fuonlyknew

I can’t resist a cozy mystery. Everything about them, from the cover, to the title, to the characters, make them irresistable.

Mollis Cox Bryan is a new author to me and I had such fun getting to know her characters and trying to solve the mystery.

Come on in and meet the scrapbooking crop from Cumberland Creek.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

A Crafty Christmas
by Mollie Cox Bryan

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Seriously, it is awesome! I love holiday themed books. As a scrabooker and card maker, this book really appealed to me and I loved reading and experiencing scrapbooking fun with the characters.
~Brooke’s Blogs

I LOVE this series…What I like best about this series is the way Bryan has created a wonderful ensemble of characters. They really fit together as a team.
~Booklady’s Booknotes

A CRAFTY CHRISTMAS is a great way to start getting into the holiday spirit and I think you should go right out get it and let the season begin! ♥♥♥♥♥
~Rantin’ Ravin’ and Reading

I enjoy Mollie’s writing style and how she puts twists and turns throughout the entire book. She keeps me guessing all the way to the end.
~Griperang’s Bookmarks

The mystery starts right from the get go, with Sheila tripping over the dead body of one of the other crafters….it was quite a fun read.
~A Chick Who Reads

I truly enjoyed this book. The characters continue to be their wonderful, unique, quirky selves. The location of a scrapbooking cruise was great …
~Books Are Life – Vita Libri

Mollie Cox Bryan has done it again, Her characters are likeable and the story keeps you reading until the end. I couldn’t put this book down.
~Shelley’s Book Case

A Crafty Christmas

A Cumberland Creek Mystery

by Mollie Cox Bryan

Publisher: Kensington (October 7, 2014)
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0758293565

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My Review

Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres. The colorful covers, the quirky characters, and the easy flowing story, along with the mystery, make for enjoyable reading.

After a bumpy start of meeting the large cast of characters and learning who’s who, I settled in for a fun cozy mystery.

You can gather from the title that this story occurs around the Christmas holidays.

Sheila, one of the Cumberland Creek Scrapbook Crop has won a design contest. She takes a few friends along with her on the ten-day cruise. The theme for the cruise is scrapbooking so they should have fun, learn new techniques, and make some friends.

Sounds fun until Sheila literally trips over a dead body.  Out at sea, not able to make port because of a tropical storm, Sheila and her friends are stuck on board with a murderer. And, as the investigation deepens, its suspected Sheila might have been the original target. Now they just need to get home in one piece. The storm is the least of their worries.

This story takes place on the sea and back home in Cumberland Creek simultaneously. I liked how that worked.

Friends and family back home dug through the ships manifest, checking for clues and suspicious characters while keeping in touch with their friends on the ship. They worked back and forth, trying to figure out who might be the next target and why.

I liked these scrapbooking ladies. They were a close-knit group, with some having more than one generation in the crop. They didn’t always get along or agree on things, but when push came to shove, they banded together, putting up a loyal front.

With characters spanning more than one generation you get some fun jargon. I always get a laugh when my mother says something like, “Bees on a bicycle” or actually says “Pshaw.” These people felt genuine, comfortable, familiar. Kind of like my own family.

Another great thing about cozies, there’s usually a murder, but the scenes aren’t described in gory detail. You get the idea and then the sleuthing begins, with plenty of bread crumbs and false trails to keep you busy.

This story had a surprise ending for me. It seemed a bit deeper than the usual cozy. The mystery somewhat more twisted.

I enjoyed meeting the characters of Cumberland Creek and look forward to seeing them again.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

Christmas is just around the corner, and the ladies of the Cumberland Creek Scrapbook Crop are thrilled when Sheila wins the first place prize in a scrapbooking design contest: a ten-day scrapbook-themed cruise in the Caribbean. Vera and Paige decide to tag along, which should pose the perfect opportunity to learn some new techniques, mingle with fellow croppers, and get in some rest and relaxation before the chaos of Christmas. But when Sheila finds a famous crafter dead, and investigators determine she was poisoned, the luxury cruise veers toward disaster as Sheila becomes the number one suspect – or was she really the intended victim? Just as the croppers begin un-wrapping the truth, a storm strands them at sea, and they’ll find it’s harder than ever to survive the holidays with a killer on deck…

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About This Author

Mollie Cox Bryan writes the Cumberland Creek Mysteries, published by Kensington. The first book, Scrapbook of Secrets, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel of 2012; the next one Scrapped, was published in January 2013. Death of an Irish Diva is the third in the series. Plans for the series include two more novels and two novellas—the first one Scrappy Summer will be available in summer 2014. She writes, gardens, runs, and scrapbooks in Waynesboro, Va. with her husband and two daughters.

Author Links

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest

Purchase Links
Amazon B&N

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Tour Participants

October 7 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Guest Post

October 7 – Chloe Gets A Clue – Interview

October 8 – Booklady’s Booknotes – Review

October 9 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review

October10 – Griperang’s Bookmarks – Review

October 11 – A Chick Who Reads – Review

October 12 – Books Are Life – Vita Libri – Review

October 13 – Shelley’s Book Case– Review

October 14 – Thoughts in Progress – Review

October 14 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview

October 15 – fuonlyknew ~ Laura’s ramblins and reviews – Review

October 16 – Mystery Playground – Guest Post*

October 17 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – Review, Guest Post

October 18 – Cicero’s Children – Interview

October 19 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review

October 20 – Dalene’s Book Reviews – Review

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