Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.17 AVERAGE
3.17 AVERAGE
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
I have been reading this series from the beginning and it's hard to believe this is Book 28! Even though I enjoy this series so much, I have to admit being disappointed in the last couple of books.This book is much better than the last few books have been. The conversations, even between close friends and family, are still overly formal and stilted in places, but the annoying inner dialogue of Hannah's that took over the prior book is thankfully missing from this book.
There is more substance to the book, as well. The mystery itself which is about an obnoxious fishing show host being murdered was interesting provided many suspects for Hannah to question. The resolution of the case made sense, but Mike's behavior during the investigation was off. There is an unexpected development at the very end, and I assume that cliffhanger will be addressed in the next book. No progress in the Hannah/Norman relationship in this book, but maybe next time? It's time for Hannah to move on from Ross and recognize the great guy that has always been there for her!
For those who enjoy the culinary aspect of this series, there are plenty of recipes in this book ranging from breakfast dishes to desserts to appetizers. The earlier books of this series are still my favorites, but I enjoyed this book much more than the last several so I hope the series continues to be this entertaining.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Kensington Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
There is more substance to the book, as well. The mystery itself which is about an obnoxious fishing show host being murdered was interesting provided many suspects for Hannah to question. The resolution of the case made sense, but Mike's behavior during the investigation was off. There is an unexpected development at the very end, and I assume that cliffhanger will be addressed in the next book. No progress in the Hannah/Norman relationship in this book, but maybe next time? It's time for Hannah to move on from Ross and recognize the great guy that has always been there for her!
For those who enjoy the culinary aspect of this series, there are plenty of recipes in this book ranging from breakfast dishes to desserts to appetizers. The earlier books of this series are still my favorites, but I enjoyed this book much more than the last several so I hope the series continues to be this entertaining.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Kensington Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
DNF. It's amazing how such a fun series has deteriorated so much. There is no doubt it's all ghostwriting.
I didn't intend to even pick this up after all the problems with the past several books but reviews had me curious about the end. I have a feeling the character who dropped the "bombshell" will either reconsider by the end of the next book or move away, thus resolving the big storyline.
I tried to read to this even though everyone commented on the inconsistencies. I didn't get past the 5th chapter. I was so bored!
And wow! The comments seriously downplayed all the errors. Not only did the author mess up the timeline and characters but the editors have really dropped the ball. There's no way a single person at the publishing house read this book before sending it to the printers.
I didn't intend to even pick this up after all the problems with the past several books but reviews had me curious about the end. I have a feeling the character who dropped the "bombshell" will either reconsider by the end of the next book or move away, thus resolving the big storyline.
I tried to read to this even though everyone commented on the inconsistencies. I didn't get past the 5th chapter. I was so bored!
And wow! The comments seriously downplayed all the errors. Not only did the author mess up the timeline and characters but the editors have really dropped the ball. There's no way a single person at the publishing house read this book before sending it to the printers.
fast-paced
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
1.5⭐️. I finished this, but I wish I’d chosen to DNF. This was my first and only Swanson book. This cozy mystery is predictable in the worst way possible, the plot is thin and it’s deadly obvious this is part of a series and is just not fun as a standalone book. The characters lack personality, the setting is dull and unchanging, the way characters interact is very static and relationships were explained instead of detectable from conversation (the sisters didn’t have a sibling-like way of interacting). Much of the writing felt very unoriginal, dry and was irrelevant to the plot (lots of filler dialogue). The introduction was overly long and the story doesn’t get going until 40% into the book. The one and a half star is for the recipes included in the book that make it worth its money.
fast-paced
Again I fell for the lure of Hannah Swenson. Again I was disappointed.
I never know what decade the author (or are there multiple authors?) is coming from. Supposedly the women are all strong and self-sufficient with careers of their own; yet they are all technology challenged, laugh and giggle about their inability to remember to charge their phones, set up their computers, connect to the internet, etc. etc. Why can't they just say, Yep, we're in the 21st century and I have learned to handle my devices?
Why do they call each other by name every single time they have a conversation even if there are just two people? Do you know what day this is Norman? No, Hannah, what day is it? I don't know Norman, I'm asking you. Not a real conversation but it could be because that is how simplistic the people sound when they talk.
Why is their discordance between individuals talking about the lake? On the one hand they make a martini with olive juice so it mimics the cloudy waters of the lake. In another section the fisherman ooh and aah about how clear and pristine the lake waters are. Can't be both.
How physically weak is Andrea? She brought in a suitcase full of goldfish crackers and complains about how heavy it is. I have picked up packages of goldfish and they weigh next to nothing. Even a suitcase full of those crackers is not going to weigh anything. And for that matter why did she buy a bunch of packages of crackers to fill a suitcase? Why didn't she just buy a case and be done with it?
Did Lily get an entry card from the night clerk as Rosa repeats or did Rosa let Lily into the room because she couldn't get a card as Lily relates? Did two different people write two different chapters and never check in with each other? Likewise, when did Hannah make the caramel rolls? I got so confused as to what day was what and I think the author(s) were too.
Sally asked Hannah to fill in for the pastry chef, but then later introduces her to a guest as "helping out" with the baking. Huge difference in whether you are a pastry chef or a baker's helper.
Does Angela really need to explain to Hannah the background story of a woman they have both known since their school days? Living in a small town, wouldn't Hannah be aware that the individual had been in the army, that she had married and that the person with the woman's father is her husband?
And why does Hannah treat Andrea like a small child? When she makes her "work out" why a recipe wouldn't work, she yelled "bravo" when Andrea got the "right" answer. Did she jump up and down and clap her hands too? Because that's the vibe that she gave off.
Why would a woman who is just introduced to Hannah proceed to tell her the most personal details about her marriage and pregnancy? Why would she admit to a total stranger that she was taking drugs during her pregnancy? Why is no one disturbed by this fact?
Why is Hannah still obsessing about Ross? He was a bigamist so why is she still playing the victim? Why isn't she angry beyond belief instead of wishing things had been different?
What on earth is the author thinking by saying that Delores didn't have driver's ed when she was in school? How old (or young) is Delores anyway? When I was in school, driver's ed was mandatory, but when my kids were in school, budget constraints had deleted the option for a school sponsored class. So either Delores is in her 90s or in her 40s. Can't figure out which.
And let's go to the recipes. So. Much. Product. Placement. And this bleeds over into the story itself. And the instructions? The recipes could have been reduced by at least 2/5 of their length because the instructions have become so simplistic that they are comical. Things like "take the lid off the sour cream. Add the sour cream to the mixture." Or "open the bag of chips and pour the chips into the bowl". It's enough to make you bang your head against the desk.
Don't read the book. It is a waste of 3 1/2 hours of your time. You have better things to do. And if you want a good cookie recipe, find a book by Dorie Greenspan.
I never know what decade the author (or are there multiple authors?) is coming from. Supposedly the women are all strong and self-sufficient with careers of their own; yet they are all technology challenged, laugh and giggle about their inability to remember to charge their phones, set up their computers, connect to the internet, etc. etc. Why can't they just say, Yep, we're in the 21st century and I have learned to handle my devices?
Why do they call each other by name every single time they have a conversation even if there are just two people? Do you know what day this is Norman? No, Hannah, what day is it? I don't know Norman, I'm asking you. Not a real conversation but it could be because that is how simplistic the people sound when they talk.
Why is their discordance between individuals talking about the lake? On the one hand they make a martini with olive juice so it mimics the cloudy waters of the lake. In another section the fisherman ooh and aah about how clear and pristine the lake waters are. Can't be both.
How physically weak is Andrea? She brought in a suitcase full of goldfish crackers and complains about how heavy it is. I have picked up packages of goldfish and they weigh next to nothing. Even a suitcase full of those crackers is not going to weigh anything. And for that matter why did she buy a bunch of packages of crackers to fill a suitcase? Why didn't she just buy a case and be done with it?
Did Lily get an entry card from the night clerk as Rosa repeats or did Rosa let Lily into the room because she couldn't get a card as Lily relates? Did two different people write two different chapters and never check in with each other? Likewise, when did Hannah make the caramel rolls? I got so confused as to what day was what and I think the author(s) were too.
Sally asked Hannah to fill in for the pastry chef, but then later introduces her to a guest as "helping out" with the baking. Huge difference in whether you are a pastry chef or a baker's helper.
Does Angela really need to explain to Hannah the background story of a woman they have both known since their school days? Living in a small town, wouldn't Hannah be aware that the individual had been in the army, that she had married and that the person with the woman's father is her husband?
And why does Hannah treat Andrea like a small child? When she makes her "work out" why a recipe wouldn't work, she yelled "bravo" when Andrea got the "right" answer. Did she jump up and down and clap her hands too? Because that's the vibe that she gave off.
Why would a woman who is just introduced to Hannah proceed to tell her the most personal details about her marriage and pregnancy? Why would she admit to a total stranger that she was taking drugs during her pregnancy? Why is no one disturbed by this fact?
Why is Hannah still obsessing about Ross? He was a bigamist so why is she still playing the victim? Why isn't she angry beyond belief instead of wishing things had been different?
What on earth is the author thinking by saying that Delores didn't have driver's ed when she was in school? How old (or young) is Delores anyway? When I was in school, driver's ed was mandatory, but when my kids were in school, budget constraints had deleted the option for a school sponsored class. So either Delores is in her 90s or in her 40s. Can't figure out which.
And let's go to the recipes. So. Much. Product. Placement. And this bleeds over into the story itself. And the instructions? The recipes could have been reduced by at least 2/5 of their length because the instructions have become so simplistic that they are comical. Things like "take the lid off the sour cream. Add the sour cream to the mixture." Or "open the bag of chips and pour the chips into the bowl". It's enough to make you bang your head against the desk.
Don't read the book. It is a waste of 3 1/2 hours of your time. You have better things to do. And if you want a good cookie recipe, find a book by Dorie Greenspan.