Old Bones and Ice Cream Cones Book Tour and Giveaway

 

Old Bones and Ice Cream Cones

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 6

by Elizabeth Pantley

Genre: Magical Cozy Mystery

A boyfriend who’s missing. Or was. . . Or is. . . A boat full of old bones. A community ice cream social. A friend in trouble. A spiteful witch, and an angry villain. The mysteries abound in Destiny Falls, but Hayden, Latifa and their family and friends are up for the excitement and adventure.

Old Bones and Ice Cream Cones follows the series format of combining two stories that blend into one. A murder mystery and the island mystery.

The Island Mystery: Hayden’s boyfriend Han is missing. But she swears she saw him zoom by in his car. She’d thought it was a surprise, and that he was home early from his secret service case. She was wrong. The surprise is that his signal isn’t pinging, and no one knows where he is. There appears to be black magic behind his disappearance. Can they learn who’s responsible and bring Han safely home?

The Murder Mystery: A pile of old bones is found in an ancient fishing boat. They could be tied to the disappearance of two young women years ago, back when many of the Destiny Falls people where in high school. Many of the citizens had bad history with the girls. Do the bones belong to those girls, and what happened? Were the girls murdered? And could the murderer be living among them?

Hayden’s many adventures in Destiny Falls will keep you guessing with each book in this intriguing series.

Old Bones and Ice Cream Cones
Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 6

Excerpt

We wound our way through the woods following what appeared to be a popular deer trail. It wasn’t as groomed as the human trails, but there was enough of a path cut through the brush. We rounded a bend, and the lake came into view. The scenery before us was strikingly beautiful. The water was as smooth and still as ice. The peaceful lake was surrounded by lush woods that was reflected in the mirror-like surface. This area was hidden from view when we were on the trail.

“Ahhh, this is gorgeous!”

“I knew you’d love it,” said Han. He draped his arm around me as we both drank in the view. “There’s a rough trail around the perimeter of the lake. Want to explore?”

“You bet!” I took off in front of him and heard his chuckle behind me. The area in front of me really couldn’t be called a trail. It was more like a continuation of the deer path that wound its way around the lake. We had to climb over large tree roots and boulders, so the going was slow, but well worth it. I made my way off the trail a bit and pushed through some willow tree branches to get closer to the lake.

“Hey! Look at that,” I called out to Han. Ahead of us I’d spotted an old fishing boat. It was wedged between some large boulders. It was rusted, dented, and covered with moss and dirt. Whatever color it used to be was long gone, now replaced by a weathered dull gray. By its appearance it had been there a very long time.

“Is this your old fishing boat?” I teased Han as I moved closer to inspect it.

“Har-de-har. Hey! Careful there. I don’t need to be fishing you out of the water.”

I got closer to the boat and peered inside. “Eww. It looks like an animal has been using this as a feeding spot. There’s a bunch of bones scattered all over.”

Han came up behind me and looked into the boat. He made an odd sound then leaned closer to peer at the bones. “These aren’t animal bones, Hayden. These are human bones.”

Reviews for the Destiny Falls Series:

"Will blow you away!" ~ Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

"My favorite series in the whole wide world." ~ Elza Reads

"Intriguing and totally unput-downable.” ~ Goodreads

"Generously seasoned with sass, class, and a dose of spunk. Delish!" ~ Pages & Paws

“The mystery, magic, and delicately woven story held me captive!” ~ Goodreads

“One of the most creative series I’ve ever read.” ~ Goodreads

“So. Darn. Clever. ~ Pages & Paws

“Solidly at the top of my list for paranormal mysteries!” ~ Goodreads

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Jousting and Justice

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 5

An invitation to a medieval festival. A ferry ride to a mysterious island. A scheming, inept witch. An office break-in, an unidentified body, and a string of suspects. Can Hayden, her brave, sassy cat, Latifa, and the people of Destiny Falls solve the mystery and enjoy the festival?

Jousting and Justice follows the series format of combining two stories that blend into one. A murder mystery and the island mystery.

The Island Mystery: Hayden and all her friends get an invitation to a medieval festival - but it's on "the forbidden island." It's too enticing to pass up. Of course, strange things will happen once they get there! . . . You'll also learn the truth about the witch's sister!

The Murder Mystery: A dead body shows up in the most shocking place. First, they need to figure out who this dead guy is. Then, who killed him and why. There are so many twists and turns on the way to the answers! But we know that Hayden, Latifa, and their family and friends will figure it out and justice will be served.

Hayden’s many adventures in Destiny Falls will keep you guessing with each book in this intriguing series.

Jousting and Justice
Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 5

Excerpt

I wandered through the yard toward the pasture, drinking in the glorious view as I went. The water was calm, and several sailboats were moving by, their crisp white sails wafting in the gentle breeze. I found a unique peacefulness in the sounds of seagulls above the waves. They reminded me of playing on the beach when I was a child. A much simpler time in my life, to be sure.

The area around me began to waver and fade. It caught me off guard and I felt a rush of joy: my ghostly friend Gaspar was nearby!

I looked around for the telltale sign of an orange camping tent. Sure enough, I spotted a splash of color in the bushes behind the large tree. I wandered closer, and soon the sound of waves was replaced by the whoosh of a waterfall. The seagulls left and I heard forest songbirds. Then I saw Gaspar fishing in the stream. The two familiar ultra-plush camping chairs were set up beside a startlingly formal tea service.

“Hi Gaspar!” I waved and called out to him.

He reeled in his line and put down his fishing pole. “Take a seat, my dear. Tea is brewing. So delighted to have you stop by.”

I chuckled at that. It was such a normal statement for the most abnormal situation. However, I had become accustomed to our strange but pleasant visits.

We settled into our seats and poured our tea. We drank quietly and enjoyed the peaceful setting. I knew that the world would be frozen in time until we returned, so there was no rush to our visit.

Finally, I broke the silence. “Gaspar, I know there are ghost rules, and you can’t tell me anything that will change the past, present, or future. But I’m hoping you can give me some guidance on this very strange situation.”

Reviews for Jousting and Justice:

“Absolutely magical! I could not put this book down!” ~ Goodreads

“If there were more than five stars I would definitely give at least 10 stars worth double the wonderful!” ~ Goodreads

“Full of wonderful characters, mystery, humor, and a mischievous cat. An adventurous mystery series written with cleaver imagination.” ~ Goodreads

“Solidly at the top of my list for paranormal mysteries! Just when I think the series cannot get any better, it does.” ~ Goodreads

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Witches, Spiders, and Schemes

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 4

A magic mirror to an enchanted world. A mysterious ghost. A hilarious, perpetually annoyed witch. A brave, sassy cat. Two unexplained deaths and a mysterious community filled with secrets. Can Hayden and the people of Destiny Falls solve the mystery and return the community to its peaceful, enchanted existence?

Hayden’s adventures in Destiny Falls continue in book four of the Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic series. Starting with a strange old woman at a cave and her father’s mysterious ferry journey, there are secrets to be unwound.

The enchantments in Destiny Falls are showing cracks, and Hayden suspects that it’s tied directly to her family, which has a history that’s more complex than she realized. When two bodies are found floating in the bay it’s clear that the mysteries surrounding Gladstone and the ferry are more dangerous than people realize.

Luckily, Hayden and her sassy sidekick, Latifa have developed a group of family and friends in this enchanted place who are all ready and willing to help solve the mystery, and release Destiny Falls to resume its normal, amazing, enchanted existence. 

Hayden’s many adventures in Destiny Falls will keep you guessing with each book in this intriguing series.

Witches, Spiders, and Schemes

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 4

Excerpt

 

I stared at the old woman. She was sitting on a rock in the mouth of a cave in front of us. She gawked at me as she sipped from a bottle of green Gatorade. How had a romantic hike up to the mountain lake taken such a strange turn? 

Could she be the woman from the stories I’d been told? Was that even possible?

Gaspar, the ghost who’d been telling me tales, had a daughter who had been tutored in black magic by an evil crone witch and bestowed with dark powers. She had lived a century ago but had partaken of the rumored fountain of youth found on the sinister island of Gladstone. Was this her? If it was, why did she look so old and frail? And how was she here?

I shivered and took a step closer to Han. He put his arm around my shoulders and the weight of it allowed me to exhale.

We had hiked for hours to reach the alpine lake. It was baffling to find an elderly woman sitting this far up. She didn’t look to be the type who’d be able to climb a set of stairs, let alone a mountain. She had no hiking supplies with her, and she wasn’t dressed for it either, in her long dress that seemed more suited for a carriage ride in the Middle Ages. When I asked her if she had hiked up here by herself, she laughed at my question, saying that no, she didn’t get here by herself.

She made an effort to stand up but was struggling, so Han and I helped her. As soon as she was upright, she raised her arm and pointed her bony finger inches from my face. “Go! Go away!” she yelled. Then she stepped into the entrance of the cave, leaving us standing there gaping at the cavernous opening.

Reviews for Witches, Spiders, and Schemes:

"Oh my goodness, this was SO GOOD!" ~ Prockish

"A captivating read full of interesting people and places, with surprises around every corner." ~ Linda C. Goodreads

"This is no run-of-the-mill paranormal book! Unique ideas." ~ Susan G. Amazon

“The mystery, magic, and delicately woven story held me captive! I couldn’t ever imagine such a delicious story!” ~ Goodreads

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The Ghost Camper's Tall Tales

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 3

A magic mirror. An enchanted world. A mysterious ghost. A hilarious witch. An unexplained death. A sassy cat. Visit Destiny Falls and escape to a great time.

A mysterious old man keeps popping up to tell Hayden a series of tall tales. Who is he? And is he actually glowing? Are his stories fiction, or is he telling her the history of her family, the enchanted islands, and the witch? And why did a dead body show up . . . of someone who is already dead?

Can Hayden and her quirky sidekick, Latifa unscramble this mystery?

Hayden’s adventures in the magical world of Destiny Falls continue in this gripping story that answers your questions about the mysterious world she entered through a mirror in book one, Falling into Magic. We learn more about her missing mother, whose story begins in book two, The Disappearance of Emily.

The Ghost Camper's Tall Tales

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 3

Excerpt

I gave it a gentle push and stepped through. There was a sudden blast of deafening noise. I stumbled backwards into the kitchen, falling through the swinging door, and landing with a plop on the floor. I was met with the gentle quiet of the sleeping house. My brain took a moment, but I realized that the sound I had heard was music, albeit extremely loud music.

I stood up and tentatively stepped in through the door. My senses were bombarded by the blaring music once again. I stepped backward into the kitchen. Total quiet. Forward through the door: loud music. I kept my body still this time and just listened. It was a song I recognized. Eminem and Rihanna singing about not being afraid of the monsters under the bed.

My eyes darted around the room. My mouth dropped open. I was standing in a large, immaculate restaurant-style kitchen. It had gleaming stainless steel appliances and a large stove and grill station. A massive prep island dominated the middle of the room, a rack of pots hanging above it. Pans, bowls, and serving platters of all sizes and types were neatly lined on shelves.

The walls were painted with bright, colorful messages: “Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all." – Harriet Van Horne.

 “One cannot think well, love well, or sleep well if one has not dined well.” – Virginia Woolf. 

“I never met a meal I didn’t like.” – Miss Piggy.

I heard a man’s voice singing along with Eminem in perfect harmony. It was coming from an adjoining room that appeared to be a large pantry.

Reviews for The Ghost Camper’s Tall Tales:

“I. Can’t. Even! Pantley amazingly, magically, has outdone herself once again! The mystery, magic, and carefully woven story and history held me captive!”-Georgeanne, Goodreads

“I absolutely LOVE this series! An intriguing story... So many twists and turns!” - Linda, Goodreads

Intriguing and totally unput-downable!” -Goodreads

“Held me captive!”- Goodreads

"My favorite series in the whole wide world." - Elza Reads

**On sale for Only .99cents May 20th & 21st!!**

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The Disappearance of Emily

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 2

A magic mirror. An enchanted world. A mysterious missing mother. A suspicious package. An unexplained death. A community of strange, quirky people. A sassy cat and a hilarious, bumbling, and perpetually annoyed witch. Hayden finds herself surrounded with support as she solves the mystery of the death and learns shocking secrets about herself. 

Hayden’s life was normal until she fell through a mirror and was thrust into an alternate, magical place. The town is enchanted and charming, and the amazing mansion she lives in changes to meet the needs of the people who live there, including her! Every day she discovers a new enchantment.

But something is amiss. Hayden gets an ominous warning from a strange woman, who promises to tell her the town secrets and give her a package – if she’ll meet her at the mysterious ferry that lacks a published destination. The ferry visit is cancelled, but the package is delivered. Once it arrives, someone turns up dead. Then the suspicious episodes start, too many to call them coincidences. She and her family are targeted and in danger.

 Who or what is causing the chaos? All signs point to the mysterious disappearance of her mother - way back when Hayden was just two days old. Can she identify and eliminate the threat before another person in her life is stolen away?

The Disappearance of Emily

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 2

Excerpt

Destiny Falls is different from any place I’ve ever known before. I had to let go of my preconceived notions of what defines a town. I still can’t quite wrap my head around the fact that the town isn’t on any map and isn’t accessible by normal means.

You must be called here by either the home or the town. Then you whoosh through time and space, to the accompaniment of a flash of brilliant light, as you tumble through a mirror. It’s a one-way trip. Once you’re here, you are, well . . . “trapped” is a harsh word for such a lovely place. However, it’s accurate. I cannot choose to leave. Destiny Falls controls the comings and goings.

I feel a bit like Alice falling through the mirror into wonderland. Albeit a much nicer wonderland than Alice had to deal with and filled with amazing enchantments.

I’ve figured out that’s it’s easier if I just go with the flow and don’t try to understand all the nuances of this place. 

Reviews for The Disappearance of Emily:

"Just when I thought I knew who the killer was, BAM, a twist." ~ Leslie, Storeybook Reviews

"Intriguing and totally unput-downable, it draws you in from the word go, and you will not want to leave until it chucks you at The End.” ~ Carol, Goodreads

"A mix of unique characters, romance, mystery, and magic.” ~ Goodreads

**Will be On Sale in June!!**

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Falling Into Magic

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 1

An accidental journey through a magic mirror. A portal to an enchanted land. A mysterious family she never knew she had. Hayden's life is upended with the wonder of Destiny Falls. But it is tainted by the danger that brought her here and that threatens her newfound family. Can Hayden and her sassy sidekick remove the threat, so that she can begin her magical new life in this captivating world?

 

When Hayden was a child, she lost her cat. Adults told her the cat ran away, but she knew the truth. The mirror had taken her. She knew because the mirror gave her a glimpse of an alternate world and had nearly pulled her in, so she was certain the cat had suffered that fate.

Twenty years later Hayden discovers the secret of the mirror when she is thrust into it. She learns of an enchanted world she never knew existed, and a family she never knew she had.

But danger brought her here, and it followed her. Now, Hayden is on a mission to remove the threat, so that she can begin her magical, meaningful new life in this enchanted world filled with quirky characters, a talking cat, and wonderful new friends and family that welcomed her with open arms.

Falling into Magic

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 1

Excerpt

Prologue – Twenty Years Ago

It all began when I was six and lost my cat.

Fluffball was a Himalayan rescue, the softest ball of fur I’d ever seen. I found her at the shelter and fell in love with her amazing blue eyes. I begged Nana and Gran to let me take her home. I promised I’d take good care of her, so they finally gave in, and the cat joined our family.

I’d only had her a few weeks, but I loved Fluffball. Then one day, she was gone. Snap. Just like that.

They said, “Hayden, she snuck out a door and ran away.” But I knew what happened. It was the mirror.

Reviews for Falling into Magic:

"Will blow you away!" ~ Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

"Absolutely brilliant, delightful and magical. This is a book that you cannot stop reading. More please, much, much more!” ~ Carol, Goodreads

"Oh my goodness this was SO GOOD! Do yourself a favor and read this book." ~ Prockish

"This is no run-of-the-mill paranormal book! You will be glad this is a series!" ~ Susan G. Amazon

"A magical, delightful tale with a quirky cast of characters, engaging dialogue, an appealing universe, and an intriguing plotline that I could not put down." ~ Dru Ann, drusbookmusing.com

**Get it FREE June 20th-24th!!**

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Elizabeth Pantley is the international bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and thirteen other books for parents. She is also the author of The Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic book series. Her books have been published in over twenty languages. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and is the mother of four and Nana to one.

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