Something Borrowed, Something Bleu, the latest book in Cricket McRae's home crafting mystery series, came out July 1, 2010. I've read and enjoyed the first three books in the series and can't wait to read her latest. While I wait for my copy to arrive, I thought I'd share my thoughts on the series.
What I Liked Best
The main character, Sophie Mae Reynolds, makes handmade soaps for a living. I love that she's successful at running her own business and that she accurately portrays the concerns of many small craft businesses—worrying about doing her taxes, writing marketing copy for her product brochure, recruiting local teens help her with packaging and holiday booths, and generously sharing her knowledge about her craft. (There are recipes in the back of the books, including lip balm, air fresheners, lotion bars, and wine jelly.)
The stories themselves do a good job of tying the home crafting aspect to the plot. For example, in Heaven Preserve Us, a character dies of botulism, which is definitely not your average murder weapon!
The series is easy to read and not overburdened by too many characters and unnecessary complications. (I hate books where there are so many characters that you need a list to keep track of them.) I enjoy seeing the characters evolve over the series, witnessing Sophie Mae's romance and Erin's growing up. Not only do the characters change, but so does the town they live in. In Spin a Wicked Web, Sophie Mae learns to spin and the town develops its first artist collective. These changes make it feel like the characters and town exist outside of the books and are not just waiting around, frozen in time, until the author writes a new book.
You'll Like This Series If:- You want to jump in at any point in the series and start. (I read her second book, Heaven Preserve Us, first and had no trouble understanding the characters and their relationships.) You can read the books in order (starting with Lye in Wait), but you don't have to.
- You enjoy cozy mysteries, the type where the main character is a regular person (as opposed to a detective or PI) and the violence occurs mainly off-stage.
- You enjoy a touch of light romance with your mysteries.
- You're a crafter and want to see a realistic portrayal of another crafter who is running her own business . . .
- And don't fear being tempted to try yet another craft. I have never been interested in making my own soap or body products, but that lip balm recipe looks so easy that I checked the price of lip balm tubes online. Don't say I didn't warn you!