Carole J. (PianoLady357) reviewed Bonbon with the Wind (Southern Chocolate Shop, Bk 4) on + 157 more book reviews
Bonbon with the Wind by Dorothy St. James may look like a typical cute cozy on the cover, but there's a lot of complexity and depth to this story, making for a very enjoyable reading experience. Tightly-knit plot, rich characters, and an atmospheric setting all combine to make South Carolina's Lowcountry come alive. I found this story hard to put down and highly recommend it.
Penn is a multifaceted lead character and readers of the series will enjoy seeing the changes that take place in her attitudes and relationships. With a background from a wealthy, but dysfunctional, family, Penn is making a career from the chocolate shop that she inherited from her grandmother. She doesn't find it easy to let people in and is actually more comfortable focuses on what happened to dead bodies than dealing with the real people in her life.
âThe folklore surrounding Gray Lady's existence dates back over a hundred years. Just the mention of her can make a brave man trembleâ ⦠Bonbon with the Wind is set against the backdrop of Camellia Beach, a barrier island off the South Carolina coast, and opens with the onset of a hurricane. This setting is so vividly conveyed and woven so tightly into the story that it literally becomes a major character. Many fascinating elements are featured â island folklore, myths, legends, especially that of the Gray Lady who appears and warns of impending disaster. Penn's questions gradually uncover more, such as pirate treasure, stolen money and secret identities. And the discovery of Joe Davies' body quickly results in the arrival of ghost and treasure hunters.
The mystery itself is well crafted and it was only after reaching the conclusion that I could see that possible clues had been scattered throughout. Chocolate fans will love Penn's shop, especially the new pumpkin seed bonbons that she created. The hurricane â both it's impending arrival and the aftermath â are realistically and vividly portrayed. The destruction was heartbreaking and it was great to see the Camellia Beach community working together after the disaster.
Bonbon with the Wind is a fascinating, character-driven mystery. It's also clean, with no profanity or graphic scenes. The Southern Chocolate Shop is one of my favorite series and I look forward to my next visit to Camellia Beach.
Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Penn is a multifaceted lead character and readers of the series will enjoy seeing the changes that take place in her attitudes and relationships. With a background from a wealthy, but dysfunctional, family, Penn is making a career from the chocolate shop that she inherited from her grandmother. She doesn't find it easy to let people in and is actually more comfortable focuses on what happened to dead bodies than dealing with the real people in her life.
âThe folklore surrounding Gray Lady's existence dates back over a hundred years. Just the mention of her can make a brave man trembleâ ⦠Bonbon with the Wind is set against the backdrop of Camellia Beach, a barrier island off the South Carolina coast, and opens with the onset of a hurricane. This setting is so vividly conveyed and woven so tightly into the story that it literally becomes a major character. Many fascinating elements are featured â island folklore, myths, legends, especially that of the Gray Lady who appears and warns of impending disaster. Penn's questions gradually uncover more, such as pirate treasure, stolen money and secret identities. And the discovery of Joe Davies' body quickly results in the arrival of ghost and treasure hunters.
The mystery itself is well crafted and it was only after reaching the conclusion that I could see that possible clues had been scattered throughout. Chocolate fans will love Penn's shop, especially the new pumpkin seed bonbons that she created. The hurricane â both it's impending arrival and the aftermath â are realistically and vividly portrayed. The destruction was heartbreaking and it was great to see the Camellia Beach community working together after the disaster.
Bonbon with the Wind is a fascinating, character-driven mystery. It's also clean, with no profanity or graphic scenes. The Southern Chocolate Shop is one of my favorite series and I look forward to my next visit to Camellia Beach.
Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
