Lisa Orchard's Blog - Posts Tagged "detectives"

Here's what one reader said about my book she gave it 5 out of 5 bookworms! It's so exciting when a reader enjoys your story! :)


An absolutely amazing book! The whole time it keeps you guessing and thinking about what is going to happen. It also has a little hint of humor. This story of great friends takes you on a mysterious and suspensful journey through a town of weirdos. It was very hard to put down. Every chapter there was a new twist that kept me up late at night reading. The characters were very different some serious, scary, and most of all silly! All ages would love this book and never want to stop reading. The book is a great mystery and almost seems real. If you get scared or disgusted easily I would not suggest this book but if you're like me and are not scared very easily you will love it as much as I do. The Super Spies are like Nancy Drew of the twenty first century but more FABULOUS!!! This book is a must read for all ages.

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! I’m here today to answer the second question for the Children’s Event that is being hosted by Megan at http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.com/.



So, here’s the question: What was your favorite book as a child and why?


This is a tough question because I don’t remember the title, only the series. I’m sure some of the more mature (wink) authors out there remember the Boxcar Children series?


I loved those books. I would go to the library and check them out and then race home so I could start reading them right away.


Looking back, I realize the reason I liked them so much was because they were stories about four siblings. I could relate to that because I was the oldest of four siblings. Two brothers and a sister just like the Box Car children. I loved their independence and camaraderie!


I loved how they worked together to make a home out of an abandoned boxcar. At that age, I thought it was so cool that they could function without adult supervision. :) I don’t remember the stories now, but I do remember that they always left me with a sense of my own abilities. They filled me with confidence. If the Box Car children could do it, I could too! :)

And I feel that’s what reading should do for kids, fill them with confidence and provide role models for them. :)

So there you have it! :) Thanks for stopping by and reading my post and let’s help support Megan in her quest to encourage children to read. :) Stop by her blog http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.com/ and leave a comment or enter one of her giveaways! :)

This is a review from Paperbacks and Frosting! Check it out! It made my day! :)

My review: After reading the first novel in the series I couldn’t wait for more! This book definitely didn’t disappoint. The action kicked in right away and had me on on the edge of my seat through the entire thing. There’s something about the way these books are written that has me biting my nails and feeling nervous for these girls in every situation they get themselves into. I just love the characters in these novels. They have this incredible way of finding their way into extremely dangerous situations, but they do it in such a way that is completely believable. They also each have distinct personalities that I really enjoy reading about. The storyline is very original and it is different from a lot of the books I read and I think that’s part of what made me enjoy this book and the previous one. They’re books that will keep you turning the pages and escaping reality for a couple hours. I read this novel in basically one sitting, I was that hooked! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for action and adventure! I would recommend this to young adults or adults wishing to relive their childhood a little bit while embarking on a literary adventure! I do think the writing has improved from the previous novel and that the action was even greater. This novel is definitely worth the read and I hope so see much more in the future!

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! I just wanted to let everyone know that I’m going to be on the radio tomorrow at 5:00 PM EST! I’m really excited about this! You can call in and ask me any question you want! Here’s the link! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/webbweav...




I’ll be talking about “The Super Spies” series!

So call in and chat with me! I'd love to hear from you! Below is the cover of the first book in the series!





The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! I've got a new dessert that is a family favorite for the holidays. I thought I'd share it with you! :) So, check it out and let me know what you think! I'd love to hear from you!



LORNA DOONE DESSERT

1 package Lorna Doone Cookies (or any shortbread cookies will do)
Add melted butter to cookies (approximately ¼ to ½ cup)
1 7 oz package of chocolate chips
2 Tablespoons of Sugar
2 ½ Tablespoons of water
4 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 egg whites

Crush the Lorna Doone cookies and add melted butter to the crust. Put crust in 10” baking dish and bake at 350 degrees until crust starts to brown. Remove from heat and cool.

Combine chocolate chips, sugar, and water in double boiler until blended. Remove from heat and add egg yolks, beat after each one. Add vanilla and chill slightly. (I usually stick it in the refrigerator until the pan feels cool approximately 10 to 15 minutes.)

Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into chocolate mixture. Spread over cookie crust and top with whip cream.

I usually double this and put it in a 9x13 dish.

Hello Everyone I hope all is well with you! I've gotten together with some amazing authors and we've decided to celebrate Christmas by doing a Holiday Giveaway! What are the prizes you ask? Well...three lucky winners will receive a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card...and...one copy of each of our e-books.

Cool wouldn't you say?

So if you want to check out the books and enter for your chance to win click the link below:


http://lisaorchard.wordpress.com/2012...

All the books and rules on how to enter are there!

Here are the covers! Check it out! You could win!

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you and that you all had a very Merry Christmas. I know I did. I love to see my kids so excited about Santa and Christmas, they are at a fun age and I hope this period lasts for a little while longer. Soon they’ll learn who Santa really is and some of the magic of this holiday will be lost. But hopefully not for a little while yet. :)

As the year winds down and I get ready for the New Year, I’m filled with excitement! I’ve got quite a few projects I’m working on and I’m hoping these projects develop and grow in the direction I’m planning. :)
It’s exciting to start something from scratch and watch it take on a life of its own.

When I think of this New Year, questions come to mind. What do I want to accomplish this year? What kind of changes do I want to make as a parent? How do I want to grow in my writing?

Pondering these questions, I’ve come up with some New Year resolutions and their listed below.

1) I want to experience as much joy as possible. :)

I know everyone probably has this on their list, but the question is…how do you do that? Well…I’ve come up with a plan and I think it will work quite well for me. I’m going to practice letting things go. When something bothers me…I’m going to deal with it…make my peace with it and then let it go. By doing this I’m going to free up time to experience the things that I enjoy. :) It really is this simple…but I know it’s hard to do. This means I’ll have more time to do the things I love, like spending quality time with my family, writing, and hiking in the woods. :)


2) My next resolution is to continue improving my craft and get as many books out as I can! :)

3) I’m going to continue building a positive relationship with my kids and provide them all the tools they’ll need for a happy life. (I’m sure every parent is saying this) :)

4) I’m going to work on maintaining my health by eating right and exercising. :) This might mean I’ll have to cut back on the chocolate…a little…but only a little! :)



So there you have it, my resolutions for the New Year. :) I’m looking forward to 2013! How about you? What resolutions do you have? Take a moment and jot them down! I’d love to hear them!

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! It is finally the New Year! I'm excited for this year because I've got so many ideas that I hatched in 2012 that are taking shape in 2013. I hope 2013 is your best year yet! And I hope it's the best year yet for me too! :)

To start off the New Year I have priced "The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer" at $.99! :) So, if you're planning on getting a copy...now's the time to do it!





Here are a few Amazon Reviews that rave about the story!

5 Star Amazon Review:

This book was a great suspense novel, but also very funny and touching in parts. I am an adult, and I would have loved having books like this around when I was a young adult. I am ready to read the second book by this gifted author, and I can't wait to share this book with young readers!


5 Star Amazon Review:

Finished this book in one day! Amazing! Great job keeping the story going and developing the characters. Will definately order the next book in the series!


5 Star Amazon Review:

WOW! I am so glad I read this book! Lisa does a great job making the characters relate-able to people of all ages! Jackie and Sarah are fun, but believable teenagers!!! It is so hard to find good books for kids that have real life dialogue that the whole family can read. Books that have good characters and enough plot to allow for conversation afterward. I loved that I could have my family read this book and it started some very interesting conversations about "what would you do".
I love giving books as gifts and with this book, I know that it is well written and fun, I don't have to worry that parents will be offended by the content.


So there you have it! A great first book in the Super Spies series! And you don't have to just take my word for it. :) Check it out for yourself! :) And remember it's only $.99! :)

This is a great time to get this book for your tween/teen who got an e-reader for Christmas. :)

Here's the Amazon Link:

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Spies-Lad...

It should be up on Barnes and Noble soon! Those changes take a little longer.

Hello Everyone! This is an awesome review from Ionia from Readfulthings.com. I got teary eyed when I read it. :)


"The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer" by Lisa Orchard is a fun, intriguing mystery for lovers of YA mystery and suspense. I don't necessarily think you have to be a young adult to enjoy this story, although there may be times when you want to shake the characters a bit for the decisions they make and the things they get themselves involved in.

If you grew up reading Nancy Drew or Judy Blume, then this book will feel like a return to your childhood. What I found endearing about this novel, was the author's ability to get inside the mind of young teen girls and make the dialogue between them seem believable. A lot of authors attempt this, and few succeed as well as Lisa Orchard has with this book. I like feeling as though I am listening to an actual conversation, and that was easy to imagine while reading this.

The characters are a good match for one another. There is the annoying little sister, the daring and bold friend and the not always certain but still determined older sister. I found them to work off of each other well and the varied personalities added a nice tension to the story even before the real mystery began. I knew pretty early on in this story that i would enjoy it.

The one thing I would like to note, is that visually speaking, I couldn't get a very clear picture of the characters in the beginning. While the author did not waste space giving the reader too much description, she also didn't offer up quite enough in my opinion.If I can picture the main characters within the first few chapters I can relate to them more easily.

Plot-wise, this book moves along at a nice pace, and the eventual resolution to the mystery was not completely expected. This is important to me, as I hate guessing right within the first couple of chapters. The suspense was just right, not too much to be unbelievable, but enough to keep the reader turning pages.

I think these are strong enough characters to lead a series, my only concern would be, how many times can these girls get themselves into such situations before there just isn't any way for the reader to believe that this much could happen to one group of kids? If Lisa Orchard can keep going with this series, while coming up with new mysteries for the group to solve she just mind find herself up there with the aforementioned greats. She certainly has the talent and understanding of how to tell a good story.

I would recommend this book for kids age 12 and over and anyone who enjoys a good mystery. The story is worth the time.

Sarah Cole and her sister Lacey are at it once again when they learn their missing parents’ cell phone has been traced to Alden, Michigan. When the FBI declines to continue the investigation, Sarah takes matters into her own hands. She calls upon the Super Spies and they delve into the situation. Suddenly, the teens find themselves immersed in small town intrigue and mystery involving a menacing stranger, who Sarah dubs “The Stalker." But when Sarah learns he’s connected to her parents’ disappearance, she’s determined to find out what that connection is. The Super Spies embark on a journey that leads them into a web of corporate corruption at its highest level that leaves innocent victims in its wake. Can they find the proof they need to stop the greedy corporation before it’s too late?

You can find this book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Astraea Press, Smashwords, and Kobo