Title: Cherry Shakes in the Park
Author: Wendy Kendall
Genre: Cozy Mystery Romance
Book Blurb:
A blend of Dangers, Divas, and Frothy Delights.
Selling ice cream on a bike cart, Bryson Tanner pedals his way into a double mystery filled with danger, divas, and frothy delights.
Bryson is training for Olympic trials in track and field, when his coach's brother disappears. The police find no cause for opening a case, but Bryson and Coach disagree. What they uncover leaves Bryson cornered, his life at risk.
Bryson is also plagued by mysteries of the heart. His ex, Marta is back and stars in the acting troupe's weekend show in the park. She'd stomped on his heart once. Could he trust her with it again? Marta's co-star, Senona charms Bryson over cherry shakes in the park. He's torn between rekindling his past, or starting a new flame. He joins Senona on the actors' mystery hunt, where the winner receives a career-boosting prize.
Who knew the actors' clue hunt would merge with the kidnapping? Danger escalates during a midsummer night's dalliance at desolate Loon point.
Excerpt:
“There’s our ride. Come on Senona.” He walked behind the jeep to the sedan on the other side of the lot.
Senona stood still. “Well, good night. Hope Marta gets back soon.”
Bryson said, “Sounds like the hunt is still on, Sherlock. See you tomorrow at noon at the Courtyard Cafe? Your clue could be at the wildlife habitat.”
Her eyebrows raised briefly. He smiled and nodded. He didn’t know why he wanted her to say yes. A fun walk through the habitat was reason enough.
She smiled back. “See you at noon, Watson.” She walked across the lot.
Dean approached Bryson. “You don’t have to wait. Marta’s with me. Take off. She’s leaving with me.”
Bryson’s contentment with Senona changed into annoyance at being told what to do. He wasn’t going to take orders from Marta’s actor friend. His eyes squinted at Dean, but he kept his voice level. “I don’t mind waiting, in case she wants to…”
Under the lamp Marta checked the welcome sign. When he stopped talking, Dean gave Marta a wave. She walked toward her car. As she passed them, she handed Bryson his flashlight. “No clue here. It’s someplace else.”
Bryson said, “When we came here tonight, I thought you were searching for something else.”
Blocking Bryson, Dean took a step toward her and said, “Since you’ve already had dinner, how about dessert?” Marta walked around them.
Dean shoved Bryson aside as he said, “Excuse me, I’ve got a late date.”
Bryson grabbed his arm and swung him around against the jeep. “You might want to change your attitude.”
Dean pushed Bryson back a couple of steps. “You had your shot. She said you’re not over her. Face facts, man.”
A car engine sounded. Marta backed out her car. As she drove past the two men, Senona waved at Bryson through the back seat window. Tom held Beast who hung his head out the front window. Dean took a few steps toward the vanishing car. “Hey.”
He looked back at Bryson, who put his hands on his hips and watched the taillights disappear. It was an uncomfortable silence in the dark park. Bryson thought about driving away. He wanted to. He breathed a deep sigh. What if instead he’d been that guy, and he stood in the middle of the lot, in a strange town, after a girl he liked drove away and left him. As always, Marta forced strange choices on him. Bryson took his key out of his pocket. “So, Dean, need a ride? Come on.”
As he started his jeep, Bryson glimpsed a lumbering, furry, big bear. The creature was followed by two cubs. They skirted the tree line and moved toward the trail. Bryson turned his jeep to drive the long way around the lot, so they wouldn’t startle the animals. His headlights showed an odd shape at the very back of the lot. Were those patches of blue peeking through a covering of forest branches and bushes?
Dean said, “I appreciate the ride. You can just drop me off downtown.”
Bryson stopped the jeep and pointed ahead of them. “Hang on. I want to check out that pile first.”
He left the headlights on, aimed at the suspicious greenery. Bryson got out and Dean followed. “Did someone crash their car?”
Bryson frowned as he moved some of the branches piled on top. “This might be a truck that’s been missing.”
Dean helped. “You’re right, this is a truck bed under here.” It was dirty, and dark but the paint was definitely blue. Bryson moved some of the leaves on the rhododendron bushes so he could see the bumper below the tailgate. There it was, the sticker. Vince's car, but where is he? Still alive, or buried here at Loon Point?
Buy Links (including BookBub):
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Kendall/e/B085FWG8Q3?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1657503282&sr=8-1
Barnes and Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cherry-shakes-in-the-park-wendy-kendall/1141622049?ean=2940186707899
What makes your featured book a must-read?
This light hearted book mixes two most popular, and most enjoyed genres – mystery and romance. The whirl of these two dimensions of life together delights. The three main characters, Bryson, Marta and Senona are caught in a summer love triangle that readers relate to. What will develop? And, this story includes clues from a very concerning kidnapping, but also from an exciting scavenger hunt. Readers are loving solving the clues along with the characters. Love and mystery combined make Cherry Shakes in the Park a page turner.
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $15 Amazon US or Amazon Canada gift card
Open Internationally. You must have an active Amazon US or CA account to win.
Runs October 12 – October 19, 2022.
Winner will be drawn on October 20, 2022.
Author Biography:
The result of Wendy Kendall's passion for purses, mystery and romance is the intriguing In Purse-Suit Mysteries. Kat Out of the Bag introduces Katherine Watson purse designer/sleuth. As Kat moves from designer bags to body bags, she's uncovering clues to a murder. The prequel, Purse-Stachio Makes A Splash delves into a chilling cold case. Finalist for best Romantic Suspense at Killer Nashville, Snow Kiss Cookies To Die For creates a tangle of mystery and love and raises suspicions about Desiree's romantic new sweetheart, Leo. A summer read that will keep you on the edge of your beach towel, Cherry Shakes In The Park blends danger, divas, and frothy delights. And her newest has ribbons of love running through it, Heart of Christmas Cookies and Dreams. Wendy enjoys investigating the Pacific Northwest life, and she leaves a trail of her own clues as a blogger, YouTube podcaster, speaker, project manager, and syndicated columnist.
Social Media Links:
Website – WendyWritesBooks.com
Facebook – WendyKendallMysteries
Twitter - @wendywrites1
Instagram - wendyekendall