Thursday, February 19, 2015

Christmas Cracker - Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56

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     Outspoken private investigator Morgan "Morg" Mahoney and drop-dead-gorgeous heiress Heather Pierce are unlikely friends, and that's part of what makes Christmas Cracker so much fun. Morg's habit of putting her foot in her mouth adds humor to the plot, and when the two women take a trip from California to an English manor house, you know it isn't going to be dull. A series of murders and a kidnapping will keep you turning pages until the bad guy is revealed.  
     R. L. Cherry has recently released It's Bad Business, a second Morg Mahoney mystery. I'm looking forward to reading it too.

Book Beginning:
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - 2002
Chapter 1
     Exercising is a pain in the ass. Any woman who says she likes it is crazy, lying, masochistic or some combination of the three. I do it, work out that is, but I hate it. I could claim that I exercise to keep in shape in case I ever have to kick some bad guy's butt. After all, it does take more than just putting "Private Investigator" on the door to be good at my job. And since private investigators are normally men, a woman in the field needs every edge she can get.

 The Friday 56 (from 56% on my Kindle):
"If my life were threatened, I wouldn't pay one copper penny. Andrew, though, is my son. I cannot chance letting him die...."

 Genre: Mystery / Women Sleuths
Length: 312 Pages
Amazon Link: Christmas Cracker
More About This Author: R. L. Cherry Website

 Synopsis:
While private investigator Morgana (Morg) Mahoney leaves sunny Southern California to celebrate Christmas in a picturesque English manor house, she finds she cannot escape crime. What begins as a vacation soon becomes a murder mystery laced with threads of local history, race horses, the IRA, family secrets, and, of course, pure greed. In the land of Sherlock Holmes, Morg finds herself using some of the same methods as that first consulting detective to solve the case.
                          

Anyone can participate in Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56.
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36 comments:

  1. Anne@HeadFullofBooksFebruary 19, 2015 at 8:24 PM

    Sounds like a fun, quick read. Congratulations on your new book, too!
    Here are my quotes of the week.

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    1. Sandra NachlingerFebruary 19, 2015 at 10:03 PM

      It is a fun story! Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.

      Delete
  2. Lauren StoolfireFebruary 19, 2015 at 8:30 PM

    I'm liking the tone of that quote. Thanks for sharing. :)

    Here's my 56.

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  3. R.L. CherryFebruary 19, 2015 at 9:05 PM

    I do warn you that I can't control Morg. She's got a life of her own and tells me what to write.

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    Replies
    1. Sandra NachlingerFebruary 19, 2015 at 9:17 PM

      I believe you! Morg is a strong woman, and I wouldn't want to be her enemy. Thanks for stopping by to comment on your book.

      Delete
    2. R.L. CherryFebruary 19, 2015 at 9:26 PM

      Thanks for featuring it. I'll be back tomorrow morning to check in.

      Delete
  4. Yvonne @ Fiction Books ReviewsFebruary 19, 2015 at 9:54 PM

    Hi Sandra,

    This one may be just a little too quirky and light-hearted for me, I must admit I do like my thrillers a bit more intense and 'gutsy'.

    However, I can so relate to your opening lines and I think that if women were truly honest with themselves, most would agree. Who wouldn't want to look good and keep in shape, without all that effort? :)

    I don't think that Morg needs to worry too much about putting in more effort than her male counterparts. If the shape and size of many of the law officers (be they police or private investigators), here in the UK is anything to go by, most of them are totally overweight and unfit!

    Thanks for sharing and have a good weekend.

    Yvonne.

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    1. Sandra NachlingerFebruary 19, 2015 at 10:02 PM

      Thanks so much for stopping by, Yvonne. I'm glad you enjoyed the opening. It really establishes Morg's personality. She's a no-nonsense kind of gal.
      This book is a mystery, rather than a thriller.

      Delete
  5. sherry fundinFebruary 20, 2015 at 2:36 AM

    I agree with the opening, but being active is going to keep you active. I agree with Yvonne about seeing a lot of overweight people, especially ones you would think would be required to be in shape to be able to do their job. LOL I laughed at the great 56. lol This sounds like a super fun read. Enjoy.
    sherry @ fundinmental Friday Memes

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    Replies
    1. Sandra NachlingerFebruary 20, 2015 at 8:16 AM

      It was a fun read. I enjoyed the story and the characters.

      Delete
  6. Catherine @ Book Club LibrarianFebruary 20, 2015 at 6:07 AM

    Sounds like my kind of series...I'm going to look for a copy of this one,

    My Friday post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2015/02/friday-focus-friday-56-book-beginnings_20.html

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  7. LadyD PianoFebruary 20, 2015 at 6:38 AM

    I love when the bad guy is revealed and reading all the details that lead up to it. A mystery can be a great ride. This one sounds like fun and I love the title. Happy weekend!

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  8. Katherine PFebruary 20, 2015 at 7:00 AM

    Oh I love the premise! It sounds like such a fun read. The excerpts are definitely entertaining. I'll have to look for this one!

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  9. Laurel-Rain SnowFebruary 20, 2015 at 7:17 AM

    Love the idea of the English manor house setting...and I totally agree with her thoughts on exercise....LOL.

    Thanks for sharing and enjoy...and here's mine: “THE DAY WE MET”

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    Replies
    1. Sandra NachlingerFebruary 20, 2015 at 8:54 AM

      I can definitely relate to the opening. I've recently started an exercise class, and some days I have to force myself to go. But I always feel energized afterwards. That's what keeps me going.

      Delete
    2. R.L. CherryFebruary 20, 2015 at 10:04 AM

      I lived in the British Isles for 5 years and made sure the setting was real, although the actual house was not. I also enjoyed the oft humorous differences in terminology, demonstrating "England and America are two countries divided by a common language."

      Delete
  10. R.L. CherryFebruary 20, 2015 at 7:49 AM

    Don't get the idea that Morg is fat. It's that she isn't skinny and our culture puts big guilt trips on women (and girls) who are not. She does exercise and takes Tai Kwan Do, but it's more for the results than the pure pleasure of it. She is actually based on three woman I knew.

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  11. Juli RahelFebruary 20, 2015 at 9:13 AM

    Definitely sounds like a fun read! I do, at times, enjoy going to the gym, but only if I'm already in a good mood and do it just for the release of energy. When I go in with the idea that I desperately need to tone up and lose weight I hate every second of being in the gym! Thanks for stopping by :) I hope you have a great weekend!
    Juli @ Universe in Words

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    1. Sandra NachlingerFebruary 20, 2015 at 9:40 AM

      I know what you mean! But once I get there, I'm glad I made the effort.

      Delete
  12. StormiFebruary 20, 2015 at 10:18 AM

    Well, now that is right up my alley and sounds great. I am going to have to put this one on my list of wants. :) Thanks for stopping by my blog.

    Stormi

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  13. ElizabethFebruary 20, 2015 at 10:50 AM

    Love the cover...sounds fun.

    I only use the treadmill. I wish it were warmer so I could get outside and walk.

    ENJOY your book.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Book Beginnings

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    Replies
    1. R.L. CherryFebruary 20, 2015 at 11:18 AM

      I shot the cover myself one snowy morning when the sun peeked through the clouds. Alas, I had to sacrifice a Christmas cracker to make it.

      Delete
  14. JC JonesFebruary 20, 2015 at 11:07 AM

    Sounds like a really good mystery.

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  15. UnknownFebruary 20, 2015 at 12:42 PM

    I love the book beginning! I could already tell that the main character is one I would relate to, but yeah, working out is tough! I personally do not like it, I would much rather prefer to read a book :P

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  16. Alicia @ A Kernel of NonsenseFebruary 20, 2015 at 1:03 PM

    I love the synopsis for this one. It sounds so intriguing and thrilling! Have a lovely weekend.

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  17. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2015 at 1:03 PM

    Morg seems like someone you wouldn't want to mess with! Thanks for sharing and visiting my post.

    My Friday post at Lassiememo

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    1. R.L. CherryFebruary 20, 2015 at 1:14 PM

      Never mess with Celtic women, aye? As a Fraser (my father's mother), I know that. Nice website.

      Delete
  18. fredamansFebruary 20, 2015 at 3:08 PM

    I love a good holiday book during off-season, especially a mystery!!
    Happy weekend!

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  19. Nikki NeuroticFebruary 20, 2015 at 3:25 PM

    Interesting.

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  20. UnknownFebruary 20, 2015 at 4:24 PM

    I like Morg. She's honest and forthright. Sounds like a strong woman. This could be fun.
    My 56 - http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/02/20/the-friday-56-53-the-unseen/

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    Replies
    1. Sandra NachlingerFebruary 20, 2015 at 5:20 PM

      You've got Morg pegged. She's an interesting and likable character.

      Delete
  21. ErinFebruary 20, 2015 at 6:13 PM

    AHHHH! Those first few sentences just speak to me because I kind of hate working out.

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  22. ShinFebruary 21, 2015 at 12:07 PM

    Murder mystery read! That's my favorite :) Worth checking out then :)

    Happy weekend!

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  23. SherryGLoagFebruary 22, 2015 at 3:29 AM

    Now this one has caught my eye and gone on my wish list. Thanks for sharinf, Sandy.

    The Picture.

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  24. UnknownFebruary 22, 2015 at 6:22 PM

    Oh the demon that is exercise lol. Very nice beginning :)


    Jessica @ Ramblings on Readings

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