Breaking the Food Seduction / Neal Barnard 324 p. Self-help book

Breaking the Food Seduction / Neal Barnard 324 p.  Self-help book

Trying to stay on a healthy diet may be proving to be difficult. Dr. Neal Barnard has suggestions and the medical research to back them up.  He shares

• insights into the chemical reasons behind your cravings, 

• seven simple steps to break craving cycles and tame your appetite

• important advice for kids' sugar cravings and how to halt them

He suggests following his plan for three weeks to break the craving cycle.  He has a chapter on dining out.  His recipes seem easy to prepare.  Read this if you want to lose weight, lower cholesterol, get energized, and quiet the food cravings.

Double Fudge Brownie Murder/Joanne Fluke/356 pages

At the end of the last book, Hannah Swensen had been charged in connection with her part in a tragic accident. Her trial is about ready to start with jury selection when she and her lawyer are called to meet with the judge. When Hannah discovers the judge's body in his office, she needs to find the killer to clear herself and her crystal clear motive. On the personal front, Hannah may finally be ready to decide which marriage proposal she'll accept. Of course, once she does (in the next book), I'm sure there will be some obstacle because "the course of true love never did run smooth."


Another fine entry into the Hannah Swensen series with lots of new recipes to try.

Blackberry Pie Murder/Joanne Fluke/357 pages

Hannah Swenson's life isn't usually quiet and calm, but everything seems to be going pretty well these days. Her biggest problem is trying to get her mother to commit to some wedding plans for her upcoming nuptials to Doc. Her life takes a sudden turn when she accidentally hits a pedestrian while trying to avoid a downed tree branch during a raging thunderstorm. Her subsequent arrest for murder affects all those around her.


Not everything is tied up in neat little knots at the end of the book, but it is still a satisfying mystery loaded with great sounding recipes.

The Red Velvet Cupcake Murder/Joann Fluke/323 pages

Hannah Swensen is the prime suspect of the murder of her one-time rival in Fluke's newest mystery. Even though Hannah tried to save Dr. Bev from a watery grave, she becomes the person of interest when it is discovered that Dr. Bev died from something other than drowning. How is her death connected to the "accidental" fall from a penthouse apartment? Hannah is determined to find out and clear herself.

Come for the mystery, but stay for the recipes. Fluke's recipes really sound good and most are simple. I've tried a few, and they have all been hits. Her directions sometimes get a little too specific, but they would be great for new cooks.

Pie/Sarah Weeks/183 p/2013-14 Mark Twain Nominee

Don't read this on an empty stomach, unless you have a slice of pie nearby! This is a delightful '50s era "mystery" with Aunt Patty's pie recipes at the beginning of each chapter...just in case the delicious descriptions inspire you to try baking pies yourself. Great for young (and old!) fans of 20th century historical fiction and small-town humor. If you like Richard Peck's Grandma Dowdel books, you'll love "Pie." Would be great for a Mother-Daughter Book Club, and it's a 2013-14 Mark Twain Nominee to boot!

Eat Cake/Jeanne Ray/253 pages

Whenever Ruth is stressed, she thinks about cake. Then she bakes a cake or two. Her family loves her cakes, but they are ready to see less of them. But Ruth has stress in her life with a child in college, a sullen 16-year-old and her mother living with them, so they have cake regularly. When her husband comes home from work one day with the news he's been let go by the new management of his hospital, how can it get worse? By getting a call from another hospital that her pianist, ne'er do well estranged father has fallen and broken both his wrists and needs to come live with her indefinitely. Her parents haven't been together since she was 2 years old, and her mother has never hidden her anger at the man from anyone. Cake may be what ends up saving Ruth and her family.

A sweet, light-hearted story. Ray also seems to have a theme about really listening to the people around you running through her stories. Good advice for most people and families. Interesting cake recipes included.

Cinnamon Roll Murder/Joanne Fluke/333 pages

Hannah Swenson and her sister, Michelle, are heading out to hear the Cinnamon Roll Six jazz band play when they barely avoid a nasty highway accident. The band's bus has crashed. The driver is dead, and the piano play has a possibly broken wrist. While the bus driver's death may be accidental, the piano player ends up stabbed to death in the hospital, so there certainly is a murder to investigate. Adding to Hannah's stress is Norman's upcoming nuptials to the evil Doctor Bev. She needs to uncover a murderer and stop the wedding.

The mystery is certainly tame, but the recipes sound wonderful. I've tried her recipes before and they are tasty.

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder / Joanne Fluke / 336 Pages

This is the first book featuring Hannah Swensen, owner of The Cookie Jar, a local business in the small town of Lake Eden, Minnesota. Early one morning she discovers a body, that of her milk delivery man, Ron. He was shot in the alley behind her store on the way to deliver her daily dairy items. She finds herself involved in the case when her brother-in-law, Bill, needs her help in solving the case so he can get his big promotion to detective. She gets into lots of trouble along the way but always manages to get out of it, especially when she brings along her famous cookies to share with those she needs to "interrogate." The book is full of delicious-sounding cookie recipes that were mentioned in the book. Overall, this was a nice cozy mystery with enough going on to keep you reading. I look forward to reading the second of the Hannah Swensen mysteries.