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Summary: Scrumptious recipes and murder
Review: Hannah Swensen owns The Cookie Jar in Lake Eden, Minnesota along with her partner Lisa Herman. Norman Rhodes, one of Hannah's favorite people and one she dates occasionally, has bought the Voelker place from Rhonda Scharf. He is a dentist in town. He is planning to tear the house down and build their dream house. They had designed it together and won a contest. Hannah is surprised by Norman's decision to actually build it. She wonders if he is going to pop the question. When he doesn't she worries that she has gained too much weight and goes on a diet -- tough to do when you bake cookies all day long!Hannah is also seeing Mike Kingston, head detective with Winnetka County Sheriff's Department. So, on one hand she is happy Normal hasn't asked her to marry him. She'd have to give up Mike! Delores Swensen, Hannah's mother, and Carrie Rhodes, Norman's mother, own and run Granny's Attic, an antique store. Before Norman demolishes the Voelker house, Delores is going to go through it looking for antiques for their store. She asks Hannah to come. Norman is coming too. Delores has a habit of putting Norman and Hannah together. She is hoping they will eventually get married. Although there are times both Norman and Mike are invited to events by Delores. Then she places Hannah between them at the table! When the three of them are looking through the Voelker house, Hannah discovers one of her Lemon Meringue Pies partially eaten with ants crawling on it. She takes it out to the trash. She sees the remains of two take-out meals of osso buco. Delores goes downstairs to see if there are any antiques. When she returns, she looks like she has seen a ghost. Close. She'd found a dead body. In this book Mike doesn't mind Hannah looking into this murder. Usually he has fought with her when she has looked into a murder. Hannah's older sister, Andrea, who is pregnant with her 2nd child, begs Hannah to let her assist. Andrea is married to Bill, Mike's boss. Their younger sister, Michelle, has come home to visit and assists them as well. Not only has their been a murder, but then some money from a long ago bank robbery appears. I thoroughly enjoy this series. This latest book is very enjoyable. The recipes sound scrumptious too. Hannah and her relationships with Mike and Norman are fun to find out the latest. Lake Eden is a great setting for books. It is a small town but near the big city. Joanne has made me want to vacation there from her fabulous descriptions. The people sound like they would be fun to get to know. I like that Hannah and Andrea are getting closer. I would like to see Hannah get married, but I can't decide which man I'd want it to be with. Hannah's cat Moishe sounds like a playful but loving cat. I like how he keeps stealing her pillow and how he insists on getting his food. I guarantee reading this book, and the others in this great series, will make you laugh but will also make you hungry!
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Summary: Too Many Calories Can Be Murder To Your Waistline!
Review: Hannah Swensen returns in the 4th book in this series. In this installment, Hannah jumps in to help solve a murder when a lemon meringue pie from her bakery, The Cookie Jar, is found at the crime scene. When Norman Rhodes, one of Hannah's "boyfriends", purchases a home, he does not realize that the dead body of the previous owner will be found inside. It seems that this owner, Rhonda, stopped at her old home to pick up a few last items and thought she would have one last meal there. This meal was definitely her last, as the person that met her there may have been the last to see her alive! Adding to Hannah's troubles is the fact that some of her clothes just seem too tight, and so she sets out to put herself on a diet (even while she is baking all kinds of yummy cookies!). Playing a part in this mystery is Hannah's nagging mother, Norman's mother, and Mike, the policeman who usually fights to keep Hannah out of each case but finally gives up this time. As Hannah fights to keep her life in order and her weight in check, she must find a killer before he/she strikes again! I have enjoyed each of the Hannah Swensen mysteries and have loved the recipes that are included in each book. Each time I have read one of the books, I find myself getting hungry (not good for my waistline either!) for all of the goodies that Hannah serves. The mysteries are interesting, but as I like culinary cozies, I enjoy the books more for the food and the characters. My only complaint about this series has to be in the dialogue between characters, as they are constantly repeating each other's names. Other than that, this delightful read will leave you "hungry" for more! The first book in this series is "The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder". Enjoy! A Cozy Lover
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Summary: Hannah Bakes Up Another Murder
Review: Hannah thinks her life is settling into a comfortable rhythm. Then Norman announces he's bought a house he intends to turn into the dream home the two of them designed together. This startles Hannah because he hasn't proposed and she doesn't even know for sure what she'd say. Then, while searching the existing house for antiques, her mother stumbles on a body in the basement. Rhonda had come back to pick up a few personal items, but the food Hannah finds leads her to believe that she planned to meet someone there the night she was murdered. Who killed her right before she left for a trip to Europe? Who was the mysterious dinner guest? Add in Hannah going on a diet and her youngest sister visiting for the Fourth of July and you've got the recipe for another winner. Those who already love this series will enjoy the latest addition. With three other visits under our belts, it's like meeting up with old friends again. I was thrilled to finally get to meet Michelle, and her scenes were hilarious. I hope we see more of her in the future. The murder plot takes a little time to get started, but it soon takes center stage. This one seemed a little more straight forward then the others, and I had the killer figured out before Hannah did. Even so, I enjoyed every minute leading up to the suspenseful and creative ending. This book features a total of 9 new recipes to try. I have yet to try any of the recipes in this series, but they all sound so good, I swear I really will someday. If you enjoy cozies, this series is for you. It's best to jump in with the first, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, to fully enjoy this book. But you'll enjoy every delicious minute along the way.
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Summary: Who Doesn't Love Lemon Meringue?
Review: I am now a fan. I will buy anything that Joanne Fluke writes. I LOVE her characters and the directions that she takes them. The "Lemon Meringue Pie Murder" is just the latest in a series that just keeps getting better. I like the fact that this isn't a "girl gets boy" type of series and end of story. It is more in line with real life where Fluke lets us see a glimpse of the emotions of a woman who previously has not encountered a great deal of "male attention" and who suddenly has the interests of two men. Go figure, but it's closer to what is more realistic.
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Summary: Mystery Meringue....
Review: I am now a fan. I will buy anything that Joanne Fluke writes. I LOVE her characters and the directions that she takes them. The "Lemon Meringue Pie Murder" is just the latest in a series that just keeps getting better. I like the fact that this isn't a "girl gets boy" type of series and end of story. It is more in line with real life where Fluke lets us see a glimpse of the emotions of a woman who previously has not encountered a great deal of "male attention" and who suddenly has the interests of two men. Go figure, but it's closer to what is more realistic.
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Summary: Started with this one bite and I am hooked
Review: I did not read the first books but jumped in with this title. It was a very fun read. I enjoy all the characters and the way the plot develops I am looking forward to reading the previos ones and all the new ones. Well worth the time.
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Summary: Light and easy read...
Review: I enjoyed this book as a light read. This is not a book for someone looking for a complex, gritty mystery, but more as a fun and simple way of passing time; particularly if you enjoy food and discovering new recipes. Hannah's sleuthing is believable in a Nancy Drew-ish way, and the cast of characters are endearing for their small-town earnestness. The recipes throughout sound delicious. I would also recommend readers to the Diane Mott Davidson mystery series, in which the protagonist is a caterer and who's books also supply a mouth-watering verbal gourmet.
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Summary: The main character becomes unbearable.
Review: I have read the previous volumes in the series and felt enthusiastic enough to read this one (borrowed the book from the library, fortunately, thereby did not waste my money on this literary gem). The plot is very straightforward and the writing style adequate, much in line with my expectations. The heroine of the book, however, has become much too obnoxious to be likeable. Among other things, Hannah silently berates someone over the use of the expression "Bon Voyage" and criticizes her sister's sleeping habits (not promiscuity, mind you, but how late she arises from bed). Overall, she presents the prototypical picture of a know-it-all with whom all direct interaction would be cause for grinding one's teeth. Hannah's unsympathetic exasperation with everyone's imperfection made me put the book down two chapters away from the end -- I could not absorb any more of her all-too-readily shared wisdom.
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Summary: Best yet
Review: I just finished reading Joanne Fluke's "Lemon Meringue Pie Murder" and I think it's the besy yet in this series. I love the characters; they seem like real people and old friends. The recipes are simple and to die for. I can't wait for her new one, "Fudge Cupcake Murder" to come out!
Rating:
Summary: Best yet
Review: I just finished reading Joanne Fluke's "Lemon Meringue Pie Murder" and I think it's the besy yet in this series. I love the characters; they seem like real people and old friends. The recipes are simple and to die for. I can't wait for her new one, "Fudge Cupcake Murder" to come out!
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