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A Christmas Cracker
Get into the festive spirit with this heart-warming, funny and simply gorgeous Christmas read.
The eagerly awaited new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author.
This Christmas is about to go off with a bang!
Things can’t possibly get worse for Tabby. Framed for a crime she didn’t commit, she suddenly finds herself without a job. Then to make matters worse, Tabby’s boyfriend dumps her and gives her cat away to a shelter.
But rescue comes in the form of kindly Mercy. A master of saving waifs and strays, Mercy wants Tabby to breathe new flair into her ailing cracker business. Together, they’ll save Marwood’s Magical Christmas Crackers.
But someone has other ideas. Mercy’s nephew Randal thinks Tabby’s a fraudster. Stubborn, difficult and very attractive, her future depends upon winning him round. But it’s that time of the year when miracles really can happen. Standing under the mistletoe, Tabby’s Christmas is set to be one that she will never forget . . .
The eagerly awaited new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author.
This Christmas is about to go off with a bang!
Things can’t possibly get worse for Tabby. Framed for a crime she didn’t commit, she suddenly finds herself without a job. Then to make matters worse, Tabby’s boyfriend dumps her and gives her cat away to a shelter.
But rescue comes in the form of kindly Mercy. A master of saving waifs and strays, Mercy wants Tabby to breathe new flair into her ailing cracker business. Together, they’ll save Marwood’s Magical Christmas Crackers.
But someone has other ideas. Mercy’s nephew Randal thinks Tabby’s a fraudster. Stubborn, difficult and very attractive, her future depends upon winning him round. But it’s that time of the year when miracles really can happen. Standing under the mistletoe, Tabby’s Christmas is set to be one that she will never forget . . .
442 pages, Paperback
First published October 22, 2015
194 people are currently reading
1163 people want to read
About the author
Trisha Ashley
50 books1,092 followersTrisha Ashley is now a full-time novelist, but she has been known to work for stained glass makers and/or plumbers. She likes to paint, eat, drink, and read literary biographies. Her previous hobbies included getting divorced and packing to move. She claims to have once actually eaten Bronte burgers at the Branwell café, but her publisher declines to verify this. She lives in North Wales.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews
March 31, 2023
I started reading this book just before an extremely difficult time in my life. I ended up not reading for a while, but this book was the perfect antidote to slowly get me back into reading again.
A Christmas Cracker tells the story of Tabby, who was sent to prison for something she did not do. She gets given a second chance at Mote Farm to try and help restore a failing Christmas Cracker factory.
My rating for this book is completely based on my personal enjoyment. There was nothing particularly ground breaking or spectacular. But it was a lovely, easy read that kept me intrigued. I really liked the English countryside/stately home setting. I felt as if I was being given a warm and comforting hug and returning to a simpler life. My biggest issue was that I didn’t really root for the romance aspect of the book. It almost felt forced and I struggled to feel any proper chemistry between the characters. The ending also felt particularly rushed.
That being said, I fell completely in love with the characters and Mote Farm. Pye and Pugsie (a cat and dog) managed to particularly worm their way into my heart. I found myself smiling whenever they joined in the narrative. I felt a sadness when I was nearing the end of the book because I just did not want to say goodbye to the varied and wonderful characters who came to feel like friends. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author now!
I would recommend this to any fans of easy to read Christmas romcoms with a countryside charm.
A Christmas Cracker tells the story of Tabby, who was sent to prison for something she did not do. She gets given a second chance at Mote Farm to try and help restore a failing Christmas Cracker factory.
My rating for this book is completely based on my personal enjoyment. There was nothing particularly ground breaking or spectacular. But it was a lovely, easy read that kept me intrigued. I really liked the English countryside/stately home setting. I felt as if I was being given a warm and comforting hug and returning to a simpler life. My biggest issue was that I didn’t really root for the romance aspect of the book. It almost felt forced and I struggled to feel any proper chemistry between the characters. The ending also felt particularly rushed.
That being said, I fell completely in love with the characters and Mote Farm. Pye and Pugsie (a cat and dog) managed to particularly worm their way into my heart. I found myself smiling whenever they joined in the narrative. I felt a sadness when I was nearing the end of the book because I just did not want to say goodbye to the varied and wonderful characters who came to feel like friends. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author now!
I would recommend this to any fans of easy to read Christmas romcoms with a countryside charm.
December 16, 2015
2 - ”Everything has a season.” Stars.
I seem to have developed a bit of a love/hate relationship with Tricia Ashley’s books of late. Whereas Twelve Days of Christmas is probably one of my top five seasonal reads, several of her other Christmas offerings from recent years have fallen flatter than a dropped pancake.
One thing that really miffs me off as a reader is a book that promises something in the impressions you are given by the cover, and the blurb, but then delivers something else entirely. At 53% I have decided to call it a day, because apart from the fact that our heroine Tabitha is now working to restore a Cracker Factory there is absolutely nothing Christmassy about this book at all.
Add to that I am struggling to find anything I like or dislike about her. And that the rest of the large and varied cast seemed to be pointless additions or totally abhorrent and I am really struggling to find anything of positive note to say about A Christmas Cracker.
My other issue, is that although the book has progressed months in its timeline, nothing of any real interest has really happened, and apart from the loose linking’s to the next town over; Little Mumming and its inhabitants (the location of my aforementioned favorite TA, Christmas offering).
”You don’t need money for happiness, just warm, loving hearts.”
If this book was released without all the Christmas hoopla, I would probably have carried on with it, but I have held back reading it with the expectation of getting a Cracking Christmas read, and it couldn’t be further from the truth.
Not a winner for me on this occasion, Tricia Ashley die-hard fans are sure to enjoy it, but if you are looking for a book full of festive cheer, seasonal story-lines and tinsel etc… This may not be the one for you.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, I am sorry I cannot offer a more positive review on this occasion.
I seem to have developed a bit of a love/hate relationship with Tricia Ashley’s books of late. Whereas Twelve Days of Christmas is probably one of my top five seasonal reads, several of her other Christmas offerings from recent years have fallen flatter than a dropped pancake.
One thing that really miffs me off as a reader is a book that promises something in the impressions you are given by the cover, and the blurb, but then delivers something else entirely. At 53% I have decided to call it a day, because apart from the fact that our heroine Tabitha is now working to restore a Cracker Factory there is absolutely nothing Christmassy about this book at all.
Add to that I am struggling to find anything I like or dislike about her. And that the rest of the large and varied cast seemed to be pointless additions or totally abhorrent and I am really struggling to find anything of positive note to say about A Christmas Cracker.
My other issue, is that although the book has progressed months in its timeline, nothing of any real interest has really happened, and apart from the loose linking’s to the next town over; Little Mumming and its inhabitants (the location of my aforementioned favorite TA, Christmas offering).
”You don’t need money for happiness, just warm, loving hearts.”
If this book was released without all the Christmas hoopla, I would probably have carried on with it, but I have held back reading it with the expectation of getting a Cracking Christmas read, and it couldn’t be further from the truth.
Not a winner for me on this occasion, Tricia Ashley die-hard fans are sure to enjoy it, but if you are looking for a book full of festive cheer, seasonal story-lines and tinsel etc… This may not be the one for you.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, I am sorry I cannot offer a more positive review on this occasion.
December 26, 2016
I hate it when a book doesn't live up to expectations - especially at Christmas. I hate to say it, but A Christmas Cracker was an absolute disappointment from start to finish and I'm glad that it was only £2 from The Works' Christmas book sale because if I'd had to pay the full retail price of £7.99 for this, I would've been fuming.
This novel shouldn't have been marketed as a Christmas read at all, because it's not. There's very little festive spirit in this supposed 'Christmas novel' and any Christmas cheer that does occur is towards the end and very short-lived.
From the get-go I knew I would have problems with A Christmas Cracker. The instant I saw that there were changes in the point-of-view (something longtime readers of my blog or any GoodReads pals will know is a pet peeve of mine) my heart sank. Both Tabitha and Randal's view points were quite dull, but Tabby takes the cake for having about four chapters revolving around her bloody cat.
If I ever have to read the name 'Pye' again, I think I might cry. A Christmas Cracker very nearly ended up in my 'Did Not Finish' pile, and while I did skip a lot of chunks of the book, I generally powered through for the sake of trying to understand the point and in foolish hope that the romance I had been promised would suddenly blossom. No such luck. It's insta-love with zero to no connection being formed between Tabby and Randal.
Now, I tend to quite enjoy following the exploits of slightly arrogant characters if they're written in a humorous, cheeky and sort of likeable manner. Heck, Christian Grey, as cold as he is, did display some signs of comedic banter in the phenomenon that was Fifty Shades of Grey. However, Randal is just a straight up twat. He's boring, uncharismatic and unnecessarily rude to the point where I wanted to smack him in the face. I just couldn't comprehend why Tabitha, who despised him just as much, was snogging him and agreeing to marry him within the space of a hundred pages. It made no sense!
Is this the most savage I've been towards a book I didn't like? Possibly, but it's not without reason. Neither the story itself nor the writing could compel and convince me which is normally something I accept because not everything I pick up is going to be my cup of tea. However, I'm a bit miffed that I was promised this 'cracking Christmas read' and it didn't deliver what was said on the tin...or rather blurb. Had it been marketed without any mentions of a big festive romance then I'd have steered clear.
I've never read anything else by Trisha Ashley, so I can't comment on whether this is typical of her novels or not. I also won't be rushing to be read anything else by Ashley as I found A Christmas Cracker to be the most lacklustre and entirely disappointing book I've read this year.
If you're looking for a book full of seasonal fun and Christmas spirit, you're better off giving this one a miss.
This novel shouldn't have been marketed as a Christmas read at all, because it's not. There's very little festive spirit in this supposed 'Christmas novel' and any Christmas cheer that does occur is towards the end and very short-lived.
From the get-go I knew I would have problems with A Christmas Cracker. The instant I saw that there were changes in the point-of-view (something longtime readers of my blog or any GoodReads pals will know is a pet peeve of mine) my heart sank. Both Tabitha and Randal's view points were quite dull, but Tabby takes the cake for having about four chapters revolving around her bloody cat.
If I ever have to read the name 'Pye' again, I think I might cry. A Christmas Cracker very nearly ended up in my 'Did Not Finish' pile, and while I did skip a lot of chunks of the book, I generally powered through for the sake of trying to understand the point and in foolish hope that the romance I had been promised would suddenly blossom. No such luck. It's insta-love with zero to no connection being formed between Tabby and Randal.
Now, I tend to quite enjoy following the exploits of slightly arrogant characters if they're written in a humorous, cheeky and sort of likeable manner. Heck, Christian Grey, as cold as he is, did display some signs of comedic banter in the phenomenon that was Fifty Shades of Grey. However, Randal is just a straight up twat. He's boring, uncharismatic and unnecessarily rude to the point where I wanted to smack him in the face. I just couldn't comprehend why Tabitha, who despised him just as much, was snogging him and agreeing to marry him within the space of a hundred pages. It made no sense!
Is this the most savage I've been towards a book I didn't like? Possibly, but it's not without reason. Neither the story itself nor the writing could compel and convince me which is normally something I accept because not everything I pick up is going to be my cup of tea. However, I'm a bit miffed that I was promised this 'cracking Christmas read' and it didn't deliver what was said on the tin...or rather blurb. Had it been marketed without any mentions of a big festive romance then I'd have steered clear.
I've never read anything else by Trisha Ashley, so I can't comment on whether this is typical of her novels or not. I also won't be rushing to be read anything else by Ashley as I found A Christmas Cracker to be the most lacklustre and entirely disappointing book I've read this year.
If you're looking for a book full of seasonal fun and Christmas spirit, you're better off giving this one a miss.
July 21, 2019
I can most certainly see why Trisha Ashley is the Sunday Times best seller. Trisha is without any doubt a good story-teller, adding in things which a reader can never see coming, with great cast of characters.
Christmas in the story of A Christmas Cracker is about to go off with a bang! Tabitha Coombs had known for ages that her boss at Champers & Chocs was passing off bottles of cheap fizzy wine as vintage champagne, but the only thing she was guilty of was not reporting what she found out to the police immediately. Tabby’s boss Harry Briggs, claimed in court the scam had been her idea and Tabby Coombs was sent to prison. When Tabby comes out of prison her christmas is set to be one that she will never forget.
Trisha Ashley fans will love reading A Christmas Cracker.
October 22, 2015
Originally posted on This Chick Reads
* Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
'Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Holly.
Holly who?
Holly-days are here again!'
Yup, it's the season to be jolly! NO? Yes if you're a book blogger, and honestly I wouldn't want it any other way. If it's up to me, I'd have no problem in reading Christmas books all year round and you know why? Because no matter how ugly things are in the story, they always turn out for the better, or there's a wonderful happy ending you felt coming but are still having tears in your eyes when you read about it. Christmas books don't just get you in the festive spirit, they show you there's hope and magic, always sharing timeless precious pearls of wisdom.
This year, there are just so many wonderful Christmas books being released, I'm seriously contemplating not sleeping at all (Ok, 2 hours a day only) so I can manage to read them all. One of the most anticipated Christmas reads this year was Trisha Ashley's 'A Christmas Cracker'. Twitter's already buzzing about it for weeks and everyone's eager to grab a copy. Well, time has come, it's its official release day and if you're a sucker for a feel-good story, by all means head to amazon without waiting a minute further.
It's been a while since I've read Ms Ashley book and boy, did it feel good to be back to her words. In a way, it feels rather different to what I've read so far, the heroine is not your typical women's fiction heroine and there's a Christmas cracker factory involved. I mean, how unique and awesome is this?
I was so surprised and really had no idea where the story might go, as the MC, Tabby is sent to prison at the very beginning of the book. I won't lie, I started having second thoughts about the book... would it actually be my thing?
I didn't need to worry as everything started to make perfect sense later and turned out to be an enjoyable read. Tabby is set up, she's convicted for fraud, set up by her employer and stabbed in the back by someone she thought was her friend. Despite the crime she committed not being too severe, she ends up in prison to be 'taught a lesson'. She spends 8 months, last couple of them in an open prison where she meets Mercy, who's the kindest, sweetest old lady who's willing to help her out. While being in prison, Tabby's boyfriend leaves her, packs up all her stuff and even gets rid of Tabby's cat she was so attached to. Tabby has no place to go, no job or money, and certainly being an ex prisoner convicted of fraud doesn't make her the candidate of the year for any working position. But god does have Mercy (see what I did there?) and once she's out of prison she's off to work as Mercy's PA helping her modernize her family's business.
Mercy's estate is very close to where her mother grew up, so in a way she's so happy to be back. Despite being welcomed by other's living on the farm and forgetting she ever was in prison, she meets Mercy's nephew Randal who's there to remind her of her past and who has plans so different from those of Mercy and Tabby.
As I said, I was rather surprised with the opening of the book, it even took me some while to realize Tabby's sent to prison. It just happened so soon! Because I didn't get to see more of her relationship with her fiance or with her friends prior to prison, I did have troubles with feeling her as a character. This did bother me slightly. But once Tabby meets Mercy, we really get to see so many sides of her, and by this I mean the wonderful human side, her generosity and wish to help others as well as her creativity. I was pretty impressed in how much she achieved in such a short time.
Randal was tough to connect to. I don't think I totally warmed up to him, but maybe I just felt overprotective of Tabby. However, my favorite character is definitely Mercy! She's the grandmother, aunt, mother everyone would be happy to have. She's seen the world but values homely things and is the real Samaritan in the story. I wish there were more people like Mercy in real life, someone who'd give you a hand when you fall, someone who'd give you a second chance when no one else wants to do it. In my opinion, she's the real star of the book! I got so attached to her, I was so so sad when I finished this book.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, feel-good read I read in one single sitting. The pace might be slower, especially at the beginning which definitely influenced my rating, but once Tabby's at the farm things pick up and you get hooked. There's many interesting characters, the workers from the farm and the members of the community and the setting is just amazing. It might not be the typical festive read, but there's a fair share of Christmas magic involved. Do I recommend it? Yes! Grab a cup of hot choc, or if you're not into choc like me, grab a cup of nice, strong tea and enjoy this lovely tale of magic, friendship and romance.
December 15, 2020
A Christmas Cracker is sort of a second chance story. It follows Tabitha who is imprisoned for a crime she didn't commit and loses everything as a consequence: her home, her fiancé, and even her cat! But along comes an adorable old lady who gives her a second chance by welcoming her into her home, family, and failing business when she gets out of prison. Tabby is tasked with helping to turnaround the family business which is a Christmas cracker factory - adorable!
The romance isn't prominent and slips in nicely with the rest of the story. Sort of a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers type of situation. I adored Tabby's sarcastic dialogue and Randall's witchy references. The whole book is actually full of quirky characters and even some repeating characters if you've read any of the author's books.
This would have been a full 5 stars, but the last two chapters took the sparkle off with a too HEA ending. The story didn't really focus enough on the romance so ending it on the kiss scene would have been a perfect conclusion rather than the whole HEA package. So... 4.5 stars, but rounding up to 5 because I did really enjoy everything else in this story. I always do enjoy Trisha Ashley's Christmas stories. They're so wholesome and so British!
The romance isn't prominent and slips in nicely with the rest of the story. Sort of a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers type of situation. I adored Tabby's sarcastic dialogue and Randall's witchy references. The whole book is actually full of quirky characters and even some repeating characters if you've read any of the author's books.
This would have been a full 5 stars, but the last two chapters took the sparkle off with a too HEA ending. The story didn't really focus enough on the romance so ending it on the kiss scene would have been a perfect conclusion rather than the whole HEA package. So... 4.5 stars, but rounding up to 5 because I did really enjoy everything else in this story. I always do enjoy Trisha Ashley's Christmas stories. They're so wholesome and so British!
November 19, 2018
Vieni a leggere la recensione su: CrazyForRomance
Per acquistare il libro clicca qui
Leggere questo libro è immergersi nel passato, nonostante si tratti di un romanzo contemporaneo. Le descrizioni dei luoghi e degli abitanti fanno infatti immediatamente pensare alla campagna inglese o nord americana del primo novecento. Avete presente quei film tipo “Arsenico e vecchi merletti” o “Pomodori verdi fritti alla fermata del treno”? La trama non è veloce e piena d’azione come la letteratura rosa d’oltreoceano ci ha abituato in questi ultimi anni, ma è invece quella vecchio stile dove, in un paesino sperduto e collinare, in una casa troppo grande, posta all’interno di una fattoria, vive e prospera una comunità di quaccheri. Qui, signore attempate e vecchietti scorbutici prendono il tè e discorrono degli eventi che accadono nel loro cerchio di conoscenze. Hanno dato asilo e lavoro a diversi ex galeotti e disadattati di vario genere, avendo
Una fede incrollabile nel principio che in ogni persona ci sia del bene.
La nostra protagonista, Tabitha Coombs, detta Tabby, ha avuto più rovesci di fortuna di Paolino Paperino ed è infine approdata in casa della signora Mercy, nota benefattrice, intelligente e molto attiva, nonostante l’età avanzata.
Randal Hesketh è il nipote impettito e presuntuoso dell’adorabile signora Mercy. Lui erediterà quasi ogni cosa e vede non certo di buon occhio l’amicizia tra la propria zia e Tabby. Ai suoi occhi si tratta di un’arrampicatrice sociale che cerca di sfruttare la benevolenza di un’anziana facile ai raggiri.
Se è antipatia a prima vista? Di più, i due non si possono proprio vedere, nemmeno da lontano. Ma noi esperte di situazioni romantiche sappiano a cosa molto spesso portano queste antipatie… Vero?
Aggiungete una fidanzata odiosa e spocchiosa, un contorno di dipendenti di una certa età, un gatto lunatico e poco socievole, un cane che si finge un gatto, il tutto in una dimora che è quasi un castello incantato, con lunghi corridoi, grandi stanze e colori vetusti, il quadro da film inglese di primo Novecento è completo.
Continua a leggere la recensione su: CrazyForRomance
Per acquistare il libro clicca qui
Leggere questo libro è immergersi nel passato, nonostante si tratti di un romanzo contemporaneo. Le descrizioni dei luoghi e degli abitanti fanno infatti immediatamente pensare alla campagna inglese o nord americana del primo novecento. Avete presente quei film tipo “Arsenico e vecchi merletti” o “Pomodori verdi fritti alla fermata del treno”? La trama non è veloce e piena d’azione come la letteratura rosa d’oltreoceano ci ha abituato in questi ultimi anni, ma è invece quella vecchio stile dove, in un paesino sperduto e collinare, in una casa troppo grande, posta all’interno di una fattoria, vive e prospera una comunità di quaccheri. Qui, signore attempate e vecchietti scorbutici prendono il tè e discorrono degli eventi che accadono nel loro cerchio di conoscenze. Hanno dato asilo e lavoro a diversi ex galeotti e disadattati di vario genere, avendo
Una fede incrollabile nel principio che in ogni persona ci sia del bene.
La nostra protagonista, Tabitha Coombs, detta Tabby, ha avuto più rovesci di fortuna di Paolino Paperino ed è infine approdata in casa della signora Mercy, nota benefattrice, intelligente e molto attiva, nonostante l’età avanzata.
Randal Hesketh è il nipote impettito e presuntuoso dell’adorabile signora Mercy. Lui erediterà quasi ogni cosa e vede non certo di buon occhio l’amicizia tra la propria zia e Tabby. Ai suoi occhi si tratta di un’arrampicatrice sociale che cerca di sfruttare la benevolenza di un’anziana facile ai raggiri.
Se è antipatia a prima vista? Di più, i due non si possono proprio vedere, nemmeno da lontano. Ma noi esperte di situazioni romantiche sappiano a cosa molto spesso portano queste antipatie… Vero?
Aggiungete una fidanzata odiosa e spocchiosa, un contorno di dipendenti di una certa età, un gatto lunatico e poco socievole, un cane che si finge un gatto, il tutto in una dimora che è quasi un castello incantato, con lunghi corridoi, grandi stanze e colori vetusti, il quadro da film inglese di primo Novecento è completo.
Continua a leggere la recensione su: CrazyForRomance
December 15, 2018
2 stelline e mezzo!
Recensione qui: http://www.leggereromanticamente.com/...
Recensione qui: http://www.leggereromanticamente.com/...
December 31, 2020
Great story, sorry for it to end. A story of how kindness can affect a person
January 24, 2022
3.5
Carino ma lento!
https://lamenteaffilata.blogspot.com/...
Carino ma lento!
https://lamenteaffilata.blogspot.com/...
December 30, 2017
Listened to in audio format.
I wast first drawn to A Christmas Cracker because the heroine of the book Tabby Coombes was a convicted criminal. It was certainly a twist on the usual festive/chic lit books we see at Christmas.
Tabby Coombes was a warehouse packer for wine shop Shampers and Chocs. Tabby was also a budding artist who had an art exhibition planned. By accident she found out her boss was passing off cheap plonk as vintage champagne. Tabby confided in a friend who contacted a television consumer rights programme.
Investigative reporter Charlie and his friend Randall filmed Tabby at Shampers and Chocs with the fake champagne. The television company contacted the police and Tabby was later sentenced to 8 months in prison.
Tabby was sent to an open prison where she was introduced to Mercy Martland. Mercy owns a cracker making factory, however she had been doing charity work in Maloui and business had suffered.
Her nephew Randall had drawn up plans to close the factory and use the space for something more profitable. Mercy offered Tabby a job as her PA to see if she could come up with an alternative idea. She could not pay much but Tabby could live with Mercy and her older brother Silas in the village of Little Manning.
Tabby gratefully accepted and on her release she arrived at Little Manning accompanied by her cat Pye. She found out that the Marwood family had a history of employing ex criminals. The employees at the cracker factory were pensioners who ex cons.
Tabby came up with the idea of selling luxury crackers and turning part of the factory into a museum and visiting centre. When Randall discovered that his plans had been put on hold he was annoyed. When he visited the factory he was shocked to discover that Mercy has taken a criminal under her wing.
I loved the characters in this book and I adored Mercy. However the stars of the book for me were Pye the angry cat and Pugsy the dog. It was hilarious when Tabby found out that Pye had eaten her engagement ring and it had come out the other side. I also laughed at the bad cracker jokes at the beginning of each chapter.
This was a heart warming book with great characters and cute animals. I will definitely read more from Trisha Ashley in the future.
I wast first drawn to A Christmas Cracker because the heroine of the book Tabby Coombes was a convicted criminal. It was certainly a twist on the usual festive/chic lit books we see at Christmas.
Tabby Coombes was a warehouse packer for wine shop Shampers and Chocs. Tabby was also a budding artist who had an art exhibition planned. By accident she found out her boss was passing off cheap plonk as vintage champagne. Tabby confided in a friend who contacted a television consumer rights programme.
Investigative reporter Charlie and his friend Randall filmed Tabby at Shampers and Chocs with the fake champagne. The television company contacted the police and Tabby was later sentenced to 8 months in prison.
Tabby was sent to an open prison where she was introduced to Mercy Martland. Mercy owns a cracker making factory, however she had been doing charity work in Maloui and business had suffered.
Her nephew Randall had drawn up plans to close the factory and use the space for something more profitable. Mercy offered Tabby a job as her PA to see if she could come up with an alternative idea. She could not pay much but Tabby could live with Mercy and her older brother Silas in the village of Little Manning.
Tabby gratefully accepted and on her release she arrived at Little Manning accompanied by her cat Pye. She found out that the Marwood family had a history of employing ex criminals. The employees at the cracker factory were pensioners who ex cons.
Tabby came up with the idea of selling luxury crackers and turning part of the factory into a museum and visiting centre. When Randall discovered that his plans had been put on hold he was annoyed. When he visited the factory he was shocked to discover that Mercy has taken a criminal under her wing.
I loved the characters in this book and I adored Mercy. However the stars of the book for me were Pye the angry cat and Pugsy the dog. It was hilarious when Tabby found out that Pye had eaten her engagement ring and it had come out the other side. I also laughed at the bad cracker jokes at the beginning of each chapter.
This was a heart warming book with great characters and cute animals. I will definitely read more from Trisha Ashley in the future.
October 28, 2015
Tabby has to go to prison and it's for something she hasn't done. Someone has betrayed her and she has to pay dearly for that. When she's allowed to go out she doesn't have a job or place to stay. Fortunately there's Mercy who has a Christmas cracker factory. Tabby can live in an apartment at her house and in exchange she'll use her artistic skills to bring the mill and the cracker business back to life. Before her sentence Tabby was on her way to be successful with her art and she loves that she has the chance to be creative again.
Living with Mercy is a joy, but there is one problem. Mercy's nephew Randal doesn't trust Tabby at all. He's displeased with the fact that Mercy has let this in his eyes thieving and fraudulent woman into her home. Tabby is happy with her new life and she needs to convince him that she isn't the woman he thinks she is. Meanwhile there's a lot of work to be done to get the crackers ready for Christmas...
Every Tabby chapter in A Christmas Cracker starts with a joke. I found them hilarious and read the entire book with a big smile on my face. Trisha Ashley knows how to write her Christmas stories. They're all fantastic. I enjoyed A Christmas Cracker very much. The story is original, festive and fun. I didn't want it to end and loved all the main characters. The setting is great, Mercy's kindness and energy are wonderful and exactly what a Christmas book needs, and there are plenty of lovely pets who each bring something vital to the story. All of these things are heartwarming.
Randal has a terrible fiance. I had to laugh out loud plenty of times because of her behavior. Tabby is happy being reunited with her cat again and she isn't looking for love, but she does have an admirer. Reading about him was also really great. There are plenty of amusing scenes and I loved the overall energy and dynamics. I also think that this isn't just a Christmas story, it's perfectly suitable for any time of the year, but it's festive at the same time. A Christmas Cracker is another really good book by Trisha Ashley and it's now one of my all time favorite Christmas stories.
Living with Mercy is a joy, but there is one problem. Mercy's nephew Randal doesn't trust Tabby at all. He's displeased with the fact that Mercy has let this in his eyes thieving and fraudulent woman into her home. Tabby is happy with her new life and she needs to convince him that she isn't the woman he thinks she is. Meanwhile there's a lot of work to be done to get the crackers ready for Christmas...
Every Tabby chapter in A Christmas Cracker starts with a joke. I found them hilarious and read the entire book with a big smile on my face. Trisha Ashley knows how to write her Christmas stories. They're all fantastic. I enjoyed A Christmas Cracker very much. The story is original, festive and fun. I didn't want it to end and loved all the main characters. The setting is great, Mercy's kindness and energy are wonderful and exactly what a Christmas book needs, and there are plenty of lovely pets who each bring something vital to the story. All of these things are heartwarming.
Randal has a terrible fiance. I had to laugh out loud plenty of times because of her behavior. Tabby is happy being reunited with her cat again and she isn't looking for love, but she does have an admirer. Reading about him was also really great. There are plenty of amusing scenes and I loved the overall energy and dynamics. I also think that this isn't just a Christmas story, it's perfectly suitable for any time of the year, but it's festive at the same time. A Christmas Cracker is another really good book by Trisha Ashley and it's now one of my all time favorite Christmas stories.
December 16, 2018
http://www.esmeraldaviaggielibri.it/u...
Recensione della Queen – Un natale indimenticabile di Trisha Ashley, Contemporary romance edito Newton Compton pubblicato il 15 novembre.
Smeraldi ero così entusiasta di leggere la mia prima lettura natalizia del 2018 e invece questo romanzo di indimenticabile ha ben poco.
È un contemporary romance ma dalle descrizioni dei luoghi e dalle atmosfere retrò, sembra di essere catapultati indietro di molti anni, nelle campagne inglesi in compagnia di una famiglia di Quaccheri d’altri tempi.
La casata dei Marwood possiede da sempre Mote Farm una tenuta nel Lancashire che produce Cracker (ammetto di essere ricorsa a Google per capire cosa fossero) ma naviga in cattive acque, data la carenza di acquisti e la poca cura da parte di Silas e Mercy l’anziana padrona che manca da casa ormai da molti anni, impegnata in missioni umanitarie in Malawi. Mercy è una donna di gran cuore e da sempre assume alla fabbrica ex detenuti in cerca di redenzione, e sarà proprio qui che la nostra protagonista Tabby troverà rifugio.
«Oh, sì, sono una famiglia di benefattori quaccheri e alla fabbrica hanno sempre assunto ex carcerati, quando hanno potuto.
Tabby per un mero equivoco è stata ritenuta colpevole di frode e ha perso tutto, finendo per scontare la sua pena detentiva prima in carcere e poi a Mote Farm con un braccialetto elettronico alla caviglia.
«Hanno riconosciuto il mio coinvolgimento nella frode e il giudice ha detto che mi avrebbe dato una punizione esemplare e mi avrebbe mandato in carcere. Il mio avvocato il giorno prima mi aveva avvertito di portarmi un paio di cambi, per sicurezza, ma è stato comunque un colpo durissimo quando mi hanno dato otto mesi»
Il suo lavoro e la sua carriera sono un lontano ricordo, e per concludere in bellezza, il suo perfetto fidanzato l’ha tradita e lasciata sola proprio nel momento del bisogno. Si ritrova quindi alla porta di Mote Farm insieme al suo gattone Pye, una reincarnazione tra Satana e una pantera per il suo comportamento aggressivo e la stazza prorompente. Mercy assume Tabby dopo che suo nipote Randal, a cui sarà destinata la fabbrica dopo la sua dipartita, le ha dichiarato di volerla chiudere per destinarla ad altro. Ed è proprio qui che entra in gioco Tabby, che con la sua spiccata dote artistica spera di aiutare Mercy a realizzare il grandioso progetto di modernizzare tutto il complesso creando spazi creativi e ambienti in cui la gente possa sentirsi veramente avvolta dalla magia dei tempi andati.
Spiegò brevemente che il nipote intendeva trasformare il complesso in un centro turistico e aprirlo al pubblico, e in futuro lasciare il proprio lavoro per gestire il mulino. Dopodiché venne il mio turno. In preda al nervosismo, spiegai che avremmo potuto conservare e infondere nuova linfa alla fabbrica di cracker, ampliando il catalogo e portandolo ad alti livelli, includendo sia modelli tradizionali che originali, realizzati con materiali di qualità e riempiti con sorprese più belle. «Basta cracker scadenti», fu la mia conclusione.
Tra Randal e Tabby c’è antipatia a prima vista, e le cose non migliorano con il suo trasferimento a Mote Farm, lui la tiene sempre sott’occhio non credendo assolutamente alla sua innocenza e considerandola una approfittatrice sociale. A farla da padrone ci sarà anche Lacey la spocchiosa fidanzata di Randal che mira soltanto ad una vita agiata e cercherà di creare scompiglio nella fabbrica, puntando le sue unghie laccate su ogni situazione. Riusciranno ad appianare le divergenze e collaborare insieme alla realizzazione del progetto della dolce Mercy?
Mercy è una donna dai grandi valori, che si divide tra campagne umanitarie all’estero e la sua tenuta di Mote Farm dove assume ex galeotti per dar loro una seconda possibilità di reinserimento alla vita. Tabby insieme a questa dolce signora ritroverà la sua gioia di vivere, e potrà coltivare la sua passione per l’arte. C’è poi Emma, la migliore amica di Tabby, mamma di un dolce bambino che affascina fin dalla prima battuta, intrappolata in un matrimonio da cui non riesce a fuggire, con un uomo possessivo e violento.
Il romanzo ruota intorno ad un gruppo eterogeneo di protagonisti, non abbiamo una vera e propria storia che nasce e si evolve per tutto il romanzo, e per questo il lettore è spesso annoiato dalla descrizione dei molteplici personaggi. Gli elementi per un buon romanzo ci sono tutti, tanto le campagne inglesi quanto la magia del natale, ma manca la passione e la storia d’amore con la A maiuscola, i nostri lettori dovranno attendere le ultime pagine per vedere un minimo di scintilla, che ovviamente si esaurisce in poche righe. Sono tanti i temi trattati, come il tradimento, l’amore, le seconde possibilità, e lo stile di scrittura è impeccabile, ma non ho mai avuto la sensazione di essere catapultata tra le pagine e vivere quella storia che ti lascia un segno indelebile. I personaggi hanno poco spessore e la storia ha un finale che si intuisce già dalle prime pagine ma che fatica ad arrivare fino agli ultimi capitoli. Non c’è mai un punto di svolta e tutta la lettura è semplicemente un resoconto giornaliero della vita di Mote Farm e dei suoi strambi abitanti. Smeraldi adorati a mio avviso essendo un libro di Natale dovrebbe essere avvolgente come una calda coperta davanti ad un caminetto accesso, ed invece è molto noioso. Ho letto pareri discordanti a riguardo, quindi se avete voglia di una storia corale piena di personaggi senza capo ne coda, è il romanzo che fa per voi, per passare qualche ora in una realtà d’altri tempi. Vi lascio la definizione di Cracker così non dovete andare a googlare come me. Alla prossima lettura la Vostra Queen Morena!
Cracker: tubo di cartone avvolto in una carta dai colori brillanti in una confezione simile a quella tradizionale per le caramelle. Tirandone le estremità, il cracker si spezza, emettendo un piccolo botto prodotto da una striscia di carta impregnata di fulminato d’argento o di un’altra sostanza chimica instabile, che esplode per frizione.
Recensione della Queen – Un natale indimenticabile di Trisha Ashley, Contemporary romance edito Newton Compton pubblicato il 15 novembre.
Smeraldi ero così entusiasta di leggere la mia prima lettura natalizia del 2018 e invece questo romanzo di indimenticabile ha ben poco.
È un contemporary romance ma dalle descrizioni dei luoghi e dalle atmosfere retrò, sembra di essere catapultati indietro di molti anni, nelle campagne inglesi in compagnia di una famiglia di Quaccheri d’altri tempi.
La casata dei Marwood possiede da sempre Mote Farm una tenuta nel Lancashire che produce Cracker (ammetto di essere ricorsa a Google per capire cosa fossero) ma naviga in cattive acque, data la carenza di acquisti e la poca cura da parte di Silas e Mercy l’anziana padrona che manca da casa ormai da molti anni, impegnata in missioni umanitarie in Malawi. Mercy è una donna di gran cuore e da sempre assume alla fabbrica ex detenuti in cerca di redenzione, e sarà proprio qui che la nostra protagonista Tabby troverà rifugio.
«Oh, sì, sono una famiglia di benefattori quaccheri e alla fabbrica hanno sempre assunto ex carcerati, quando hanno potuto.
Tabby per un mero equivoco è stata ritenuta colpevole di frode e ha perso tutto, finendo per scontare la sua pena detentiva prima in carcere e poi a Mote Farm con un braccialetto elettronico alla caviglia.
«Hanno riconosciuto il mio coinvolgimento nella frode e il giudice ha detto che mi avrebbe dato una punizione esemplare e mi avrebbe mandato in carcere. Il mio avvocato il giorno prima mi aveva avvertito di portarmi un paio di cambi, per sicurezza, ma è stato comunque un colpo durissimo quando mi hanno dato otto mesi»
Il suo lavoro e la sua carriera sono un lontano ricordo, e per concludere in bellezza, il suo perfetto fidanzato l’ha tradita e lasciata sola proprio nel momento del bisogno. Si ritrova quindi alla porta di Mote Farm insieme al suo gattone Pye, una reincarnazione tra Satana e una pantera per il suo comportamento aggressivo e la stazza prorompente. Mercy assume Tabby dopo che suo nipote Randal, a cui sarà destinata la fabbrica dopo la sua dipartita, le ha dichiarato di volerla chiudere per destinarla ad altro. Ed è proprio qui che entra in gioco Tabby, che con la sua spiccata dote artistica spera di aiutare Mercy a realizzare il grandioso progetto di modernizzare tutto il complesso creando spazi creativi e ambienti in cui la gente possa sentirsi veramente avvolta dalla magia dei tempi andati.
Spiegò brevemente che il nipote intendeva trasformare il complesso in un centro turistico e aprirlo al pubblico, e in futuro lasciare il proprio lavoro per gestire il mulino. Dopodiché venne il mio turno. In preda al nervosismo, spiegai che avremmo potuto conservare e infondere nuova linfa alla fabbrica di cracker, ampliando il catalogo e portandolo ad alti livelli, includendo sia modelli tradizionali che originali, realizzati con materiali di qualità e riempiti con sorprese più belle. «Basta cracker scadenti», fu la mia conclusione.
Tra Randal e Tabby c’è antipatia a prima vista, e le cose non migliorano con il suo trasferimento a Mote Farm, lui la tiene sempre sott’occhio non credendo assolutamente alla sua innocenza e considerandola una approfittatrice sociale. A farla da padrone ci sarà anche Lacey la spocchiosa fidanzata di Randal che mira soltanto ad una vita agiata e cercherà di creare scompiglio nella fabbrica, puntando le sue unghie laccate su ogni situazione. Riusciranno ad appianare le divergenze e collaborare insieme alla realizzazione del progetto della dolce Mercy?
Mercy è una donna dai grandi valori, che si divide tra campagne umanitarie all’estero e la sua tenuta di Mote Farm dove assume ex galeotti per dar loro una seconda possibilità di reinserimento alla vita. Tabby insieme a questa dolce signora ritroverà la sua gioia di vivere, e potrà coltivare la sua passione per l’arte. C’è poi Emma, la migliore amica di Tabby, mamma di un dolce bambino che affascina fin dalla prima battuta, intrappolata in un matrimonio da cui non riesce a fuggire, con un uomo possessivo e violento.
Il romanzo ruota intorno ad un gruppo eterogeneo di protagonisti, non abbiamo una vera e propria storia che nasce e si evolve per tutto il romanzo, e per questo il lettore è spesso annoiato dalla descrizione dei molteplici personaggi. Gli elementi per un buon romanzo ci sono tutti, tanto le campagne inglesi quanto la magia del natale, ma manca la passione e la storia d’amore con la A maiuscola, i nostri lettori dovranno attendere le ultime pagine per vedere un minimo di scintilla, che ovviamente si esaurisce in poche righe. Sono tanti i temi trattati, come il tradimento, l’amore, le seconde possibilità, e lo stile di scrittura è impeccabile, ma non ho mai avuto la sensazione di essere catapultata tra le pagine e vivere quella storia che ti lascia un segno indelebile. I personaggi hanno poco spessore e la storia ha un finale che si intuisce già dalle prime pagine ma che fatica ad arrivare fino agli ultimi capitoli. Non c’è mai un punto di svolta e tutta la lettura è semplicemente un resoconto giornaliero della vita di Mote Farm e dei suoi strambi abitanti. Smeraldi adorati a mio avviso essendo un libro di Natale dovrebbe essere avvolgente come una calda coperta davanti ad un caminetto accesso, ed invece è molto noioso. Ho letto pareri discordanti a riguardo, quindi se avete voglia di una storia corale piena di personaggi senza capo ne coda, è il romanzo che fa per voi, per passare qualche ora in una realtà d’altri tempi. Vi lascio la definizione di Cracker così non dovete andare a googlare come me. Alla prossima lettura la Vostra Queen Morena!
Cracker: tubo di cartone avvolto in una carta dai colori brillanti in una confezione simile a quella tradizionale per le caramelle. Tirandone le estremità, il cracker si spezza, emettendo un piccolo botto prodotto da una striscia di carta impregnata di fulminato d’argento o di un’altra sostanza chimica instabile, che esplode per frizione.
October 26, 2015
I just love Trisha Ashley's books and A Christmas Cracker is a fab book. Reading Trisha's books are like catching up with an old friend. I snuggled up last night and this morning and simply couldn't put it down.
The story is about Tabby who is wrongly convicted of a crime she didn't commit. Losing everything, her job, her home, her fiance and her cat, she is made welcome by kindly Mercy, who takes her into her home and trusts her with a job and an new beginning. Mercy's nephew Randal, is very cautious of Tabby and thinks she is up to no good! Throw in a cracker factory going under, a spoilt but beautiful fiance of Randal, some great characters, good plot line, it was always going to be a good read. What I did love about this book was the cross over with some of the characters from Twelve Days of Christmas. It was great to catch up with Jude, Holly and Guy Martland. Twelve Days of Christmas is one of my favourite Christmas reads and funny enough I've just reread it again before reading this, not realising that some of the character would feature.
The story is about Tabby who is wrongly convicted of a crime she didn't commit. Losing everything, her job, her home, her fiance and her cat, she is made welcome by kindly Mercy, who takes her into her home and trusts her with a job and an new beginning. Mercy's nephew Randal, is very cautious of Tabby and thinks she is up to no good! Throw in a cracker factory going under, a spoilt but beautiful fiance of Randal, some great characters, good plot line, it was always going to be a good read. What I did love about this book was the cross over with some of the characters from Twelve Days of Christmas. It was great to catch up with Jude, Holly and Guy Martland. Twelve Days of Christmas is one of my favourite Christmas reads and funny enough I've just reread it again before reading this, not realising that some of the character would feature.
November 29, 2015
I would never have even picked this book up if It had not been picked by my book club. I have a rooted objection to anything that brands itself as a "feel good Christmas read" in the title. That's what a review is for.
The dialog was a bit clunky, especially too begin with. It felt like the reader was being filled in with a lot of background via dialogue but it sounded very unnatural. The Christmas theme was heavily laboured throughout. It was shoe-horned in at every conceivable opportunity in order that the book could be sold at Christmas (or so it seemed to me).
On the plus side it was a readable little romance. And I guess it certainly delivered on its title!
The dialog was a bit clunky, especially too begin with. It felt like the reader was being filled in with a lot of background via dialogue but it sounded very unnatural. The Christmas theme was heavily laboured throughout. It was shoe-horned in at every conceivable opportunity in order that the book could be sold at Christmas (or so it seemed to me).
On the plus side it was a readable little romance. And I guess it certainly delivered on its title!
December 28, 2017
Very odd writing style, dialogue is very stilted, when they're not being obnoxiously rude to each other. Seems to be set in modern day, with attitudes from Victoriana - I'm not talking about the Quakers, but the Randal's assumption that Lacey would automatically give up her business and move across the country, without even bothering to discuss this with her.
Still, its worth a read, as long as you don't mind the above and possibly one of the most ridiculous endings ever.
Still, its worth a read, as long as you don't mind the above and possibly one of the most ridiculous endings ever.
December 24, 2019
I struggle a touch with Trisha Ashley, I liked most of Twelve Days of Christmas but wasn't so keen on some of her characters. I enjoyed Christmas Cracker as a festive read, but a bit of me feels the writing to be a bit sort of lazy? stroppy Jude/Randal being growly and deeply suspicious of main character motives and awful Coco/Lacey seem all but the same character, almost recycled from previous book, but pleasent enough festive read
November 22, 2018
2.5 - Voto
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Eccomi nuovamente alle prese con la mia ricerca del libro perfetto a tema natalizio; questa volta ho scelto Un Natale indimenticabile e mi accingo a parlarvene sperando di rendere al meglio la confusione che alberga nella mia mente.
Il libro, cinquantasette capitoli più il ricettario conclusivo, è scritto in terza persona anche se la narrazione, di quando in quando, alterna il punto di vista dei due protagonisti.
In realtà sarebbe corretto definirlo un romanzo corale, data la quantità di personaggi chiave le cui vicende si dipanano lungo la trama.
Tabby e Randal sono i protagonisti, ma la loro storia procede lentamente tra incomprensioni, titubanze e parecchi litigi che divengono battibecchi e, infine, chiacchierate solo verso gli ultimi capitoli, poco prima del gran finale. Entrambi trentasettenni hanno un trascorso molto differente e due storie d’amore particolari che segnano il loro cammino: Tabby è stata tradita, si è illusa, ha voluto fortemente vedere il suo compagno con lenti rosate e forse anche qualche brillantino. Un uomo bieco e opportunista, detestabile sin dalle prime pagine che lei adora; per non parlare di Kate, la traditrice, il personaggio cattivo della storia che al massimo potrebbe definirsi egoista e isterica. Randal è impegnato con la giovanissima Lacey, incostante e viziata rampolla di una famiglia che ha fatto dei giocattoli erotici un vero impero economico.
Siamo in Inghilterra e la storia si divide principalmente tra Londra e il Lancashire occidentale.
Tabby viene accolta a Mote Farm dopo un terribile equivoco che le è costato la carriera e la reputazione. Ha perso tutto, è sola, eccetto per la presenza di Pye, il gattone nero dagli occhi bicolore che la segue ovunque e a cui lei è molto legata.
Mote Farm sembra essere la risposta divina alle preghiere del suo cuore desolato, qui l’anziana Mercy, benefattrice e donna dalla tempra invidiabile, la accoglie e le offre, oltre che vitto e alloggio, la possibilità di lavorare, ma soprattutto la ricopre di amore e sostegno curando con tenerezza il suo cuore infranto. Mercy è il vero fulcro della storia, mi è piaciuta moltissimo.
Tutta la narrazione si dilunga nel racconto del luogo incantevole e quasi mistico in cui questa antica famiglia di quaccheri vive e lavora da sempre, eccetto per le missioni in Malawi che hanno portato Mercy lontana da casa per molti anni dopo la morte del marito.
Il vecchio mulino e la fabbrica di Craker Marwood stanno andando in malora a causa dell’incuria e della poca attitudine agli affari di Silas, l’anziano parente di Mercy, e Randal. Mercy ha deciso di rinnovare e cambiare le sorti dell’azienda di famiglia, e sarà proprio Tabby ad aiutarla. Dotata di una notevole predisposizione artistica, la donna crea opere intagliando la carta e, sostenuta da Mercy, da libero sfogo alla sua fantasia contribuendo alla realizzazione di un progetto grandioso che sorprenderà tutti. La convivenza con tutti i personaggi della storia, per gran parte ex galeotti cui Mercy ha dato una seconda occasione, la vicinanza dei due anziani padroni di casa e l’avvicinamento al mondo spirituale della comunità quacchera, daranno a Tabby le risorse per risollevarsi e ricominciare a vivere.
Ci sono poi Emma, la sua migliore amica, imprigionata in un matrimonio opprimente con l’uomo sbagliato, e suo figlio, un piccolo intelligentissimo e creativo bambino che saprà con la naturale schiettezza dei piccoli trovare la chiave per entrare nel cuore di tutti, anche del burbero Silas.
Molti sono gli eventi narrati, amori, tradimenti, incomprensioni e tristezza ma anche rinascita, progetti e la creazione di una nuova famiglia, allargata ma molto unita che sa accogliere, consolare e guardare al futuro.
Purtroppo, nonostante l’enorme quantità di capitoli e le tante storie “dentro alla storia”, poco di quanto narrato mi ha toccato il cuore. Ho piuttosto avuto l’impressione di leggere un diario quotidiano che riporta quanto accade.
Poco spessore dei personaggi principali, che non si ha l’impressione di aver conosciuto approfonditamente, e un finale scontatissimo conquistato faticosamente in cui la conclusione, prevedibile, del romanzo sembra saltare i momenti cruciali legati alla nascita del vero amore.
Negli ultimi capitoli, voglio rassicurarvi, troverete la nevicata tanto promessa, ma la magia del momento, l’intensità dei sentimenti e il lungo narrare in merito ai lavori di ristrutturazione della fabbrica Marwood vanno a impoverire uno scritto che non mi ha convinta.
Non è stata una lettura spiacevole per quanto mi riguarda, ma nemmeno uno di quei romanzi che ti entrano nel cuore e lasciano un segno. La consiglierei a chi desidera trascorrere queste fredde giornate in compagnia di un libro non troppo impegnativo, ma che vi aprirà un mondo di conoscenze in merito ai Cracker, i famosi tubi multicolore che scoppiano spargendo colori, piccoli gadget e freddure, utilizzati moltissimo nelle occasioni di festa.
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La Min - per RFS
.
Eccomi nuovamente alle prese con la mia ricerca del libro perfetto a tema natalizio; questa volta ho scelto Un Natale indimenticabile e mi accingo a parlarvene sperando di rendere al meglio la confusione che alberga nella mia mente.
Il libro, cinquantasette capitoli più il ricettario conclusivo, è scritto in terza persona anche se la narrazione, di quando in quando, alterna il punto di vista dei due protagonisti.
In realtà sarebbe corretto definirlo un romanzo corale, data la quantità di personaggi chiave le cui vicende si dipanano lungo la trama.
Tabby e Randal sono i protagonisti, ma la loro storia procede lentamente tra incomprensioni, titubanze e parecchi litigi che divengono battibecchi e, infine, chiacchierate solo verso gli ultimi capitoli, poco prima del gran finale. Entrambi trentasettenni hanno un trascorso molto differente e due storie d’amore particolari che segnano il loro cammino: Tabby è stata tradita, si è illusa, ha voluto fortemente vedere il suo compagno con lenti rosate e forse anche qualche brillantino. Un uomo bieco e opportunista, detestabile sin dalle prime pagine che lei adora; per non parlare di Kate, la traditrice, il personaggio cattivo della storia che al massimo potrebbe definirsi egoista e isterica. Randal è impegnato con la giovanissima Lacey, incostante e viziata rampolla di una famiglia che ha fatto dei giocattoli erotici un vero impero economico.
Siamo in Inghilterra e la storia si divide principalmente tra Londra e il Lancashire occidentale.
Tabby viene accolta a Mote Farm dopo un terribile equivoco che le è costato la carriera e la reputazione. Ha perso tutto, è sola, eccetto per la presenza di Pye, il gattone nero dagli occhi bicolore che la segue ovunque e a cui lei è molto legata.
Mote Farm sembra essere la risposta divina alle preghiere del suo cuore desolato, qui l’anziana Mercy, benefattrice e donna dalla tempra invidiabile, la accoglie e le offre, oltre che vitto e alloggio, la possibilità di lavorare, ma soprattutto la ricopre di amore e sostegno curando con tenerezza il suo cuore infranto. Mercy è il vero fulcro della storia, mi è piaciuta moltissimo.
Tutta la narrazione si dilunga nel racconto del luogo incantevole e quasi mistico in cui questa antica famiglia di quaccheri vive e lavora da sempre, eccetto per le missioni in Malawi che hanno portato Mercy lontana da casa per molti anni dopo la morte del marito.
Il vecchio mulino e la fabbrica di Craker Marwood stanno andando in malora a causa dell’incuria e della poca attitudine agli affari di Silas, l’anziano parente di Mercy, e Randal. Mercy ha deciso di rinnovare e cambiare le sorti dell’azienda di famiglia, e sarà proprio Tabby ad aiutarla. Dotata di una notevole predisposizione artistica, la donna crea opere intagliando la carta e, sostenuta da Mercy, da libero sfogo alla sua fantasia contribuendo alla realizzazione di un progetto grandioso che sorprenderà tutti. La convivenza con tutti i personaggi della storia, per gran parte ex galeotti cui Mercy ha dato una seconda occasione, la vicinanza dei due anziani padroni di casa e l’avvicinamento al mondo spirituale della comunità quacchera, daranno a Tabby le risorse per risollevarsi e ricominciare a vivere.
Ci sono poi Emma, la sua migliore amica, imprigionata in un matrimonio opprimente con l’uomo sbagliato, e suo figlio, un piccolo intelligentissimo e creativo bambino che saprà con la naturale schiettezza dei piccoli trovare la chiave per entrare nel cuore di tutti, anche del burbero Silas.
Molti sono gli eventi narrati, amori, tradimenti, incomprensioni e tristezza ma anche rinascita, progetti e la creazione di una nuova famiglia, allargata ma molto unita che sa accogliere, consolare e guardare al futuro.
Purtroppo, nonostante l’enorme quantità di capitoli e le tante storie “dentro alla storia”, poco di quanto narrato mi ha toccato il cuore. Ho piuttosto avuto l’impressione di leggere un diario quotidiano che riporta quanto accade.
Poco spessore dei personaggi principali, che non si ha l’impressione di aver conosciuto approfonditamente, e un finale scontatissimo conquistato faticosamente in cui la conclusione, prevedibile, del romanzo sembra saltare i momenti cruciali legati alla nascita del vero amore.
Negli ultimi capitoli, voglio rassicurarvi, troverete la nevicata tanto promessa, ma la magia del momento, l’intensità dei sentimenti e il lungo narrare in merito ai lavori di ristrutturazione della fabbrica Marwood vanno a impoverire uno scritto che non mi ha convinta.
Non è stata una lettura spiacevole per quanto mi riguarda, ma nemmeno uno di quei romanzi che ti entrano nel cuore e lasciano un segno. La consiglierei a chi desidera trascorrere queste fredde giornate in compagnia di un libro non troppo impegnativo, ma che vi aprirà un mondo di conoscenze in merito ai Cracker, i famosi tubi multicolore che scoppiano spargendo colori, piccoli gadget e freddure, utilizzati moltissimo nelle occasioni di festa.
.
La Min - per RFS
October 5, 2020
I don't often read this author's books, I've seen her works about but this one drew me in.
The cover gave me the impression that I was getting something more Christmassy than most books and the blurb also gave me hope that this one would be a cosy read.
It was not. Tabitha, the main character works in a cracker factory, it sounds a lot more interesting that it probably is job wise, it's probably completely dull. She wasn't a bad character, she wasn't a good character, I just didn't really care about her or any of the other characters, nothing really happened in this book, there was so heart warming quotes and the promise of a Christmas read that was gonna be festive and cheerful and full of all the things most people love about Christmas but it just didn't happen..
Not the book for me.
The cover gave me the impression that I was getting something more Christmassy than most books and the blurb also gave me hope that this one would be a cosy read.
It was not. Tabitha, the main character works in a cracker factory, it sounds a lot more interesting that it probably is job wise, it's probably completely dull. She wasn't a bad character, she wasn't a good character, I just didn't really care about her or any of the other characters, nothing really happened in this book, there was so heart warming quotes and the promise of a Christmas read that was gonna be festive and cheerful and full of all the things most people love about Christmas but it just didn't happen..
Not the book for me.
August 12, 2021
I always enjoy Trisha Ashley Christmas stories and thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. I loved the Christmas Cracker jokes at the beginning of some of the chapters and also reference to characters and locations from The Twelve Days of Christmas. Felt like I was back in the joy of the little community of Little Mumming and going for a drink at The Auld Christmas and the kindness and love of Christmas.
September 25, 2017
Light and fun. I found the romantic interest bossy and sulky, so couldn't see the appeal. The resolution seemed very rushed.
December 23, 2018
A good cheesy Christmas read! Does exactly what it says on the cover.
December 16, 2019
I just love Trisha Ashley’s books. Always a warm and light hearted story with a witty protagonist at the centre of it.
November 26, 2023
Great cheesey Xmas read, loved the little jokes at the beginning of chapters too!
January 28, 2025
Easy to read. Cosy christmasy novel, really felt the descriptions of the English countryside in winter were captured well.
January 6, 2019
My first book of the year. I read it based on my friend Marina’s recommendation. It was a perfect lighthearted seasonal book with an interesting storyline to keep the pages turning, complete with fun little jokes:
Q: why are Christmas trees like bad knitters?
Please post your answers in the comments ;)
#readingchallenge
Book read in the season it is set in
Q: why are Christmas trees like bad knitters?
Please post your answers in the comments ;)
#readingchallenge
Book read in the season it is set in
January 6, 2019
Recensione presente nel blog www.ragazzainrosso.wordpress.com
Per Tammy la vita sembra non girare per il verso giusto. Non solo è stata accusata di frode (che non ha commesso) ma ha anche perso il fidanzato. Trascorso il periodo di reclusione, Mercy, un’anziana signora gentile e un po’ sopra le righe, le offre l’occasione di poter riprendere in mano le redini della sua vita offrendole di farle da assistente nella gestione della piccola impresa a conduzione familiare che produce Christmas cracker. Tammy si butta a capofitto nell’impresa, è la sua occasione, tuttavia gli ostacoli si materializzano ben presto nella persona di Randal, nipote di Mercy, che accusa Tammy di essere un’approfittatrice e di voler imbrogliare la zia.
“«Tutti nascono con un talento» dissi. «Il tuo, a quanto pare, è giudicare le persone senza conoscerle». «E il tuo abbiamo capito tutti qual è» ribatté lui.”
Nonostante quello che il titolo possa suggerire, non si tratta di un romanzo natalizio nel senso più naturale dell’espressione. Al Natale sono dedicate pochissime pagine, la narrazione si svolge parecchio tempo prima. Punto di forza del romanzo è sicuramente l’ambientazione infatti la tenuta di Mote Farm nel Lancashire sembra essere uscita da un’opera ottocentesca con le sue stanze sontuose e i mobili retrò.
Tammy è una donna gentile, amichevole ma forse un po’ ingenua. Suo malgrado si ritrova accusata di una truffa materialmente condotta dal suo datore di lavoro, che però lei non ha mai denunciato, e per questo sarà costretta a scontare la pena in carcere. Sola e profondamente demoralizzata deve ripartire da zero. Nessuno l’aspetta, neanche Jeremy che ha pensato bene di impacchettare tutte le sue cose e di ricominciare con un’altra donna, Tammy ha bisogno di un input, di un qualcosa che le regali una seconda possibilità. Dall’esperienza del carcere ha imparato molto ed è pronta a mettere tutte le sue competenze nel creare intagli con la carta al servizio di chi ha creduto in lei nonostante tutto.
L’anziana Mercy è un personaggio davvero interessante. Profondamente legata alla sua tenuta e alla piccola impresa creata, che non naviga in buone acque, è generosa, altruista, si impegna in missioni umanitarie ma non dimentica mai la famiglia. Mercy non ha pregiudizi, è pronta a donare nuove occasioni, non a caso tutti i suoi dipendenti sono ex detenuti che lei aiuta, anche offrendo loro vitto e alloggio, a ricostruire l’esistenza.
Tra le due donne s’instaura sin da subito un grande rapporto di complicità. Mercy si fida di Tammy, ascolta i suoi pareri, la fa sentire importante, le fa capire che ha tutte le carte in regola per ricominciare. Il suo è un approccio completamente diverso da quello del nipote Randal, un uomo affascinante, con le idee ben chiare in testa tanto che non hai mai negato l’idea di voler trasformare la tenuta, che sarà a tutti gli effetti sua dopo la morte della zia, in un centro turistico.
Tabby e Randal non hanno molte occasioni di confronto, si intravedono, si ritrovano, si fronteggiano ma non riescono a creare un qualcosa che possa evolversi pagina dopo pagine.
La trama dunque appare abbastanza lineare ma in un certo senso piatta poiché non accade mai nulla che possa dare una scossa e regalare al lettore un bel colpo di scena. Moltissime sono le parti descrittive che, a mio parere, tendono a rallentare ancor di più una narrazione già di suo lenta che si configura come una sorta di cronostoria di quanto avviene giorno dopo giorno.
Un romanzo che, a mio parere, pur focalizzandosi su temi importanti non riesce a decollare. Una lettura con poca azione che non trasmette brio.
Per Tammy la vita sembra non girare per il verso giusto. Non solo è stata accusata di frode (che non ha commesso) ma ha anche perso il fidanzato. Trascorso il periodo di reclusione, Mercy, un’anziana signora gentile e un po’ sopra le righe, le offre l’occasione di poter riprendere in mano le redini della sua vita offrendole di farle da assistente nella gestione della piccola impresa a conduzione familiare che produce Christmas cracker. Tammy si butta a capofitto nell’impresa, è la sua occasione, tuttavia gli ostacoli si materializzano ben presto nella persona di Randal, nipote di Mercy, che accusa Tammy di essere un’approfittatrice e di voler imbrogliare la zia.
“«Tutti nascono con un talento» dissi. «Il tuo, a quanto pare, è giudicare le persone senza conoscerle». «E il tuo abbiamo capito tutti qual è» ribatté lui.”
Nonostante quello che il titolo possa suggerire, non si tratta di un romanzo natalizio nel senso più naturale dell’espressione. Al Natale sono dedicate pochissime pagine, la narrazione si svolge parecchio tempo prima. Punto di forza del romanzo è sicuramente l’ambientazione infatti la tenuta di Mote Farm nel Lancashire sembra essere uscita da un’opera ottocentesca con le sue stanze sontuose e i mobili retrò.
Tammy è una donna gentile, amichevole ma forse un po’ ingenua. Suo malgrado si ritrova accusata di una truffa materialmente condotta dal suo datore di lavoro, che però lei non ha mai denunciato, e per questo sarà costretta a scontare la pena in carcere. Sola e profondamente demoralizzata deve ripartire da zero. Nessuno l’aspetta, neanche Jeremy che ha pensato bene di impacchettare tutte le sue cose e di ricominciare con un’altra donna, Tammy ha bisogno di un input, di un qualcosa che le regali una seconda possibilità. Dall’esperienza del carcere ha imparato molto ed è pronta a mettere tutte le sue competenze nel creare intagli con la carta al servizio di chi ha creduto in lei nonostante tutto.
L’anziana Mercy è un personaggio davvero interessante. Profondamente legata alla sua tenuta e alla piccola impresa creata, che non naviga in buone acque, è generosa, altruista, si impegna in missioni umanitarie ma non dimentica mai la famiglia. Mercy non ha pregiudizi, è pronta a donare nuove occasioni, non a caso tutti i suoi dipendenti sono ex detenuti che lei aiuta, anche offrendo loro vitto e alloggio, a ricostruire l’esistenza.
Tra le due donne s’instaura sin da subito un grande rapporto di complicità. Mercy si fida di Tammy, ascolta i suoi pareri, la fa sentire importante, le fa capire che ha tutte le carte in regola per ricominciare. Il suo è un approccio completamente diverso da quello del nipote Randal, un uomo affascinante, con le idee ben chiare in testa tanto che non hai mai negato l’idea di voler trasformare la tenuta, che sarà a tutti gli effetti sua dopo la morte della zia, in un centro turistico.
Tabby e Randal non hanno molte occasioni di confronto, si intravedono, si ritrovano, si fronteggiano ma non riescono a creare un qualcosa che possa evolversi pagina dopo pagine.
La trama dunque appare abbastanza lineare ma in un certo senso piatta poiché non accade mai nulla che possa dare una scossa e regalare al lettore un bel colpo di scena. Moltissime sono le parti descrittive che, a mio parere, tendono a rallentare ancor di più una narrazione già di suo lenta che si configura come una sorta di cronostoria di quanto avviene giorno dopo giorno.
Un romanzo che, a mio parere, pur focalizzandosi su temi importanti non riesce a decollare. Una lettura con poca azione che non trasmette brio.
December 13, 2015
Well this wonderful story is written by one of my all-time favourite authors, so when one of her books comes out the book always has to queue jumps to the top of my very large to read pile of books !!!!
In this wonderful tale involves friendship, relationships and Christmas crackers. We meet Tabby who is a very trusting person, so when she catches her boss running a scum in his wine business that she has worked for some time ,she believes that he will stop he has seen the error of his ways !!!! Tabby confided this information in a person whom she thought was a friend but that so called friend stabbed her in the back and information an undercover reporter of the information she received and set Tabby up... The Judge did not believe that Tabby was not at the centre of the scam and choose to listen to the information given and that she was having an affair with her boss she look guilty as sin on paper but really all she was guilty of was not telling the right people when she found out what her boss was doing!!!
Tabby was sent to prison for 8 long months have a few months she is sent to an open prison and starts to receive visits from a gentle old man from Quaker he sits and listens and they become her life line to the outside world. Then one day he doesn’t show open but instead he sends a fairy godmother in the form of Mercy a little old lady with the zest for life and is about to change Tabby’s life for the better.
Mercy offers her a job as her Pa for her cracker business while is on the tagging system for the rest of her sentence. From the minuet she meet Mercy she was drawn to her but could not understand why this wonderful woman was opening her home up and offering her a life line. It was in Mercy nature to help it has been in her family for years and she had been doing for years but in the process has taken a toll on the family cracker business and its starting to slip away, her nephew Kandel her only heir as she and her late husband where not blessed with children. As a plan to save the business, it’s just not what Mercy wants and needs someone on her side to sail the ship in the right direction for future generations and hopes that Tabby will be the one to do this. Mercy family have given out they home to ex-cons for generations as that was the Quaker way and Tabby is its latest member.
Once Tabby was release into Mercy care her first port of call was to find out where her ex had homed her cat, but on his doorstep she realizes that her so called friend that gave her was sacked up with her ex and had been for years but all she wants is her cat.
So Tabby new life begins Godsend, Tabby has fond memories of this village as she used to visits them with her mum before she passed away. Now living under Mercy’s roof she can relax and start to make plans for her future and the plans to save the cracker factory and business. Tabby meets all the members of the teams and the lives that Tabby has helped over the years and even starts to go to Quaker meetings which in turn locked her imagination for her papercut designs. Kendal is making sure he pushing his weight around and keeping his eye on her every move regarding his Aunt and her estate, but will the disappointment in each other pull them together!!!!
Well that’s where I have to leave you for you to go and grab a copy of this wonderful tale and for me to start counting down the days till Trisha New book…….
In this wonderful tale involves friendship, relationships and Christmas crackers. We meet Tabby who is a very trusting person, so when she catches her boss running a scum in his wine business that she has worked for some time ,she believes that he will stop he has seen the error of his ways !!!! Tabby confided this information in a person whom she thought was a friend but that so called friend stabbed her in the back and information an undercover reporter of the information she received and set Tabby up... The Judge did not believe that Tabby was not at the centre of the scam and choose to listen to the information given and that she was having an affair with her boss she look guilty as sin on paper but really all she was guilty of was not telling the right people when she found out what her boss was doing!!!
Tabby was sent to prison for 8 long months have a few months she is sent to an open prison and starts to receive visits from a gentle old man from Quaker he sits and listens and they become her life line to the outside world. Then one day he doesn’t show open but instead he sends a fairy godmother in the form of Mercy a little old lady with the zest for life and is about to change Tabby’s life for the better.
Mercy offers her a job as her Pa for her cracker business while is on the tagging system for the rest of her sentence. From the minuet she meet Mercy she was drawn to her but could not understand why this wonderful woman was opening her home up and offering her a life line. It was in Mercy nature to help it has been in her family for years and she had been doing for years but in the process has taken a toll on the family cracker business and its starting to slip away, her nephew Kandel her only heir as she and her late husband where not blessed with children. As a plan to save the business, it’s just not what Mercy wants and needs someone on her side to sail the ship in the right direction for future generations and hopes that Tabby will be the one to do this. Mercy family have given out they home to ex-cons for generations as that was the Quaker way and Tabby is its latest member.
Once Tabby was release into Mercy care her first port of call was to find out where her ex had homed her cat, but on his doorstep she realizes that her so called friend that gave her was sacked up with her ex and had been for years but all she wants is her cat.
So Tabby new life begins Godsend, Tabby has fond memories of this village as she used to visits them with her mum before she passed away. Now living under Mercy’s roof she can relax and start to make plans for her future and the plans to save the cracker factory and business. Tabby meets all the members of the teams and the lives that Tabby has helped over the years and even starts to go to Quaker meetings which in turn locked her imagination for her papercut designs. Kendal is making sure he pushing his weight around and keeping his eye on her every move regarding his Aunt and her estate, but will the disappointment in each other pull them together!!!!
Well that’s where I have to leave you for you to go and grab a copy of this wonderful tale and for me to start counting down the days till Trisha New book…….
November 10, 2015
I was given an ecopy of this book by Helena Sheffield at Avon Books, Trisha Ashley's publisher in exchange for an honest review which I am more than happy to do.
I have always loved Trisha Ashley's books, they provide exactly what you expect, happy ever after books, with edible delights and a real story within. A Christmas Cracker I think has to be my most favourite of her christmas books so far. I was literally creased up laughing, reading bits aloud to my husband who tried very hard not to laugh - he and I have different senses of humour mines stupid - his isn't apparently!
The start of this book isn't what you'd usually expect from a Christmas novel, the lead character Tabby sent to prison for fraud - framed both by her friend and her boss and as a result dumped unceremoniously by her fiancé. Life really couldn't get any worse until she is rescued by Mercy a prison visitor with a difference. She sees good in people, is not quick to judge and feels they could form a good working relationship, helping each other out of a fix in the process.
She finds herself as the potential saviour of The Cracker Factory, a dying business literally. All of the staff are well into pension age and it's fair to say the business is past it's best too. Tabby and Mercy need each other in equal measures. Tabby needs a job, home and a fresh start and Mercy needs Tabby's youth and ideas to save the family business. But, everything doesn't run smoothly for Tabby, despite the full support, friendship and love, freely given to her by Mercy and her new friends from The Cracker factory she has to find the strength to cope with her past and the open animosity of Randall, Mercy's nephew. He has a different view of Tabby and is highly suspicious of her motives.
I have always loved Christmas themed books and this one, in my opinion is one of Trisha Ashley's best. With Trisha's writing I always know what I'm going to get. Characters involved in real life situations that I can take to my heart and cheer on to the end, counterbalanced with a few to boo and hiss at just like a good pantomime. A Christmas Cracker is full of goodies and baddies, sparring their way through the pages until eventually the good overcomes bad and Trisha delivers a happy ending. A Christmas Cracker has a bit of everything love, laughter and romance, characters that made me smile and laugh out loud, both human and animal. Only a fellow pet owner will understand what important roles pets can play in a household and Tab's slightly snobby cat definitely comes to rule the roost when he comes to stay at Moat Farm.
Christmas cracker jokes head many of the chapters and they had me laughing and giggling, repeating them verbatim to my husband who rolled his eyes wider and wider the more I told him - what a fab idea of Trisha's and they added to the light hearted, happy feeling a christmas book should have. I loved watching Tabby change as she gained confidence and as her ideas became a reality.
This is a book that I make no hesitation in recommending, it really is fab. Christmas is such a special time of year and Trisha has really got me in the spirit, I'm counting the days until I get to pull my first cracker - I only hope the jokes are as good as the ones in A Christmas Cracker
I have always loved Trisha Ashley's books, they provide exactly what you expect, happy ever after books, with edible delights and a real story within. A Christmas Cracker I think has to be my most favourite of her christmas books so far. I was literally creased up laughing, reading bits aloud to my husband who tried very hard not to laugh - he and I have different senses of humour mines stupid - his isn't apparently!
The start of this book isn't what you'd usually expect from a Christmas novel, the lead character Tabby sent to prison for fraud - framed both by her friend and her boss and as a result dumped unceremoniously by her fiancé. Life really couldn't get any worse until she is rescued by Mercy a prison visitor with a difference. She sees good in people, is not quick to judge and feels they could form a good working relationship, helping each other out of a fix in the process.
She finds herself as the potential saviour of The Cracker Factory, a dying business literally. All of the staff are well into pension age and it's fair to say the business is past it's best too. Tabby and Mercy need each other in equal measures. Tabby needs a job, home and a fresh start and Mercy needs Tabby's youth and ideas to save the family business. But, everything doesn't run smoothly for Tabby, despite the full support, friendship and love, freely given to her by Mercy and her new friends from The Cracker factory she has to find the strength to cope with her past and the open animosity of Randall, Mercy's nephew. He has a different view of Tabby and is highly suspicious of her motives.
I have always loved Christmas themed books and this one, in my opinion is one of Trisha Ashley's best. With Trisha's writing I always know what I'm going to get. Characters involved in real life situations that I can take to my heart and cheer on to the end, counterbalanced with a few to boo and hiss at just like a good pantomime. A Christmas Cracker is full of goodies and baddies, sparring their way through the pages until eventually the good overcomes bad and Trisha delivers a happy ending. A Christmas Cracker has a bit of everything love, laughter and romance, characters that made me smile and laugh out loud, both human and animal. Only a fellow pet owner will understand what important roles pets can play in a household and Tab's slightly snobby cat definitely comes to rule the roost when he comes to stay at Moat Farm.
Christmas cracker jokes head many of the chapters and they had me laughing and giggling, repeating them verbatim to my husband who rolled his eyes wider and wider the more I told him - what a fab idea of Trisha's and they added to the light hearted, happy feeling a christmas book should have. I loved watching Tabby change as she gained confidence and as her ideas became a reality.
This is a book that I make no hesitation in recommending, it really is fab. Christmas is such a special time of year and Trisha has really got me in the spirit, I'm counting the days until I get to pull my first cracker - I only hope the jokes are as good as the ones in A Christmas Cracker
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