Murderous Matrimony
by Joyce and Jim Lavene

…a great cozy with a touch of fantasy.
~Melina’s Book Blog

Murderous Matrimony
(Renaissance Faire Mystery)
6th Book In Series
E-Book
Release Date: November 15, 2013
Available For Pre-Order Soon

 Synopsis:

In less than two short weeks, Jessie Morton will marry Chase Manhattan at Renaissance Faire Village and Marketplace. But so much can go wrong in that short time. A man is murdered in Jessie’s new Arts and Crafts Museum and her assistant is being scrutinized for the deed. Chase’s brother and parents have arrived and are still against their marriage. Wanda’s ghost is busy making Jessie’s life miserable. The Ren Faire wedding of her dreams may never take place. Can Jessie talk Chase into eloping before it’s too late?

Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 60 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyceandjimlavene
Twitter: @authorjlavene
Amazon : amazon.com/author/jlavene

Purchase:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GOA74N6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00GOA74N6&linkCode=as2&tag=musreamys-20

A Book Excerpt 

Before I could call out again, the principle wonder of Madame Lucinda’s tent walked immediately in front of me in a challenging stance.

“Nice dragon.”

I know. There was no way the dragon, the size of a large terrier, was real. Believe me I had investigated every other possibility.

It wasn’t a puppet. It wasn’t a holographic image. It wasn’t a person in a costume, like Fred the Red Dragon. I checked out all those ideas.

The green dragon had yellow eyes that were fastened on me. Its mouth showed rows of sharp teeth. I’d seen it spit fire before. Though it seemed impossible, even here at the Renaissance Faire, I was pretty sure the dragon was real. I don’t know how it was possible, but I had no other answer for it.

When I’d mentioned it to other residents of the Village, they were all fine with the idea that there was a dragon inside the purple and gold tent. No one even seemed to question how a real dragon could be there.

Of course, residents of the Village are not always the most logical, practical people in the world. Let’s face it, we live in a fantasy land where visitors from outside come to be immersed in another time and place. We’re encouraging people to use their imaginations.

My imagination was having a hard time wrapping itself around this very real dragon confronting me like a guard dog. I feinted one way, and he followed me. I was definitely in his sights.

“Oh. It’s you, Jessie.” Madame Lucinda suddenly appeared in the quiet darkness of the tent. “I’m sorry about Buttercup. She doesn’t like surprises, or unannounced visitors, for that matter.”

“Buttercup? It’s a girl dragon?”

Madame Lucinda laughed daintily as though my ignorance was amusing. She was a deeply stooped older woman who always wore a long purple robe. She had a hard time walking. I thought maybe she was crippled, or in some way injured, since she hid herself in here, even after the Village was closed each day.

She moved her long, gray hair away from her face as she sat down carefully in her chair behind the tiny table with the glowing glass ball on it. “Actually, in their fight to survive, dragons have learned to be flexible in their gender. Buttercup is a female right now. She may be a male someday. She’s not old enough to mate as yet. We’ll see when the time comes.”

I moved quickly as Buttercup jumped up on a shelf where she usually perched above Madame Lucinda. I took the chair opposite the fortune teller at the table.

“Are you telling me Buttercup is a real dragon?” I said it with all the authority of a master’s degree in medieval history could bring. “Because you know dragons were only mythology. They weren’t even like dinosaurs. At least existed and went extinct.”

I just wanted to hear her say it. I don’t know why since I probably wouldn’t believe it.

“Mythology is hard to define,” she said in a gruff voice. “One person’s mythology is another person’s truth.”

I looked up at the dragon that made a kind of purring noise on the shelf above us. “That doesn’t really answer my question.”

Renaissance Faire History

Guest post By Joyce Lavene

The Renaissance was a time of great changes to the world. In England, this was also the time of William Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth. The age abounded with new discoveries as ships made way for lands never seen before.

Another aspect of the Renaissance Age was feasting and festivals. This is where the modern day Renaissance Festival, or faire, takes its cue.

Elizabeth I was a great believer in celebrations and festivals. Her reign came after many hard years when it was against the law to spend time in merriment. With the harsh days behind them, rich and poor folk made time to celebrate whatever, and whenever, they could.

Many times, there would be no work during a day from dawn to dusk when delicacies would be prepared and eaten. Games of strength, speed, and cunning would enliven the day. Weddings were many times set for these special opportunities so that more people could be there for the happy event.

Many of the celebrations were related to the seasons – planting, mid summer, and harvest. Some were related to the church.

There were huge celebrations on Twelfth Night in January. At that time, Christmas wasn’t celebrated as it is today. Saint Valentine’s Day was another big feast. There would be singing and dancing – and of course, feasting. All Fool’s Day and Mayday were also important festivities.

Lammas Day was celebrated on in August with the loaf-mass, and the festival of the first wheat harvest of the year. Michaelmas celebrated the life of St Michael at the end of September.

Renaissance festivals today are mostly an American notion of how people in those times would enjoy themselves. There is feasting, games of luck, skill, and chance. Women show off their beautiful clothing. Men show off their prowess during jousts.

You may encounter a mermaid, or some other creature today, that wouldn’t have been thought of during the 1500s, but it’s all part of the fun!

Read my review.

Visit the other stops on the tour.  Also, enter the rafflecopter below to win one e-copy of the book.  This giveaway is open until November 30, and it is open worldwide!

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