Murder with a Side of Cookies Please!

I apologize for the title. Sounds a bit morbid and scary but I promise there is a reason for it. I am not much of a book reader. I know people (like my sister-in-law) who just love to read and can finish a book just like that! Me on the other hand, sometimes it takes me a whole year to finish a book. This is not because I'm a slow reader. My tendency is to start on a book, put it down because I get busy...for months, then pick it up to decide to "try" to finish it but then realize, I don't remember what I read and because of my perfectionism, have to start at the beginning again. I've never really got into book series' or had a favorite author.

So one day while I was at my local Barnes and Nobles, I decided to peruse the book shelves in hopes of finding a book that I may want to read for enjoyment. I was determined and had a goal (it's good to have goals in life)! Upon browsing the different genres, I came across the mystery section. As I mentioned before, I love movies with twists and usually mysteries contain some kind of twist, so I stopped here. As my eyes wandered through what seemed like millions of books one particular collection by Joanne Fluke caught my eye. All of her book titles along with the word "murder" contained dessert names. What was this?? I skimmed the pages of one of the books and WOW! I think I found a jackpot! The main character, Hannah Swensen is a owner of a cookie shop called the Cookie Jar. Along with sharing her life as a cookie shop owner, she always "happens" to come across victims who get murdered. She is not a detective but alongside the police and sometimes on her own, solves the who-dunnit mystery. AND the best part of the book...it contains recipes! Because she owns her own cookie shop, she makes many references to unique cookies she's trying out at the shop or selling during a certain season. Those recipes is what's included in the book at the end of each chapter.

I quickly jotted down the author's name, went to my local library and borrowed one of the books. It was so much fun and really easy to read. I could not believe I finished the book and in record time. Since then, I can now say that I have a favorite author and book series.