It's been a while since she's
visited our blog or been in the
spotlight so please offer a warm Welcome to Wendy Kendall!
Tell us about your book....
What an exciting book to write –
My In Purse-Suit mystery series is such a
fun one to write because it’s not just about my cozy mystery amateur sleuth,
Katherine Watson. This series is about the community of Bayside, Washington. My
imagination is alive with stories about the different people living in Bayside.
I love introducing readers to different characters entanglements and adventures
in this Seattle suburb right on Puget Sound, with its own ferry dock.
The allure of the holidays drew me into a
romantic tale, but I wasn’t willing to give up the mystery and so with great
enthusiasm I delved into the romantic suspense genre.
So much about the holidays is for the
children. Readers enjoy meeting the delightful first graders at Bayside
Elementary during their last few days before holiday break, along with their
personable teacher and staff.
Often the holidays are a romantic time
discovering true love, sometimes there are proposals. Oh how romantic watching
Desiree and Leo together, and their Saturday night date is pure and dreamy love.
A delight to write!
The mystery surrounding the holidays is
exciting. People are looking everywhere for clues to gifts and to events.
Here's a mystery you can solve, if you follow the clues. Desiree has several
suspects to consider, including romantic Leo.
The holidays are delicious, and so is this
mystery because it includes the original recipe for the fabulous Snow Kiss
Cookies. One of my sons is a gourmet chef and he created this incredible
recipe. We had such a fun time together taste-testing versions until we hit on
this perfectly delectable taste. In this story, Desiree reveals the Legend of
the Snow Kiss Cookies, as told by her grandmother, straight from the heart.
SOUNDS Delicious (pun intended LOL!) Give us more...
Blurb: This holiday season Desiree, teacher at Bayside's elementary school began a fun Secret Santa game for her first grade class. Danger hits when each day when a Secret Someone leaves creepy gifts addressed to Desiree in her classroom. The gift giver threatens to reveal who they are soon. Time is ticking before school is out for the holidays, and Desiree's threatening stalker may strike with deadly force. Among several suspects, is her romantic new love, Leo who is on the school's maintenance staff. While the children learn the wonderful lesson of kindness in giving, Desiree is on the edge of her seat. Who is threatening her? Is romantic Leo The One, or The Stalker?
Excerpt: Leo parked across the street from
her building and kissed her good night. Desiree got her keys out and reached
for her holly heart wreath. She brushed against his arm.
“Thank you for a wonderful evening.
Don’t bother getting out. I’m just going to run across the street and right
into my apartment. I can’t wait to see you again.” She gave him a kiss and got
out.
He
stood next to his car. She blew him another kiss as she crossed. She was
conscious of him watching her. She looked back, and Leo had started after her. The
sound of an engine, then a car picked up speed. She looked to her right and saw
a black sedan with its headlights off coming at her. She ran to the curb and onto
the grass. She turned back to see Leo running out of the way. He dove over the
curb and rolled onto the grass too. The car screeched tires as it skidded
around the corner and out of sight.
Leo got up and took her hand. “Are
you okay?”
“I think so. I didn’t even see him
until... Are you okay?”
He brushed off his tux. “I just hope
there’s no rips or grass stains on the rental.” He looked up at her and
grinned. “I’ll walk you to your place.” He stooped to pick up the heart wreath
she’d dropped and handed it to her. “Crazy nut. Wish I’d got his license plate.
Probably drinking.”
Dez wasn’t sure. Had it been
intentional? Was someone after her? There was one person she knew had a black
sedan.
On the drive to work Monday morning,
Dez noticed all black sedans. There’d been no threatening texts since Friday.
The only others had been the most romantic treasures from Leo. She’d relished
and responded to those. She drove into the parking lot and focused on her
morning ahead. Her students would be excited before the break, plus the
tantalizing secret Santa fun would need to be managed.
She walked down the hallway
conscious of the click of her pumps on the linoleum and the swish of her tan
khaki pants. Her colorful winter sweater offset the bland slacks. Dez hoped to
run into Leo first thing, to say good morning. It was just as well she hadn’t
since she was late. She opened her class door and got right to work setting up
for the day. The shared door with Madeline’s room stood ajar. On the wall,
there was an extra stocking. It had glitter all over it, sparkling stars, and
her name Dez. She took it off the hook. There was something inside. John swung
the adjoining door wide open and walked in carrying a box. Madeline followed.
“Oh wait, here’s one more.” She
slipped a smaller box on top of what he was carrying. She looked at Desiree.
“Good morning. John, let me know if I can help with anything else. Glad I was
in early for you.”
John said good morning to Dez. “I’m
getting ready for the reading group lesson for Thursday.” He thanked Madeline
and walked over to his desk.
Voices and laughter echoed as
students came in from the hallway. Peter and Jack rushed up to Dez and said
together, “Cool stocking.”
She put the stocking back on its
hook. “Good morning. Please put your secret Santa cards on my desk, and then
take your seats.”
Madeline said, “An admirer? Is that
really appropriate at school?” She walked through to her room, closing the door
behind her.
Dez reminded herself to get with
Principal Milner today about how she’d caught Madeline. She considered what
Madeline had said. An admirer? Maybe the stocking was from Leo. It was a very
busy morning. Dez was happy that John’s mood had improved, and he was trying to
engage with the kids. She’d still have to ask him about his actions on the
schoolyard Friday. She shuddered remembering that stare he’d given her across
the parking lot. He took the class out for recess.
Dez made a beeline for her stocking.
Her excitement matched her students’ as she took down her stocking and reached
inside. She pulled out the cardboard, and her heartbeat sped up. One look and
her heartbeat pounded.
The card was a picture of Santa in
his sleigh with reindeer. Her smile faded seeing a cut out photo of her face
pasted on the drawn figure next to Santa. Where did that picture come from? The
caption read: Secret Santa may sleigh you if you’re not a good girl No
signature.
A secret and creepy Santa. Would Leo
give her this? There was a bump in the toe of the stocking. She shook it upside
down over the counter and a sprig of holly with berries fell out. From Saturday
night’s heart wreath? Dez looked around, including out the windows. Was anyone
watching? The idea of someone putting up a stocking with her name was odd
enough, but with this inside?
She rushed across the room and
stuffed it all in her desk drawer. She texted Katherine to please set up time
for her to talk with Jason after school. A cop's perspective might help. She
put down her phone and prepared the children’s cards for the stockings. She was
absorbed in her work when her phone vibrated. Relieved to hear back from
Katherine so soon, she looked. It was from the anonymous sender.
Her hand shook as she clicked on it
and read. How did you like your card?
OH my goodness, Wendy what an exciting Excerpt! Where can we find Snow Kiss Cookies to Die For?
Amazon, B&N, GoodReads and BookBub
PERFECT! Now tells a little more about you and how we can get in touch...
The result of my passion for purses, mystery and romance is the intriguing In
Purse-Suit Mysteries published by The Wild Rose Press. Kat Out of theBag introduces Katherine Watson purse designer/sleuth, also published by
Harlequin. As Katherine moves from
designer bags to body bags, she's uncovering clues to a murder. The prequel, Purse-StachioMakes 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, raising suspicions about a teacher's romantic new
sweetheart. A summer romance read that will keep you on the edge of your beach
towel, Cherry Shakes In The Park blends danger, divas, and frothy
delights. And ribbons of love run through the holiday season romance, Heartof Christmas Cookies and Dreams.
I enjoy investigating
the Pacific Northwest life, and leave a trail of my own clues as a
blogger, YouTube podcaster, speaker, and syndicated columnist.
Find and Follow me at the Social Media Links below:
Website – WendyWritesBooks.com
Facebook – WendyKendallMysteries
Twitter - @wendywrites1
Instagram
– wendyekendall
Wonderful, Wendy! Certainly wishing you the best of luck and God's blessings with ALL of your books!
Thanks for dropping by friends, I hope you'll do so again and see each of our All Christmas thru Christmas features and then stay tuned for more Saturday Spotlights in 2025!
Until next time, happy reading.
PamT
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