The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop

by Caroline Roberts

[llamareads]

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. 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.

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.