Most years, I try to read a few seasonal or Christmas-themed reads to help get me into a festive mood. So, I was thrilled when I was able to get an ARC of this book. I enjoyed Yule Log Murder and Death By Yule Log more than the last story, Logged On. I liked the "who-done-it" parts of the two stories, but the last one seemed to fall a little flat since it revolved around Julia trying to create THE perfect Buche de Noel and it just wasn't that exciting.

I did have an issue with Leslie Meier referring to her son's pet pitbull as a "beast" or "creature" every time she reference him the story and by using negative pitbull stereotypes such as how it may get out of his pen and attack people. It's 2018. There are no bad pit bulls, only bad pitbull owners. It just as easily could have been a chihuahua attacking someone. *end mini rant*

I received this ARC via Netgalley in return for an honest review. A good holiday read of three stories. Each of the three stories tells of a murder in a small town and uses the theme of the heroine and the yule log cake as a tie-in. Each heroine brings her unique skills to solving the respective murders. One has contends with the murder of an unliked young man who got into a fight with her daughter's new boyfriend at party, then winds up dead and has the remains of yule log in his stomach.

The second heroine desperately wants to create a unique gift after returning to her home town. Other members of her family create speciality baked goods or gifts of homemade jam. She decides that the Buche de Noel is what she wants to give but she can't create one that is worth eating! Enlisting an elderly, solitary neighbor to learn how to make the cake, murder makes an unexpected appearance.

The final heroine is cast in a movie as an extra...and making a movie becomes a murderous experience!.

3 delightful stories that I tried to read as though they were stand alone stories as I've no idea where they fell in any series. I've read a few of Leslie Meier's books but not in any order, so it wasn't terrible. If you're a reader who has to have them in order though? Be sure you do your research.

I loved the recipes that came in the books. I'm hoping to be able to make at least one of them. One, I know I have no hope of making. The stories were very well written and I enjoyed the unique writing styles of each author. This is easily a must-read/give for the holiday season. If you're trying to find a last minute gift for the holidays, surprise your reader with this.

Thank you so much to Kensington Books, Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, Barbara Ross, and NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read these stories and share my honest thoughts and opinions with others.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught.

First, thanks to #NetGalley & #Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this one! I love Christmas themed cozies and a visit with Lucy Stone at Christmas time is always welcome! I enjoy reading about her family and how they all grow and change. My least favorite was the Hayley Powell story. I've never warmed up to this character, so while this wasn't a bad read for me, it wasn't really good either. I also enjoy Barbara Ross' Maine Clambake series and particularly like Ms. St. Onge. In this one she's helping Julia master the art of the Buche de Noel. If you are a fan of one or all of these series, you'll want to read this one!

Around the holidays, most of find it difficult to find time to read our favorite mysteries and thrillers because we are too busy. Yule Log Murder is perfect, since it contains three short novellas by bestselling Leslie Meier, author of the Lucy Stone Mysteries, Lee Hollis, author of the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery Series, and Barbara Ross, author of The Maine Clambake Series. The three books have the same familiar characters as in the regular culinary mysteries, but can be read quickly. As in all good culinary mysteries, all three contain recipes. If you’re looking for something fun to read with a holiday theme, this book is highly recommended.

This is a great little book of 3 cozy (and festive) mystery novellas. I enjoyed all three stories, Lee Hollis' probably most of all. If you're looking for a good cozy to get you in the holiday mood, this book will do it.

Yule Log Murder is actually a collection of three cosy Christmas mystery novellas - Yule Log Mystery by Leslie Meier, Death by Yule Log by Lee Hollis, and Logged On by Barbara Ross. As in any anthology, I liked some better than others (Logged Off was my favourite) but they were all entertaining. They are all set in small towns; they all have female protagonists; all have a touch of humour; and, as the title suggests, yule logs play a role in each story. Overall, this was a fun read and a nice distraction from all the stresses of the season. And, if that's not enough of an incentive to read Yule Log Mystery, there are some delicious-sounding recipes if you are searching for something new for your holiday table including one for, of course, a yule log.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

This collection contains three pretty good holiday stories, all centered around yule logs. In Yule Log Murder, Lucy Stone has become an extra in a movie that is being filmed in Tinker’s Cove. As can be expected, a murder occurs, and Lucy sets off to figure out who the murderer is. There is a large cast of suspects, from the movie director, to the disliked chef making meals and snacks for the movie cast. Lucy has her hands full on this one. Her family is not happy she is missing so much of the holidays. Her son, daughter-in-law and grandson have arrived from Alaska for a surprise visit, and things requiring her attention just keep cropping up all around. Still Lucy, as ever, keeps at it, figuring out just who the perpetrator is. The ending was a bit surprising, as the murderer was not who I suspected. In the second story, Death by Yule Log, Hayley Powell’s son is snowed in at his father’s (her ex) and cannot make it home for the holiday, her daughter comes home with a new beau in tow (one Hayley is not quite so pleased about), and, to make things worse, the town bad boy/brat is found murdered after a public altercation during one of the festivities. Things just seems to keep multiplying, as Hayley sifts through clue after clue to figure out who killed the town bad boy. In the third story, Logged On, Julia Snowden, wanting to please her new beau’s visiting parents, looks to a senior neighbor to help her lean how to make a good “bouche de noel”. As things progress, Julia gets some creepy feelings about people getting sick and even dying after eating the treat. Thus, she begins sifting through the clues to figure out just what, if anything is going on—and whether there is a serial killer in their midst.

The stories were interesting and well done. However, in the second one, the author would periodically interrupt the story with a short chapter of Hayley’s memories of times past and characters when they were younger. I personally found this irritating, and never felt it had much to do with the story. However, I have not read any other of her works and this may be a standard technique/part of the stories. I know I just found it irritating and needless. All in all, this is a pretty good collection that will put the reader right in the mood of Christmas. I received this form NetGalley to read and review.

Craving nostalgia this season? Look no further than this trio of yule log inspired holiday tales. Wholesome values abound in the fictional town of Tinker’s Cover, where no one locks their front door, and readers feel like they are coming home each time they pick up a book. Lee Hollis and Barbara Ross join Leslie Meier with stories of hope and the true meaning of the holidays.

This is a cute Christmas cozy with three entries from different authors.

First up we have Leslie Meier with the Lucy Stone series set in Maine. Lucy is a grandmother here and there's a murder involving a Yule log cake. It's very atmospheric in the descriptions of Christmas in the Maine small town.

Next is Lee Hollis and her sleuth Haley Powell. She's a food columnist and she meets her daughter's new boyfriend around Christmas time. Unfortunately, there's a murder to solve!

Barbara Ross writes the series set in Busman's Harbor, Maine. Her character Julia Snowden wants to make a Yule log and enlists some help but finds a trail of dead people in the process.

These are all great cozy stories, and I highly recommend this anthology. Thanks to Kensington Publishing Company and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I only read the stories by Leslie Meier and Lee Hollis since I'm a fan of both of them. This review is based on the first two stories in the book and not the entire book. Both Yule Log Murder by Leslie Meier and Death By Yule Log by Lee Hollis are full of charming characters that are well written and well developed. Both mysteries are full of red herrings, suspense, and surprise conclusions. The one thing that I didn't like was how Leslie Meier demonized Toby's pet pit bull in her story, I disliked the way she called it "a horrible dog, a beast and a monster". when the entire breed does not have to be stereotyped like this. I've known well behaved pit bulls that are sweet and gentle and pit bulls that are act aggressive towards people and other animals it is all in how they are raised and treated from the day they are born. I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington Books for my honest review.

The first mystery Yule Log Murder by Leslie Meier left nothing to be desired. It was a page turner and like all her other books a great mystery. It was followed by Death by Yule Log by Lee Hollis. It too was a goid mystery the only thing was I didn't realize that the newspaper columns were not the end. The third book was a great mystery Logged On by Barbara Ross. It was not only a great mystery it was funny
A great holiday read.

Yule Log Murder contains three novella by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis and Barbara Ross. The first two involve murder by yule log while the third has a yule log in the plot. Christmas mayhem with Christmas recipes in these three cozies. Human nature is seen in its unholiday worst, but the heroines save the day.

A fun collection of cozy mysteries by good authors that revolve around a Christmas theme. These stories are just the right length to read during a busy holiday season. All three storylines are interesting, and the characters are great.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed all three of the stories contained in this book, and found some new authors to check out. I have read previous books by Leslie Meier and always enjoy catching up with Lucy Stone and her family.

I was drawn to this book by the cover and authors. I really like short Christmas stories and this book was perfect. All three stories had the right amount of holiday spirit and got me ready for the holidays I highly recommend this book for all Christmas Cozy lovers

Yule Log Murder contains three short cozy mysteries by Lucy Stone, Barbara Ross and Lee Hollis. Yule Log Murder by Leslie Meier takes us to Tinker’s Cove, Maine. Lucy is playing an extra in the period film, Guinevere being filmed at Pine Point. Lucy finds it tedious until the cook’s assistant is found dead smothered in pink icing from a yule log and a knife to the stomach. When Phyllis Lundquist’s relative is arrested for the crime, Lucy is tasked with finding the culprit. She must work in her sleuthing in between working at the paper, her role in the film and the final preparations for Christmas. Lucy gets an early Christmas present when her son, Patrick and his family arrive to celebrate the holidays. Surprise turns to shock when she encounters their new pit bull, Skittles and hears their unexpected news. Spending time on the set tracking down a killer sounds like a welcome escape to Lucy.

Lee Hollis entertains readers with Death by Yule in Bar Harbor, Maine. Hayley Powell’s holidays are not starting off as planned when her son, Dustin becomes snowed in with his father. Her daughter, Gemma arrives with her new actor boyfriend, Conner who seems too perfect. They attend Liddy’s annual Christmas party which has a significant number of party crashers including local bad boy, Ryan Toledo. After an altercation between Ryan and Conner over Gemma, Ryan is escorted out of the party. A few hours later, Ryan is found in the woods near Liddy’s house with remnants of one of Hayley’s Yule logs on his body. Connor is at the top of the suspect list and a distressed Gemma asks Hayley to clear his name. Which resident of Bar Harbor is getting an orange jumpsuit for Christmas?

Logged On by Barbara Ross is set in Busman’s Harbor, Maine. Julia Snowden wants to start her own Christmas tradition and she has decided it will be a Buche de Noel (oh dear). Julia is not going to let the fact she cannot make a decent one stop her. Julia’s mother suggests she consult their crusty neighbor, Mrs. Odile St. Onge. The baking lessons begin, and they give Julia a chance to learn more about the reclusive woman. Julia has noticed that Mrs. St. Onge’s caregiver quit showing up recently along with her grand-nephew which leaves the older woman without assistance. She decides to investigate the matter, and Julia is dismayed when she learns that Mrs. St. Onge has had a few relatives pass away during the holidays after eating her Buche de Noel. The more Julia learns the more alarmed she becomes. Julia is determined to get answers, but she is wary of becoming the next victim.

Yule Log Murder contains three entertaining cozy mysteries. While the three tales are part of existing series, you can read them as standalones. I enjoyed visiting some of my favorite characters during the holiday season. Yule logs are woven into each story. While these delectable cakes are beautiful, they are not easy to make. There are friendly characters, charming small towns, holiday cheer and mysteries in each novella. All three are well-written with steady pacing and good flow. I was a little surprised by what is happening with Patrick Stone’s family in Yule Log Murder. They are not as I remember them, and I hope we see significant changes before they appear in the series again (I know I am being vague, but I do not want to spoil it for you). All three mysteries have humor, but I found myself laughing more at Julia’s antics in Logged On. All three crimes can easily be solved, but they are still pleasing to read (I stayed up very late finishing this collection). I am giving Yule Log Murder 4 out of 5 stars. Find yourself a comfy chair to relax in while reading the diverting and merry novellas in Yule Log Murder.

There was three stories included in this book. Each story took place in Maine and there was a yule log for Christmas covered in each story. Also each story was a mystery.
Each story was well covered and you did not feel like they had rushed through the story.
This would be a great book to read during December to get you in the Christmas holiday.

This book contains three Christmas mystery novellas by three different mystery authors that I love, featuring their main characters and a Yule Log. Up first is the title story by Leslie Meier as Lucy Stone tries to figure out how a young woman died on the set of a movie being filmed in town. Next comes "Death by Yule Log" by Lee Hollis. In this story, Hayley Powell meets her daughter's new boyfriend. While she is less than impressed with him, she begins to poke around when he is accused of murder. Finally comes "Logged On" by Barbara Ross. Christmas is approaching, and Julia Snowden is determined to make a great yule log, so seeks help from Mrs. St. Onge, an unpleasant neighbor everyone agrees makes the best yule log cakes around. All her relatives seemed to have died at Christmas and others in her life are missing. Can Julia solve this mystery?

This is a nice anthology featuring three strong mysteries. The stories are not long, but the authors managed to write some good stories with a few twists and turns. I think I liked Death By Yule Log the best, but all were enjoyable. You do not need to read the series these stories are connected to in order to enjoy them, but if you do, you will recognize many of the same characters. The Yule Log Murder is an excellent way to get into the Christmas spirit. Despite all the tales using a yule log, each one had an entirely different spin on the plot. You'll get plenty of Christmas spirit while reading this book, and each author includes some recipes you can make after you've finished the book, including three different recipes for yule logs. The publisher, Kensington Publishing Corporation, generously provided me with a copy of this book upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.