Guest Blog by Heather Blake and Review and Giveaway of Some Like It Witchy - May 7, 2015

Please welcome Heather Blake and Darcy Merriweather to The Qwillery. Heather is the author of the Wishcraft Mysteries and the Magic Potion Mysteries. Some Like It Witchy was published on May 5th by Obsidian.

A Q&A with Darcy Merriweather

1)  Tell a little about yourself.

It’s been almost a year since I moved from Ohio to the Enchanted Village, a themed neighborhood of Salem, Massachusetts. I’m just your average divorcee-next-door. Who, ah, happens to be a witch--more specifically a Wishcrafter (I can grant wishes using a spell—how cool is that?). But considering that one of my neighbors, Archie, is a macaw familiar (a Crafter spirit in an animal form who can talk), I suppose I’m not that abnormal.


2)  If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

I’d like to be a little less mother hen. I’ve pretty much raised my sister Harper since she was born (which was also the day my mother died), and it’s hard to break old habits, even though Harper’s now in her twenties, living on her own, running a great bookshop, and is very capable of taking care of herself.


3)  Early bird or night owl?

Definitely an early bird. By ten at night, I like to be snuggled in bed with a good book. Which was one of the reasons for my divorce. However, silver linings being what they are, I’m now in a committed relationship with Nick Sawyer.


4)  What's the one thing that would send you running for cover?

Hmm. Tough one. I’m not exactly the bravest witch on the block. I have to say, a summons from the Elder, the secret leader of the Craft, makes me quiver. She’s scary. Trust me.


5)  What's your go-to food in times of stress?

Frozen peppermint patties. Heaven!


6)  Favorite guilty pleasure?

Don’t tell anyone, okay? But I like to clean. Sometimes I’ll wake up early just to sneak in a little dusting. Living with Aunt Ve at As You Wish (her personal concierge business), there’s always a lot of dusting to do. Before I moved in let’s just say that housekeeping wasn’t one of her priorities. Well, even after I moved in, too. It’s a good thing I’m here.


7)  How many pairs of shoes do you own?

Five. Strike that. Four. Sensible flats, sensible heels, running sneakers, and rain boots. I had a pair of sandals, too, but after an unfortunate run-in with a corpse in a closet, I had to turn those over to the police.


8)  Favorite scene in your current adventure?

Oh gosh. It was definitely when Aunt Ve handed me… Wait. I don’t want to ruin it for you. It definitely would NOT be finding that dead body. If I never found another dead person, I’d be one happy witch. Let’s just say that I’ve found more than my fair share. Archie’s started calling me the Grim Reaper.


9)  Do you cook or are you a take-out kind of witch?

Take-out, though I’m working on my cooking skills. I know enough to survive, but not enough to impress anyone (fortunately, Nick’s a great cook in his own right).


10)  What’s your favorite personality trait?

Another tough one. I have to say my ability to change, to adapt. I’ve had a lot of new things thrown at me in the past year (the move, the witch thing, the murders!), but instead of hiding (my first instinct), I jumped into my new life trusting that there would be a net below. So far, so good.

Some Like It Witchy
Series:  A Wishcrafter Mystery 5
Publisher:  Obsidian, May 5, 2015
Format:  Mass Market  Paperback and eBook, 320 pages
List Price:  $7.99 (print)
ISBN:  9780451465887 (print)
Review Copy:  Provided by the Publisher

Wishcrafter Darcy Merriweather can charm desires into reality, but as the national bestselling Wishcraft mysteries continue, she won’t be able to magically avoid trouble when death holds an open house….

The Enchanted Village is abuzz when the old Tavistock house finally goes up for sale. Darcy’s friend Curecrafter Cherise Goodwin is hoping she will have the winning bid on the home, but Darcy can’t shake the feeling that something bad is about to happen—and her magical instincts are usually right.

Sure enough, while Darcy and Cherise are looking at the property, they discover real estate agent Raina Gallagher stone-cold dead on the floor. Clutched in her hand is a gemstone amulet and, on the wall above her, a large red A. While Raina had no shortage of enemies, there’s also a dark legend about the house itself. To track down the killer, Darcy must unlock the secrets of both the deceased and the estate—and she’ll need to act fast, because revenge is a deal that never closes.…

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

Qwill's Thoughts

Some Like It Witchy is the fifth Wishcrafter Mystery by Heather Blake. Darcy Merriweather once again becomes embroiled in a murder mystery since she is the craft snoop for the Elder of The Enchanted Village. This time she's investigating the murder of Raina Gallagher a local real estate agent.

The Tavistock house, which is two door's away from As You Wish (Darcy's Aunt's concierge business) has a dark history connected with the theft of some priceless diamonds years before. Many people have motives for wanting the diamonds or for killing Raina of for both. There is no lack of suspects and everyone seems to be hiding something.

The Enchanted Village is once again a fabulous setting for this mystery. The characters from prior novels in the series are back. Old grudges still exist. If you haven't read the previous novels you won't miss out though. Blake gives plenty of background information to know who did what to whom and why certain villagers are not friends. There are also some wonderful familiars - animals who were former Crafters. They almost steal every scene they are in.

Darcy and her police chief boyfriend Nick Sawyer again team up to find the killer. Darcy and Nick's relationship is moving along is beautifully written. Nick's daughter Mimi is a delight - for a 13 year old. Darcy also has wonderful relationships with her sister Harper, her Aunt Ve and her friend Cherise Goodwin. Darcy has a big heart and is a wonderful friend, which is shown throughout the novel. After 11 months, she's settling into life in The Enchanted Village and dealing well with the changes in her life, some of which we learn about (as does she) in Some Like It Witchy.

The murder mystery is exceptionally well done and seemingly disparate threads are woven together expertly as the killer is finally revealed. The heart of the Wishcraft Mysteries, however, are the personal relationships that are the glue that holds together The Enchanted Village. Despite the high murder rate (a hallmark of cozy mysteries), it's a place I love to linger.

About Heather

Heather Blake (aka Heather Webber) is the author of the Wishcraft mysteries, the Magic Potion mysteries, the Nina Quinn mysteries, and the Lucy Valentine novels, and has been twice nominated for an Agatha Award. She's a total homebody who loves to be close to her family, read, watch reality TV (especially cooking competition shows), drink too much coffee, crochet, bake (mostly cookies), and occasionally leave the house to travel to the beautiful mountains in the northeast. Heather grew up in a suburb of Boston, but currently she lives in the Cincinnati area with her family and is hard at work on her next book.

Twitter @BooksbyHeather

www.heatherblakebooks.com

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherBlakeBooks

The Giveaway

What:  One entrant will win a Mass Market Paperback copy of Some Like it Witchy by Heather Blake from the publisher. US ONLY

How:  Log into and follow the directions in the Rafflecopter below.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a US mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59 PM US Eastern Time on May 18, 2015. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules and duration are subject to change.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Previously

It Takes a Witch
Wishcraft Mystery 1
Obsidian, January 3, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 320 pages

Darcy Merriweather has just discovered she hails from a long line of Wishcrafters-witches with the power to cast spells by making a wish. She’s come to Enchanted Village to learn her trade but finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation…

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

A Witch Before Dying
Wishcraft Mystery 2
Obsidian, August 7, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 320 pages

Darcy Merriweather is Salem, Massachusetts’ newest resident Wishcrafter—a witch who can grant wishes for others. While Darcy isn’t able to grant wishes for herself, she does possess a certain knack for solving problems—including the occasional murder…

When Darcy is hired by Elodie Keaton to clean up her missing mother’s disorderly home, the Wishcrafter is certainly up for the task. After all, the motto of her Aunt Ve’s personal concierge service As You Wish is “No Job Impossible.” But beneath the piles of old newspapers and knickknacks Darcy discovers something much more disturbing—Patrice Keaton’s body.

Darcy’s determined to give Elodie peace of mind by investigating her mother’s disappearance and death. Patrice was last seen over a year ago after a fight with her Charmcrafter boyfriend. Was her murder a crime of passion? Or were Patrice’s troubles caused by the Anicula, a wish-granting amulet? Now Darcy has to not only find a killer, she has to find the Anicula— before the power of ultimate wish fulfillment falls into the wrong hands…

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

The Good, the Bad, and the Witchy
Wishcraft Mystery 3
Obsidian, April 3, 2013
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 320 pages

Darcy Merriweather is Enchanted Village’s newest resident Wishcrafter—a witch who can grant wishes for others. But as Darcy prepares a celebration for a magical florist, she discovers that every rose has its thorns…

When magical florist Harriette Harkette decides to throw a lavish eightieth birthday party for herself, she hires Darcy’s Aunt Ve’s personal concierge service, As You Wish, to plan the soiree. But turning eighty isn’t all Harriette is celebrating—the Floracrafter has recently created the midnight black Witching Hour rose, the first all-natural rose of that color.

Darcy works hard on planning an extravagant celebration that will make Harriette feel like the belle of the ball. But when cake delivery boy Michael Healey—a former employee at Harriette’s greenhouse—is found dead, the celebration takes a turn. Now Michael’s ghost has imprinted on Darcy, meaning that they’re bonded until she can untangle the thicket surrounding his murder—and what exactly it has to do with the Witching Hour rose….

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

The Goodbye Witch
Wishcraft Mystery 4
Obsidian, May 6, 2014
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 320 pages

As Enchanted Village’s resident Wishcrafter, Darcy Merriweather has the power to make other people’s wishes come true, but what she really wishes is that she had the power to uncloak the invisible man who’s stalking her best friend….

Darcy’s closest friend and fellow witch, Starla Sullivan, hoped she’d never see her ex-husband, Kyle, again. Two years ago he tried to kill her, and he has been a fugitive ever since. Now Starla claims to have seen him back in Enchanted Village, but it seems she’s the only one who can see him. To everyone else, her ex is invisible.

Darcy only wishes his motives were as transparent as the rest of him. Since the police can’t arrest someone they can’t see, it’s up to Darcy to find the secret behind Kyle’s latest disappearing act—before he does something they can’t see coming….

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound