A Holland Reads: Magick & Mayhem by Sharon Pape

Magick & Mayhem (An Abracadabra Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

New Series

Publisher: Lyrical Underground (May 2, 2017)

ASIN: B01JWDZSQQ

Synopsis

What’s in a murderer’s bag of tricks?

Twenty-something Kailyn Wilde has learned to embrace her unpredictable life as a descendant of small-town New Camel’s most magickal family. She just didn’t expect to inherit her mother and grandmother’s centuries-old shop, Abracadabra, so suddenly. The surprises keep coming when Kailyn goes to finalize the estate at the local attorney’s office—and stumbles over the body of her best friend Elise’s husband . . .

As a brash detective casts the blame on Elise, Kailyn summons her deepest powers to find answers and start an investigation of her own. What with running a business, perfecting ancient spells, and keeping up with an uninvited guest of fabled origins, Kailyn has her hands full. But with the help of her uncanny black cat Sashkatu and her muumuu-clad Aunt Tilly, she’s closing in on a killer—who will do anything to make sure she never tests her supernatural skills again!

About The Author

I started writing stories as soon as I learned how to put letters together to form words. From that day forward, writing has been a part of my life whether it was my first attempt at a novel in seventh grade or the little plays I wrote for my friends to perform for neighbors and family. After college, when I was busy teaching French and Spanish to high school students, I was also writing poetry — some of it in French.

After several years, I left teaching to be a full time mom, and when my two children started school, I went back to writing. To my delight I found that the muse was still there, still waiting patiently for me to come around. My first novel, Ghostfire, was published at that time. It went on to be condensed in Redbook magazine (the first paperback original the magazine had ever condensed.) Then came The God Children and The Portal. Redbook also published my first short story, which was subsequently sold to several foreign magazines. With two great kids, a golden retriever and a loving, supportive husband (whom I’d met at the beach when I was fourteen — but that’s a story for another day), I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be in my life. But fate had another plan for me, and it went by the name of “breast cancer.”

Looking back, I realize how fortunate I was that the cancer was discovered at such an early stage, but at the time it was all very overwhelming. Once I was back on my feet, I wanted to help other women who were newly diagnosed, worried and afraid. I became a Reach to Recovery volunteer for the American Cancer Society and went on to run the program for Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island. A number of years later, with the help of my surgical oncologist and two other volunteers, I started Lean On Me, a nonprofit organization that provides peer support and information to breast cancer patients. When Lean On Me celebrated its tenth anniversary it no longer required as much of my time, and I once again found myself free to pursue my first love — writing.

Author Links
Webpage – Facebook – Pinterest – Twitter

Purchase Links
Amazon B&N

Guest Post:

Hello, hello Everyone! I’m Lorelei Donovan, but you can call me Lolly. It’s the perfect moniker for a purveyor of candy and fudge. I opened my shop here in New Camel, New York, during a midlife crisis thirty years ago and I’ve never regretted it for a single day. It’s pretty darn hard to be glum or cranky when you spend your day creating mouth-watering treats. Most of my customers come in with a twinkle in their eyes, anticipating the goodies they’ll find. The few who come in after a bad day or with troubles heavy on their shoulders, always leave with a smile and a lighter step. I have the best milk chocolate, dark chocolate and white chocolate in all sorts of combinations, including peanut butter, nuts and caramels, plus chocolate dipped fruit and at least ten flavors of fudge at any given time. Sometimes ideas for new fudge flavors come to me in my sleep, so I keep a pad and pen near my bed. I’m never wanting for customers, not even in the depths of winter. In fact, quite a few locals stock up on candy before every impending storm. It helps get them through, if you know what I mean.

Now I don’t want to have you thinking that candy is my whole life. I have three adult children who’ve given me a passel of grandkids to keep me on my toes. And I have wonderful friends, including the Wilde family, as fine a group of women as you’ll ever meet. They own Abracadabra, the magick shop across the street. There are some folks who give them a wider berth once they learn that they’re sorcerers. The important thing to know is that they only practice white magick and that they use their extensive knowledge of plants and herbs to create natural healing agents and beauty products for everyone’s benefit. I would trust any one of them with my life and the lives of my nearest and dearest. When murder showed its ugly face for the first time in our town, Kailyn Wilde made it her business to hunt down the killer before the tourists were scared off. I kept my eyes open and my ears tuned up to help in whatever way I could. This town owes her a lot. If you’ve never been to New Camel, it’s high time you paid us a visit. Just follow your nose to my shop and then cross the street for a fascinating look at a real magick shop. I can promise you won’t be sorry on either count.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway