Member Reviews

Cora is involved in another mystery as Jane's babysitter for her daughter London goes missing just prior to their latest crafting retreat. The mystery grabs you in from the beginning with interesting characters and a plot that is chillingly scripted relating to social media and online gamers. The suspense is taut from the first text message to the surprising conclusion, and there is just the right touch of romance. I look forward to many more!

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Cora and her best friend Jane are back with another weekend craft retreat. This time the theme is wild crafting and after the last retreat they could use a smooth week end filled with food, crafting, and friendship.

Settling into her new life and career in small-town Indigo Gap, North Carolina, Cora Chevalier is preparing to host a wildcrafting retreat at her Victorian home, Kildare House. But on day one, Cora wakes up to a disturbing text. I kidnapped her. Is this some weird wrong number or is something going on.

Gracie, a seemingly lovely girl who is a student,nanny and part time sitter for London, Jane's daughter, is missing.

When the police arrive Cora finds out she isn't the only one who received weird texts and when Gracie's boyfriend, Paul, and their good friend Henry show up at Kildare House scared and worried, rambling on about some game they all played on line and how they need Cora's help to find her before something really bad happens.

Cora isn't sure if Paul is involved, but lets him stay at Kildare House, as she and Jane and of course the crafters put their heads together and get to work on solving a crime and having a great time at the retreat.I can tell you I did not see that ending coming!

This is the second book in the Cora Crafts series and you can tell. The characters are developing very well. In the first book I wasn't a huge fan of Jane, but this time was different. There was an easiness about them that was very believable. As if all the kinks have been worked out.

I especially enjoyed seeing a couple of the gals from the Cumberland Creek Series. I think that meshed quite well and hope to see more of the cross over. I also like that Cora isn't a ditzy, frazzled, overweight main character as so many are in cozy mysteries. She is easy to relate to especially if you have any type of anxiety disorders. And I appreciate that.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington for this one!

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Second in the Cora Crafts Mystery series, Cora is drawn into investigating Jane's babysitter Gracie's disappearance...and things get stranger when her boyfriend Paul and his roommate Henry show up at Cora's door insisting she disappeared because of an internet game....and then the roommate turns up dead.
Cora and Jane dog through Gracie's, Paul and Henry's lives to try to figure out where Gracie could be.
Plenty of twists and turns, and great descriptions of the craft retreat and the personalities in the story.

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No Charm Intended by Mollie Cox Bryan is filled with murder, secrets and more twists and turns than a roller coaster.

The very first line in the book had me sold. As soon as I read it, I knew I was headed for a wild adventure.
A craft retreat sounds wonderful. I love the idea of seeing myself sitting at the table surrounded by friends, chatting and creating something beautiful.
Add in a gaming community, an obsessive game fan, a young woman and her disappearance and you have the ingredients for a great cozy mystery.
Ms. Bryan created a wonderful cast of characters and the idea of this mystery taking place during a craft retreat makes for an even more intriguing story.

I am patiently waiting for the next book.

I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

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A cozy that comes through in almost every way. The characters are more defined than in the previous book but the author still needs to define Cora. Confident or foolhardy, reckless or overly protective, why wasn't there a kiss at the first date then fell into a clinch as soon as they reunite, is she forgetful of important I formation or just not too smart?
I don't craft, crafts annoy and frustrate me YET I want to go on craft retreat here the craft instructions at the end of the book are terrific

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No Charm Intended is the second book in Mollie Cox Bryan’s Cora Crafts Mystery series. Cora Chevalier is a former counselor in a woman’s shelter who loves crafts and is a successful crafting blogger in Indigo Gap, North Carolina. Cora and Jane Starr, her best friend and business partner, are preparing for their second crafters’ retreat in Cora’s old Victorian home. Jane, a talented potter, who lives in the carriage house with her young daughter, London, encounters a scheduling problem when her daughter’s babysitter, Gracie Wyke, disappears. Paul, Gracie’s boyfriend, and Henry, his roommate, show up at Jane’s door trying to figure out what happened to her and wondering if her disappearance could be related to online gaming because when she reached a high level on a ‘Darknet’ Wizard of Oz game, she started receiving threatening messages. When Henry disappears, Cora is worried about his mental state and safety, so she takes him into her home even though Jane doesn’t think it’s a good idea. The police consider Paul a suspect but Cora doesn’t agree and starts asking questions and snooping around looking for answers.

I found this to be an enjoyable read. The characters are starting to grow and find their own in their business and new life. The story itself was well written, has a steady pace and what I thought was a good mystery. I will be back to see what Cora and Jane are up to in the next book.

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No Charm Intended is the second book in Mollie Cox Bryan’s Cora Crafts Mystery series. The writing style flows smoothly at an even pace and the book is an easy read. The author is talented in descriptive writing and I felt like I was there, watching the crafting activities taking place. The mystery is well plotted, the characters are well rounded and relatable, and the book has enough suspects, twists, and turns to make it difficult to figure out whom the killer is. There are craft instructions and supply lists at the end of the book. I recommend this series and look forward to reading more in this series.

Cora Chevalier is a former counselor in a woman’s shelter who loves crafts and is a successful crafting blogger in Indigo Gap, North Carolina. Cora and Jane Starr, her best friend and business partner, are preparing for their second crafters’ retreat in Cora’s old Victorian home. Jane, a talented potter, who lives in the carriage house with her young daughter, London, encounters a scheduling problem when her daughter’s babysitter, Gracie Wyke, disappears. Paul, Gracie’s boyfriend, and Henry, his roommate, show up at Jane’s door trying to figure out what happened to her and wondering if her disappearance could be related to online gaming because when she reached a high level on a ‘Darknet’ Wizard of Oz game, she started receiving threatening messages. When Henry disappears, Cora is worried about his mental state and safety, so she takes him into her home even though Jane doesn’t think it’s a good idea. The police consider Paul a suspect but Cora doesn’t agree and doesn’t think they are being diligent in their investigation and starts asking questions and snooping around looking for answers.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

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This is a wonderful cozy mystery that you sit in your reading nook and enjoy without disturbance, it is well written with the right dosage of suspense, I was captivated from the first page in chapter one, I just allowed myself to be swept away with the tide of this tale, I did not regret it, great book.

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Fans of craft themed cozies will be happy with this book.
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

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I loved the story, the characters, the charming small town setting and especially Cora's beautiful Victorian house. Cora Chevalier gave up her stressful job working at an abused women's shelter and bought an old house in Indigo Gap, North Carolina in order to start a craft retreat business. But little did she know that murder and mayhem would find her there. This is an extremely interesting series with the extra added bonus of Cora's crafting tips and I highly recommend it.

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Cora Chevalier is settling into her new life in rural North Carolina nicely. She’s planned a weekend of wildcrafting adventures for her guests and it’s shaping up to be a great time. Then local nanny Gracie Wike disappears and Cora and her business partner, Jane, fearing for the life of Gracie’s boyfriend, Paul, invite him to stay with them. But as Gracie and Jane investigate Gracie’s disappearance (not being satisfied with the local police’s response), they uncover unsettling truths and another body at an abandoned amusement park and begin to wonder if trusting Paul may have been a deadly mistake. A delightful cozy with a beautiful North Carolina setting and a couple of intrepid amateur sleuths

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