Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you probably know there’s a bit of a do going on today in Windsor. Congratulations to the royal couple – and to all those other couples who’ve been planning their May wedding for ages, only to have Harry and Meghan sneak in and steal their thunder! 😉
So I thought it’d be appropriate to have a wedding-themed snippet today. This is from the beginning of Lock Nut, #5 in the Plumber’s Mate Mystery Series:
It all started at the wedding. It wasn’t a bad one, as weddings go. The weather, for a miracle, stayed fair, everyone was dressed up to the nines—even me, thanks to some not-so-gentle nudging from Phil; my sister, Cherry; and my best mate Gary that had started to feel a lot like an intervention by the time they were done—and the service went off without a hitch (other than the intended one, that was). Some thoughtless git left his mobile phone on and it rang loudly in the middle of the vows, but hey, I had a lot on my mind that day.
It wasn’t just my only sister finally getting spliced at the tender age of forty. I was having a few dad issues as well, seeing as both of ’em—that’s the one that brought me up, and the biological one—had turned up in St. Leonards for the occasion, and don’t think that wasn’t weird. I wasn’t sure how Mum felt about having her husband and her ex-bit-on-the-side in the same room, but there had been a definite whiff of sherry on her breath when she’d kissed me hello.
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Don’t forget to check out the rainbow snippets Facebook group for more little excerpts from a whole host of talented authors.
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And psst! The Lock Nut Blog Tour giveaway is still open until midnight tonight (that’s Eastern time, May 19th)
![LockNut_500x750[4]](https://jlmerrow.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/locknut_500x7504.jpg?w=333&h=500)
Still waters run deadly.
Tom Paretski, plumber with a talent for finding hidden things, and his private investigator fiancé Phil Morrison have been hired to locate a runaway husband, Jonathan Parrot. The job seems simple enough—until their quarry turns up dead in a canal, and a photofit of Tom’s face is splashed all over the news, making him chief suspect.
The widow, petite ex–porn star Lilah Lovett, is convinced her husband was killed by his gay lover, but Tom and Phil aren’t so sure. Worried they may have precipitated Jonathan’s death, they’re determined to find the real killer. But with a web of incestuous ties linking the suspects, it’s hard to know who to trust. Especially when a second victim dies a gruesome death.
Meanwhile, with their wedding looming and them sharing a house now, Tom’s worried it may all be too much, too fast. The last thing he needs are the mixed messages Phil seems to be sending out. They’ll need to get back on the same track if they want to make it to their honeymoon together—and alive.
![locknut_200x300[4]](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/904/40247243490_3a97895e2a.jpg)
JL Merrow 
Fantastic intro to the story. Love the laughs! 💕
Thank you! 😀
That all sounds like an “uh oh” in the making. Oh, dear.
Heh, with Tom there’s always an “uh oh” in the making! 😉
Oh, that’s a brilliant touch of comedy. Well done. Thank you for sharing. And Happy Writing!
Thank you! 😀
Love weddings as settings and this snip makes me want read more
Oh, my, the family dynamic you’ve set up is sympathetic, tense, and intriguing all at the same time! Well done!
Wow, that sounds awkward! *lol*
I love the opening line. Sounds like a recipe for potential disaster
Oh, wow. Family coming together at a wedding isn’t always fun! 🙂
There’s always one with a phone. And “ex” families are a known trip hazard at family events. Great vibe.
Love the snippet! Very excited to read this!