FTC Disclosure: I received an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Goodreads Summary: 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. . .
My thoughts: I was delighted to be selected as a stop on this tour. I LOVE this series. I was first introduced to this series the last time the author was part of a Great Escapes Tour. I was hooked and ran out and got the other books in the 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. And surprisingly (for me anyway) there isn’t a character I don’t like. I hate to say it, but many wonderful cozy mysteries have one character that is so annoying – the nemesis I guess. But all of the characters in the Cumberland Creek Mysteries are wonderful and likable. I would love to be a part of this scrapbooking group.
Bryan adds an edge to her mysteries, covering weighty topics such as mental illness (as we see in A Crafty Christmas) while still creating an upbeat read that keeps the reader engaged until the end. In A Crafty Christmas we also get a look into the business side of the world of scrapbooking. I’ve enjoyed scrapbooking in the past – I even have a closet dedicated to all the supplies. I should probably have Sheila come tell me how to get myself organized so I can finish all my projects. Scrapbooking is serious business, but until A Crafty Christmas I had not considered just how serious it is. We get a little glimpse of that in this book.
If you love mysteries and scrapbooking, you must read this series. Be sure to check out the scrapbooking tips included at the end of the book.
There is a great rafflecopter giveaway as part of the tour. Visit the tour page here to enter.
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
Twitter: @molliecoxbryan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/molliecoxbryanauthor
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/molliecoxbryan/boards/
Booklady's Booknotes 
Mollie Bryan
October 8, 2014 at 10:34 am
Thanks so much for the kind review!
Barbara Thompson
October 8, 2014 at 10:22 pm
I enjoyed your thoughts on this book. I haven’t read any of these books, but they sound fantastic. I’m going to look them up, so I can do some great reading. Thrilled I found this author and her books. Thank you for participating.
Barbara Thompson
barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com
Kaye Killgore
October 9, 2014 at 8:48 pm
This sounds like a fun read, and Christmas is coming