New Release | Fishing & Forgery book 11 by Lucinda Race #newrelease #cozymystery #paranormalcozymystery #mustread
- N. N. Light
- Apr 2
- 7 min read
Title Fishing & Forgery book 11
Author Lucinda Race
Genre Paranormal Witch Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb
Enjoy this witty, small-town paranormal, cozy mystery by award-winning and bestselling author Lucinda Race.
Welcome to Pembroke Cove, where witches and murders are multiplying...
A lazy Sunday afternoon on her fiancé’s fishing boat in the small town of Pembroke Cove is the perfect way for bookstore owner and witch Lily Michaels to relax and escape the whirlwind of planning their wedding, which is only a month away. Lily’s only pretending to try to catch dinner, but when she reels in a satchel stuffed with cash, Lily and her fiancé, Gage Erikson—a.k.a. Detective Cutie—are hooked into a new mystery.
Gage learned a long time ago that the only way to keep his puzzle-loving fiancé safe is to let her dive headfirst into his cases with him. But while he’s in the police station setting the investigation of the mysterious moolah in motion, Lily stumbles over a dead body just outside the door.
Are the cases connected? Is the cash stolen or counterfeit? The dead man’s distraught widow positively identifies the body…but when Gage and Lily learn the woman faked her identity what else is she hiding? While finalizing plans to marry her catch of a lifetime, it will take all of Lily’s magical skills to help Gage fish out the truth.
Fishing & Forgery is the eleventh novel in the A Book Store Cozy Mystery Series; although each book can be read as a standalone, it is best to read them in order. It is a humorous, small-town, cozy mystery that guarantees the culprit is caught. Happy reading!
Excerpt
I leaned against the vinyl boat cushion and tipped my face to the sun. “I can’t believe the wedding is a little over a month away.”
From the captain’s seat, Gage laughed. “And we’ve gone fishing.”
The boat trolled along at a sedate pace. Nikki and Steve were setting up fishing poles, Sharon and EL were sitting on the bow with their heads together, chatting, and Mac and his wife Margaret were talking quietly. I sighed. This was a perfect way to unwind from wedding preparations and work, which was an issue for tomorrow.
Milo, my sweet gray kitty, waddled across the deck and clumsily jumped up beside me. “My dear witch, I’m not a fan of this life jacket. I can barely move, and it’s bright orange.” He shuddered. “Talk about a fashion faux pas.”
I scratched under his chin and, speaking softly, said, “My dear familiar. Should I remind you that you’re not a fan of water, and we’re two hundred yards offshore? That’s a long way to swim should you fall overboard.”
With a grumble, he said, “I’d have to swim if the sharks didn’t get me first.” Snapping his head in my direction, he glared at me. “Wait. You wouldn’t jump in and save me?”
I laughed. “Of course I would. I’d go to the ends of the earth to protect you, which is why you’re wearing that ugly orange life vest.”
Milo sniffed. “I wouldn’t call it ugly, and I wear it well.” He looked at the lovebirds on the boat’s bow. “I’m happy that Sharon and EL are dating. They deserve someone special in their lives.”
Grinning, I said, “Look at you being all romantic. Is there someone special for you?”
He groaned, “This familiar only loves two things in life— any fish, hence that’s why I’m on a boat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, and my witch.”
I smothered a laugh. “We’re hardly in the middle of the ocean.”
“It feels like it,” he grumbled before he did his best attempt at stretching out across the seat as the boat broke through the small waves.
Margaret crossed the deck and sat down next to Milo. “It’s sweet that you brought your kitty fishing with us today. We talked about bringing the baby, but I think the sun would be too hot for her.”
“Milo loves to be wherever I am, and I’m pretty sure he thinks he’s supervising. Cat, fish, dinner, and I understand that there’s too much sun for Amanda. Maybe next time will be better.”
“What do you think we’ll catch today? This is my first time fishing.”
“Not even on a lake or river?” I was surprised since Mac was an enthusiastic fisherman, but I believed couples didn’t have to be enamored with everything their partner did to be happy.
She shook her head. “I know what you must be thinking. Mac loves everything to do with fish, from eating to catching. But there’s always been something to do, and I couldn’t make it.”
“Life keeps us busy.” I looked at Gage and thought of the close call we had several weeks ago when he was kidnapped. Once we returned to a new normal, we had a long talk. We’d make it a point to have more fun with our friends and family. “You have to make time for what’s important.”
Margaret placed her hand over mine. “You must still be dealing with the ripple effects from what happened.”
I appreciated that she didn’t say kidnap. It was like a cold dagger driven into my soul. “We’re focusing on the wedding and the festivities leading up to it, like this excursion.”
“I wanted to thank you for inviting us.” She looked at Mac and then at me. “My husband thinks the world of you and Gage.”
“That’s sweet of you to say. We’re happy we’ve become friends, too.”
She bent close. “Do you think I actually need to hold a pole to make it official?”
“To be a friend or a fisherwoman?” I winked. “The first, you already are, and the second, if you want to fish, then go for it; otherwise, stretch out on a bench and relax. You can always hang out with Milo. There’s plenty of food and drinks in the coolers; help yourself.”
I rose to my feet. “Gage, is it time to drop anchor?”
He cut the power and nodded. “Go for it.” The boat bobbed gently on the swells. The anchor slipped with a splash into the briny depths. “Steve, are we ready to cast a line?”
“I am, even if you’re not.” Steve adjusted his ball cap and held out a pole to me. “Lily, ready?”
I took it and with a flick of my wrist, the hook and line slipped under the water's surface before I settled back on the bench. I never catch anything, and I didn’t expect today to be any different. “Margaret, join me. This is the most fun you’ll have fishing.” I gave her a wink and patted the space next to me.
“I’m not sure I know how?” Her voice went up at the end of the sentence, and she glanced around. “I don’t want to look foolish.”
Mac was baiting a hook and handed his wife the pole. “If you get a tug, let me know, and I’ll help you reel it in.” He kissed her cheek. “Beginner’s luck is always the best kind.”
Gage leaned against the side. “A nice striped bass dinner on Margaret tonight is the goal.”
“Don’t bet on that. Instead, we’d better pick up a couple of pizzas on the way to Lily’s.” She held the pole with a two-handed vise grip.
Mac sat down next to her. “Honey, we’re here to have fun.”
She relaxed her grip and looked at me with a gritted smile. “Are you sure this is relaxing?”
I handed Gage my pole and hip-checked Mac off the seat. “My secret,” I said, dropping my voice, “my hook isn’t baited.”
Her eyes widened, and she gave Mac a side glance. “He had a gigantic piece of something on the hook before giving me his pole.”
“Do you want to switch? You’ll be in the action without stressing about reeling in anything.”
She nodded. I jumped up, took my pole, and handed it to her. “Sit over here.”
Once we had exchanged fishing poles, I settled back on the seat. The line drifted before I tipped the pole back a bit and let the hook settle below the surface.
“How deep’s the water here?” I asked no one in particular but hoped someone would answer.
“It’s still shallow. If we went out a little farther, it would drop off sharply,” Steve said. “Don’t worry, there’s good finishing here.”
That’s what I feared since now I had a baited line. Gage dug a bottle of water from the cooler and took the top off before handing it to me. “Here you go.” I reached for it my line started running away from the boat, jerking me in the process.
“I’ve got something.” I tightened my grip on the pole. It bowed to the water’s surface. “Uh, Gage. A hand here.”
He put a steady hand on my arm. “You’ve got this. Nice and easy now. Let the fish get tired. He can run for a bit.”
“Why do you think it’s a he?” I didn’t take my eyes off the pole and continued to work the fish. It was a game of cat and mouse.
Milo settled next to me. “Oh goody, fish for supper. I hope it’s huge.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)
Author Biography
Award-winning and best-selling author Lucinda Race is an avid fan of fiction. As a young girl, she spent hours reading cozy mystery and romance novels and getting lost in the fun and hope they represent. While her friends dreamed of becoming doctors and engineers, her dream was to become an expert at crafting a captivating novel.
As life twisted and turned, she found herself writing nonfiction but longed to return to her true passion. After developing the storylines for the McKenna Family Romance series and the Paranormal Cozy Nook Bookstore Series, she decided it was time to start living her dream. Her fingers practically fly over computer keys. She weaves paranormal cozy mystery stories and romance with guaranteed happily ever afters.
Lucinda lives with her two little dogs, a miniature long hair dachshund and a shitzu mix rescue, in the rolling hills of western Massachusetts. When she's not immersed in her fictional worlds, writing mystery, suspense, or romance novels, she’s reading everything she can get her hands on.
Social Media Links
Goodreads – Lucinda Race- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10174985.Lucinda_Race
Youtube Lucinda Race https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lucinda+race+author
Universal Link https://books2read.com/ap/xyYO2g/Lucinda-Race
Bookbub Lucinda Race https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lucinda-race
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Lucinda-Race/e/B00Q0MMNUM
Lucinda’s Heart Racers Reader Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/118597305361578
Linked In
