Although I started the book with a lot of interest, the second story sidelined me for weeks. I had trouble even wanting to read that story. Finally, I jumped to the last story, hoping to get enthused again. At the end, I'll list my favorite to least favorite.
SOMETIMES YOU FEEL LIKE A NUT (Margaret Brownley) --
Unfortunately, this is a contemporary story (my least favorite kind) about an art thief who leaves a distinctive chocolate nougat (from Holly Brubaker's chocolate shop) wherever he steals art. Now insurance detective Mark Spencer is watching Holly's customers, looking for the culprit. But things take an ugly turn when the art thief steals the Andy Warhol Hershey framed art that Holly owns. Holly happens to be an orphan who was left on a step with a Hershey's candy bar in the basket. To my mind, the case (and all its loose strings) was too neatly bound up at the end.
THE CHOCOLATE SHOPPE (Nadine Crenshaw) --
This story takes place in London in 1662. It's between a Puritan and her lack of conviction regarding her faith, her autocratic father, the man she's betrothed to, and the man she wants. This story was unique but the author destroyed it by telling it in the order she did.
SWEET DREAMS (Sandra Kitt) --
A boy (who lost his father last year) is in a candy store, buying a Valentine's Day gift. He doesn't have enough money but a nearby stranger offers to lend the (large) amount he needs. That stranger is with his nieces and nephews (who know the boy). When his mother hears of how he could afford the expensive candy, she marches over to see the stranger (who gave the boy his business card). She thinks her son was enticed into something she didn't like. Lo and behold, MacKenzie is a nice man.
THE SECRET INGREDIENT (Raine Cantrell) --
Miss Hallie Pruitt (owner of a legacy from her grandmother that allows her to live on her ramshackle farm alone), has been taking care of Cade McAllister for months. He was robbed and nearly beaten to death. When found by Dr. Burnswait, he asked Hallie to tend the stranger until he could be on his way. Now, Cade has had the cast removed and is moving about a bit better. He is intrigued by the kind, bossy, opinionated woman who has tended him so carefully. Through an interesting happenstance, Cade has found out that Hallie is fond of him. Should he stay or should he go? And then the two men who tried to kill him before now return to finish the job.
**
Favorite-to-least (by author's name): Cantrell, Brownley, Kitt, Crenshaw.
SOMETIMES YOU FEEL LIKE A NUT (Margaret Brownley) --
Unfortunately, this is a contemporary story (my least favorite kind) about an art thief who leaves a distinctive chocolate nougat (from Holly Brubaker's chocolate shop) wherever he steals art. Now insurance detective Mark Spencer is watching Holly's customers, looking for the culprit. But things take an ugly turn when the art thief steals the Andy Warhol Hershey framed art that Holly owns. Holly happens to be an orphan who was left on a step with a Hershey's candy bar in the basket. To my mind, the case (and all its loose strings) was too neatly bound up at the end.
THE CHOCOLATE SHOPPE (Nadine Crenshaw) --
This story takes place in London in 1662. It's between a Puritan and her lack of conviction regarding her faith, her autocratic father, the man she's betrothed to, and the man she wants. This story was unique but the author destroyed it by telling it in the order she did.
SWEET DREAMS (Sandra Kitt) --
A boy (who lost his father last year) is in a candy store, buying a Valentine's Day gift. He doesn't have enough money but a nearby stranger offers to lend the (large) amount he needs. That stranger is with his nieces and nephews (who know the boy). When his mother hears of how he could afford the expensive candy, she marches over to see the stranger (who gave the boy his business card). She thinks her son was enticed into something she didn't like. Lo and behold, MacKenzie is a nice man.
THE SECRET INGREDIENT (Raine Cantrell) --
Miss Hallie Pruitt (owner of a legacy from her grandmother that allows her to live on her ramshackle farm alone), has been taking care of Cade McAllister for months. He was robbed and nearly beaten to death. When found by Dr. Burnswait, he asked Hallie to tend the stranger until he could be on his way. Now, Cade has had the cast removed and is moving about a bit better. He is intrigued by the kind, bossy, opinionated woman who has tended him so carefully. Through an interesting happenstance, Cade has found out that Hallie is fond of him. Should he stay or should he go? And then the two men who tried to kill him before now return to finish the job.
**
Favorite-to-least (by author's name): Cantrell, Brownley, Kitt, Crenshaw.
If you crave romance and can't resist chocolate, you'll adore this tantalizing assortment of unexpected encounters, witty flirtation, forbidden love, and tender rediscovered passion. Four favorite authors, Margaret Brownley, Raine Cantrell, Nadine Crenshaw and Sandra Kitt, blend the twin ecstasies of romance and chocolate in this anthology of historical and contemporary romances.
Good anthology of romance short stories, all involving chocolate. I thoroughly enjoyed them!
