Books I Read in March

Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead - 5 stars (finished 3/15)
This is the third book in the Bloodlines series.

I really like that this book brought Sydney back to the questioning of her Alchemist "roots" and her relationship with them and the Moroi, while she continues to struggle with her relationship [with Adrian and magic. I like that those two go against everything she stood for in the first book. I like seeing her not fight against them as hard because both are seemingly so natural to her. (hide spoiler)] This book had a great plot, great character development, and I did get my answer to the eating disorder question I had from the last book. Yes, Sydney did have one. Yes, she's working on it. It was a little more prominent in this novel than I remember in the last two. I think it's good to tackle a hard issue like eating disorders in YA books. I think that is a very quiet subject matter and there are a lot of young girls (and I'm sure some boys too) struggling with it.

The ending was seriously superb. I never figured there was [an accomplice or that she would kill Veronica. Alicia was definitely way under the radar for me. I didn't get a little frustrated with how they didn't pay attention to the necklace being gone as traditionally items can be used to track the particular people you are looking for. I also cannot wait for book 4 since Zoe has arrived and now Sydney has to act like she dislikes the Moroi again.

Double Fudge Brownie Murder by Joanne Fluke - 1 star (finished 3/29)
This is the 18th book in the Hannah Swensen series.

About midway through reading this, I started looking at reviews to see if anyone else was feeling like I was...either the series is losing steam...or there is a ghostwriter. It just doesn't read like the others did. I hate-read this entire thing. I'm glad there was a little Moishe...that was nice. But I cannot take Hannah's failure to see what is right in front of her when it comes to her love life...AKA NORMAN. Hello???? I find it highly unbelievable that Hannah would have another suitor come along. It just all doesn't make any sense. [highlight to see spoiler] Also I despise Ross. You are no Joe Morelli, stop calling her cupcake. The murder/whodunit was really odd too. It didn't seem very well thought out at all. Where was the Cookie Jar??? Hannah was barely there during this book! UGH. I really don't want to read the next book, but I'm going to anyways. I can't stop.

The recipes are the only other redeeming quality other than Moishe about this book: Maple Fudge Sandwich Cookies, Burger Dogs, Coney Island Sandwiches, German Chocolate Cupcakes, Chocolate Baked Doughnuts, Chocolate Icing, Any Flavor Baked Doughnuts, Powdered Sugar Glaze, Any Flavor Chip Icing, Double Fudge Brownies, Milk Chocolate Fudge Frosting, Salted Cashew and Milk Chocolate Whippersnapper Cookies, Applesauce Bread, Double F Double M Crunch Cookies, Cranberry Biscuits, Secret Spice Cookies, Baked Fruited Oatmeal, Banana Frosted Peanut Butter Cookies, Banana Frosting, Tangerine Dream Cake, Lick Your Chops Pork, Strawberry Muffins, Pop in your Mouth Chocolate Candy, Cinnamon Raisin Scones, Orange Dreamsicle Bar Cookies, Hot Jam Cookies, Butterscotch Champagne Cocktail.