Friday 15 November 2013

Review & Giveaway: The Chocolate Thief (Amour et Chocolat #1) by Laura Florand


The Chocolate Thief (Chocolate, #1)
The Chocolate Thief (Amour et Chocolat #1) by Laura Florand
Narrated by Teri Clark Linden
Publisher: Audible/Kensington Books
Publication date: July 31st 2012
Length: 11 hrs 12 minutes
My rating: 4.5 stars 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15699188-the-chocolate-thief
Paris

Breathtakingly beautiful, the City of Light seduces the senses, its cobbled streets thrumming with possibility. For American Cade Corey, it's a dream come true, if only she can get one infuriating French chocolatier to sign on the dotted line. . .

Chocolate

Melting, yielding yet firm, exotic, its secrets are intimately known to Sylvain Marquis. But turn them over to a brash American waving a fistful of dollars? Jamais. Not unless there's something much more delectable on the table. . .

Stolen Pleasure

Whether confections taken from a locked shop or kisses in the dark, is there anything sweeter?




Reading (listening to) the The Chocolate Thief was a heady and sensual experience.  Laura Florand completely bewitched me with her decadent descriptions of chocolate: making, tasting, and consuming and thoroughly swept me off my feet with a romance to die for. Oh my heart, Sylvain!!

Cade Corey’s family is famous for their Corey Chocolate Bars sold all over the world making her family worth billions.  However, it’s been Cade’s dream to make a premium line of chocolate rather than her mass produced family’s bar.  To make this dream come true she hunts down the number one chocolatier in Paris, Sylvain Marquis, in hopes of hiring him to develop this line for Corey Chocolate.  Cade is already half in love with Sylvain before she meets him because of his ability to turn chocolate into culinary masterpieces. She doesn’t count on him being quite so darkly handsome as well!  Unfortunately their meeting is a disaster. Sylvain is insulted that Cade would ever think he’d put his name on a mass produced line.  He’s rude and arrogant when he rejects her offer, and Cade is humiliated and hurt! Harebrained ideas and the bad influence of a loving, but mischievous grandfather have Cade cooking up a plan to break into Sylvain’s laboratroire and steal his chocolate. And this is where things get interesting! 

This story was a pure delight.  The romance completely seduced me. Sylvain and Cade start off hating each other, but we all know that line between love and hate is so very thin!  

It excited the hell out of him when she looked at him like that, all silk and luxury and control but her blue eyes bubbling with the desire to strangle him. Go ahead, he thought. Launch yourself across that table and go for my throat. We can grapple together anytime you like.

Sylvain hates the idea that Cade thinks she can buy anything, including him with money, yet the fact that she’s so seemingly obsessed with him and his chocolate draws him to her.   Sylvain does come off as an arrogant jerk, and he is arrogant—about his chocolate, but underneath the surface his vulnerability shows through.  The story gives insights into his thinking and his vulnerabilities.  When he utters the most offensive things and puts his foot in it with Cade, we immediately see how he wants to kick himself.  In some ways he’s still the awkward, gangly teenager trying to get the girl, and getting his heart broken which completely endeared me to him.  This quote totally won me over:

He wanted to find that one person and just give her all of him, his heart, his head, his body. He wanted the sound and scent of her in their apartment, he wanted to be cooking with her in the kitchen, he wanted babies eventually, waking them up every two hours and leaving toys for him to trip over.

Cade in turn is enthralled by Sylvain, his way of life, his talent, but he infuriates her with his arrogance.  She does see the other side of him, though, with gestures that melt her heart. These two are intensely drawn to each other and it’s not long that they can resist the pull. Oh, I loved it when they didn’t resist! Aside from all of that, Cade wants to live a life like Sylvain, passionately, and leaving her corporate life behind before it sucks the light out of her.

The prose in The Chocolate Thief was gorgeous.  Chocolate is a huge part of this story and the descriptions of it and the romance, a lot of the times simultaneously, brought a dreamy, sensual feel to the story.  Plus, the setting of Paris was sublime making me feel like I was there.  I used my Google Translate App, on my phone, frequently to translate phrases in the book, and I highly recommend doing that.  It brought so much to the story.  You can even have the phrases read back to you on your phone after typing them in. I listened to the audio version, but I would switch back and forth between the e-book and audio frequently, especially when I wanted to look up the phrases in French.  I took my time getting through The Chocolate Thief, re-reading passages I had just listened to on the way home, because I loved this story so much.  Like I said, it bewitched me entirely! Teri Clark Linden’s narration and pronunciation of French was lovely. The only bits I wasn’t entirely won over with was Sylvain’s talking parts.  The cadence was a little slow, but everything else was superb. 

I must thank Keertana @Ivy Book Bindings for her amazing review! If not for her I wouldn't have picked this book up.   













I loved this story so much I have to give away a copy to one lucky reader!  Simply fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win.  Must be 18 to enter.  The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL as long as The Book Depository ships to you.  Click HERE for a list of countries.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

27 comments:

Keertana said...

I'm so glad you loved this as much as I did, Rachel! :D I think all the men in this series are swoon-worthy, but there's something about Sylvain that gets to me just a little bit more than anyone else. ;) I adored the vulnerability beneath his exterior and the push-and-pull of his relationship with Cade was just too much fun. I can't wait to see what you think of the other books in this series, dear! Fabulous review!(:

Amanda D said...

When I think of a romantic comedy, what comes to mind is Paris and NYC.

Glass said...

Great review, Rachel.:)
Romantic place? Hmmmm, well, Paris is city of love, but unfortunately I've never been there so I can't say from my experience.
I like small towns on sea side.

Ellie @ Ellie Reads All the Books said...

Most romantic place - Italy, Venezia. We went there with my husband for our first anniversary :)

sshah605 said...

Amore = Paris. Well thats what I have heard about Paris . And from what I have seen of Paris in movies it does look romantic. Also one of my favorite books 'Anna and the French Kiss' is based in Paris.

Mary @ BookSwarm said...

This story was like reading a travel book and love story all wrapped into one beautifully written package.

nurmawati djuhawan said...

france and italy :)

Jenny said...

"Sylvain and Cade start off hating each other, but we all know that line between love and hate is so very thin!"

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnd SOLD! I can never get enough of the enemies to lovers setup, so there's no way I'm missing out on this book. I don't think I've seen a bad review for it yet, and given our similar tastes Rachel I know if you say it's awesome, I'm going to love it as well. Plus, chocolate. That is all.

Bube said...

Lovely review :)
I must to read this book very soon,Thank you for the recommendation! :)

And answer is Paris :)

EFC Chrissy said...

Great review! I definitely want to read this book.

Most romantic location/city - I think of Paris, Italy, beach resort in the Caribbean.

brandileigh2003 said...

Love the sound of the romance

Carina Olsen said...

Love your review :D This sounds like an awesome book; and I adore the cover. I would love to win. <3 Well, I would say Hawaii, hih, because that would be perfect for me :)

Unknown said...

How funny that I've come across this review today, b/c I just actually read a review Florand wrote at Dear Author, and I thought "if she writes such great reviews, I want to read her books." !

One of my favorite bloggers loves this series, so I'll definitely be moving it up my to-read list!

Tanja - Tanychy said...

Keertana bought me with her review for this one too. I mean romance and chocolate! Who can resist these two? Anyhow I'm so happy you enjoyed this one Rachel.
When it comes to romantic place my first pick would be Venice. I love that city and it's so romantic. Great review, Rachel and thanks for the giveaway :)

SweetMarie83 said...

Paris definitely comes to mind when thinking of a romantic setting. I also love romances set in New York City and London. I've wanted to read this book for a long time, and your review has me even more excited now! Thanks for a chance to win. :-)

Anonymous said...

Paris and NYC are great romantic settings :3

I so wanted to read this book! Thanks so much for the giveaway and the chance to win S2

Shooting Stars Mag said...

Beautiful review, Rachel! Books like these make me want to visit Paris even more. Sounds like a lovely story! I adore reading reviews of a book and then loving them when I finally check it out.

Ann said...

When I think of a romantic comedy, what comes to mind is Paris

Ysabel Grace said...

I actually heard about this book and I really really REALLY wanted to read it, but I didn't have any money left.... THEN I see this!!! OMG!!! THANK YOU FOR GIVING US A CHANCE!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS GIVEAWAY!!!

Ysabel Grace said...

When I think of a romantic city.. Since Paris is the most famous known 'romantic' city, it's what I think about.
But I really like another city. It's never been a dream for me to go to Paris.

Asuka mai said...

Great review! First of all Thanks for the opportunity ^^
Paris is my dream country to visit... very romantic place to visit with someone special ^^

Mary Preston said...

Paris comes first to mind, followed by Rome.

Jess said...

I hadn't heard of this one Rachel but your review has made me add it to my wishlist! I love books set in Paris and read (and loved!) a book that sounds similar 'The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris' earlier this year and have been looking for something like it since. Thanks for the giveaway and amazing review! :)

Amanda said...

This does sound like the perfect sort of book to listen to. I'm sure all the descriptions of chocolate would drive me insane, though! Or at least tempt me enough so that I start eating some myself.
haha both of us have Keertana to thank for our interest in this. Well, now I have your review and Keertana's there to convince me to read this book. I still have my ebook copy I bought back in the summer, so hopefully I'll be able to get to this one soon. Lovely review, Rachel, and I'm glad this one worked out for you so well!

Unknown said...

Great review. Hmm... New York City! ♥ Thanks for the awesome giveaway! :D

Unknown said...

My answer is Paris. Great review..thanks for posting.

Texas Book Lover said...

Paris or NYC are the first that come to mind.

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