Showing posts with label The Ghost Orchid Murder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Ghost Orchid Murder. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Tea Party Tuesday * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Teatime in "The Ghost Orchid Murder"




Welcome to Tea Party Tuesday! It's lovely to share a cup with you. Please have a sandwich. Aren't these delightful? Oh and let's not forget a little fruit and cheese. We'll have cake later.
I love serving afternoon tea in my books. The ritual is such a nice way to share friendships, old and new. Jillian Bradley loves serving it not only to close friends but also to someone who needs someone to talk to - in this case a mother who lost her only son, one of the murder victims in Book 2 "The Ghost Orchid Murder.

Here's an excerpt -


"The Ghost Orchid Murder" 


At precisely four o’clock, there was a knock on my door. When I answered, Yvette stood in the doorway and smiled. Room service was right behind her. I motioned for her to sit down on the sofa by the fire as the server placed the tea tray on the table in front of her. I signed the bill and thanked him.
Teddy was yipping, trying to guard me from whoever entered his territory.
Yvette’s face brightened.
She looked surprisingly young for her age, which I judged to be about forty-five to fifty. Her firm handshake confirmed that she was self-assured. She sat straight on the sofa with her ankles crossed. Although she was pretty in a country sort of way, the lines around her eyes told of a difficult life, not one of privilege.
High cheekbones spoke of her French ancestry. Like many Europeans, Yvette wore no makeup, only a little lipstick and yet her color looked quite healthy. She wore her shoulder-length blond hair straight and simple. Her clothes flattered her medium built figure. I wondered if Rene had been like her.
Teddy was yipping in the bedroom, trying to guard his territory from the present invader.
“Would you like some tea?”
“Thank you, I’d love some. Just plain, please.”
I took my time pouring the tea and stirring in the sugar for mine. I offered her a slice of decadent chocolate cake or a chocolate chip oatmeal cookie. She took the cookie and white linen napkin. We sipped our tea and she told me again how much she appreciated the invitation.
“I would love to meet your dog, Jillian.” She placed her cookie on her saucer.
I walked over to Cecilia’s room and let Teddy out. He immediately ran over to Yvette and jumped into her lap.
She smiled and began to pet him.
“He’s adorable.” She rubbed his ears gently and stroked his fur. “I could never give Rene a dog because A.J. said we couldn’t afford one. Of course I regret it now, like so many things.”
“Is A.J. your husband?” I was glad Teddy was taking to her so.
“He was my husband. A.J. died when Rene was a teenager.”
“I’m so sorry. What did your husband do for a living?”
“He was a logger.” She sighed. “Six days a week he’d take logs from where they fell and load them onto trucks that took them to the mills. A.J. would work twelve hours a day and when he got home, all dirty and hungry, Rene would disappear into another room. The two didn’t really mix.
“A.J. and I would have a little time over dinner together where he recapped his day. Then to sleep…early…7 o’clock sharp every evening. The same routine started all over again the next morning.”
“He seems to have worked hard to provide for his family. I’m sure you miss him.”
Teddy licked her hand as if to say he was sorry she had suffered two deaths now.
“You’re a good dog, Teddy. Thank you.” She stroked his fur. “Please have your friend come in and have some tea. I feel like I’m encroaching.”              
I stood. “I’ll ask her if she’d like to join us.”
I introduced Cecilia. Yvette seemed comfortable sharing her personal life in front of her. I think she sensed I had her welfare in mind and trusted me.
She was hungry to talk to someone, so Cecilia and I listened sympathetically.
Yvette talked for some time, unfolding her life story as we drank tea together. I made sure her cup stayed full.
“I was the daughter of a common shopkeeper who had emigrated from France when I was only three years old. We had moved to Ocala, Florida, where our family ran a small grocery store. After my parents could no longer keep up with the work of running the store, I took over.”
Cecilia sipped her tea. “So you run a family business. That must take a lot of work.”
“Yes. I rarely get a break. We added a couple of gas pumps and turned the grocery part into more of a convenience store. Since tourists stopped by frequently on their way to the Everglades or Disney World, I put in a small gift shop section, and it did quite well.”
I was curious. “What type of merchandise do you carry?”
“The usual things—greeting cards, souvenirs, stuffed animals, T-shirts, caps, and I even sell books, you know, travel books and books about Florida.”
“Do you carry souvenir bells, shot glasses, things like that?”
“Oh, yes. I even carry a few porcelain teacups. I remember my grandmother having quite a collection.”
“I collect them myself. I think I’m up to forty-four, last time I counted.”
“That’s quite a collection.” She sipped her tea and took a small bite of her cookie.
“Yvette, would you by any chance carry any porcelain flowers, like Capodimonte flowers?”
“I think I know the ones you’re talking about. They’re flowers on branches, right? I saw one my friend had sitting on an end table in her living room.”
“Yes. They’re beautiful and distinctive. Do you carry anything like that?”
“I do have a few flowers, but they’re mostly local for the tourists. I carry a few roses because they always seem to sell.”
I watched her face closely. “Would you have any orchids for instance?”
Her expression didn’t change and she seemed unaware of any significance.
“Orchids? Of course. Florida’s full of them. Why do you ask?”
“I collect all sorts of porcelain. I’m really a soft touch for anything out of the ordinary.” Careful. Don't reveal the evidence. I’d promised Detective Noble.

Let me refill your cup. Would you care for a powder puff?

I hope you enjoy the Jillian Bradley mystery series as much as I enjoy writing them. Now, back to work on number nine - "Murder at Mirror Lake."


Cheers!



~Nancy Jill





Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Tea Party Tuesday - Jillian's Garden Tips

How was your week? Last weekend we held our daughter's engagement party, and this weekend we celebrate our son's birthday and Easter. With so many exciting activities happening, I think I need a cup of tea. Won't you join me?


I thought we'd have our time together by the fire. It's been chilly for the past few days here in Texas. Spring seems to be so indecisive this year! What about in your area? 


Let me pour your tea. Today I'm serving English Breakfast, a favorite of mine.
Milk? Sugars? Please take whatever treats you like. I'm going to start with a curried chicken sandwich.

How many of you are on Pinterest - the site where boards are created to hold things of interest? It reminds me of scrapbooking only with links.


I think I'll try a lemon tart.

This week I created a board for Jillian's Garden Tips. 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/158259374380510568/

In my books, she sometimes shares from the Ask Jillian gardening column so I thought others might benefit from her knowledge. Plus it's such fun to find tips and pin them!  

May I refill your cup? 

Here's an excerpt  from my second book "The Ghost Orchid Murder."

http://nancy-jill.blogspot.com/p/book-descriptions.html

It was time to get dressed, but I felt so lazy I decided to check my e-mails first. Everything was going well at the paper. Some ads for gardening paraphernalia I always received…click, delete; a comment from a reader saying they loved the last column on summer bulbs...enlightening; more solicitations for gardening tools…delete, and then I was finished. No personal messages, no family member in crisis, no one needing me in any way.
Maybe that was a good thing, but I couldn’t fool myself. Being needed was what life was all about. Did Vincent need me? That remained to be seen. I shut down my computer and got dressed just in time for room service.

 
Thanks for joining me today. I enjoyed our tea together. 
Hope to see you next week for Tea Party Tuesday.
In the meanwhile, Go Jillian and Teddy!

~Nancy Jill








Monday, June 17, 2013

A PEEK INSIDE BOOK 6 AND BOOK 2




Good Book June 13, 2013
This was a good mystery. Her family for Christmas, a blackout, a murder and an old love calls her out of the blue. What a dilemma she has. Two men who love her. Now that's a dilemma all women of her age should have. It was an enjoyable read. While she is expecting them both to propose, she is trying to help Walter to solve the crime. We can only look forward to the next Jillian Bradley mystery, since this one ended with TO BE CONTINUED.









The Ghost Orchid Murder June 13, 2013

Nancy Jill Thames knows how to keep her novels clean and yet entertaining and if you are a dog lover you'll enjoy Teddy's escapades. 





See you in my books!
 ~Nancy Jill 

Mystery novelist Nancy Jill Thames began publishing Christian fiction in 2010. The author of six books in the Jillian Bradley series, she is an award winning blogger and is listed numerous times on the Author Watch Bestseller’s List, this in addition to winning first place for her Chocolate Cream Pie.

When she isn’t plotting her next book, she spends time with her six grandchildren, tags along with her husband on business trips, and plays classical piano for her own personal enjoyment. She is an active member of the Leander Writers Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, ACFW CenTex Chapter, and supports the Central Texas SPCA with a portion of her book sales. CONTACT INFORMATION jillthames@gmail.com



 Nancy Jill is busy working on Book 7 "The Ruby of Siam" a mystery taking place in London.

Enjoy Book 1 MURDER IN HALF MOON BAY on your ereader for free!
Amazon Paperback $8.09
 Kindle FREE!
Barnes and Nobel Paperback $8.99
Nook  FREE!
FREE on Smashwords and Kobo!









Friday, November 23, 2012

An Early Christmas this Year


Here is the second review.


New! decency1st reviewed Murder in Half Moon Bay (Jillian Bradley Mysteries, No. 1) (A Jillian Bradley Mystery)
WOW! AWESOME BOOK!! November 19, 2012
This was an enjoyable read! I needed something fun today as I waited for family to come in for the holiday. I interspersed a chapter read with a cleaning chore and the day went by quickly. The house is ready for company and I've found a new favorite author and mystery series. Even though I'm on the east coast now, I've been to Half Moon Bay and the Ritz so I knew just what she was talking about. I love it too, but who wouldn't! It was good to be reminded.
I was glad I didn't run into the usual four letter words and nasty content that cause me to stop reading and go for the refund button. That was really a relief, a breath of fresh air. I thank this author for that, along with making it an affordable price on the kindle. I wish her a Happy Thanksgiving as I've something extra to be thankful for this year. Keep up the good writing!







Monday, November 5, 2012

REWARD: READER POLL DAY 7/7

Who wants a signed paperback copy of "Waiting for Santa" hot off the press? 

You've probably heard of "focus groups" where random samples of community members come together to discuss issues regarding the community. My husband uses them occasionally in his work and the results are sometimes shocking! Since authors rely on reviews and social media feedback to gauge their audience's reaction, I thought I might do the same. 

Reviews are great insight into an author's work, but only a small fraction of readers write reviews. Polls can be an easier device to measure a reader base - if the readers will comment. I hope you'll take the time to do so.


Here are the questions:

1. How did you discover the Jillian Bradley Mysteries?

a.  word of mouth
b.  mentioned on a blog
c.  mentioned on Facebook
d.  mentioned on Twitter
e.  promoted by Amazon

2. If you read "Murder in Half Moon Bay" did you read or buy:

a.  book 2 "The Ghost Orchid Murder"
b.  book 2 and book 3 "From the Clutches of Evil"
c.  book 2, book 3 and book 4 "The Mark of Eden"
d.  book 2, book 3, book 4 and book 5 "Pacific Beach"
e.  none of the above

3. Overall, would you rate the books:

a.  5-Stars
b.  4-Stars
c.  3-Stars
d.  2-Stars
e.  1-Star

4. Have you written a review for any of the books?

a.  yes
b.  no

5. Finally, do you purchase the books or get them when they're free?


a.  purchase only
b.  get free only
c.  purchase and get free

Please leave your answers in a comment. Example 1. a, 2. d etc. 

 Please join this site if you're new (box to the right) and include your email to receive your winning copy!  

Winner of my new book will be announced Monday, November 12, 2012. 


Your input is much appreciated. I'm always striving to improve my work for your enjoyment in any way possible. Poll results will be posted with the winning comment selected. My hubby will draw the winner. Good luck pollsters!

Have a great weekend, my friends!

~Nancy Jill