Parchment and Old Lace is another addition from Laura Childs that combines scrapbooking, crafting and a murder to solve. This is an enjoyable read that draws the reader in with the colorful characters and fun crafting tips.
Laura Childs does such a wonderful job of making her characters likeable. I love the fun and independent nature of the main character, Carmella Bertrand. Carmella owns and runs the "Memory Mine" scrapbooking store. Memory Mine is described so realistically, from the types of materials offered to clients in the store to the various classes offered by Carmella and her assistant Gabby.
I was so caught up in the story line, from the murder of Isabelle, to Carmellas' often dangerous investigation of the various suspects in the book. I had a hard time putting the book down to go to work. The author just kept me guessing as to who the true murderer could be.
I also enjoyed the fact that the author included so many useful crafting tips in this book. My favorite tip is the use of a concept board in chapter 10. The concept board is often used to help people plan their scrapbook pages, art projects, wedding decor, and so much more. It can be applied to so many things. I have always enjoyed using concept boards and found the inclusion of such a great source to have been a wonderful tip to offer readers in her book. She gives the reader enough information in the story to afford the reader suffcient knowledge to be able to apply the use of a concept board to their own projects.
I love reading myteries and feel that this is such a fun read. It was a great way for me to relax while drinking my tea. I can't wait for her next book.
Note: I received my advance review copy (without corrections) for my honest review. However I am huge fan of Laura Childs books (I own a lot of them), so I would have purchased this book anyway. Thank you to Nancy Nally for the advance copy so I could get a jump on my reading.
