following the series, how do you hope it will end? (Shh, if you can tell me without any spoilers for those who haven’t started) 😉

Giveaway this Week

Posted on: July 17, 2014July 17, 2014 by Sandra Orchard

Visit me this week at

MBT Ponderers

and leave a comment for a chance to win a paperback copy of Blind Trust 😉

Introducing Port Aster

Posted on: May 27, 2013May 27, 2013 by Sandra Orchard

Port Aster is the fictional town I’ve created in the heart of the Niagara Peninsula, Canada, for my new mystery series Port Aster Secrets. But I’d like to share some photographs of several of the real places that inspired me, which I then drew together to create my little town.

The heroine, Kate Adams, is a herbal medicine researcher, who works at an agricultural research station outside of Port Aster, a place based loosely on what is still referred to by locals as the Vineland Experimental Farm, but which has now partnered with Guelph University and been renamed the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.

The town itself has a cobbled main street with flower baskets hanging from old-fashioned lamp posts, the smell of cinnamon buns wafting from the bakery, and enticing wares spilling onto the sidewalk from quaint little shops, and was inspired by the main street of historic Niagara-on-the-Lake…although its street isn’t cobbled. 🙂

This is the Old Niagara Bookshop in N-O-T-L, which actually carries copies of Deadly Devotion!

The social hub of Port Aster is the Tea Shop, which I conjured up from my imagination, although while visiting Colorado after writing the story, I found this shop, which has the kind of ambiance I’d envisioned for mine.

Except that in Port Aster’s Tea Shop, there are rows of glass jars lining the counter, filled with herbs of every description that patrons can choose from to create their own tea blend.

The story begins in May as fruit trees in the surrounding countryside are blooming.

Then later, Kate’s situation turns precarious at the top of “Sumptner Falls” inspired by Vineland’s Balls Falls…at least as I wrote the scene, I pictured my heroine hiking the trail to the upper falls (before the new building). But the picture below is of a falls in the heart of Short Hills Conservation Area, because I couldn’t find a good angle to take a picture of the upper falls.

Don’t those images make you wish you could visit Port Aster? 😉

At the start of June, when Deadly Devotion releases, these photos and more will appear in my “bonus features” for “on location”.

Your Turn: Have you ever been inspired to visit an area you read about it in a novel?

Introducing My New Publisher and a Goodreads Giveaway

Posted on: May 6, 2013May 6, 2013 by Sandra Orchard

As I eagerly await copies of my first book with Revell Publishing, I’d like to introduce you to a few of their recent releases. I’m sure many of you will recognize the names of these popular authors, and I feel honored to be in their company, and to have the opportunity to get to know them better.

According to their website, “Revell began over 125 years ago when D. L. Moody and his brother-in-law Fleming H. Revell saw the need for practical books that would help bring the Christian faith to everyday life. …This same vision for books that are both inspirational and practical continues to motivate the Revell publishing group today,” now a division of Baker Publishing.

In the Romantic Suspense genre, they’ve just released Lynette Eason’s When A Secret Kills

She’s come home to put a killer behind bars.
But the killer plans to put her six feet under.

Investigative reporter Jillian Carter knows it’s time to put the past to rest. She’s tired of looking over her shoulder, letting a killer go free. She’s no longer the scared kid who changed her name and disappeared. Now, no matter what the cost, Jillian must do what she is trained to do–find the truth and expose it. And the truth is that Senator Frank Hoffman committed murder ten years ago–and Jillian watched it happen.

Didn’t she?

Get ready for the spine-tingling, nail-biting conclusion to this explosive series.

Here’s what others are saying:

“A fabulous read! Eason is a master at romantic suspense. I gobbled up the novel in two days and promptly ordered the first two books in the series. Highly recommended!”–Colleen Coble, author of the Rock Harbor and the Hope Beach series

In the Historical Romance genre, Lorna Seilstad’s May release When Love Calls

When romance calls, will she choose to answer?

Hannah Gregory is good at many things, but that list does not include following rules. So when she must apply for a job as a switchboard operator to support her two sisters, she knows it won’t be easy. Hello Girls must conduct themselves according to strict-and often bewildering-rules, which include absolutely no consorting with gentlemen while in training.

Hannah doubts it will be difficult to keep that rule-until a handsome young lawyer starts getting under her skin.

With historic details that bring to life the exciting first decade of the twentieth century, Lorna Seilstad weaves a charming tale of companionship that blossoms into sweet romance.

And… Julie Lessman’s April release, Love At Any Cost.

Fooled by a pretty boy once, shame on him. Fooled by a pretty boy twice, shame on me.

Jilted by a fortune hunter, cowgirl Cassady McClare is a spunky Texas oil heiress without a fortune who just as soon hogtie a man as look at him … until Jamie MacKenna, a handsome pauper looking to marry well lassoes her heart. But when Jamie discovers the woman he loves is poorer than him, Cassie finds herself bucked by love a second time, sending her back to Texas to lick her wounds and heal her heart. In her absence, Jamie discovers money can’t buy love, but love built on faith can set a heart free, a truth he discovers a little too late … or is it?

In the General Fiction genre, Dan Walsh’s April release, The Dance, written with Gary Smalley

Love’s recovery starts with a single step . . .

After 27 years of marriage, Marilyn Anderson is tired of playing the role of perfect wife. Her husband Jim is a successful businessman who gives her everything she needs-a beautiful home in an upscale neighborhood, the financial freedom to be a stay-at-home mom, an enviable collection of stuff. Everything, that is, except what really matters: love.

After years of trying to connect with Jim, Marilyn has had enough. She longs to experience some measure of happiness before she’s too old to enjoy it. Needing some time to herself to sort things out, Marilyn leaves to start a new job and take dancing lessons-something she has wanted to do for as long as she can remember.

Shocked to find his wife gone, Jim Anderson must sort through the past to save his marriage. With a little help from an unexpected ally, he begins a campaign to win Marilyn back. What he doesn’t anticipate is how his actions will affect everyone around him-starting with himself.

“I believe every person who reads The Dance will be deeply touched and changed for the better. This book is worth your time!”-Jimmy Evans, founder and CEO of MarriageToday and author of Lifelong Love Affair

And Dann A Stouten’s April release, The Gate

Every life is a story. Schuyler Hunt is about to come face-to-face with the author of his.

When a planned getaway with his wife turns into a shopping trip for the girls, Schuyler Hunt finds himself looking for something else to do. An ad for a vacation cottage catches his eye, and he sets off in search of a much-needed break. When he arrives, he finds something far different from the typical summer home experience. In fact, he may have found a little slice of heaven.

The proprietor-along with a number of unexpected and yet familiar guests-welcomes him with food, rest, and conversation, until what started out as an escape from everyday life turns into something much, much more . . .

Your Turn: What piques your interest in any of these books? Cover art? Blurb? The endorsement? The topic? The author?

P.S. Revell is giving away 5 copies of Deadly Devotion on Goodreads this month. If you’re a member of Goodreads, here’s the link to enter the giveaway, and/or… to add Deadly Devotion to your “to be read” pile. 😉