APPLE TURNOVER MURDER by Joanne Fluke

The hinted storyline from Plum Pudding Murder played out in this book when a womanizing ex of Hannah's is murdered during a community event. As the creep had wooed both Hannah and her sister, Hannah is invested in finding the killer before she or Michelle are under suspicion.

Another good entry in this series. I figured out the mystery early on, but lots of other life events with the main characters fill out the story well. One of those stories is unresolved at the end of the book, so that may reappear in the next book. Plenty of yummy sounding recipes in this series, and this book is no exception. I have loved every recipe I have ever tried from these books, and I am eager to try a new one.

4 out of 5 stars

PLUM PUDDING MURDER by Joanne Fluke

It's Christmastime in Lake Eden, MN, and Hannah is baking up a storm. There are several mysteries afoot - a friend missing from her job; Norman's mom lying, canceling plans and being evasive; and the murder of a sneaky and dishonest business man. Hannah and friends are up to sorting out all these mysteries, but one of them just might get Hannah killed.

This was a good mystery, and I enjoyed figuring out the solution before the characters did. I love the characters in this series and watching the relationships evolve. One thread of the story only seemed to be there to set up something for the future, which is pretty clever plotting by the author. My only complaint is the love triangle. One of Hannah's suitors can really be a selfish, thoughtless guy, and I don't see why he is still in the picture. But I keep coming back for more in the next book to see if he'll redeem himself or if Hannah will finally choose the steady, sweet, thoughtful one who always puts her first.

4 out of 5 stars

CREAM PUFF MURDER by Joanne Fluke

Hannah is drawn in to investigate the murder of an odious fitness instructor who put the moves on any many who came her way while insulting all the women in her classes. And because the dead woman taught classes at the police station, Hannah's brother-in-law has to excuse himself from the investigation, as does Hannah's sometimes beau Mike. But Mike is also off the case because he was dating the dead woman. All the cops want the killer found quickly so they can get back to work. This means they all have advice for Hannah! But Hannah has her own methods for finding a killer - methods that have worked fine many times before. With her usual crew of helpers, she'll track this killer down with ease.

A great mystery with a twist ending I didn't see until Hannah did. The law enforcement guys offering methods and instruction was funny, and I loved seeing Hannah and Norman's mom get involved. I wish Hannah would just say yes to Norman - Mike was a thoughtless punk at times, but I know this isn't going to happen any time soon.

5 out of 5 stars

EAT Q by Dr. Susan Albers

A weight loss book with a twist. There's no diet or eating plan emphasis. The focus is on (1) building your emotional awareness and emotional skills and (2) using those skills to help you make better eating choices. The goal is to use your emotional awareness to get at what is underlying your food choices and food issues. After just one reading, this book gave me new insight into some of my food choices and that awareness has stayed with me every day since I finished the book.

If you are looking for some encouragement and new insights for building your health, I recommend checking this book out. See if there are some emotional cues that can help you meet your goals.

4 out of 5 stars

*I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

FRIDAY: How to Cook Everything Vegetarian

Summary 
"The world is changing in a way that is going to push all of us, reluctantly or not, towards being at least semi-vegetarian; our current rate of meat and fish consumption simply cannot be justified, and that's not going away."


This is part of the introduction to How to Cook Everything Vegetarian: Simple Meatless Recipes for Great Food. Includes everything from key items to keep in your kitchen/pantry for meat-less meal planning, cookware, cooking techniques and TONS of recipes.

Review
I was really pleased with this book - enough so that I would like to buy it so we can take our time with the information and the recipes inside it. More and more I am hearing stories of people trying "Meatless March" or "Meatless Mondays." I have friends who gave up meat for lent and some are just going to keep going once Easter has arrived (others, though, are counting down the days to a Quarter Pounder). Our family has enjoyed more meatless meals lately and this book has been a great resource for us. If you are looking for ideas and information and recipes, check it out.


4 out of 5 stars

Recommended for: anyone looking for information and ideas for meatless meals and/or a meatless lifestyle.


Cautions: none
[I am an Amazon Associate. If you link to Amazon from one of my blogs and buy something, I receive a small portion of the purchase price.]

FRIDAY: Made to Crave

Summary 
While "everything is permissible, not everything is beneficial." (1 Corinthians 6:12. This is one of the foundational ideas behind Made to Crave. The author's premise is that we fill our craving for God with other things - in this case food - and that puts our lives out of balance. When we realign our focus, our attention, our time, and our "craving," we can put food - or whatever else distracts us - in its proper place. Each chapter includes questions for further thought. There are also materials for group study of the book. You can go here to read the author's blog, here to get some free materials related to the book and here to sign up for a 21 day series of emails to encourage you on your journey.


Review
I have really enjoyed reading this book. It is both challenging and encouraging. I found that the principles, while specifically about food and eating, can also be applied to other areas of life. This is not a diet book. The author does not outline an eating plan. Each reader, in consultation with his or her physician, should work out a plan that works for the individual's needs and health. This book is more about your relationship with food and how you think about food and where God fits in your eating life.


4 out of 5 stars

Recommended for: anyone looking for encouragement or resources to help with healthy eating and exercise. Good for group study and discussion.

 Cautions: none

[I am an Amazon Associate. If you link to Amazon from one of my blogs and buy something, I receive a small portion of the purchase price.]