This book contains Christmas-themed Hannah Swenson mysteries stories that were previously published. if you have been reading the entire series then maybe just skip this book if you wish.
I am not one who read the entire series and for me, the stories are brand new because I had never read them before.

I actually very much enjoyed both stories. It isn't what I usually read these days but i liked the stories enough to want to start reading the entire series at some point.

I do recommend this one.

This book is really a combination of two previously published books which I had already read. If I had realized that, I would not have chosen to read this one. To be honest, the Hannah Swensen books have lost their appeal to me. Because this is a compilation of two books, I will provide a review for each individually.

Christmas Caramel Murder ~ Hannah Swensen #20: Once again Hannah finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. This novella puts Hannah’s business partner, Lisa, as the primary suspect. There are shenanigans and Hannah will do her best to solve the crime. As the reader has come to expect, there are appetizing recipes included.

Christmas Cake Murder ~ Hannah Swensen #23: This book is a little different in that it takes you back in the past when Hannah is starting up The Cooke Jar. While anyone who has been reading the books in the Hannah Swensen series, you will be familiar with the majority of characters. However, there is the typical mystery that will appeal to you. And, of course, the delicious recipes are scattered throughout.

Just be aware that you are getting two previously published books when you start reading this one.

This is a two books in one compilation. It contains Christmas Caramel Murder and Christmas Cake Murder. Christmas Caramel Murder is told as a flashback, while Christmas Cake Murder is set in the past when Hannah was just in the process of starting her bakery.

Both are satisfying for fans and can be stand alones for people new to the series. These were satisfying rereads for me.

I have been a Hannah Swanson fan since the beginning. Hannah is a character that I can very much relate. Owning a cookie shop would be wonderful experience. I love how Hannah seems to have trouble follow her. She stumbles upon dead bodies and strange circumstances at just about every turn. This series is such a fun series. Bonus: So many recipes are shared. This book contains two previous stories set during Christmas time. Revisiting old friends is always welcome especially during Christmas. I look forward to more mysteries for Hannah and her family and friends to solve. A received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

This book contains two Hannah Swenson stories. As usual we get to revisit with all our friends at the cookie jar, and Hannah falls into murders. With the help of her family and friends Hannahwill do her own sleuthing to help find the murderers.
This series never fails to hold my attention. The stories are well written and the mystery keeps me guessing.


** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**

I really enjoy Joanne’s novels and this was no exception. Lots of twists and turns, leaving you guessing throughout. The plot was complex until the end. Great read. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance read copy!

First of all, I'm not sure why this is numbered as a regular new book, because it's not new. I'ts simply a compilation of two previous Christmas themed books, Christmas Caramel Murder #20 that was published in 2016 and Christmas Cake Murder #23, published in 2018. The thing both had in common was that they were both written as flashbacks. Luckily, we do get a brand new Hannah coming in February, but maybe since the tradition has always been to have a Christmas themed book, that could be why this one was put together. (I honestly didn't notice it myself until after I'd already committed to it.)

I can't say either of these books were my favorite mysteries in this series, but you're still going to drool over the amazing-sounding recipes inside along with all our favorite characters. Lake Eden at Christmas always does seem very magical, but in this small town, murder doesn't take a vacation. If you haven't read either #23 or #20 and are collecting them all to read, this seems like it'd save a little over buying the books separately.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Christmas Dessert Murder contains two previous books (Hannah Swensen mysteries ) by Joanne Fluke- Christmas Caramel Murder and Christmas Cake Murder. These books are in publishing order (Christmas Caramel Murder was published first), but in the timeline of Hannah Swensen, the Christmas Cake Murder came first. I probably would have switched them around for this book. Anyways, this is a fun Christmas cozy mystery collection. And if you like to bake the following recipes are included:

- Chocolate Flan
-Red Velvet Whippersnapper Cookies
-Grilled Ham and Double Cheese Sandwiches
-Gingerbread Pancakes
-Angel Jellies
-Chocolate Caramels
-Chocolate-covered Mint Cookies
-Christmas Orange Raisin Cake
-Red Raspberry Muffins
-Butterscotch Crunch Candy
-Cashew Candy Rolls
-Cherry Shortbread Bars
- Christmas Crunch Cookies
- Honey Apple Crisp
- Anytime Peach Pie
- Pork Roast
-Ultimate Lemon Bundt Cake
-Bacon and Sausage Breakfast Burritos
-Cashew Butter Blossom Cookies
-Chocolate Hazelnut Bon-Bons
-Ultimate Butterscotch Bundt Cake
-Ultimate Christmas Bundt Cake
-Minty Dream Cookies

I look forward every year to a new Hannah Swenson Murder Mystery, and hopefully, also a new book as well. This novel was a sort of anthology with a combination of two books already in print. The Christmas Caramel Murder and The Christmas Cake Murder. When I first started reading, I felt confused by Ross for a second though. I loved these two books the very first time that I read them, and I enjoyed them this time again. I would loved to have had a totally new book for this holiday season, but that is okay. I am extra into the Christmas spirit this year, and would have loved something different, but these are two "oldies but goodies." The first is not my favorite of the holiday books, but the second is a favorite. Plus, there are great recipes sprinkled throughout the book.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have read all of the Hannah Swensen series. I am a bit annoyed that books are being repackaged under new names. I look forward to a new release from the author.

I see that NetGalley has removed this title. Good. This may have a new title but it contains two old books. The stories were good…the first time I read them.

Christmas Dessert Murder by Joanne Fluke contains Christmas Caramel Murder (Book 20) and Christmas Cake Murder (Book 23). These are not new Hannah Swensen tales but reprints. While I wish they were new stories, I still enjoyed reading these two holiday tales. All our favorite characters are back: Hannah, Delores, Michelle, Mike, Norman, Andrea, and Lisa. The stories move along at a quick pace. The are lighthearted stories with plenty of cozy moments. Hannah spends time baking (of course), cooking, eating, and with her friends and family. There are plenty of recipes for readers to try as well. I thought it was amusing that in Christmas Caramel Murder, Hannah is visited by her father who acts as the ghosts of past, present, and future. In Christmas Caramel Murder, Hannah is telling the story to Ross while they enjoy dessert at the Lake Eden Inn. Christmas Cake Murder takes us back to when Hannah was in college and her father had recently passed away. Hannah is worried about her mother who has not been the same since Lars passed away. Recreating the Christmas Ball for Essie gets Delores up and out of the house. Hannah is enlisted to make the cakes for the cake parade at the ball. I liked that we get to learn more about the Swensen women as well as Lisa. There is a story within a story in this book. Hannah reads Essie’s notebooks which contains a story she was writing. I liked this tale. The mystery was simple but interesting. I did find the dialogue to be off. It was awkward at times. I do wish that the recipes were put at the end of the book instead of between the chapters. They interrupt the flow of the story. It was great to visit Lake Eden, Minnesota so I could check in with Hannah and the gang. There are mouthwatering recipes that will have you heading to the kitchen for a bake-a-thon. Christmas Dessert Murder contains two A Hannah Swensen Mysteries that will get you in the mood for the holidays.

Christmas Dessert Murder by Joanne Fluke is really two books, both with a Christmas theme. The second of the books, Christmas Cake Murder is really kind of an origin story, taking place as Hannah opens her bakery and how that all came to be. There is a mystery, but it belong to someone else, a person who had been writing a book, but didn't know how to end it, so she left it and Hannah, her sisters, and her mom, came upon it, decided Hannah should read it aloud. At the same time the whole family and some friends are staging a re-enactment of the Christmas Ball at the hotel, no defunct, for an old friend. They do some research, talk to a few people, and are now totally immersed in decorating and baking. Hannah's father, Lars, has just died, and this was helping her mother tremendously.

I have been critical of the last several Hannah Swensen mysteries as I felt they lacked the depth and breadth of her previous works. It is back here. These were both clearly well written and well plotted books bringing Joanne Fluke back into the fold. Her characters were sharp, the plots and pacing were good and it was almost as if they had been written in an earlier time: I can find evidence that the first, Christmas Caramel Murder was, but no evidence that Christmas Cake Murder was. I enjoyed both books tremendously.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Christmas Dessert Murder by Kensington Publishing, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #kensington #joannefluke #christmasdessertmurder

A little disappointed this was a reprint of older stories. But as always they were very enjoyable. Always have been a favorite author of mine. Love the mystery that enemies throughout the book and of course all the delicious recipes.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4311285883

Christmas Dessert Murder by Joanne Fluke is the 20th and 23rd books in the Hannah Swensen series. I have read all of Joanne Flukes Hannah Swensen, so I have already read these books. But, If you have not read them, or are in the mood for Christmas stories, I highly recommend these books. On top of that you will end up craving cookies and other desserts while enjoying a white Christmas in Minnesota. I look forward to the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was a fantastic read that you will be unable to put down until you finish the very last page. It moves along at a pace which works very well with the flow of the story, speeding up and slowing down as needed. The characters are amazing and you cant help but to love them and you want to be there for them. This book is a must read, there is no doubt about it. This book needs to be added to your TBR list, you will not be sorry that you did.

This was a fantastic holiday themed cozy. Hannah and the gang are back at it baking up a storm. That is until they need to catch a killer. The clues were clever and easy to follow. I was so into this book that I was not going to put it down until I finished it. It was absolutely awesome. I never saw it coming. I definitely recommend this book.

Any Joanne Fluke/ Hannah Swenson book is an entertaining cozy mystery that not only keeps you guessing to the end, it has you laughing along with the family of characters that we've come to know and love. Ms Fluke's Christmas mysteries are sure to satisfy both your mystery craving and your holiday spirit and this one has two books combined in one!
We've watched Hannah Swenson mature since her first appearance in 2001 to her appearnce in the TV series in 2021. As she interacts with her family, freinds and customers.....some are both, some are all three, we're often reminded of our own lives, of course minus the murders! So to summarize, great mysteries, great characters, great chance to enjoy your limited reading time!

What a wonderful surprise. 2 books in 1. This is book 28 in the Hannah Swenson series and it's a winner. Not only the 2 stories but the recipes as well. Christmas Caramel Murder has Hannah and Lisa providing the desserts for the annual Christmas production. Herb is Santa and Lisa thought she would be playing Mrs. Santa until the mayor named his ex-mistress as Mrs. When Hannah finds Mrs. Santa dead in a ditch, Lisa and Herb both become suspects in her murder. Great story with lots of re-occurring characters. Can be read as a stand alone. Christmas Cake Murder is like a prequel to the entire series as it tells how Hannah gets her bakery and Lisa becomes such a good friend. Also the legend of the cake walk is explained. Also can be read as a stand alone. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I should preface my review with the fact that when I requested a copy of the most recent installment of Joanne Fluke's that I misunderstood what it was. I thought it was a new holiday novel of hers, but in fact, it's a re-publishing of two of her other books. The error was mine and therefore, I thought it best to provide a bit of feedback for each one. If you are a loyal fan of Fluke's like I am, I recommend reading the description closely to ensure you haven't read both of these already.

The first, Christmas Caramel Murder (book #20) lands us in Lake Eden with another murder on our dear Hannah's hands. During her busiest of times, Hannah and her partner Lisa are baking away to provide the treats for the town's production of "A Christmas Carol". However, things get a bit messy when Lisa's husband, Herb, is cast as Mr. Claus alongside his ex girlfriend Phyllis... can you say awkward?! Yet, things go from bad to worse when Mrs. Claus is found dead in the snow wearing something less than Mrs. Claus-like. This book could be it's own stand-alone, but provides just a bit of a glimpse into Hannah's life that readers are seeking.

The second, Christmas Cake Murder (book #23) like the one before, this book is really a holiday special. The story is about young(er) Hannah starting her career as a professional baker at The Cookie Jar. She has agreed to provide treats at the Christmas Ball in honor of Essie Granger. As Hannah gets to know Essie she becomes fascinated with the woman's ability to pen about crime. However, when the story comes true, things take a turn and all of a sudden the captivating story seems far too real.

Like I said before, I can really only judge this republishing based on the stories within it. I love Joanne Fluke's books and her holiday ones are generally my least favorite. I miss my installment of Norman and Mike. What can I say? I'm here for the mystery AND the romance! I've read all of her novels and while some haven't been my favorites, I always find it comforting to return to Lake Eden.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Co. for the ARC!