BOOK BIRTHDAY FOR CANDLE WITH CARE

 Today, Tuesday, Feb. 11, is the release day of CANDLE WITH CARE, book 4 in A Magic Candle Shop Mystery series, which I write under the pen name of Valona Jones. This book features amateur sleuth Tabby Winslow, a psychic and candlemaker who is a fraternal twin to her sister Sage. The twins live in Savannah, GA, and they co-own and operate The Book and Candle Shop on Bristol Street.

In CANDLE WITH CARE, Detective Sharmila Belfor is seriously injured from a hit-and-run accident when she is off duty. Soon thereafter, Sage's former coworker and friend, Larry Rau is murdered in his home. Then the twins' high school nemesis is kidnapped, and her mother begs Tabby to investigate. To make matters worse, Milly Quigsly, Tabby's fiance's mom, is throwing them an engagement shower and now Tabby has to come up with a suitable pastel gown for the June occasion. How on earth can she possibly get everything done, investigated, and bought when she's working full-time in the candle shop? Can Tabby identify the culprit(s?) before she becomes the next victim?

 CANDLE WITH CARE is available in print and digital format across the web. 

Digital Buy Links: KINDLE   NOOK    iBOOKS     KOBO  

Print Buy Links:   AMAZON    coming soon to B&N et al

 

Online Launch Activities

Cozy Mystery Party Takeover on Facebook, Wednesday, February 12, 7-8 pm EST

  A Love for Mysteries Party on Facebook, Friday, February 14, 7-8 pm EST, with 6 other authors

 

 Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour, February 13-22

 

 

 

Follow the Book Tour!

 

February 13 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

February 13 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

February 14 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

February 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 15 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

February 16 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 17 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 18 – Angel's Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

February 18 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

 February 19 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 20 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 20 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 21 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – REVIEW

February 22 – Deal Sharing Aunt – RECIPE 

February 22 – Sneaky the Library Cat's Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 22 – Storybook Lady – REVIEW

 

 In Person Appearance

Also, for my local readers, I will be appearing at the Old Jail Art Center and Museum in Darien, GA,for a booksigning on Saturday, March 15, from 11-1pm.  You're invited!

 

I hope to see you on my tour, and I hope you LOVE the new cozy paranormal mystery.

 

Maggie Toussaint

writing as Valona Jones

https://maggietoussaint.com

 

 

 

RELEASE DAY FOR TALLOWED GROUND

The third book in my A Magic Candle Mystery series released today! TALLOWED GROUND is out under my own imprint and I'm delighted to have this opportunity to feature the book's cover by illustrator Martha Whidden. She did a great job creating an eye-catching cover that is similar in style to the ones created by my former publisher.

Here's the book blurb:

When a killer props his third and latest victim against the double tombstone of Tabby and Sage Winslow’s grandparents' grave in Savannah, Georgia, the psychic twins are stunned. Even worse, the victim is the very man they filed a restraining order against a few months ago for trashing their book and candle shop. Coincidence...or a connection? Then a clue about the murders points to Tabby's career as a candlemaker. Now, she is a person of interest in the killing spree.

The twins investigate all three victims, finding little that might tie the cases together besides where the bodies were found—in or near Bonaventure Cemetery, a beautiful 100-acre historic graveyard with a storied past. Then Tabby’s Medical Examiner boyfriend is mysteriously pulled from the case, with his dream job in jeopardy. The situation reaches a flashpoint when new evidence points to Tabby. With her freedom and the family business in peril, Tabby matches her wits and psychic abilities against the wily killer.

That is, until Tabby's spirited inquiry as an amateur sleuth lands her in the worst kind of trouble. Can Tabby clear her name before the fiend snuffs her flame…for good? 

Get your copy today:

DIGITAL LINKS

Kindle   

Kobo  

Nook  

iBooks     

 

TRADE PAPERBACK LINKS

Amazon     

Barnes & Noble   

Thanks for being a fan! If you write reviews or even want to only post stars, authors value reviews.

Also, check out my other paranormal series, The Dreamwalker Mysteries, that I wrote using my name Maggie Toussaint as the author.

https://valonajones.com

https://maggietoussaint.com

Happy Reading!

Maggie Toussaint

w/a Valona Jones

Who Doesn't Love a Bargain?

 Who doesn't love a bargain?

I love bargains and I unabashedly shop sales and clearances for just about everything. I also love Estate Sales, but I try to stay away from them because I don't need any more stuff.

About 24 years ago, we downsized our home and got rid of lots of stuff. Some of it was painful, like the set of Encyclopedias that we couldn't even give away, the snow skiing equipment that no one wanted. We'd already gone through the winnowing/divesting of stuff when my father-in-law passed, and we'd kept a lot of his tools. So, when the purge for us came in 2000, we went from a five-hammer family to just having two. Painful as it was, we settled into a smaller one-story home with no basement or attic.

Everything was fine until we wanted to turn the porch into a sunroom. We ended up with a tile cutting saw for that project. Then in the warmer climate, we needed a power washer. And so it went. Soon we had a shed brimming with tools and machinery. Then several more relatives passed, and we took in some real treasures of no particular value.

Seems we're doomed to have stuff! But it makes us happy and productive. That's a good thing!

Speaking of bargains, I have great news for you! 

Today, Feb. 8, 2024, IN THE WICK OF TIME, which I wrote under the pen name of Valona Jones, is sale priced at $2.99 and is the Kindle Daily Deal. Thanks to Crooked Lane for putting this book on such a wonderful sale.  GET YOUR COPY

More about the book: This is book 2 of my A Magic Candle Shop Mystery series. The amateur sleuth is Tabby Winslow, and she and her twin sister Sage are energetics. This is a kind of psychic that can manipulate energy. They live in Savannah, GA, one of the most haunted cities in the US. In this book, Sage's boss is poisoned, and the cops dial in on the stillroom in the back of the candle shop. (For those who don't know, this is like an apothecary shop where things are made but also herbs and spices are ground up).

Thanks for visiting! Happy Thursday, All

Maggie Toussaint

also writing as Valona Jones

https://maggietoussaint.com and https://valonajones.com 

May 2023 Online appearances

 I have two back-to-back online appearances in May as Valona Jones to talk about my new A MAGIC CANDLE SHOP MYSTERY series. I hope you will register for one or both of these fun venues where there is plenty of reader and author chatting!

MYSTERY AND MAYHEM -- MYSTERY AUTHOR MEET AND GREET

I am pairing up with talented cozy author Lois Winston to appear at this Mystery and Mayhem event! It happens Tuesday, May 30 at 7:30-9:30 pm EST. 

REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT TODAY! There will be laughter, banter, Q&A, games and prizes, and more. Best of all, it's free! 

As I understand the format, author teams have individual Zoom windows. During the event, you click on the team windows you want to listen to, you can roam around or stay put. (Pick us!) I will be appearing as Valona Jones at this event. 

 Register HERE for Mystery and Mayhem.

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MURDER SHE READ!

 

This online event is hosted by the St. Joseph Public Library in Saint Joseph, MO. Librarian Jenny Ellis leads this online book club. On May 31 at 7 pm central / 8 pm eastern time, they will be discussing SNUFFED OUT, book 1 in A Magic Candle Shop Mysteries. I will be there as Valona Jones, and it's open to everyone!

 

I will be talking about my book, about me, about anything Jenny asks, but participants can ask questions too! We'd love to have YOU join us. Sign up today!

 

Registration is open for everyone for "Murder She Read." REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT: HERE

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That's it for now! Sign up for my monthly newsletter to stay on top of current appearances. Sign ups are at https://maggietoussaint.com and https://valonajones.com  One sign up will net you our joint newsletter from Maggie Toussaint and Valona Jones!

Release day for Snuffed Out, written under my pen name of Valona Jones

 Release day! It is always a shimmering, shiny day for authors, and now that I am two authors (Maggie Toussaint and Valona Jones, it's double the fun!

Today, the sleuth from the series, Tabby Winslow, a fraternal twin, psychic, and a candle maker, is appearing at Dru's Book Musing, sharing a Day in Her Life. Click here

Yesterday, Valona Jones had a post about "Living your best life," over at It's Not Always a Mystery blog. Be sure and check that out as it shares behind the scenes info for both author and characters in the series. Click here. 

The Great Escape Tour for Snuffed Out starts on Jan 12, 2023. The stops are listed below.

January 12 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW

January 12 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 12 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 13 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 13 – Jane Reads – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 13 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 14 – I'm Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

January 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

January 15 – Brooke Blogs – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 15 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

January 16 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

January 16 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

January 17 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 17 – Christy's Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 17 – Mythical Books – SPOTLIGHT

January 18 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 18 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – REVIEW

January 19 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

January 19 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 19 – The Book's the Thing – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 20 – Books to the Ceiling – SPOTLIGHT* Teresa will also be featuring the book on her podcast using the excerpt.

 January 20 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 21 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW

January 21 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST 

 Tonight I will be at Cozy Mystery Party doing an Author Takeover for Snuffed Out. It's from 7-8 pm EST. I hope you can make it!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/cozymysteryparty

 

Last but by no means least, I'll be at the Facebook Party page I share with Nancy J Cohen for a Launch Party on Thursday, January 12, from 7-8:30 pm EST. There will be a game, reveals, and prizes. https://facebook.com/newreleaseparty. I hope you'll join me!

If you haven't already signed up for my newsletter, please do that at either of my websites.

Thanks!

Maggie Toussaint and Valona Jones

https://maggietoussaint.com and https://valonajones.com

 VALONA JONES is delighted to announce that her forthcoming book, SNUFFED OUT, is now available for preorder in Digital and Hardcover formats. Here is the info you need to get this Jan 10, 2023 book sent to you as soon as it drops:

Book Blurb:

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.

THIS BOOK RELEASES FROM CROOKED LANE PUBLISHING ON JAN 10, 2023.

Preorder your copy today:

Hardcover Book     AMAZON     BARNES&NOBLE

Digital Book         KINDLE     NOOK     KOBO

Valona Jones Bio: 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 a January 10, 2023, release. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She lives in coastal Georgia, where she’s seen time and tide wait for no one.

 It's the last day of the Booklover's Bench Anniversary Celebration! We're giving away 7 full length cozy mysteries to celebrate our founding nine years ago. Today, Feb. 18, is the last day to enter. I hope you'll click over and take a chance on us! https://bookloversbench.com/contests/ 

Here's the link again: https://bookloversbench.com/contests/