What a sweet little story = no pun intended. Emma is has a small shop in which she sells her homemade chocolates to members of the community and passing tourists. She also has a small service area where people can sit and have their chocolate cake and tea. Emma starts to experiment with more ways to bring in cash and then suddenly her landlord commonly referred to as the Eel throws a spanner in the works. Max her boyfriend gets jealous when he is told she was kissing someone when Max wasn't around. He calls it quits, a new competitor moves into town and the landlord is set on selling. Emma and Max do end up together, but you will have to read the book yourself to see how it happens. A fun book with lots of wine and chocolates consumed. I am proud to say I managed to enjoy the whole book without gaining a pound!

I've been hungry permanently for two days as I have been reading this book, the chocolates, oh the chocolates, I wish I could go to Warkton-by-the-Sea, walk into Emma's shop and just buy all the delectable sounding goodies.

In fact I made the mistake of reading the start of this just as I was going to bed, and then struggled to sleep as I was craving sugary treats and was really hungry!

It really is such a cosy seaside chocolate shop and the village is wonderful too. This is the sequel to the Christmas book and I was able to re-pick up on not only the story but the warmth of the writing, the location, and of course the chocolates really quickly.

This is a book that just gave filled me with a warm fuzzy feeling and its filled with drama as nothing goes smoothly at all.

The landlord of the chocolate shop is up to his normal obnoxious tricks, a blast from the past appears for Emma, and there is a new sweet shop in town too. The other people working in the shop Bev and Holly are both great and between them all come up with new initiatives for the shop and I do agree with them Prosecco and Chocolate sounds like a great combination.

There is so much packed into these pages, it is impossible not to be enthralled and entertained, and it was always with great reluctance that I had to take a break from reading to re-enter the real world from time to time, purely to get some work done!

I may be fixated on the chocolate but it all just sounds all good, and well it is the main location in the book. I thoroughly enjoyed all elements of the book though and really do recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable romance, or those of course with sweet tooth.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Impulse for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Lovely light hearted read, got through it in a day because i just couldn't put it down! Emma was a great character and you could really feel the community spirit throughout.

A good escapist and fun to read story. It's an easy read, very entertaining that makes you feel good.
It's perfect for lazy summer afternooon.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Harper Impulse and Netgalley for this ARC

Forrest Gump famously said that “Life is like a box of chocolates” and so is this truly scrumptious story of Emma and her Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop, down on the shores of Warkton-by-the-Sea. There are just so many layers to this box of delights! Firstly, we can really enjoy the mouth watering descriptions of the luxury chocolates. My enduring memories from the book are of Emma’s exquisite creations and chocolate compilations. I just know that I am going to have to give in and let myself indulge. Following this story, I want to mindfully munch on a small selection of tasty treats - enjoying the different flavours and textures after first appreciating the pretty skills of the chocolatier.
I told you we’d get lost in lusting after the chocolates – back to the story then. The more I thought about this scrummy script the more I felt the romance of it all wrapping itself up around me. I realised that just like a fabulous sweet from Emma’s shop, it was a true confection of creative layers of emotion, warmth and love.
When we lift the lid onto Emma’s world we realise that each of the members of her close-knit community have something to share with us. This beautiful box of treats has a clear message on the menu – that Actions speak louder than words. The story is a call to all of us to create a cornucopia of compassion for others as well as ourselves and to ensure that although people may not remember all that we say (thank goodness) we do have the ability to ensure that they remember the taste we may leave in the mouth – in other words how we made them feel.
All of the villagers are more than initially meets the eye, just like the shop is more than a shop. On entering Emma’s world, we get a sensory experience, we are shown how to see, touch, hear and taste their impact on others. Emma leads the way, as the owner of the Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop she is a light for us as readers. Through her experiences we get to notice the personal impact people can have on others. Emma is gratuitous with her kindness, sprinkling generosity onto her customers like a dusting of raspberry or icing onto her chocolates. She shares the fruit of her wares and her joy, (giving out free cake and drinks empathically) as well as her time – even when, perhaps even especially when, she is very busy with her own cares.
Emma takes time to notice people in the moment and to soak up beauty around her. She is also aware of when she is not feeling above par and perhaps the most poignant part of this tale is to see Emma showing herself compassion and self-love. Emma is devoted to creating a space for her values out in the world and this is what makes her seaside chocolate shop so cosy. So much so that some customers come back again and again to his haven of peace. She strives to believe the best of others and to offer respect and kindness even when it is not merited or reciprocated. This brings out the true colours in others too and enables their best to rise to the surface. This abundance mentality shows in the quality of relationships that Emma enjoys – be that with humans from her past as well as present and future, adults or children and even with animals.
Emma is helping the young Holly, by paying it forward, enabling her a start on the employment ladder and welcoming her as she takes her first tentative steps into the adult world. We are as wide-eyed as Emma’s young nieces who also adore her. I for one applauded her for the empowering role model she was for these sweeties.
Emma obviously comes from a very caring family, where she has had this modelled to her. We meet her brother who is always there when she needs him – be that on the phone as a listening ear, or there in person on a mercy mission or two. He even instigates not so random acts of kindness, which bless his sister and brought a tear to this reader’s eye. I could definitely take a leaf out of his book. We all need a James in our lives.
We also meet a cluster or customers from the seaside village. Mrs C may drop the odd clanger and gentle expletive – but we are not to judge this as a cantankerous or gruff exterior – this woman has a big and generous core. We see Emma and Bev looking beyond outer appearance and giving respectful and interested consideration to this woman’s past experiences; creating a space for her to feel safe, valued and loved, beyond the age of her outer body by nurturing her sense of inner youth.
We too learn to witness peoples’ hidden talents and the strength that is to be found in our shared humanity. Max generously shares his talents with others in need and will go the extra mile for a valued customer, client or community member. Adam looks out for his friends, and Emma will sacrifice her own comfort to show those she truly loves that she truly sees them and their needs.
Long term friends such as Bev and Nathan’s stories show us the power of the longevity of loving someone – reminding us that we can overlook the challenging areas of someone’s personality and forgive, when the constancy of their friendship continuously pops and fizzes reminding us that they are there for us when we need them, and we can do the same. Emma cherishes her ex-fiancé’s parents too, treating them with care and attention, mindful of the moving moments that will forever connect them.
The cutie who lives most by Emma’s recipe for love, instinctively responding with a heart-warming, welcoming wag of his tail to all and sundry is the adorable Alfie. We are so glad that this little fella has found his kindred spirit. And in the tradition of all great treats, our author saves the best ‘til last. Sometimes, just like the tastiest concoctions the sweetest feelings come after a little tempering and shaping, and the sugar-coated centre of this story does not disappoint. Now pass the chocolates!

Chocolate covered conversations and teapot talking points:
If you and I dear reader were sitting down together today in the Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop, having both read the book, here are a few of the points we could mull over together:

Have you ever made chocolate?
I remember making toffee as a child at school, and for one Mother’s Day I attempted peppermint creams. My mum was so sweet and acted with wonderful surprise on the day, even though she had seen splodges of green around the kitchen where I had not quite gotten rid of all of the evidence. The prosecco and chocolate making evenings in the book sound such fun. I would love to have a go.

What is your idea of cosy?
I love the idea of living by the sea and my husband and I are hoping to make this dream a reality somehow. We don’t want to wait until our retirement we would like to be able to enjoy it as part of every day life. We are just waiting for the right moment – but it is definitely on our radar. Stories like this really lift me as they help me to imagine the kind of life we might have, and they bring to the fore all of the advantages and reasons why it is so appealing.

Have you got a friend who has been there for you through thick and thin?
There is something about finding people who you can totally be your whole self with – who have seen you at your best and your not so best and who still love you for you. I am not someone who can cope with lots of friends and lots of giving out. I am sometimes sad about this as I would like to have more friends, but it makes me grateful for the ones that I do have. My husband and my kids are really my best friends and I am grateful for their unconditional love. I try to be in the moment with people in my everyday life and spread kindness and I am always touched when others do this for me. The writing community I am finding, is a particularly welcoming and encouraging bunch of people. It shouldn’t surprise me really that these people know and understand the power and affirmation in words.

Classic chick-lit. Simple storyline, happy ending after a few bumps along the way. Good way to pass a plane flight or for sitting reading by the pool. An undemanding yet enjoyable read.

I was delighted to be given ‘The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop’ (by NetGalley) to review as I really felt like I needed some light-hearted escapism. The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop is full of charm and is a perfect relaxing read.
Set in the idyllic seaside town Warkton-by-the-sea, it is a perfect holiday read. Chocolate shop owner Emma is struggling to run her business single-handedly – while also trying to keep her long-distance relationship with Max afloat. Added complications from the landlord from hell and the surprise return of Nate make things truly difficult. Will Emma lose her beloved chocolate shop?
A novel about the importance of friendship, community spirit and working for a dream it is very uplifting. However it should come with a warning: all the descriptions of the chocolates, ice-creams, croissants and prosecco left me drooling! A really heart-warming read that would make you consider moving to a seaside village with your dog!

This book was simply fantastic just didn't want it to end worth far more than the five stars. Lovely to go back to the wonderful seaside village and hear more about emma and her seaside chocolate shop. The characters are excellent and such a warm read and heartwarming and romantic and about friendship and getting what you want to be happy. Shows how easy life can change and you think you will loose everything but then how friends can help you to achieve your dream. You get so engrossed in the book you feel as if you are there at the seaside and with everyone. If you love chocolate then you will be more than happy as full of it and also how she changes her shop to improve it. Heartbreaking at times to.
Is eight years on and emma is still working at her chocolate shop and she getting new ideas for it and decides to open her little courtyard up as an area to sit outmoded and have coffee and cake in the summer and she also hosts a hen party and makes a real success of it. She loves her shop and made amazing friends and she's still going out with max as well. While she is working her landlord comes in and tells her that he won't be putting the rent up this year but she will now on be on a month to month contract and not a year and she wonders why and what he isn't playing it as he's taking photos as well. Next she sees a for sale sign going up and she so upset and knows she can't afford it so she's really hoping know one will want to buy it. While she is out with friends she sees someone which gets her upset as she was sure it was her boyfriend that passed away years ago but she learns it's his brother and he's staying in a camper van over the summer. Does max need to worry as he knows that emma has never got over her boyfriends dealth and his brother looks just like him. She invites him to have a shower at her place but max arrives home while he's there and he starts to get jealous does he have reason to he doesn't come home one weekend and emma goes to a party on the beech and she has drunk to much and ends up kissing her old boyfriends brother and she knows it's wrong and she can't tell max but will it come out. There's is a lady who always comes in the shop every day Mrs C and one day emma notices that she hasn't come in so goes over to the house at the end of the day to check she is ok and she's fallen down the stairs and broke not her hip. She visitis her is hospital and gets so friendly with her. Also there is a new shop that opens in the village and it's a sweet shop so emma is worried it will effect her but she works hard so it doesn't but she learns the owner is saying nasty things about her shop so goes round to speak to her. Can she raise the money for the shop so she owns it herself will max her boyfriend find out about her kiss and can he move forward or not and can they be happy every after.
Full of surprises and absolutely brilliant book from the first page. Highly recommend anyone to read it.

Following on from last year's visit to the Christmas Chocolate Shop, we revisit Em whom runs the seaside Chocolate Shop where she makes a vast array of different styled chocolate products. She's helped by Bev and Holly and also has a boyfriend Max whom is always working when she is it seems as her old fiancee Luke's brother turns up, Nate and things begin to happen there...



Her mean landlord Neil is back too as the rent on the shop looks set to go up and mention of selling the property starts as The Rock Shop opens in the old fish shack by the beach. Em has a lot to cope with and decisions to be made.



In a friendship full, love story of sorts, a passion for business thrives from character Em as she fights so hard for her beloved shop. A women's chick lit book that anyone can enjoy from teens to older ages as who doesn't love a story with drama, love and chocolate at it's heart?!



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!