I have this series on my keep bookcase. I adored them from the get go. Hannah was a likeable, capable character and I enjoy that. I especially like that she is a little chubby and not 'model perfect', like far too many heroines. For many of the books in the series, I enjoyed the suspense of Hannah choosing between her two men, Norman and Mike. I am on team Norman all the way, but it is beyond time for Fluke to end this tired storyline. I recently emailed her and thanked her for the lovely stories (the early ones are FABULOUS) and asked if Hannah would soon make a choice. From her answer, I don't believe Hannah will be choosing any time soon, if ever. This bothered me a bit, because Hannah and her family seem to be stuck in a time warp where nothing changes. (I was ecstatic at the birth of Andrea's second child, just for this reason).
Although annoying, this could MAYBE be overlooked, if the murder mysteries were still intriguing. I had Key Lime Pie solved far before Hannah had a clue. The murder was also more boring than usual. I didn't give a hoot about the victim, nor the suspects. Despite Hannah's words of grief, I never felt she cared that much either. She was far more worried about her cat acting odd, than her friend that was murdered. (And I am a cat lover!). The coolest thing about this book was an all too brief scene with a Twirl A Whirl. I thought that showed tons of creativity. Fluke really needs to stir the batter a little here, she needs to break from the mold that has proven so successful before. Otherwise, I fear she will lose some of her fanbase, because there are an awful lot of really good mysteries out there to sink your teeth into.

I have read the entire Hannah Swensen series and they seem to be getting worse with each book. I could believe her not having a cell phone because she hates being interrupted by them or doesn't feel she needs one but I can't believe she wouldn't know anything about them. Ms. Fluke has trapped herself into writing characters that never grow or change because her fans liked them in the earlier books. Instead of learning and growing from each case Hannah seems to get stupider! And if she's not going to pick one man or the other then let them both go and end the boring triangle.

I really like Joanne Fluke, but this book is one of the best yet. I actually made the peach bread recipie from it.

And that is the setting for this eighth entry in the Hannah Swenson series. Hannah is involved in a big way in the Tri-County summer fair, and she and her friends also get involved in a murder. One of her fellow judges in the Baked Goods section is murdered right at the fair, and Hannah stumbles on the body. These people (Hannah and her family and friends) are starting to really feel like friends of mine. I love the interplay between the characters, and the various personalities. And the stories are quite funny too. Hannah's ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl at the end of the book is hilarious! Sometimes the mysteries are a little easy to figure out, like this one is, but that does not detract from the sheer fun of reading these books. It is a delight, and I'm sorry that I'm almost up-to-date on this series, and will be left waiting each year for the next one.

I have been a long time reader of the Hannah series. I actually did not rush right out and get this book because I had been so disappointed in the last one. This book was better than the last entry, but I do feel that the author needs to take heed of her reader's requests to wrap up the whole Mike/Norman/Hannah storyline.

This entry, Hannah's overly precocious niece Tracy was only mentioned in passing, and that greatly improved the book, in my opinion. Also, the mystery was given more of a foreground, unlike the last book where the murder took place in the last third of the book. These were the things that made the book more enjoyable. Some have commented that Hannah sounds condescending in her tone or that she is unlikable. I don't feel this way about Hannah. I do, however, feel that for a woman of her age who makes it known that she is independent, owns her own home, her own business, etc., it is a bit unrealistic that she would not have a computer or cell phone. Most businessowners today, even of a bakery, have a computer for billing, ordering, etc.

I will continue to read this series as it seems that the mystery is improving by being the main part of the book, and will just have to look past the whole marriage proposal storyline. Actual rating would probably be a 3 1/2.