by Barb, rushing to go on vacation next week
Yes, it’s that time of year–advance reader copies of Yule Log Murder are here, and I’m giving away two copies, one each to a lucky commenter below.
Yule Log Murder is a holiday novella collection with stories by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and me, each one centering around a Bûche de Noël, the traditional Christmas Yule log cake. I had a blast writing mine, which focuses on an eccentric neighbor, a glorious, light-filled Christmas display at the Botanical Garden, and an incredibly complicated recipe.
Here’s the full description:
Fresh-baked cookies, pies, and cakes can warm even the frostiest Christmases in coastal Maine. But there’s little room for holiday cheer when murder is the new seasonal tradition . . .
YULE LOG MURDER by LESLIE MEIER
Lucy Stone is thrilled to be cast as an extra in a festive period film—until the set becomes a murder scene decorated in blood and buttercream icing. Returning to her role as sleuth, Lucy dashes to restore peace to Tinker’s Cove, unwrap a cold-hearted criminal’s MO, and reveal how one ornate Yule log cake could possibly cause so much drama.
DEATH BY YULE LOG by LEE HOLLIS
Hayley Powell’s holidays aren’t off to a very merry start. Not only has her daughter brought Conner—an infuriatingly perfect new beau—home to Bar Harbor, but a local troublemaker has been found dead with traces of her signature Yule log cake on his body. As Conner becomes the prime murder suspect, Hayley must put aside her mixed feelings to identify the real killjoy.
LOGGED ON by BARBARA ROSS
Realizing she can’t make a decent Bûche de Noël to save her life, Julia Snowden enlists the help of her eccentric neighbor, Mrs. St. Onge, in hopes of mastering the dessert for Christmas. With everyone in the old woman’s circle missing or deceased, however, it’s up to Julia to stop the deadly tidings before she’s the next Busman’s Harbor resident to meet a not-so-jolly fate.
Kick back with something sweet and indulge in three bite-sized Yuletide tales too good to resist!
Readers: Do you have a holiday recipe you particularly treasure? Comment below for a chance to win.
Fresh Polish kielbasa and sauerkraut.
That’s a tradition for us, too. Not because we’re Polish, but because there is a fantastic Polish grocery store near us in Key West.
We make homemade cherry pie, decorated sugar cookies and gingerbread men, for holidays and all throughout the year! Anytime is cherry pie and special cookie time!! Safe travels!
I make all kinds of fruit pies, but not cherry, though I love it.
About 3 years ago I started making shortbread at Christmas, so I’ve created my own tradition, lol!
Growing up we always made what we referred to as “marshmallow stuff”, which is similar to ambrosia, but not exactly the same – it was my grandmother’s recipe and we would make a big bowl for every holiday! 🙂 p.s. This year I do want to try and make a yule log – they’re so pretty and yummy!
Good luck with the yule log cake.
My grandma’s homemade cheesecake was a favorite Christmas treat while I was growing up.
So interesting how varied the family recipes are in these comments.
My favorite holiday recipe is a Bourbon Pecan Pumpkin Cheesecake that I make every Thanksgiving and Christmas. It has an amazing crust that my Mom likes more than the cheesecake, so I have to make an extra crust just for her!
That is so funny. There are certain things I make where I tuck away an extra for someone special.
I love my mom’s cornbread dressing. Nobody makes it as well as she does. My favorite thing to make is fresh cranberry sauce. I tweak the recipe a little each year.
Nobody makes dressing as well as one’s mother.
I love the Christmas themed books. Thanks for the opportunity.
Good luck!
I love the Lucy Stone mysteries. I have read them all.
Good luck with the contest, Michael.
I would be happy to read this book. I enjoy your stories. Our family made open faced sandwiches with fresh tomatoes, bacon, and Velveeta cheese. I still make that.
Family culinary traditions are the best.
We make cinnamon sugar “monkey bread” for our Christmas morning breakfast. We take a break from opening gifts to have it fresh from the oven!
I’m coming to your house for Christmas!
I had to look monkey bread up, too. I fear my culinary education has been sadly lacking.
I love making Monster cookies at Christmas. The mix of chocolate chops and M&Me in oats yummy.
MMmmmm.
My favorite recipe is my Mom’s wonton soup.
Wow. Do you make the wontons?
I make molasses cookies once a year around the holidays. They’re my favorite treat with hot chocolate.
Yes, the hot chocolate is key.
My Mom’s walnut cookies and her pecan crescent cookies are traditions for us, along with ham on Christmas Day.
We’re a roast beef family for Christmas day.
I think I might try a Yule Log this year–I’ve had my eye on doing one for quite a while. But mainly cookies are my thing for Christmas–at least a dozen different types, beginning with the super favorite of at least three flavors of biscotti. Then, everyone has a favorite that I have to make to please them. And then I start on the caramels–these I make to please myself. Well, who am I kidding? I do all the baking to please myself! I find it relaxing and comforting. Anyone needing holiday cookies who hates baking? Don’t do it–I’ll send you a care package! Just let me know! (I even have a conjoined-twin gingerbread men cookie cutter! Care of the Mutter Museum in Philly!)
You are amazing.
I wish I did have a recipe, as it has been a long time since I baked. My stepdaughter makes the best pumpkin cheesecake! She has made it for Thanksgiving and Christmas for the past few years. Thank you for the chance to win this Christmas-themed book!
Good luck, Jeanie.
My Mom made these cookies that everyone loved and we have all looked every where for the recipe but must have taken it with her. We have tried a few times to replicate it but it just wasn’t the same. I make pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips. They are moist and yummy. I bring thing as we usually start getting together way before the meal is ready. Thank you so much for the chance at this giveaway. Love this series.
My husband has the same problem with his mother’s brownie recipe.
We always have a gazillion cookies, but the one year I tried a Yule Log taught me that some things are just better left to people who know what they are doing. 🙂
Have a great vacation, Barb!
Thanks, Liz. My Buche de Noel recipe in Yule Log Murder actually says, “Make friends with a baker.”
My treasured holiday recipe is the braided Swedish Christmas bread my mother used to make. It has cardamom in it and makes the hour smell so good while it’s baking.
I am imagining the smell right now.
well since our mom died a few years ago, we are trying to find new traditions and foods for the holidays. my sister and i are having fun coming up with different recipes. some that have gotten everyone’s approval so far are: sweet potato casserole, biscuits from civil war times, pumpkin pie and fruit jello
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You’re doing a great job of building new traditions.
I’m not a cook or baker so there is nothing I treasure. I do love eating all matter of treats. I love peppermint bark.
I love peppermint bark. And, peppermint ice cream.
Christmas tamales. Our neighbor when I was a kid would make us a batch. We have them homemade Christmas cookies.
I love food exchanges anytime, but especially at the holidays.
Pecan pie! My husband makes an incredible pie, which my son tries (unsuccessfully) to nibble away at while the rest of us sleep each night, but I must say that I love the stuff so much that I’ll make do with even shoddy pie.
I also make mincemeat cookies (not nearly as well as my grandma did, and a distant second to my sister’s) and a cranberry nut bread (not nearly as well as my grandma’s but BETTER than my sister’s, thank you very much) which we enjoy ’round about that time of year.
And every year, my hips, my hips, my hips….
My husband’s sister makes a fabulous pecan pie.
Looks like a great book by wonderful authors. Thanks for the giveaways. For the holidays I always make 2 cookies that were my mother’s; sugar cookies (cut out and decorated) and candy canes. She always gave away tons of cookie, about 8 different kinds. Making them and giving them away makes me think of her.
Baking traditions are definitely a tie that binds the generations together.
I like to make mince meat pie for Christmas even though I”m the only one that likes it.
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I make a sweet potato casserole with a brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecan topping that is a Christmas favorite at our house year after year. I also make a small one with no pecans for my daughter who doesn’t like nuts.
Fudge and sugar cookies.
I think it would be the home made chocolate pie my husband makes. Its the best I’ve ever tasted.
My mom’s carrot cake recipe. My hubbies Birthday is on Christmas Eve and it’s his favorite cake so I make it for him every year. It is very rich though, besides carrots it has pineapple, raisins, coconut, nuts,and cream cheese frosting.
My mom & I make a Bouche de Noel from an old Gourmet magazine recipe.
Sounds like a recipe for murder. I like mince pie and plum pudding with foamy sauce.
I can’t wait to read Yule Log Murder by three of my favorite authors. I love to make an Irish Christmas Cake. Thank you for the chance.
Pistachio torte it’s delicious whipped cream pistachio pudding a dough crust.