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.
                         

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36 comments:

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

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

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

    Here's my 56.

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  3. 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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    1. 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.

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

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  4. 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. 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.

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

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  6. 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. 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. 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. 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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    1. 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.

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    2. 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."

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

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  12. 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. 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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    1. 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.

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  14. Sounds like a really good mystery.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Happy weekend!

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

    The Picture.

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


    Jessica @ Ramblings on Readings

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