Name: The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop
ISBN: 9780008236298

Caroline Roberts

*The new, deliciously festive ‘Cosy’ novel from the Kindle bestselling author of The Cosy Teashop in the Castle*

The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop

Shirley Jones 

The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop was such a delightful read, everything about this book was just beautiful, my mouth was watering all the way through and ended up eating a full galaxy bar of chocolate, the setting in the story sounded so beautiful and perfect, I would definitely recommend this book.

Lauren Sullivan

After a personal tragedy seven years ago, Emma has thrown herself running a chocolate shop in the harbor village of Warkton-by-the-Sea. She has a successful shop, a sweet dog, and the support of her friends and family - what else could she possibly need? A chance meeting (and a passionate kiss!) during a walk on the beach make Emma slowly realize that maybe the last ingredient she’s missing is…. love.

OK, ok, that was a bit cheesy, but honestly, this book is just so sweet, cozy and feel-good that I feel myself turning into one of those movie trailer narrators. The story takes place over a year at the chocolate shop, from one Christmas season to the next. The pacing starts out slowly as the inhabitants of Warkton are introduced, but then picks up steam towards the end of the book. Through it all, the descriptions of chocolates were mouth-wateringly delicious. I liked the characters, but I did find most of them, besides Emma, to be a bit flat. Emma’s hesitations about getting into a new relationship are detailed and believable, and her growth in the latter half of the book is shown well.

As for cons, it took a long time (nearly half the book) for the romance to really take off. While I enjoyed reading the non-romance bits, and I found the description of Emma’s life helpful to contrast to what she had while in a relationship, I had expected the romance to play a larger part. I was also weirded out a bit by a side relationship. (view spoiler)[Emma’s part-time helper, Holly, is 16, and she begins dating a guy who’s 20, and nobody bats an eye about the age difference. Maybe I’m just an old fogey, or maybe things are different in England, but that would’ve been a big deal when I was a teenager, and I can’t imagine my family or friends being OK with it. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, an enjoyable, if unspectacular, read. Perfect for curling up on a cold day with a cuppa and a box of chocolate truffles!

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Eilidh 

Unwrap this season's deliciously heartwarming romance. The perfect festive treat from the author of The Cosy Teashop series. Emma is the proud owner of The Chocolate Shop by the Sea, the jewel in the chocolate box of the picturesque Northumberland village that she calls home. Despite appearances life isn't totally sweet - Emma has her friends around her but the business is in trouble and she needs to come up with a plan before her shop melts around her. Meanwhile, there's romance in the air with handsome Max, a mystery man she meets on the beach. But they're both holding something back - troubles from the past that threaten to break their plan for happy-ever-after...