Do you love cozy mysteries featuring witches multiplying and other paranormal beings? You need to binge-read Lucinda Race’s Bookstore Cozy Mystery Series.
Title Catnaps & Crimes
Author Lucinda Race
Genre Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb
Enjoy this clean, small town, paranormal cozy mystery by award winning and bestselling author, Lucinda Race.
Welcome to Pembroke Cove, where witches and murders are multiplying...
Book store owner and novice witch Lily Michaels is struggling to get a handle on her new powers. The book “Practical Beginnings” is showing her random spells to learn, and her familiar, the talking cat, Milo, isn’t much help. She doesn’t need any more distractions, but when a car crashes just outside the bookstore, Lily is first on the scene. It’s more than just an automobile accident. Bullet holes can be deadly. The victim, shady real estate agent Teddy Roberts, was dead before his fancy sports car ever hit that pole.
Investigating the crime scene is Detective Gage Erikson, or as Milo calls him, Detective Cutie. His crush on Lily is not-so-secret to anyone but her, but she’s acting like he’s a distraction she doesn’t need. Is he her boyfriend, or just her best friend? He just needs to keep her out of trouble while he traces clues to the crime.
But a mystery is like catnip to Lily. She’s willing to admit she has a tiny bit of a reputation for investigating things she shouldn’t. She’s trying to balance her growing feelings for Gage while keeping her witchy secret from him and solve a murder. Teddy had plenty of people with reasons to do him in. Will Lily’s best protection spell be enough to keep her and Gage safe while they work together to catch a killer?
Catnaps and Crimes is the second novel in A Book Store Cozy Mystery Series, although each book can be read as standalone. A sweet and clean cozy mystery with a guarantee the culprit is caught. Happy reading!
Excerpt
I peeked out the front door of my bookshop, The Cozy Nook, right after I heard the nails on the chalkboard kind of grating but it was metal grinding on metal. A sound that jarred my last nerve. I had spent the last hour trying to perfect a levitation spell, to no avail.
“Milo,” I called to my gray tabby cat. “Did you hear that?” If any customer had been in the shop, they’d assume I always talked to my cat like he understood, but in this case, he could. Milo was my familiar.
He slunk into the room. “What are you yelling about? I was having a perfectly peaceful snooze in the sun.”
No doubt on the kitchen counter again, but I didn’t care. My space was his space. I had come to terms with the fact that we’d be together for life, even if he annoyed me at times. But that was bound to happen in the best of relationships. “There’s been a car accident in the town square.” I pulled open the door. “I’m going to make sure everyone is okay.”
“Right. You want to investigate the scene of the accident.”
I glared at him over my shoulder. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“Lily, you’re a witch, not a cop. Leave the mundane stuff to the police. Call your boyfriend, Gage.”
I sighed the minute Milo mentioned Gage’s name. “He’s not my boyfriend. He’s a friend who is a man.” I slammed the door behind me and hurried over the brick sidewalk to where a late model sports car had veered into a metal flagpole at the edge of the town square. The driver couldn’t have hit that dead center any better if there had been a bull’s-eye on it.
A few shop owners and customers had come out of the different stores to see what had happened. From where I was standing, I could see inside the car. The driver was slumped against the steering wheel and on the cream-colored leather dashboard was a fast-growing pool of red. I looked over to Beatrice, who owned Bee Bee’s Boutique and Tucker Ross from the hardware store. They were huddled together, pointing, talking, and watching. Jerilyn Busch was just going into the Sweet Spot, and Gretchen Wilson was frozen in place on the sidewalk. All around, locals were milling about, starting their day.
I shouted to anyone who would listen. “Call the police and tell them we need an ambulance. The driver looks to be hurt pretty bad.” I refocused my attention on the car and driver. Smoke was drifting up from the engine compartment and I hoped that wasn’t a sign a fire was brewing under the hood. I could light a candle but didn’t have any idea how to put out a fire. New witch here. I tried the door handle, but the door was locked or jammed. Then I tapped on the glass. Again, the driver didn’t move and I couldn’t tell if he was awake. His dark-brown fedora was pulled low, obscuring his face. I ran around the back of the car and attempted to open the passenger door, but I noticed the front fender was jammed back against the door. There was no way I was going to open it.
The wail of sirens was growing closer, and I hoped Gage was coming too. Even though he was a detective and not just a cop, he had a calming influence on everyone, including me. I beat on the driver's window again. “Hey, you need to get out of the car.” The wisps of smoke were getting bigger. What if the car burst into flames? The shops nearby could be in danger. I closed my eyes. Did any of the spells I had learned work in this situation? Would the protection spell be effective? So far I had only tried it on my aunt Mimi when she was the prime suspect in a murder investigation of the former head librarian, and then Gage when the assistant librarian was zeroing in on him after she had a break with reality. She was out to harm Gage and of course me too.
In the brief moments I was alone, I tried to decide how best to throw up a protection spell for the buildings and people. Finally, the fire truck, two police cars, an ambulance, and a dark-colored sedan rolled up, all parking at odd angles as if surrounding the scene from prying eyes.
“Gage!” I yelled. “It’s smoking.” I pointed to the hood of the car.
“Lily, are you okay?”
I was relieved to see his tall, well-built frame headed in my direction. It was sweet. His first concern was for me and not the accident victim, but after what we had been through a few weeks ago with the murder investigation, I surmised it was to be expected. “I’m fine, but the driver is another story.” I jabbed a finger in that direction. “I’ve knocked on the glass, tried to open the doors, but no luck. There’s so much blood.”
He called to the firefighters and waved his hands in the smoke's direction. “We need the jaws of life and be prepared for an engine fire.”
Emergency personnel sprang into action. I moved to the sidewalk, away from the controlled chaos. The machinery whined as they pried open the driver’s door, and fire suppressant blanketed the engine compartment. I watched as Officers Peabody and Sullivan questioned the group of onlookers, trying to determine if anyone had actually seen the accident happen. I noticed Ross Frederick coming down the street, and when he saw the car, he froze and hurried in the opposite direction.
Gage had stepped to one side and was on his cell phone. His light-brown hair dipped over his eyes. The worried expression on his face conveyed the seriousness. Several tense minutes later, the door was yanked from the car.
Two EMTs rushed forward. The first leaned in. I could see her mouth moving, but I was too far away to hear what she was saying. She eased the person back against the seat, then pressed her fingers to his neck and pulled out a stethoscope and placed the round disc against his chest. She leaned in closer and then withdrew. “Detective Erikson?”
Gage held up his finger, showing he’d be another minute. He said a few more words and then put his phone into his jacket pocket. This was the first time I noticed I was chilled to the bone. I rubbed my hands over my arms, all the while keeping an eye on Gage and the person who had checked over the driver. Dang it, I wished I had super hearing or better, a spell that would help me hear conversations at a distance. I’d have to consult my book, Practical Beginnings, to see if such a thing existed.
The expression on Gage’s face didn’t change, but in his hazel eyes, I saw the truth. I could tell the news was grim. He nodded twice. In addition, based on the fact that no one else was taking care of the man, it had been a tragic turn of events and the car crash took a person’s life.
Peabody crossed the grass to where I was waiting. Her dark hair was pulled back in a low bun at the base of her police hat. Her uniform was pressed and her shoes were freshly shined. “Lily. I hear you were first at the scene. Will you tell me what you saw?”
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Author Biography
Award-winning and best-selling author Lucinda Race is a lifelong fan of fiction. As a young girl, she spent hours reading cozy mystery and romance novels and getting lost in the fictional worlds. While her friends dreamed of becoming doctors and engineers, her dream was to become a writer—a novelist.
As life twisted and turned, she found herself writing nonfiction but longed to turn to her true passion. After developing the storyline for the McKenna Family Romance series, it was time to start living her dream. Her fingers practically fly over computer keys she weaves stories with strong, quirky characters, snarky humor, and toss in a bit of romance. To date, she has published over 30 novels paranormal cozy mysteries, and romance.
Lucinda lives with her two little dogs, a miniature long hair dachshund and a shitzu mix rescue, in the rolling hills of western Massachusetts. When she's not at her day job, she’s immersed in her fictional worlds. And if she’s not writing novels, she’s reading everything she can get her hands on.
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Title Tea & Trouble
Author Lucinda Race
Genre Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb
Enjoy this clean, small town, paranormal cozy mystery by award winning and bestselling author, Lucinda Race.
Welcome to Pembroke Cove, where witches and murders are multiplying.
A fall festival, reading tea leaves and a few clues propel Lily into a new murder investigation.
Bookstore owner Lily Michaels still doesn’t know which kind of witch she’s going to be. She’s planning to read fortunes at her parents’ tea booth at the Fall Festival in the small town of Pembroke Cove, Maine. Is that her gift? Her snarky familiar, Milo, isn’t a lot of help. Lily’s mother warned her that reading the leaves would change someone’s life. Lily’s ready to make some changes of her own. Her relationship with Detective Gage Erikson—a.k.a. Detective Cutie— seems to be stuck in the perpetual friend zone. Maybe it’s time she went on a real date with someone else, like the new guy in town, Dax Peters.
Gage would like nothing more than to go on a real date with Lily, but romance will have to take the back burner when he’s is called to investigate another murder. Someone cut short the life of successful rose grower, Dean Hartley. Since when does horticulture lead to homicide?
Gage would be thrilled if Lily stuck to reading tea leaves and stayed out of trouble, but that’s just not in her puzzle-loving personality. Why were all the garden club members arguing with Dean at the festival? When Lily teams up with Gage once again in the race to resolve the rose-grower’s murder, can she continue to keep both her feelings and her magic a secret from Gage? Or will roses finally lead to romance for them?
Tea and Trouble is the third novel in A Book Store Cozy Mystery Series, although each book can be read as standalone. A sweet and clean cozy mystery with a guaranteed the culprit is caught. Happy reading!
Excerpt
I tilted my head back, face toward the early morning sun, and drank in the crisp fall air. It was a perfect day for the annual Pembroke Cove Fall Festival. Today I was reading fortunes at my parents’ tea booth. I slowly twirled in my long deep-burgundy velvet dress. The hem of the matching cloak brushed the tops of my ankle boots as Gage Erikson, my best friend and hopefully someday my boyfriend, touched my hand. I wanted to look the part of a witch but I didn’t want to wear all black. Aunt Mimi had found this dress in an old wooden trunk which had been tucked away, unopened, in her attic for years. The bonus, it was a perfect fit, as if it was made for me. I know my aunt thought it was kismet and even with being a witch, it didn’t mean everything in life I touched was magical.
“Lily, you look beautiful.” Gage’s hand warmed mine and his smile was the real deal.
I did a mini curtsy. “Thank you, sir.” I took a long look at what was supposed to be his costume. All the people working the festival agreed to stick with the theme of their booths. “What made you come up with dressing like a farmer in overalls and flannel?”
“I’m helping Marshall Stone with his stand.” He pointed just across the town square. “I’ll be right over there and we can make funny faces at each other all day.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the way his eyebrows wiggled when he talked. “We’re not twelve anymore.” I hated those years were long gone twenty-five years ago. He twirled me again and this time he pulled me closer to his chest. He looked into my eyes with an intensity I hadn’t seen before.
“After the last six weeks, I think we should go back to when we were kids and didn’t have anything more to worry about than fishing and going to a movie at the Lights Out Theatre. Two murders and me getting crushed under that sign at the Clam Shack has been a lot to handle.” Concern clouded his eyes. “And you did most of the heavy lifting.”
I flashed him a cautious grin. I wasn’t sure if he was referring to me levitating the sign off his body—which he still didn’t know I actually did—or the fact that I was directly involved in solving the murders of Flora Gray and Teddy Roberts. With a nonchalant shrug, I said, “It was no big deal. I like puzzles and both of those incidents were a way to exercise my brain.”
He leaned in and kissed my cheek like he always did while he said, for my ears alone, “My best friend is brilliant.”
And there it was, the perpetual friend zone. Would Gage ever look at me as more than his friend? Probably not. This had been going on for years. Maybe it was time I started dating someone else. Possibly Dax Peters, the investigator who had come to town around the time Flora was killed. He seemed to be showing more than a passing interest in me lately.
Before I responded to his compliment, I noticed my parents headed in our direction. Dad was carrying a carboard box which would hold paper teacups and other supplies for brewing various teas and my mother had a tote bag slung over her shoulder with what I guessed would be her special blend. My aunt had told me Dad was a witch, but my mom wasn’t. However, her tea blends were amazing, and today I would be reading tea leaves from a special blend she had created just for the festival. In addition, she had bags of other teas to sell in our booth.
I tugged my hand from his. “I need to help my parents. They brought more supplies for the booth.”
“I’ll come too.” He fell in step beside me and it was just one of the reasons he was a good guy, always ready to lend a hand. “Did Mindy make her special blend again this year?”
I gave him a quick side-glance. “You never miss a trick, do you?”
He puffed his chest up and strutted a bit. “It’s my job, ma’am, to notice the little details as a detective on Pembroke Cove’s police force.”
I laughed so hard a snort escaped. “Easy, Detective, you might strain the buttons on your flannel shirt.”
My parents met us halfway, and Gage took the bag from over my mother’s shoulder and the box Dad was carrying. “Hello, Reed.” He gave my mother a one-armed hug. “Mindy.” He looked at me. “Doesn’t Lily look great in her witch costume?”
Dad’s brow quirked at the word costume. Mom placed a gentle hand on his arm and said, “She looks amazing.”
Mom reached out and straightened my modified witch hat. “I like how you decorated the traditional black hat with burgundy lace and cutouts of teacups.”
“A touch of whimsy, Mom.” I linked arms with hers and we crossed the leaf-covered grass to our booth space. Parked behind the tables was a tiny silver camper from the 1970s. It was one my parents used every time they went to fairs in the northeast. Inside, we could heat water, get warm if the day was chilly, and if the day turned hot, cool off. And the best part was the fridge stocked with snacks.
Mom scanned the table setup. “I see you have everything ready to go.”
“There wasn’t much to do. You had it organized inside. All I had to do was flick out the tablecloth, put cushions on the seats, and set out the bags of tea that you want to sell.” I held up one hand and announced. “Voila.”
Gage said, “Just like magic.”
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Title Scares & Dares
Author Lucinda Race
Genre Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb
Enjoy this clean, small town, paranormal cozy mystery by award winning and bestselling author, Lucinda Race.
Welcome to Pembroke Cove, where witches and murders are multiplying.
It’s Halloween in Pembroke Cove, Maine, and witch-in-training Lily Michaels, with the help from her magical and non-magical friends, is determined to give the town a haunted house event they’ll never forget. There’s an extra reason to celebrate too, the engagement of Lily’s best friends, Nikki and Steve.Of course, Lily’s boyfriend, Gage Erikson—a.k.a. Detective Cutie—will be helping, too. A few weeks earlier they finally went on their first date, it only took fifteen years after they graduated college to admit they were more than just friends. They’re not ready to jump into the marriage pool, but working together on the haunted house will be a great change of pace from solving murders.
But scares and dares don’t always add up to fun. With cauldrons, and potions, and vampires popping out of coffins, everyone thinks the dead clown on the floor is just part of the haunted house festivities. Until it turns out he’s really dead. With so many people in disguise, and magic and spells abounding on All Hallows’ Eve, no one is above suspicion. Lily, with her clue chalkboard, is always ready to solve a puzzle, but Gage is worried about her safety. As Lily and Gage race to unmask the murderer, will the clown-killer get the last laugh?
Scares and Dares is the fourth novel in A Book Store Cozy Mystery Series, although each book can be read as standalone. A sweet and clean cozy mystery with a guarantee the culprit is caught. Happy reading!
Excerpt
“Halloween is four days away.” Pointing at the calendar on the wall, I looked around my kitchen at my boyfriend, Gage; my best friend, Nikki; and her guy, Steve, who were relaxing around my table. We were done stuffing our faces with meat lovers and extra-cheese pizza. “I know it’s late in the game, but we’ve been tasked with taking over decorating and running the haunted house on All Hallows Eve. But if we’re going to be successful, we have to come up with a foolproof plan. Everyone in Pembroke Cove expects to be scared out of their boots after dark. So, we need to have two versions, one for the kiddos and an adult-orientated theme.”
Gage ran his finger around the edge of his glass. “That doesn’t give us much time to bring in volunteers and build the sets. I can reach out to Corbin Marks, and maybe with a little help from our favorite witches, my mom and your Aunt Mimi, along with you ladies, we can get it done in plenty of time.”
My familiar, Milo, stalked into the room and looked at the two dogs—Brutus, a great Dane Gage had adopted and Murphy, Nikki’s retriever—snoozing in front of the door. “My dear witch,” he grumbled good-naturedly, “you should have told me we were having guests. It appears I’ve snoozed through most of the fun if the sleeping dogs are any indication of what happened in here.”
Over the last few months, I had gotten used to my cat talking to me and the only person in the room who could hear him besides me was Nikki. Both Gage and Steve were non-magical and what they heard was Milo meowing whenever he spoke. I scooped him off the floor and held him close to my chest, nuzzling his head. “We’re planning the haunted house. Any good ideas?”
“Now, why would I have any thoughts on that subject. I don’t like anything that is scary. Humans are looking to get spooked when they don’t even realize right in their own backyards are witches, wizards, and a few other paranormal creatures.”
I gently turned his head to look at me. “Wait? What did you say?”
Milo tapped my cheek with his soft paw. “Put me down on the floor. I have things to do and if you would read more of your book, Practical Beginnings, you’d know all that our little town has to offer.” He did little to keep the frustration from his voice.
Before I did as he asked, I had to know, “What do you mean others?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out.” He wriggled out of my hands and stalked from the room without a backward glance.
Gage gestured to Milo’s retreating form. “What was that all about?”
“My familiar just informed me there are other paranormal beings living in Pembroke Cove and not just witches and wizards.” I gave Nikki a sharp look. “Did you know this?”
She shrugged but didn’t look at me. “It’s no big deal and nothing to worry about. Most of the time it’s just witches and the occasional wizard hanging out, and if anyone does come around, it’s in the spring.”
With her noncommittal response, I figured it was a topic of conversation left for another day, especially if we have five or six months before anyone showed up. But what kind of paranormals could there be? Maybe my book, Practical Beginnings, would shed some light on the topic. And when the guys weren’t around, I could get Nikki to open up.
“Alright then, let’s talk about what we can use from last year.” I got up and grabbed my laptop from the counter and sat back down. “I talked to Alice and Bea who were both on the committee last year, and Bea sent me some pictures of what they stored in the shed at the animal shelter.” I tapped a few keys and turned the screen so my friends could see it. “We’re going to hold it at the grange hall like it’s been in past years, but I’m hoping we can have a hay bale walkway and place some skeletons around with spooky music and cobwebs. In the entrance we could have a mural that looks like an old mansion with ripped wallpaper that has fallen into disrepair or something.” My ideas were starting to flow so I kept going. “Then we can have areas with different scenes; some will have people as props, like the table with the domed platter and when the dome comes off, it’s just a talking head. It goes without saying spooky music and spiderwebs are everywhere inside. Then I’ll ask if Aunt Mimi could have a witch area with a cauldron, stirring up potions, and Nate could be her ghoul.”
Nikki grinned. “They’ll jump at the chance.”
I nodded. “I’d like to have a couple of vampires popping out of coffins, a mummy or two that’s animated or real, and maybe some people in armor that move around to scare folks.”
Gage rubbed his hands together. “A magic mirror and crystal ball are both good options. My mom would be happy to help.”
My enthusiasm seemed to be contagious.
Steve said, “What about doors opening and closing and candles everywhere?”
“Battery operated,” Gage interjected. “We don’t want to have to call the fire company. If we don’t get enough volunteers, the animated props can fill in where we don’t have live bodies too.”
“There should be jack-o'-lanterns everywhere. I’ll bet Marshall Stone will donate to the cause and maybe he’ll even help carve.” Nikki sighed. “I love carving faces.”
“I’m sure with your kitchen witch abilities, they’re a work of art.” I snapped my fingers as my gaze slid to my witchcraft book. “We need a fake spell book that opens and closes on its own; Aunt Mimi can cast a spell for that. Maybe with a funny, but fake incantation on the page in case someone reads it.”
Nodding, Gage said, “Some well-placed lifelike rats and other critters that move, covered with glow-in-the-dark paint. And I’ll even buy some roses for my girl and she can let them die before using them at the entrance of the haunted house.”
I could feel the frown appear when I remembered our most recent death in town where the local rose grower had been killed. But I didn’t say anything to cause anyone to go down that sad path. “I think we have a lot of good ideas. Let’s write them down and see who we can line up to donate or volunteer to help.”
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Title Holiday & Homicide
Author Lucinda Race
Genre Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb
Enjoy this clean, paranormal, cozy mystery by award-winning and bestselling author Lucinda Race.
Welcome to Pembroke Cove, where witches and murders are multiplying...
With twinkling lights and Christmas trees, the small seaside town of Pembroke Cove, Maine, is dressed up for the season. Lily Michaels, bookstore owner and witch, is excited to attend the Glow and Glide ice skating festival. This year, as part of a couple with her new fiancé, Gage Erikson—who Milo, her familiar, calls Detective Cutie. It’s the holidays, what could go wrong?
After the fun is over from the skating event, Lily drives by the rink and is shocked to discover a body on the ice. Mailman Archie Dane is dead. Lily's intuition starts to twitch. When she learns there is a discarded mailbag near the body, things go wonky. Archie was a nice guy, but with claims of stolen mail parcels, was he a thief, stealing from his friends and neighbors?
Suspects and motives are piling up faster than the crisp white snow. What is Archie’s new girlfriend, Noelle, hiding? What about his co-worker flirting with Noelle? With Lily's spell work improving and having escaped death four times in the last six months, will her luck hold while solving another murder? It’s a magical season, but will it be a merry Christmas for Lily and Gage?
Holidays & Homicide is the fifth novel in the A Book Store Cozy Mystery Series; although each book can be read as a standalone, it is best to read them in order. It is a sweet, clean, cozy mystery that guarantees the culprit is caught. Happy reading!
Excerpt
Tightly closing the door to my bookstore, I hurried down the brick sidewalk in the direction of the police station. But my destination, The Sweet Spot Bakery. Across the street I could see the holiday decorating committee was busy putting the final touches on the decorations around the ice skating rink. The annual holiday Winter Glow and Glide skating party was from seven to nine tonight. This was the first time Gage and I would be going as a couple. I looked at the glove on my left hand, saw a distinctive bump on my ring finger and sighed. We had been engaged for six weeks and it had been the best time in my life. The snow was blowing and creating drifts in the square, and I didn’t want to get pulled into a conversation with the volunteers. The store had been busy with holiday shoppers but I needed a quick pick-me-up, and it was easier to zip down Doenut Drive and past the police station to reach my friend William’s bakery. And if my handsome fiancé’s car, who was also a detective on the force, was in the parking lot, I’d take a quick detour and see if he wanted to join me for coffee. As I rounded the corner I noticed his parking spot was empty.
Pulling the hood of my wool jacket up and tugging on the laces, I braced myself against the freezing cold. The snow was picture-perfect for the holiday season and about time. I thought about how the first storm historically arrived right after Thanksgiving, but not this year. It was mid-December and this was the first measurable snowfall. A sharp toot of the horn caused me to look up, and I waved to Archie Dane, our mailman. His mail truck glided to a stop beside me.
“Hi, Lily, where are you headed?”
Archie’s wide smile always elicited a grin from me as he gave me a friendly wink. “Kinda cold out to be taking a walk.” Bright-red wool gloves were a sharp contrast to his blue uniform jacket which was neatly pressed. His short brown hair was partially covered by a blue knit hat with the USPS logo on the front. He looked as if he stepped from a recruiting poster for the post office. Well, except for the red gloves. They were downright practical for this weather.
“It’s refreshing and hopefully it will bring people out to skate tonight. I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but Robin’s Cafe is donating hot cider and cocoa, and The Copper Kettle and The Sweet Spot are hosting a cookie corner.”
“I’m looking forward to it. I’ve sharpened my skates and am ready to take a few turns around the ice.” He looked at the police station behind us. “Will you and Gage be coming?”
My heart sighed. It was the first year that we’d be skating as an engaged couple after all the years we’d been just best friends. It had taken me almost dying at the hands of some crazy lady, and a few close calls for us to open our eyes and state our true feelings. “We’re looking forward to it. I just hope I don’t spend more time on my backside than my feet.”
He said, “I’ve been walking around my house to practice wearing them again.” A wistful look splashed across his face. “If only I hadn’t lost at the state championship, who knows how far I could have gone in the world.” Tugging on the front of his jacket, he said, “But then I wouldn’t be here making sure the mail arrives on time to my friends and neighbors.”
I wanted to offer him sympathy that all works out for the best, but knew that no real words would comfort him. Never having experienced that type of setback, I decided to ease away from the topic. “Are you bringing someone with you tonight?”
The smile was back. “Noelle Webber. I met her a few weeks ago. She’s a driver at We DOT Shipping. We met delivering a package to the same place, and then I bumped into her again at the Magical Moonshine Pub in Robin’s Pointe—that’s where she lives. I think it was fate.”
I was genuinely pleased Archie had met a nice girl. At least I was assuming she was since he deserved someone special. “I’m looking forward to meeting her tonight.”
Gripping the steering wheel, he said, “I’d better get going. Mail delivery needs to get done so I can get to Robin’s Pointe and back in plenty of time to take Noelle for dinner before the Glow and Glide starts. It’s her first time skating, and I’m hoping she enjoys it.”
“I’m sure she will with you by her side.” If I hadn’t been paying attention, I wouldn’t have noticed the corners of his mouth deepen to a brief frown. “Yes. I need to get my coffee and get back to the store. With Christmas two weeks away, I’m in for a hectic day.”
Saying goodbye, Archie tapped the horn one more time as he pulled away. I watched as the small white vehicle took a left turn on Route One, leaving town and not heading where I thought his route went. I did feel bad for whatever was troubling him. The next time I got the chance, I’d ask him, just to make sure there wasn’t trouble that I could help him fix. I pulled my collar close to my face and hurried down the sidewalk. Winter in New England had finally arrived.
I was getting ready to lock up my bookstore for the day when the front door opened. Milo, my familiar, sat up on the front counter where I was working and said, “Well, look who’s here; it’s Detective Cutie.”
My fiancé was tall and well built, with the dreamiest hazel eyes and light brown hair. I could see from where I was standing his vintage cherry-red pickup was parked next to the curb. He crossed the room with a swagger full of confidence but not cocky. “Hello.” Gage’s deep voice warmed my heart. His voice held the same smile that was on his lips. Leaning in, he kissed me.
“Hello, yourself. I thought you were picking me up at home?”
His finger trailed down my cheek and gently pushed my chin up, tilting my face to him. “I couldn’t wait another minute to see you.”
My heart sighed as this kind of talk could potentially sway me from going skating, but I knew as a shop owner I needed to be at the event to support the town. “I’m glad you did.”
Milo started hacking up a hairball. “People can see you through the window.” He jumped down, trotted to his window seat, and then hopped up and settled onto the cushions.
Ignoring him and looking past Gage as the darkness fell, I said, “Did you see the tree in the square?”
He glanced over his shoulder. “You mean the lobster traps stacked to resemble a Christmas tree?” He smiled again. “It’s hard to miss with all those twinkle lights and shiny baubles.”
Now, I sighed loudly. “I think it’s a wonderful idea, and it will save a tree, and it’s in plain view of my shop so I can look at it until after the New Year.”
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Title Leprechauns & Larceny
Author Lucinda Race
Genre Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb
Enjoy this clean, paranormal, cozy mystery by award-winning and bestselling author Lucinda Race.
Welcome to Pembroke Cove, where witches and murders are multiplying...
Bookstore owner and witch Lily Michaels has a never-ending list of to-do items as the maid of honor for her best friends’ upcoming St. Patrick’s Day wedding. The last thing she has time for is another mystery. But with a missing wedding dress, the discovery of a pair of leprechaun boots, and a body in a bathtub, she’s ready to mesh her love of puzzles and a little magic to help solve the crime. Even if her fiancé —Gage Erikson of the Pembroke Cove police department— is determined to keep her out of trouble and safe.Good luck with that.
Lily is going to need more than the luck of the Irish to solve the murder while a group of treasure hunters, friends of the deceased, are in town. Only they’re not grieving. They’re focused on finding a pirate captain’s gold, which—according to legend—the rocky coast of Pembroke Cove keeps hidden…and is only accessible during three days in March.
Will Lily’s luck hold with a wedding in shambles and a murderer skulking in the shadows? She needs to follow the clues to solve the case but can her witchy skills save her when the final clue leads her to the murderer?
Leprechauns and Larceny is the sixth novel in A Book Store Cozy Mystery Series, although each book can be read as a standalone—a sweet and clean cozy mystery with a guarantee that the culprit is caught. Happy reading!
Excerpt
I double-checked the time. It was just noon. I added the notebook to my tote bag. It had a never-ending list of to-do items for the upcoming wedding of my best friends, Nikki and Steve. As the maid of honor, I had taken on the bulk of the last-minute details while Nikki conjured up ideas for her wedding cake. As one of the best kitchen witches in our small town of Pembroke Cove, Maine, I knew it was going to be the most delicious cake ever, even if the theme was St. Patrick’s Day and all things Irish. Not that I had a lot to compare it to since I had shied away from weddings. You know the saying, ‘Always a bridesmaid, never a bride’? Well, I thought I was in that category until last fall when my forever crush and I finally made it official. Detective Gage Erikson and I started dating, and even more recently, we got engaged.
“Milo,” I called out to my gray tabby cat, who also happened to be my familiar. He was nowhere to be found. I wandered down the mystery aisle in my bookstore, hoping I’d find him snoozing in the soft kitty bed I had tucked into the corner for him. But it was empty.
“Milo?” He hadn’t mentioned he was going out and I needed to get next door to the Pembroke Cove B & B to start decorating for the wedding reception. The flowers were going to be delivered tomorrow, so things needed to get organized. But not before I knew what had happened to Milo.
I stood in the middle of my bookstore with my hands on my hips and tilted my head back before saying in a loud and clear voice, “Milo, what kind of witch would I be if I left without talking to you?”
“Can’t I get a catnap in without being interrupted?” His deep kitty grumble from behind me caught me off guard. I twirled around, thankful I was wearing jeans and not a long skirt which would have tripped me up, and I’d be on the floor with my familiar.
“There you are.” I scooped him up and crushed him to my chest. “Where were you hiding?”
He tapped his paw, sans claws, to my cheek. “I’m not telling you since I’ll never have a peaceful moment when the store is open if you know where to find me.”
He rubbed his head under my chin so I knew he was just being cantankerous and not annoyed with me. We had come a long way in the last nine months or so when I discovered I was a witch after my family’s book of magic, Practical Beginnings, had clonked me on the head.
Kissing the space between his ears, I set him in one of the wingback chairs at the front of the store. “I need to run next door and see how the tables are set up for this weekend. Aunt Mimi was going to come down and watch the shop but had something else to do. Not that I know what’s more important than this wedding.”
“I assume Nikki is up to her wand in icing?” Milo stretched his body across the chair and got comfortable for his next nap.
I couldn’t help but laugh. He knew her so well. “She’s trying to come up with the perfect flavor combination that not only is fitting for a wedding but will also enhance the theme.”
It was only recently that I had discovered wands and witches were a thing. Much to my delight, I had been to a charming shop in Boston called Wanderlings. It was there I selected my wand, and I took it with me everywhere. Even now, it was safely tucked into the bottom of my tote bag. Not that I was very good at using it yet, but I would be someday.
He rolled over onto his back and gave me a look. I knew what was coming next.
“I will scratch your tummy later. I’m already late.” Slinging my tote bag over my shoulder, I gave him a quick pat. “I’ll be back soon, so keep an eye on the shop.”
“No worries, my dear witch. You can count on me.” He yawned and I chuckled. “Maybe I should invest in security cameras to keep a watchful eye.” I crossed to the door, and my hand was on the knob.
He opened his eyes and looked up again. “Now that’s a great idea, or better yet, find the spell that will give you access to your store whenever you want.”
“That’s a thing?”
He sighed. “Tonight, try asking the book. You’ve made great progress over the winter, but you might need to challenge yourself in the coming days.”
That stopped me in my tracks. “Are you clairvoyant? Is there something specific I need to be ready for?” Since I discovered my powers, we’d had five murders in our sleepy little town and broken up a fraud scheme that had been brewing right under the police department’s nose. My newly acquired skills had come into play along with my love of solving puzzles. Thank heavens, Gage discovered working with me only helped him solve the cases quicker than without me. In the process, a new witch and our friend, Dax Peters, had moved to town and joined the police force.
“Do you remember what Nikki mentioned at Halloween?”
Racking my brain, I couldn’t bring anything to mind except that I had been focused on the haunted house the town put on as a fundraiser, the murder of Mathias Slone, solving said crime, and my almost demise. “You can’t mean the casual mention of other kinds of paranormals coming to town.”
“Anything is possible, and now you need to hurry. You said it yourself—there is much to do before the big day.”
Instantly, kitty snores filled the room. I had to wonder, how did he fall asleep so fast and what did he know that he wasn’t telling me? He hinted at information but never divulged the tidbits, letting me discover things as I got into a bit of trouble.
I opened the door and locked it, then added an extra protection charm around the building and Milo. He had become a part of my heart. Not that he wouldn’t harass me about that later if he knew, but there was no way I could imagine life without him.
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Title Magicians & Murder
Author Lucinda Race
Genre Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb
Enjoy this clean, paranormal, cozy mystery by award-winning and bestselling author Lucinda Race.
Welcome to Pembroke Cove, where witches and murders are multiplying...
Lily Michaels is working on her craft as a new witch, enjoying life, and running her shop in the quaint town of Pembroke Cove. …Until four magicians show up at the Cozy Nook Bookstore determined to get Lily's book, Practical Beginnings. The book isn’t for sale—not that they could use it anyway, as they’re not a Michaels’ family members. Her familiar, Milo, is ready to do all he can to protect his favorite witch.
Upon opening her store the next day, Lily discovers a body—one of the men who tried to buy her book. Detective Gage Erikson, her fiancé, turns the case over to Dax Peters since Lily is the main suspect in the murder. Despite her confidence in her friends on the police force, she must move quickly to learn who is responsible. She’s pretty sure one of the three remaining magicians should be the prime suspect, but which one? Or did they conspire to commit murder together?
As Gage and the rest of her friends from Pembroke Cove stand beside her ready to solve the case, Lily knows this puzzle will be her greatest challenge. Not only does she need to clear her name and protect her book but Lily discovers dark magic can lead to murder.Magicians & Murder is the seventh novel in the A Book Store Cozy Mystery Series; although each book can be read as a standalone, it is best to read them in order. It is a sweet, clean, cozy mystery that guarantees the culprit is caught. Happy reading!
Excerpt
I looked at my watch for the third time and decided to make a pot of coffee. Wandering into the tiny kitchen that doubled as the storage room in the back of my bookstore, I cast a quick but effective spell to start the coffee brewing. I stepped into the main room and looked out the front windows overlooking Main Street. The calendar said it was April, but today the blowing flakes of snow reminded me winter still had a firm grip on the tiny town of Pembroke Cove. And still no Nikki.
My best friend had been on her honeymoon, and I was anxious to hear all about it. I blushed as I rephrased that in my head—about the vacation part, restaurants, and what they did. In turn, I was going to fill her in on the details of the case about poor John Bailey, the treasure hunter running around town dressed as a leprechaun, and the cause of his untimely death.
I looked at Milo, my gray tabby cat and familiar, soaking up the morning sun on the wide windowsill. The smile on my face changed from friend zone to business person in the blink of an eye. Standing outside the store were two couples. The women were tall and willowy and looked like they stepped from the pages of a fashion magazine. The older gentleman had piercing blue eyes, dark hair with strands of silver, high cheekbones, and a long, thin nose. He was stop in your tracks handsome, and next to him was the fourth person, who also was dipped in the gorgeous gene pool. He looked similar to the tall man, but younger, with blond hair and deep brown eyes. The small bell above the front door jingled as they entered.
“Welcome to the Cozy Nook Bookshop.” I swept my hand from side to side. “Browse to your heart’s content, and if you’re looking for something specific, be sure to let me know. We have an extensive section on local history and authors in aisle one.”
“Thank you.” The woman with auburn hair turned to the brunette and said, “We should start there.”
I took a step closer, but my pulse ticked up. Animosity wrapped around them like a cloak, and I didn’t go any farther. I wished Milo would saunter by the desk. He’d get a good read on them in half a minute or less. The older man looked me up and down.
“Do you work here?” His voice was deep and rich but cold and harsh at the same time, which made no sense to me at all. It was so conflicting.
“I’m the owner.” Normally, I would introduce myself, but something told me to hold back.
“I was under the impression Mimi Michaels was the store owner,” the younger man said and they all nodded.
“She sold it to me a couple of years ago.” I slipped my hand into my skirt pocket, hoping to find my phone, but I remembered I left it near the cash register. Turning, I crossed the room, not caring if I appeared rude, and paused at the counter. Very few people made me nervous, but these four definitely brought in the hostility of someone I had wronged. But I had never seen them before.
Milo jumped up on the counter, and without thinking, my hand slid down his back. Just the connection calmed me. He looked up, and in a soft gravelly kitty growl, he said, “Who are they and what are they doing here?”
The brunette looked our way, her eyes fixed on Milo.
I didn’t answer him. Was it a coincidence she looked over at the same time he asked his question? Could they be witches from another town and that’s how they knew my aunt Mimi?
Milo bobbed his head under my hand as if trying to get some attention. “She can’t understand me, but she knows you can.”
I could feel my protection necklace that my aunt had given me grow warm against my skin. I turned my back to her and dropped my voice to a whisper. “Who are they?” I glanced over my shoulder and noticed the woman with auburn hair stalking over to me.
“I’m Iris Herman.” She pointed to the other woman. “Standing in the historical section behind me is Celeste Jaden. The younger man with her is Clay Proctor and last, but never least, is Luca Rand.”
She casually looked over the counter and saw my family’s book of magic, Practical Beginnings, and her face morphed into a satisfied smile. “Luca. I found it.”
Milo jumped on top of it, effectively covering the book with his lanky body.
“I’m sorry that book isn’t for sale; it’s my family’s history.”
Luca rushed over and extended his arms, exposing a small moon tattoo. He started to pick up a hissing Milo, who raked his claws down Luca’s arms.
His eyes narrowed. “I need to see that book.”
Picturing the book in my mind, I said under my breath, “I wrap this book in protection, as I wish so it shall be.”
Milo turned slightly and gave me a slow wink. He knew my spell work was getting stronger and better with each passing day. I didn’t need a long incantation to make a spell work if the intention was made with strength of spirit.
Luca’s eyes widened, and now his attention was focused on me. “Are you related to Mimi?”
The door opened, and Nikki was standing in the doorway. She looked at the people in my shop and then at me. “Morning. Sorry I’m a little late.” She closed the door with a flick of her wrist, but it wasn’t the non-magical way; she was in witch mode. Her tone was sharp as she said, “What’s going on here?”
“Two witches. How interesting.” Luca’s gaze bored into Nikki, but she didn’t flinch.
“We’re the Magicians. I’m sure you’ve heard of our show. We’re holding a single performance at the Lights Out movie theatre in town tomorrow night. You should come as our guests.” He handed me two tickets that seemed to appear from thin air. When I didn’t accept them, he placed the tickets on the counter very close to where my book and Milo were.
This time the low and ominous growl that came from Milo sounded more like a wild cat ten times his size, and I had never heard that from him before.
Luca withdrew his hand and gave me a smug smile as if to tell me I had won this round but not the war. In my gut, somehow, I knew more skirmishes were to come in regard to my book of magic.
“Clay. Celeste,” he called over his shoulder, then inclined his head to give me a sinister smile. “Until next time, Ms. Michaels.”
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