Okay, confession. I love ice cream. So much so that I actually make it. Often. The day I bought my Cuisinart Ice Cream maker, is the day that my life changed. Then I chatted with Dana Mentink about her book on the Because Fiction Podcast and the freakshake contest she had for her release, and I had every intention of entering. Then it hit me. I couldn’t. It could look like I was trying to get an in on the contest or something, so my brilliant “Lavender Blue, Berry Berry” freakshake idea never saw anything but the inside of my very happy stomach (it took three days to eat that thing, folks!).
But what about the book?
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Grab a Spoon and Magnifying Glass & Dig Into This Delicious Mystery
Few authors are what I would call “wordsmiths,” but Dana Mentink definitely is. She doesn’t just write a good story or even pen beautiful or brilliant prose, she goes one step further. She’s clever with her word choice. Sometimes I think she writes her books and then goes in and rewrites every sentence to have some burst of surprise in the middle of it. It’s genius! I find myself grinning on every page, not just because of a great story but also because of how that story is written.
Pint of No Return doesn’t disappoint in this area or any other. It’s a great mystery with a cast of quirky and delightful characters. I wasn’t a quarter into the book before I was already anxious for the next. I had to stop, take a breath, and remind myself to enjoy the book I had before me.
It was kind of when you go into an ice cream shop, taste a few tester spoons, and go… “I WANT THEM ALL NOW” but you know you can only eat one. This book is that one. But never fear, there’s more murder, mayhem, and merriment coming to the Shimmy and Shake Shop.
I’m so grateful for the free review copy of Pint of No Return. I loved it so much that I bought a paperback for myself. Recommended for lovers of words, clever writing, and clean, cozy mysteries. Not recommended for folks who take themselves or life too seriously.
Pint of No Return is on tour with Celebrate Lit
About the Book
Book: Pint of No Return
Author: Dana Mentink
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release date: May 25, 2021
The first in new dessert cozy mystery series! A murder in town is bound to shake things up…
After her divorce from her thrice-married embezzler husband, Trinidad Jones is finally ready for a fresh start. So when she’s left one of ex’s businesses in Upper Sprocket, Oregon, she decides to pack up her dog, cash in her settlement, and open her dream business: the Shimmy and Shake Shop, introducing the world to her monster milkshakes. And even with a couple sticky situations underway, namely that the other two ex-wives also call Sprocket home, Trinidad’s life seems to be churning along smoothly.
That is, until she discovers her neighbor, the Popcorn King, head down in his giant popcorn kettle. When one of Trinidad’s fellow ex-wives is accused of the murder and Upper Sprocket descends into mayhem, it’s going to take a supersized scoop of courage to flush out the killer.
About the Author
Dana Mentink is a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of over forty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harvest House, and Poisoned Pen Press. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the nutty terrier, and a chubby box turtle. You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com, on Facebook, YouTube (Author Dana Mentink) and Instagram (dana_mentink.)
More from Dana
Freakshakes. The name says it all, right? Allow me to explain. A freakshake is a milkshake festooned with so many extras (sprinkles, cookies, candy, donuts, cake, slabs of pie) that it is hardly liftable. It is the stuff my sugar fantasy dreams are made of! Now picture a freakshake shop called the Shimmy and Shake in the quaint and quirky town of Upper Sprocket in Eastern Oregon. Known as the “Swiss Alps” of Oregon, this fictional place is the new home to a woman named Trinidad Jones, a lady starting out on the second phase of her life after her husband’s betrayal.
Sprinkle in a dose of Papa Luis, her darling Cuban grandfather (inspired by my own Cuban grandfather) who drives a classic Buick, and a devoted service dog flunk out named Noodles. You know what’s missing? A murder, of course! That happens shortly after Trinidad opens her new shop, and from there on out it’s a sticky, spine-tingling, sweet and satisfying, and slightly funny adventure in mystery land. I had an absolute blast writing the first installment in this series, and I’m knee-deep in the second as I write this. Thank you for coming along on the adventure and I hope it’s as satisfying as a monster milkshake!
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 25
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 25
The Avid Reader, June 25
The Write Escape, June 26
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 26
Texas Book-aholic, June 27
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 27
Blogging With Carol, June 27
Inklings and notions, June 28
Genesis 5020, June 28
Among the Reads, June 29
Daysong Reflections, June 29
Bigreadersite, June 29
For Him and My Family, June 30
Betti Mace, June 30
Worthy2Read, July 1
deb’s Book Review, July 1
Locks, Hooks and Books, July 2
Through the Fire blogs, July 2
EmpowerMoms, July 2
Blossoms and Blessings, July 3
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, July 3
Lighthouse-Academy, July 4
Labor Not in Vain, July 4
Tell Tale Book Reviews, July 5
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, July 5
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 6
Vicky Sluiter, July 6
Simple Harvest Reads, July 6 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
She Lives To Read, July 7
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, July 7
KarenSueHadley, July 8
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 8
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize of a signed copy of Pint of No Return, an ice cream bowl and spoon set, and a $30 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/10e05/pint-of-no-return-celebration-tour-giveaway
Dana Mentink automatically had my attention with the ice cream theme, but after reading Chautona’s fun review, I really want to read this book and probably the entire series.
Love the cover! Sounds like a great summer read. Looking forward to reading the book.
This sounds like a fun mystery. Love the cover. Very appropriate. Thanks for the chance.
Thanks for sharing!
Pint of No Return sounds like a great book. And I do like Dana Mentink’s writing!