My family is full of witches at least five generations back. I gave up counting after getting through that many. I am the only daughter of a witch who is married to a non-witch. My grandmother was a witch and so is my aunt. There are so many witches in my family living in the Wilmington, North Carolina area that I had to move to Norfolk, Virginia.
I love to see my family but they don’t approve of my lifestyle. I run a small private detective agency that helps people outside the norm such as other witches, werewolves, shifters – that kind of thing. It can be difficult living and blending in with suspicious non-magic users. My agency takes on clients who benefit from us having a foot in each world.
That’s the part my family doesn’t get.
Witches are supposed to be earthy and full of natural magic. That’s what my mother says anyway. She doesn’t like my purple convertible and some of the spells I use. She thinks of them as ‘fast’. Really? In this day and age?
My boyfriend, John, who was also my partner in the detective agency, was killed a few days ago. It was a violent, brutal death – especially for a werewolf. I mean, what is strong and savage enough to kill a wolf?
Since then I’ve been focused on finding his killer and to do that, I have to find someone else to work with. I’ve had other wolves, cat shifters, witches, even a ghost or two that were interested in working for me. None have measured up.
But I’ve met my first banshee and I think she might be exactly what I’m looking for. She’s strong and focused. She has a thing about finding some man named O’Neill but I think we can work around that issue.
The biggest problem is to keep her from moaning. I swear she’s gonna bring the roof down on my head!
You can read more about Sunshine in Be My Banshee, the first book in the NEW “Purple Door Detective Agency” mystery series, published by J Lavene.
About Be My Banshee
Sunshine Merryweather is a young witch with a passion for colorful clothes and good food. She is the owner/operator of the Purple Door Detective Agency. Her partner, John, was brutally murdered three days ago, and she won’t stop until she finds his killer.
Aine is only interested in one thing when she walks into the building with the purple door-locating the last man alive in the branch of the O’Neill family she haunts as a beane sidhe. She has been asleep for 200 years in a ruined Irish castle and realizes that the world has moved on without her. She needs to find the O’Neill heir and encourage him to start a family or she will pass from existence when he dies.
Sunshine sees a potential partner when she looks at the powerful beane sidhe – they could be the next Dynamic Duo! But Aine isn’t interested in Sunshine’s schemes – until the witch agrees to help her locate O’Neill. Even then, it will be a short-term association at best from Aine’s point of view. She has no need of witchcraft.
Neither woman is aware of the danger they face as an ancient assassin stalks the old port city of Norfolk, Virginia. It will take more than simple witchcraft or beane sidhe magic to stop the killer. They will have to work together and combine their talents.
But can Sunshine and Aine put aside their differences to stop the murders without tearing each other apart?
# # # # # # # # # # #
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by noon eastern on Friday, September 11 for your chance to win a print copy of Be My Banshee. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
About the author
Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery and urban fantasy fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. Their first mystery novel, Last Dance, won the Master’s Choice Award for best first mystery novel in 1999. Their romance, Flowers in the Night, was nominated for the Frankfurt Book Award in 2000.
They have written and published more than 70 novels that are sold worldwide for Harlequin, Penguin, Amazon, and Simon and Schuster. They have also published hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in Midland, North Carolina with their family and their rescue pets—Rudi, Stan Lee, and Quincy.
Visit them at www.joyceandjimlavene.com, on Facebook, on Amazon, and on Twitter
Sounds like a great start to a new series! Thanks for the chance!
Hi Barbara. Good Morning!
A great post and new series. Thanks for the chance to win.
Good luck, Doward!
This sounds like a fun story. I would love to read it. Thanks for the giveaway.
It’s a very fun story, Celest. A witch, a banshee, and a shapeshifter walked into a bar one night . . .
Love it, 🙂
I try to read all books by these two authors.
I have to keep reading till the last page.
Thanks Barb! we appreciate all our readers!
Sounds like a great new book
Thanks Debbie!
Sounds interesting and enjoyable; thanks for the chance to win 🙂
Good morning, Lisa! Interesting and enjoyable is what we strive for!
Hi Lisa! Thanks for dropping by!
Thanks for having us here, Dru Ann! Always fun!
another series by some great writers! Looking forward to reading it
Thank you, Margo!
I like the Lavene’s books.
Hi Sandy!
I would love to win this book. Another new series to start enjoying. Thank you for the chance
Wish you lots of luck! Thanks for stopping by!
I can’t wait to read this book by Joyce and Jim Lavene. Enjoy everything they write!!
Appreciate it!
This book is an awesome read … I didn’t want to put it down! I read an ARC e-copy of Be My Banshee, but would love to have the printed version, with it’s beautiful Purple Door cover, to show off on my bookshelf … Thank you for this opportunity and the wonderful books. 🙂
Thank you, Peggy!
Sounds good and I’d like to read it.
Thanks Sherry!
Sounds like an interesting read.
Thank you, Lois. We try!
Looks like a fun new series from a pair of great mystery writers!
We appreciate that, Liz!
A new series sounds like fun!
Thank you, Rhonda. I hope you have a chance to read it.
Oh, I adore Aine. She is a gal after my own heart. Keep after o’Neill! 😉 thanks for the giveaway Dru and Joyce!
Aine says, “I shall not rest while O’Neill may be in danger. Your comments are most welcome.”
These two sound like they will be an interesting due. I’d love to read this book and get started on the series.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Hi Sue! Thanks for stopping by!
Love anything written by Joyce and Jim Lavene and look forward to reading this first in a new series.
Thank you, Becky! We appreciate your kind words!
I would love a print copy of this imaginative story!
Hi Cheryl! (waving)
Well! I hardly know what to say. 😮 Sounds fascinating and totally different from the witch books I have read! Can’t wait to read this. Thanks to J & J and Dru for the opportunity to learn about the book and the contest. 🙂
Hi Barbara! I guarantee that it is different. We specialize in ‘different’ as many of our readers, and detractors, can testify! But we write what we want to write. and that’s a blessing for a writer. To have people enjoy it is icing on the cake!
Love their books!
Hi Gram!
Would love a print copy! Thanks for the contest Dru!
Good luck, Emily!
Sounds like a great new book and series! Can’t wait to read it!!
Thank you, Dawn!
I haven’t read anything yet by Joyce and Jim Lavene, but they get great reviews! I think I need to get on the bandwagon. Thankyou for the opportunity!
Come on over, Jill! Always room for one more reader.
I would so love to win this book. I can’t wait to read it. Thank you for sharing your stories with us!
Hi Christine! Thanks for reading!
Sounds like a great read.
Give it a try, Rita. That’s the only way to tell.
I’ve read the Missing Pieces series, and loved it…can’t wait to try this one as well!
Thank you, Kim! We appreciate it.
Love all of your series,can’t wait to get in to this one!!!
Hi Judy! Thank you!
What an exciting book, can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the chance to win.
I hope it works out for you, Patty!
What a delightful book which I would enjoy. Thanks for this great feature and giveaway.
Oh so need to read this. Sounds a little like Anita Blake and Harry Dresden so it’s going to be killer awesome!
Thanks for a chance.
Thanks for being here, Anne
Hi Anne! Our banshee, Aine, says Hello! and likes your name.
I’m a long time fan of the Lavenes and I love the idea of opening that purple door and greeting who is behind did.
Hi Ruth! Don’t forget – once opened, hard to close! :))
Your books are fun to read and I always love a new series….
Hi Vickie! Thanks so much!
I’ve read some of their earlier series. This one sounds great also. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
Hi Elaine! Great to have you here today.
Would love this
Is this name a play on words for coriander the herb?
Sounds like another great paranormal.
Hi Pat! Thank you. We do have a bent that way, don’t we?
This book sounds like it will be a fun read. Thanks for the giveaway!
WOW…this is definitely a book I know I am going to love, love, love!! Purple is my absolute favorite color and I so can’t wait to “open the pretty purple door” on the cover of this book and see just all the mystery that awaits me inside. And how awesome there is a purple convertible in the book too!!!! Yepper depper this book is definitely made for me!!!! I love, love, love the other books by the awesome Jim and Joyce Lavene!!!! With their incredible awesome talent for keeping readers glued to their seats as they read I know this will be a super duper awesome book!!! Thank you so so much dearest Dru and Joyce and Jim for the chance to win this exciting and interesting new book!!!! You guys ROCK!!! God bless you all!!!!
You rock, Beverly!
Reading this right now. I should finish today.
Great fun! It isn’t every day that you have a banshee in a story.
Thank you, Libby!
Looking forward to this new series & would love to win!
Thanks for being here, Karlene!
I like what I read about having a foot in each world, this will surely make the story very interesting. I will have to start this collection of books very soon.
Hi Jacque!
This book sounds great and really interesting! Thanks for introducing me to a new series, and for the chance to win!
Thank you, Abby!
Great title. Loved the excerpt. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.
Good luck here, CJ! Thanks for stopping by!
This book sounds fantastic! And there’s also a purple door, love purple!
Me too, MJ! Purple makes everything better! I guess that’s why sunshine Merryweather likes it too!
I’m looking forward to reading this newest book! Thomas over at Books A Million turned me onto the lavenes and I am so thankful every day that he did! Stories are fabulous and the authors are simply fantastic!
Hi Leslie! Nice to see you here! Good luck with the giveaway!
This book sounds great and really interesting! I love your other series so i anticipate loving this, too. Thanks for introducing me to a new series. Thanks for the chance on a great giveaway .
Thanks Lindar! Enjoying being here today on Dru’s blog!
Love the Lavene’s books. thanks for the chance to win this one.
Thanks marylouh! We love our readers too!
Love your books! I would love to win a copy of this new one!
I “Witch” I could win this bookmarks.
Joyce and Jim never fail to entertain me with their many series and I’m always on the look out for when their new books are released. Purple Door Detective Agency sounds like the beginnings of a great new series. Looking forward to escaping into this new series.
Looks like an interesting read!
A new series by the Lavenes, what a nice post.
And I thought all the werewolves were in Lousiana! Must check out the Purple Door Detective Agency soon. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks Joyce for commenting and interacting with my readers.
Contest is closed.