Mollie Cox Bryan

4 out of 5 stars.

No Charm Intended is the second book in the Cora Crafts Mystery series by Mollie Cox Bryan, and it was a delightful read. I was a little bit leery when I picked it up because I hadn't really enjoyed the first book of the series, but this one was definitely better and I enjoyed reading it. There were three reasons this book did not get a 4.5 or 5 star rating. 1) It lagged a bit in the middle section, though it does pick up speed again. 2) There just isn't that extra "pizzazz" that I need for 5 stars. 3) The way mental illness was dealt with in this book, which I explain below.

While we do end up with a murder in this one, the main story line is that of an abduction. I was thrilled with that. Sure, murder makes one of the more "tantalizing" mysteries, but I'm always thrilled when an author decides to go with an abduction or a robbery so something besides just murder as it's a nice change of pace.

I enjoy our main characters for the most part. They're well-developed and complex characters. I enjoyed some of the side characters in this book as well.

The setting descriptions are adequate. I wouldn't have minded a few more details, but it wasn't too sparse. I was able to imagine most of the places described in the book.

The plot line moved along mostly at a steady pace. There was a small section in the middle where it seemed to lag, but then it picked up again.

The biggest issue I had is with Jane's reaction to the news of the abducted young woman having a mental illness. We're made to understood that if Jane had known, she wouldn't have hired the young lady. Now, I understand that she's worried about the safety of her daughter, but having a mental illness should NOT be the sole reason you don't hire someone. I have five mental illnesses. Yes, five. Yet, I spent many years babysitting children and still babysit from time to time with no issues. I understand wanting assurance that the person watching your child isn't going to have a meltdown. However, instead of just dismissing them out of hand, talk to the person. Is the person taking their meds as prescribed? Are they seeking help for their condition? If they are, there's very little to worry about. Would you dismiss someone just because they're diagnosed with cancer or diabetes? Probably not. Those with mental illnesses deserve the same respect.

Other than that, this was a fun book to read and I'm now looking forward to more in the series. :)

*** I received an ARC of this book from the author. I was not compensated for my review. All opinions and conclusions expressed are my own. ***
… (mais)

I received an uncorrected, advance reader, e-book copy of "Scrapbook of the Dead" by Mollie Cox Bryan, from Kensington Books publishers via Net Galley for an honest review.

[b: Scrapbook of the Dead|23360000|Scrapbook of the Dead|Mollie Cox Bryan|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422215037s/23360000.jpg|42915888] by [a: Mollie Cox Bryan|345378|Mollie Cox Bryan|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1259962115p2/345378.jpg] was a pleasant surprise for me. My vision of scrap-booking used to equal that of cat-herd collecting; a hobby for bored and lonely old ladies. This mystery was a slap in the face to my preconceived notions.

"Scrapbook of the Dead" is a series of stories about an interesting town and various residents of Cumberland Creek. This is fifth in the series, but stands-alone well. This is my first Mollie Cox Bryan book, but will not be my last.

In short stories it is often difficult to have many well developed characters, and Ms. Bryan has done a good job with these characters. It has been a couple of weeks since I read this book, and I still think of the different people who live in Cumberland Creek.

This story was believable and addressed the human rights problem of immigrants being taken advantage of, in order to come to the U.S.A. so that they can have opportunities for a better life. I appreciate the way this topic was smoothly tacked into the story.

As a genealogist, I learned some valuable tips for preserving family history, and will always count it as a bonus that I read [b: Scrapbook of the Dead|23360000|Scrapbook of the Dead|Mollie Cox Bryan|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422215037s/23360000.jpg|42915888]… (mais)

Cora and Jane annoyed me with their wishywashyness. They were all over the place, saying one thing and then doing another. Both characters are high strung, weak and judgey. The romance between all the characters was particularly irritating and unnecessary. I liked the idea of a craft retreat and Cora running a craft blog which encourages people to come there, but the execution fell flat. Jane running away annoyed me the most. Who just leaves their kid? If she had of escaped with the kid maybe but it seems like she just abandons the raising of London to Cora as it suits her. And the scene with Cora and the gun seemed particularly stupid. I mean, shouldn't you treat every gun as loaded if you have no idea how to check? The mystery was fairly interesting if not pretty predictable. Overall, 2 stars, on the lower side of 2.… (mais)