Guest Blog by Joyce and Jim Lavene plus Review and Giveaway of Looking for Mr. Good Witch

Please welcome Joyce and Jim Lavene to The Qwillery. Looking for Mr. Good Witch, the 2nd Retired Witches Mystery, was published on October 6, 2015 by Berkley.

Magic of Stones

By Joyce and Jim Lavene

       Because magic is centered on the natural part of the world around us, stones from diamonds to lava are an important aspect. Stones can be used to heal and to center. Each one has a different meaning and can be utilized uniquely.
       Witches believe stones can be laid on the body to heal. They also believe they can be placed strategically through the house in various places to bring good fortune, find love, and be happier. They are also an important part of wellness.
       If you want people to think you’re beautiful, carry a small piece of amber or wear an opal ring. If you want to be successful in business, carry bloodstone in your pocket or purse or wear a yellow zircon ring or necklace. Geodes are helpful to have when you are pregnant.
       If you need courage to ask for a raise at the office today, wear an agate or carry a piece of amethyst. If you are watching your weight, a moonstone will be helpful.
       There is a stone for every purpose. Be sure your stones are clean and that you hold them often, imbuing them with the reason you’re carrying them. Keep them close to you if you want the magic to work!

Looking for Mr. Good Witch
Authors:  Joyce and Jim Lavene
Series:  A Retired Witches Mystery 2
Publisher:  Berkley, October 6, 2015
Format:  Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 304 pages
List Price:  $7.99 (print and eBook)
ISBN:  9780425268261 (print); 9781101625439 (eBook)
Review Copy:  Provided by the Publiser

Everyone’s favorite retired witches from Spell Booked have returned and are diving into troubled waters to find a sinister sea witch…

WITCHY WOMAN

A sea witch has been leaving bodies in her wake up and down the Carolina coast, baffling authorities who are finding drowning victims with no water in their lungs. The fin-icky female will continue to kill young male witches until she finds her perfect man—the one who survives her mating ritual—so she can live for another hundred years. And now coven hopeful Brian Fuller is about to be ensnared in her net.

Retired witches Molly and Elsie, along with the ghost of Olivia and her daughter Dorothy, need all the help they can get to stop the sea witch. Aided by a selkie and a crème puff–craving mermaid, they’re determined to keep Brian out of her murky clutches. But are they all about to get in over their heads?

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Qwill's Thoughts

The Retired Witches Mystery series by Joyce and Jim Lavene is a joy to read. Looking for Mr. Good Witch is the second novel in the series following last year's Spell Booked. Male witches are being murdered and once again Molly, Elsie, Olivia, and Dorothy get involved. This time because it appears that Brian Fuller is a target of a murderous sea witch and Molly's husband, Joe, is working the case for the local police and she is fearful for his safety up against a witch.

Molly Renard and Elsie Langston are still hoping to fully retire but need to keep their coven intact by finding their replacements. Neither have magical children so they must look beyond their own families for new younger witches. Olivia Dunst, a member of the coven who is now a ghost, has been replaced in the coven by her daughter, Dorothy Lane. Olivia still is part of the group in her ghostly form.

We learn more about the Grand Council of Witches and much more about witch / supernatural politics. There is generally tension between ghosts and witches. Some witches don't think witches should marry non-magical humans. We also learn more about witch craft and lore.

The murder mystery is truly intriguing and frightening. I enjoyed the introduction of additional members of the local supernatural community. The Bone Man is once again in this novel but the best part about this series are Molly, Elsie and Olivia, each with distinct personalities, their own habits, and a deep and enduring friendship. They are the heart and soul of these stories. New witch Dorothy is learning to harness her powers and is still making mistakes. Brian Fuller becomes much more likable in this novel. He really has an unpleasant family.

The Lavenes use Irish mythology as well as other mythological beings to great effect in Looking for Mr. Good Witch. While the mystery and other issues (but not all) are wrapped up, the novel ends on a bit of a jaw dropper. I can not wait for the next novel in this series.

About the Authors

Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Penguin, Amazon, and Simon and Schuster along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family. Visit them at www.joyceandjimlavene.com.

The Giveaway

What:  One entrant will win a Mass Market Paperback copy of Looking for Mr. Good Witch by Joyce and Jim Lavene 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 11:59PM US Eastern Time on October 22, 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 without any notice.*

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