Snuffed Out (Magic Candle Shop Mystery)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting –   Savannah, GA
Crooked Lane Books (January 10, 2023)
Hardcover 304 Pages

Synopsis

Twin sisters Tabby and Sage co-own a candle shop, but will it all go up in flames in Valona Jones’ series debut, perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Bailey Cates.

30-year-old fraternal twins Tabby and Sage Winslow own The Book and Candle Shop in Savannah. Sage is hot-headed and impulsive while Tabby is calm and collected, making them the perfect partnership. When one of their customers is found murdered, from a blow to the head, that partnership is put to the test.

Blithe McAdam had been seen in a heated argument with shop clerk Gerard, which immediately makes him suspect number one. The twins are convinced of Gerard’s innocence and start digging into Blithe’s past. But no one is cooperating. The neighbor who found the body isn’t talking, medical examiner Quig won’t give any details about the autopsy, and nasty rumors begin surfacing about the drowning of Blithe’s father years earlier—evidence that could seal Gerard’s fate.

Tabby and Sage dig desperately for the truth. But it’s not only their friend who’s in peril. With the clock ticking, the twins find themselves in the grip of an unseen and deadly energy that has seeped into their midst—and in the sights of a ruthless killer.

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Guest Post

Aromatherapy candles by Valona Jones

Can you resist cinnamon-scented air? Most of us respond to pleasing aromas. It’s no wonder we love to gather in kitchens, when the scent of delicious food draws us in.

The smell of fresh bread baking and a favorite stew simmering on the stove make my mouth water. The scent fills me with hunger and builds a sense of anticipation for the reward of savoring the dish. The enticing scents of coffee brewing, brownies baking, or even food grilling over charcoal will trigger desire/hunger in nearly everyone.

With that said, it’s easy to see why scents became paired with candles.

How many times have we sought out a special flower, blooming shrub, or evergreen tree? Fragrances catch our notice, they reel us in. As a bonus, scents play on our emotions, evoke strong memories, and even teach us things we like or to avoid. That natural response is both innate and primitive.

For as long as I can remember, my family used many candles. They were decorative and functional as we lived in a coastal area fraught with strong storms and frequent power outages. Bayberry scented candles were popular for holidays, as was apple cinnamon, and I still associate those aromas with home.

Some scents energize us physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. Some, like lavender, are known to calm and relax people, while others may enhance thinking or clarity, though those responses may be highly individual. There are essential oils associated with relieving multiple human conditions including end-of-life ones, and fyi candles aren’t the only means to infuse the fragrance in the air. Diffusers, atomizers, steamers, baths, hot cloths on faces, and massages also help to disperse essential oils into breathable vapors.

According to the National Institute of Health, “Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils from plants (flowers, herbs, or trees) as a complementary health approach. The essential oils are most often used by inhaling them or by applying a diluted form to the skin. Many essential oils are used in aromatherapy, including those from Roman chamomile, geranium, lavender, tea tree, lemon, ginger, cedarwood, and bergamot.”( https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/aromatherapy )

In addition, many consider aromatherapy to be an alternative medicine. Today’s medical profession even has scientific articles where this helpfulness has been documented.

The fictional Book and Candle Shop, located on Bristol Street in Savannah, Georgia, is featured in my A Magic Candle Shop Mystery series. The shop is known for their excellent products, particularly their aromatherapy candles. The way the candles are made in the shop’s stillroom is similar to other aromatherapy candle making, with the exception of an extra step. First Auntie O and then Tabby Winslow learned how to imbue good energy in her candles as she crafts them. That process means that the candle imparts goodness to those nearby throughout the entire burn.

In “Snuffed Out,” the story opens with a dissatisfied customer who felt no added oomph from the last shop candles she bought. Turns out that Auntie O forgot to tell Tabby about that extra part as it came to her so intuitively, she didn’t think of it as a candle making step. Once Tabby corrects her process, she makes perfect aromatherapy candles.

But it’s too late for Blithe McAdam. This distraught customer’s showdown in The Book and Candle Shop goes viral online. Worse Blithe is murdered, and the cops put Tabby’s shop clerk, Gerard, at the top of their suspect list. With twins Tabby and Sage very new to owning and running the shop, they can’t afford to lose Gerard. Tabby vows to investigate and set things right.

About the Author

Valona Jones writes paranormal cozy mysteries set in Southern locales. Her work blends mystery and the unexplained, along with a sprinkle of romance. A former scientist, she’s drawn to the study of personal energy. She sharpened her people-watching skills as a lifelong introvert and thankfully had a bank vault full of personal observations when she began to write fiction. Her forthcoming release, Snuffed Out, A Magic Candle Shop Mystery, is slated for January 10, 2023, release. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She lives in coastal Georgia, where time and tide wait for no one.

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