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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
This second book in the Found Things series finds Xanthe firmly back in her own time focusing on her shop and her singing. While shopping for new stock, a dented copper chocolate pot sings to her. This new found object sends her back in time once more. This time she encounters a dangerous adversary who can prevent her from completing her mission. She also finds new allies in both the 17th century and the present day. With their help Xanthe can finally begin to understand the true nature of her strange gift. This is a delightful new series and I look forward to more if Xanthe's time-traveling adventures.
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
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
Reviewed on: Ashes Books & Bobs.
So many thanks to St. Martin's Press & Netgalley for the chance to read this novel.
Almost exactly a year ago I read The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston and was absolutely absorbed. Twelve months later, the same is true with Secrets of the Chocolate House! The Found Things Series is completely enthralling! Both books have played to my tastes (forgive the pun) with their unique stories, vivid imagery, and magical realism. I simply can't get enough!
I'm not normally someone who enjoys reading books in a series as they come out because I like experiencing the full impact of the story without forgetting important details along the way. Luckily, this continuation effortlessly put me back in the story without feeling like a year had elapsed in time. Maybe some of the magic of time-travel really exists within these pages? I was surprised to find I remembered the previous story quite clearly!
I've come to greatly appreciate Paula Brackston's atmospheric writing, transporting me to the quaint town of Marlborough, England and beyond. I relish in the clear descriptions of the weather, the homey shops, and the adventures Xanthe finds herself in. I wish I could meet her in real life if just to ride around in her taxi and look for antique treasures myself.
While this was a slow read for me, taking me several days and hours to read, I was happy to kick back and take my time in this world of magical possibility. I think the author may have a few tricks up her sleeve when it comes to controlling time herself. I was pleased to see the story basically picking up where it left off in both the past and present settings, allowing readers to catch up on the lives of characters we've grown fond of. I was worried when I finished the first book Xanthe's upcoming travels would take her somewhere else entirely. Thankfully, the old characters made their presence known, with the welcome additions of a few new folks.
I especially enjoyed the dimension added to the time-traveling, or Spinning, in Secrets of the Chocolate House. It added further possibility, which could ultimately mean the series would be able to go on for the foreseeable future, or as long as the author can dream up new exploits for Xanthe. Ordinarily, I'm not too wild about the added presence of a new villain in a story, but the addition of Ben Fairfax opened up some extremely interesting doors with where things can go as well.
If you're a fan of magical realism or Historical Fiction, I highly recommend this series. It inspires me to look for magic in the mundane around me. And an added bonus - it pairs perfectly with the Autumn season. Even though the Summer hasn't left us in Texas, I could easily imagine a nip in the air and frost on the ground. I will eagerly be awaiting future books from Paula Brackston and may find my way to her backlist titles soon! I love her writing style. My main question upon finishing this novel is this: Why haven't chocolate houses stood the test of time? That's a true injustice.
Pick up your copy on October 22nd.
So many thanks to St. Martin's Press & Netgalley for the chance to read this novel.
Almost exactly a year ago I read The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston and was absolutely absorbed. Twelve months later, the same is true with Secrets of the Chocolate House! The Found Things Series is completely enthralling! Both books have played to my tastes (forgive the pun) with their unique stories, vivid imagery, and magical realism. I simply can't get enough!
I'm not normally someone who enjoys reading books in a series as they come out because I like experiencing the full impact of the story without forgetting important details along the way. Luckily, this continuation effortlessly put me back in the story without feeling like a year had elapsed in time. Maybe some of the magic of time-travel really exists within these pages? I was surprised to find I remembered the previous story quite clearly!
I've come to greatly appreciate Paula Brackston's atmospheric writing, transporting me to the quaint town of Marlborough, England and beyond. I relish in the clear descriptions of the weather, the homey shops, and the adventures Xanthe finds herself in. I wish I could meet her in real life if just to ride around in her taxi and look for antique treasures myself.
While this was a slow read for me, taking me several days and hours to read, I was happy to kick back and take my time in this world of magical possibility. I think the author may have a few tricks up her sleeve when it comes to controlling time herself. I was pleased to see the story basically picking up where it left off in both the past and present settings, allowing readers to catch up on the lives of characters we've grown fond of. I was worried when I finished the first book Xanthe's upcoming travels would take her somewhere else entirely. Thankfully, the old characters made their presence known, with the welcome additions of a few new folks.
I especially enjoyed the dimension added to the time-traveling, or Spinning, in Secrets of the Chocolate House. It added further possibility, which could ultimately mean the series would be able to go on for the foreseeable future, or as long as the author can dream up new exploits for Xanthe. Ordinarily, I'm not too wild about the added presence of a new villain in a story, but the addition of Ben Fairfax opened up some extremely interesting doors with where things can go as well.
If you're a fan of magical realism or Historical Fiction, I highly recommend this series. It inspires me to look for magic in the mundane around me. And an added bonus - it pairs perfectly with the Autumn season. Even though the Summer hasn't left us in Texas, I could easily imagine a nip in the air and frost on the ground. I will eagerly be awaiting future books from Paula Brackston and may find my way to her backlist titles soon! I love her writing style. My main question upon finishing this novel is this: Why haven't chocolate houses stood the test of time? That's a true injustice.
Pick up your copy on October 22nd.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
adventurous
slow-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
This is the second in series about a young woman living in Marlborough and helping her mum run an antique shop.
Xanthe has a gift for hearing certain antique objects “speak” (in this case a copper chocolate kettle from the 17th century). She has a vision that Samuel (an architect she fell for in the previous book) may be in trouble and travels back to try and help him. In the process she learns more about her gift of “spinning” time from a former Spinner, gains a vicious enemy, and resolves her feelings for Samuel.
This second book does a good job of expounding on the first by answering some questions and further developing characters. And it also leaves a convenient cliffhanger for book three.
Thanks to #StMartinsPress and to #NetGalley for providing the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
Xanthe has a gift for hearing certain antique objects “speak” (in this case a copper chocolate kettle from the 17th century). She has a vision that Samuel (an architect she fell for in the previous book) may be in trouble and travels back to try and help him. In the process she learns more about her gift of “spinning” time from a former Spinner, gains a vicious enemy, and resolves her feelings for Samuel.
This second book does a good job of expounding on the first by answering some questions and further developing characters. And it also leaves a convenient cliffhanger for book three.
Thanks to #StMartinsPress and to #NetGalley for providing the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
What a great follow up to The Little Shop of Found Things.
In this installment, we find Xanthe trying to move forward with her life in the present even though her memories of the past still haunt her.
While helping her mother get inventory for their antique shop, a chocolate pot calls to Xanthe. While not unusual for someone with her talents, soon Xanthe discovers that this particular antique is tied to her life in the 17th century, forcing her to travel back in time and back into Samuel's life.
I'm slowly getting obsessed with this series and was so excited to read on Goodreads that Paula Brackston thinks she will probably write at least 4 books in this series. I have so many questions about the time travelers and their purpose, so I'm so glad to know more books are forthcoming.
In that way, Secrets of Chocolate House reminds me of Outlander. The travelers have something that makes them able to travel and it appears there is some sort of overall purpose to their journeys. I get the exciting task of trying to figure it out while reading about Xanthe try to figure it out.
Don't get me wrong, Samuel isn't Jamie Fraser (who is, though honestly?) But his heart keeps bringing me back to him. I feel the scenes where Xanthe and Samuel are together, and I'm hardcore shipping them. Even with everything that happens in this book... I'm looking at you ,Paula Brackston... I still want them to end up together.
However, and this is weird given my previous sentence, but I can totally see Xanthe settling down with her present day friend and possible love interest, Liam.
Xanthe is a strong, female character who is being torn in two different paths. Going forward, I want her to be honest with her mother about her life and time travels. Just to save both of them the uncertainty. Being honest is the only way I can see Xanthe moving forward with her life and being able to make a honest, sure decision about her future.
Thank so much to Netgalley for my copy!
In this installment, we find Xanthe trying to move forward with her life in the present even though her memories of the past still haunt her.
While helping her mother get inventory for their antique shop, a chocolate pot calls to Xanthe. While not unusual for someone with her talents, soon Xanthe discovers that this particular antique is tied to her life in the 17th century, forcing her to travel back in time and back into Samuel's life.
I'm slowly getting obsessed with this series and was so excited to read on Goodreads that Paula Brackston thinks she will probably write at least 4 books in this series. I have so many questions about the time travelers and their purpose, so I'm so glad to know more books are forthcoming.
In that way, Secrets of Chocolate House reminds me of Outlander. The travelers have something that makes them able to travel and it appears there is some sort of overall purpose to their journeys. I get the exciting task of trying to figure it out while reading about Xanthe try to figure it out.
Don't get me wrong, Samuel isn't Jamie Fraser (who is, though honestly?) But his heart keeps bringing me back to him. I feel the scenes where Xanthe and Samuel are together, and I'm hardcore shipping them. Even with everything that happens in this book... I'm looking at you ,Paula Brackston... I still want them to end up together.
However, and this is weird given my previous sentence, but I can totally see Xanthe settling down with her present day friend and possible love interest, Liam.
Xanthe is a strong, female character who is being torn in two different paths. Going forward, I want her to be honest with her mother about her life and time travels. Just to save both of them the uncertainty. Being honest is the only way I can see Xanthe moving forward with her life and being able to make a honest, sure decision about her future.
Thank so much to Netgalley for my copy!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This series was a delightful surprise for me. I feel like it’s a hidden gem that’s been found on my travels to find a good audiobook, that promised adventure, magic and a hint of historical fiction. This had it all.
I loved the sense of adventure in this. Going back in time with Xanthe splitting her time between the 17th century and her own present day times. She hears the familiar sing of an artefact, except this time it wasn’t a chatelaine. An old chocolate pot leads her back in time, reunited with familiar faces and tasked putting history back to rights.
This one added a lot more answers and flesh to the world Xanthe inhabits. It was so intriguing and I was just as hooked as I was with the first one! I’m so glad there’s another in this series for me to get stuck into as I’m not ready to leave this world yet.
I loved the sense of adventure in this. Going back in time with Xanthe splitting her time between the 17th century and her own present day times. She hears the familiar sing of an artefact, except this time it wasn’t a chatelaine. An old chocolate pot leads her back in time, reunited with familiar faces and tasked putting history back to rights.
This one added a lot more answers and flesh to the world Xanthe inhabits. It was so intriguing and I was just as hooked as I was with the first one! I’m so glad there’s another in this series for me to get stuck into as I’m not ready to leave this world yet.