In the Wick of Time (Magic Candle Shop Mystery) by Valona Jones
About In The Wick Of Time
Tabby Winslow will help her twin sister Sage with anything and everything — and that includes putting out the flames of suspicion when Sage’s boss is found murdered in this magical mystery, perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Sofie Kelly.
December in Savannah, Georgia, is a sight to behold. With all the festivities — including the traditional riverfront luminary display during the boat parade — twin sisters Tabby and Sage Winslow are busier than ever setting up for the big celebration. But that isn’t the only thing on the sisters’ minds. Both Sage and her fellow employee Mary Nicole are vying for the sought-after assistant manager job at the plant nursery. But when Loren Lee, their boss, is found dead, and Sage becomes the police’s favorite suspect, both Winslow girls know that they’ll need more than a flicker of magic and their sisterhood to solve the murder and clear Sage’s name.
Soon, Tabby realizes that this is just one of the many problems they have. If being a suspect for murder wasn’t enough, there are more magical problems that they have to fix: Sage’s boyfriend is having a paranormal experience of his own he can’t control, there’s an energy vampire searching for his supposedly lost cousin, her cat suddenly dislikes her, and oh — every time Tabby hiccups, she turns completely invisible. The suspect list grows with each day and it seems everyone has a reason or a connection to Loren Lee.
Tabby and Sage are burning the candle at both ends — but will it be enough to keep their friends safe and find this killer? Or will they be burned by their efforts?
About the Character Guest Post
The Mystery of Quig
By Dr. Octavian Henry “Quig” Quigsly, IV
Some might think being the Chatham County Medical Examiner would be a grim job, one that inspires nightmares. The truth is I’m the third generation of Medical Examiners in my family. The first Octavian Henry Quigsly, my great grandfather, went by the nickname, Tavy, a derivative of Octavian. Tavy was a general physician and he worked hard every day of the week. He advised his son, my grandpop, to go into another line of work.
So Granddad, who also went by Quig, became a Medical Examiner. He had a passion for the work, and encouraged his son, my dad aka Henry, to go into the same line. Dad embraced the vocation after growing up in morgues, but he had a keen passion for entomology, the study of insects. Every spare minute he was out of scrubs, our family traipsed through woods searching for specimens for his collection.
When I left for college, I could’ve taught several entomology classes, but that didn’t interest me. I took after the first Quig. Solving the mystery of a person’s death is what I wanted to do with my life. The work helped soothe the growing restlessness in my soul.
The source of my trouble is my love life. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve dated plenty and made darn sure I knew how to treat a lady right. Only none of those women were my soulmate. I knew because I’d found my soulmate back in elementary school. It was rare to find her so soon. My father found his soulmate in high school. But it seems like I’ve always known Tabby Winslow was the one for me.
She was the little girl at recess who wandered off to stare dreamily at the sky. Once I saw her, I couldn’t look away, I just knew. So I sat down near her and talked with her. She didn’t say much, and I talked enough for both of us. Her energy whispered to mine. That day I told my parents what happened, and Dad said we would stay in Savannah. He wanted me to grow up with Tabby.
Before long, Tabby and I were best friends even though I was two years older. I gave her piggyback rides all the time. Her twin sister didn’t think much of our friendship and even tried to win me away from her sister, but I held fast. Tabby was my girl.
As time passed, it became clear that dating wasn’t a priority for Tabby. She spent most of her time in her family’s book and candle shop. I didn’t let that discourage my profound interest. I knew a thing or two about strategy from years of stalking insects. I focused on getting my degree and licenses, but every time I came home, I saw Tabby.
She always gave me a big hug and a smile that kept me going during those lonely absences. A couple of times guys started sniffing after her, and I made sure they got the message to leave her alone. After I graduated, Dad bought me a building in the same block as The Book and Candle Shop. Two doors down, in fact. Like the Winslow family, I lived above the business underneath me and bided my time. I was in this for the win.
When her sister went to Europe, I thought I’d have a clear shot at romancing Tabby, but she treated me as her older brother. Ugh. This was not going the way I’d planned. Another year passed. Tabby suddenly had free time because her sister was in a steady relationship, her mother was busy helping a friend, and her aunt was busy with her sideline.
By this time, I knew the Winslows had secrets. That didn’t deter me. I’d known them for twenty years and they were good people, kind people. Whatever their secret was, it couldn’t be any darker than my family’s secrets. Mom felt my desperation and worried about my ticking clock. She encouraged me to see someone to hurry things along. I said no. I needed Tabby to love me for myself.
Then her scent changed. It was like catnip for me. I couldn’t stay away from her. She came over every evening to watch TV. I found ways to touch her, to constantly be near her, and then one day during a hug, I couldn’t help myself. I nuzzled her ear during her greeting hug. She froze and I nearly died.
Eternities passed in those next seconds, then she said the magic words, “Do that again.” And so it began. She called it “friends with benefits.” Once our affair started, I wanted everyone to know we were together. She wanted to keep it quiet, but one day after I asked her to move in with me for the tenth time, she said yes.
That was the second best day of my life. Now I yearn for even more. I can’t get enough of this woman. I have to be careful, though, her twin is suspicious of me. While I’d like to marry Tabby today, I’ve already waited this long for her to notice I’m a man. I can’t screw this up.
I’ll start with a personal gift. A locket perhaps. Yeah, that’s what I’ll do.
Wish me luck.
About Valona Jones
Valona Jones, also known as Maggie Toussaint, writes paranormal cozy mysteries set in coastal Georgia. A former scientist, she’s drawn to the study of personal energy. She sharpened her people-watching skills as a lifelong introvert and had a bank vault of personal observations when she began to write fiction. Her newest release is In The Wick of Time, book 2 in the A Magic Candle Shop Mystery, preceded by Snuffed Out, which released Jan. 2023. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime with more than twenty-five published works of fiction. She lives in coastal Georgia, where she’s seen time and tide wait for no one.
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