By
Abigail Thornton

Just when she’s ready for a new start,
a murder turns life on its head…

New beginnings abound in Wynona’s life as she plans her future with Rascal and rebuilds her shop from the ground up, all while her relationships continue to evolve with those closest to her.

With Celia out of the house, but a new roommate taking her place, Wynona feels as if she’s often walking on egg shells in her own home. Lusgu is a mystery that Wynona can’t quite unravel, though his proximity makes her more curious than ever.

When a dragon shifter, who happens to be an old friend of Lusgu’s, is accused of murder, Wynona realizes this might be her chance to peel back a few more layers of the brownie’s history.

With Violet and Rascal at her side, Wynona dives into a world of science and magic as she tries to clear the dragon’s name, and keep herself alive for her future wedding at the same time.

With her tea shop destroyed by fire, Wynona is regrouping. Her sister Celia has a successful new business with interior design and is helping her rebuild. Unfortunately, their tastes don’t run the same. Celia has also moved out and Lusgu has sort of moved in, the portal to his home is attached to her pantry and he is keeping her house as clean as he did the tea shop.

I get a kick out of some of the things Lusgu does and also the interactions with Rascal. There are more than a few secrets here, making every interaction with him a bit crazy.

Wynona has also been successful in controlling her power. This is a huge step for her, but she still forgets to use it in some situations having lived without for so long. She’s planning her wedding and Prim is doing her flowers and as her best friend is going shopping for teacups and pots at antique stores. What they find is a very unique tea pot that has a connection to Lusgu. It seems a friend of his, a Dr. Rayn made it and talking about her is painful to him.

When a storm comes up that isn’t natural and lightning strikes seem to target some people, one who is now dead and the other is in a coma. Then things get very interesting as a search of the area produces a box with the same designs as the tea pot Wynona bought.

Everyone gathers at Wynona’s to ask Lusgu about the device. This kind of forces Lusgu to reveal some things, but he also states the device is not hers. Rascal and Wynona investigate more into Dr. Rayn and what they find causes Lusgu to become extremely angry and dangerous.

This is a favorite scene.

Slowly, Rascal’s features went back to normal, until he opened his eyes to the usual caramel gold, rather than bright metallic.

Wynona gave him a hesitant smile. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” Rascal said, stepping around her and facing Lusgu. “If he puts a finger on you, I’m ripping him to shreds.”

“I don’t think he’s trying to hurt me,” Wynona said, though she couldn’t help but wince even as she said the words.

Rascal’s growl immediately deepened.

“I’m fine,” Wynona assured him, resting her hand on his arm. “He just caught me off guard.”

“We need Skymaw,” Rascal stated bluntly.

Again, Wynona shook her head. “I won’t make it that long. Lusgu’s too strong.”

“I don’t like it,” Rascal said.

“Me either, but here we are.” Stepping forward, Wynona put out her hands. “Lusgu,” she said in as authoritative a tone as she could. “If you will calm down, I’ll lower the barrier.”

Lusgu stopped flinging magic, but his eyes were wild and he appeared unstable.

Wynona stepped a little closer, ignoring Rascal’s warning growl. “Lusgu,” she said more softly. “I know you’re hurting, but we’re here to help. We’re friends. Please…calm down enough for us to talk this out.”

Lusgu’s small body was trembling and heaving from his tantrum, but he jerkily nodded his head.

Wynona looked at Violet.

Let him out, Violet said.

Trusting her familiar, Wynona lowered the shield. No sooner had the bubble begun to pop, than Lusgu threw up his hands, causing it to explode the rest of the way and sending Wynona flying across the room, her head slamming into the wall.

The room spun and Wynona couldn’t get her lungs to suck in a breath, they were frozen along with the rest of her body. She registered maniacal growling, but couldn’t turn her head to see what was going on.

The growling diminished and a dark head appeared above hers. “Never restrain me again,” Lusgu said in an icy tone, his black eyes pinning her in place.

Electricity built in Wynona’s fingertips. If Lusgu was above her, then Rascal was being held.

Stay calm! Violet shouted. Everyone needs to calm down!

For the first time in a while, Wynona completely ignored her familiar. Her soulmate bond was screaming in panic and it was the only thing she could feel. Her fingers twitched and Lusgu’s eyes darted to the movement.

Acting on complete instinct, Wynona threw out her hand and twisted it, clenching her fist at the end as if holding a rope tight. Lusgu gasped and was sucked to the floor, lying flat on his back. His hands clawed at his neck, but nothing was visible.

Wynona climbed to her feet, feeling weightless, as if she still wasn’t quite part of her body yet. She registered the brownie gasping for breath, but felt nothing. The edges of her vision were sparkling with a purple so dark it was nearly black, and she focused in on her wolf.

Rascal had shifted at some point and was muzzled and bound with shining black magical cords.

Wynona ran her nail through the air, slicing them in half and freeing her predator. She rested her hand on his shaggy head when he trotted to her side, before turning back to the creature still thumping on the floor.

She pursed her lips. Her brain seemed a little fuzzy. Why was he there? Wynona tilted her head, studying the small one struggling for breath. Her wolf whimpered and she scratched behind his ears, but the sound intensified.

The wolf stepped forward, nudging the creature, then looked up at Wynona with soulful eyes. Wynona blinked. What did it want? Why was she even attached to the wolf? What did it mean to her?

WYNONA! a voice screamed in her head.

Wynona blinked. Was that her? Was that voice calling to her? She looked around and noticed a bright purple streak run across the room, aiming for her leg. Reacting before thinking, Wynona sent a zap of magic at the movement, but the tiny creature didn’t even hesitate. It finished running to her and clamped down on her calf.

“Ouch!” Wynona cried, leaping back. As soon as the word broke through her mouth, she felt her lungs begin to move and she paused long enough to take in several deep breaths, her chest hurting with each expansion.

“Rascal,” she breathed, noting he was in his wolf form. “Rascal, are you okay?”

He whimpered and looked down.

Wynona followed his gaze. “Lusgu!” she screamed. Scrambling over on her hands and knees, she put a hand on his chest, sagging in relief when she felt it rise, though his eyes remained closed.

A sting on her leg brought her mind back around to what had caused the troublesome reaction in the first place. “Violet?” Wynona called out, spinning on her knees. “Violet?”

I’m here. Violet came crawling up Lusgu’s side, sitting primly on his chest.

Are you back?

Wynona pulled back her hand, which had been reaching for her familiar. “What?” Are you back? She looked at Rascal, who had separated himself from her by a few feet, and a dull ache began to build in her chest.

“I don’t understand.”

Violet nodded at Rascal and went down on all fours, tapping Lusgu’s chest a few times. Heal him and we’ll talk.

“What happened?” Wynona asked, immediately going into nurturing mode.

Heal first.

Wynona bit her bottom lip to keep it from trembling; they weren’t telling her something. And she had a terrible feeling that it was bad. Really bad. Gingerly, she rested a couple of fingers on Lusgu’s sternum and sent the slightest jolt of healing his way.

His eyes immediately shot up and he sucked in a deep breath.

Before she could pull back, however, Lusgu grabbed her hand, his long fingers crushing hers.

“I wasn’t sure I believed it,” he rasped.

“You’re hurting me,” Wynona whispered, trying to extricate her limb.

Lusgu blinked and tightened his hold, causing Wynona to wince in pain. “You’re the only one who can help.”

Wynona shook her head. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Help what?”

“Help…” Lusgu swallowed and his eyes darted to Violet, then back to Wynona. “I need you to help Rayn,” he whispered hoarsely.

“The dragon?” Wynona asked. “The inventor?”

Lusgu nodded. “You’re the only one who can do it.”

“I didn’t want to get involved,” Wynona explained. “You seemed so upset.”

“You’re the only one.” He finally released her hand and closed his eyes. “You’re the only one.”
Thornton, Abigail Lynn. Stir in a Murder: a paranormal cozy mystery (Le Doux Mysteries Book 7) Kindle Locations (936-989). Angel Music. Kindle Edition.

Something happened to Wynona when Rascal was threatened, something she can’t remember exactly. When Violet and Rascal explain it, it still doesn’t make sense to her and scares her. This I am sure has to do with the fact her heritage has both light and dark magic in it.

So much happens in this book as they try to clear Dr. Rayn of murder. The path to frame her is complex and twisted.

We also learn some of Prim’s unique powers and Wynona learns more about her own. I am also noticing a connection somehow to Wynona’s father. Although it’s not clear how or why, I’m sure we’ll eventually find out.

I’m already reading the next book, which will catch me up in this series until the next release.

5 Contented Purrs for Abigail!

Ever since I was in elementary school I have wanted to be an author. Career day was a bit rough, since there is no official uniform for this job. Pajamas and a laptop maybe? Although my clothes change from day to day, my job as a wife and mother doesn’t. My days are filled with my 5 children and enjoying time with my husband, while my evenings are filled with creative time. I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.