Kindle Copy for Review from Net Galley and Kensington Books.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

It’s a busy time for Hannah as she deals with extra baking for the holidays and her sister helping out at the Cookie Jar to stave off the blues and Michele’s love life becomes complicated.

A dead body is found in an abandon storefront near her bakery that will keep her busy as she gets involved once again. She also has to deal with a mysterious Jon Doe who does not remember anything but is good at restoring antique furniture.

It is an enjoyable holiday cozy. If you don’t enjoy the story you can always try the numerous cookies recipes that are included.

Like a Hallmark Christmas Movie with recipes!
The story is less mystery and more about the main character Hannah and her life in a small cozy town, baking and cooking (100 pages of recipes) and just a general, overall sweet getaway.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

#26 in the Hannah Swensen - it takes us back to the early days of The Cookie Jar, Hannah opens the bakery door to a young man who is looking for work in exchange for food. She later finds him unconscious in the store her Mother Delores and friend Carrie want to use as storage for their antiques, The young man has amnesia, so Hannah and her friends band together to identify him. A quick read with recipes.

I do wish the recipes were placed at the end of the book rather than at the end of each chapter.

This was a good cozy story but it felt like a novella. It's another prequel in the series. There wasn't the twists and turns I loved about these stories. With an abundance of recipes and the familiar camaraderie of the characters, the pages flew by and it was an easy read. I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A light, fluffy mystery. A good read. The characters were warm and fully fleshed out. The plot was inviting and cute. Not super-serious until the end but a light, fun mystery. This book was totally worth a read as a prequel to the series. I enjoyed and couldn’t guess the ending. Truly fun and worth a read.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for the opportunity to read the "Christmas Cupcake Murder" by Joanne Fluke in exchange for my honest opinion. This was book #26 in the Hannah Swensen series.

While this story included all the characters that we are used to: Hannah Swensen (owner of The Cookie Jar), her mother Dolores Swensen, Winnetka County Sheriff Department's Chief Detective Mike Kingston, dentist Norman Rhodes and his mother Carrie - this was a very different story to the ones that we usually see in the series. My favourite character is still Moishe the cat who provides a lot of excitement in this story. Hannah, Dolores and Carrie find a "body" in an empty building that they are hoping to rent to store their antiques in. Hannah immediately recognizes him as the incredibly polite young man who came into her shop offering to work in exchange for some food and a chance to warm up.

This is a fun book for the Christmas season but the only problem was that there were many mistakes that made the reading choppy and parts of it were impossible to figure out, especially if you wanted to try out some of the recipes.

Page 23 - "Where you do think you stored those decorations?" is a very awkward sentence.

Page 45 - "Wait" Delores grabbed Hannah's arm. "I thought I saw something over there." "Over where?" Carrie asked her.... "It must have been my imagination," Carrie admitted, and Hannah heard ... - I had to read it several times to understand that the character of Delores and Carrie were mixed up in the sentence.

Page 65 - "The recipe for Cinful Sugar Cookies is give on page XX." - there is no such page in the book.

Page 86 - "(that consists of four 1/45 minute segments)" - instruction doesn't make sense.

Page 105 - "12-ounce (by weight) bag of white chocolate or vanilla baking chips (1/41/4-ounce package will do)" - again the 1/41/4 instruction doesn't make sense.

Page 137 - 1/$ cup, 1/$ tsp, 1/$ peeled apples, 1 can blueberry 1/$ pie filling - none of these measurements make sense.

Page 148 - "and it was a thoroughly profession job" - professional would make more sense.

Page 185 - "and she going to marry Jake!" - she is going to - would make more sense.

Page 189 - again lists the "(1/41/4-ounce package will do)" - measurement is hard to follow.

Index of Recipes lists all recipes as follows "page 00" or page "000" - there are no such pages in the book.

Christmas Cupcake Murder is the 26th book in the Hannah Swensen cozy mystery series by Joanne Fluke. Yes, I've read all of the previous ones, including several short stories about Hannah's investigations in a collection with other authors. And... though this one comes out in about a month, the next one, #27, is already confirmed for early 2021 and I can't wait to read it! Why, you ask? Keep on reading...

In this caper, Fluke rolls us back a good decade to the year Hannah first opened her cookie store. We've done a trace back to history before, learning how and why Hannah chose to open a store, but this time, we look at what happened when a seemingly homeless man shows up asking for a cup of coffee and some work. Hannah, of course, helps him out... only to find him knocked unconscious several days later in the building that her mother eventually buys to open her antiques business. Talk about learning a lot in this book!

As usual, the story is less about the mystery and more about Hannah's life and her various family and friends. The books are about 250 pages, of which 100 are dedicated to recipes, and in the remaining 150, at least 75 pages focus solely on how to bake or what's happening around town with relationships and town business. So... the mysteries are always light. In this one, it's not who killed someone but who is this homeless man that has amnesia. We know he'll be connected to someone in Lake Eden, one of the many (250+) characters we've met in the past... and it's always a joy to revisit some old faves.

Warning... if you want a series with great mysteries, this will not be the right set of books for you. This is more about relaxing in a cozy town, getting to know hundreds of fun people over decades and ~30 books of food heaven. I like this aspect... and while I wish the murders and mysteries were about twice as complex, just to give us enough meat, I still enjoy them for what they are... and I can honestly say, once I'm done, I feel like I want to move there. I miss the people, and they sometimes feel all too real. So... in that respect, kudos to the author for creating such a magnificent sense of connection and longing.

When we do find out who the John Done / Joe Smith is, we also learn how to make German Chocolate Cupcakes, so it's a win all around.

I have seen the Hallmark version of some of the books in this series, but this is only the second book I’ve read by Joanne Fluke. She is, indeed, a wonderful, engaging author. This is a very cute Christmas book. It’s a prequel showing the early days of Hannah's bakery, the birth of her mother's new business, along with some drama with an exciting host of characters. Per usual, there are tons of exciting recipes to try when you are finished reading.

I feel like the ones that go back and are books that happen before the first book in the series should be numbered that way. I thought the first book that went back in time and told about Hannah getting the bakery was good to learn how it happened, but this one was sort of pointless. It was nice to have a quick mystery, but the ending seemed to throw a lot at the reader and it just kept getting more and more far-fetched.

I have loved this series since book one! It has such an engaging cast of repeat characters and the recipes Hannah comes up with are yummy!!! I am partial to the Christmas ones in this series though so I couldn’t have loved this mystery more. Keep it up Ms. Fluke!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Christmas means loads of new recipes from Hannah. This book is a prequel to early in Hannah's career with her shop and her mother's new business. There are always so many recipes I want to try, but need to keep track of all the calories!

It has been a while since I've read a Joanne Fluke book, but I was able to dive right into Christmas Cupcake Murder with Hannah Swenson and the characters I remember. I love the recipes included in each chapter. Christmas Cupcake Murder was a solid, quick read with good characters and a good mystery.

I enjoyed escaping for a few hours and reading this book and savoring the recipes!

#ChristmasCupcakeMurder #NetGalley

Christmas Cupcake Murder
Joanne Fluke
September 29, 2020

Joanne Fluke gives us her 26th Hannah Swensen novel. It’s a Christmas holiday adventure with plenty of new recipes. This is an introduction to Hannah Swensen. You thought the Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder was her series start? Fluke has added this new beginning to the Swensen murder sequence. Hannah starts her usual early baking this time of year it is exceptionally busy due to the holidays. She has had it in her mind to make German chocolate cupcakes. Her first batch is in the oven when she hears a knock at the back door. Odd she thinks, that is an unknown rap. She usually recognizes the tap of her family and friends’ knock. Each has their own sound and pattern. Upon opening the door she finds a young man, probably in his 20s. He appears to be shabby, possibly homeless. He doesn’t look well. Mike Kingston the local Chief Detective would be unhappy with her just answering the door but she invited him in, inquiring how she could help. He wanted to do work for something to eat. Hannah commented on the cold and thought the first item should be coffee and perhaps a freshly baked cupcake. Thus begins the relationship with John Doe.
The entire book is centered around Christmas and all the trimmings. Finding out who John Doe is and working on returning him to his family is the crisis that she, her family, and friends need to resolve. A note to the reader, this book is set before Delores and Carrie open the antique store. Family matters that have transpired in subsequent novels have not happened as yet. If you have read the entire series (or most of it) the plot can sometimes feel like you have read the book before, not so. I rather liked Fluke’s method of giving us a glimpse of Hannah’s life as it began in the early stages of The Cookie Jar. It is also a good one to pick up if you have not read any of her Swensen mysteries or perhaps watched them on the Hallmark Channel. Each has been a pleasant and a fun story to read. If recipes are good as well as the read this one has many as well.
Christmas Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke will be released by Kensington Books on September 29, 2020. I am appreciative of Kensington for allowing me to read and review #26 in Fluke’s Swensen series. I look forward to each new selection.

Christmas Cupcake Murder is the 26th book in the Hannah Swensen Mysteries by Joanne Fluke. This offering goes back in time before Delores opened her antique shop, it is the first Hannah Swensen mystery that I could not put down in ages.

I do not understand why this titled the Christmas Cupcake Murder because this time no one dies. Instead, Hannah is helping a man who has memory loss find his true identity. Having no murder victim was a pleasant change. It was nice to see Hannah’s friends and family come together to help Joe Smith, who did not want to be a John Doe. I enjoyed this book very much.

I reviewed Coconut Layer Cake back in February, and I struggled with finishing the book. Minus Ross or anything that happened since Hannah married him, Christmas Cupcake Murder was much more enjoyable. Many long time readers felt fed up with the longstanding love triangle between Mike and Norman. Then Fluke added Ross into the mix, removed him and brought him back. When Fluke tried to fix the issue, she made some bad choices that made it harder for me to read the series. There is none of that in Christmas Cupcake Murder.

In this flashback we see Hannah, Mike, and Norman before the love triangle. I think Christmas Cupcake Murder not only reaffirms that Norman is the best suitor for Hannah, but that Fluke can drop the love triangle for a few books and that all three can work together. Without the strange three way dates.

Another issue that made reading these books hard on me was Delores makes comments about Hannah’s weight. I cannot recall Delores making any rude remarks to Hannah at all. Christmas Cupcake Murder is a pure mystery with a few subplots and some filler. I felt some scenes lasted longer than needed once or twice, but this did not detract from the book.

As usual, Hannah’s recipes take up at least a quarter of the book. Christmas Cupcake Murder is a lighthearted, quick read. I rated it four stars on Goodreads and I hope that Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder will be just as enjoyable. I wish it were coming out sooner and recommend Christmas Cupcake Murder!

Many thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel.

This story takes place early in the series before Delores has opened her antiques store. Hannah is working in the Cookie Jar one morning when she gets a visit from a homeless man who asks for work in exchange for food. Seeing that he is very cold and hungry, Hannah gives him food and coffee and finds him a warm sweater and scarf from her lost and found box. A couple of days later, Hannah, Delores and Carrie are checking out an empty storefront for a potential spot for the antiques storage, when they find the homeless man lying under a pile of rags, unconscious and near death. After he's taken to the hospital, he tells them he thinks his name is Joe, but can't remember much else. Doc finds he's had a severe head injury. But Joe has a talent for restoring wood and furniture, so ends up doing odd jobs around the hospital and for Delores. Eventually, Hannah gets enough info from him to find out where he comes from.

This was a nice story, but the ending was too rushed with several big holes in the story. But I enjoyed it anyway. It's always nice to get back to Lake Eden.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books, in return for an honest review. While a prequel to a long-running series, it is easily read as a standalone. Hannah owns a bakery in Lake Eden, Minnesota, and spends part of everyday devising new cookie and cupcake recipes. The mystery involves a polite, homeless man who appears at her back door on a cold, Minnesota morning and asks about odd jobs. She feeds him cupcakes and coffee and has him scrape her car of ice/snow. A few days later, Hannah, her mother and her mom’s best friend explore an empty store that might become her mom’s antique store. They discover the man, unconscious and almost frozen. The town rallies around him to discover what clues they can, as he suffers from amnesia but remembers vague memories relating to his mother, a farm and furniture refinishing work. Thanks to their efforts, the mystery man is able to recover his memories and his former life.
I’ve not read the series so I’m writing about this book as a stand-alone. Ms. Fluke ends each chapter with a recipe so there are lots of delicious treats featured in this cozy. I applaud her for detailed and imaginative recipes that sound wonderful (and caloric!). The book introduces what are, probably, recurring characters in the series. Hannah is single and at her mother’s beck and call. She bakes for the hospital, helps decorate for Christmas and runs the bakery, with the help of an assistant. She also creates new recipes every chapter, which leads me to believe she’s both superwoman and has the patience of a saint. Seems a likeable heroine, as evidenced by the number of books in the series. Her mum strikes me as a pain but that allows for character growth, I suspect.

Thank you to Kensington Books for the gifted review copy of Christmas Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke. All opinions are my own.

Hannah Swenson is back and she's trying to solve a missing person case. The story goes back in time to before her mother and Carrie own the antique business near her. When a nice man knocks on her back door and asks for work Hannah wants to help him. He's very polite but also very cold and thin. She knows he needs help. Soon "Joe" is hospitalized. He doesn't know his name or how he got to Lake Eden. It will take Hannah with all of her family and friends to help him.

I do recommend the entire series but for anyone new to the series this could work as a stand alone or be read out of order. It is not a continuation of her current storyline so this book will work for all readers.

Joanne Fluke has a way with her feel good Hannah Swenson series. The characters are people you would want to be your friend. The town of Lake Eden feels like a family. I read the series because I love the characters.

As with all of the books in the Hannah Swenson series, it is full of beautiful recipes. I'm looking forward to trying some of the recipes in Christmas Cupcake Murder. All of the recipes I have tried from previous books and her cookbook have been amazing.

Cozy mysteries are perfect for light and fun reads.

Mystery & Thrillers
Release Date: September 29, 2020

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC. This story is not set in the current time. She went back in time before the Antique shop was open. I did enjoy the new characters she introduced in this backstory. There were quite a few new recipes. Can't divulge too much or will give the plot away. Enjoy! Looking forward to her next book.

This is book 26 (!!) of this sweet little series, and another winner from Joanna! FYI, book 27 is due out in February! First recommendation- have a snack nearby and do NOT read on an empty stomach, as you will soon be craving cookies and cupcakes! LOL. This isn't your traditional murder mystery, as there isn't a murder, but possibly an attempted one! It's more of trying to figure out who John Doe IS first, and then figuring out if something bad DID happen to him! It's a charming, quick read, and features some AMAZING recipes, that I will be baking this holiday season for sure-especially the devine and easy German Chocolate Cake and Blue Apple Pie!! So your second recommendation is you might want the print form of this book for all the wow recipes!

I love a good Hannah Swenson Baking/Murder Mystery. This book is not set in the present day like so many of her stories, but goes back and fills us in on some earlier history. I have read all of the Hannah Swenson books and I am always looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.