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 (Hannah Swensen, #20 & 23): CHRISTMAS CARAMEL MURDER / CHRISTMAS CAKE MURDER
by Joanne Fluke
Two prior stories in this box set.
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Christmas Caramel Murder by Joanne Fluke
Love the authors work and treasure recipes throughout each book.
This one starts out with Hannah and Ross-her new husband and after having a meal at the Inn he asks her about last Christmas event where the caramel candy didn't quite work out well.
She then explains to him over the course of the rest of the night what happened. Started out with Lisa and Hannah and Lisa has agreed they will need to make more as the candy company is out of business.
As Lisa informs Hannah of her spouses late night work she worries his new assistant who he had dated in high school was going to be Mrs. Santa Claus this year as Herb was Santa himself. They catch a rehearsal as they are in the neighborhood and just as she feared Gloria is up to her old tricks.
They buckle down and discuss it while they experiment and make treats only to find out later that Phyllis is now dead...
The characters in the book that are always in the books are present here: Norman, Mike, Herb, Lisa and her sisters and mother. Even a guest appearance from her father as a ghost of Christmas helps solve this one.
Recipes are to die for!
I received this book from The Kensington Books in exchange for my honest review
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Christmas Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Have read most all of other books in the series, can be read as standalone also.
This one starts out when Hannah is just in college and they've lost their dad. Delores, their mom is taking it bad spending a lot of time in bed, napping.
One day her friends come up with a suggestion that might help get her going again. Only she'd be able to handle the huge event.
She accepts and we learn about how it all came together and what she has to do to make the event a huge accomplishment.
What I like also is that Essie has notebooks of stories she had written and it's played out by other characters. Love getting two stories in one book.
Love hearing how the cookie shop started-had no idea after 25 books.
Like hearing of the regular day when their dad was alive and how he'd spill food on his clean shirt-reminds me so much of my husband also.
There are many components to the Christmas Ball and a cake parade is one of them, sounds so yummy and colorful.
Loved learning new things: spray Pam in spoon before measuring molasses! it won't stick!
Quite the mystery surrounding Essie, glad it got solved! Conversion tables at the end of the book.
Recipes included after every other chapter that relate to the topics in those chapters.
Received this review copy from Kensington Books via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
#ChristmasCakeMurder #NetGalley

Loved this set of two Christmas books.
Received this review copy from Kensington Books via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
#ChristmasDessertMurder #NetGalley. ( )