Monday 27 January 2014

Review: The Chocolate Temptation by Laura Florand

The Chocolate Temptation (Amour et Chocolat, #6)
The Chocolate Temptation (Amour et Chocolate #6) 
by Laura Florand
Publisher: AOS Publishing
Publication date: January 14th 2014
My rating: 5 stars 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8789438-soulless
Romantic Times acclaims Laura Florand's work as "sensuous and sumptuous", nominating her for Best Book of the Year, and NPR says it's "explosive, sensual . . . and utterly sweet". Now, in her sixth book in the internationally bestselling Amour et Chocolat series, Florand takes us into a top Paris restaurant’s pastry kitchen and into the hearts and irresistible temptations of its chefs in The Chocolate Temptation.

She hated him.

Patrick Chevalier. The charming, laid-back, golden second-in-command of the Paris pastry kitchen where Sarah worked as intern, who made everything she failed at seem so easy, and who could have every woman he winked at falling for him without even trying. She hated him, but she’d risked too much for this dream to give up on it and walk out just so he wouldn’t break her heart.

But he didn’t hate her.

Sarah Lin. Patrick’s serious, dark-haired American intern, who looked at him as if she could see right through him and wasn’t so impressed with what she saw. As her boss, he knew he should leave her alone. The same way he knew better than to risk his heart and gamble on love.

But he was never good at not going after what – or who – he wanted.

He could make magic out of sugar. But could he mold hate into love?







The Chocolate Temptation was so, so lovely! The Amour et Chocolate series continues to bewitch and seduce me, and has become one of my all-time favorite adult romances series to date.

Patrick is the second to Luc Leroi, the head chef in the pastry kitchen of Hotel de Leuce in Paris with coveted and prestigious three Michelin stars. The pressure and pace in the kitchen is grueling and only the best-of-the-best work there. Yet, Patrick runs things with charm and an easy going grace, a calming and uniting force. He makes perfection look effortless, but if you look close enough you can see his intensity and need for absolute control. His one weakness, the little, quiet, and focused intern Sarah, is so utterly tempting without even knowing it.  She may be his undoing, because Patrick is slowly losing his fight resisting her. 

But, oh, God, I want her, I want her, I want her. I can’t stand this anymore. I can’t. The ache of it was going to swallow him whole.

Sarah won a sought after internship working under Patrick who makes perfection look easy, confounding and frustrating her. Sarah’s need to be perfect drives her. After all, she gave up a promising career as an engineer to follow her dream of being a pastry chef, so failure is not an option.  In spite of all her efforts and drive, Sarah still feels like she falls short. It doesn’t help that Patrick is a distraction who could break her heart if she let him. He’s like a sun kissed god, so gorgeous.  His gestures of care and constant flirting are like little stabs to her heart, because they mean something to her, and they may just be automatic and given without much thought by Patrick.  Because he treats everyone like that, right?

I just loved Patrick and Sarah’s story! It felt intense and introspective, and I was tightly wound, (in a good way) while reading this.  These two were so guarded and cautious about revealing the depth of their feelings.  I was happy that they each gave in incrementally, slowly revealing more and more. For all of Sarah and Patrick’s insecurities there were no frustrating setbacks and even when there was a misunderstanding they dealt with it maturely and with care.

This romance was of the slow burn variety. Laura Florand masterfully teased and built up tension with seemingly innocent scenes such as a hand massage or a quiet, dark walk home, turning them into something utterly sensual.  Oh, my heart, Patrick!  I loved every time he called Sarah “Sarabelle” and just how overcome he was by her:

Merde, qu’est-ce que tu es jolie,” he said and kissed her. How pretty you are. “So-so-so-so pretty,” he breathed hotly into her mouth, and a hand rubbed hard up her back to the clasp of her hair, releasing it to spill over their faces. “Oh, God.”

There was more to their romance, though, a deeper story for each of them. Sarah had a lot of inner struggles reconciling her dreams with her love and consideration of her family.  Patrick was worried about letting his desires and dreams be known for fear they’d be yanked from him.

The Chocolate Temptation is fifth book I’ve read in the Amour et Chocolate series. Each story hits me in different but profound way. Laura Florand’s prose is beautiful without being over the top, gorgeous, really.  I have fourteen pages of highlighted quotes on my kindle if that’s any indication.  If you haven’t picked up this series yet, what are you waiting for?  It’s a MUST for any romance junkie. 









 Amour et Chocolate Series:
(Click on title for Goodreads description)

The Chocolate Thief (Amour et Chocolat #1)  The Chocolate Kiss (Amour et Chocolat #2)  The Chocolate Rose (Amour et Chocolat, #3; La Vie en Roses, #1)  The Chocolate Touch  (Amour et Chocolat #4)  

The Chocolate Heart (Amour et Chocolat, #5)  The Chocolate Temptation (Amour et Chocolat, #6)




About the author: Laura Florand is the international bestselling author of the Amour et Chocolat series (The Chocolate Thief, The Chocolate Kiss, etc). Her books have been translated into seven languages, received the RT Seal of Excellence and starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, and been recommended by NPR, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. Four of her past five books have been recommended reads by Dear Author and two have been Sizzling Book Club Picks by Smart B*, Trashy Books.


Laura was born in a small town in Georgia, but the travel bug bit her early. After a Fulbright year in Tahiti, a semester in Spain, and backpacking in New Zealand and Greece, she ended up living in Paris, where she met and married her own handsome Frenchman. You can find out quite a bit more about those crazy adventures in her memoir, Blame It on Paris. She is now a lecturer in Romance Studies at Duke University. Contrary to popular opinion, that means she studies and teaches French language and culture, rather than romance. Fortunately, French culture includes French chocolate, research to which she is very dedicated. You can catch some glimpses of that research in the books, on her blog, and on her Facebook site, where you are welcome to join her and other readers!

Connect with Laura:




25 comments:

Siiri said...

"the head chef" --- MMMMMMMMMM is all I can say. I love a guy who can cook! ;) "His one weakness, the little, quiet, and focused intern Sarah, is so utterly tempting without even knowing it." omg, my body is already tingling with excitement, haha. This is bound to be epic. Oh, noooo, honey! He most certainly does NOT treat everyone like that. (RIGHT, RACHEL? :D) Me loves me some slow-burn! omg. French is so sexy, I can't even. Connor Cobalt makes everything sexy, but hearing/reading French from another guy's mouth, it's still as hot. I really ought to start this considering this series is your favorite, and, well, I love the premises :)

Melanie said...

I know how big of a fan you are with this series, it's great that this one worked out just as great! I do like the sound of this romance. How it unravels and builds up slowing. Ones that go too fast and border instant love can sometimes really ruin a book for me--heck, for anyone!

Fab review, Rach! <33

Tanja - Tanychy said...

Ah you and Keertana love this series and I really want to try it. I mean guy who can cook. I'm here honey! :) I love the sound of this one and I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Great review, Rachel :)

Keertana said...

Eeeeep, I'm so glad you loved this one, Rachel! I think the sexual tension was eating me up too during the first half of this one and I just adored this couple! Plus, the "Sarabelle" got to me every time too! ;) Lovely review, Rachel, and I'm so thrilled you've fallen in love with this series as I have!

Mary @ BookSwarm said...

She's got to be one of the most beautiful romance writers out there. I love her descriptive passages and how, from first meeting, how the passion burns between the two lovers.

Anonymous said...

Your love for this series is infectious, Rachel. This sounds absolutely wonderful and I love the sound of Patrick from the quotes and your review. They sound like they have ton of chemistry. Great review, Rachel. I need to check this one out.

Blodeuedd said...

Awww I want to read this one. I did not even know it was a series of them

brandileigh2003 said...

Patrick and Sarah's story sounds like something that I would enjoy as well. Didn't know this was a series though, I've heard of the first.

Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings said...

Wow! Book five already? I read book two last winter and liked it. The setting and chocolate and I like that these are companion books. I need to revisit this series.

Eunice said...

I have a copy of The Chocolate Touch but I still haven't read it and now this! Woah! I'll have to get back on it quick. Patrick and Sarah's pairing sounds cute and sweet. I'll have to meet them soon. I'm glad you enjoyed this, Rachel. Lovely review. :)

Eunice @ Book Overdose

Shooting Stars Mag said...

Sounds like a really lovely story. I like that the romance takes a bit to build. those are usually much more interesting to me because it's realistic! Thanks for sharing. :)

Rachel said...

Yay, Mary! I didn't know you were a fan, too. I totally agree, her writing is beautiful! :)

Rachel said...

Read The Chocolate Thief first, Eunice! It introduces you to the couple. I hope you love it as much as I did. :)

Rachel said...

I totally agree, Lauren. I love a slow building romance, makes the payoff so much sweeter! :)

Rachel said...

I hope you do, Nick! I think you'd love this series. :)

Rachel said...

Ah, yes, Sarabelle *sigh*. I'm so glad you introduced me to this series, Keertana. I'm completely addicted! And thanks! :)

Rachel said...

No he doesn't treat everyone like that, Siiri! Love Patrick, he's just so delicious! French is totally sexy and I've listened to a couple of these by audio. The French phrases sounded sooo lovely! I'd to have someone whispering sweet nothings to me in French! :) Yes, yes, yes, Siiri! Pick it up! :)

Unknown said...

RACHEL. I just finished this book an hour ago and I completely agree! My heart, my heart, my heart. Patrick and Sarah were heartbreakingly lovable and fragile and I loved them so.

I actually read The Chocolate Thief, then jumped ahead to this one since I had a review copy. I had to order paperbacks for my shelf! I will 100% be carving time for books 2-5 over the next month, as well as Florand's novellas and the Vie en Roses series.


Gorgeous review!

Rachel said...

I'm soooo thrilled you loved this as much as I did, Andrea! This series is just so utterly lovely! I can't wait to read your reviews! Also, I can't wait to see what you think of The Chocolate Touch. It's my favorite of the series with this one very, very close after. And thanks! :)

Ellie @ Ellie Reads All the Books said...

I've been a fan of Patrick since The Chocolate Heart but I really fell in love with him here. I enjoyed hos story very much. I've read the last three books in the series and I love them all :)

Melissa (i swim for oceans) said...

Oh, I just love the sound of this one! You had me with your previous reviews, but this one has completely and utterly sold me. Fabulous review, Rachel! :)

Jenny said...

WHY HAVEN'T I READ THIS YET RACHEL! I have a problem, clearly. I'm missing out on the awesomeness that is this series and I need to fix that asap. This story just sounds so beautifully romantic, and you know I love the slow burn romances, so I can't wait to dive into these books. Also, chocolate. That is all.

Wendy Darling said...

Oh man those excerpts you posted are VERY tempting! I knew this series was making the rounds and has a lot of positive reviews, but I had no idea there were six books. That's a little daunting to me, but the fact that I've seen pretty much all praise and fluttery feelings for it means I should definitely get off my butt and give them a try. I'm glad you're still loving them so much this far in, Rachel.

Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

Unknown said...

I have 2 of the books from the series, unfortunately I think it's 2 and 4 heh. Thought I love the sound of them, oh my goodness they sound sweet and yummy!

Lauren @ Love is not a triangle said...

AAAAHHHHH I NEED TO READ THESE especially with how much you and Keertana rave about them. It sounds like a no-brainer. Chocolate + Paris + Swoon. EEK. And I have 4 others to look forward to before this one. My FAVORITE is the slow burn with the small gestures that smolder. MMMMMMMMM Are they all like that? I can't wait! If only I had more time to read!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...