The Traveling Bookworm

A Hannah Swenson Mystery with Recipes

Joanne Fluke is one of my all time favorite mystery authors. I especially love her Hannah Swenson series because not only do you get a great mystery, but you get 30+ recipes too and they are good! I made the Chocolate Cream Pie featured on the cover and it was delicious. Almost every chapter will have a recipe with it and not only sweets, but main dishes, snacks and crock pot recipes too. On top of that the same characters appear in each book so the reader feels like they are part of the community. This book is the #24 in the series. The first book in the series is Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder if you want to check it out.

Hannah Swenson owns a bakery called the Cookie Jar in a small town called Lake Eden in Minnesota. She is a single successful business woman for most of the series. In the series you meet her family and friends and they help her solve murders in her town. Often times Hannah is the one to discover the body along with whatever treat is in the title. There is always a twist to the mystery. I have been surprised numerous time by who did it! There is also a little romance, as she has two suitors-so you find yourself rooting for one or the other! In this book Hannah is trying to solve a murder of a victim found in her condo while she is away. That is not easy with a group of bodyguards following her around, but Hannah is resourceful and uses all of her wits to catch the murderer.

WHERE TO TRAVEL?

Bloomington, Minnesota

The town of Lake Eden in Minnesota is fictional, but there are plenty of great places to visit in Minnesota! One place that I have always wanted to visit is The Mall of America. The Mall of America is a shopping mall located in Bloomington Minnesota. It is the largest mall in the United States in terms of total floor area and the 12th largest mall in the world. According to Wikipedia, The Mall of America has a gross area of 4,870,000 sq ft or 96.4 acres enough to fit seven Yankee stadiums inside. There are more than 530 stores! Can you imagine the fun shopping that could happen!? They also boast the largest indoor amusement park in America and a 300 foot long aquarium! https://www.mallofamerica.com/

Where to Stay?

Radisson Blu Mall of America

2100 Killebrew Dr, Bloomington, MN 55425 (952) 881-5258

This hotel is directly attached to The Mall of America. You walk straight from the second floor of the hotel to the Amusement Park portion of the mall. They do not offer a complimentary breakfast, but they do have a restaurant. They have an indoor swimming pool and offer spa services.This hotel got great reviews on Tripadvisor.

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson

2221 Killebrew Dr, Bloomington, MN 55425 1 866-522-8891

This hotel also got great reviews on Tripadvisor and it is connected to the mall by a sky bridge. They offer a complimentary buffet breakfast and two heated indoor pools which would be great if you visit during a cold Minnesota winter! They also offer a free shuttle to the Mall if you don’t want to walk over the sky bridge.

Historical Fiction

This book is written from the view point of two important people in Abraham Lincoln’s life. His best friend Joshua Speed and his wife Mary Todd. This story is about how he met each of them. They both care for Abraham Lincoln and help him rise to become the politician he is meant to be. The story is told in a way that makes you wonder which one is more important to Abraham. It is a romance and a “bromance” all in one! The reader also learns about Abraham’s struggle with depression and self-esteem. I learned a lot about Abraham Lincoln, but the story of romance and friendship kept the read light-hearted and fun.

WHERE TO TRAVEL?

Springfield, Illinois

Most of the book takes place in Springfield Illinois. It was fun to read some of the history of this city when it was just getting started. The part where Mary comes up with a plan to negotiate the muddy streets because she is tired of staying indoors is especially charming.

What to See

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum: This museum tells the life story of our 16th president using state of the art exhibits that both adults and children will appreciate. They also have an original handwritten copy of the Gettysburg Address.

Abraham Lincoln’s restored home: This site is run by the National Park Service. It includes the restored home of Abraham Lincoln and a four block neighborhood.

Lincoln’s New Salem: A reconstructed village of where Lincoln lived as a teenager.

Clayville Historic Site: Once a stagecoach stop between Beardstown and Springfield in 1824 it is now listed on the National register of Historic Places. This inn is surrounded by other historical buildings.

This is a great site for exploring all the options available in Springfield. Besides all of the Abraham Lincoln historical sites, they also have a children’s museum, farm tours, civil war sites and Route 66 attractions. If you are a history buff, this city is for you!

http://www.visitspringfieldillinois.com/ThingsToDo/ThingsToDoHome.aspx

Where to Stay

I love using https://www.tripadvisor.com/ to find great places to stay and reviews of hotels. I have never gone wrong when I use this site. They tell you about the area, hotel website links and pictures from their customers. They also have price calculator.

Hotels close to Abraham Lincoln Sites

President Abraham Lincoln Springfield – a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel

701 E Adams Street, Springfield, Illinois,62701, USATEL: +1-217-544-8800

https://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/illinois/president-abraham-lincoln-springfield-a-doubletree-by-hilton-hotel-SPIASDT/index.html

State House Inn – a Red Collection Hotel

101 E Adams St, Springfield, IL 62701-1108 |  1-217-528-5100

https://www.statehouseinnspringfield.com/

Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.

— Oscar Wilde.

This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.

I bet you couldn’t guess that I love to read! I read 3 or 4 books a week. I read all the genres except for horror. My favorites lately are historical fiction or biographies, but I also love mystery and romance-who doesn’t?! My favorite mystery writers are Mary Higgins Clark and Joanne Fluke. My favorite romance writers are Nicholas Sparks and Lisa Wingate. When I am reading a book I will often look up information on where the book is taking place. This exercise gives me what my husband calls “the travel bug”. I love to travel, but for me the planning part is the most exciting part of the adventure. I love to research where I am going and anticipate all the wonderful things we will do when we arrive. I have three teenagers, so researching amusement parks, kid friendly museums and interesting historical sites are high on my priority list. I hope you will enjoy my blog. I will review a book and then give travel tips for places of interest found in the book.