Secrets of the Chocolate House by Paula Brackston
Expected publication: October 22, 2019 – St. Martin’s Press
Review galley courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley
Description:
New York Times bestselling author Paula Brackston’s The Little Shop of Found Things was called “a page-turner that will no doubt leave readers eager for future series installments” (Publishers Weekly). Now, Brackston returns to the Found Things series with its sequel, Secrets of the Chocolate House.
After her adventures in the seventeenth century, Xanthe does her best to settle back into the rhythm of life in Marlborough. She tells herself she must forget about Samuel and leave him in the past where he belongs. With the help of her new friends, she does her best to move on, focusing instead on the success of her and Flora’s antique shop.
But there are still things waiting to be found, still injustices needing to be put right, still voices whispering to Xanthe from long ago about secrets wanting to be shared.
While looking for new stock for the shop, Xanthe hears the song of a copper chocolate pot. Soon after, she has an upsetting vision of Samuel in great danger, compelling her to make another journey to the past.
This time she’ll meet her most dangerous adversary. This time her ability to travel to the past will be tested. This time she will discover her true destiny. Will that destiny allow her to return home? And will she be able to save Samuel when his own fate seems to be sealed? (publisher)
My take: Xanthe and her mother are new proprietors of an antiques shop and they must find enough stock to be ready for holiday shoppers to make a success of their business. Xanthe is well-suited to this job because interesting objects ‘speak’ to her. In the first book of the series it was a chatelain from the 1600s that took Xanthe on the adventure of a lifetime. Now, in the second book, Xanthe isn’t sure she wants another adventure but when she touches a recently acquired chocolate pot she envisions the man she met the first time she travelled. She realizes she may not have a choice whether or not to return to him. At the same time her ex-boyfriend turns up and instantly reminds her of why he’s an ex. Xanthe is faced with decisions and choices in the current day as well as a few centuries earlier. It all added up to an enjoyable time travel that left me looking forward to the next book in the Found Things series.
I’m not so sure about the time travel aspect but I’d give this a try since you obviously enjoyed it.
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Mary, I loved your review. I enjoyed the first book so much. I can’t wait to get my hands on this second one.
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Great review, and I love that cover! You had me at chocolate…LOL. But I am also now intrigued about the series and must read the first book. Thanks for sharing.
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The word chocolate in the title grabbed my attention first , then the cover. I think I might like this but since I’m not a fan of time travel I’ll have to think on it a bit.
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Sounds like a good time travel book with some mystery and possibly romance.
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[…] Review: Secrets of the Chocolate House […]
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This sounds like a great series! I like the time travel/antique shop themes.
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Sounds quite good. LOVE the cover!!
Thanks for your review.
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Chocolate and time travel! Two of my favorite subjects. 🙂 I’ll have to look into this series.
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