by Amber Crewes
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The next book in the series, Cookies and Buried Secrets is COMING OUT SOON! Turn the page to see the book cover and read the first chapter now!
About Cookies and Buried Secrets
Released: August, 2018
Series: Book 3 – Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Series
Standalone: Yes
Cliff-hanger: No
When a mystery guest barges into a birthday party Meghan has organised for Karen Denton and claims she’s related to Karen, everyone is shocked and Karen can’t handle the new notoriety that comes her way. Karen’s world is turned upside down, when this mystery guest’s old flame wanders into town and is found dead, days later, with a gunshot wound.
Meghan must work closely with Officer Irvin to reveal the true identity of the mystery guests flocking into Sandy Bay. Karen is a shadow of her former active, conquer-the-world self and Meghan is determined to find the murderer before Karen’s buried secret leads to another murder.
COOKIES AND BURIED SECRETS CHAPTER 1 SNEEK PEEK
IT WAS A BRISK MORNING, and Meghan Truman pulled the collar of her blue coat to cover her exposed neck as the chilly breeze nipped at her bare skin. She shivered as the salty air flew off of the ocean and ruffled her dark hair, but she did not move from her spot on the beach; Meghan had moved from Los Angeles to Sandy Bay a few months ago, and while she wasn’t quite used to the cool weather and dark skies of the Pacific Northwest yet, she was enjoying the change of pace.
“Hey! Meghan!”
Meghan’s heart fluttered as she heard the deep, familiar voice of Jack Irvin. She took a long, deep breath, trying to contain her excitement before turning around to greet him.
“Meghan!”
Meghan slowly pivoted to look up into Jack’s handsome face. She grinned, her dark eyes dancing as Jack smiled down at her, his blue eyes sparkling.
“It’s good running into you! What are you up to? All alone at the beach, huh?” Jack asked.
“I don’t mind,” Meghan said, tucking a lock of dark hair behind her ear. “It’s so beautiful here. The beaches in LA were always so crowded, and I love having some peace and quiet.”
Jack chuckled. “I wouldn’t say you’ve had a lot of peace and quiet since you’ve been here,” he said, and Meghan lowered her eyes, shifting uncomfortably as she stood in the white sand. “You opened your bakery and then Norman Butcher was murdered, and then that couple was murdered, and you just seem to find your way into the middle of it all!”
Meghan’s jaw dropped. She was shocked by Jack’s words, and her dark eyes filled with tears as she recalled the murders that had scandalized Sandy Bay and almost ruined Meghan’s bakery, Truly Sweet.
“Hey,” Jack said as he saw the look on Meghan’s face. “I didn’t mean to say it like that. I’m sorry. The murders in town weren’t your fault, and it wasn’t your fault that your name got tied up in both situations. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Meghan turned away from Jack to face the sea, struggling to keep the tears from spilling onto her pale cheeks. She and Jack had finally started getting along; Meghan had even developed some romantic feelings for him, but his joke was simply uncouth.
“Meghan,” Jack said, reaching out to gently touch her shoulder. “I’m sorry. Let me make it up to you. I’ll be at Karen Denton’s birthday party tonight. It’s going to be a fun time. Let me pick you up for a nice dinner beforehand!”
Meghan blushed. She and Jack had been out together a few times, but nothing had ever come out of their few dinner dates. Was this the chance for something to happen between her and Jack?
“Okay,” Meghan said, turning back to look at Jack. “Dinner, and then Karen’s birthday party.”
“Great!” Jack said, turning to leave the beach. “I’ll see you tonight! It’ll be something, I promise!”
That night, Jack picked Meghan up in his squad car and took her to dinner at Feast, a farm-to-table restaurant in Sandy Bay. Meghan had worn her favorite dress, a form-fitting green dress that accentuated her curves and brought out her dark eyes, and she felt confident as she sashayed to Jack’s car.
“You look great!” Jack had said as Meghan answered the door. “Let’s have a good night!”
After dinner, they drove to Winston’s Bar, a local watering hole. Jack escorted Meghan inside, and she saw that Karen’s birthday party was well underway. Streamers had been hung from the rafters of the bar, and a band was playing in the corner. Jack led Meghan to a stool at the bar and helped Meghan climb onto it.
“Here you go, ma’am,” Jack said, pushing his blond hair back from his face as Meghan settled in. “I’ll go get us some snacks!”
“Perfect!” Meghan cooed. “I made all of the food here myself; I hope you like what Karen requested!”
Jack returned five minutes later with two cookies in hand. He handed one to Meghan, and then took a large bite out of his. Meghan watched as his eyes widened, and he swallowed the cookie as quickly as he could.
“You know I love your treats,” Jack whispered to Meghan, their heads huddled close together. “These spinach-almond-quinoa cookies just aren’t hitting the spot for me. Did you bring any of your brownies? Your brownies are out of this world!”
Meghan’s eyes sparkled at the compliment, and she nodded at Jack. “Ssshhh, let’s watch Karen blow out her candles, and then I’ll go get some of the brownies I brought. I left a whole pan in the back!”
Jack grinned, and he gestured at Karen Denton, Meghan’s dear friend. “With her insistence on healthy cookies, not to mention the size of her biceps, you would think she’s turning twenty-three, not seventy-three!”
Meghan laughed. “Hey, if these spinach-almond-quinoa cookies are the secret to having that much vigor and energy in my seventies, I’ll take them over my brownies any day!”
Meghan edged off of the stool and made her way into Winston’s kitchen. As she scanned the room for her pan of brownies, she felt a strong tug on her arm.
“Meghan! Sweetie, hello! I saw you walk in with Jack Irvin. How fabulous! I want to hear all of the details!”
Meghan grinned as the birthday girl, Karen Denton, peered up at her, her blue eyes glittering. “We had dinner before your party,” Meghan whispered to Karen, pulling her deeper into the kitchen. “It was his suggestion!”
“Fabulous!” Karen squealed. “I could not ask for a better birthday present. I’ve always liked that Jack Irvin, and you know I just think the world of you! I’ll keep my fingers crossed. Maybe by my next birthday, you two will be a real couple!”
Meghan giggled. “We’ll see,” she said, reaching to hug Karen. “Enough about me. How are you enjoying your party?”
Karen beamed. “It’s exactly what I wanted! I don’t have a family of my own, but everyone in Sandy Bay came together to celebrate my birthday! It’s just fabulous! Everyone is here, Winston kindly opened his bar for us, and those healthy cookies you baked for me are a delight! This old lady couldn’t ask for anything more on her birthday!”
After finishing their hug, the two women turned to walk back into the main area of Winston’s bar. Meghan had a plate of brownies for Jack, and she could feel her body growing warm as she caught his eye from across the room. Jack looked so handsome in his blue button down shirt, and Meghan turned to gush to Karen about how happy she was to be at the party with him. Before she could whisper into Karen’s ear, however, Karen stopped in the middle of the room.
“Oh my,” Karen stammered, her blue eyes large. A stunningly beautiful woman was walking toward them; she had waist-length black hair, enormous brown eyes, and tan skin. A flower tattoo snaked around her right bicep, and Meghan cocked her head to the side as the woman approached.
“Are you alright?” Meghan asked, looking at Karen with concern. “Who is that?”
Karen’s mouth opened, and she clasped a hand to her chest.
“It’s my…..my…..my….it’s my daughter.”
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Click here to find out what happens n
ext for Meghan in Cookies and Buried Secrets, the 3rd book in the Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Series!
ALSO BY AMBER CREWES
The Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Series
Apple Pie and Trouble (Book 1) – OUT NOW
Brownies and Dark Shadows (Book 2) – OUT NOW
Cookies and Buried Secrets (Book 3) – PRE ORDER NOW
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