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Tempest in a Teapot
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praise for psychics of oracle bay
Five Star Reviews for Oracle Bay
Not in the Cards
An Exciting Introduction: Amy's books immediately go to the top of my queue when they are released and they never disappoint. This was an exciting introduction to Oracle Bay and I'm looking forward to getting to know the rest of the inhabitants in future books.
Found Another Great Author!: I didn’t know what to expect when I went into this book. The premise of the book sounded like something I would enjoy. At first, as I started reading the book, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. However, after a few pages, I was drawn into the book and it never let me go. In fact, by the end of the book, I was so ready to find out what was going to happen next from all the hints that were given, I wanted the next book right then. This book was well-written, had a great plot (both romance and intrigue), and I loved the characters, even the villain who I loved to hate. Can’t wait to read more and I highly recommend!
Fantastic: A well written story with great characters and the location of Oracle Bay was inspired. The heroine in this story is a tribute to enduring heartache and finding a new life and love.
First Hand Knowledge
The author does a bang up job of making this mythical place not only enchanting, but a place I'd want to go. To live, even if I were the only mundane in the lot. She also expands characters from her previous book 'Not in the Cards' and keeps the story arc alive and moving forward. There's something to be said for a series that continues with the lives of all the characters, even when the focus is on only two at a time.
Wing and a Prayer
I have this terrible problem with Amy Cissell's books. I get hooked within the first few sentences, and want to read the whole thing in one sitting. They're addictive, fun, clever stories about people you wish you knew.
Belle of the Ball
This is the third book in the series, and I think this series is getting better each book. I love how silly, fun, and interesting this book is. Drew and Bill’s romance was great, touching, and romantic. And, the mystery was great, too. Add to that, there were some revelations that were hilarious. There was a also point at the very end of the book that made me laugh out loud because when Drew couldn’t see Bill, I thought he’d been turned into a toad. What really happened and why? You’ll have to read this and find out. If you love a fun, cozy, romantic mystery, give this book and series a try; you’ll love it! Highly recommend! I was provided a copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
Hell and High Water
I throughly enjoyed this book. It touches on so many possibilities of paranormal people. It has a good lead in, full rich characters with quirks and an unexpected ending.
Psychics of Oracle Bay Novels
Not in the Cards
First Hand Knowledge
Wing and a Prayer
Belle of the Ball
Hell and High Water
Tempest in a Teapot
Elements of Surprise
Dead Giveaway*
Bad to the Bones*
Shoot for the Stars*
Fun and Prophet*
Box Sets (ebook only)
Seeing is Believing in Oracle Bay (Books 1-4)
* forthcoming
tempest in a teapot
PSYCHICS OF ORACLE BAY
AMY CISSELL
TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT
Amy Cissell
A Broken World Publication
13820 NE Airport Way, Suite K395495
Portland, OR 97251-1158
Tempest in a Teapot
Copyright © 2023 by Amy Cissell
All Rights Reserved
ISBN 978-1-949410-87-7 (ebook);
ISBN 978-1-949410-88-4 (paperback)
Cover Design: Cissell Ink
Edited by: Suzanne Lahna at The Quick Fox
Proofread by: Christopher Barnes
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the author at [email protected].
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
contents
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Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Epilogue
Elements of Suprise
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As a subscriber to Cissell's Epistles - my amazing twice-ish monthly newsletter - you can pick any of these books to get you started on your journey! Sign up for my newsletter, then watch your inbox for the confirmation & download links!
The series: An Eleanor Morgan Fantasy Adventure
The Eleanor Morgan Fantasy Adventures are a 7-book series (complete) of contemporary fantasy books. Eleanor is in her mid-30s and is living a perfectly ordinary life. And then... (there's always a "and then") She finds out she was a changeling child - one left on the doorstep of a human couple by the Fae. And her quest is to reopen the gates between Earth & the Fae plane which will help bring balance back to both worlds, but maybe at the cost of destroying herself and everything she's ever known.
The freebie: The Cardinal Gate is the first in this series. Eleanor definitely has a lot more swearing, violence, and explicitly naked sexy times. There are witches and vampires and zombies and dragons and werewolves. Lots of snark. Lots of adventure. And a few broken hearts along the way. Romance isn't the main theme, but there is definitely some of that going on.
The series: Midlife Magic in Eden Valley
Midlife Magic in Eden Valley is paranormal women's fantasy romance because all the protags (except in a couple of the novellas) are 40+. (And, in the case of our MC from book 4, much, much, much over 40.) Eden Valley is an idyllic town set on the edge of a picturesque lake in the eastern Cascades of Washington State. Every summer throngs of tourists flock to the high elevation town to escape the heat, but not everyone flocks back home. Eden Valley is not quite right, and one of the biggest tells is that no one in Eden Valley knows that anythings amiss.
Raising a Demon - the first in series - is the story of Evie & Lily. Evie is a 40-something single mom to her almost-too-precocious 10 year old. She has great friends, fantastic parents, and that aforementioned maddening but delightful child. And then... she catches her kid in the woods with a Ouija board, demon tome, and some text cribbed from Supernatural. Next thing she knows, her world's been turned upside down when Lily's demon summoning accidentally brings Luc - Evie's summer fling from 11 years ago and Lily's dad - back to town.
The freebie: Match Made in Hell is the origin story of Evie's & Luc's relationship (and the actual origin story of Lily).
The series: Psychics of Oracle Bay
The Psychics of Oracle Bay is a series of paranormal romance/psychic mystery stories set in a small coastal town in Washington State with unusually high per capita population of psychics - and these psychics are always, always right. That much knowledge and foresight does't always make things easy, though!
Not in the Cards is book 1, and it's your intro into the tight-knit group of psychics. Sandy is looking for a new life and a new home, and stumbles onto a tarot shop for rent with a living space above the shop. She pulls out the cards she hasn't looked at since college and hangs out her shingle. It doesn't take long for her almost-ex-asshat to find her... And it takes even less time for the fate of the town to rest in her (and the rest of the oracles') hands.
The freebie: Wing and a Prayer is the third in the series (and shorter than the rest) but can be read as a stand alone. If you like grumpy fallen angel/risen demons/stuck on earth bartenders, feisty psychics, and a totally irreverent and highly attended apocalypse, you'll want to grab this one! There are currently 5 novels published. Books six and seven will be released in Spring 2023.
The series: Vamps in the Vineyard
The Vamps in the Vineyard series centers around a group of middle-aged vampire slayers who are fighting the good fight against the vampires who are moving into their small, eastern Washington State and trying to take over the vineyard Charlie has put her blood, sweat, and tears into. Ther
e’s no romance in this series - it’s all slaying, no laying - and the vampires are never the sexy, misunderstood, morally ambiguous characters they sometimes are in popular media (including my Eleanor Morgan series). They’re all evil, all the time.
Here to Slay is book 1, and it's your intro to Estaca Corazón, Charlie’s vineyard & winery, her journey into accepting her slayer powers at the same time she’s hitting menopause, and how her friendships are what saves her.
The freebies: Stakes and Stems is a prequel novella and Charlie’s first major event at her winery. The Valentine’s dinner doesn’t quite go as expected. There’s a rash of vandalism, vampires at dinner, and Charlie’s first (and accidental) slaying.
Slay Bells Ring is a holiday novella set after Here To Slay. It’s a bit of a crossover with Eden Valley (as in, it takes place in Eden Valley), but you don’t need to read that series to follow this. You may want to have already read Here to Slay, though!
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Cissell’s Epistles
For all the members of my various covens -
whether magic or murder, I couldn’t do without you.
acknowledgments
First and foremost - thank you, thank you, thank you to my newest patrons! Samantha H and Robin S - y’all are the bees’ knees. I appreciate your support and hope you love this book!
All my love to the Amyzonians—my Facebook reader group—you guys are fantastic. Thanks for liking and sharing my posts, reading and reviewing, staying engaged with me, and voting on all my weird polls.
Thank you to my editor Suzanne Lahna. Working with you was such an amazing experience. Thanks for caring about Morgana’s story and working so hard to make it better.
Christopher—my line editor, proofreader, business partner, fellow author, and probably even more importantly, husband—thanks for listening to my traditional 66% of the way through “this is the worst book ever, I’m quitting” angst and never once mocking me more than just a little.
There is no way to talk about the people who support and lift me up without mentioning Liana. My best girl, favorite kid, most challenging person I know, and greatest love. Maybe someday I’ll let you read more than the dedication and acknowledgments. Love you to the moon and the stars and back.
There are so many other people who help me along the way, and I want to give them all a shoutout! Elizabeth Hunter & Cat Tan - our group chat is one of the highlights of my life. Samesies for Carrie B, Steph M, and Amelia P. Best coven ever, right? this wouldn’t be complete without my local friends who drink wine with me and occasionally whine with me. Sam H (holla, 2 mentions, one acknowledgements section, Shea M (fellow author extraordinaire and future Portugal commune co-founder), and Alisha P.
prologue
Today was Morgana Bellflower’s last chance to snare the witch responsible for the ritualistic murders of nine women in Vancouver, British Columbia.
She sat on a bench near the steam clock in downtown Vancouver and let the spring breeze ruffle her shoulder-length brown bob. She pulled a romantic suspense book out of her Coach purse, tucked a strand of hair behind her left ear, and started reading.
After an hour, the wind turned cold, and the khaki trousers and mint-green sweater set were no longer enough to keep her warm. Morgana glanced at her watch. It was just after one p.m. on Thursday, March twenty-eighth.
She tucked her book back into her purse, stood, and walked into the wine bar across the street. The Silver Eye had sent her to Vancouver after the third murder four weeks ago, and since then, she’d spent more time in the Canadian city than at home. And she still had nothing to show for it. Once she had her glass of wine and was tucked into the darkest corner in the bar with her back to the wall, she pulled out her iPad, ensured it wasn’t connected to any Wi-Fi or cellular system, then pulled up the documents and photos she’d downloaded yesterday before leaving Oracle Bay.
Every victim had disappeared from the Gastown district between ten a.m. and one p.m. on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. And each of them had been found the next day in Stanley Park, nude, drained of blood, and covered in bloody symbols.
The most recent body that’d been discovered looked like all the others and was being investigated by the police as the ninth in a series of murders by a newly active serial killer with Satanic leanings and a vampire fetish. But Morgana knew the truth. The characters that were carved on every surface of the body weren’t Satanic. Rather, they were a mixture of elemental and runic symbols that, when combined, signified the victim had been killed by ritual black magic designed to draw the power out of a person via their blood.
She pored over the photos, looking for a clue that she may have missed. Hopefully, the witch responsible had left something behind that would help identify the murderer. Morgana pulled all nine photos up, arranged them in three rows of three, and let her eyes glaze over, looking for the small differences that would jump out when she wasn’t so intent.
The symbols were the same, but they weren’t in identical locations on the bodies, except for the three Ogham runes right below the collarbone.
Quert — Straif — Gort
Madness, Division, and Harvest — Dark Magic, Transformation, and Death — Transformation and Scarcity
The only thing the nine murdered women had in common was how absolutely ordinary they appeared. They were all women in their thirties and forties with plain hair, quietly attractive faces, average lives—and deep wells of powerful magic that’d never been woken.
one
Morgana crossed her ankles, smoothed down the slim pencil skirt she was wearing, and steadfastly avoided her reflection in the window of Gate D6 in the Portland International Airport. There was no way in hell she wanted to spend any more time than was necessary looking at the stupid brown bob, pearl necklace, and salmon-colored sweater set she’d been hiding in for the last year.
“It’s necessary,” she muttered to herself with clenched teeth. She couldn’t risk blowing her cover now, no matter how far away she was from Vancouver and the string of murders that had stopped a month ago as abruptly as they’d started. The killer had struck three times in Seattle, but with none of the precision and rigidity they’d shown in Vancouver. And now they’d dropped off the map again.
Morgana was tired of working for the Silver Eye—had been for a couple decades—but this would be her last job. She’d spent too much time hiding who she was over the centuries, and a year of dressing like a PTA president at their behest, regardless of the reasons, was too much. She’d saved five witches in the last year, one from a rogue warlock, two from vampires, and the last two from mundane cis men who used a different kind of power to subjugate the innocent. But she hadn’t saved anyone from the blood witch who’d gone on a rampage in the Pacific Northwest in the last couple months. As soon as either she or another of their operatives found the blood witch, Morgana would cut ties with the organization that’d been set up centuries ago to protect witches and other magic users.