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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Religious bigotry, Murder
This is the second book in the Found Things series, and I loved the first one so it was no surprise that I'd want to follow Xanthe further into her adventures! Now that they've settled fairly well into their new antique business, Xanthe and her mother Flora are becoming part of the fabric of the little town they live in. Of course, Xanthe’s specialty is still in full force, and still allows her to hear stories from certain objects that she touches. It's no spoiler to let you know that she does indeed find a new item to take her back, once again, to the place she left behind. Back to the 17th century where goes, where she learns that there are others like her. Other "spinners".
What fell short for me this time around was all the tiptoeing around that Xanthe had to do to complete her missions. I felt like Brackston had to spend more time making excuses for Xanthe's departures than felt necessary. On top of that, the idea of "spinners" is dangled in front of the reader, with a little more background given, but there wasn't as much forward movement as I would have liked. I loved the unrequited romance in the first book, but I'm ready for something new. I want to know who Xanthe descends from, and what her future will hold. This book read a lot slower for me than the first one.
Will I continue on, despite that? Absolutely. I'm too invested in this antique shop and its dealers not to.
What fell short for me this time around was all the tiptoeing around that Xanthe had to do to complete her missions. I felt like Brackston had to spend more time making excuses for Xanthe's departures than felt necessary. On top of that, the idea of "spinners" is dangled in front of the reader, with a little more background given, but there wasn't as much forward movement as I would have liked. I loved the unrequited romance in the first book, but I'm ready for something new. I want to know who Xanthe descends from, and what her future will hold. This book read a lot slower for me than the first one.
Will I continue on, despite that? Absolutely. I'm too invested in this antique shop and its dealers not to.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
medium-paced
I enjoyed this one more than the first book. I cannot wait for the next one!
Let me start by saying that I did not read book #1 in this series, The Little Shop of Found Things. While that fact did take away (a bit) from the story it wasn't a deal breaker. I will go back and read book 1.
This was Outlander ish to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will continue with this author.
My thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced readers copy. The release date for this book is scheduled for October 2019.
This was Outlander ish to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will continue with this author.
My thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced readers copy. The release date for this book is scheduled for October 2019.
Secrets of the Chocolate House by Paula Brackston is a well-written, entertaining mix of Historical Fiction and Fantasy that kept me engaged throughout the book. While it is the second book in the series, it worked as a standalone novel. I believe most readers would benefit from reading the series in order as there are references back to events in the first book of the series. However, this did not diminish my reading pleasure.
The novel takes place in and around Marlborough, a market town in the English county of Wiltshire in a mix of contemporary times and the latter part of the first decade of the seventeenth century. Xanthe and her mother Flora now live in Marlborough above their antique store, The Little Shop of Found Things. Xanthe’s parents are going through a divorce, money is tight and Flora is suffering from arthritis. Xanthe has found that she can time travel to address injustices. Objects sing/whisper to her. When a copper chocolate pot calls to her, she knows that she will once again be time traveling.
Paula Brackston does a great job in giving the reader a sense of both time and place. Her descriptions help the reader to travel with Xanthe. There is history, suspense, danger, deceit, uncertainty, a villain, hope, friendship and much more.
I wish that Xanthe was a stronger female protagonist. She is still somewhat unsure of herself whether she is in contemporary times or in the seventeenth century. However, there are hints of changes and I expect this is one thing that the author will address in future books.
Readers that enjoy time travel and history should enjoy this novel. I look forward to reading more books by Paula Brackston.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Paula Brackston via Net Galley for a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
The novel takes place in and around Marlborough, a market town in the English county of Wiltshire in a mix of contemporary times and the latter part of the first decade of the seventeenth century. Xanthe and her mother Flora now live in Marlborough above their antique store, The Little Shop of Found Things. Xanthe’s parents are going through a divorce, money is tight and Flora is suffering from arthritis. Xanthe has found that she can time travel to address injustices. Objects sing/whisper to her. When a copper chocolate pot calls to her, she knows that she will once again be time traveling.
Paula Brackston does a great job in giving the reader a sense of both time and place. Her descriptions help the reader to travel with Xanthe. There is history, suspense, danger, deceit, uncertainty, a villain, hope, friendship and much more.
I wish that Xanthe was a stronger female protagonist. She is still somewhat unsure of herself whether she is in contemporary times or in the seventeenth century. However, there are hints of changes and I expect this is one thing that the author will address in future books.
Readers that enjoy time travel and history should enjoy this novel. I look forward to reading more books by Paula Brackston.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Paula Brackston via Net Galley for a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.