Deadly Devotion (Port Aster Secrets Book #1): A Novel

This book was not what I was expecting and not really my cup of tea. I didn't realize it was a christian book, though my real issue with it has more to do with it being more cozy-style, which is a real turn-off for me. Always feels like a seven-year-old should be reading it instead of an adult. This just wasn't for me.

I really enjoyed reading a christian book. I liked the characters, and the book caught my interest at first, but something just wasn't right with Kate's character. I finished the book, but was disappointed.

Deadly Devotion By: Sandra Orchard This is the first book in the Port Aster Secrets series and the first book I have read by Sandra Orchard. If you are looking for a great murder mystery, look no further. I loved this murder, suspense, romance, who-dun-it story! From the first, you are trying to solve the mystery of who killed Kate Adam’s friend Daisy Leacock. I had an idea of who it might be, but none of the clues really led you there. Kate goes to the police and talks with Tom Parker about reopening the case into her friend’s murder. He tells her it is a closed case; his supervisor tells him it is a closed case. Other people get upset because she is investigating the murder and getting too close to the truth. But who is worried she will figure it out? Edward, who isn’t who he says he is, Hank, Parker’s boss, Darryl, husband to Kate’s best friend? Somebody else? Or is it all a figment of Kate’s imagination and Daisy really killed herself and Kate just needs to accept it? Tom helps Kate investigate, but he is going against his boss’ orders. Can he keep Kate safe? I loved the Jaws’ theme (Tom’s boss says this: “I got a call from the mayor this morning. Seems Miss Adams complained about our handling of the Leacock case. With tourist season around the corner, the mayor doesn’t want rumors of unsolved murders tarnishing the town’s reputation.” At another point, Tom reflects that his prime suspects were switching up faster than ducks in a shooting gallery. That pretty much sums up the story! You’ll think you know who the killer is, but then you’ll rule them out! This is a great story by a wonderful author and I can’t wait to read more. If you love a great mystery, you will love this book! I received this copy free from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Too many plot spoilers giving away too many details of the story then bragging how they got their book for free for their 'honest review'. What a joke. Please stop giving away the entire storyling. You may have gotten your book for free for your laughable honest review, but the rest of us has to buy our book, and you destroy the book for us when you tell the entire book. Be considerate of others.

Kate’s mentor and friend Daisy is found dead from what the coroner deems a suicide. The police agree and quickly close the investigation. The only problem is that Kate knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that Daisy would never do that. Against the wishes of Detective Tom Parker, Kate sets out to prove that someone murdered Daisy. Along the way we are confronted with several viable suspects but each has something that just doesn’t quite clench the case. Kate continues to get deeper and deeper enmeshed in the investigation until her very life is at stake. Someone obviously doesn’t want her to figure it out. I wish that the characters had been better developed. In my opinion Tom and Kate came across as pretty wishy washy. I know that this is a series and the budding romance needs to develop but I just couldn’t get past the way one minute they were totally smitten and the next at complete odds. Over all I enjoyed the story and I’m looking forward to reading book two in the series which is scheduled to release in June of 2014. The third and final book in the series is scheduled to release in June of 2015. I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

I thought the main character was a total ditz and I struggled to finish the book.

Deadly Devotion by Sandra Orchard is a book about the lengths one will go to in an effort to prove their friend did not commit suicide. Kate Adams is determined that her friend Daisy was murdered, but the police have labeled it accidental. She knows they're wrong and embarks on a search to prove it. In the process she needs help from Tom Parker, a former FBI agent who is trying to settle back into life in Port Aster. The book is filled with suspects, clue, and bits of romance. I had suspicious about who the killer was, but the reason surprised me. A very enjoyable romantic mystery.

Did'nt know this was a christian book. So not my cup of tea. Also a 13yo kid might enjoy this and parents need not be concerned with sex and violencs.

The heroine in this book was just too much and even rudimentary knowledge of real people in the real world needs to be suspended for this novel. I cared enough about the plot to skip from chapter 7 to chapter 23 to find out who-dun-it, but even cozies have more believe-ability than this book.

This is my first book from Sandra Orchard and looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I also enjoyed how faith in the Lord played a part in this and hope that continues.

I enjoyed the book. I was guessing all the way to the end who did it. I liked the characters and enjoyed the Christian theme to it. Good mystery.

Deadly Devotion is book one in the Port Aster series. I was able to download it for free when book three came out. It is a suspenseful mystery with a sweet romance. I loved Kate from the opening scene where she is trying to convince Tom to reopen the case. Kate is convinced that her mentor Daisy did not kill herself and or carelessly mix chemicals that killed her. Kate and Daisy have been working on a cure for treating depression with herbal medicine and they were getting close. Tom is a former FBI agent who as returned to his home town after a bad situation and to take care of his grieving father. I loved how his father helped with the case. He was one of my favorite secondary characters. There are plenty of suspects to keep you guessing. The sweet connection between Kate and Tom drew me in and I look forward to the future stories with them. I recommend reading the books in order. You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

Hairbrained protagonist wants to be taken seriously..... seriously?? Also, too many dropped words which change the meaning of sentences are disruptive. Poorly edited. Overall, just an average job of storytelling. Kitt :(

My god but kate is annoying. Talk about a convoluted plot. No more books by this author for me.

Deadly Devotion is the first book in the Port Aster Secrets series and is also the first book that I have read by Sandra Orchard. I definitely enjoyed it and will be reading more of her books in the future. The author had me, and the main characters, guessing and following different leads throughout the entire book! Kate and Tom truly had their hands full. There were so many people and potential motives that these two had to sort through. Deadly Devotion really captured my interest. I was very surprised at the way the author kept the twists and turns going throughout the story. I did, eventually, figure out the culprit, but it was only a few pages before the reveal. She kept me guessing for almost the entire book. Kate and Tom have the possibility of attraction and of a potential romance in Deadly Devotion. There was often angst between the two, as well. If only they can get over their suspicions of each other and learn to trust again. They both make some judgment errors about each other and that created some serious tension in portions of the story. This storyline had a lot of interesting information about natural remedies and teas. I really enjoyed the extra details and I feel that those pieces of information enhanced the story and brought Kate’s passion for tinctures to life for me. I’m looking forward to book two and the continuation of this series. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Kept me guessing all the way through! This is the first book of Sandra Orchard’s that I've ever read. It was fantastic. She did a marvelous job of crafting a twisting and tangling suspense/mystery novel. She had so many suspects in this story and presented just enough about each of them that they were definitely believable as the murderer. I didn't know right up until the end who was the culprit. I loved both of the main characters, Kate Adams and Tom Parker. They were incredibly well developed and presented. The secondary characters were also well developed. I thoroughly enjoyed the relationships between the different characters.  I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

This was my first read of Sandra Orchard's and I couldn't have picked a better one. Deadly Devotion follows the story of Kate Adams, who is intent on proving her friend and mentor Daisy did not commit suicide. I enjoyed the story and Ms. Orchard had me constantly guessing on who the bad guy was. As this is the first book in the series, some parts of the story were left unresolved (i.e. the romance brewing between Kate and handsome detective, Tom Parker). I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.

Port Aster sounds like the kind of town I would enjoy visiting – not a great deal going on but not so remote that one would fear being cut off from the rest of the world. But even in small, quiet towns, human tragedy still exists. Kate Adams’s dear friend, mentor, and boss has been murdered. Actually, the medical examiner ruled it a suicide but Kate is one who cannot accept that her friend took her own life. Tom Parker, the detective who was responsible for handling the case, reiterates to Kate that the case is closed; but she won’t let it go. The suspense mounts as events transpire that switch the emphasis from one character to another. It tends to remind me of Clue, a board game I played as a kid. Tom Parker’s oft-repeated statement that you can’t trust anyone starts to seem valid. The author keeps you guessing whether anyone can be trusted. One thing is clear: Kate really doesn’t care who she stirs up in her efforts to prove she is right about her friend. It is great to see how her faith keeps her going even when everyone else seems to be questioning her. I highly recommend this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping suspense story. Because I read the second book in the Port Aster Secrets series, Blind Trust, first, I was somewhat familiar with what was going to happen. That didn't diminish my enjoyment at all. The plot was engaging, exciting, and had me squirming to find out more! The ending leaves a few loose ends, a couple of which are resolved in book 2 if I remember correctly. Each book could be read stand alone, but I wouldn't recommend it. Oh I love the characters. I love them even more since I really got to understand them. Kate Adams is a fiery and fearless red head that is still learning to navigate a life of faith. Tom Parker is a determined cop, who came back home to re-evaluate his view on life and reconnect with his childhood faith. There are sparks that fly whenever Kate and Tom are together, but neither will admit it. I can't wait to see what happens with them next! The message was expertly weaved in the story. Everyone, at one time or another, will come up against a side of God they aren't prepared for. We might not understand it, we will question it, but our choice to follow God and trust Him despite the circumstances will strengthen us in the end. Overall, this is an intriguing story with a deep message. I hope you enjoy it!

I have no real problem with the writing, the plot or the characters, but I HATE books that don't have a real ending or resolution to the story. Just a ploy that you have to buy the NEXT book. I feel like a sucker rather than a valued reader!

Deadly Devotion kept me guessing throughout the twist and turns of the story and the last sentence of every chapter begged me to turn the next page. The engaging plot and snappy dialogue made this mystery a fast and entertaining read. Sandra Orchard's characters in Deadly Devotion all have likeable traits, but also the motives to benefit from a sweet old woman's death. Kate Adams, our protagonist, refuses to believe that her dear friend and mentor, Daisy Leacock, would have committed suicide, but that's what the cops are quick to claim before closing the case. Kate's loyalty to Daisy is endearing, as well is her naivete in investigating the case on her own. She stops at nothing, endangering her own life, to get answers, all the while looking very much like a suspect herself. Tom Parker, the cop on Kate's side, most of the time, is torn between having feelings for her and questioning if she might have wanted Daisy dead. Kate could be seeking credit for the research she and Daisy were doing on herbal remedies as a treatment for depression -- but then why would she dig up the case? While Kate and her memories of Daisy shed an upbeat light on the story, their work combating depression, is also fitting for the story. Tom Parker and his father, a retired cop who helps in their investigation, are mourning the death of Tom's mother and not doing well. Will Kate help them to find meaning in life again? Beneath this classic suspense novel is a story about devotion, faith and love.