Hannah Swanson is back. She leaves the cold of Lake Eden for the sunny California weather per her doctor. Oh, also to help a friend move. However, with one phone call, Hannah is back to the cold of Minnesota. When her sister's boyfriend is accused of murder, Hannah knows that she must clear his name not matter what the cost. This is going to be difficult though because all Lonnie remembers about that night is helping the impaired woman into her bedroom and waking up on her couch. Without the help of two lead investigators, Hannah isn't sure if she will be able to find the real murderer.
I always love the people of Tinker's Cove, It is a pleasant series of books that one can sit, enjoy, and disappear into for a few hours. I was glad to have our old Hannah character back. I was also glad to see that maybe Hannah was finally ready to decide her future. This is such a fun series with recipes included that I love to try. I am not sure that I do them justice but they always sound so delicious in the story. I received a copy through Netgalley. A positive review was not required.

If you are here for my review of the latest Hannah Swensen Mystery, it is likely you are already familiar with the series. This is the 25th Hannah Swensen Mystery. You would expect the murder victim would be important, right? Michelle, Hannah’s youngest sister’s boyfriend Lonnie, who is a Lake Eden detective, finds himself accused of murder. As usual, Hannah must solve the murder, except this time she has Mike’s blessing. You should know that it’s not the murder that matters in this installment. It is the subplots that matter most. Hannah’s relationships with the other characters are the actual heart of the story. It sets the tone for the next book in the series.

As usual recipes take up at least a quarter of the book. Making this Hannah Swensen Mystery a quick read compared to some longer books in the series. We all know adding Ross to the mix made a lot of longtime fans upset. I call it Rossgate as some readers liked a new love interest who was not Mike or Norman. It seems this volume is trying to correct that, but not the way longtime readers would like.

Let’s get a few of my gripes aside. When the book begins Dolores insinuates that Hannah is fat. Reminding us after a few books where Hannah did not complain about her hair or weight, that Dolores can be very hurtful towards Hannah.

Then it looks like the book will fix Rossgate and I have hope. I am a Norman and Hannah shipper myself, Mike has cheated, and he doesn't love her. Only to have that hope dashed further in the book.

This is the real tea Hannah Swensen Mystery fans want to hear. We do not care who dies. And we know Hannah will solve said murder. The readers want to know is Hannah getting back together with Norman or Mike? Well, this important subplot is left unresolved in the book. Though I feel like there is an indicator, she will end up with one of them.

The murder itself is stupid. It is no one Hannah knows. Hannah could have solved the murder sooner. Hannah should have questioned all witnesses who were there that night right away. But she didn’t for some unknown reason. Not to mention Hannah led herself into mortal peril on purpose. I wish Hannah would stop doing that.

Overall, I rated the book 3 out five stars on Goodreads. I hope that I am not being set up for a letdown. It feels like the books will go back to the love triangle that everyone hates. I felt a glimmer of hope it will not a few times. Hannah’s friend Lynn said something to her I think that may help her make the right choice.

If the victim hadn’t been a nobody to the series and Hannah had investigated better, I would have enjoyed the plot more. I was so happy that Ross was gone and if the love triangle wasn’t looming on the horizon, I would have rated the book 4 stars instead. Hopefully reader feedback will be taken into account before the next book and our beloved series will be back on track.

Cozy, quick read. Not much happens except a LOT of baking. I almost could read some notes of finality in the last chapter, and so I wonder if this series is winding to an end? #teamnorman all the way! Thanks, Netgalley, for this arc.

Murder - great. Recipes - even better. I've just have small things with this book (okay, probably the series) that irked me....

1) What stewardess knows the baggage claim carousel at LAX prior to landing?
2) To make the 15 mile circle between LAX, Paramount Studios and Brentwood it would take at least 2-3 hours... Traffic is really that bad...
3) Who in the Midwest doesn't already understand the concept of a crockpot and already have at least 1?
4) Why is Eden Lake so small that everyone knows the Swensens but Lonnie knows absolutely no gossip?
5) Can they just call it dinner or chicken instead of always saying the full and complete recipe name multiple times? That's why pronouns were invented..... Has she not seen School House Rock?
6) How does Hannah make money if she's constantly giving away cookies, pies and cakes? Why does she give away the recipes?????

But most importantly....

Who the heck would marry a man who wears INITIALED VELOUR SWEAT SUITS???????

And yet, I still eagerly crave a new Hannah Swensen book every February.....I'm addicted.....

This is such a fun continuation of the Murder She Baked/Hannah Swensen mysteries!

In true Hannah fashion, she cuts her vacation short to head back to Lake Eden and solve a murder. This book will be a great read for these long winter days, or to curl up with as the early spring sunshine peeks out!

Fans of Hannah, of Joanne Fluke, of Kensington Books and all things cozy will delight in this new mystery. Solid four star read!

It was an interesting story, but I always wonder how lay people get so involved in police work. Would't be easy in the small town I live in, but maybe none of us are intuitive enough, Nice addition to the series.

Coconut Later Cake Murder is the 25th book in the Hannah Swensen cozy mystery series by Joanne Fluke. I have read them all and am happy that things are returning to normal after the “Ross debacle.”

I like how Hannah and Norman are growing closer. They work together to try to clear Lonnie of murder charges. Mike and company have been taken off the case as they work with Lonnie. This doesn’t mean they aren’t willing to help. This wasn’t quite the old story feeling but I did feel we are headed back in the right direction.

I enjoyed the recipes, the story, and family /community feeling that always accompanies this series.

I am looking forward to the next one even though it is starting seem formulated.
I received an advanced copy of the book by Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review.

This was another great addition to the Swenson series, but I feel like a great opportunity was missed with the location of the crime. This book was a pleasure to read, and while the previous book was a cliffhanger, I was disappointed to learn that how it left off with us believing was not told true at the first of this one. I cannot wait to recommend this new addition to the wonderful series to everyone I know. This was such a joy to read, and I thank the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the honor of having the ARC.

The romance angst is killing me. I am more team Mike than team Norman, but unlike others I would be willing to continue with how things are because I wouldn't want to break either of the guy's hearts. I find the cadence of this series simple and comforting. Hannah's surrounding cast of characters are likable and always nice to visit. I thought the mystery in 'Coconut Layer Cake Murder' was believable. I am going to the store today to purchase ingredients for cookie recipes! I look forward (with a heavy heart) to finding out who the father of Hannah's dream child will be.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

It's time for another visit to Lake Eden, and this time it is going to be Hannah Swensen's 25th mystery!! I can barely believe it's been 25 books since I picked up Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, one of the very first cozy mysteries I ever read. From that very first book, Joanne Fluke has been delighting me with suspenseful mysteries and mouth-watering recipes, and Coconut Layer Cake Murder is no exception!

In Coconut Layer Cake Murder, Hannah and her mom, Delores, are off to sunny California, to help a friend move back to Lake Eden. However, not all is sunshine and happiness. When Hannah receives a frantic phone call from her sister, Michelle, she must turn her back on the sunshine and head back to freezing Lake Eden to help clear Michelle's boyfriend, Lonnie, who is the number one suspect in a murder case. It's up to Hannah, with help from Norman, and the rest of the Lake Eden gang to put their heads together and solve the crime before Lonnie is put away for life.

I've loved every book in the Hannah Swensen mysteries, and it's one of two very long-running series that I've kept up with every book. It always delivers the coziest of cozy towns (I want to move to Lake Eden - minus the murders of course!) and a page-turning mystery. This time, I guessed the mystery quite a while before Hannah and her sleuthing friends, but this didn't diminish my enjoyment. I love watching Hannah follow the clues, and solve the mystery.

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder (book 24) leaves readers with a cliffhanger, and Coconut Layer Cake Murder picks up this storyline right away. For this reason I don't recommend starting this series with Coconut Layer Cake. Each book in this series builds on the previous, and it's best to read in order. I suggest starting with Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder. You won't disappointed, as this series is one of the most recommended, for good reason!! If you are a fan of "food-themed" cozy mysteries you need to read this series!

I'm looking forward to Christmas Cupcake Murder, coming out in September. From the start I've been #TeamNorman and I can't wait to see if my Christmas wish comes true!! I would love to see Hannah settle down with ever-lasting romance one of these days!!

I have read the entire series and I was pleased to receive this for review. Congratulations to Joanne Fluke on this 25th release in this beloved series. I was delighted to read this cover to cover as soon as I was approved. Thank you with gratitude to the publisher and to Net Galley. Joanne Fluke is a long time favorite cozy author of mine. The stories have entertained me for years. This was as entertaining and fun as the previous books in the series. The receipes here are phenomenal . I believe this book has even more receipes then usual. Well done to the author and her test kitchen !

In this next in series our Hannah is leaving for California with her Mother. Unfortunately her trip is short and she has to fly right back to snowy freezing Minnesota when her sister's boyfriend is accused of murder. He is a deputy who was off duty and happened to spend the night at a drunk women's home who was murdered in her bed. He is now the primary suspect and Hannah is determined to do what she can to help investigate as she believes in him and knows his charcter.

Back with Norman and Mike at her side, still vying for her attention she begins to investigate. Along the way is a storage unit found in her dead husband's name full of suitcases of money and false identification which of course Hannah hands over to Mike for evidence. This is more proof for Hannah that he was leaving her which she would not face before his murder.
She is now moved in with Norman with her cat who is as humorous as ever. Poor long suffering Norman loves her and tells her so but Hannah is sure to point out to whoever ask she just does not love him but she sure uses him for comfort and taking care of her every need. This was quite irritating as at this point Norman has no reason to stay with Hannah as she continually turns him down and turns to Mike when she feels pressured. Its is humorous how Norman puts his dental practice on hold and apparently never sees patients as he is constantly chasing after Hannah and running her many errands. At this point I want to scream out "be a man" dump her ! But the story continues with Norman and Hannah devoted to each other without anything other then a strange friendship that is been drawn out for over a decade now. Norman is part of their family and eats almost every meal with them even offering his guest room to one of the family friends' from California. This reader suspects that the last book may very well be their final love story. Alas this reader was so disappointed to not see a Hannah Normal pairing off finally after two decades. Mike seems to take a back seat to Norman now and seems to have stopped the incessant flirting and arguing with Norman over Hannah. He has a knack for showing up when cookies are fresh out of the oven and at meal time and I enjoy the meals Hannah and Norman prepare together for her family and friends. The friendships and family togetherness here is charming and I love how all the charcters care for one another . Its so enjoyable to read about such close knit people and strong friendships. Having read this series for 20 years I do enjoy all the supporting charcters. They are endearing and people we would all love to have for family and friends.

The mystery was well plotted, the returning supporting charcters are always a delight. I enjoyed reading about the receipes although they are to fattening for me to try ! Some that can eat butter , sugar and fat will enjoy making the many receipes for cookies and meat based main dishes within each chapter. This would be a great book to buy a hard copy of for the receipes for years to come.

As a long time reader I look forward to each new release. This was a enjoyable read for all of us that are fans of the series . I hope the series will continue and Norman will have his happy ending. As always Ms. Fluke your receipes are amazing and your books are absolutely cozy charming. We fans adore you and look forward to a Norman and Hannah wedding in the near future.

I have to admit that I love this series and I eagerly await the new ones each year. The characters and setting have become very comfortable for me and I feel like I'm going home as I settle in for each cozy read. This book felt exactly that way for me. I enjoyed finding out what everyone has been up to, visiting the town, and solving a new mystery.

That said, this felt more like a novella than a full book. The mystery was solved quickly, without much substance, and it almost seemed to be taking a backseat to the recipes that were included. The earlier books in the series were much more involved, and solving the mystery took more than interviewing a handful of people. I'd love for them to go back to the format of the prior books, with a full-on investigation taking place.

Hannah Swensen goes with her mother for a well-needed vacation to Los Angeles to help an old friend prepare to move back to Lake Eden, Minnesota. Unfortunately, her trip is cut short by a frantic call for help from her youngest sister, Michelle. A woman has been murdered in her own house and Michelle’s boyfriend, Detective Lonnie Murphy, is the prime suspect. Hannah can’t refuse her sister and returns home to prove Lonnie’s innocence and catch the real killer.

I have read this series from the very beginning and love the premise of a small town bakery owner as an amateur sleuth. I enjoyed reading about the loving relationship between Hannah and her two sisters and seeing the delicious recipes that are included in the book. The past couple of books have not been nearly as good as the books in the beginning and middle of the series. The love triangle between Hannah, Norman, and Mike has gone on way too long. The author has resolved the unneeded complication of Hannah’s relationship with Ross, but Hannah still stays in a state of limbo when it comes to Norman and Mike. I keep reading the new books in the hopes of seeing Hannah finally pick one man (hopefully Norman) and free the other one to move on with someone else.

In addition to Hannah continuing to string both Norman and Mike along, while the two men somehow become even better friends, the recent books have less substance. They have always been quick reads, but there is little in the way of plot development and more a description of a few events, discussions about cookies, and several recipes. In the early books in this series, the recipes were excellent additions to the story, but now they are replacing it. Lonnie tells his version of events and Hannah does some investigating and then discusses the case with her friends. Everything wraps up quickly and Hannah gives a half-hearted promise not to put herself in danger in the future.

Although the murder mystery itself stands alone, the book reference several events in prior books without explaining them. Therefore, this would not be an easy book for new readers to pick up and enjoy without having read at least the last few books. I have spent a lot of time with these characters and keep hoping the books return to the quality of the earlier books I loved. Fans of the series will want to catch up on the latest in Hannah’s personal life, including the answer to the cliffhanger from the prior book, but new readers would be better off starting at the beginning of the series.

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Kensington Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Description
Bakery owner Hannah Swensen is leaving Lake Eden to help a friend in sunny California. But an unexpected phone call swiftly brings her back to a cold Minnesota winter . . . and murder . . .When Hannah learns that her sister Michelle’s boyfriend, Detective Lonnie Murphy, is the prime suspect in a murder case, she goes straight from a movie studio sound stage to the Los Angeles airport. Back in frigid Minnesota, she discovers that proving Lonnie’s innocence will be harder than figuring out what went wrong with a recipe. Lonnie remembers only parts of the night he went out to a local bar and ended up driving a very impaired woman home. He knows he helped her to her bedroom, but he doesn’t recall anything else until he woke up on her couch the following morning. When he went to the bedroom to check on her, he was shocked to discover she was dead. Hannah doesn’t know what to believe—only that exonerating a suspect who can’t remember is almost impossible, especially since Lonnie’s brother, Detective Rick Murphy, and Lonnie’s partner, Chief Detective Mike Kingston, have been taken off the case. Before everything comes crashing down on Lonnie like a heaping slice of coconut layer cake, it’ll be up to Hannah to rack up enough clues to toast a flaky killer . . .

My Review
Another great book by Joanne Fluke. She's done it again!

This ARC was provided to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Boy, was this a great novel. Characters are well written and it keeps you guessing until the very end. I love Hannah Swenson's books so this one was one I truly enjoyed.

The story takes you to California where Hannah is trying to figure out if her sister's boyfriend Lonnie is a murderer. Pick up your copy today, you will not be disappointed. I give this a definite 5 Star.

I love anything Hannah Swenson so it was no surprise that I loved this book! The mystery was really good and I didn't know who the murderer was until the very end. I enjoyed getting to see what was going on with Hannah in the aftermath of the fiasco with Ross. I really hope that her dream at the end comes true someday! Don't hesitate to purchase this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book to read and review. My mom has read all of the books and this was my first book in the series. My mom and I read it together. She had some deeper insights into the series that I didn't have because it was my first. The beginning of the story takes place in California, which was a fact my mom really enjoyed! She said that it was a refreshing change from the other books. Then suddenly Hannah finds out her sister's boyfriend is a suspect in a murder. Through flashbacks we find out we find out Lonnie, the boyfriends, side of the story. I love the warm, descriptive story! I was on the edge of my seat to find out what would happen as the story proceed through different twists and turns. The book was hard to put down and I enjoyed it!

a cute and charming series and I will still love this series. Unfortunately, these are getting kind of predictable. I was hoping for a little more thrill and mystery. I will still continute to read the series, but hope in the future she will choose a husband (Norman) and maybe this series will not get stuck in a rut. Mrs. Fluke is a great writer and hope that others don't find these getting predictable. Not sure what i would do without the series.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington publishing for allowing me to read this ARC

If you are fans of Hannah Swenson you will like this book and the direction the author is taking as it relates to Hannah’s relationship triangle with Mike and Norman. All I’m going to say on the subject there -

As far is mysteries go it was a nice cozy and true to formula for all the Hannah Swenson books. At the end she discovers the murderer and almost ends up getting killed and the guys come to her rescue.

I have the book 3 stars because for me I have a hard time getting into Ms Flukes books - I love cozies - generally I love mysteries but I just find myself having a hard time getting into the stories. With all the murderer Hannah has sobre you’d think she’d be a little more “street smart”

I don’t know. I love the hallmark series but the books - and I’ve tried a few of them just are slow for me

But again if you are a fan you will like this book and I’m obviously in the minority with the huge success of this franchise

Happy reading

I really loved this book, I couldn't put it down great plots loved the characters and loved the cover and hope there will be more. it made sense who the killer was. I received the copy from netgalley.

So good to be back in Lake Eden with the familiar characters, Hannah, Norman, Mike, Moishe (the 20 lb cat), and all of Hannah's family! The police need Hannah's help to exonerate one of their own. If you enjoy baking, there are lots of delicious recipes since the Cookie Jar is a great place to relax, meet, and find clues. Hannah is still healing after the tragedy in the previous novel. You don't have to read in order, but if you start with this one you will definitely want to read the other titles in this series!