Sandra Orchard's Blog

Michelle Willms’s Northern Girls is a courageous collection of true stories about growing up in rural northern Ontario amid instability, silence, and survival. I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Michelle at our local writers’ group. And I’m delighted to be able to celebrate the publication of her first book with her.

In Northern Girls, Michelle reflects on a childhood shaped by frightening and often unbelievable moments. Yet the book is not driven by shock. It’s about endurance, generational trauma, parental addiction, domestic violence, and the long, bumpy road toward healing. In this interview, Willms speaks with honesty and care about memory, silence, survival, and self-honouring.

One of CBC’s 50 top nonfiction titles for spring 2026!

Surviving wolves in the woods, a chimney fire, and a home ruled by addiction and sometimes violence, Michelle Willms should not have made it out of her northern Ontario childhood, but she did. Northern Girls (Baraka Books) is a raw, gripping collection of true stories that trace a fractured family legacy and the generational trauma behind it, as Willms writes her way toward truth, trust, and healing. (releases April 1, 2026)

Let’s Dig Right into my Interview Questions for Michelle What is Northern Girls about?

Northern Girls is my creative nonfiction story collection and memoir about growing up in northern Ontario with a mother who coped with memories of her own difficult northern childhood by self-medicating with alcohol and romantic relationships that she believed would save or complete her. In the mix of all the messiness, including violence, my siblings and I leaned on each other, our friends, and the community for safety.

Why did you write Northern Girls as a collection of true stories?

I wrote Northern Girls somewhat reluctantly, and over a long period of time. I’d been told repeatedly growing up that “What goes on in this house stays in this house.” So, every time I wrote about my childhood, it felt like I was breaking the sacred family rule. But I realized over time that honouring family rules that harm me meant dishonouring myself. That said, the family rule has never stopped haunting me. While writing, I had to get comfortable holding space for both feelings: disappointing the people I love who benefit from silence, and honouring myself by writing about what happened.

Your childhood includes moments that sound unreal. How do you tell those stories without turning them into shock value?

Sadly, what took place in my childhood is a variation of the lived experience of many kids who also grew up in households with violence and addictions. There’s more of us than society is sometimes comfortable acknowledging. The primary function of writing, for me, is to find personal healing by acknowledging what happened. I hope reading Northern Girls heals and frees others who’ve experienced adversity in their childhoods, too. For those who feel shocked by my work, I’d encourage them to acknowledge that these types of experiences (abandonment, fear, and being regularly put in danger) are normal for a lot kids, and to emotionally metabolize their shock into empathy.

Me again: That’s a helpful suggestion. Thank you.

When did you realize your family’s pain was bigger than one generation?

The knowledge that my family’s pain was bigger than one generation was a layered realization and took time. My mom told me she was poor growing up, but I didn’t learn about how she’d been abused until I was older. My family filled in a lot of the blanks after my mom died, though a few times it seems that Mom tried to show me in her own way. I write about this in my story “On Impact.”

How do you write about parental addiction and domestic violence with care for survivors and for your own younger self?

In a word: research. I’ve read widely and took note of how other nonfiction writers take care of their readers and themselves when writing about addiction and violence. Mary Karr, for example, during one of her most difficult scenes in The Liar’s Club, keeps things to the point. She doesn’t linger. She states the harm clearly, then moves on. She shows the physical impact, but doesn’t expound on the emotional impact right after. I think that creates a safety buffer for readers in a way, and gives them time to process what they just read on their own terms, without telling them how to feel about it. It also takes the pressure off the writer to have the emotional math “all figured out” when sometimes we don’t. And won’t for years (if ever). 

After your mother’s sudden death in 2001, what did writing help you understand, and what did it not solve?

After Mom died, writing helped me piece together what had happened to her in childhood and adulthood. And it helped me process how her choices impacted me. Unfortunately, trauma is not a puzzle to be solved, nor is grief. I was ashamed of my history and felt like it was “too much” for others, and therefore that I was “too much.” I accept now that I am shaped by it, for better or for worse. Through therapy, I have learned to carry the trauma and grief in more productive ways, and to face it and acknowledge it. It’s messy and hard being a human, but it can also be beautiful and wonderful.

If a reader grew up with chaos, what do you hope they feel after the last page?

More than ever, I want readers to feel seen and less alone, and to feel permission to tell their own story if they choose. I want them to feel the freedom to take steps toward safety and support.

Has your faith helped you work through the traumas that no child should have to face?

It has. Though I was highly suspect of God and God’s existence for quite a while given what I experienced as a child, and with all the suffering in the world. But a few months after the difficult summer that I wrote about in my nonfiction story “On Impact,” some new friends invited me out to their church youth group. I reluctantly went, and the leaders gave me a Bible. Then one night when I was alone in my bedroom at my dad’s house, feeling quite low, I tested God.

I made a pact: I’d get the Bible off my shelf, randomly open it, and if the words I read in the text showed proof of His care, I’d be open to the idea of God’s existence and a relationship. With the pact made, I randomly opened my Bible. I let my finger fall on the page, and it landed on Psalm 27. I started reading and after I read verse 10, I froze. Then I read it over and over and over again. I’d never felt more seen in my life. It said, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.” That was the moment everything changed for me. 

Me again: Wow, that is so cool. It gave me goosebumps to read it. Now for my last question:

How might believers support children, youth, adults dealing with these situations?

Please approach children, youth and adults dealing with these situations with gentleness, love, compassion, and absolutely no judgement. Do not pressure abused people to forgive their abusers and move on quickly from trauma. These reactions and directives actually become secondary traumas for many of us. Sometimes just listening with a compassionate ear is enough. Bearing witness by acknowledging the harm we experience is one of the most powerful ways you can show support. Don’t try to fix us; you can’t. And if a child discloses harm, it is very important to report it.

Me again: That’s very good to know. Michelle thank you so much for joining me here, today.

Readers’ Turn:

Northern Girls is an honest and moving book about growing up in rural northern Ontario amid trauma and silence. As you no doubt sensed from her interview, Michelle Willms writes with courage and care, offering not just a record of survival, but a path toward greater understanding and healing.

If this conversation resonated with you, consider picking up Northern Girls (you’ll find some store links below). Also share this interview with a friend who appreciates memoirs, true stories, and thoughtful nonfiction. And if you do read the book, leaving a review is a simple way to support Michelle Willms and help more readers find her book.

If you’d like to ask Michelle a question, scroll to the bottom of the page (past my bio and similar posts section) to find the comment section. If this is your first time leaving a comment, please understand it won’t appear on the site until I’ve had a chance to confirm it’s not written by a spambot trying to promote a weird website.

Michelle Willms Suggests this Reflection Prompt for Readers :

“How was I taught to protect the family, and did it come with a personal cost? What was the cost, if there was one, and how can I now honour myself?”

About Michelle Willms

Michelle Willms had a difficult childhood, as many kids do, and after the tragic loss of her mother in 2001, she started writing about her childhood in the north as a means to understand how things broke down, to better understand generational trauma, and to find healing. Michelle, her husband, and their four children live in the Niagara region and enjoy hiking, swimming, drawing cartoons, playing board games, travelling, and baking together. They adopted two rescue cats, Whiskers and Cloudy, and their family is now complete.

You can connect with Michelle on:

Instagram: @mishwillmsBlueSky: @michellewillms

Find Northern Girls at: Chapters; Amazon Canada; Barnes & Noble US, preorder for April 1st release

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The post Michelle Willms Interview on Northern Girls appeared first on Sandra Orchard.

There’s never been a better time to binge read not only all of my Annie’s Attic and Guideposts Books titles, but entire multi-author romantic suspense and cozy mystery series. Because Annie’s Attic and Guideposts titles are now free to read with a kindle unlimited subscription. And you don’t need a kindle to indulge! 

But with so many books to choose from, where do you start?!

On a stressful Monday, I don’t want a book that yells at me. I want something that immerses me in a cute little town, and says, “Here, sip this tea and watch me put the world back in order.”

But by a Friday night, when the week’s to-do list is more or less done, I often crave a story that kicks up my pulse a bit. The kind where I whisper, “Just one more chapter,” and then notice it’s suddenly past midnight. 

So, let’s make this easy. By the end of this post, you’ll know exactly when to grab cozy mysteries, when to reach for romantic suspense, and how to use Kindle Unlimited to set yourself up for a guilt-free reading spree.

My 30-second decision guide: should I go cozy or should I crank up the suspense?

Here’s my quick mini-quiz. Don’t overthink it. Just answer like you’re texting a friend.

Feel fried, anxious, or overstimulated? Go with cozy mysteries. Give me calm vibes, a steady pace, and a puzzle I can solve without clenching my jaw.Feel bored, restless, or stuck in a reading slump? Choose romantic suspense. It’ll supply motion, urgency, and a plot that drags you forward.Want comfort but also need something to happen? Look for cozy with sharper stakes, or romantic suspense with a softer tone. My Port Aster Secrets and Serena Jones Mysteries hit this button for me. And the first book in each, also happen to be on kindle unlimited.My brain can’t focus for long: Look for shorter chapters, simpler plots, and a strong “opening hook.”

If you’re still not sure, download a sample first, because chapter length and cliffhangers vary by author, and tone can shift a lot even inside the same subgenre.

Then switch it up whenever you like. While Monday-you might need a blanket, Thursday-you might want to chase a villain down a dark road (from the safety of your couch).

Cozy mysteries from Annie’s Attic and Guideposts Books feel like a warm cup of tea with a side of clues

Cozy mysteries are mysteries that keep me company. They usually focus on a puzzle and a place, not gore. They’re often set in smaller communities where people know each other’s business (and pretend they don’t). The tone stays comfort-forward, even when something serious happens. 

I’m talking stories involving bakeries, bookshops, cafés, craft fairs, garden paths, and quirky neighbors who “just happen” to know something. Toss in a pet that has opinions, and I’m basically moved in. 

The payoff to solving the mystery (ideally ahead of the sleuth ) is one of my favorite reading feelings: order restored. Loose ends get tied. The culprit gets revealed. Life makes sense again.

Perhaps that’s what makes cozies so bingeable. The tone stays consistent. The world feels familiar. The characters become my people. After one book, I often want to hang around them for a few more. And the multi-author series allow me to hang around them for twelve to twenty-four books! 

When hunting for this gentler vibe, Annie’s Attic and Guideposts Books titles are great places to look, especially if you want clean reads with community at the center. In the multi-author series such as Scottish Bakehouse Mysteries, Victorian Flower Shop Mysteries and Mysteries of Cobble Hill Farm, each mystery stands alone, bringing in new characters pertinent to the problem, while the sleuth and her community are recurring characters with relationships that slowly evolve over time. 

And from my publishers, I know that violence will be off-page or mild. My peace is non-negotiable.

When considering cozies from other publishers, watch for the following in the blurbs:

tone cues like “light,” “gentle,” “heartwarming,” or “clean,”clear series labeling (so you know what world you’re stepping into),hints about the sleuth’s style (curious observer vs bold investigator).Romantic suspense is my fast-paced pick when I want danger plus emotional depth

Romantic suspense is exactly what it sounds like: a romance plot and a suspense plot running side by side.

I’m not reading it just for the danger. I’m reading for the emotional squeeze of two people trying to survive something hard, while also trying not to fall apart (or fall in love too soon).

Pacing usually starts quicker than a cozy. Danger tends to escalate in waves. Then a delicious twist often makes you rethink the whole thing as clues shift. Eventually, there’s a showdown where everything comes due.

That momentum makes romantic suspense wildly bingeable, too. Even if I tell myself I’ll stop after one chapter, the story keeps tossing questions at me. Who’s lying? Who can they trust? What happens if they don’t make it out? Two warnings to keep in mind: if you need a good night’s sleep, read suspense in daylight. 

When romantic suspense works for me, it doesn’t feel like a helpless heroine and a bossy hero. I want characters who communicate. I want teamwork that’s earned, not forced. I want trust that builds because they show up for each other, again and again, in small choices and big ones. Protective energy can be sweet when it’s grounded in respect. 

Binge Read for Free on Kindle Unlimited

Kindle Unlimited makes it super easy to build a reading stack. 

If you’ve never looked into the Kindle Unlimited Subscription offer from Amazon, it couldn’t be simpler to take for a test run. You don’t need a kindle to use it. If you have a cell phone, tablet, ipad or computer, you can download the kindle app for free. Then visit the Kindle Unlimited Subscription page and choose whether you want to read for 30 days for free or pay $9.99 for your first 3 months (at least that’s the deal in Canada, they can vary by country). You will need to set up an account with Amazon if you’ve never done that. 

Then start exploring Ebooks, download any that say “read for free now on Kindle Unlimited.” 

Best of all, if your reading mood changes tomorrow, change it up and choose a totally different book.

Binge Read Multi-author Series – Making a plan

I love that with Annie’s Attic and Guidesposts Books cozy mysteries I can binge read an entire multi-author series and get the best of both worlds, because I can enjoy variety without starting from scratch—story-world-wise—with each new book. 

A multi-author series is basically a shared story world. Same setting, usually with recurring characters, but different authors take turns writing installments. If you like exploring this style, bookmark Sandra Orchard’s Multi-Author Series Hub, where I’ve organized my books by series, as well as included lists of all the titles and their authors for several reader-favorite series, which will make it much easier for you to choose your books in order. 

Reading Order Often Doesn’t Matter 

With Annie’s Attic romantic suspense, although billed as series—Sweet Intrigue and Hearts in Peril—each book is completely standalone. Neither settings nor characters are repeated. 

I am hopeful, however, that if this new sales model works for Annie’s Attic that they will publish the Montana Ranch romantic suspense series that I contributed two books to and am still eagerly waiting for them to be released. That series has a common setting and an extended family of continuous characters. 

As for the cozy mysteries, from Annie’s Attic, as I said, each mystery also stands alone, so the order you read them isn’t a big deal. Likewise for Mysteries of Cobble Hill Farm from Guideposts Books, however, a slow-burn romance develops over the course of the series, which makes reading this series in order a little more fun. 

How to keep binge-reading fun

If I’m just not getting into a book, I switch books or authors. Life’s too short to spend my precious reading time trying to “make it work” with a book that isn’t working with me.

My burnout guardrails are simple: I take a break after a few books, I switch subgenres when I feel bored, and I don’t force myself to “catch up” like it’s homework. 

My best rule: if I’m 15 percent into a book and I’m not having fun, it’s time to walk away. 

What’s your no-pressure next read? (because you deserve one)

If you need comfort and a challenging puzzle, pick cozy mysteries. If you want momentum, danger, and emotional depth, grab romantic suspense.

After spending two weeks in cozy mystery mode, I’m currently back into romantic suspense, but the newest Cobble Hill Farm mystery is calling my name. 

Guideposts Books extended the series by another four books, and here in Canada, Badgering the Witness, by Beth Adams is already available to Kindle Unlimited subscribers. (Maybe it is in the US, too, and it’s just not showing that to me in Canada. I don’t know.) If you prefer physical copies, the official release date is in mid-May. 

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Are you looking for Black Friday Deals?

Here’s the roundup of the Black Friday deals I’ve found on my titles: 

That’s only $13.99 USD for the paperback edition of The Elephant in the Room — my newest title in the Mysteries of Cobble Hill Farm series from Guideposts Books.

And get free shipping within the US with a minimum $35 purchase.

The Amazon Ebook deals seem to vary by country. When I checked out Amazon.com this morning, Fatal Inheritance and Emergency Reunion were marked down to $1.99. Whereas, on Amazon.ca, Deep Cover and Shades of Truth were the only titles marked down to $1.99. 

They are all great deals and I don’t know how long they’ll last. So…if you want to top up your Sandra Orchard Books TBR pile (or Ebook lineup), it’s the perfect time! 

My apologies to those who receive my blog updates via email. I made the mistake of categorizing the original post under a category called “books” which confused my site into thinks it was a book page instead of a blog post. Hopefully, if you’re reading this, after you landed on my “Oops the link is broken page” you found it by going to the main blog page without too much trouble! 

The post Black Friday Deals on Sandra Orchard Books appeared first on Sandra Orchard.

Pack your bags and head to Sandcastle Cove—where the breeze is warm, the secrets run deep, and second chances are just a sunset away…

I’m thrilled to announce the release of my first-ever beach romance, A SUNKISSED REUNION!

When Aaron Bell returns home to rebuild his hurricane-damaged childhood camp, the last person he expects to find is Jocelyn Merritt—the girl he left behind sixteen years ago. She’s back for spring break, but old wounds and smoldering sparks don’t mix easily. Especially when a shady local politician has his sights set on the camp, and Jocelyn has a life—and a dream job—waiting elsewhere.

Will love get a second chance under the Carolina sun? Or will secrets, timing, and past mistakes keep Aaron and Jocelyn apart?

If you love:

Coastal charm

Friends-to-lovers sparks

Hidden agendas & heart-healing

And a mystery simmering just beneath the surface…

Then A SUNKISSED REUNION is your perfect beach read!

Grab your copy now and fall in love with Sandcastle Cove! 

A Sunkissed Reunion is available for instant download to your Kindle or the free Kindle Reading App. 

About the Love in Sandcastle Cove Series:

A Sunkissed Reunion is the fifteenth book in this new multi-author series from Annie’s featuring  the charming beachside town of Sandcastle Cove, where gentle breezes and beautiful coastal views provide a sanctuary for those seeking new beginnings and a second chance at love.

Each book stands alone with new main characters, but readers will enjoy revisiting familiar townsfolk from book to book. 

More Exciting News About my titles with Annie’s Fiction:

This is my first Annie’s Fiction title to be published directly to Kindle rather than to a subscription-based bookclub. I’m excited that this new arrangement makes it easier to access my stories at an affordable price. 

So far, my following backlist titles with Annie’s are also available on Kindle: 

Find these titles here: https://www.amazon.ca/stores/Sandra-Orchard/author/B004V8NURC/ and then click “See all” under the book images. 

At this time, A Sunkissed Reunion is only available on kindle.

Sadly, this situation isn’t ideal for Kobo, iBook and Nook readers, however, the free kindle reading app can be downloaded to a variety of devices, including phones, iPads, tablets and computers. I’m told that print-on-demand might be a future option, so perhaps the E-titles will also eventually be available on the other platforms as well. 

I’ve been waiting a couple of years for the release of a few other titles I’ve written for Annie’s Fiction, and I’m hopeful that I’ll soon be able to announce their release too. 

I’ll update purchase links on the individual book pages for my already-released Annie’s titles as I find new options. (Note: Annie’s Fiction is migrating its products to Annie’s Attic.com)

The post My First Beach Romance is HERE! appeared first on Sandra Orchard.

If you don’t want to miss my final instalment in the multi-author Mysteries of Cobble Hill Farm series, pre-order The Elephant in the Room now to lock in the pre-order price guarantee at online retailers! 

I’m super-excited to see that The Elephant in the Room is already listed for pre-order at many retailers. (Amazon.ca; Chapters/Coles/Indigo.ca; Barnes & Noble;  still waiting on links at Amazon in US, UK and Australia )

It doesn’t even have a cover yet and doesn’t release until October!

But…this is a pic of my grandfather’s elephant statue that inspired the title and the mystery. 

About The Elephant in the Room

This is the eighteenth book in the multi-author Mysteries of Cobble Hill Farm series. 

A house call to care for an injured horse leads Dr. Harriet Bailey-Knight to the imposing manor owned by siblings Clifford and Edwina Castlegate. She is just wrapping up her visit when a housekeeper rushes in to alert Lady Edwina that her valuable silver elephant statue has been stolen! All eyes are on Pierre Aubert, a skilled craftsman who has just left the manor in a huff. Could he have taken the statue in retaliation for a bad business deal…or for some other nefarious reason?

When Harriet learns the complicated history between Pierre and the Castlegates, she’s suspicious that the accusations against him are a little too convenient. With her eyewitness account being the key to the case, she can’t stand by and watch Pierre go to jail if there is a chance he is innocent.

Can Harriet unravel the truth, clear Pierre’s name, and bring the real perpetrator to justice? 

I hope you’re enjoying this series as much as I am! 

P.S. Be sure to check out the Bonus Features for the series. I’ve added a recipe for my own Chocolate/Orange Battenberg Cake.

[Update September 2025: Guideposts has extended the series to 22 books. And I’m writing #22, The Honeyed Truth, to be released in 2026]

 

The post Pre-order The Elephant in the Room Now appeared first on Sandra Orchard.

If you don’t want to miss my final instalment in the multi-author Mysteries of Cobble Hill Farm series, pre-order it now to lock in the pre-order price guarantee at online retailers to beat the tariffs! 

I’m super-excited to see that The Elephant in the Room is already listed for pre-order at many retailers. (Amazon.ca; Chapters/Coles/Indigo.ca; Barnes & Noble;  still waiting on links at Amazon in US, UK and Australia )

It doesn’t even have a cover yet and doesn’t release until October!

But…this is a pic of my grandfather’s elephant statue that inspired the title and the mystery. 

 

The Elephant in the Room is the eighteenth book in the Mysteries of Cobble Hill Farm fiction series. 

A house call to care for an injured horse leads Dr. Harriet Bailey-Knight to the imposing manor owned by siblings Clifford and Edwina Castlegate. She is just wrapping up her visit when a housekeeper rushes in to alert Lady Edwina that her valuable silver elephant statue has been stolen! All eyes are on Pierre Aubert, a skilled craftsman who has just left the manor in a huff. Could he have taken the statue in retaliation for a bad business deal…or for some other nefarious reason?

When Harriet learns the complicated history between Pierre and the Castlegates, she’s suspicious that the accusations against him are a little too convenient. With her eyewitness account being the key to the case, she can’t stand by and watch Pierre go to jail if there is a chance he is innocent.

Can Harriet unravel the truth, clear Pierre’s name, and bring the real perpetrator to justice? 

I hope you’re enjoying this series as much as I am! 

 

P.S. Be sure to check out the Bonus Features for the series. I’ve added a recipe for my own Chocolate/Orange Battenberg Cake.

 

 

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Next year will mark the 10 year anniversary of the release of A Fool and His Monet–the first title in my Serena Jones Mysteries about my plucky FBI Art Crime Team agent and her foray into the world of art crime.

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Since solving the Gardner Museum Heist would represent the pinnacle of Serena’s career, its anniversary seems a fitting occasion to remember. 

Did I mention there is a $10,000,000 reward

for information leading to the safe return of the art?

March 18, 2025, is the 35th anniversary of the infamous, and still unsolved, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist.

While St. Patrick’s Day revellers made their way home through the streets of Boston during the wee hours of Sunday, March 18th, 1990, two thieves disguised as police officers tricked their way into the museum by lying about a report of a disturbance in the courtyard.

Despite a strict rule to never open the door to anyone, the college student on door duty was allegedly persuaded to do just that by the authentic looking officers on the video monitor (not the actor pictured above ). The two men then quickly subdued him, and a second museum guard, before making off with 13 pieces of art valued at an estimated $500 million.

Among the stolen works were masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Degas, which made the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist the single largest property theft in the world.

Read more about the heist and view photographs of the pieces stolen and take a virtual tour of the museum here: https://www.gardnermuseum.org/organization/theft 

The heist left an indelible mark on the art world, prompting museums and galleries worldwide to tighten security measures. It also contributed to the eventual formation of the FBI Art Crime Team, a specialized unit dedicated to recovering stolen cultural property. Founded in 2004 by Robert K. Wittman, the team has recovered more than 15,000 stolen items, valued at over $800 million.

Notable Cases Investigated by the FBI and How They Inspired My Serena Jones MysteriesBoy Scout Jamboree Painting – A few months after 9/11, a Norman Rockwell painting depicting a Boy Scout Jamboree with the Twin Towers in the background was recovered. The return of such a poignant piece, at that time, resonated deeply with the nation. This sense of restoring to people the lost art and antiquities that have shaped their cultural history, inspired my characterization of FBI art crime agent Serena Jones in A Fool and His Monet, and the books that followed. Exposing Art Fraud – Since its inception, the FBI Art Crime Team has exposed numerous cases of art fraud of the variety Serena Jones uncovers in Another Day Another Dali. But according to the memoirs of the team’s founder, Robert K. Wittman, it was an earlier watershed case that put fraudsters on notice that the FBI was watching. That was the shocking exposure of how Pritchard and Juno ripped off viewers of the Antiques Roadshow. Sadly, while the FBI succeeded in securing convictions of the two men, the victims of their scams weren’t able to recover the valuable pieces for which they were grossly underpaid. The Recovery of Stolen Artifacts from Iraq – Between the looting of its National Museum in 2003 and ongoing looting at archeological sites, Iraq has lost a staggering number of historical artifacts. The newly established FBI Art Crime Team’s tireless efforts to recover and return these cultural treasures to Iraq resulted in several significant finds, although they estimate that upwards of 10,000 pieces are still missing. Nevertheless, since the FBI’s Art Crime Team’s establishment, members have orchestrated the return of numerous priceless and historically significant pieces to owners and countries around the globe. These efforts inspired the subject of Serena Jones’s work in Over Maya Dead Body.   

In fact, the real-life exploits of the FBI Art Crime Team were a huge inspiration for my Serena Jones Mysteries.

If you’re looking for a fun read with a solid mystery and plenty of chuckles, you’ll love Serena’s adventures as she navigates the world of art crime, quirky relatives, and a few too many close calls.

And… for those who’ve been asking:

YES!!!! 

I’m currently working on the much-requested sequel. My characters are currently running amok in my head in Greece. Sadly I’m not in Greece with them. but c’est la vie. Stay tuned for more details!

Your Turn: What do you think really happened to the stolen Gardner masterpieces? Let’s chat in the comments!

 

The post The Isabella Stewart Gardner Heist: 35 Years Later appeared first on Sandra Orchard.

Cozy mystery lovers,  

I’m excited to share a fun milestone: the release of my 30th book, Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing—a  cozy winter mystery at Cobble Hill Farm! For those following the Mysteries of Cobble Hill Farm multi-author series from Guideposts, this is Book #9, set in February on a beautiful and sometimes blustery Yorkshire farm.

In Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, we return to Yorkshire in time for lambing season, which brings all the joys—and occasional chaos—of rural farm life in winter. But there’s more than Dr. Harriet Bailey’s veterinary duties keeping her busy. Across the Yorkshire countryside, sheep are disappearing, causing alarm amongst the farmers. The situation becomes personal for Harriet when Doreen Danby, Harriet’s friend and neighbor, reports her prized ram, Prince Charming, among the missing. Prince Charming is a valuable, award-winning ram, making his loss a devastating blow to Doreen and raising Harriet’s suspicions.

At the same time, Harriet must write an article for a veterinary magazine. Inspired by a haunting story from the 1940s about a Yorkshire shepherd who vanished one stormy night, leaving behind a cloud of unanswered questions, she dives into local records, piecing together fragments of history, hoping to separate legend from fact. What happened to the shepherd, and could this mystery have a bearing on the recent spate of sheep disappearances?

 

With her knowledge of animal behavior, her keen sense for details, and her unshakeable resolve, Harriet embarks on a quest to uncover the truth. But with each clue she uncovers, she realizes that the mystery goes deeper than she initially thought, and solving it might require her to expose secrets that some in the Yorkshire community would prefer remained buried.

Special Bonus Features

This book includes a couple of fun bonus features for readers who enjoy diving deeper:

A Cozy Recipe: No cozy mystery would be complete without a delicious recipe inspired by Yorkshire’s culinary traditions—the iconic Yorkshire pudding.A Stroll Through the English Countryside: Discover the importance of dark skies for nature and for our own wellbeing and why North York Moors National Park has been designated a Dark Sky Reserve.Yorkshire Farm Life Tips: Through the story you’ll also get a glimpse into the real-life routines and challenges of lambing season and what it takes to care for a flock through the Yorkshire winter.Ready to dive into Dr. Harriet Bailey’s latest adventure on Cobble Hill Farm?

Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing invites readers to snuggle up and experience a mystery as heartwarming as it is suspenseful. I hope you’ll join Dr. Harriet Bailey in solving her latest mystery on Cobble Hill Farm.

Find Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing at your favourite retailer and start reading today! 

In the US: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Walmart, Guideposts

In Canada: coming soon in paperback to Amazon, Chapters/Indigo, 

Worldwide: on Amazon. 

Special note on Ebook edition: 

At the time of posting, the links for Kindle editions were listed separately from other editions. Find the kindle links here: US, Canada, Australia, UK

Kindle Unlimited subscribers can binge read the entire series for free. New subscribers can even enjoy a free 30-day trial of the subscription service. Ebooks are also available for purchase on kindle but not on nook or kobo at this time. 

Happy reading, and I can’t wait to hear what you think about Harriet’s latest mystery!

The post Celebrating the Release of Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing appeared first on Sandra Orchard.

Listen Up! 

Love Inspired Suspense has created audiobooks for many of its backlisted titles, including mine. These books are narrated by “Madison,” an Apple Books digital voice based on a human narrator.  

I’ve now listened to six of my seven titles and have to admit that it’s impressive what AI can do. It was fun listening to my stories. And surprising how many of the twists I’d forgotten,

 Admittedly, “Madison” sometimes mixes up whose voice a thought or dialogue should be in, and her inflections aren’t ideal. But if you want to listen to your books, overall this is a pretty good option.

Best of all, you can …

Listen to them FREE on Hoopla

Many libraries offer their patrons complimentary subscriptions to Hoopla, which is how I first discovered how enjoyable listening to books can be, especially when you’re under the weather or would like to listen to something while doing another task.

Other library subscription services also might have the Love Inspired Suspense audiobooks available. They can also be purchased on Apple Books.

But be aware they are far from perfectly read. In a few I even caught the narrator lapse into a line of “reading” metadata.  All I ask is that if you decide to rate the book, please rate the story, NOT the quality of the narration.  

Check out the complete list of my Love Inspired Suspense titles here: https://sandraorchard.com/book-series/love-inspired-suspense/

Book Links Updated

I discovered today that many of the purchase links on my book pages were obsolete. All my Love Inspired Suspense titles are now updated and I made a HUGE discovery about pricing.

Love Inspired Suspense Ebook titles are waaaay more reasonable on Harlequin’s site than any of the traditional Ebook retailers. ($4.99 vs $7.99-$9.99+) Here’s the page with all the:

Sandra Orchard Love Inspired Suspense Titles

 

The post Love Inspired Suspense goes Audio! appeared first on Sandra Orchard.

Now is a great time to stock up on these hardcover titles:

This is your chance to grab several of my Annie’s Fiction titles without subscribing to their respective book clubs. And… 

at less than 5 bucks a book, the price can’t be beat!!!

If you’re in the mood for romantic suspense…

Snag Dangerous at Heart, a finalist in the 2022 National Storytelling Contest, now one sale at Annie’s Catalog for $4.99 USD.

Safe Haven Stalker  is also on sale at Annie’s Catalog for the same great price!

# 12 in Hearts in Peril book club

And if you’re in the mood to totally binge on romantic suspense, check out all of their romantic suspense deals HERE

Prefer Cozy Mysteries? 

A couple of my cozy mystery titles are also on sale.

My 2018 release, Digging Up Secrets, part of the Victorian Mansion Flower Shop Mysteries is $4.99. 

The three-book Christmas set—Jingle Bell Mysteries, which includes my title, Boughs of Folly, is $12.99.

If you feel like binging on cozy mysteries, or have a lot of readers on your Christmas and birthday shopping lists, check out all the titles that are on sale at: Annie’s Catalog. 

 

 

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