Review: Better Than Chocolate by Sheila Roberts
Author: Sheila Roberts
Title: Better Than Chocolate
Release: September 25, 2012
Series: Life in Icicle Falls #1
Reviewer: Lil
Source: Publisher
Purchase: | Book Depository
Sweet Dreams Chocolate Company has been in the Sterling family for generations, ever since Great-Grandma Rose literally dreamed up her first fabulous recipe. But now it looks as if they’re about to lose Sweet Dreams to the bank—and that would be a disaster, not only for the family but for the town of Icicle Falls, Washington. Can Samantha, the oldest daughter and new head of the company, come up with a way to save it?After Samantha does some brainstorming with her mother and sisters, inspiration strikes. They’ll have a chocolate festival! Time’s running out, but the Sterling women are determined and the town’s behind them, so everything’s bound to go smoothly .Or not. Events seem to be conspiring against Samantha, and her mother’s attempts to help aren’t helping. To make matters worse, the fate of her company is in the hands of her archenemy, Blake Preston, the bank manager with the football-hero good looks. It’s enough to drive her to chocolate. But Blake’s also enough to convince her that (believe it or not) there’s something even better than chocolate.
This book came to me just at the right time. I was looking for a fun read and something that would make me giggle. And I got that with Better Than Chocolate. Plus the book is dripping with all kinds of yummy goodness from the chocolate to Blake Preston! Now I usually go for the books hot with romance and lots of steamy scenes but sometimes it important to shake it up a bit and I was able to do this with BTC. The town of Icecle Falls is a fantastic backdrop for the story and I certainly did enjoy several of the side characters.
I did feel as the story really did come into it’s own midway through and I sped through to the ending so quickly I thought I skipped pages. Samantha Sterling is our leading lady and though I felt she could be a little overbearing at times I almost felt it was more from her determination to save the family business. It didn’t make me not like the character. I wasn’t threatening to throw the book against the wall. Trust me I’ve done it before and I’m sure I’ll do it again. I did have moments where I would have liked to see a wee bit more romance but I can see where the author was focusing on the family story and it works in this case.
I have to admit the book made me miss my sisters and my mom a little bit. The interaction amongst the family members felt genuine. I have read so many books where I become disconnected with the characters because they aren’t connecting with each other. You get a real feel for the family history and dynamic along the way.
And since this is a book about chocolate Sheila Roberts included four chocolate recipes. My mouth is watering just thinking about Baily’s Chocolate Truffle Trifle!
In the end if you are looking for a refreshing story that centers more on the women of book than the romance than this book is for you. If you want humor mixed in with some family angst and bad lucked that must be overcome this book is for you. Also if you love chocolate this book is for you. I do suggest not having any chocolate in the house at the time you are reading it…. trust me I speak from experience.
This sounds super sweet. I’ll have to pick it up and give it a go.