#21 Paying the Piper

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Happy First day of summer! It’s appropriate that revisiting my twenty-first book should happen today, since Paying the Piper begins on July 4th, at an Independence Day picnic, in Loch Mallaig, Michigan. 🙂 

Book Cover for Paying the Piper
Click book cover to read the full blurb

This mystery revolves around a state-wide baking competition being held as part of the town’s annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games. We had the opportunity to watch some of the traditional events at such a festival while vacationing in Northern Ontario a few years ago. If you have the opportunity to attend one, go for it. They’re a lot of fun. 

I’m sure a murder won’t take place at yours. 😆 

Scottish Baking Recipes

I had to research a lot of traditional Scottish baking recipes for this series. Have you ever heard of millionaire’s shortbread or clootie dumplings? I hadn’t.

And of course, the only way to write about them authentically is to sample the goods. Yes, research can be a tough job, but I’m willing to gain a few pounds for the team. 😆

If you’d like to join me, here’s a good place to start: https://insanelygoodrecipes.com/scottish-desserts/ 

 

Rafflecopter Winners

I debated waiting until June 25th to announce the ten winners of my upcoming release, Boughs of Folly, since that will be the day I profile it here.

But for once in my writing career, I decided NOT to keep you in suspense. 😀 

Don’t be sad if your name isn’t here though, because I have three more books to give away over the next few days, so stay tuned!

P.S. One of those books will go to a randomly selected blog commenter. So, don’t be shy about leaving a comment to let me know which book you’d love to read. 😉 

Onto the winners…drum roll please

Congratulations to:

  1. Christin F
  2. Kara V… M… 
  3. Patti Jo M
  4. Ann S 
  5. Jackie Pad… 
  6. Linda O 
  7. Beverly D…-M…
  8. Edward A 
  9. Sandra A 
  10. Linda Gaw…

I emailed each of you last night to request your mailing address, so if you didn’t see my email, please check your spam folder and add me to your safe senders list. 😎 

Happy Reading! 

Your Turn: 

What’s your favourite thing connected to the Scots? For me, it’s scones. Yum! Although…I do love listening to Amazing Grace on the bagpipes. And I have a lovely wool tartan blanket I cozy up under to  read on cold winter nights. 🙂  

 

Drum Image by rawpixel.com

#20 Yule Be Sorry

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Writing this Christmas mystery whet my appetite for doing more set at this special time of year. I’m currently outlining a romantic suspense set on a Montana guest ranch and Christmas tree farm. But I digress. 😆 

Yule Be Sorry is the 9th book in the Scottish Bakehouse Mystery series I introduced yesterday.  

Inspired by the 12 Days of Christmas Song

Summary: 

On the first day of Christmas, Molly Ferris’s true love gave to her . . . one of many anonymous pranks leading up to Loch Mallaig’s upcoming Yule Festival, an annual tradition celebrating the Michigan town’s Scottish heritage. Initially, Molly and her best friends, Laura Donovan and Carol MacCallan, are charmed by the silly “Twelve Days of Christmas” gifts showing up at their Scottish bakehouse, Bread on Arrival. However, the fifth day presents ghastly tidings—the murder of local real estate agent Eric Wright, who’s found dead with five golden rings on his fingers.

Discovered by the bakehouse’s new delivery boy, whose girlfriend’s family was facing the loss of their home for the holidays, Wright’s homicide soon engulfs the entire village in suspicion and conjecture. With a history of shady deals, the murdered Scrooge had a seemingly endless naughty list of people who could have killed him—and perhaps it was someone Molly and her friends know and trust.

With their business’s wellbeing threatened by their ties to the murder, the Bakehouse Three resolve to solve the mystery of who silenced Wright’s night. Soon, the three Scottish hens realize that not only is their livelihood at stake but their lives as well. They must uncover the murderer before the killer gets to them—otherwise, they might be three bakers-a-dying. 

Find Scottish Bakehouse Mysteries at Annie’s Fiction. 

Subscribe to the Scottish Bakehouse Mysteries Bookclub to receive 1 hard cover book a month ($14.99) , or every two weeks ($10.99), or to receive 1 Ebook a month ($5.99). You can sometimes find individual books being sold second hand. 

I found several used copies of Yule Be Sorry for sale online at Amazon. But if you enjoy cozy mysteries and love everything Scottish, you’ll want to get the entire set of these! 

Our Next Two Complimentary Book Recipients are: 

Congratulations Velma and Marlene! I’ll be in touch.  

 

#19 ~ Lass and Found

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads! 

I’ll let you know our 10 winners of the rafflecopter, as soon as I receive the names from the coordinator!

On to the 19th book in my 25 book retrospective:

Lass and Found Is the fourth book in the 24-book, multi-author Scottish Bakehouse Mysteries, set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This was another super-fun series to write. It follows the exploits of three former college roommates, now in their fifties, as they reunite to open a bakery in bonny Loch Mallaig, Michigan, a place where the iconic sounds of Great Highland bagpipes fill the air, kilts never go out of fashion, and mysteries surface with curious regularity.

This particular story isn’t a murder mystery, but a missing person mystery.

Lass and Found Book Cover
Click the image to read the back cover blurb

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday!

Settling Auld Scores by Sandra Orchard

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

I’m pleased to announce that my next instalment in the Scottish Bakehouse Mysteries has shipped to subscribers from Annie’s Fiction. 

Aye, I’ve had a right braw (wonderful) time contributing to this series. Admittedly, at first I dinnae ken (didn’t know) if I’d feel at home in auld Loch Mallaig. But once I had a right old blether with the bonnie lads and lassies in town, I could hear the Scottish accent in every line. But don’t worry, only the odd Scottish word made it into the book. After all, I wouldn’t want my readers to think my heid’s full o’ mince. (every word that comes out of my mouth is non-sensical) 😀 

About Settling Auld Scores by Sandra Orchard

As Bread on Arrival’s head baker, Laura Donovan is used to scoring touchdowns in the kitchen, especially when she teams up with her best friends and business partners, Molly Ferris and Carol MacCallan. However, when it comes to parenting, unmarried Laura is a true rookie. While her brother and his wife are out of the country, Laura has agreed to host her teenage nephew, Henry, an up-and-coming football star now playing for the Loch Mallaig High Loons. Laura suddenly finds herself on defense as the safety of Henry and his teammates is tested by a persistent prankster, and Laura worries that her nephew is the main target.

From vindictive rival coaches and jilted former players to lovelorn teens intent on revenge, Laura’s roster of suspects seems endless. And as the pranks become more dangerous at every turn, Laura fears that a truly deadly incident could be next. She must take the offensive prankster out of the game before the clock runs out—or else someone could face sudden death.

Click to learn more about the Scottish Bakehouse Mysteries Bookclub from Annie’s Fiction. 

More Scottish Bakehouse Mysteries by Sandra Orchard

 

Scottish Bakehouse Mysteries

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

This month I have a new book out in Annie’s Ficton’s Scottish Bakehouse Mysteries. 

I’m having so much fun writing these stories, infusing a flavour of Scotland in dialogue, food and activities, set in the rugged beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. 

My latest book is Yule Be Sorry, #9 (of 24) in the series. 

#9 in Scottish Bakehouse Mysteries by Sandra Orchard

On the first day of Christmas, Molly Ferris’s true love gave to her . . . one of many anonymous pranks leading up to Loch Mallaig’s upcoming Yule Festival, an annual tradition celebrating the Michigan town’s Scottish heritage. Initially, Molly and her best friends, Laura Donovan and Carol MacCallan, are charmed by the silly “Twelve Days of Christmas” gifts showing up at their Scottish bakehouse, Bread on Arrival. However, the fifth day presents ghastly tidings—the murder of local real estate agent Eric Wright, who’s found dead with five golden rings on his fingers.

Discovered by the bakehouse’s new delivery boy, whose girlfriend’s family was facing the loss of their home for the holidays, Wright’s homicide soon engulfs the entire village in suspicion and conjecture. With a history of shady deals, the murdered Scrooge had a seemingly endless naughty list of people who could have killed him—and perhaps it was someone Molly and her friends know and trust.

With their business’s wellbeing threatened by their ties to the murder, the Bakehouse Three resolve to solve the mystery of who silenced Wright’s night. Soon, the three Scottish hens realize that not only is their livelihood at stake but their lives as well. They must uncover the murderer before the killer gets to them—otherwise, they might be three bakers-a-dying.

I had great fun dreaming up little pranks for each of the 12 days of Christmas.  

Altogether, I’m writing 4 books in this multi-author series available through mail subscription from Annie’s Fiction. 

My first book was #4 in the series – Lass & Found 

Lass and Found Book Cover
#4 in Scottish Bakehouse Mysteries by Sandra Orchard

The series follows the adventures of former college roommates Molly Ferris, Laura Donovan, and Carol MacCallan as they reunite to open a bakery in bonny Loch Mallaig, Michigan, a place where the iconic sounds of Great Highland bagpipes fill the air, kilts never go out of fashion, and mysteries surface with curious regularity. Undaunted when they discover that the only retail space available in the charming Gaelic town is a former funeral parlor, party planner Molly, NYC chef Laura, and retired math teacher Carol bravely fire up the Scottish bakehouse of their dreams, Bread on Arrival, in the old Victorian mansion.

Powered by friendship, moxie, and plenty of tasty Scottish treats, the Bakehouse Three tackle every challenge that arises—including unsolved murder. From rekindling auld alliances and sparking new ones to chasing cryptic clues wherever they lead, the fiftysomething women prove that it’s never too late to embark on a fresh adventure. Pour a cup of tea, nibble on some shortbread, and get caught up in the mysteries of Loch Mallaig!

Click to learn more about the Scottish Bakehouse Mysteries Bookclub from Annie’s Fiction. 

For those who prefer to “listen” to their books, Annie’s Fiction now has a couple of their series available as audio books. You can learn more at Annie’s Fiction Audiobooks