by Nancy Warren
I left the potting shed and let myself into my cottage. Cerridwen padded out to rub against my legs meowing. I wanted to believe it was purely love making her so affectionate, but it was also dinner time. I opened a can of her favorite cat food, then I opened the fridge to see what I could find for myself.
Cream, some mushrooms that wouldn’t last much longer. I opened the freezer and saw I had some frozen lobster meat. Then I remembered why. Kathleen had raved about a recipe called Dublin Lawyer. “Ever so easy, it is,” she’d promised me as she sold me the ingredients. Lobster, cream, Irish whiskey, mushrooms, scallions and spices. Served over rice. I decided making Dublin Lawyer was a perfect tribute to Brenda. I’d have my own private wake.
I followed the recipe Kathleen had given me. Cerridwen happily gobbled a chunk of lobster I popped in her dish.
When my meal was ready, I took it into the front room. I opened the windows to let in the ocean breeze. I lit candles and settled in my favorite chair. I even had a small glass of whiskey, which Kathleen had told me was the correct drink to go with Dublin Lawyer.
I lifted my glass in a toast. “Brenda, I didn’t know you well, but I think we could have been friends. I believe Dylan will make sure your killer is properly dealt with. I’ll look out for your sister, and your old home. Godspeed.” And then I sipped the whiskey.
The Dublin Lawyer was rich and delicious and perfect with a glass of whiskey.
When I’d finished dinner, I got out the book we’d be reading for the next meeting of the vampire book club. Cerridwen jumped into my lap and curled up. If I looked out the window and to the west, I could see Devil’s Keep standing dark and tall and oddly comforting now I knew the occupants.
I heard the soft murmuring of the waves as I opened the book and read aloud, in case Cerridwen was in a bookish mood. “Call me Ishmael. Some years ago—never mind how long precisely—having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world.”
I glanced up at this watery part of the world. I’d come ashore in Ballydehag, County Cork, thinking it would be a quiet, dull life. I could not have been more wrong. I wondered what fresh adventures waited. In the meantime, I went back to Moby Dick.
A Note from Nancy
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Chapter and Curse. I had so much fun, especially when Biddy showed up. I hope you’ll consider leaving a review and please tell your friends who like cozy mysteries. Review on Amazon, Goodreads or BookBub.
If you enjoy paranormal cozy mysteries, you might also enjoy the Vampire Knitting Club - a story that NYT Bestselling Author Jenn McKinlay calls “a delightful paranormal cozy mystery perfectly set in a knitting shop in Oxford, England. With intrepid, late blooming amateur sleuth, Lucy Swift, and a cast of truly unforgettable characters, this mystery delivers all the goods.”
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Turn the page for a sneak peek of A Spelling Mistake.
Until next time,
Happy Reading,
Nancy
A Spelling Mistake
© 2020 Nancy Warren
Chapter 1
Vampires aren’t the most excitable of creatures. At least not usually. However, when the vampire book club met that Tuesday night, I felt waves of nervous energy coming from Bartholomew Branson.
Bartholomew was the most recent member of the club, having only been turned a few months earlier. A world-famous thriller writer, Bartholomew had taken part in a cruise where his fans had adored him so much that he ended up getting drunk and attempting to re-enact a dangerous stunt from one of his books.
The result would have been a watery grave off the coast of Ireland except that one of his fans was undead and, unable to see the author perish, turned him into a vampire. He was too well known to appear in public in a big city and had somehow ended up here, in the small town of Ballydehag, in County Cork where a quaint bookshop called The Blarney Tome was run by a witch. That would be me.
Bartholomew was not happy. He wasn’t a literary giant, and his thrillers would probably not stand the test of time, but he’d loved the limelight and lifestyle of celebrity. Now, that life was over and he was forced to remain out of sight and keep a very low profile. Even more painful, his final book was being released posthumously.
“I love launch parties,” he said, “The champagne, the book sales, the long line of fans waiting for autographs.”
“The fleeting nature of fame,” Oscar Wilde put in. Oscar had proven that his literary genius was as immortal as he was, and he never wasted an opportunity to put Bartholomew in his place. Far, far down the hierarchy of literature.
“I had so many books I still planned to write. My career was really taking off,” Bartholomew wailed.
“Ambition is the last refuge of the failure,” Oscar said, picking a piece of lint from his purple velvet suit.
Bartholomew rose and turned to Oscar, his hands fisting. “Look here, you Irish windbag, I may not write literature nobody ever reads, but my fans love me. All I want is one final launch party. Is that too much to ask?”
I felt so bad for him. I glanced at Lochlan Balfour, who ran the vampire book club. I sensed he was sympathetic, but no one could give Bartholomew Branson what he’d lost.
I did have something I could offer and now seemed a good time to reveal it. “I have a surprise for you,” I told the wretched thriller writer. “I’ve ordered two dozen hardcover copies of your new thriller. I’ll feature them in the front window of the store, but we’ll also read your book as our next book club selection.” Bartholomew was always nominating his own books for the club and was consistently rejected.
“Pass me my smelling salts,” Oscar moaned. “I’m about to faint with horror.”
But Bartholomew didn’t even hear the latest insult. He rushed up to me, picked me up off my feet and swung me in a circle. “That’s a great idea,” he said. “We’ll have my final book launch, right here.” Then he put me down and stepped back. “Wait. I’ve got an even better idea. We’ll do the real launch here. Don’t worry, Quinn. I’ll take care of everything. You sign the letters I dictate. I know exactly how to get the Irish launch here.” He chuckled and rubbed his hands together. “Oh, don’t look so shocked. I know I can’t be at the party, but I can watch. That’s almost as good as being there. Quinn, this event will put your little bookshop on the map.”
How had a small favor to make Bartholomew feel better turned into this truly terrible plan?
And how would I stop him?
Order your copy today! A Spelling Mistake is Book 3 in the Vampire Book Club series.
Chapter and Curse, Vampire Book Club Book 2, Copyright © 2020 by Nancy Warren
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
ISBN: ebook 978-1-928145-84-4
ISBN: print 978-1-928145-83-7
Cover Design by Covers by Combs
Ambleside Publishing
Also by Nancy Warren
The best way to keep up with new releases, plus enjoy bonus content and prizes is to join Nancy’s newsletter at nancywarren.net or join her private FaceBook Group Nancy Warren’s Knitwits.
Vampire Book Club
The Vampire Book Club - Book 1
Chapter and Curse - Book 2
A Spelling Mistake - Book 3
Vampire Knitting Club
Tangles and Treasons - a free prequel for Nancy’s newsletter subscribers
&nbs
p; The Vampire Knitting Club - Book 1
Stitches and Witches - Book 2
Crochet and Cauldrons - Book 3
Stockings and Spells - Book 4
Purls and Potions - Book 5
Fair Isle and Fortunes - Book 6
Lace and Lies - Book 7
Bobbles and Broomsticks - Book 8
Popcorn and Poltergeists - Book 9
Garters and Gargoyles - Book 10
Diamonds and Daggers - Book 11
Cat’s Paws and Curses a Holiday Whodunnit
The Great Witches Baking Show
The Great Witches Baking Show - Book 1
Baker’s Coven - Book 2
A Rolling Scone - Book 3
Toni Diamond Mysteries
Toni is a successful saleswoman for Lady Bianca Cosmetics in this series of humorous cozy mysteries. Along with having an eye for beauty and a head for business, Toni's got a nose for trouble and she's never shy about following her instincts, even when they lead to murder.
Frosted Shadow - Book 1
Ultimate Concealer - Book 2
Midnight Shimmer - Book 3
A Diamond Choker For Christmas - A Toni Diamond Mysteries Novella
The Almost Wives Club
An enchanted wedding dress is a matchmaker in this series of romantic comedies where five runaway brides find out who the best men really are!
The Almost Wives Club: Kate - Book 1
Second Hand Bride - Book 2
Bridesmaid for Hire - Book 3
The Wedding Flight - Book 4
If the Dress Fits - Book 5
Take a Chance series
Meet the Chance family, a cobbled together family of eleven kids who are all grown up and finding their ways in life and love.
Kiss a Girl in the Rain - Book 1
Iris in Bloom - Book 2
Blueprint for a Kiss - Book 3
Every Rose - Book 4
Love to Go - Book 5
The Sheriff's Sweet Surrender - Book 6
The Daisy Game - Book 7
Chance Encounter - Prequel
Take a Chance Box Set - Prequel and Books 1-3
For a complete list of books, check out Nancy’s website at nancywarren.net
About the Author
Nancy Warren is the USA Today Bestselling author of more than 70 novels. She’s originally from Vancouver, Canada, though she tends to wander and has lived in England, Italy and California at various times. While living in Oxford she dreamed up The Vampire Knitting Club. She currently splits her time between Bath, UK, where she often pretends she’s Jane Austen. Or at least a character in a Jane Austen novel, and Victoria, British Columbia where she enjoys living by the ocean. Favorite moments include being the answer to a crossword puzzle clue in Canada’s National Post newspaper, being featured on the front page of the New York Times when her book Speed Dating launched Harlequin’s NASCAR series, and being nominated three times for Romance Writers of America’s RITA award. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University. She’s an avid hiker, loves chocolate and most of all, loves to hear from readers! The best way to stay in touch is to sign up for Nancy’s newsletter at www.nancywarren.net.
To learn more about Nancy and her books
www.nancywarren.net