A Hive of Secrets and Spells by Ellen Jane
Release Date: October 25, 2019
Subgenre: Lesbian Cozy Mystery Romance
Synopsis for A Hive of Secrets and Spells:
Cupcakes, romance, and lovable canines abound in Heather and Sinead’s next adventure, but it isn’t all fun and games. The girlfriends are investigating a very personal kidnapping, and the threatening notes left behind accuse Sinéad and her punk-rocker twin brother of hiding something.
But after solving their first mystery together last Christmas, this one should be a piece of cake.After all, no one’s been murdered this time, and their witch-sorcerer rivalry is a thing of the past.Except it turns out there is a murderer, and a jewel thief as well, and why on earth does everyone keep talking about bees?
It appears Starford is a lot more exciting than Heather’s home town of Old Wetchhaven, and Sinéad’s insistence that Heather move in with her brings a whiff of trouble to their private paradise. Can Heather adjust to life near the big city? Or will the mounting secrets prove too much and turn their second case into their last?
A Hive of Secrets and Spells is a witch cozy mystery with a sweet lesbian romance and heart-warming magic.
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Heather closed her eyes and moaned. “So chocolatey.” Her eyes snapped open. “And warm. Your icing is like a warmth spell or something. But it isn’t in the air, like my warming charms; it’s warming me from the inside out.”
Sinéad’s eyes widened, and she stared at Heather’s hair. “And the biscuits…” she trailed off.
Heather tried to pull a lock of her hair in front of her eyes, but it bounced back and coiled against her forehead, too short to see properly. “What? What is it doing?”
Then she saw Sinéad’s hair, and her jaw fell slack. She tried to bite back her laughter, but a snigger escaped, and the incredulous look on Sinéad’s face only made her break further.
“It’s—” she began, gasping.
Sinéad opened her mouth to speak but gave up immediately. Her lips began to twitch, and then she joined in with Heather, the two of them laughing so hard tears leaked out of their eyes.
“I guess I keep thinking about those bees,” Heather said, staring at the elaborate beehive hairdo that adorned Sinéad’s head. “I can’t escape it.”
“It sort of suits you,” Sinéad said, wiping away the tears. “Though the spell looks like it’s added a whole ton of hair to your head. That’ll take some getting used to.”
“Says you. You have at least two other head’s worth of hair now.”
“Maybe I’ll keep it.”
Heather snickered again and then fought back the rest of the laughter. “What were you thinking of?” she asked. “To make the warmth spell.”
Sinéad cast her a sideways glance and cleared her throat. “Oh, you know. Nothing in particular.”
Heather’s cheeks heated pleasantly, and she ducked her head to hide her smile. With their matching beehives and pyjamas covered in icing sugar and cocoa, they began to pack away the ingredients.
“Let’s remember this,” Sinéad murmured. “When we’re stressed and alone and crabby, we need to remember this. I know we’ve been arguing a bit lately, and I want to work through that with you, but I’m also glad you aren’t silencing yourself. And that I’m not. I’m glad we’re open with each other, even if sometimes we’re openly frustrated.” She tidied the last of the ingredients away in the cupboard and shut the door, leaning against the bench while Heather washed herhands. “It’s when nights like this stop making us feel this way, that’s when we have a problem.”
“You’re right.” Heather turned and rested their foreheads together as Sinéad stepped into her arms. This close together, all she could see was Sinéad’s smile. It grew until Heather’s world was overtaken by crinkling crow’s feet and soft, curving lips. “And we definitely don’t have a problem.”
Ellen Jane Phillips is an Australian indie author of wlw romance. She loves writing about LGBTQ women who experience complex lives, emotions, needs, and desires. Her books are written for people who crave love stories where friendship is just as important as romance, and who want to experience cosy warmth with a hint of mystery, magic, and emotion.
You can find her writing under two pen names: Ellen Jane, and E.J. Phillips. If you like light, cosy wlw romance suffused with magic and mystery, Ellen Jane is the pen name for you. If you prefer something a little heavier, and you like your wlw romance tinged with magic and tender angst, E.J. Phillips is the one you want. When she isn’t writing, you can find her walking the dogs, playing D&D, or bemoaning the number of days since she last ate nachos.
Author links:
Website: www.ellenjanephillips.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ellenjanewrites
Tumblr: https://ellenjanewrites.tumblr.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellenjanewrites
Win one of 2 packages with e-copies of Magic, Murder & Mistletoe, A Hive of Secrets and Spells & A Match Made at Christmas by Ellen Jane.
