The Chocolate Kiss (Amour et Chocolat Book 2)

Never have I read a book with so much passion, sensuality, and longing as The Chocolate Kiss. To be perfectly honest, I can't even write a true review of The Chocolate Kiss because I'm a jumbled-up mess of word vomit and big feelings. I'm basically keeping myself on a tight leash here. I can't really wrap my mind around the ways I loved the story.I went into The Chocolate Kiss expecting an amazing story. I have no hesitation with my expectations because this is the fifth of Florand's books I've read and every single one of them has been a remarkable reading experience. Here, we have a heroine in Magalie who's built the thickest, strongest walls around her heart, and a man, Philippe, who doesn't want to destroy those walls, but simply wants her to make a space for him. The antagonism between the two is thick and tense, as is the passion. The build-up is kept at a low simmer...until it just boils over and man, is the passion ever on from then forward.Florand has an unparalleled knack for creating the best men. They are alpha men who aren't jerks, but very passionate and confident. Stubborn when it comes to winning the woman they love's heart. They express their love through their work, be it the world's finest chocolate, a sugar spun confection, or a macaron made to embody their affection. The passion in this story was remarkable. I do not understand how any writer can describe making hot chocolate or a macaron as more passionate than actually making love, but Laura Florand does it. Like a boss.Florand's writing unfailingly takes my breath away. As I read The Chocolate Kiss, I would continually grab my (very indulging) husband's arm and sigh dramatically. He would smile and say "You love it so much, yeah?" I would sigh even harder and more dramatically, read a beautiful passage, and then I would say "See how much he loves her? How patient he is? How careful he is with her heart?" This cycle repeated itself throughout my reading of the book. Did I mention my husband is indulging?Laura Florand has secured her place as my favorite author. I emphatically recommend The Chocolate Kiss specifically, and her entire work as a whole.Favorite Quotes "Magalie. I didn't want you to make me have to do this, because you're so sensitive about competition. But if you want chocolate, I can make chocolate"--he leaned toward her a little, his teeth showing sharp-- "that will melt your insides out." She lifted her chin him, feeling those insides melt just at the thought of him trying "So here I am, torn apart. I really didn't want to be torn apart. I liked who I was." "You liked your tower," he murmured, his voice almost an apology. "Do you really think I broke it? I just wanted to make room for me inside."

This romance is the best in so many ways. It has the best retelling of a fairy tale I have ever read in the Romance Genre and given the amount of books I have read this is no small feat. It has an amazing non Man Ho hero and fierce gotta a lot of emotional growing to do heroine. Its set in Paris and the setting is a compelling character in the book. The secondary characters are notable, insightful, and wonderful. Its real. I love these kinds of romances the most. We can have this real love as the flawed people we. Those of us lucky enough to have this kind of love see what real love looks like shining back to us in these pages are are affirmed. It has the best food play scene. Bar none. Game over. The publisher is Kensington so the ebook is lendable which always makes me happy.Now, lets talk about the gifts of this writer. Her style, much like the dark chocolate that this novel is dipped in, may not be for everyone but for me she hits all the right notes and weaves all the arcs into fine music that had me up reading all night. The little metaphors and descriptions of food, the body, the city, weather, and feelings are startling yet subtle. She handles the psychological complexity of her characters and their motivations within the fram work of grand romantic tropes and their reimagining; Enemies to Lovers, May-December, and Rapunzel with such grace.And whipped cream on top-- the book is funny and fun and heartwarming and heartbreaking and oh so lovely.

In this 2nd installment of the Amour et Chocolat series, there is a slow start that takes a while to warm you up, but most satisfying in the end. We are introduced to Magalie as she confronts Phillipe, one of Paris' most celebrated pastry chefs, for opening a store on her small street in Ile Saint Louis, making her fight for customers with her tea shop and her chocolat chaud. She is a product of a transcontinental upbringing and thus has trust issues. She feels like she needs to prove she is invincible and won't let anyone into her inner sanctum out of miss place fear of abandonment. Phillipe is instantly smitten and tries to win her over and over and over again.Although well written, hot, and deliciously descriptive, it took longer for me to get into this book. There was more "world building" than needed in the beginning and it was frustrating to see Magalie be so obtuse. Also, the metaphors on making space for people was a little inconsistent & over used. However, in the middle of reading this, I ran to my local petit marche where they have French Macaroons and devoured 3 thinking of Phillipe's amazing creations. This book is much like macaroons when you bite into it; there is just a bit of pressure needed to crush the outer shell, but at the center of it, is smooth, rich, light, crispy and so enjoyable.

I highly recommend this book for lovers of Chocolat by Joanne Harris. It has a similar mix France, food, magic and eroticism. Although the Chocolate Kiss is an altogether lighter confection.The Parisian setting is very well realised and the romance between spiky, defensive Magalie and handsome, self assured Phillipe is delightful. Who doesn't love a man who woos a woman with macaron's ?This is a witty, delicious and psychologically astute book, which will definitely inspire the reader to seek out chocolate. Mouth wateringly delicious.

Laura Florand creates an intoxicating world that draws you into the magical shop La Maison de Sorcieres, where Magalie Chaudron works the art of the best chocolat chaud in Paris. The delicious degree of tension between arrogant patissier Phillippe Lyonnais and Magalie are right there from their very first meeting, and continue to escalate throughout the novel.Magalie is wary of Phillippe, and bristles with hostility whenever he is around, but of course there's a reasonf or it, and Phillippe is determined to dig it out. Over and over, he woos her with offering after offering of the most glorious Parisian patisserie, seeking a way to her heart, but she refuses to be swayed. Your mouth waters as Florand lovingly describes culinary artwork that is a feast for all the senses. While you hungrily devour the book, you may start noticing that your mouth starts to water, and your tummy rumbles alongside it!The Chocolate Kiss is the second book in Florand's Chocolate series, which feature a series of uber sexy French chocolatiers/patissiers. Phillippe is a very different from Sylvain, in Florand's first novel The Chocolate Thief, but no less alluring for it. Prepare to swoon, salivate, and finish the book with a burning desire to hop on the next Eurostar and head off to Paris to find your own hot Frenchman!