{"product_id":"retired-witches-mysteriesisbn-9780425268278","title":"Retired Witches Mysteries","description":"\u003cb\u003eIn the latest mystery from the bestselling authors of \u003ci\u003eLooking for Mr. Good Witch\u003c\/i\u003e, the retired witches of Wilmington, North Carolina, are ready to kick up their heels...\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e With their coven’s spell book still missing, Molly and Elsie—along with their ghostly friend Olivia, her daughter Dorothy, and her boyfriend Brian—are all on edge, especially now that Dorothy’s infamously wicked father is back in the picture. So when they receive an invitation to an exclusive Witches Ball, the ladies jump at the chance to dress up and have some fun.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e The castle locale is spectacular and the party is hopping, but the festivities come to a swift end when a member of the Grand Council of Witches is murdered. With the whole place on lock down, the coven is determined to find the cunning killer, even with an angry council and a real Spanish Inquisitor breathing down their necks...\u003cb\u003ePraise for the Retired Witches Spellbook Mysteries\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “Fun and highly entertaining...you will instantly love these charming characters.”—Moonlight Rendezvous\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “To say I was totally engaged would be an understatement. This story had me spellbound. Kudos to Joyce and Jim, they had me completely captivated.”—Escape with Dolly Cas\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “A witch’s brew of mystery, paranormal, and fun. Positively magical!”—Lisa K’s Book Reviews\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “A delightful premise, a couple of enchanting protagonists, and cats as essential familiars...It is a promising series.”—\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eJoyce and Jim Lavene \u003c\/b\u003ehave written more than forty novels together, including the Retired Witches Spellbook mysteries, the Missing Pieces mysteries, the Renaissance Faire mysteries, the Peggy Lee Garden mysteries, and the Sharyn Howard mysteries. They also write short stories, non-fiction articles and teach writing workshops. Their hobbies include gardening—they’re certified Master Gardeners—and attending Renaissance Faires.Chapter 1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Olivia's jaw dropped. \"Drago? Is that really you?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It was hard to say which of us was more startled to see him there      at our witches' paraphernalia shop, Smuggler's Arcane. Dorothy      took a step back. Brian took her hand. Elsie's eyes narrowed. And      I stared. I couldn't help it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e So this was Dorothy's infamous father. He looked like a pirate,      dressed in tight leather pants and a leather vest over his white      cotton shirt. He had a slash of a smile on his lean, tan face, as      though he were laughing at us. Tall and thin, his hair was white      and cut close to his well-shaped head. His eyes were a shade of      brilliant blue.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I've come to see you, Dorothy,\" he said. \"I think it's about time      that we met, don't you?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e As he advanced toward Dorothy, Olivia put her ghostly form between      them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Oh no. I've worked too hard all these years to keep you away from      her. You can't have her, Drago. If you knew what I had to go      through to keep her a secret-you'd know you can't just barge in      here and take her away.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Drago put his hand right through Olivia to take Dorothy's. \"You      are so lovely. So like your mother.\" He glanced at Olivia when she      tried to keep herself between them. \"At least as lovely as she was      when you were born.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm warning you!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He was a powerful witch. There wasn't much we could do about him      being there if he wanted to stay. I was disappointed that our      protection spells hadn't held up better. That would have to be the      subject of another time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Drago laughed, puffed out his cheeks and directed a breath of air      at Olivia. She was thrown out of the way as surely as if a      hurricane had come into the room.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Olivia Dunst was Dorothy's mother. She'd only been dead a short      time and was having trouble using her ghost powers to their best      effect. She still looked like her old self, if you were looking at      her through a glass of water. Fine blond hair framed spritely      features that she'd carefully maintained until the day she'd died      in her late fifties. Her gray eyes were less well defined since      she'd come back as a ghost, but her voice was never in question.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You stop that right now, Drago Rasmun!\" Olivia came back at him      without hesitation from the side of the shop that held clothes.      \"Leave my little girl alone.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The little girl in question was Dorothy Lane, full-time librarian,      and now full-time witch as she followed in her parents' footsteps.      She'd become a member of our coven last year while we were looking      for three witches to replace us, as we were three witches who were      ready for retirement in Boca.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That would be me-Molly Renard-Elsie Langston and Olivia at the      time. She'd still been alive back then. We'd wanted to give our      coven and our spell book to three other witches who would continue      the tradition in our hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina. There      had been witches from our coven for hundreds of years. It was as      important to the area as the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic      Ocean. Not something to mess around with!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But that was before Olivia was killed and our spell book was      stolen. It seemed like such a long time ago. The last year had      been a difficult one for us.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And now Dorothy's evil witch father was here. Could anything else      go wrong?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Why don't we let Dorothy decide if she wants to spend time with      me?\" Drago suggested.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dorothy, in her twenties, tall like her father and a little plain      with her short brown hair and matching eyes, looked a trifle      starstruck.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Up until last year, Dorothy had thought she was an orphan. Olivia      had given her up at birth to keep her father from finding her. It      was a huge sacrifice but one Olivia was willing to make so her      little girl wouldn't be ruined by her father, who'd been      designated an \"outsider\" by the Grand Council of Witches. Elsie      and I knew nothing about Dorothy. If you knew Olivia, you'd know      what a major feat this was for her not to tell us, her best      friends.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Olivia had located Dorothy as an adult, and we'd recruited her for      our coven. Besides learning the beginning magic most young boys      and girls learned when they were starting to walk and talk,      Dorothy had also learned about her father. All she'd ever heard      about him were stories about his powerful yet evil lineage and      magic.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I wasn't privy to the discussion between mother and daughter about      how Olivia had allowed herself to be seduced by an evil witch, but      I was certain it was interesting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I think-\" Dorothy paused and shot a glance at Brian, her new      boyfriend. \"I think I'd like a cup of tea. Really strong tea.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Brian Fuller was a powerful young witch in his own right. He was      her exact opposite in that his family was not only magically      powerful but also politically so. His grandfather was on the Grand      Council and held great sway among witches. Brian was wealthy and      careless, and he knew magic that he'd cobbled together since his      family had taken almost no interest in him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Elsie and I were trying to convince him that he should join our      coven. He had power but had never learned control. Having Dorothy      with us was turning out to be a strong incentive.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He stepped up and took Dorothy's free hand in his and gave it a      squeeze before he smiled provocatively at her father. Brian was      handsome and sure of himself in a way that comes from too much      money and not enough common sense. \"Good to meet you, sir. Dorothy      and I have been spending a lot of time together. You might know my      grandfather-Abdon Fuller-he's on the Grand Council of Witches. And      my parents are Schadt and Yuriza Fuller. Fuller is a respected      name in the witch community.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Drago's expression was less than welcoming and definitely not      impressed. He looked as though he wanted to blow Brian away as he      had Olivia. He didn't release Dorothy's other hand, nor did he      offer his hand to Brian. \"Nice to meet you, Mr. Fuller. I'm afraid      I don't know your parents, although your grandfather, Abdon, and I      have crossed swords from time to time. I think the last time was      during the French Revolution.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Brian would have had to be a moron not to hear the hostility in      Drago's voice. Thankfully Brian, with his thick brown hair and      lovely blue eyes, was neither a fool nor a moron. He also didn't      plan to let Drago take away his girlfriend.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Maybe it would be better if you left, Drago.\" His tone was hard      on the name. \"What's that about anyway? Related to the dragon?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes.\" Drago was quick to claim his heritage. \"Perhaps it would be      better if you left, Mr. Fuller. What's that about-too much in the      gut?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Why don't we have some tea?\" Elsie suggested with a toss of her      fading curly red hair. \"I think we could all use a cup or two and      certainly a time-out. I'll get some water started.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I was relieved when she gestured to the kettle and murmured a      spell for hot water. The kettle filled and the hot plate turned      red. In short, everything went exactly as it should.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e We'd had some problems with our magic the last few years. What had      once been simple tasks for our magic had become uncertain      mountains of anxiety. Would the magic work or wouldn't it?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Elsie's magic had begun to fade first. She was about twelve years      older than Olivia and me. As our magic had begun to fade from      simple nonuse, Elsie's magic became even more unpredictable. We      were never quite sure what would happen when she muttered a spell.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This was a tricky situation in which not to be absolutely sure      about our magic.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Obviously Drago was more powerful than all of us-probably      combined. No doubt that was one reason the council had banned him.      They tended to be afraid of anything or anyone they couldn't      control, just like people without magic.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He could take Dorothy and we couldn't stop him. Even given time to      prepare, I wasn't sure if the three of us could fend him off. And      I wasn't sure if Dorothy would help us or not. After all, he was      her father. For all the stories she'd heard from Olivia about him      being evil, there also were the stories of how much Olivia had      loved him. It had to be confusing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Brian released his hold on her hand to allow her to go with her      father. He followed behind them with an angry, protective      expression on his handsome young face.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And despite all the nightmare stories we'd heard about Drago and      his brand of outsider magic, he finally nodded and led Dorothy to      the table set in the middle of Smuggler's Arcane. He sat beside      her and talked to her in low tones. She giggled a few times.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Olivia seemed ready to burst seeing them together, knowing there      was nothing she could do to get rid of him. She'd done everything      she could while she was alive, but parents' influence changes once      a child becomes an adult.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I was going through the same thing with my son, Mike, who was in      college. It wasn't easy to see children grow and begin making      their own, sometimes bad decisions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Chamomile or green tea?\" Elsie asked as I hurried behind the      counter to help her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Whatever you have on hand is fine,\" Drago said. \"I've come a long      way and waited a long time for this moment. It was worth every      second.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He turned away to study his daughter again and take her hand. His      eyes said she was the most wonderful thing he'd ever seen as he      asked about her life and magic. Dorothy being Dorothy, she quickly      spilled everything about herself. She was even worse than her      mother about keeping secrets.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But I loved that ingenuous quality to her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Do you think we should send some kind of terrible curse at him      while he's not looking?\" Elsie asked me.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I admit that I was holding my mother's amulet as she spoke. I      didn't think it would put a curse on Drago, but I might use it for      protection against him. We all knew why he was here. There wasn't      one of us who wouldn't lay down our life to keep Dorothy safe.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I doubt if we could,\" I finally answered, though I knew she was      only joking. \"He's so much stronger than us. Let's hope he doesn't      try anything. Maybe he really is just here for a friendly visit.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Elsie made a humphing sound in the back of her throat. \"And I'm      the queen of Sheba. But I suppose you're right. We shouldn't      attack him willy-nilly. We need to be together on this. I don't      know about Dorothy, but take a look at Brian's face. He'd be      willing to banish Drago to the underworld.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She was right, of course. But what young man was comfortable      around his girlfriend's father? We had no real sense of Drago at      all-only what the council and Olivia had said about him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We should wait and see what happens.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Wait and see what happens?\" Olivia came behind the counter with      us as we put cups of tea on a tray to take to the table. \"This is      the Alamo, ladies. We need to strike hard and fast if we don't      want to end up dead.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"He knew we were coming,\" I reminded her as I added sugar and milk      to the tray. \"He was already here, and could have struck us down      as we walked into the shop. Our wards weren't strong enough to      keep him out. I think we should give him the benefit of the      doubt.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I don't see where we have much choice anyway.\" Elsie added a      small bowl of lemon slices.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"That's easy for the two of you to say! You don't know Drago and      the things he's capable of,\" Olivia said. \"And that's not your      daughter he's threatening. What if it was Mike or Aleese?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dorothy laughed. She seemed to be enjoying her father's company.      Given that she didn't know him either, he seemed to be pleasant      enough. He was very handsome and charming, probably the traits      that had led Olivia to take up with him in the first place. If he      decided to take Dorothy with him, I wasn't sure we could      discourage her from going. What a life he could offer her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And being on the good side of the Council of Witches wasn't      exactly enough to tip the scales. Dorothy had already run into      them and seen what they were like-including Brian's grandfather.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Ah, tea!\" Drago sat back as we put the tray on the table. \"The      old-fashioned way. Ladies, you've made a splendid home for      yourselves here. Am I to assume Dorothy is part of your coven?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes.\" Brian leaned forward and glared at him. \"So am I.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Without a sign of anger or hostility, Drago helped himself to      Olivia's cup and ignored him. \"That's wonderful. It's important      for young witches to have support. I was with a coven for most of      my formative years. The things I learned while there have stood      the test of time.\" He kissed Dorothy's hand. \"And for me, that's a      lot of time!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dorothy stared at him as though he was about to sprout wings and      fly away. The stunned look in her eyes said it all. How could      anyone compete with a thousand-year-old super witch?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Olivia quietly pouted. \"He took my cup, Molly.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Hush. You can't drink out of it anyway. No theatrics right now.      We need to concentrate.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She backed down. I knew she was terrified, having dreaded this      moment for so many years. But it was upon us now. We needed to be      very careful what we did and said next. Attacking Drago didn't      seem like the best course of action to me. It wasn't completely my      decision, but I hoped even Brian would see that Drago's magic was      beyond us. This needed a diplomatic solution.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Elsie and I sat at the small table with Dorothy and Drago. Olivia      hovered above us. Brian sat just behind Drago and Dorothy as      though it was a strategic choice for him. I doubted it was, but it      did keep him from glaring at them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In the old days, before Olivia's death, and before Dorothy joined      us, it was just the three of us. We'd sat at this table in      Smuggler's Arcane surrounded by books of magic, herbs, candles and      other witch's tools. We'd worked on our spells and discussed the      world across tea, and the occasional chocolate cake.","brand":"Berkley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46305427783909,"sku":"NP9780425268278","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780425268278.jpg?v=1730760481","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/retired-witches-mysteriesisbn-9780425268278","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}