When the Magic Comes (A Grimm Medieval Mystery Book One) by Shereen Vedam

When the Magic Comes (A Grimm Medieval Mystery Book One)
by Shereen Vedam
October 13, 2026
Genre: Cozy Epic Fantasy Mystery
Publisher: Shereen Vedam
ISBN: eBook 9781989036464
ISBN: Paperback 9781989036471
ISBN: Audiobook 9781989036488
ASIN: B0FVYCWP33
Number of pages: 240
Word Count: 62,000
Cover Artist: Suzie O’Connell from Sunset Rose Books

Magic. Prophecy. Murder.

It’s been said that Kennard of Grimm is destined to be the first in a long line of warriors who battle evil with magic.

Just one problem: he teaches magic at a prestigious university, but he has no magical abilities.

What he has is a dangerous curiosity, piercing instincts, and a responsibility for a baby dragon named Tala. Normal chaos rules Kennard’s life until a student is murdered, and another is blamed. Convinced the accused is innocent, he sets out to find the real killer.

To further complicate Kennard’s life, his mother and sister visit him, sparking Tala’s protective instincts. Then things turn more dangerous when a second body shows up.

The killer’s audacity is mounting.

Kennard must stop the murderer and soothe his indignant dragonet or risk death and destruction on a much larger scale.

If you enjoy your mystery with a hint of fairy tale, you’ll love meeting Kennard of Grimm and his dragonet, and sharing in their epic adventure as amateur detectives in a magical medieval fantasy world.

Books2Read-Amazon

 

Excerpt
This is who I am. I’m the widow of a knight. My father was the Baron of Grimm. I’m the eldest of four. And my brother is the first Grimm to insist he can see magical creatures. My name is Violet.

On this November day, in the year of our Lord 1312, an unusual crime was committed at Edensa University, where my brother lives. There had been no warning that this event would be life-changing for both him and me.

As Master of Magical Theory and History, he soon became entangled in the event, for it had magical undertones. I intended to keep him out of harm’s way. But then I became worried, as I wondered if his convictions were not just the result of an overactive imagination.

What if there really are invisible monsters?

* * *

“Surely magical creatures are naught but myths, sir?” Gazi spoke from a bench two rows back. “They don’t exist.”

This late-night class, the first Kennard had held this autumn, would hopefully be the last. It had made for a long day.

The lit torches shadowed Gazi’s strong features, giving him a devilish cast. He suspected the clever lad of being deliberately provocative. At fourteen, he was only seven years Kennard’s junior, yet Gazi might as well have been a mischievous child of eight, the way he sometimes acted.

Kennard addressed his students. “What do you think of Gazi’s question? Is it worthy of our consideration?”

“No!” Fanil lounged on a bench to Kennard’s left and flashed Gazi, his arch-nemesis, an over-the-shoulder smirk. “But such creatures are present in Bernada,” he added, snapping on the bait despite his avowal to the contrary.

Two vociferous rivals for the class fool.

“As if you would know.” Gazi chuckled. “You’ve never been to the sorcerers’ kingdom. No mortal has.”

“Our queen has,” Elspera countered, one of only three lasses registered for his class, and the only one of them present tonight. She sat directly across from Kennard, her favorite spot.

Her maid sat by the door, head tilted, eyes closed, and mouth half open, while releasing soft snores.

Elspera pointed at a portrait of our fair monarch on the wall. Her long sleeve slid down as she raised her arm, revealing a pale hand and wrist covered in intricately painted, darkly dotted patterns.

Gazi straightened on his bench, running a hand through his hair. “I grant, unlike us, God bestowed Queen Amity with exceptional powers. Yet, even she’s never spoken of magical creatures, not in our lands or even in Bernada.” His tone grew soft as his gaze rested on the fair maiden. “Also, this topic is about magical creatures, like ogres, griffins, and water spirits. Not sorceresses.”

“As a sorceress,” Elspera argued, “the queen could be considered a magical creature. If you seek further evidence, what about religious texts, which mention behemoths, demons, and even dragons? They do not lie.”

“My pa says it is blasphemous to discuss witchery,” a lad said from the last row. “The church forbids it.”

Though Gregory had addressed his comments to the class, his gaze lingered by the doorway. Was he hoping he could be anywhere but here? Possibly. Kennard glanced toward the doorway, where Elspera’s maid, having awoken, sat straight and blinked tired eyes. It had been a long day.

His attention returned to Gregory, who hailed from a small village in Greece. Normally, a quiet lad. Why a religious boy wished to attend sacrilegious lessons had once troubled him when the lad’s family applied to enroll him in this class.

Had the Church sent this “little bird” to Edensa to report on Kennard’s teachings, so they could smear his father’s name? For the Baron of Grimm had spoken out against the Pope a time or two.

Kennard’s fist had clenched at the possibility of his behavior being used to attack his father. In the end, he met Gregory, and his instincts insisted the lad had good in him. So, deciding an enemy close at hand was worth three in the bush, he’d admitted him. Time would prove if he’d been wise or not.

About the Author:
Website-Blog-Bluesky
Pinterest-BookBub 
FB Author Page-Goodreads
Newsletter
Once upon a time, USA Today bestselling author Shereen Vedam read fantasy and romance novels to entertain herself. Now she writes heartwarming tales braided with threads of magic and love and mystery elements woven in for good measure.

Shereen's a fan of resourceful women, intriguing men, and happily-ever-after endings. If her stories whisk you away to a different realm for a few hours, then Shereen will have achieved one of her life goals.

Paranormal Cozy Mystery: Whispers of the Forgotten: A Casey Carson Mystery by Aimee Archer

Everyone in town wants Casey to stop asking questions about her father’s death. Especially whatever’s waiting inside the house.

Whispers of the Forgotten: A Casey Carson Mystery
by Aimee Archer
A grieving daughter. A haunted house. A mystery her father died trying to solve.

When Casey Carson returns to her quiet hometown after her father’s sudden death, she expects grief, not ghosts. But the house he left behind is filled with strange whispers, shifting shadows, and secrets someone was willing to kill to protect.

As Casey uncovers evidence that her father had been investigating something dangerous before he died, she’s pulled into a chilling mystery tied to restless spirits, hidden conspiracies, and long-forgotten truths buried deep within the town’s history.

With the help of her loyal childhood best friend and a quirky group of paranormal enthusiasts, Casey begins piecing together the truth. But every answer draws her closer to the same terrifying force that hunted her father.

Because he wasn’t imagining things.

And whatever was watching him has now turned its attention to Casey.

Perfect for fans of paranormal cozy mysteries filled with haunted houses, small-town secrets, supernatural twists, and amateur sleuths, Whispers of the Forgotten is the first Casey Carson mystery.

Amazon 

 

About the Author:
website
Aimee Archer writes paranormal cozy mysteries. Her interest in things that go bump in the night started during a remodel of a recently purchased house over 20 years ago. Choosing to do her own renovations after work and on the weekends, she was continually plagued by radios that changed channels without human intervention, paint brushes that would be in different locations upon her return the following day, cold spots in the home during the heat of a Texas summer and finally that all too familiar feeling of someone behind you, when there wasn’t. Or was there? 

Aimee was born and raised in Texas and is still there with her family; 4 daughters, 18 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, 4 dogs, 5 cats and a possum. When not writing, Aimee spends her time ghost hunting in not only Texas, but locations over hundreds of miles away, all to connect with the unknown. The evidence of her ghost hunting has been woven into her stories along with her love of story telling. 

Book Review: A Crime Through Time (Miss Darcy Investigates Book 1) by Amelia Blackwell

A Crime Through Time: The Pride and Prejudice Mystery With A Time Travel Twist (Miss Darcy Investigates Book 1)
by Amelia Blackwell
July 10, 2025
Pemberley, 1799. When Miss Georgiana Darcy attempts to escape an unwanted marriage proposal, she isn’t expecting to end up quite so far from home. But after encountering a mysterious object in the nearby woods, she finds herself transported almost two hundred years into the future.

Saltram, 1995. At a grand country house where a film crew are busy shooting the latest Jane Austen adaptation, a terrible crime has been committed. And Miss Darcy – newly arrived, impeccably dressed and thoroughly confused – is the only witness.

It soon becomes clear that, somehow, Georgiana was meant to solve this riddle. With the help of a distractingly handsome Irishman named Quinn and a border collie named Watson, she sets out to stop the killer before they can strike again. But trouble is brewing back at Pemberley and time, it seems, is not on her side . . .

Amazon

June 25, 2026

I really enjoyed reading the book- it was written in the 18th century style jargon and the late 1990's. You have to read it to really get the style and language. The story was witty and fast, and I liked the short paragraphs- you had a real understanding of the switching between the time frames- never got lost in nether land. I hope George and Quinn reunite. Love the note left at the end. All in all, I will read any of Ms. Blackwell's work. It was a very fast and enjoyable read.

I am looking forward to reading the next Miss Darcy Investigates- "The Haunting of a Bronte". 

I give it 4.5 Baaarts, as I really enjoyed the original style of writing, but it may not be for everyone. But be sure to give it a chance if you come across a copy of the Miss Darcy Investigates series.

About the Author:
Instagram
Amelia Blackwell has a master’s degree in Creative Writing, a corn snake called Colin, and a deep love of the works of Jane Austen. Although the Boleyns appear in her family tree, it’s through marriage, not blood, which is probably just as well. Georgiana Darcy’s most persistent suitor, Baron John de Halighwell, takes his name from one of Amelia’s distant great-grandfathers, who lived in a mansion that even Lady Catherine de Bourgh would admire. Amelia lives with her husband and children in a tiny house by the sea in Cornwall.

A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death (A SCYTHE Mystery) by Maxie Dara

In this witty and heartwarming second series installment (which can be read as a stand-alone), when a determined killer targets her adventurous twin brother, a risk-averse grim reaper will risk everything to save him—while also working to mend the rift that has come between them.

A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death (A SCYTHE Mystery)
by Maxie Dara
December 2, 2025
Genre: Supernatural mystery, humorous fantasy, cozy mystery

When a determined killer targets her brother, a grim reaper risks everything to save him in this delightful cozy mystery.

Nora Bird works for S.C.Y.T.H.E., which might seem odd for someone as terrified of death as she is. But ever since her parents died in an accident when she was six, she's been obsessed with avoiding risk, and what better place to learn how to cheat death than the company that employs the nation's grim reapers?

The work enables Nora to learn all about the myriad ways you can kick the bucket, which is comforting...until one day, a file crosses her desk with a name she recognizes. Her twin brother’s.

The twins haven’t spoken in six months, but Charlie is all Nora has left. Completely against her cautious nature, Nora steals the file and flees, racing to her brother’s house. She begs him to trust her that his death is imminent, and they hit the road (with his parrot, Jessica, who has plenty to say) in an attempt to evade both death and S.C.Y.T.H.E., whose sole mission of collecting souls has been disrupted by Charlie’s continued existence.

Alas, every time Nora saves him, a new cause of death appears in his file. Someone is determined to take Charlie out, and Nora will have to use everything she's ever learned about death to discover the culprit. 

Amazon 

 

Book 1 

About the Author:
Website
Maxie Dara is from a tiny, Hallmark movie-style town in Ontario, Canada where she works as a writer and actress, because rejection-heavy careers are her passion. She is also a two- time award- winning playwright. Maxie knew she wanted to be a writer at the age of seven, when she first fell in love with the written word. She also wanted to be a mermaid but has mostly focused on the writing side of things

Excerpt: The Vanishing Castle (Simarron Mysteries Book 1) by Marlena Cannon + giveaway

The Vanishing Castle: A Simarron Mystery (Simarron Mysteries Book 1)

by Marlena Cannon
September 23rd 2025
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery, Fantasy
A fantasy mystery with hooves and heart.

Simarron isn’t a detective, he’s just a centaur with a clipboard and a nose for trouble. He left his homeland to get a professional job in the city as a magical safety inspector. However, his new life isn’t quite as he imagined it to be and his fellow housemates at Slant Row Boarding House (which is definitely not haunted) are shadier than an enchanted forest.

When a castle disappears and an alchemist ends up dead, Simarron must choose between the cozy, safe rule-bound life he’s always dreamed of and the principles that won’t let him walk away. He is a safety inspector, after all, and the city isn’t safe with a killer on the loose.

A cozy mystery set in a richly imagined gaslamp fantasy world, The Vanishing Castle delights with magical intrigue, a quirky found family, and a centaur sleuth you won’t soon forget.   

Goodreads-Amazon-Barnes & Noble-iBooks-Kobo

EXCERPT:
So, you want to be a magical safety inspector?

Checking my pocket watch, I scuffed the moisture off my hooves as I entered the brick building. Inside, a framed newspaper article announced the founding of the Magic and Alchemy Safety and Health Administration just ten years ago. But the smell of dust, lamp oil, and crumbling paper told a different story, one far older. I caught a dim reflection of myself in the glass—enough to see that my auburn mane looked presentable—but I smoothed it down anyway while I waited.

My gaze restlessly traveled the shelves containing old books and magical oddities, including a globe of the world adorned with dynamic swirls of clouds that flowed over the model. The morning light streamed in from a pair of narrow, floor-to-ceiling windows, brightening the dark wood and heavy silence of the interior.

I glanced at my pocket watch again—one minute until my appointment. Inconveniently, the desk positioned outside the director’s office was unoccupied. Not a secretary in sight. Oh, no—they didn’t expect me to interview for a secretary position, did they?

An indistinct figure moved beyond the glass-paneled door. I shifted from hoof to hoof. What was I to do in this situation, knock or wait one more minute?

By the time I worked up the nerve to announce my presence, two more minutes ticked by. Dread slid its icy fingers into my chest, warning me that I was now late, and gave me the final push to act.

I reached forward to knock, pausing when I heard footsteps shuffle to a halt on the other side. I backed up awkwardly, my hooves clattering on the wood floor as the door swung outward.

“Hello, you must be Simarron! I’m Ken Moosekind, Executive Director of MASHA,” said a squinty man with a bushy mustache whose robes smelled faintly of tobacco. “Come in, lad, and mind your head.” He retreated behind his cluttered desk.

I ducked my head slightly, entering the office: a place of organized chaos. Books and files sat piled atop cabinets and shelves—even on the floor. Wood scraped on wood as I moved aside a chair and settled down on my haunches opposite the director.

Director Moosekind shifted a stack of papers aside. “So, Simarron, you want to join MASHA as a magical safety inspector, do you?”

 

 

About the Author:
Website-Goodreads 

Instagram
Marlena Cannon grew up reading "The Cat Who..." mysteries by Lilian Jackson Braun and writing stories of her own. She kept writing intermittently over the years, eventually pursuing her dream by completing the DIY MFA program in 2023, where she drafted "The Vanishing Castle," inspired by one of her childhood projects. She also designed the cover using her background in graphic design. Marlena lives with her husband and their rescue rabbits.

 

GIVEAWAY!
The Vanishing Castle Blitz

Ghost and Tell (Ghost Detective Book 10) by Jane Hinchey + giveaway

A dead teacher.
A scandalous secret.
And a PI who’s way too caffeinated to quit.

Ghost and Tell (Ghost Detective Book 10)
by Jane Hinchey
Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
A dead teacher. A scandalous secret. And a PI who’s way too caffeinated to quit.

Being a private investigator—and a ghost whisperer—means juggling the dead, the murderous, and an espresso addiction I refuse to acknowledge.

When the ghost of schoolteacher Sandra Greaves crashes my morning coffee, she’s not here for small talk—she needs me to find her killer. Problem is, her memory is patchy at best, and the only thing she’s sure of? Someone wanted her silenced.

The trail leads straight to shady school financials, questionable payouts, and a scandal involving an angry parent and a morally bankrupt school board member. Now I’m knee-deep in hush money, buried secrets, and motives worth killing for.

Meanwhile, my smokin’-hot husband is trying (and failing) to keep me out of trouble, Thor, the talking cat, won’t shut up about his diet, and Bandit, my cereal-stealing raccoon, is plotting her next snack heist.

But someone out there thinks I’m getting too close to the truth—and they’ll do anything to keep it buried.

Join Audrey Fitzgerald in Ghost and Tell, a paranormal cozy mystery featuring a talking cat, a mischievous raccoon, a ghost with unfinished business, and a murder to solve!

Amazon-Apple-B&N-Google-Kobo-Author’s Site-Bookbub-Goodreads

**Don’t miss the rest of the Ghost Detective Series!**
Find them on Amazon or the Author’s Site!

About the Author:

Website-Facebook-X 

Instagram-TikTok 

Bluesky-Bookbub

Amazon-Goodreads

Jane Hinchey delivers snort-worthy cozy mysteries and sizzling paranormal romances that grab readers from the get-go. With tenacious heroines, lovable sidekicks, and heroes who are more than just a pretty face, her books are an irresistible mix of humor, magic, and heart. From witches cracking cases to vampires in love, she offers an adventure where the extraordinary is the norm and love bites in the best way.

Living in Adelaide, South Australia, Jane crafts stories that promise an escape to a world brimming with mystery and passion. Get ready to be whisked away into tales where every page promises a thrill, a laugh, or a heart-thumpingly good romance.

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $10 Amazon giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Merry Murderous Midwinter The Skeleton Crew Paranormal Cozy Series Book 3 by Dahlia Donovan

​

A Merry Murderous Midwinter
The Skeleton Crew Paranormal Cozy Series Book 3
by Dahlia Donovan
January 31, 2025
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Cozy Mystery
Welcome back to the Skeleton Crew. Bring your knitting needles, a good strong brew, and plenty of snacks. You’re going to need them.

Gender-fluid, autistic vampire Hyde Snodgrass is living their best life with their bookshop, cats, and witch girlfriend, Teresa Vega. The colours of autumn are beginning to blend into winter. An ordinarily joyous midwinter is spoiled by the arrival of their estranged family.

When their murderous uncle is found dead in front of their shop, Hyde finds themselves unwillingly dragged into the investigation. Accusations swirl around South Myrddin. It takes a village to untangle the mystery.

Can the true killer be unmasked in time to save them?

Will there be anything to celebrate in the coming Yuletide season?

Amazon

 

“What do you think, Mortar? Pestle?” Hyde finished adjusting their button-down collar out of the blue sweater and glanced at the two cats observing them. One meowed quite loudly while the other sniffed before licking a paw. “You’re both remarkably unhelpful.”
The outfit of the day was one of their favourites. A lovely blue sweater with a well-worn button-down underneath. Jeans. A little boyish style from yesteryear with their trousers tucked into their socks and a vintage pair of brown boots.
I am a chubby ginger icon. I can seize the day.
Or I can seize a book to read.
That sounds better.
I’ll seize a book.
A particularly loud yowl caught their attention. The cats were definitely ready for their breakfast. They both looked pitifully up at Hyde.
“All right. Come on, you two.”
Mortar was a stunningly beautiful Persian with startling blue eyes who’d definitely been a queen in a previous life. Pestle, on the other hand, had probably been a court jester. His long ginger fur and almost glowing yellow eyes certainly set him apart, as did his sense of mischief.
They were Hyde’s constant companions. They ruled the roost. And more often than not, they kept the right people in the shop and the rest from overstaying their welcome.
Between the Leaves had been Hyde’s passion project for almost eighty years. The building had been a gift from the woman who’d taken them in as a child. A little shop with a comfortable flat on the second floor, it had once been a place serving afternoon tea, but books had been more interesting to Hyde.
Returning to stare at the mirror, Hyde attempted to corral their short, curly red hair into some semblance of a style. It was going to be a hat day. A hat day. It was a mostly nonverbal day. And a they day.
Being a vampire had its perks; being almost a hundred yet having stopped ageing at thirty was certainly a plus. Being an autistic one, though, had drawbacks. Every sound and smell was amplified by what felt like a thousand. The world could be an incredibly overwhelming place. It was Flossie who’d come up with the idea for the signs.
Flossie Vandermark was one of the three witches who ran The Spiked Cauldron, the village pub. She also happened to be a proud member of the Skeleton Crew, a weekly knitting group who met up at Hyde’s bookshop. Flossie had suggested a sign for days when Hyde didn’t want to talk or when they felt more they than she.
It made Hyde feel accepted. Everyone wanted to do what made them comfortable. It was part of the magic of their village.
Acceptance.
Everyone knew about South Myrddin. The little village on a loch in the Scottish Highlands was founded by Merlin himself, or so the lore went. It had a reputation for taking in the abandoned.
Hyde had come as a child when their family vampire coven had rejected them. South Myrddin was the place for stragglers, odd ones, and outliers. A place to find family if one wanted.
A place to find home.
The village had a healthy coven of witches. A few vampires. The odd werewolf. A collection of naiads, dryads, and brownies. Druids and shifters. A stray kelpie. An incubus and succubus, who were Italians who ran a restaurant. And one lone fae who’d been in South Myrddin since the beginning, or so they claimed.
The eclectic bunch of magical beings had all made South Myrddin their home. Most of the villagers came searching for a place to feel comfortable in their own skin. Hyde considered themselves grateful to have been left there all those years ago.

About the Author:
website
Dahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games. 

 

Giveaway 

$5 Amazon Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Maggie McCready’s Travelling Tarot Adventures by Melody R. Green + giveaway

A spellbinding adventure through mystical realms and celestial encounters

 The Pilgrims' Way Cafe (Maggie McCready’s Travelling Tarot Adventures Book 2)
by Melody R. Green
Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Maggie finds herself in an adventure with eight Archangels (including Archangel Michael) who have asked her to help them clear the negative energies around a very old pilgrims' route on Dartmoor, called The Archangels' Way. They're on a mission to rid the Way of the impact of human history, smugglers, highwaymen, ghosts, pixies, energy centres, churches, ley-lines, death, peat bogs, gallows, haunted inns, rolling mists, stone circles, standing stones and holy wells.

It's a fascinating place with energy wormholes and crossing points between the dimensions giving Maggie and the Archangels plenty of disturbances to try to balance and of course Phineas, Archdemon and the Archangel of Chaos is there to make the task as difficult as possible.

**Only .99cents!**
Amazon-Bookbub-Goodreads

Maggie stared at the clock on her bedside table. Its luminous, green figures clicked up at 2 AM. She closed her eyes and turned over. It was no good. She wasn’t going to sleep tonight. She did a check of her body’s energy field, but all seemed well. That wasn’t the problem then. She was driving to Lyme Regis in the morning, another town, another opportunity to read for the locals, and share her special form of magic and healing. She rubbed her eyes and yawned. It wasn’t even a full moon, or eclipse energy, that had disturbed her peaceful slumber. Maybe a cup of cocoa, she thought, sitting up and sliding her legs out of the bed and onto the rug on the wooden floor. She hurried to the bathroom, relieved her bladder and then washed her face and hands, the cool water quite pleasant after the warmth of her bed. Looking in the mirror she saw her ruby-red hair stood out all around her pale face. Her colouring showed her Celtic origins. At five foot nine, she was tall with a heavier build than was fashionable, looking less like a model and more like a warrior without the muscles. Lightly clasping the handrail, she walked down the stairs. Maggie resembled an almost ghostly figure in her blue pyjamas that were covered in grey sloths. She had never seen a sloth up close, but these were comical and cute, and she thought described her rather well. As she wandered into the kitchen, a large yawn took over her body, and as she opened her eyes she almost fell over. The light was so bright in the room. It was as though forty spotlights were shining in the kitchen, aimed at her. She covered her eyes, breathed in deeply and slowly, and then opened them.

The bright lights weren’t spotlights, they were the combined energies of many large, angelic beings, wearing their finest regalia. She scanned the kitchen looking for an angel she knew. Leaning against the back door was Archangel Michael. He was dressed for battle. No long, flowing, white robes, harps playing, cherubs sweetly singing for him. He was encased from top-to-toe in black, even his wings were camouflaged and held close to his body. The planes of his face were sharply angled, and his white-blonde hair cut close to his head. The main feature of his face were his startling sky-blue eyes.

He raised his hand in salute and said, “Hello, Maggie, my dear. How are you?” It was some months since Maggie had worked with Archangel Michael in Angel Street. She gave him a brief nod, and then turned to grab milk from the fridge, a small milk saucepan for the stove, and began measuring out the milk to heat.

“Well, that wasn’t a very warm welcome, Michael, are you going to introduce us?” The tallest angel smirked.

Maggie looked at the fifteen-foot-tall angel. He, unlike the others in the room, carried a sword across his back. So, you’re a warrior, even though your demeanour is gentle, thought Maggie. In fact, while Michael was all honed muscle and warrior black, this angel was dressed more casually. He looked a bit like a medieval knight, without the armour, dressed in dark grey leggings and a leather-looking tabard. His face was open. Laughter lines etched around his bright green eyes and unruly light brown curls graced his head.

“Maggie, this giant here is Archangel Sandalphon. Don’t think his height makes him stronger or more important though,” he said. “Sandalphon … Maggie.” And with that Archangel Michael moved back to lean on the door again.

“Maggie, it’s a pleasure to meet you officially. I say officially because you call my name with every note you play on the cello. It’s always a delight to hear a human soul make music; but let’s talk more of that later. We hope you won’t mind helping us.

Michael assures us” – his arms spread wide to include all the other angels – “you’re the right human to ask for help with a little problem we have. Is your cocoa ready? How about you pour, and I’ll introduce you to everyone here, and we can begin?

Maggie lifted the milk saucepan from the stove top just in time as the milky bubbles rose to the top. She added it to the cocoa powder, honey, and cinnamon, stirring the liquid in her mug to remove any lumps. Once that was done, she placed the saucepanin the sink, turned on the tap and allowed the water to fill the saucepan to help release the boiled milk from the shiny metal, and then went to sit down at the wooden table. The angels moved en-masse and rearranged themselves, with Sandalphon in the centre and Archangel Michael leaning on the back door again.

“So firstly, we are all Archangels, some of our names you’ll recognise, others may be new to you. My twin, Metatron, you may have heard of, but he is busy with other things, so he won’t be here for this adventure. Along with Gabriel and Raphael” – he pointed his hand to each in turn – “but you may not have heard of these. This is Tzadkiel, Haniel, Azreal and Israfel, and of course you already know Michael.” He grinned.

As Sandalphon mentioned their names, they smiled in welcome or lifted their hands and turned. It was a lot for Maggie to take in, especially at 2 AM in the morning.

“Don’t worry about that, you don’t know them yet. Over time, they will explain what they’re about. But suffice to say, that each of us, and many others that are not here, have special tasks. We are like team leaders for groups of angels that interact with humans, and this has always been our overarching role since the beginning of Earth. However, humans were always expected to live on Earth, and we were tasked with being your companions, helpers, and guides. As you have probably learned from Michael, there are special places on the Earth’s grid that we look after. And one of these is a pilgrim route called The Archangels’ Way. This journey from Brentor to Chagford, like all pilgrimages, is a journey of self-discovery for the pilgrim. For many hundreds of years, The Way was hidden from all but a few pilgrims, but now there is more of an opening in human thinking, and more humans are now taking the road of the pilgrim, in accordance with the Great Plan. We are overseeing this realignment of The Way for humans of this present time, and we are there to help them work with the internal patterning and making significant shifts in the spiritual and emotional understanding of themselves and their journey currently.” He came up for breath.

“How does that require me?” asked Maggie, sipping her cocoa.

“Before I answer that question, Maggie, I need to make you aware of more information, is that ok?” he asked. Maggie nodded. “Have you heard of the seven deadly sins and the seven heavenly virtues?”

“Do you mean those spoken of in the Bible, greed, lust, sloth?” Maggie looked at her pyjamas covered with sloths. “And others, right? I’m not sure of the full list, not being a Sunday school participant,” she said.

A grin broke out across the faces of the Archangels, and it was as though all the lights of the world had been filtered to their smiles, bringing an unnatural bright glow to their faces. Maggie sat back in her chair as she surveyed them. She looked at each face so different from the other and yet, energetically linked. Then she looked across to Archangel Michael, who was not smiling but was simply raising his eyebrows at the scene.

Sandalphon continued. “Each soul plays their way through the vices and virtues in their many incarnations of life, until they have the fullest understanding of their own humanity, and that of others. This understanding enables compassion and love for others and opens a soul to their life mission. The idea of the pilgrimage is that the pilgrim grows in godliness and, for many religious requirements,perfection, and rebirth. The idea of pilgrimage is also found in indigenous cultures as well. In fact, all human societies are aware of the need for time out from the material way of life, and renewal of the spirit of each person as they reconnect to nature and Source. What we’ve been seeing over recent times, is the knowledge of the way, the truth … and I use that word advisedly.” He paused.

“Because there is no absolute truth, only the truth through an individual soul’s experience. Or a collective truth that is held by a group of people?” Maggie pondered.

“Yes, exactly!” Sandalphon nodded his head, “When each soul has aligned with their own truth, the human collective will be ‘The Truth’, in the acceptance of everyone’s truth being valid … and together they will be the whole truth. Of course, as we stand now, we are a long way from that truth, but The Archangels’ Way being open to more humans is the path forward to that. Currently, it’s being seen as more of a walker’s exercise than a spiritual one. This lack of understanding is either because they don’t have a religious understanding or are asleep to their soul’s journey. It means The Archangels’ Way is open to more negative energies. These walks are often on energy ley lines, or power points, if you like, and so attract vast amounts of energy, I believe Michael has already mentioned to you the significance of place names to us, and our need to protect our namesakes?”

“Yes. We worked on Angel Street earlier in the year.”

“So this would not be unfamiliar to you, then. In The Archangels’ Way, we have many different energies and times across many dimensions converging in this centre. As we work to upgrade the

energies of The Archangels’ Way and rebalance the pilgrims who come to the area over the next three months, we would like you to help us ground in that energy and be a conduit for the people, and us. Will you help us?”

She looked at the Archangels, who appeared to be holding their breath as they waited for her reply.

“I was leaving for Lyme Regis this morning.” Maggie looked at the clock again at 2:45AM.

“We are aware of that, and all we would ask is you spare us three months and then you can go to Lyme Regis. We would like you to stay in Belstone, a village on Dartmoor National Park, and part of The Archangels’ Way route. There is a coffee shop and guesthouse you can stay at, and you will do your usual work as a tarot reader and angel business coach. Along with the work we require.”

Seven pairs of eyes, silently pleading with all the pull of kittens or puppy dogs. Maggie knew when she was beaten. She sighed. “Okay!”

And a chorus of hallelujahs, whoops, and a chorus line from a West End show followed, as the angels celebrated with high kicks in a song and dance finale routine. Michael smiled where he stood, his eyes twinkling back at her, watching the antics of his brothers and sisters and said, “Enough you lot! You’ve got things to do, and Maggie needs some more sleep.”

“We can answer more of your questions on the road to Belstone,” Sandalphon said. And as though he’d snapped his fingers and switched off the lights, the archangels left en-masse, leaving the kitchen in the early morning gloom.

Michael moved to Maggie. “Thank you, Maggie, for agreeing. I wasn’t sure you would agree to work with us again.”

“What’s three months, Michael? A blink of an eye, right?” Maggie smiled, stood up and put her mug in the sink to wash.

“Get some sleep, Maggie. Sweet dreams.” Michael saluted, turned, and disappeared.

Maggie climbed the stairs to her bed and yawned. Time for sleep, she thought. Everything else would come soon enough.

 The Angel Tea House (Maggie McCready’s Travelling Tarot Adventures Book 1)
Maggie McCready is a travelling tarot reader who offers spiritual advice over a cup of tea and a charmed biscuit or two.

Maggie arrives in Angel Street to support tea blender and café owner, Lucy Silverton who is being targeted by unknown sectors of the community, undermining her confidence and business. Maggie must find out who is bullying the businesses of Angel St Business Network while keeping herself safe. This is her first mission assisting Archangel Michael and the Legions of Light to protect the suburb from the encroaching dark forces. Armed for the fight with only her kind heart, tarot deck in hand and her entourage of mystic beings, she has a lot to learn about Spirit, the dark forces and herself before this adventure ends.

Definitely something is brewing in Angel St, and it's not just the tea!

Amazon-Apple-Kobo-Smashwords-Books2Read-Bookbub-Goodreads

About the Author:
Website-FB-Instagram
Amazon-Goodreads
Melody R. Green is an Angel Intuitive who uses her gifts to help people work through the ups and downs of love, relationships, and the other big events of life, guiding them to connect back to “Spirit” and their own intuition. She has much first-hand knowledge of connection to Spirit as she lives in a home filled with spirits of many kinds, who speak to her often. Melody Lives in Sydney, Australia. 

 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$20 Amazon gift card,
Signed copy of The Angel Tea House,
Signed copy of The Pilgrims’ Way Cafe
– 1 winner each!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt: Shadows of the Past (The Unfinished Business of Eliot Ness) Pamela McCord + giveaway

Shadows of the Past (The Unfinished Business of Eliot Ness)
Pamela McCord
December 14th 2023
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
A copycat serial killer and the ghost of Eliot Ness. Can two amateur sleuths, with the help of the famous ghost, stop the murderer before he kills again.

A ghostly figure surprises India Bennett in her study. That’s unnerving enough, but said ghost leaves a book open to a page showing a mutilated body, a body which looks just like the body in a case Indy’s homicide detective boyfriend, Danny, is currently investigating. Standing next to the body in the picture in the mysterious book is a man Indy recognizes as the ghost she saw in her study. Danny points out to her that it would be impossible for her to have seen the man in the picture, the legendary lawman Eliot Ness.

Despite Danny’s insistence, Indy knows what she saw, and she and her best friend Cara become friends with Eliot’s spirit. With ghostly assistance, the amateur sleuths begin their own investigation. After their discovery of what appears to be a journal describing the original victims from the 1930s, and with two murders already committed by the current serial killer, Indy and Cara rush to find the copycat murderer before he kills again.

In “Shadows of the Past,” a thrilling fusion of historical crime and supernatural suspense, the spirit of Eliot Ness becomes an unexpected ally, guiding Indy and Cara through a treacherous maze of secrets and hidden motives. With their lives on the line and the body count rising, they must navigate the shadows of the past and confront the malevolent force that seeks to perpetuate the sins of history.

The past and present collide in this captivating novel, unleashing a bone-chilling tale of danger, redemption, and the enduring power of justice. Prepare to be captivated by this gripping page-turner.

Goodreads-Amazon

EXCERPT:
The man bent over, hands on knees, breathing in deep, ragged breaths until his heart rate slowed to a more normal level. He wasn’t as young as he used to be. Standing, he wiped his hands on his pants, brushed off the dirt and weeds clinging to the denim overalls, then gazed down at the body laid out in the field near the railroad tracks.

He took a moment to look at, and admire, his handiwork, but only a moment, as he couldn’t afford to be spotted. Then he reluctantly slipped quietly through the night to his waiting car, parked not a dozen yards from where he’d dumped the mutilated corpse. There would be time later to savor his memories of the enjoyment the person’s last hours had provided.

The dim whistle of a train sounded in the still evening air as he pulled open the driver’s-side door. The whistle sound was replaced by the crunching of dry weeds as he drove out of the field.

About the Author:
Website-FB-Instagram
Born in Arkansas and raised in Southern California, Pamela McCord started writing later in life when she was challenged by a friend to create a book out of his story idea. Since then, she's become an internationally published author. Pam has spent over 40 years working as a legal secretary at a law firm in Orange County, California. Aside from writing, she follows the stock market, buying, selling and trading stocks and options. In contrast to that, she loves trips to Las Vegas where she can spend many happy hours at the Pai Gow tables. She shares a condo with her very own My Cat From Hell TV star, Allie, who manages to exude just enough affection to make her scary feral ways tolerable.

GIVEAWAY
Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
$25 Amazon gift card
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt: A Vampire in Disguise (Creatures of the Midwest Book 1) by Ava Silvers + giveaway

A witch’s mission to find her sister’s killer leads to otherworldly dangers.

A Vampire in Disguise (Creatures of the Midwest Book 1)
by Ava Silvers
Genre: Cozy Urban Fantasy Mystery, Paranormal Romantic Suspense
A witch’s mission to find her sister’s killer leads to otherworldly dangers.

When Hazel Goode’s search for a murderer lands her in Shadow Hollow, she thinks the strangest thing there is herself. But this little midwestern town has been collecting supernatural creatures for centuries, and the arrival of one more could shatter the paranormal veil.

Corwin doesn’t plan to disclose he’s a vampire. After all, vampires are supposed to be extinct. But when he enlists Hazel’s help to solve a mystery – the same mystery she is trying to solve…but for a very different reason – his secret will put them both in danger.

Helping Corwin could crack Hazel’s case wide open, or could make them the next target. Now, with the Last Vampire on Earth and Hazel both digging around in the Midwest’s magical underbelly, it won’t be long before an uncontrollable darkness is released. And this time, there will be no escape.

Fans of True Blood and Midnight, Texas will find their next fix in Creatures of the Midwest series, a thrilling, additive paranormal drama.

Scroll up and one click to start reading this cozy small town fantasy today!

**On Sale for Only .99cents Jan 26-30!!**
Amazon-Books2Read-Bookbub-Goodreads

Excerpt for A Vampire in Disguise by Ava Silvers
“So, what’s that you have there? A touchstone? Do you have magic, Corwin?”
He held up a metal disk that looked ancient and had an oval shape. He let me hold it, and its warmth surprised me. I was warm, too, as though I had stepped through a wall of fire. Willow’s vibrant laughter slipped through me, a sound I recognized, even without hearing it, as joyful. The edges were worn thin, and the etchings on either side looked faint, but I didn’t recognize the symbols.
“I’ve had that as long as I can remember.”
He looked wistful as he took it from my fingers and flipped it, catching it deftly and slipping it back into his pocket. “Ja—,” he hesitated. “Just a little something from someone I used to know. At one point, it was the currency in Persia, but now, it’s my daylight token. With the right relationship and the right spell, any object can be put into service. Vampires and witches have a long history, it’s just well-concealed. Sarah spelled this for me and—”
Suddenly, Corwin clutched my arm with a vise-like grip, his eyes wide. “Hazel. Where is Willow’s token? What happened to Willow’s daylight charm?”

**Coming Soon!**

Once Bitten, Twice Turned (Creatures of the Midwest Book 2)
https://books2read.com/u/bx6REo

Let Sleeping Vampires Lie (Creatures of the Midwest Book 3)
https://books2read.com/u/mg5v1v

About the Author:
Website-Facebook-X

Instagram-Bookbub

Amazon-Goodreads
Ava Silvers is a Midwest Urban Fantasy author whose obsession with the supernatural transcends from her storytelling into real life. When not writing about her own imagined paranormal locations, her idea of a good time is visiting abandoned towns and haunted hotels. A collector of rare books and strange artifacts, her home, like her books, is filled with all things magical and mysterious.

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$10 Amazon
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Cozy Fantasy Mystery Author: Elle Hartford talks Beauty and the Beast, New and Old + giveaway

Beauty and the Beast, New and Old

Many of us know the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast. But wait, would that be the 1991 animated film, or the 2017 version with Emma Watson? Or maybe when you picture the Beast, you see the original 1946 black-and-white monster . . .

We’re used to stories being reused in movies. And while some might complain about it, the truth is that stories have been retold for centuries! Movies aside, there are countless folklore versions of Beauty and the Beast from different cultures and times.

Don’t worry though, I won’t list all of them out here. After all, that work has already been done! Check out this page on “Beauty and the Beast, folktales of Aarne-Thompson-Uther type 425C,” put together by retired professor D L Ashliman. It has a European focus and doesn’t contain every tale from all over the world, but it’s still very thorough.

Oh, and what’s that “type 425C” stuff? Basically, that’s a label folklore scholars use to identify a story that follows a Beauty and the Beast plotline. Every fairy tale out there has a label and archive like the one linked above.

Of course, none of this takes into account the vast number of YA, fantasy, or romance books which retell Beauty and the Beast. There are probably too many to count, especially if you consider Beauty and the Beast as a theme rather than a prescriptive outline. Some of my favorites include:

- The Fabled Journal of Beauty, by Boyd Brent (a creative and adventurous retelling)

- Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley (a classic! She also wrote an earlier version, Beauty)

- Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna by Maia Chance (a historical murder mystery version!)

I’ve also written my own retelling, which blends the original story with cozy mystery and cozy fantasy themes. Beauty and the Alchemist takes the idea of curses and seeing beyond appearances and adds a dash of murder to the mix. I had a lot of fun writing it, and I’m pleased to be offering the expanded special edition this month! You can find it wherever you buy ebooks.

Beauty and the Alchemist (The Alchemical Tales Book 1)
by Elle Hartford
Genre: Cozy Fantasy Mystery
In this magical mix-up of fairy tales and murder, Little Red Riding Hood solves the mystery at the heart of Beauty and the Beast . . .

What does it take to overcome a curse?

Traveling alchemist Red settles into life as a shopkeeper in rural Belville and expects to focus on her potions. But crime stops for no woman. Neither does Red’s friend, police officer Thorn! When a beastly criminal escapes to a nearby abandoned castle and is found murdered, Thorn immediately suspects Luca, a meek-mannered bookseller–not to mention Red’s best friend.

Red knows that there’s more to the castle–and the murder–than meets the eye. But as she rushes to prove Luca’s innocence, she’s beset by a not-dead-yet ghost, a beautiful and ill-tempered suspect, and a horde of mysterious mist creatures that terrify the town. Oh, and then there’s the series of lost books that hold the key to the castle’s curse! If Red and her friends can’t find the books and solve the mystery, Luca might not be the only one in trouble. But in idyllic Belville, appearances can be deceiving. Red will need all of her alchemical prowess and all the help she can get in order to uncover the truth behind this twisted tale.

This special second edition includes a new epilogue, recipes, and a sneak peek at book two of The Alchemical Tales.

**On Sale for Only .99cents!!**

Amazon-Apple-B&N-Kobo-Smashwords-Books2Read-Bookbub-Goodreads

Excerpt 1: A Haunting Discovery
When we hit the third corner, I stopped dead. It felt as though a bucket of ice-water raced down my back. The darkness was so thick that even with my goggles, I could barely see beyond my own hand. The front of the castle stretched away into inkiness.

Officer Thorn, already a pace ahead and nearly disappearing, looked over her shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

“Something here,” I mumbled incoherently. “There’s something wrong with being here. Don’t you feel it?”

“To tell you the truth, I’ve never been haunted, so I wouldn’t know what it feels like,” Thorn replied blithely.

I sucked air into my lungs. The fastest way out of here is forward, I reminded myself. Gritting my teeth, I began following the officer once more. “Just stay close, okay? No bounding off after evidence or what have you.”

She looked back and grinned, her long teeth flashing. “The sooner we catch Owl, the better.”

“I don’t think Owl is what’s making these shadows,” I said.

Thorn was impervious. “Then it could be Gloria alone, and that’s worse. See, Red, your problem is—”

I never got to hear what my problem was, unfortunately. The grass we’d been edging along gave way to a stone patio set a few inches below the surrounding ground, and I stumbled. With that jarring step came recognition of the fact that we were right in front of the castle’s main entrance, and another bone-penetrating chill.

“Wh-wh-whatever it is y-you want to s-see, it must be h-here,” I said, my teeth chattering.

“It’s just a little cold, Red. Are all islanders such wimps?”

“Hush, and look around!” I insisted. I was starting to think that maybe Thorn hadn’t ever been haunted simply because she refused to see anything other than what she wanted to.

“It’s the front of the castle,” she informed me matter-of-factly. She began stalking about the patio, with me close on her heels. “I was on the inside team during the search earlier, so I missed this. Nice carvings on the doorway. Old and worn down, but they’ve held up well considering. Good sturdy door. See that ironwork across the front? Guess we’re not dealing with the fey, eh? And what’s this—gems inlaid in the doors, too. Surprised those haven’t walked off over time. Maybe they’re locked down—get it? Ha ha. What’s this?”

I’d only been paying half-attention to Thorn’s monologue, but the repetition of the phrase in a new tone of surprise caught my ear. I turned from looking over my shoulder to see that Thorn held something small and rectangular in one large hand.

“Did you just find a book?” I asked, startled.

“Did I?” She handed the object to me for inspection. As I took it, though, the air around us thickened. I had to hold the slim volume very close to my face to see the bark binding. My gaze drifted over the title and the gold leaf to notice that, rather than blackness, a silver fluidity filled my vision.

“Why is it foggy?” I tucked the book into a pocket in my cloak for safe-keeping and frowned as I looked up. Officer Thorn looked just as surprised as me. I could see her face well, despite the cloudiness, because the moonlight had reappeared. It bounced off the water in the air. The world was brighter now, but it was also much closer.

Officer Thorn’s club rose, sending swirls ricocheting through the air. “Never mind the fog, Red. Look here, at the corner of the doorway. Doesn’t that look like—”

Again, I was destined not to hear the officer’s thoughts. Only fair, really, considering how often she interrupted mine. But I wasn’t thinking that at the time. At the time, I was screaming like a banshee, because something had grabbed me from behind.

About the Author
Website-Facebook-Twitter

Instagram -Bookbub

Amazon-Goodreads

Elle adores cozy mysteries, fairy tales, and above all, learning new things. As a historian and educator, she believes in the value of stories as a mirror for complicated realities. She currently lives in New Jersey with a grumpy tortoise and a three-legged cat.

Find more stories of Red and her friends at ellehartford.com. And while you’re there, sign up for Elle’s newsletter to get bonus material, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and terrible jokes!

Giveaway

$10 Amazon giftcard,

Signed Papeback of Beauty and the Alchemist

- 1 winner each!

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway