Category: fiction

Goodreads Giveaway for The Garden Girls!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Hello friends!

I thought I’d let you know that my publisher Harlequin/Harper Collins is giving away 30 finished paperback copies of The Garden Girls on Goodreads. Hurry over and enter as it will only last through March 15th! 

 

On a remote Outer Banks island, a serial killer collects his prized specimens. And to stop him, an FBI agent must confront his own twisted past.
 
FBI agent Tiberius Granger has seen his share of darkness. But a new case sets him on edge. It’s not just the macabre way both victims—found posed in front of lighthouses—are tattooed with flowers that match their names. There’s also the unsettling connection to the woman Ty once loved and to the shadowy cult they both risked everything to escape.  
Bexley Hemmingway’s sister has gone missing, and she’ll do anything to find her—including teaming up with Ty. That may prove a mistake, and not just because Ty doesn’t know he’s the father of her teenaged son. It seems the killer is taunting Ty, drawing everyone close to him into deeper danger.
As the slashing winds and rain of a deadly hurricane approach the coast of North Carolina, the search leads Ty and Bex to an island that hides a grisly secret. But in his quest for the truth, Ty has ignored the fact that this time, he’s not just the hunter. Every move has been orchestrated by a killer into a perfect storm of terror, and they will need all their skills to survive…

It’s also available on NetGalley if you use Netgalley to read advanced reader copies of books. You do have to have a free account and be approved by the publisher. I have nothing to do with approval/denial. 🙂

 

Enter the Goodreads Giveaway 

Sale! Her Darkest Secret Audiobook & E-Book!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Hey Friend!

As we gear up for the release of my newest thriller, A Cry in the Dark, my publisher has made the first book in the series (can be read as standalones though) Her Darkest Secret in audiobook on sale today February 1-March 1 for only $5.99! Y’all that’s such a great deal and let me tell you the narrator, Lisa Flanagan is incredible. She nails the characters and brings them to life in such a fabulous way. I couldn’t be happier!

If you love audiobooks, grab this from your favorite audiobook retailer. You can definitely find it on Apple, Kobo, Google and LibroFM

Please tell your friends too. I’d hate for them to miss the sale price too. 

But that’s not all! 

You can grab the e-book for only $2.99 Today, February 1 through February 7th! If you’re not an audiobook fan, you can still get a great deal!

Backcover Blurb: When a cold-case serial killer returns, FBI special agent Fiona Kelly has one last chance to stop him before he claims the prize he’s always wanted—her.

The sight of a goose feather at a murder scene modeled after a children’s poem is enough to make FBI special agent Fiona Kelly’s blood turn to ice. Almost two decades ago, a feather was left with her sister’s body—and with every subsequent victim of the Nursery Rhyme Killer. Now he’s back. Only this time, his latest gruesome murder is a message to the only one who ever got away: Fiona.

Finding “Rhyme” is an obsession that’s fueled Fiona’s career—and destroyed her marriage to fellow FBI agent Asa Kodiak. Now Fiona and Asa have to put their past tensions aside and work together one last time. But Rhyme is watching, and catching this killer may force Fiona to reveal her biggest, darkest secret…the one only he knows.

 

Question for you: Are you an audiobook fan? What was the last book you listened to?

Book News & New Book Projects!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Hey friend! 

Thanksgiving has passed and the Christmas season is in full swing! Before you know it January will roll out and February will roll in, meaning A Cry in the Dark will be hitting online and brick-and-mortar bookshelves everywhere.

 

Maybe you haven’t added it to your Goodreads Want to Read shelf. Now would be a great time. I’m so excited about this book and following Violet’s story. I’ve had a lot of reader feedback and interest in her. You’ll get some more definitive answers to what transpired between her and the killer in Her Darkest Secret and quickly discover why she seems aloof and distant. It’s tragic really. But God’s grace is overwhelmingly good and it’s a story that showcases that!

Here’s a peek:

Deep in the Kentucky hills, three women have been found brutalized and murdered.
But the folks in Night Holler have their own ways and their own laws.
And they’re not talking…

Led to an isolated Appalachian Mountain town by a trail of disturbing murders, FBI special agent Violet Rainwater’s determined to catch a serial killer with a twisted agenda. With locals refusing to reveal their secrets, Violet’s only ally is Detective John Orlando. But even John has an ulterior motive—he’s convinced this case is connected to his wife’s murder. 

As they dig deeper, Violet uncovers a link to her own unresolved past. For years she’s worked the cold case of her mother’s abduction, which had led to her birth. The need to look into the eyes of the sinful man who fathered her consumes Violet. Until she can, she’ll never have peace. Because she’s terrified she might be exactly like him.

In this chilling novel, when the present collides with Violet’s mysterious past and John’s tragic loss, they must unravel the warped, sinuous connections before the killer strikes again. But solving the case might not be nearly as terrifying as the possibility that Violet’s finally found her roots…

I can’t wait for you to read it. You can also preorder the book from your favorite retailers including Walmart and Target!

New Book Projects!

At the moment, I’m working on a new novel that will be included in a collection with some of your favorite inspirational authors. I’m using two characters from Her Darkest Secret for the heroine and hero. Any guesses who they might be? Oh, this book is going to be so fun! I’m writing it organically, meaning I haven’t plotted anything. All I know is how the killer is murdering his victims and why. I know the hero and heroine. AND fun fact: I’m setting it in Splendor Pines, East Tennessee where Rush Buchanan and Nora Livingstone are from in Cold Case Christmas, so you’ll see cameos and revisit the lovely mountain town in a sizzling hot summer!

The rest of the story will just come straight from what I’m imagining in that moment. I have no idea WHO the killer is or how the investigation is going to play out, but that’s okay. It’s all part of the joy of writing organically.

I’m also working on new books for Love Inspired Suspense in a Texas Crime Scene Cleaners series featuring two brothers and a sister! It’s been a lot of fun too. 

Lastly, I’ll be bringing you Tiberius Granger’s story in 2024! If you’ve read Her Darkest Secret,  you’ve met him and he’ll take a more active role in A Cry in the Dark as I prep him for his own wild story set in the Outerbanks, North Carolina during hurricane season. It’ll be a real thrill ride with some crazy wild twists and shocking ending–at least I hope it will be! 

So what are you up to these days? Reading any great thrillers? Let me know in the comments!

And if you care to guess who the characters might be from Her Darkest Secret, share in the comments. Patch Pack members already know, so no commenting from any of y’all! That’s cheating! 🙂 

 

Until next time,

Jess

A Dark Secret and a Big Giveaway!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Her Darkest Secret by author Jessica R. Patch

Hey friends! Today is a huge, wild day for me. My FIRST TRADE NOVEL releases into the world. Yes, I’ve written many novels for Love Inspired suspense, but those are category length. This book is a longer more complex book and a psychological thriller. It’s been a dream come true and a percolating story idea for over a decade, so I’m beyond excited to see it published.

I guess I should thank my late grandma for inspiring me. She used to tell me nursery rhymes before bed. The last one she’d tell was Wee Willie Winkie. And you better believes that bad boy makes into the book! 

I do hope you’ll celebrate today with me. If you’ve read the book, please leave a review! If you haven’t read it yet, you can purchase it at any online retailer in eBook, paperback or audio. And you can nab it at any brick-and-mortar bookstore like Barnes &Noble, Books-A-Million, and even at your local Walmart! 

A cool thing was I got to choose which narrator I wanted for the audio version. They were all great so it was hard to choose, but in the end I went with Lisa Flanagan. 

If you have a bookclub, this would make a great bookclub read and I have Bookclub Extras including discussion questions under by BookClub tab on my website. Contact me and I’d love to Zoom in with y’all or if you’re local, drop in and chat. 

Facebook Live Launch Party:

I’ll be hosting a Facebook LIVE party on my Author page June 28th from 11 a.m.-6 pm CST. If you have any questions, please email me and I’ll answer them live. Also I have several author friends coming by to share what they thought about the book and to give away a copy of one of their own books! Join: Christy Barritt, Lynn Blackburn, Patricia Bradley, Elizabeth Goddard, Nancy Mehl, Lisa Phillips, Terri Reed, Natalie Walters & Jaime Jo Wright!

I’ll also be on the Harlequin FB LIVE party! June 28 @11 am CST.

 

Book Signing and Local In-Person Celebration Event:

I’ll be in-person signing books at Coffee Central Squared on Saturday, July 2, 2002 from 1-3 pm CST. Come with friends, grab a coffee and tasty treat from Coffee Central, buy a book and I’ll sign it for you and take photos with friends at the photo booth. I’ll be providing the same props you read (or will read) about at Ty’s birthday party. Thank fun mustaches and Her Darkest Secret! 

Coffee Central Squared is located at: 39 W Commerce St, Hernando, MS 38632

Can’t wait to see you. Come and go and enter for a chance to win a sweet grand prize which includes: $25 Coffee Central gift card, whodunit brain games book, Ground for Murder jigsaw puzzle, a Scentsy vanilla gift, and dark chocolates! 

Another Giveaway! 

I’m also giving away a Dark Secret Prize Package:

That’s right, I’m giving away the Murder Mystery coloring book with colored pencils, a murder shows and comfy clothes mug, and a I’m just here to establish and alibi tote to won lucky winner. Enter below for a chance to win. U.S. only. 18+ Winner will be randomly selected through rafflecopter July 15 and notified by email. Winner has 24 hours to respond to the email or they are forfeited and a new winner will be randomly selected. 

Purchase Her Darkest Secret

 

Okay, now to the giveaway! Enter below for a chance to win. 

 

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Win TWO Books! Let’s Celebrate!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Hey everyone! I’m super excited that Cold Case Double Cross will release on August 24th in digital, mass market print, large print, and TRUE LARGE print (which is huge font)! To celebrate the upcoming release I’m giving away a fun Cold Case Prize Package which includes the following:

 

Also, you can preorder Cold Case Double Cross to make sure you don’t forget at the end of the month. This is a fast-paced whodunit but it also deals with a woman who struggles to trust men in her life and God. If you’ve ever been looked over, forgotten, betrayed–then this book will be some salve to your sore heart. My hero Cash is dealing with a learning disability and is hiding it because of the shame he feels over how he’s been treated in the past in regards to it. God is our Healer and while the characters are fictional, the hope, IS REAL. 

PREORDER COLD CASE DOUBLE CROSS

 

 

Enter for a chance to win the prize package below. U.S. 18+ Only. 

 

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Giveaway: Cold Case Takedown 10 print copies

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Hey everyone!

Last year I didn’t have a single Love Inspired Suspense novel release because I had taken 2019 off for some other things unrelated to writing. But I gotta tell you, it was great to get back to the land of fiction in 2020–I needed the escape, as I’m sure many of you did and found it in reading or writing yourself.

And all the work in 2020 is coming to fruition in 2021 which means you’ll have 3 brand new books to scarf down in April, August, and December. This Cold Case Investigators series was one of my favorites so far (I say that about every series at the time).

The series follows the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Cold Case Unit (MBI) and tells their stories of struggle, faith, romance, and high-impact danger!  They’ll battle things like clinical anxiety and panic disorder, gender bias, guilt, shame, feelings of uncertainty and no control. You’ll see villains who are less diabolical (though cut-throat all the same) and more motivated by feelings you and I could be motivated by if we didn’t have faith and hope but acted on greed, unhealthy desires, and desperation. 

And all books will take place in small fictional towns in Mississippi, although I admit to modeling Book 2 after where I live! 

April kicks off with Cold Case Takedown which is unit chief Colt McCoy and podcaster Georgia Maxwell. It’s a story about battling fear and clinical anxiety. It’s about faith and prayer and even medication–because some anxiety needs treated as much as high cholesterol! And it’s about giving grace to those who suffer with anxiety/panic that aren’t spiritual in nature but medical. It’s also about small town corruption in regards to football. Everybody down south knows football is king! Friday Night Lights, baby!

So to celebrate, I’m giving away 10 signed paperback copies of Cold Case Takedown to 10 people! EEEK! And just a little ahem…authors truly do love reviews because it helps push the book out into the big book world to be seen by others. Even if it’s “I really liked this book and these characters!” Early reviews can be posted on Goodreads too! But Amazon makes ya wait until Release Day, just saying.

Now, feel free to enter for a chance to win 1 out of 10 copies and share this post so your friends can enter too! Share the love, y’all. 

U.S. Only;  18+

 

 

 

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My Free Gifts to You

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Hey friends!

Right now it seems like everything is upside down as we grapple for a new kind of normal. Extroverts are not doing okay. Introverts have some social breathing room, but everyone is uncertain of what is ahead and that can be a scary time.

Let me encourage you: “Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.” Psalm 90: 2 NLT

From beginning to end, You are God! That gives me such comfort and hope. That tells me that God was there at our beginning–and before. He’s in the middle. And in the end. He’s in control and He’s good.

There’s a lot of speculation on why all this is happening. The enemy’s tactics. God’s judgment. I don’t know. What I do know though, is that these circumstances don’t change the faithfulness and goodness of God. I know He is with us. He’s ahead of it. And this gives us, yet again, another opportunity to trust Him. To take Him at His Word. To return to Him if we’ve been away awhile. To reach unbelievers, who do not have the hope we have, with the gospel message in a myriad of online ways. 

Is it just a trial and tribulation? Maybe. But I know that Jesus has overcome the world and given us the promise that through them He will be with us.

Is this the end? I don’t know. Maybe. But in the end, all is restored and made new, including us. And we’ll be with Him forever.

I take comfort in the promises. And I’m praying for you out there who are fearful. I’m praying for you out there who have legitimate concerns like what to do with your children while you have to work because you’re essential personnel, or how you’ll pay your bills because you’re not working right now. How will you tackle educating your children, supplying for your family, and providing for their needs.

God is with you. This is the time for the church to rise up and take care of people. I trust somehow, some way, God will get you what you need when you need it. That’s what I’m praying.

Me? What can I do? Not a lot but encourage you and offer you some escape, some entertainment, some laughs, a little romance, and some hope through two of my books that I’m making free through March 25th. 

If you haven’t read them, snatch them up. If you have, share the free deal with your friends and family. And know I am praying for you!

Warmly,

Jess

 

Unleashing Love is FREE right now! For a limited time. Click Here to purchase.

A Messed-Up Match is also FREE right now! For a limited time. Click Here to Purchase.

Recovered Secrets Giveaway!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch
A blank memory. A new life.

But her borrowed time just ran out

Two years after Grace Thackery washed up on a small-town Mississippi riverbank, she has the first clue about the life she doesn’t remember: someone wants her dead. And while search-and-rescue director Hollis Montgomery’s determined to protect her, the secrets of her past are darker than they expected. Can the bond between Grace and Hollis survive her true identity…and an assassin?

Today marks my 10th book with Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense! Happy Release Day! To celebrate, I’m giving away 5 paperback copies to U.S. 18+ only.

Recovered Secrets was one of my favorite books to write. What a kick-butt heroine and a hero who isn’t intimidated by her strength and skill!

Enter for a chance to win below!

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10 Weeks of Romance Giveaway!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Welcome everyone! I am super excited to share this big news!

Ten of some of the best authors in the inspirational and sweet romance genres are hosting a 10 Weeks of Romance Giveaway to celebrate a new Resort to Romance series! And I’m honored to be a part of it.

Here’s the series premise:

It’s Matchmaking Week at an all-inclusive resort on a private island in the Bahamas. Each guest has been expertly paired and is here to enjoy one full week with their match. While there’s no money-back guarantee on the paid trip, the participants are guaranteed to find love!

Each week beginning Tuesday, February 19ththrough the week of Tuesday, May 7th, a new book by a new author in the series will release, and you have the chance to win one, some, or the grand prize which includes all ten novellas plus a $150 Amazon gift card!


Here’s how it works:Register at the rafflecopter below. We’ll randomly select a winner each Tuesday. And the great thing about this giveaway is the books build with every author’s new release! That means your entries roll over each week all the way up the grand prize.

This week’s prize is: A Meddled Match by Jill Kemerer and my book A Messed-Up Match!


A Kindergarten teacher with fears to overcome.
An infamous blogger and magazine writer with a cynical view.
And one romantic week that will bring second chances.

Neeley Valentine has spent nearly all of her savings to participate in a matchmaking week on Joy Island in the Bahamas. But she’s not looking for a love connection so much as someone who will force her out of her comfort zone.

Pax Cannon is known to the online world as the Love Curmudgeon, and he’s ready to prove in one of his biggest articles yet that matchmaking weeks are a joke and men should run as fast they can from them.

When one of the resort’s rules is broken, bringing these two together, neither are prepared for the unexpected twists and turns that will school them on the subject of love. 


Be sure to stop by Susan L. Tuttle’s blog next Tuesday to see what book is being added to the giveaway.

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Welcome to a Brand New Series!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Romance is in the tropical air. Okay, it’s freezing pretty much everywhere but not on Joy Island in the Bahamas. The weather is perfect. Feel the sun on your skin, the smell of coconut and fruit filling your senses, and love falling at your feet…possibly tripping you up!

I am super excited to be a part of a fabulous new romantic series that begins releasing next Tuesday, February 19th!

But you can preorder the ENTIRE series right now and save $20!!!

The Resort to Romance Series is unique for sure. And you are SURE to love it!

WHAT IS RESORT TO ROMANCE ALL ABOUT?

It’s Matchmaking Week at an all-inclusive resort on a private island in the Bahamas. Each guest has been expertly paired and is here to enjoy one full week with their match. While there’s no money-back guarantee on the paid trip, the participants are guaranteed to find love!

Get ready for ten weeks of romance in the Bahamas with a new series brought to you by some of the best authors in the inspirational and sweet romance genres…

Ten delightful – and standalone – novellas linked by one matchmaking week. You’ll want to devour each one!

Jill Kemerer kicks off with her release A Meddled Match. And then my book, A Messed-Up Match releases February 26th.

A Kindergarten teacher with fears to overcome.
An infamous blogger and magazine writer with a cynical view.
And one romantic week that will bring second chances.

Neeley Valentine has spent nearly all of her savings to participate in a matchmaking week on Joy Island in the Bahamas. But she’s not looking for a love connection so much as someone who will force her out of her comfort zone.

Pax Cannon is known to the online world as the Love Curmudgeon, and he’s ready to prove in one of his biggest articles yet that matchmaking weeks are a joke and men should run as fast they can from them.

When one of the resort’s rules is broken, bringing these two together, neither are prepared for the unexpected twists and turns that will school them on the subject of love. 

What Early Readers Are Saying about A Messed-Up Match

“A Messed-Up Match sizzles with romantic tension. Patch tosses in loads of her trademark banter along with characters wading through deep personal issues. Throw in a few unexpected twists, and this book is the perfect escape from the winter blues.” ~ Jill Lynn, Author of The Rancher’s Unexpected Baby

“I’m normally not a fan of novellas because they can come across as shallow and underdeveloped. Not this one!” ~ Denise, Goodreads

“From the first pages of A Messed-Up Match, readers will be chuckling, because Neeley is hilarious! And Pax’s initial reactions to this strange woman who overshares only enhances that.” ~ Suzie, Goodreads

Join us next week as we kick off these releases with a HUGE, like HUUUUUGE giveaway to celebrate!

You can preorder these 10 novellas at just .99 cents a piece now. The price goes up each book after the individual release week!

Check them all out at Jill Kemerer’s site! RESORT TO ROMANCE FULL SERIES