A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

I wanted to read this book because I don't typically read cozy mysteries but a lot of my patrons do. This book, although a murder mystery, was a fun, cute, light read. I especially love the crafting tips! I'm glad I read this to give me a better idea of what to buy for my patrons in the future.

This is my second review for this book as the first one was erased by the system after originally posting it. I love revisiting this series.
This is a delightful series. I love the crafts the people and the mysteries. In this next in series Adrian, a school librarian, and Cora, the proprietor of the Kildare House Craft Retreat have come to the stunning location of the Sea Glass Island for a Crafts Retreat. Among the coastal scenery a murderer lurks and danger is around the corner .
When a new bride is found on the beach dead shortly after her wedding the craft attendees are on the case. The mystery was very well crafted and kept me guessing to the end. i love the location, the supporting charcters and the craft information is a added bonus. . A wonderful series I look forward to the next in series.

Cora has gone to the Big Island Craft Retreat on Sea Glass Island with her partners Ruby and Jane. Her boyfriend Adrian has come along as well. Adrian and Cora are walking on the beach when they come across a wedding in progress. In the morning Cora is startled to find out that the bride was found dead on the beach and that Adrian has been taken in for questioning. Learning that Adrian had some secrets regarding the bride, Cora sets out to prove that he is not responsible for the murder.

Crafts are woven throughout and keep the mystery fresh as well as fun.

Macramé Murder is the third installment in the Cora Crafts Mystery series featuring crafter and owner of the Kildare House Craft Retreat, Cora Chevalier. Having been invited to the Big Island Craft Retreat on the shores of Sea Glass Beach to be instructors, Cora and her friends Jane and Ruby leave the comfort of Indigo Gap along with Cora's boyfriend Adrian Brisbane, Jane's daughter London and Ruby's son Cashel, the lawyer.

Their first night on the island Cora and Adrian witness a beautiful beach wedding, the bride wearing a gorgeous tiara of diamonds, metal and sea glass. Unfortunately, Cora is woken by alarms during the night and quickly learns that the bride Marcy Grimm has been found dead on the beach. The police originally suspect a venomous jellyfish sting, but the signs quickly point to foul play.

Adrian seems to have connections to the bride and becomes the prime suspect in her murder. Feeling betrayed by Adrian's secrets but knowing that the librarian wouldn't hurt anyone, Cora sets out to find the killer. She and Jane soon discover that island life outside of the resort gates isn't all sunshine and sea glass. Instead they learn of plans to build another huge resort which will leave many of the islanders homeless and uncover a wide reaching drug cartel.

Quick moving plot, plenty of suspects and the opportunity to see the crafters outside of Indigo Gap. The only thing that does get tiring is Cora's constant references to Adrian as "her boyfriend", the reader does not need to be reminded at least once a chapter that Adrian is Cora's boyfriend.

I received an advanced copy of Macramé Murder from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

Mollie Cox Bryan does not disappoint.  This third installment takes the crafters to a retreat away from home and to the coast.  Who ever said that a bad day at the beach is better than a good day at home would usually be right.  After all, Cora is getting a chance to spend quality time with Adrian, her new boyfriend.  At least until he is put under house arrest for being the number one suspect in the murder of a well to do mermaid folklore writing islander who not only is found dead on her wedding night but is also an old flame of Adrian's.  Cora must quell her fears and handle her anxiety attacks while still being the excellent blog teacher she is known to be while getting to the bottom of this fishy situation at the Big Island Craft Retreat filled with mermaids, murder, and macramé.

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for allowing me to read this book.

I love crafty cozies! This time Cora, Jane and Ruby go to teach at a seaside craft retreat. When Cora's boyfriend is arrested for murder Cora has to investigate. With these books it isn't just the friendship of the characters, that makes me enjoy these stories. But the that fact that they are coping with events that have happened in their lives that makes them so real.They are not perfect people, and I like that. I love how the author sprinkles little crafty ideas through the book, it makes me daydream about being retired and being able to spend everyday creating. Since I am a knitter I always get a chuckle how the author comments on the knitters.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Nothing can ruin a craft retreat quicker than a murder. Cora, Jane and Ruby have been asked to teach at the Sea Glass Island Craft Retreat. Thinking it will nice to have someone else in charge they accept. Who would turn down a beach retreat? Cara even brings her boyfriend, Adrian along. While checking out the beach they catch a glimpse of a wedding. Sadly, the next day the bride was dead and Cora is beyond shocked when Adrian becomes the prime suspect. Say What?? She is warned to let the police handle things but there is no way she is just going to teach her classes and relax on the beach with a drink in her hand while Adrian could end up behind bars. She will sift through every speck of sand on the beach to get to the truth.

When I was in high school macramé was a big thing, I took a mini class where I macraméd a beautiful hanging table and some owls and plant hangers. I am thrilled this craft is being revived in fresh new ways.

Mollie Cox Bryan sure has tied her characters in knots in this mystery. Cora and Jane are strong women, smart and gutsy too. They really don’t back down from a fight especially when one of their friends is in trouble. Cashel and Ruby are great assistants in the investigation. It is also nice that Cashel was available to serve as Adrian’s lawyer even though he gets a little prickly about having to work during his vacation. I loved the dialogue between all the characters, it was believable. Serious when need be but there are funny moments too.

The mystery was difficult to solve with so many twists that brought more and more suspects to light and another dead body. I was excited when I figured out one major clue before Cora but I was really unsure of the actual murderer until the end. The suspense ratcheted up as we got closer to the end and the twists continued. A new element came to the forefront and Cora learned she had to trust the people around her, then things started to fall into place.

Sea Glass Island, off the coast of the Carolinas sounds like a wonderful place, but a little over the top with mermaids 🙂 I would love to visit and if there was a craft retreat that would be an awesome bonus.

This was a fun story. I love this crafting theme. It makes me long for the crafty self I used to be before my accident. I get to experience things I can no longer do through characters like these. That is what first drew me to cozy mysteries and it is why I continue to read them today.

Macramé Murder by Mollie Cox Bryan is the third installment in A Cora Crafts Mystery series. Cora Chevalier is off to the Big Island Craft Retreat on Sea Glass Island with Ruby and Jane. Cora and her boyfriend, Adrian arrived early so she could spend some quality time together. While walking on the beach with Adrian, Cora observes a mermaid themed wedding with the bride wearing a beautiful one-of-a-kind tiara. The next morning Cora hears that the bride, Marcy Grimm was discovered dead on the beach. Cora is shocked when Adrian is taken in for questioning. It seems Adrian has been keeping some secrets. Cora knows that Adrian did not kill Marcy and sets out to prove it. When another body turns up and someone close to Cora is harmed, Cora knows she needs to find the culprit quickly. Will Cora be able to find the killer before it is too late?

Macramé Murder is nicely written, has a good pace and it is easy to read. I like the craft aspect of the series and various crafts described in the book. The sea glass and shell tiara was beautifully described (my daughter would love it—Little Mermaid fan). Macramé Murder can be a standalone novel. Cora and her associates history is supplied along with the details of the previous two cases (in the first two books in the series). My rating for Macramé Murder is 3 out of 5 stars. I thought the murder was interesting (there were some good parts), but the killer obvious (at least to me). There is a twist, but many readers will anticipate it (it was predictable). I never felt the suspense, though, in the story. Cora’s numerous panic attacks and anxiety quickly got on my nerves. You would think she would be at an old hat at murder by now (I suggest she get a new medication). Cora is a hard character to like (I have really tried). The romance was too prominent for my tastes, and I am not a fan of Adrian. Then there is the love triangle between Cora, Adrian, and Cashel (Cora should pick him). Personally, I feel that Cora and Adrian’s romance is progressing too quickly (they just started dating). I wish there had been less focus on Cora’s personal life and more on the mystery. The story felt long (especially since the first murder happened so early in the story), and I thought there was too much time devoted to Cora thinking (internal dialogue).

Mollie Cox Bryan has created a world of crafting fantasticness wrapped up in cozy mystery delight! I have loved the characters in this series from the beginning, and while I had my doubts about a certain character and his relationship with Cora this time around, I am happy to say that my warm fuzziness for him has returned. The mysteries within this series have been full of twists and turns and they have all kept me guessing right till the end, this book was no exception! The story was so well crafted that I could almost see the mermaids and smell the beachy air. I think the true gem of this series is the wit and banter between the characters, wrapped up with the character's loyalty and protectiveness of their group, or their "family". The books are so well written that I always feel like I am living the adventures with Jane and Cora and I really enjoy the cross-character point-of-view that Mollie writes in. I am always anxiously waiting to get back to Indigo Gap and see what Cora and Jane craft up next!

Macramé Murder by Mollie Cox Bryan is the 3rd book in the Cora Crafts Mystery series. Cora Chevalier and her friend Jane have remodeled their home for crafter's retreats in Indigo Gap, North Carolina. In this adventure they attend the Sea Glass Island Craft Retreat to teach, make crafts, and enjoy themselves. Instead, a murder occurs.

I really enjoyed this book, always looking for a unique story line. There are twists and turns around every corner, that kept me reading page after page. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. You don't have to be a craft lover to really enjoy this book. If you love cozy mysteries, I recommend this book.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was mostly okay.

Book 3 in the series.

I think I am done with this series. After 3 books, I still struggle to tell Cora from Jane when it's blocks of dialogue and when they do come off as distinct, I don't really care much for Cora. One second she's in love with Adrian, the next she's doubting herself and him. And he's quite frankly boring. Throw in the Cashel story with a wanna-be love triangle and I am pretty much over it.

Overall, I felt like the personal life of the main character totally overwhelmed the mystery and left me pretty bored.

This is a great book; this is the third book in the Cora Crafts Mystery series and is written by Mollie Cox Bryan. As the head of a bustling crafting retreat, Cora Chevalier could use a break of her own. So she and her creative cohorts temporarily swap small-town Indigo Gap for the Sea Glass Island Craft Retreat, where they teach classes and create beachy crafts like shell mosaics and sea glass chimes. Cora and her boyfriend Adrian are enchanted by their surroundings—especially the stunning wedding and blissful newlyweds they encounter on the beach. But awe becomes shock when the bride turns up dead the next day. The woman’s death appears to be the result of a severe jellyfish sting. But when it’s revealed that she was murdered and Adrian becomes a suspect, Cora must hitch the real culprit to the crime. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Cora and her crafty group go on a vacation. While there, they are enjoying the beach, sun, weddings all the while giving some lessons in crafting. Then a bride is found dead, and Cora's boyfriend Adrian is the suspect. Can Cora find the real killer? This is a fun read and craft instructions included! I received ARC of this book. The review is voluntary and my own opinion.

Cora Chevalier and her sidekick, Jane Starr, return in Macrame Murder, the third book in the Cora Crafts Mystery Series. This time, Cora and Jane travel to Sea Glass Island to teach crafting classes at a resort. They are both looking forward to just teaching classes at this retreat, not running it like they do for their own craft business in Indigo Gap, NC. But, this idyllic island crafting retreat quickly goes wrong. The body of a local woman is discovered on the beach. Unfortunately, Cora's boyfriend, Adrian, quickly becomes the main suspect in the killing. He admits that he dated the woman, and that she broke up with him three years earlier. Cora and Jane realize they need to discover the true murderer before Adrian faces murder charges for a crime he didn't commit. When a second body is discovered, they realize that they could all be in serious danger.

I like this series. Cora and Jane are great as main characters. They have flaws and issues, but work through their challenges. Both women are independent, intelligent and feisty. Strong female characters -- love it! The mystery moves along at a good pace, with snippets about various crafts (macrame, sea glass jewelry, knitting, crochet, etc) sprinkled in throughout. At the back of the book are craft patterns for CD/DVD Coasters, macrame friendship bracelets and sand candles. The mystery plot is believable for the most part. There was one instance where I had an eyeroll moment -- the way one body is discovered just seemed a bit silly to me. But hey -- it's a cozy mystery. Sometimes you have to suspend reality and just enjoy the story.

I've enjoyed every book in this series so far. And I will definitely continue reading each book as it comes out!

For more information on the author and her books, check out her website at: http://molliecoxbryan.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

I have been looking forward to a new retreat with Cora! The author has treated us again to some amazing descriptions about the locale of this retreat, including information about sea glass and some of the ways it is used in crafting. She also shares a couple retreat crafts at the end.

This time we are visiting a huge craft retreat on Sea Glass Island, not far off the coast, where Cora, Jane, and Ruby are teaching classes on their specialties. Cora’s series is on craft blogging as it is her primary contribution to the craft world. Along for the trip are Adrian, the man that Cora has been dating, London, Jane’s daughter, and Cashel, Ruby’s son.

Their first night at the retreat, Cora and Adrian see a beach wedding of a beautiful young woman wearing a gown giving her the appearance of a mermaid. She is wearing an amazing tiara that includes sea glass and gemstones. Cora was saddened to hear there was a death on the beach later that night. The next morning London, Jane’s daughter, found what looks to be the bride’s tiara. The beautiful bride of the night before had been murdered, and it is now evidence.

Suspense escalates when Adrian is held as a suspect in the bride’s murder. Apparently, he had once been engaged to this ultra-wealthy young woman and the two had exchanged texts the evening before when the bride contacted him. Cora continued to learn more about Adrian that he had not shared with her. Cashel, acting as Adrian’s attorney, was drugged at a local pub. Another murder occurs, then … more challenges. Cora simply can’t help herself and begins to ask questions, even though the people behind what was going on were not small time hoods or scorned lovers.

One thing I enjoyed about the characters is how we learn about them through reactions and excellent dialog. Another is how Ruby and Cora are growing as friends. Cora and Jane have been best friends for a long time. What annoyed me was how many times Jane ascertains how she thinks Cora and Adrian are perfect for each other, and how often Jane asks (or thinks) again about whether Cora and Adrian had spent the night together. It annoyed me not just because it is a cozy mystery, but I almost got the hopefully misimpression that Jane felt if they spent the night together, some of the things Cora had concerns about in their very young relationship would no longer be issues.

There are several mysteries going on that may or may not be related, which I enjoy. It is a challenge to this armchair sleuth to see if the pieces are all from one puzzle or possibly from two or even three. The plot twists continued to change who though the bad guy(s) might be. While I did figure out part of the solution before the end, there were parts I simply wasn’t sure of, and some I was clueless. The surprises made sense, and the ending was satisfying. While I couldn’t put my finger on it, there was something less compelling about Macramé Murder as the earlier novels in the series. It will not stop me from reading the next in series, as I liked the first two very much. That being said, I still highly recommend Macramé Murder to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries that include a variety of crafts.

From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

This is an enjoyable addition to an engaging series. I like the main ladies with their unusual backgrounds and efforts to put a more positive spin on their lives. Taking control is a good thing. Clever mystery with some back story revealed. A nice change of location.

Cora Chevalier and Jane Starr, besties who run their own craft retreat, are at Big Island Craft Retreat to be instructors for owner Mathilde Mayhue. Cora's boyfriend, librarian Adrian, has come along as well but soon he wishes he hadn't when he's arrested for murder. He's released with a tracking bracelet so now Cora is more determined than ever to prove his innocence or he may have to stay behind after the retreat is over.

This was another well-told cozy mystery by Mollie Cox Bryan. I read the first in this series and really enjoyed it. I normally proceed in order but (disclaimer here) I had the opportunity to read the ARC version of this provided by NetGalley and couldn't resist! I love the camaraderie of all the main characters and how when they put their mind to doing something, it gets done. I didn't guess the killer because the author is great at twists and surprises.

It was fun seeing Adrian and Cora's relationship grow. I had been hoping in the first book she'd start going out with Cashel, the lawyer, who is also her friend Ruby's son (as well as Adrian's lawyer in this book), but they had apparently decided to just be friends. Although sometimes Cashel gets a look on his face that makes Cora wonder if he would have liked to date her. Jane had brought Adrian and Cora together so now I'm more anxious than ever to read the 2nd book.

I thought the retreat sounded like a fun one to attend, if money was no object that is and of course, minus the murders. I can't wait to find out what Ms. Bryan has in store for our Indigo Gap friends in her next book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for allowing me to read and review.

A glorious barrier island covered in sea glass and a comprehensive crafting retreat awaits Cora Chevalier and her friends, but before long murder enters the picture. When Cora's boyfriend Adrian is accused of the crime, Cora and crew throw themselves into clearing him. When another death occurs, Cora's mission is to find the killer. Family secrets and intrigue lead to a creative solution.

Another delightful edition to a wonderful series! I love the characters and love the idea of a craft retreat minus the murder of course. Can't wait to see what happens next!