So the lesson I am regularly to learn again and again this year… Mrs. Julien has some of the best romance taste around. After reading, and being underwhelmed by The Chocolate Thief I started the second in the series, The Chocolate Kiss, as it was just the next one in my kindle, so whatever. But she was right, as is most generally the case, damn! The Chocolate Kiss was a delight!
This time our story focuses on Magalie, niece and worker at her aunt’s La Maison des Sorcieres (The House of Witches). They run their little house de thé on the île Saint-Louis making tea, chocolate witches, and hot chocolate that sometimes causes dreams to come true. Into this quaint little neighborhood stomps Philippe Lyonnais, recently voted best pastry chef in Paris to open his newest shop. Magalie fears the threat of such a powerhouse to her quiet little life and work, and therefore goes to face off against him. And from that initial moment sparks ensue.
And those sparks, the smolder, the taking the time to get to know each other (over months! that’s forever in romance novel speak!), it all culminates in a real treat. I understand why we have abbreviated timelines for romance novels, but it always drives me crazy when we go from meeting to proposing of marriage in 2 weeks. So I really appreciate when there’s lingering glances over months, and conversations over weeks as two people get to know each other much more realistically. What I also really enjoyed about this one was, while there was some of the “miscommunication on purpose” it was much more toned down than the last. This one was much more two people overcoming some of their own problems and coming together, instead of straight assumption jumping constantly.
So if you’re looking for an actual treat of a contemporary romance this is one to definitely read! Spending a few hours with Philippe and Magalie was just what I needed as their world is delicious in oh so many ways.
