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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a very fun sequel to the The Shop of Found Things (I think that's the first book). It's also faster paced.
The English village life descriptions are truly transporting and the magical time travel is whimsical and fun to read about. This is one of the coziest series I've read and highly recommend. The characters are well fleshed out and not annoying, and the story is original.
If you need something cozy to read with your tea this is it.
The English village life descriptions are truly transporting and the magical time travel is whimsical and fun to read about. This is one of the coziest series I've read and highly recommend. The characters are well fleshed out and not annoying, and the story is original.
If you need something cozy to read with your tea this is it.
Check out my spoiler-free review here: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/secrets-of-the-chocolate-house-paula-brackston/user-reviews/secrets-of-the-chocolate-house-samantha-murphy
Check out my blog for a more in-depth look: https://redwolfsroom.blogspot.com/2021/07/discovering-secrets-of-chocolate-house.html
Check out my blog for a more in-depth look: https://redwolfsroom.blogspot.com/2021/07/discovering-secrets-of-chocolate-house.html
I read The Little Shop of Found Things last year and enjoyed it. Afterward, I set the idea of reading Secrets of the Chocolate House aside for just the right time, and this was it. All in all, it was a lovely story with likeable characters and an interesting premise. I preferred this story to the first, if only because I wasn't a particular fan of the angry, fear-inducing ghost who motivated Xanthe's time travel in the first. This is just personal preference, of course. Both novels made for a pleasant experience, still, and the inclusion of antique chocolate pots and period chocolate houses in Secrets of the Chocolate House sweetened the experience. It really is a fun little series, and I'm sure to continue with it in due time. My only complaint would be the amount of time spent describing Xanthe's fears and concerns. I felt it was unnecessary and seemed redundant at times. (A glimpse would have been sufficient for me.) This is a minor trifle that I often contend with, so I'm sure I'm just being nitpicky. 4 stars.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Harley is becoming one of my favorite characters.
This second installment in the Found Things series by Paula Brackston is an expertly written tale that you'll find hard to put down. I'm a sucker for time travel stories, and the idea of an object like a copper chocolate pot being the conduit for the protagonist is a fun little detail. Unfortunately, I hadn't read the first book in the series, so I think that I missed some of the importance of some of the little details. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book a lot. It will make a wonderful read to sit on the porch and enjoy a cup of tea or hot chocolate while smelling that distinctive smell of fall.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Paula Brackston, and NetGalley for allowing me access to a digital copy for me to review. As always, all opinions are my own.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Paula Brackston, and NetGalley for allowing me access to a digital copy for me to review. As always, all opinions are my own.
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Book 68
The Secrets of the Chocolate House is the second in The Found Things series. Xanthe and her mom own an antique shop in England. In their search for objects to sell, Xanthe finds objects that "sing to her"-to alert her to travel back in time to help somebody. It sounds very hokey, and it is. It's also an enjoyable, engaging listen (moreso than book one). It ends abruptly. I will continue to listen to the series.
The Secrets of the Chocolate House is the second in The Found Things series. Xanthe and her mom own an antique shop in England. In their search for objects to sell, Xanthe finds objects that "sing to her"-to alert her to travel back in time to help somebody. It sounds very hokey, and it is. It's also an enjoyable, engaging listen (moreso than book one). It ends abruptly. I will continue to listen to the series.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I would have given this book a higher rating except that exactly nothing happened in the last 70 minutes of the book. The last hour was a complete waste of time.
adventurous
tense
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:
Yes