Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Family Holidays Can be Murder




Hi, Toni here from the Gluten-Free Bakery series. I have a big family -four brothers and sisters, eight aunts and uncles on my mother's side alone and over fifty two cousins. You might be able to imagine what kind of madness occurs during the holidays-especially Thanksgiving.

Now add in one community parade and a grandmother on wheels and darn if there isn't trouble stirring. This time of year Grandma Ruth gets all excited about OilTop's history and her part in it.

Then there's the family get-togethers and the big Christmas reveal the Friday after Thanksgiving when the holidays officially start for my family. Add in a little murder and Grandma Ruth being hauled in to the police office for questioning and, well, you just don't know what might happen next.

Holidays and families go hand in hand and sometimes chaos ensues.

What is your most memorable family holiday story? Grandma Ruth accused of murder is mine.

Leave a comment below with your email address to be entered in the giveaway of a copy of MURDER GONE A-RYE! Good luck!
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50 comments:

  1. SandyG265December 8, 2015 at 2:07 PM

    This is the first holiday season without my older brother. He passed away in August. It'll be memorable but not for a good reason.
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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  2. jody schwoererDecember 8, 2015 at 2:09 PM

    In my heart, a very memorable thanksgiving was when my uncle was dying from AIDS, my family went to the hospital to sing and pray with him. He was very musical as we're all his siblings. Our voices filled the room and echoed down tbe halls. People stood by his door listening. Later people commented that they could feel love and peace coming from the room. It was a beautiful moving experience aa we were all together giving thanks for life on what we knew would be his last holiday with us

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  3. jody schwoererDecember 8, 2015 at 2:10 PM

    And [email protected]

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  4. Libby DoddDecember 8, 2015 at 2:13 PM

    Holidays can be the best of times and the worst of times!
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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  5. travelerDecember 8, 2015 at 2:41 PM

    A memorable holiday family get together occurred when I was younger and a close relative whom we hadn't seen in ages suddenly appeared. What a surprise. Yes, we caught up but much was omitted. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. Kathleen CostaDecember 8, 2015 at 2:52 PM

    Memorable doesn't always mean wonderful. The first holiday season after my parents divorced was memorably awkward. My sister and I were young adults, my brother was twelve, and dealing with horrible conflicts and split allegiances was difficult. The years following the bugs were worked out, but that first one...leaving Mom at home on Christmas Eve. We survived and finally would create some positive memories with each parent. [email protected]

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  7. petiteDecember 8, 2015 at 3:21 PM

    An unforgettable holiday which was told for many years afterwards took place when an aunt visited. She was divisive and caused trouble so she decided to leave in the midst. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  8. AnonymousDecember 8, 2015 at 3:25 PM

    Thanks! cjreynolds52(at)comcast(dot)net

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  9. AnnetteDecember 8, 2015 at 3:59 PM

    Peeking through presents from our grandparents only to find out they were not our presents. Boy were we kids surprised!

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  • Grandma CootieDecember 8, 2015 at 5:06 PM

    Oh yes, the family gatherings. At least we don't have murder - yet ;-). Thanks for the giveaway.
    [email protected]

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  • holdenjDecember 8, 2015 at 6:27 PM

    Well, I can't imagine much beats Aunt Ruth being accused of murder! I think sometimes the holidays I remember as a kid were memorable just because we were so lucky to have both my grandma and her sister fighting for dominance in the kitchen with so many good recipes! Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  • Robin CoxonDecember 8, 2015 at 6:30 PM

    Oh how I love the cover of this book. I just want to grab that little pooch and hug it tight. [email protected]

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  • candace knightDecember 8, 2015 at 7:33 PM

    This book sounds great and the cover is adorable. My best memories was my daughters first Christmas, and my sons first Christmas.
    [email protected]

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  • KatreaderDecember 8, 2015 at 8:18 PM

    There was a horrible Christmas a few years ago. My mom got ready to cook the beef only to discover it was spoiled! We had salad and mashed potatoes for Christmas dinner. Mom was upset swearing she'd never cook again-most uncomfortable.

    cozyupwithkathy @ gmail dot com

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  • Sue FarrellDecember 8, 2015 at 8:38 PM

    I had all the inlaws for Christmas and they all wanted something different to eat---I tried to please all of them and cooked for days trying to please them---they didn't seem to appreciate it at all. I never had them again.
    [email protected]

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  • DebbyDecember 8, 2015 at 8:47 PM

    My grandmother singing carols to the police after imbibing a bit too much.
    debby236 at gmail dot com

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  • Babe O'MaraDecember 8, 2015 at 9:23 PM

    I opened a gift from my husband early. It was a very expensive frilly robe. I tried it on, didn't like it, returned it to store for another plainer one. I got $20 back. Went home and rewrapped it and put it under tree. My husband was baffled on Christmas morning. He kept saying I don't think that's what I bought you. I said, I love it. It's a beautiful color and it fits perfectly. I finally told him the truth, after our divorce.
    [email protected]

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  • kaisquaredDecember 8, 2015 at 9:36 PM

    Our most memorable Christmas was the first one with our daughter, loved her laughing at the Christmas lights.

    emmasmom69 AT gmail DOT com

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  • Elaine KlingbeilDecember 8, 2015 at 9:36 PM

    Back in 1973, yes, way back then, I was feeling a bit nauseous on Christmas Day. We had gotten married a little more than a month before. I was experiencing morning sickness. Yes, he is still my favorite oldest son. There are so many great Christmas memories! One of the more recent memorable ones was about 4 or 5 years ago. We had come home to my parents' in South Dakota and we had a blizzard that started Christmas Eve day and lasted a couple of days. We didn't have church on Christmas Day. But we had such a good time being snowed in out here on the farm! Played games, did jigsaws, drank a lot of coffee and hot chocolate. Ate Christmas cookies. A very good time.

    ElaineE246 at msn dot com

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  • servedogmomDecember 8, 2015 at 11:26 PM

    Christmas celebrations at our home are truly bittersweet. It is very difficult to balance the emotions as both my Father-in-Law and Father passed away on Christmas morning a year apart. Even though that was a number of years ago the memories last forever. [email protected]

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  • Linda HeroldDecember 9, 2015 at 1:10 AM

    One year when my brother and I waited to get presents from Santa, somehow my Dad dropped a sheriff's badge meant for my younger brother. When it was found in the driveway the next day, the explanation was that Santa must have dropped it!!

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  • Mary PrestonDecember 9, 2015 at 2:38 AM

    We all learned not to give Aunt Mavis soap for Christmas - no matter how delicious. She thought we were sending a message about her hygiene.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  • Jen ScottDecember 9, 2015 at 3:24 AM

    My sister and I would decorate the tree for Christmas (with Christmas music). Then our parents would give us boxes (plain boxes) to wrap. After we wrap the gifts, we were told the presents (not all of the gifts - just some of them) were for us.
    myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com

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  • Peggy HyndmanDecember 9, 2015 at 7:10 AM

    This book sounds great and I love the cover. Every holiday has been unique so I can't name a most memorable family holiday story but can say there were no murders involved. :)
    peggyhyndmabn(at)att(dot)net

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  • Margo BittnerDecember 9, 2015 at 7:40 AM

    After 30 years, I finally talked my husband into taking a vacation, a cruise. We celebrated Hanukkah on the ship. The staff did a great job making our holiday perfect. [email protected]

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  • JewelDecember 9, 2015 at 7:56 AM

    Moine was when my daughter came home for Christmas from being deployed. [email protected]

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  • AnonymousDecember 9, 2015 at 8:53 AM

    My Moms last Xmas. Xmas never has any enjoyment again once your Mom is dead. seascapelife at gmail dot com

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  • Robin CoxonDecember 9, 2015 at 9:52 AM

    My memorable Christmas was in 1986. I was very, very pregnant with our first child. Her due date was December 5th but she was still hanging in come Christmas. The doctor advised me not to venture more than five minutes from the hospital because she could come at any time. My parents and mother-in-law brought Christmas dinner to us. It was wonderful. Three days later our daughter was born and was our greatest gift of all.

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  • Not reallyDecember 9, 2015 at 10:07 AM

    Della at [email protected] Way back when. The tree had been up for 2 weeks but no topper. The old one Mom said, was too old. It was the 23rd when she finally found what she was looking for. Us girls (4) were in the dining room. Mom and Dad in the front room. It was Christmas Eve Dad had just put the Angel on the top of the tree. The song "I saw Momma kissing Santa" Dad looked at Mom and said I think I can take a hint" She just raised her brows. They hugged and kissed. It delighted us girls to no end. When in public they rarely touched. At home in front of us kids it was just a peck on the cheek. That was the warmest, cheeryest Christmas we ever had. Us girls still mention that every now and then. I don't think they ever knew we had spied on them A new author, a new series is so exciting. I am hoping this will be my introduction to both. The post was a really nice one. I enjoyed it. Made me more curious than ever

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  • Kim AmundsenDecember 9, 2015 at 11:33 AM

    Christmas at my aunts house. See every christmas when I was I child I would get sick and my mother would be so upset one christmas my aunt took my mother into the bedroom and She never again yelled at me for being sick on christmas. Nerves kamundsen44ATyahooDOTcom.

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  • cupcake58December 9, 2015 at 11:55 AM

    My most memorable Christmas story takes place December 25th 1984. My daughter was born 2 weeks before and he had to go to my in-laws house for Christmas. She was my first child and it was overwhelming and my poor baby was passed around and held by everyone in the family. She ended up sleeping most of the time we were there. When my hubby and I got home and settled in for the night, my daughter started crying and then howling, for most of the night. She got so over stimulated during the visit that she slept through it but then let us know all night that she did not like doing that. It was not a very fun Christmas that year and we learned not to take her out and let people handle her as much. Luckily we never had a problem like that again.
    [email protected]

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  • annDecember 9, 2015 at 1:15 PM

    I always enjoy watching the grand kids at Christmas. But alot of not so good memories for me , my younger brother just passed away unexpectedly recently and his wife is having a very hard time. Years ago my mom passed away in December also so the memories will make me sad.
    I havent read any Christmas stories lately.

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  • Darlene PetersonDecember 9, 2015 at 1:16 PM

    My most memorable Christmas is one I don't remember at all. -only in pictures. Last year I managed to get the hard flu and pneumonia a couple days before Christmas right after I had just finished putting on our church cantata. It appears I had a high fever that day. Several had said they had to hold themselves back from removing me from the church. Filled with drugs, the guarantee of family at all times, and 2 daily calls from the doctor I was allowed my Christmas. Pictures tell me it was wonderful. I am now well.

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  • Darlene PetersonDecember 9, 2015 at 1:17 PM

    I forgot my email
    6186pep(at)msn(do)com

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  • Kristina AndersonDecember 9, 2015 at 2:01 PM

    I just love this series. I have three dogs and quite a few cats! I love the recipes you include in the books (and so do the animals). My favorite Christmas was when I was 11 or 12. I love Raggedy Ann dolls (still do and have a large collection). I received a three foot tall Raggedy Ann. I was so excited. I still have her along with a matching Andy. Have a great holiday season and keep writing your wonderful books! [email protected]

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  • Mama CatDecember 9, 2015 at 3:53 PM

    I would love to read this!! Has been on my wish list since reading the most recent book. We have five inside cats, 4 of them rescues, and 4 feral cats outside that we feed. I don't remember any one Christmas, just when I was in elementary school and we would do the Christmas Eve service every year at church. I remember at least one year, singing my heart out for the happiness of Christmas. jeaniedannheim (at) ymail (dot) com

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  • Michelle F.December 9, 2015 at 4:59 PM

    I had a great Christmas when I was about ten years old and I got lots of Smurf and Garfield stuff. I got stuffed Smurfs and a Garfield, an oversized Smurfs comic book, and a Garfield book about cats. I was spoiled then, but now I don't get anything for X-mas.
    catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com

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  • Doward WilsonDecember 9, 2015 at 6:10 PM

    Love this series, especially since we now have a gluten free person in the house. Thanks for the chance to win. [email protected]

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  • Nancy LuebkeDecember 9, 2015 at 7:43 PM

    Thanksgiving last year, everyone in the our family was able to make it home. The first time in 5 years. So what if it was a little crowded.

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  • Brittany AbbottDecember 9, 2015 at 7:56 PM

    I remember one Christmas where my Grandpa and I got together to decorate the house while my Grandma was at work. We taped some Christmas lights to the window in the shape of a star for my Grandma. When we went to get her from work I was so excited for her to see what we had done that I told her all about it. I forgot to tell her that we used duct tape to tape it to the window,she was not happy but she left it up all month. [email protected]

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  • Renee WDecember 9, 2015 at 10:58 PM

    Every Christmas is special in its own way, although in our family history we do sometimes talk about the one where our older daughter came down with a double ear infection and we ended up in the emergency room. But even that was a good one in the end. Thank you for the chance to win. I love the cover of Murder Gone A-Rye (and the title too!) [email protected]

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  • Kathy DunnDecember 10, 2015 at 5:29 AM

    Seeing family. Each one is special. Memories of ones who are gone now. Seeing cousins we hardly ever get to see except a few times each year. Now that my children are grown, it's one of the too few days each year we are all together. Very cherished times!

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  • AnonymousDecember 10, 2015 at 5:09 PM

    My most memorable Christmas or the strangest one whichever is the year I had my first apartment and Dad and I hauled in a nine foot tree...I was decorating it and found a note from a little boy in Canada who asked me to send him money...lol...
    Marilyn [email protected]

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  • LynMarieDecember 10, 2015 at 8:13 PM

    Celebrating with friends who have become family. [email protected]

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  • aggie56December 12, 2015 at 8:31 AM

    Love to celebrate with the family thanks for this opportunity! [email protected]

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  • Dianne CaseyDecember 13, 2015 at 6:19 PM

    Enjoy reading your books. I like spending Christmas with my family in Michigan.
    [email protected]

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