I feel like Joanne Fluke just has one template and changes minor things to publish too many of the same novel. I took a break from her books and tried to start up again but I just can’t. Three stars were given since the book alone was fine, but when it’s combined with the rest of the series it’s a 1.5 or 2.

Hannah is preparing for dessert competition as well as her wedding. The story was too simple and not any surprises in the plot.
This author has written so many books, I believe her style is very predictable.
Good clean book.

While I appreciate a good cozy, this one never really connected with me. I've tried other installments in the series and found them more enjoyable.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

The last book in this series, Double Fudge Brownie Murder, was a little off for me, so I was a little nervous about reading this one, but I love these characters so I dove right in. Sadly, Hannah has cast both Mike and Norman aside and it really going to marry Ross. Shockingly, both her past loves vow to remain friends and even become part of the wedding party. I have always been Team Mike so I was heartbroken. Truthfully, Ross seems shady, I was hoping he was the victim or the killer.

Aside from the wedding, Hannah and Michelle are participating in the Food Channel’s Dessert Chef Contest and Ross is going along to New York to film interviews and background for the hometown station. He uses his clout to upgrade the group’s flights and hotel rooms. When Hannah wins the first round, the contest moves back to Lake Eden, a big event for the entire town. That is until one of the judges is found dead in the walk-in cooler at the Lake Eden Inn. With the other judges and contestants on the suspect list, Hannah is sleuthing out a killer, while trying to win the biggest cooking contest of her life and still be standing to take her vows.

__________

The first half of the book is introducing the chefs and the judges, prep through the first round of the contest, and Hannah’s mother and grandmother taking over the wedding planning. All Hannah had to do was pick out her dress and show up for the wedding. Of course, she did have her hands full with other things. I did enjoy several of the new characters. The judges were not as realistic as on the actual cooking shows we see on television but they fit in well with the plot as did the other contestants. The cast regulars continue to gather to go over evidence and theories, but there still seems to be a strong connection between Hannah and her former loves.

The mystery portion is well-plotted with several twists have and after this many cases, everyone knows Hannah is investigating. She does continue to leap into situations without a clear plan, which brings some tense moments. I did not sleuth out the killer myself until Hannah did, and it was kinds a surprise for both of us. 🙂

About a third of the book is yummy recipes for cookies and desserts that are featured in the story. The author includes them at the end of chapters and I sometimes feel they should all be at the end to not mess with the flow of the story but I have become accustomed after this many books to skipping them over and reviewing them when I complete the book when I can scan the ones I want to try into my recipe folder on my computer.

This series continues to be one of my faves. I am anxious to get caught up and see what Hannah gets herself mixed up in next.

I have not read the other parts in the series and I wanted to read this one because I love cosy mystery books.
I admit : this one had a lot of mouth watering recipes and a big part of the book was about how to prepare them, but I was waiting for the murder to happen. It took 45% of the story before a body was found. Finally! I had almost forgotton I was reading a mystery book.
There are some good parts and trying to find the muderer is always fun but sometimes I felt let down as well.