Yup, that's right. As far as I know, I have read the rest of the series. Or at least everything that is written so far. I think that means I technically have 4 or 5 books I should summarize here, but I will spare you that.
As you know if you have followed the blog, I REALLY like this series. So the last few books are no different. Although she did start including meals in her recipes instead of just desserts. Other than that, the story line just progresses. Hannah discovers that her feelings for Norman are possibly stronger than her feelings for Mike. Norman throws a wrench into things by bringing a new lady into his life. Andrea gets worried that her husband might be moving the family away from Lake Eden. Lisa and Herb bring some additions into their little family. And Hannah's mom Delores ventures out into the wonderful world of dating.
As always, there are murders in every book (or they wouldn't be called Apple Turnover MURDER, Plum Pudding MURDER, etc.). Hannah isn't the only one discovering bodies. She lets Delores and her other sister, Michelle, join in on that fun. Hannah and her clan are still solving the murders before Mike the detective can get around to it. I do like that in a lot of these later books, more than one mystery is solved when the murder is solved. The murders are starting to tie in to the actual story line now, which makes things more interesting.
I LOVE these books. They aren't inappropriate in any major way, but they keep me entertained. I have said it before and I'll say it again, I recommend these to ANYONE. So seriously, if you are looking for a good read, go to the library and check out the first book (which is called Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder) right now! You will get hooked!
Showing posts with label Joanne Fluke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joanne Fluke. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Four for One
I've been a bit of a slacker recently when it comes to blogging. I've been working 40+ hour weeks, so when I get home, I read, maybe watch some tv, and hit the sack. But I have been reading, I promise! So I just thought I'd update people on what I've been up to in the wonderful world of reading.
I read three more books from the Hannah Swenson mystery series. I recently got a library card and the library carries the entire series. So I didn't have to wait until I had the money to purchase the next books in the series. I won't go into detail about each individual book. You can get a summary of the series here http://biggsbookreview.blogspot.com/2012/08/sugar-cookie-murder-joanne-fluke.html. In the three books that I read Hannah gets proposed to, gains another beau, turns down some proposals, and of course solves 3 more murders. The books that I read from the series were: Peach Cobbler Murder, Cherry Cheesecake Murder, and Key Lime Pie Murder. Again, I loved all of the books and highly recommend them. As usual with these books, it only took me about a day and a half to read them.
The other book I read was:
I have read a few of Emily Giffin's books before and really liked her style of writing. She does a great job of allowing her readers to join in the story, losing themselves in the world she has created. I had also seen previews of the movie based on the book. I really like most of the movies that Kate Hudson has starred in, so I figured this book would have to be good. I was not disappointed with it. I really liked the story line and found myself rooting for the different characters as the story progressed. The plot is a bit risque though. Basically Rachel and Darcy have been friends forever. On Rachel's 30th birthday, Darcy throws her a huge "surprise" party. At this party, Darcy gets drunk and leaves early. Darcy's fiance Dex stays at the party. Rachel ends up getting pretty drunk with Dex and they sleep together. Rachel at first thinks it was a drunken mistake, but realizes that she actually has feelings for Dex. Dex and Rachel begin an affair. Rachel knows that it is wrong on so many levels, but can't help it. Darcy remains clueless until the very end of the story, when Dex and her call off the wedding. I won't give away the ending though :) Like I said, it is a pretty complicated, and somewhat inappropriate plot, but you don't feel that way while reading it at all. If you saw the movie, the movie follows the book pretty well ( I had to watch the movie after finishing the book). I might not recommend this to EVERYONE, but I did enjoy it.
As for 1776, I am still reading it I promise. I got distracted by my library books, but those are all turned in and I won't check any more out until it is done :) I'm liking the book so far, so I'm sure I will have nothing but good things to say about it in a few days when I finish it.
For now, that is all I have for you.
Happy reading!
~Tara
I read three more books from the Hannah Swenson mystery series. I recently got a library card and the library carries the entire series. So I didn't have to wait until I had the money to purchase the next books in the series. I won't go into detail about each individual book. You can get a summary of the series here http://biggsbookreview.blogspot.com/2012/08/sugar-cookie-murder-joanne-fluke.html. In the three books that I read Hannah gets proposed to, gains another beau, turns down some proposals, and of course solves 3 more murders. The books that I read from the series were: Peach Cobbler Murder, Cherry Cheesecake Murder, and Key Lime Pie Murder. Again, I loved all of the books and highly recommend them. As usual with these books, it only took me about a day and a half to read them.
I have read a few of Emily Giffin's books before and really liked her style of writing. She does a great job of allowing her readers to join in the story, losing themselves in the world she has created. I had also seen previews of the movie based on the book. I really like most of the movies that Kate Hudson has starred in, so I figured this book would have to be good. I was not disappointed with it. I really liked the story line and found myself rooting for the different characters as the story progressed. The plot is a bit risque though. Basically Rachel and Darcy have been friends forever. On Rachel's 30th birthday, Darcy throws her a huge "surprise" party. At this party, Darcy gets drunk and leaves early. Darcy's fiance Dex stays at the party. Rachel ends up getting pretty drunk with Dex and they sleep together. Rachel at first thinks it was a drunken mistake, but realizes that she actually has feelings for Dex. Dex and Rachel begin an affair. Rachel knows that it is wrong on so many levels, but can't help it. Darcy remains clueless until the very end of the story, when Dex and her call off the wedding. I won't give away the ending though :) Like I said, it is a pretty complicated, and somewhat inappropriate plot, but you don't feel that way while reading it at all. If you saw the movie, the movie follows the book pretty well ( I had to watch the movie after finishing the book). I might not recommend this to EVERYONE, but I did enjoy it.
As for 1776, I am still reading it I promise. I got distracted by my library books, but those are all turned in and I won't check any more out until it is done :) I'm liking the book so far, so I'm sure I will have nothing but good things to say about it in a few days when I finish it.
For now, that is all I have for you.
Happy reading!
~Tara
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Sugar Cookie Murder- Joanne Fluke
If I were to have to name my top 5 favorite things (and I said THINGS, not people), 2 of those things would be recipes and a good story. The Hannah Swenson series (of which this book is a part) combines both of those things into one fantastic binded bundle of happiness for me. So I will give you a low down on the series before I give a summary of this book in particular.
Hannah Swenson owns a cookie shop (which I imagine as kind of being like all the cupcake stores that have popped up over the past few years) in a small town in Minnesota. She is kind of dating 2 guys, one of them a dentist and the other a detective. Her family all lives in town with the exception of her dad, who has passed away, and her baby sister, who is off at school. Basically in every book, Hannah will find a dead body or is with someone when a dead body is discovered. Hannah then solves the murder. While the plot in each story may sound predictable, it is far from it. I love these books because: A. there are recipes. B. There are some surprising endings to the stories and C. the characters actually develop a lot throughout the series. I love reading these books and finding out if Andrea (Hannah's sister) has had her baby or if Lisa (her partner at the cookie shop) is going to get engaged to Herb. Like I said,the stories develop well and you get to keep up with the characters.
So now to the summary of this particular book. The novel itself was 200 pages with an additonal 166 pages of recipes :) YAY! I won't lie, while I was reading this I noticed that there weren't recipes between chapters like there normally is and I got a little bummed. I flipped through the pages a bit to see if I was getting jipped and saw that there was a TON in the back and all was well. ANYWAYS. . . in this particular story, Hannah is hosting a Christmas potluck for the town of Lake Eden. The reason behind it is that she is collecting recipes and compiling them into a cook book that is getting published (they discuss this in some previous books. . . see continuing story line). She is kind of having a taste test thing and using the Christmas Potluck and as way to carry this out. At the party, a recently divorced resident of Lake Eden shows up with his new wife, a Vegas showgirl. As the party goes on, it is discovered that an antique cake knife that was supposed to be used on the desserts has gone missing. Hannah goes on the prowl to find it and discovers that it was used to murder the new Vegas showgirl wife. She grabs her sometimes man Mike the detective and they decide that most likely the murderer is still at the potluck because of the weather conditions so the building goes on lock down until the murder is solved. Hannah and her sisters end up solving the murder and the Christmas Potluck ends in success.
Like I've said, I love these books, so this one was no exception. I love that stuff from previous books in the series carries in to this one. This series is one that I would read in order, so I can't read another one until I buy the next book. Trip to Barnes and Noble anyone???? I recommend these books to anyone who loves a good mystery and a love of sweets. I can't wait to attempt some of the recipes in the series!
Next up on my reading list: Mansfield Park. I love me some Jane Austen! I've actually never read this book before, but I love Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility, so I don't see why this one would be any different.
Sorry for the long post!
Happy Reading!
Tara
Hannah Swenson owns a cookie shop (which I imagine as kind of being like all the cupcake stores that have popped up over the past few years) in a small town in Minnesota. She is kind of dating 2 guys, one of them a dentist and the other a detective. Her family all lives in town with the exception of her dad, who has passed away, and her baby sister, who is off at school. Basically in every book, Hannah will find a dead body or is with someone when a dead body is discovered. Hannah then solves the murder. While the plot in each story may sound predictable, it is far from it. I love these books because: A. there are recipes. B. There are some surprising endings to the stories and C. the characters actually develop a lot throughout the series. I love reading these books and finding out if Andrea (Hannah's sister) has had her baby or if Lisa (her partner at the cookie shop) is going to get engaged to Herb. Like I said,the stories develop well and you get to keep up with the characters.
So now to the summary of this particular book. The novel itself was 200 pages with an additonal 166 pages of recipes :) YAY! I won't lie, while I was reading this I noticed that there weren't recipes between chapters like there normally is and I got a little bummed. I flipped through the pages a bit to see if I was getting jipped and saw that there was a TON in the back and all was well. ANYWAYS. . . in this particular story, Hannah is hosting a Christmas potluck for the town of Lake Eden. The reason behind it is that she is collecting recipes and compiling them into a cook book that is getting published (they discuss this in some previous books. . . see continuing story line). She is kind of having a taste test thing and using the Christmas Potluck and as way to carry this out. At the party, a recently divorced resident of Lake Eden shows up with his new wife, a Vegas showgirl. As the party goes on, it is discovered that an antique cake knife that was supposed to be used on the desserts has gone missing. Hannah goes on the prowl to find it and discovers that it was used to murder the new Vegas showgirl wife. She grabs her sometimes man Mike the detective and they decide that most likely the murderer is still at the potluck because of the weather conditions so the building goes on lock down until the murder is solved. Hannah and her sisters end up solving the murder and the Christmas Potluck ends in success.
Like I've said, I love these books, so this one was no exception. I love that stuff from previous books in the series carries in to this one. This series is one that I would read in order, so I can't read another one until I buy the next book. Trip to Barnes and Noble anyone???? I recommend these books to anyone who loves a good mystery and a love of sweets. I can't wait to attempt some of the recipes in the series!
Next up on my reading list: Mansfield Park. I love me some Jane Austen! I've actually never read this book before, but I love Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility, so I don't see why this one would be any different.
Sorry for the long post!
Happy Reading!
Tara
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