Just when you thought things might be settling down a bit, life just throws you a curve ball. This is pretty much the premise of this entire story, and I couldn't be happier about it. This series caught me right from the start, and with this latest installment has me completely hooked and just yearning for more. I love Penn, I love how crazy she is, her little tidbits and ticks. I loved how the whole murder and mystery was set up. With so many suspects, you couldn't figure out whodunit it. This book does not disappoint and I hope that this series is one that lasts.

I hadn't read any of the other books in this series however this book was good as a stand alone. The author clearly set the scheme of previous books which for some may be annoying if reading directly after the second book however for me was very useful!

There were grammatical and punctuation errors throughout which is off putting. It is a shame because the actual plot is good but the contestant errors distracted me from the plot - sometimes there were missing words, punctuation or the sentences just didn't make sense.

I'd have liked to explore the characters a little further to be fully immersed however the descriptions of the area were very good and I could clearly imagine the scenes. The heroine, Charity Penn, is interesting as she recognises is flawed and I enjoyed the first person narrative. I enjoyed the serrate back stories to the main plot however these were a little drawn out.

This could be a fantastic series however it wasn't particularly well written which was frustrating as the plot was good.

Review: IN COLD CHOCOLATE by Dorothy St. James

Author Dorothy St. James really tugs the heartstrings of readers in this very special South Carolina Lowcountry cozy mystery. Charity Penn's Chocolate Box shop is extraordinarily popular, and she's settled in well in the paradisical Camellia Island--or so she believes. But the heirs of the former owner are determined to snatch the property to sell to a high-dollar resort developer. Penn thinks she holds the high ground, until she discovers betrayal.

I so enjoyed learning the ongoing revelations of Penn's backstory, and empathizing as her efforts seem blocked at every turn, and despite her moral integrity, she just can't seem to win. This is the third in A Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery Series, and I'm very eager to read more.

I so enjoy the writing style of Dorothy St. James. It is such a pleasure to read her words and have them jump off the page creating images and settings that envelope you. In Cold Chocolate starts out beautifully and quickly builds suspense, climaxing in a satisfying ending. This is the third book in the Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series. I somehow missed the debut book, which I plan to purchase this weekend. Fortunately, each book can stand on its own. This is one great cozy mystery series.

Although this is the third book in the series, I didn’t feel I was missing something by not starting at the beginning. I enjoyed the plot, the characters are well written, and I love it included saving the baby turtles. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

Yum, this series always makes me crave chocolate, love the setting and the turtles were a bonus. Enjoy the well developed relationship between the characters and the mystery kept my interest until the end.