Elementary Magic

Magic can lead to great rewards...or terrible consequences. After a series of disastrous interviews, Dr. Arienne Cerasola has finally been offered a job: Master Huan, a mysterious Chinese Healer, will pay her to find a mythical healing tree. That shouldn't be too hard for an archaeologist who knows a thing or two about magic. While on the trail of the tree, Arienne is reluctantly partnered with a shady shaman who seeks the same prize. When they encounter the ridiculous antics of the mythical trickster spirit Coyote, suddenly Arienne isn't on a supernatural assignment as much as in a magical mess. With her future career on the line, she's determined to be the only one to leave the Pine Barrens of New Jersey with a branch from the coveted tree - provided she doesn't accidentally kill herself in the process. In Elementary Magic, the first book of the Relic Hunter series, R. Leonia Shea blends urban fantasy with archaeology in a quirky, fun read.