People always want to know what it’s like to have a cool mom. Not one of those, I’m trying to be a cool mom because I’m really not cool but I want everyone to think I am type of moms. No, I have an actual cool mom. The sort a teenage girl likes to hang out with and watch movies, eat pizza and b.s. The kind who pretty much lets me be me.
I always tell people. “It’s great.” Most of the time, it’s even true.
My name is Mac. Well actually, it’s Mackenzie Elizabeth Taylor the second. Do girls actually get to be the second or third when they are named after someone? Since I’ve never met another female second—never mind third—I really don’t know. The story behind how I got my name is lame, but I’m going to tell you anyway, because otherwise you’d be wondering. Everyone does.
In truth, my mother, Mackenzie Elizabeth Taylor 1.0, was still whacked out on Demerol when she filled out the birth certificate. She saw name and wrote her name. Twice. My father’s name isn’t on my birth certificate, that spot is blank. Mom doesn’t like to talk about him and I respect her enough not to ask, even though some days it feels like the curiosity will gnaw a hole right through me. I know she was knocked up at sixteen, the same age I am now. And I know what she fears most in the world is the same thing happening to me. She doesn’t need to worry, I’m a pale shadow of a Mackenzie. None of the guys I like ever like me back. The ones that do like me, like my hacker buddy Pete the Pervert, aren’t really my type. I like Pete as a friend but he’s got serious hormone issues and I’m one of the only girls who will actually give him the time of day. He’s my partner-in-crime when it comes to hacking and other clandestine cyber operations but thinking about kissing him makes me throw up in my mouth a little. Kissing him would be like having a live eel in my mouth. So yeah, Mom doesn’t spend too much time worrying about me. That’s what happens when you’re a 2.0, you’re always not living up to someone else’s street cred.
I do spend plenty of time worrying about her. Sometimes I think my mom is kind of living for me. We’re best friends which is great, but I’m going to be in college in a few years. And when I’m gone, what will she have left? Half of the rundown villa she inherited from her uncle that we are about to move into. No job, no relationship that lasts longer than a month and a designer knock-off boot collection from her days in retail. I wish she’d find her calling, in something other than me.
Mom pops her head around the corner. “Got any more boxes?”
There’s a stack on the bed. All of my stuff is boxed and ready for tomorrow’s move. “Take what you need.”
She frowns at my neat pile of possessions. “You’re done already?”
I shrug. “I told you, you have too much baggage.”
She takes this in the spirit it is intended and pulls her brilliant red hair up into a ponytail. “Traveling light is so last decade.”
“You’re a hoarder in the making,” I warn her.
“Packing sucks.” She shoves the neat stack of boxes off my bed and flops down on her back. “Let’s go to a movie.”
I glance at the clock. It’s almost nine P.M. “We’re moving in like eight hours. And call me crazy but I wanted to sleep tonight.”
Her bare feet pop up in the air as she rolls over. “Come help me then.”
“No.”
“I’ll give you a dollar,” she offers in a sing-song voice.
I gasp theatrically. “A whole dollar just for me?”
“Yup, you can take it down to Redbox and get us a movie to watch while we pack.”
“No dice. If I get a movie, you’ll be too busy asking questions and pointing out things you want me to see to pack then I’ll end up doing it all.”
“You hungry?” She slithers off the bed and retrenches. “I could go for some Chinese.”
I shake my head. “I’ll help you, but we’re packing. Just packing. Got it?”
She stands at full attention and gives me a salute. As a former military brat, she has the posture down pat. “Sir, yes sir.”
“You’re exhausting, you know that? No wonder you can’t keep a man.”
She does an eye roll. “You sound just like my mother.”
I laugh. “I guess I was channeling Grams for a minute there.”
Mom grins. “Besides, it’s other way around, sweets. Men can’t keep me because they can’t keep up. Good thing I have you.”
“Good thing,” I mumble and follow her into her room to pack.
Sleuthing for A Living is the first book in the NEW Mackenzie and Mackenzie P.I. mystery series, published by Gemma Halliday Publishing, June 2016.
As a young single parent, Mackenzie Elizabeth Taylor has struggled to provide for her teenage daughter. She finally catches a break when she inherits half of an apartment building in Boston from her uncle Al. . .along with his P.I. business. So what if she doesn’t know the first thing about investigation or if their hot-but-crabby downstairs tenant is a police detective who’s looking for any excuse to handcuff her? Her daughter, Mac the computer whiz, has her back. And these two girls don’t know the meaning of the word quit—not even when their first case takes an unexpected turn.
The man Mackenzie’s been hired to follow in a custody case seems to have upset more than just her client when she spies another person tailing him—a mysterious man Mackenzie would bet is up to no good. But when her mark suddenly winds up dead, and her first and only client is accused of his murder, Mackenzie vows to find the truth. Only one problem: she doesn’t know where to start. . .or when to draw the line. Who is the mysterious man she spotted tailing the victim? Is he the killer? Is she in over her head, or will she uncover the secrets someone killed to keep hidden? Mackenzie and Mackenzie are on the case, and the world of private investigation will never be the same.
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About the author
Jennifer L. Hart knows that surviving as military spouse takes persistence, comfort food and a stellar sense of humor. Her books often focus on people who’ve lived the military lifestyle and zany antics of neurotic heroines, who like to eat, drink and have fun. Her works include the Misadventures of the Laundry Hag mystery series, the Damaged Goods mystery series and the Southern Pasta Shop mysteries. Follow her online using the hashtag #mysterieswithhart on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or visit Jenn online at jenniferlhart.com or laundryhag.com.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a Mackenzie & Mackenzie P.I. swag pack. It includes a bookmark, a pad of sticky notes, a pen and coffee flavored candies. US entries only, please. The giveaway will end June 27, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
The characters sound like free spirits and I’m interesting in reading! Thanks for a chance to enter.
They really are, Donna! Good luck!
The plot and scenario sound fascinating and who could resist a sleuth named Mckenzie Elizabeth Taylor?
I sure couldn’t 🙂 Good luck!
Sounds great! I love her “Laundry Hag’ series. Can’t wait to read!
Thank you, Mari!
I liked the intro to both Macs in this series! Sounds like a lot of fun, thanks for the info and chance to win!
Very welcome and best of luck!
I WANT IT!!!! Mac is my kind of mom (the one I wish I had). Being a P.I. sounds like what my cousin did when he was in the Army. He was on oxy-moron for over twenty years. WWII, Korea, and Nam. I wish her was still with us to tell me about his life of mystery.
Toss my name in the Magic Hat please Dru.
Your cousin sounds like he had an awesome job! Best of luck!
I am excited to read today’s blog. Dru. I am looking forward to reading this first of many (I hope) in Ms Hart’s new series! It sounds fun and full of possibilities. Thanks to Jennifer for the chance to win a copy plus all the other goodies. Very generous! 🙂 <3
Thank you Barbara and good luck!
Good day Dru Ann. Thanks for including Jennifer Hart on your blog today. I am looking forward to checking out her books. Also thanks to the two of your for the opportunity to enter the giveaway for a copy of her newest book. robeader53@yahoo.com
Best of luck!
I’m always looking for new-to-me authors to try. This sounds like a series I would enjoy. Thanks for the giveaway.
I hope you like it, Elaine. Good luck!
Oh yes, my kind of book!!
I never get tired of hearing that 🙂
I loved meeting Mac! I just downloaded this book and can’t wait to get started. Thanks for the chance to win such a great swag pack.
I hope you enjoy it, Linda! I love both the Mackenzies, they are so much fun. Good luck!
Wow, would love to win, ty
Good luck, Betty!
I love this wonderful post. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thank you, Anne! Glad you enjoyed it! And you are very welcome.
Love the sound of the book.
Thank you, Rita!
Wow, caught my attention with the II issue. I wish I was as cool as II or her mom!
Me too, CJ. Me too 🙂
I do like the sound of this!
Thank you, Elizabeth! I hope you check it out!
Wonderful review! Thanks for the chance to win this fascinating new series.
Thanks for stopping by, Doward!
Just finished, LOVED IT and hope the series goes on and on!
Wasn’t it good?
Thank you, Helga! That’s the plan 🙂
Sounds right up my alley….thanks for the chance!
Very welcome, Johanna. Best of luck!
Congrats on your latest book! It looks good. I’d love to win it and read it!!
Thank you, Linda! Good luck!
Love it and love, love, loved the book! I hope you are planning for this one to be at least as long as Laundry Hag.
That’s the plan, Jeanie 🙂
I would LISTEN to anything Jennifer Hart writes and Suzanne Cerreta narrates. So far, I’ve enjoyed it all! I’m just along for the ride! Thanks for the opportunity! 🙂
Suzanne is already under contract for the audiobook, Marcia. We hope to have it out by Labor Day.
This book sounds sounds really good–I look forward to reading it. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
Thank you Celia and good luck!
Sounds pretty interesting! Thanks for the giveaway!
I just bought your book and can’t wait to read it. I have loved all of your other books.
Sure thing, Shirley!
Aw, thank you, Denise!
Sounds very interesting! Thank you for the chance to win!
Very welcome
This sounds good, I know the feeling of not knowing where to start! Thanks for the giveaway!
Me too, Mary Jane!
Just bought it! Looking forward to reading it! Thanks for the chance!
Happy reading and good luck, Barbara!
This sounds like a series I’d enjoy. Thank you for the giveaway.
Very welcome, Peggy! Good luck!
I love the sound of these characters ~ this would be a great summer read!
Thank you Brooke!
I know I will like this book. Thanks for the giveaway.
Happy reading, Marlene!
So excited to read this one!
Thanks, Pamela! I hope you enjoy it!
This is a new author for me. The premise and characters sound interesting so I’m going to definitely give her a try.
Nice to meet you, Susan.
Thank you for the heads up!!! New author and 3 different series. They all look great and all are on my TBR. But hope this will be an early start. Thank you for the chance to do so
I hope you enjoy them all!
Sounds really interesting…thank you very much for the contest.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Very welcome, Marilyn. Enjoy!
Love all your series, I know this one won’t be any different.
Aw, thank you, Heather! Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to hear you have so much faith in me 🙂
I am intrigued all ready just by reading your blog notes on this book. Would love to win print book and the goodies along with it. Thanks.
Best of luck, Janet!
You got me at coffee-flavored candy!!!!
I have become addicted to them, they are fab!
I love everything Jennifer L. Hart’s written. I was realLY looking forward to the new series before this. Now I’m dying to read it. I may have to download it & call in sick to read!
Thank you, K T Bee! Sometimes I like to call in sick to read too. 🙂
I loved reading this book. I love how the mom and daughter talk to each other,lol and make faces,like eye rolling,lol they work good together.left my review on amazon and goodreads. thanks for this chance to win some swag from this amazing story,,cant wait for the next book..!
You are so sweet, Rosemary! Best of luck!
It looks fun..I like the teenage girl aspect. Sorry I’m entering past the deadline, fine if you want to disqualify this entry wise.
I was happy to hear from you, Darla. I think we will totally be hearing more from Mackenzie 2.0 in the future!