Hi all, I’m Allie McMurphy. It’s Christmas time on Mackinac Island, Michigan and there are sleighs and snowmobiles and all the fun winter sports. As a fudge maker, I’m up early to make and ship the Christmas fudge and then a snowy walk with my pup, Marshmallow, Mal, for short. I’m living and cooking in my general manager, Frances’s old condo because the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop are under complete reconstruction after the problems that happened this fall.
Today is extra special because Frances, her husband Douglas and I are working on our entry in the Mackinac Island festival of lights. We have a booth to decorate. We’ve planned a Victorian Main Street complete with faux candles and gaslights glowing. As I head out to help with the decorations, I find a note on the door. Someone wants to meet me near the steps to the fort on the rise above the displays. It’s a pretty cryptic message. I’m not sure if it’s for me or for Frances. I’m thinking they want Frances. After all, we might not allow automobiles on the island, but we do have cell phones. Anyone who wants to get in touch with me can just text me.
Mal and I head down to the snow-covered lawn to help with our booth decorations. But before I get there, I make a stop at the foot of the stairs to see who left the note and what they might want. When I arrive there isn’t anyone there. I wait a few minutes and just as I’m ready to leave, Mal barks and alerts me to something in the snow on the backside of the ticket booth at the base of the stairs.
I find a woman in the snow. She has a very faint pulse. I call for help and people come running. For the first time, I don’t have to deal with a dead body. This woman is alive and we get her off to the clinic while she’s still breathing.
I’m overjoyed to have helped and the next few hours are filled with Christmas spirit as we hang lights, drink hot cocoa, and prepare for tomorrow’s tree lighting festival. But the joy doesn’t last long. Rumor spreads that the woman did die, but not before she uttered one word. Frances.
Now my general manager and close friend is under investigation. Long held secrets are revealed and the joy of Christmas is in jeopardy. So, Mal and I and my kitty, Mella, are on a new quest to stop a killer and save Christmas – whether Frances wants us to or not.
That’s a lot of work for one day, but nothing will keep me from helping clear my friend’s name. Not even an upcoming storm.
Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas is the eighth book in the “Candy-Coated” cozy mystery series, coming October 27, 2020.
Christmas on Mackinac Island brings a flurry of festive activity for fudge shop owner Allie McMurphy—but also a body in a snowbank . . .
SNOWED UNDER
All Allie wants for Christmas is for renovations to be finished on the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop so she can move back home for the holidays. But for now she’s staying in her friend Frances’s apartment, busily baking batches of holiday fudge. After someone leaves a mysterious note on the door to meet up, the curious fudge maker goes to the rendezvous with her bichonpoo, Mal—only to discover a woman facedown in a snowdrift. With her dying breath, the woman gasps, “Frances.” The police suspect she named her killer, but Allie knows that’s impossible. She needs to wrap up this case before the trail runs cold—and give her friend the gift of freedom this Christmas season . . .
About the author
Nancy Coco AKA Nancy J Parra AKA Nell Hampton is the author of over 25 published novels which include five mystery series: The Candy Coated Mysteries (Kensington), The Kensington Palace Mystery Series (Crooked Lane), The Wine Country Tours Mystery Series (Crooked Lane) The Gluten-free Baker’s Treat Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), and The Perfect Proposal Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime). Her writing has been called witty and her protagonists plucky by reviewers around the world. Nancy is a member of Sisters in Crime.
What is your favorite holiday memory? Answer the question in the comment box below for your chance to win a print copy of Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas. The giveaway ends October 28, 2020 and is limited to U.S. residents. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
My favorite holiday memory was taking my son to see all the beautifully decorated holiday windows at the downtown department stores, then driving around to see all the homes decorated with lights and decorations. Sadly, the department stores are gone & he is grown up now.
My favorite Christmas memories are going to my grandparents house and opening gifts with them and grandma would always have something good to snack on like her gingersnaps or cinnamon rolls or banana cream pie
Sounds lovely!
Growing up we celebrated Christmas Eve with my maternal grandparents. My grandmother had a table full of food. We’d eat, clean up, then open gifts. I was so excited when they decided I was old enough to help with the dishes after we ate. My grandmother also made the most amazing desserts!
Nancy, congratulations on your new book!
Thank you, Jackie!
My best Christmas memory was when I was about five years old. On Christmas Eve my father trudged six city blocks through the snow to the gas station selling Christmas trees. He dragged that tree all the way home just so we would have a tree for Christmas.
Decorating cookies with my mom and sister, and dad driving us around to look at the lights and decorations.
My mom making all shapes and sizes of decorated homemade sugar cookies. Like Santa faces, stockings, candy canes etc. Beautiful and tasty. Thanks for the chance.
The year I realized that my Uncle Ron hsd many similarities to Santa.
My favorite holiday memory is every Christmas Eve, when I was growing up, my family would attend Christmas Eve service at church, and then come home and my Aunt Betty would spend the night. Then in the morning we would all get up and open our presents! It was just so fun having her stay over night every year and have her be there Christmas morning. She always gave the best presents too! For me it was another Little House on the Prairie book in the series 🙂 This book sounds so interesting and fun! I love the cover and the name of the pup…Marshmallow Mal lol how cute!! Thanks for the chance to win!
I still remember the smell of the popcorn(different colors) we strung on the Christmas tree back in the early 1960’s.
One of my favorites is every Christmas when I was growing up, my mother would bake old fashioned candy cane cookies from the Betty Crocker Cookbook! They were my favorite!
Going to Midnight Mass with my grandparents and Mom and Dad. I also remember all th ecookies we made and decorated.
My favorite Christmas memory is decorating the tree and baking Christmas cookies and spending time with family and friends.
My favorite holiday at a child had to be Channukah. My mother wasn’t a gift giver, so I was always thrilled when the party was at an aunt or cousin’s house. I’d come home with enough books or toys to keep me going for a long time.
My favorite memories of Christmas was when I was a child at church for the Christmas Eve candlelight services and everyone would stand around the perimeter of the church and the candle light was passed from person to person lighting the dark sanctuary and we sang Silent Night.
The Christmas my brothers and I got to open our presents a day early, and we all received bicycles 🙂
My favorite Christmas memories are arriving at my parents’ house and being greeted by my little nieces and nephews.
Coming home from church on Christmas Eve and discovering that Santa had been there while we were gone!
It sounds so cozy where you live, Allie! And you sound very determined, loyal and brave.
**** WINNER ****
Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas is Dawn P.
Congratulations!
As I postjed on Twitter, this sounds so good, I want to read it while eating fudge.