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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
I tried. I came back to the series but this one was bad. I just can’t. I am not sure I will ever finish and that makes me kind of sad since I’ve read so many at this point
Double Fudge Brownie Murder starts off with the wedding of Hannah's mother. I enjoyed this latest installment of the Hannah series. It took an unexpected turn when another love interest was introduced for Hannah when she already has two suitors! Although I have only continued to read the series to see who Hannah picks between the two (and for the yummy recipes) I was interested to see where things went with this new guy. The only thing I can figure Joanne Fluke is attempting to do is to have Hannah have a bad guy, just as here two guys have had bad women in their lives when they strayed from Hannah. Only time will tell if this is the case.
Other than the new love, um, ...square? Hannah has going on in this installment she is also still dealing with her vehicular homicide case. I enjoy the Hannah series for what it is. It is not the next great American classic novel, they are just nice simple beach reads. The plots are typically the same, the format of the book is typically the same, so there is not much to expect in the way of the unexpected. Every now and then Fluke changes up the format and has a death much later in the book then she normally would, but that is about as different as these books stray from the aforementioned format.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy cozies and who enjoy the Hannah series.
Other than the new love, um, ...square? Hannah has going on in this installment she is also still dealing with her vehicular homicide case. I enjoy the Hannah series for what it is. It is not the next great American classic novel, they are just nice simple beach reads. The plots are typically the same, the format of the book is typically the same, so there is not much to expect in the way of the unexpected. Every now and then Fluke changes up the format and has a death much later in the book then she normally would, but that is about as different as these books stray from the aforementioned format.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy cozies and who enjoy the Hannah series.
First off, the mystery in this one was basically an afterthought. We are soooo focused on Hannah's fucked up love life, and the random added element. It was almost an insult to "devoted" readers of Hannah Swenson's books to have her all of the sudden fall for some random guy from college who she has seen literally twice in like ten years. Not cool, Fluke. The only change in the characters was that Michelle turned 21, which was nice since apparently now the Swenson women can drink once in a while, but other than that- stagnant.
The only bright star to this installation was Moishe and his girlfriend Cuddles, but even their antics are repetitive. I thought the cutest thing was the "kitty caper" side story; at least it was new and fun.
I am going to be raging through the entire next couple of books, I already know it. The wedding, the (hopefully) divorce, etc. We shall see.
The only bright star to this installation was Moishe and his girlfriend Cuddles, but even their antics are repetitive. I thought the cutest thing was the "kitty caper" side story; at least it was new and fun.
I am going to be raging through the entire next couple of books, I already know it. The wedding, the (hopefully) divorce, etc. We shall see.
The murder doesn't occur until chapter 9...for me, that's a long time to wait!!
Additionally, it seems like everyone is always telling everyone else what to do. Mike wants Hannah to check the peephole in her door before opening it. Everyone wants Hannah to get a smartphone; I agree with another review I read that stated that at times Hannah seemed more like an elderly woman than a 30-40 some year old lady.
Page 113- As in other scenes in other books, Hannah still enjoys showing off. How would she know such a random bit of trivia as what the name of the Chinese restaurant means in English?
Page 116- How can anyone screw up a PB&J sandwich??
I'm sorely tempted to throw in the towel after reading this book, and call it quits on this series. Before picking this book up, I purposefully read a spoiler about Hannah's love life. It did appear to me that Hannah and her guy did have a little hot 'n heavy "sumpin' sumpin'" going on during the cruise ;) Hooray for Hannah- it's about freakin' time! I liked the looks of that sunrise kiss ;)
I wasn't happy about the mystery part. It seemed that it was resolved far too quickly.
Updated, 3/6/2015... Where the heck didRoss come from? I think his love relationship with Hannah started too quickly and escalated in engagement far too quickly. Also, I don't think three men falling in love with and proposing to one woman is idealistic. No way Mike and Norman, at least, would wait all this time if they lived in the real world. I don't ship Ross and Hannah, not at all. My money was on Norman.
Also...all Hannah seems to do is bake all the time. I get that she owns a bakery, but still...in her free time I would expect her to take up some other hobby...knitting, birdwatching, something :p
Also...all Mike seems to do is eat. He shows up whenever there's food. I get that he's a bachelor, and probably not culinary inclined. He also strikes me as kind of a flirt, and I'm gladHannah passed him up .
Since I've invested all this time (months and years!) I might continue the series. It didn't take me long to blow through this book.
Additionally, it seems like everyone is always telling everyone else what to do. Mike wants Hannah to check the peephole in her door before opening it. Everyone wants Hannah to get a smartphone; I agree with another review I read that stated that at times Hannah seemed more like an elderly woman than a 30-40 some year old lady.
Page 113- As in other scenes in other books, Hannah still enjoys showing off. How would she know such a random bit of trivia as what the name of the Chinese restaurant means in English?
Page 116- How can anyone screw up a PB&J sandwich??
I'm sorely tempted to throw in the towel after reading this book, and call it quits on this series. Before picking this book up, I purposefully read a spoiler about Hannah's love life. It did appear to me that Hannah and her guy did have a little hot 'n heavy "sumpin' sumpin'" going on during the cruise ;) Hooray for Hannah- it's about freakin' time! I liked the looks of that sunrise kiss ;)
I wasn't happy about the mystery part. It seemed that it was resolved far too quickly.
Updated, 3/6/2015... Where the heck did
Also...all Hannah seems to do is bake all the time. I get that she owns a bakery, but still...in her free time I would expect her to take up some other hobby...knitting, birdwatching, something :p
Also...all Mike seems to do is eat. He shows up whenever there's food. I get that he's a bachelor, and probably not culinary inclined. He also strikes me as kind of a flirt, and I'm glad
Since I've invested all this time (months and years!) I might continue the series. It didn't take me long to blow through this book.
Still a bit heavy on the love triangle and cooking/baking (yes I know the latter is part of the premise but reading a whole chapter on how to prepare slow cooker pork chops was a bit overkill especially since there's a recipe that follows). Hope the love triangle is over as it is a stale story. Mystery was okay, not very unique storyline, but kept one guessing. **/*****
First off, the mystery in this one was basically an afterthought. We are soooo focused on Hannah's fucked up love life, and the random added element. It was almost an insult to "devoted" readers of Hannah Swenson's books to have her all of the sudden fall for some random guy from college who she has seen literally twice in like ten years. Not cool, Fluke. The only change in the characters was that Michelle turned 21, which was nice since apparently now the Swenson women can drink once in a while, but other than that- stagnant.
The only bright star to this installation was Moishe and his girlfriend Cuddles, but even their antics are repetitive. I thought the cutest thing was the "kitty caper" side story; at least it was new and fun.
I am going to be raging through the entire next couple of books, I already know it. The wedding, the (hopefully) divorce, etc. We shall see.
The only bright star to this installation was Moishe and his girlfriend Cuddles, but even their antics are repetitive. I thought the cutest thing was the "kitty caper" side story; at least it was new and fun.
I am going to be raging through the entire next couple of books, I already know it. The wedding, the (hopefully) divorce, etc. We shall see.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It’s one of the better books in the series. The mystery was so-so but Hannah’s love life finally got some traction.
This book seemed off to me. Yes, before starting, the term "ghost writer" caught my eye in a review. While reading it kept popping into my head. Book was insulting to readers. No mystery solving. Just interviews clearing people some of which scene ended before conversation started. 'I'll tell you everything' but reader doesn't hear any of it then at first meeting a character never mentioned confesses?! And someone who doesn't even know how to charge a phone can send group text to 600 people while running upstairs from killer?! Characters different. Scenes out of order. Mentions dinner tomorrow with Ross and huge guest list then we get 3 dinners with same people before the planned one? Cat antics different. Mean to Mike. 3 men propose same day?! Seemed similar but not the same. Can't wait till this is over. Only reason it got 3 stars rather than 2
So disappointed. I love these books but her romance with Ross came out of nowhere. So now she has three guys in love with her and wanting to marry her. I am glad she has made a choice at the end of the book but just felt like the murder was an afterthought in this book. And that to me is why I read them. Love the recipes and did not think there were too many. Just not enough story this time.
And I am supposed to believe that only Ross could figure out how Moishe was getting the stuff and not Mike (who I would choose if given those three choices) the detective.
I hate to write a negative review and I know a lot of the stuff that happened needed to in order to progress the continued story. It just was too much fluff and not enough story.
And I am supposed to believe that only Ross could figure out how Moishe was getting the stuff and not Mike (who I would choose if given those three choices) the detective.
I hate to write a negative review and I know a lot of the stuff that happened needed to in order to progress the continued story. It just was too much fluff and not enough story.