Secrets of the Chocolate House by Paula Brackston is wonderful and I HIGHLY recommend it! It certainly has everything I look for in a good tale....time-travel, tension, a love interest, and all the challenges that come with being a modern woman in the seventeenth century!

I haven’t read the author’s first book in this series The Little Shop of Found Things (although it's now high on my list), and while there are references to it in this book the story was still easy to follow from this point.

Our heroine Xanthe is torn between two worlds, her life in the present-day and helping friends from the past. She’s also discovering her talent for ‘spinning time’ and trying to learn how to control and use her new-found abilities.

The characters in the book (both present-day and from the past) are interesting and compelling and make you want to know more about them. I’m definitely hoping there will be more in this series, because I for one can’t wait to read what happens to Xanthe next!

The second novel in the Found Things series finds time spinner and psychometrist Xanthe Westlake on a new adventure as she finds another object, a copper chocolate pot, which calls to her. Only this time, Xanthe learns that she is not alone in her time spinning gift, and the other time spinner is a formidable adversary. Yet, Xanthe has an ally, Mistress Flyte, proprietress of a chocolate shop (which rum-laced chocolate that will make you crave whilst you read!) who appears to know something about time spinners and a special book which might have already found its way into Xanthe's hands. In her present world in Marlborough, Xanthe has her mother and the handsome Liam. But Xanthe hopes that she will be able to reconnect with Samuel Appleby, the man she left (centuries) behind when she returned to her life at the conclusion of Little Shop of Found Things. The problem is that another time spinner, Benedict Fairfax, stands dangerously in her way. What does he want, and why is he following Xanthe through time?

This is a pleasant sequel to Little Shop of Found Things and I enjoyed having more information about the time travel of Xanthe's world. This is a good, light weekend read that doesn't really require having read the first book per se, though I think readers would gain more understanding of Xanthe herself by having read the first novel.


I received an Advanced Review Copy and paper review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press.

Through net galley received this book! you travel to the past! Didn't read the first one but so many things happen to the characters. I was able to read half way through. Thought I could read all of this but It's Just not my kind of book! It doesn't mean you wouldn't like it!

This series is very enchanting and magical. I love that the main character, Xanthe, can basically read and see visions of the history of some antique objects. What an interesting ability! I also love the attention to Ley Lines and her ancient blind house in the backyard of her home. All of this mixed with time-travel makes for a treat!
(But the best part is the romance)
There were some things that bothered me, I did not approve of Xanthe leaving her mom who suffers from severe arthritis so badly that she needs crutches. I personally take care of my mom, and to be honest, I do not care what happens.... my mom comes first. I just couldn't see myself leaving my mom in a possibly bad situation for any reason. This just really irritated me on a personal level.
Otherwise, the book is delicious. It's a treat. I recommend it to readers that enjoy some history with their fantasy!

This is book number 2 in this series. And as much as I loved the first, I enjoyed this book even more. I am not a fan of fantasy, so perhaps this was an odd choice for me. But the historical elements and the romance definitely won me over. I loved hearing about the antiques and the small village life in rural England too. Just an all around good read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC. In exchange I am posting my honest opinion.

This is the second novel in the “Found Things” series. I loved the first book “The Little Shop of Found Things” and was eagerly awaiting the publication of the second one. The first book felt magical and kept me enthralled. NOTE: This series must be read in the proper order for it to make sense.

Unfortunately the second book did not meet my expectations. In the first book Xanthe had gone back in time and fell hard for Samuel but had to leave him in the past. Now back in her own time Xanthe tries to return to her routine life, forget about Samuel, and focus on the shop she owns with her mother. But of course that can’t happen, or we would have no story.

Searching for items for her shop, Xanthe discovers a copper chocolate pot that is singing to her. Once she has it in her possession it takes her on her next journey – right back to Samuel. And on this trip she encounters a dangerous adversary.

I did enjoy the time spent in this book explaining who these time travelers – called Spinners – were and their mission. And the part about chocolate houses sent me to the internet for more information about them. But I felt most of the story just fell flat. In my opinion, Samuel was just used as the catalyst to bring Xanthe and her adversary together. Lots of time is spent with Xanthe making up stories to tell her mother to cover for her time away. Boring! Even multiple love interests didn’t spark an interest for me. And while the book ends on a cliff hanger, it was not unexpected.

Pub Day Tuesday! Secrets Of The Chocolate House

What do you get when you combine contemporary fiction with historical fiction and add dashes of magical realism & fantasy?

You get a Paula Brackston novel!

Out today is the second book in the Found Things Series by Paula Brackston, Secrets Of The Chocolate House, a sequel to The Little Shop Of Found Things series.

Here we continue with Xanthe, and her mother Flora, who continues to battle arthritis. They have a knack for finding antiques which they use to stock their shop in Marleborough. But Xanthe also has gifts like hearing the secrets of those who owned the objects she finds, and the ability to time travel. Xanthe struggles to reconcile her life in the past with Sauel with her life in the present with her mother. When Xanthe is called by a copper chocolate pot she knows moving forward will once again be put on hold. (full synopsis in comments below)

I enjoyed The Secrets Of The Chocolate House even more than The Little Shop Of Found Things! Paula has a wonderful knack for giving us a sense of place in all of her settings. Her writing is transportive. (No pun intended!) Though there are references to the first book, this one can be read as a stand-alone. Perfect October reading! 5 stars.

If you're a fan of Alice Hoffman, Diana Gabaldon, Sarah Addison Allen, or Deborah Harkness (I am - of all four), and you haven't read Paul Brackston, I highly recommend The Found Things series. Thank You again to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the complimentary e-galley of The Secrets Of The Chocolate House! (A pre pub day review also appears on my Instagram).

Like the first book in the series, The Little Shop of Found Things, Secrets of the Chocolate House has many charming qualities. In the present day, it has a small village setting filled with interesting characters. The section set in the 18th century has many details of life at that time. And along with time travel, there is a heart-wrenching tale of impossible love. With much to recommend this book, I must say that I did have some issues with the time travel aspect of the book. But overall, this was an enjoyable adventure.

What I Liked:

Small Village Setting:

I adore books set in small towns (or in the case of this British novel, small villages). The sense of community, the various neighbors, shop owners, and tourists create a setting that I wish were real so I could visit!

18th Century Life:

When Xanthe travels back to the 18th century, the author gives us so many small details of food, clothing, eating, and manners, that I felt as though I had made the journey with the character. This attention to detail is one of the reasons I love reading historical fiction.

Romance:

This isn't a conventional romantic book. While Xanthe has several men vying for her attention, she is pining away for Samuel, the man who she connected with so strongly in the 18th century. The author created a realistic portrait of how one would behave (with all the social constraints imposed on people of that era) when one's heart wants someone they can't have.

What I Was Mixed About:

Time Travel:

Of course, when one is reading a book about time travel, one has to have a willing suspension of disbelief in order to accept it. But when the reader buys into that fantasy they still know that there are rules that must be followed. Usually, they are spelled out, and we can understand how this universe works. But in the case of Secrets of the Chocolate House, the rules kept changing to suit the plot. The explanation given is that every time traveler ("Spinner") works differently. Some need a specific object to Spin, other can use multiple objects, or none at all. This was confusing. Plus some of the time travel that Xanthe does towards the end of the book don't even follow Xanthe's time-traveling parameters. It would have been easier to accept all of this if the rules were more consistent.

...So, what did I like about it?
Although historical fiction isn't my usual choice of reading material, I have read a couple of Ms Brackston’s historical mysteries now and really enjoyed them. Ms Brackston captivates me with her beautiful and descriptive use of language. The prose she uses is intelligent, eloquent and very reminiscent of a historical novel; the words chosen and the sentence formation, while still managing to set the scene beautifully in one's mind is never overly long or heavy.

I liked the way that this intriguing tale was told from Xanthe’s perspective, our female protagonist, and that we learnt a little bit more about her gift. As my regular followers will know, I always enjoy a story more when the lead female character is intelligent, resourceful, resilient and has plenty of gumption; in this tale Xanthe Westlake, her mum, Flora and Mistress Louisa Flyte from the 17th century had these traits. I enjoyed seeing Xanthe’s character grow in both her knowledge and her inner strength during this adventure, although she hasn’t reached her full potential yet in this book.

I felt that the sad scenes, tense scenes, mysterious scenes and romantic ones were all written particularly well giving us a good balanced plot, with a sprinkle of humour also thrown into the mix.

Although this is a work of fiction, the attention to historic detail and the care that was obviously taken when writing her characters made Ms Brackston’s world and the people in it feel very real to me. I enjoyed the fact that this foray into the past is not a rose tinted one; life was harsh, political and religious views could be fatal to one’s health and the rules of etiquette numerous. Although I feel that a bit of licence is permitted to aid a fictional tale, too much can turn it into a mockery; Ms Brackston hit the right balance for me.

Secrets of the Chocolate House brought out many emotions while reading; it made me rage with indignant frustration, put a soppy smile on my face as well as had me on the edge of my seat holding my breath. I loved the way that the story kept me guessing in both present day Marlborough and in the 17th century.

...So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?
OK, so here’s where I mention the niggles that lead to my overall rating being 4 stars rather than 5.

I think that I have already mentioned in other reviews, historic fiction isn’t my preferred genre, this is mainly due to the constraining etiquette the characters are forced to live by and, as such, it took me a while to shake off my frustrations and read this story without my modern sensibilities screaming. I have read some reviews that complained about Xanthe’s reluctance to stay in the past but I felt that this was one of the book’s strengths; I certainly couldn’t go back to that era!

While I appreciate that Xanthe has grown since her first foray into the past, I did get frustrated with her handling of certain situations in this book, both in present day Marlborough and the 17th century.
It’s important to remember that this is only the second book in a new series and I liked that Ms Brackston left enough teasers to continue in subsequent books. BUT. My main gripe is how this book ended; definite cliff-hanger and I’m not a big fan of those.

...So, basically what I’m saying is...
I really enjoyed reading this book. It has everything that I look for in a good story; a mystery or thriller aspect, a sprinkling of romance and a nice balance of gentle humour with the added bonus of being within my favourite genre - paranormal.

I would recommend this book to fans of mystery stories, historical fiction and paranormal tales as well as readers of YA novels too as there is no explicit sexual content and only a handful of expletives, having said that, some of the beliefs, customs and laws of 17th century England may cause offence to your modern sensibilities.

This is the second book in the Found Things series by Paula Brackston. Xanthe discovers an antic copper chocolate pot that sings to her. Xanthe has a secret, she can travel in time with the help of objects that sing to her. In the first book, she travelled to the 17th century and met Samuel. It broke her heart to leave him and returned to her time, but her sickly mother needs her and she had to choose between him and her. The chocolate pot brings her back to the 17th century to save Samuel from a great danger. She still has feelings for Samuel and it will not be easy to meet him again but she must if she is to help him.

In the second book, Xanthe will discover more about her gift and her destiny. She will also encounter a man with similar abilities to her who will become a dangerous adversary.

I am enjoying this series so much. The writing is beautiful and the characters so interesting. If you are looking for something different, this series is for you. Start with The Little Shop of Found Things and then read Secrets of the Chocolate House. The end left it open for a third book.

🙋🏼‍♀️ A big thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this fantastic historical fantasy.

This is a riveting second book in this series by Paula Braxton. In this book, the readers gets to know Xanthe better and also learns about chocolate houses and their popularity and function in the past. I enjoy time travel books and this series is quite entertaining ! As always the question is will she be able to return and does she really want to ?

4.5/5 This was the second book in the Found Things series and was just as enjoyable as the first. Xanthe continues with her time-traveling. This time a chocolate pot "sings" to her and shows her that Samuel is in trouble. Back to the 17th century she goes to help him. I liked this new adventure that Xanthe went on and the new characters she meets. It ended with a cliffhanger so I will be looking forward to the next book in this series. I highly recommend this book but do read The Little Shop of Found Things before reading Book 2.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy.

I was provided with an ARC of this title by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Xanthe is a time spinner on a quest. She needs to right the wrongs of the past and save a man from being mistakenly hung for treason. A man she is convinced will always hold her heart.

Xanthe's trips back and forth between her time and the seventeenth century are clandestine and perilous. In this second installment in the series that began with The Little Shop of Found Things, Xanthe walks a tightrope to keep everyone guessing. She is attracted to two very different men in two very different times, is being stalked and pressures by a master manipulator and villain, and learning a new trade.

This was an intriguing glimpse into the political unrest of seventeenth century England and the intellectual wrangling that engulfed places such as chocolate houses.

Recommended if you enjoy complex plots, conflicted characters and diverse eras.

Oh my I so love this series. I fell in love with Little Shop of Found Things and the world of Xanthe and her mother Flora and their delightful antique shop in the historic town of Marlborough.<
In book two we pick up with theirs lives and new adventures of Xanthe and time travel back to the seventeenth century which presents her with new challenges and a new advisory.. This is a series once I start reading I can not put down and the ending left me begging for more.

I have the book but have not read the author's first book and I probably should have before reading this book. I'm not much for time travel and fantasy/magical realism, but the book was pretty good. I think it would have made much more sense if I had read the earlier book, so that is my fault coming into the second book without reading the first book. I liked the premise of going back to help Samuel again, and the mystery involved when Zanthe travels back to the 17th century this time. I'm trying really hard to open up my mind with genre's and plots that I'm not that familiar with and I think this was a good book to do both. I like the additions of the new characters as I thought they added depth to the story.

I really think I will try reading more of this author's books starting with book 1. I like the way she writes and I think if her other books are of the same genre`, I will probably enjoy them. She makes the unbelievable less unbelievable, just enough that I can suspend common sense and logic and lose myself in the story.

If you blend fantasy with historical fiction what you could hope to get is Secrets of the Chocolate House by Paula Brackston. This is a well written time travel adventure that has danger, mysteries, friendships, and love. What it is not exactly is a stand-alone novel. New revelations come to light about the characters, abilities and antique objects so that I wish I had read the first book, The Little Shop of Found Things before reading this one. Still it is a page-turner with characters whose lives I become invested.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Xanthe is a Spinner...someone with the ability to pass through time. Secrets of the Chocolate House is the sequel to The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston. Although I haven't read the first book I was easily able to pick up on what was going on. Xanthe is back in the present, working with her mother in their antique shop after returning from the 17th century when she finds a copper chocolate pot that begins singing to her and she knows that Samuel, who she met on her last trip through time, is in danger and she must return to the 17th century to save him.
Upon her return to the past she finds herself at Mrs. Flyte's chocolate shop. Chocolate shops were a gathering place similar to a modern day coffee shop...for men. I enjoyed the description of how the hot chocolate was made. She also learned much from Mrs. Flyte about the responsibilities that go with being a spinner. The future should not be changed.
Well written with interesting characters ....just when it appears that Xanthe can relax and look forward to the future someone evil from the past shows up! I plan on reading The Little Shop of Found Things, and will watch for the next book in the series.
Thanksto Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I picked up this book, started reading and said “Wait, Wait, I have already read this book.” Of course it was the first in the series that I had read, but unfortunately it felt the same. Good thing or bad thing? Maybe it was a seamless transition from the first to the second, or maybe it was just more of the same. What I do know is that it seemed unnecessarily long and drawn out.

I don’t remember the protagonist being quite so needy in acceding to the demands placed upon her. The repeating notion that “she had so much to cope with... but she couldn’t let him down. And beyond that, she wanted to do it.” With a few pronoun changes it was every relationship in the book - Lawrence of Arabia slogging through the desert all over again, back and forth, and forth and back. Oh wait, I have to go back because something isn’t exactly right; and what if I didn’t place it just so?; and what if I left it off at the wrong time?; and just too many mind games and hand wringing. This was a pretty good example of too much of an interesting and good thing being taken over the edge to the point of GET ON WITH IT!

With well drawn characters, an interesting plot, lots of historical references it is regrettable that the story wasn’t sharpened and shortened. The ending leaves no doubt that this story has a long way to go and the reader can expect another installment in the time travels of Xanthe.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy.

be here soon enough, what a cliffhanger! I knew the adventure wasn't done, but I'm satisfied that everything that was done was as it should be. There is a saying that you don't always meet people at the right time, but Paula Brackston took it to another level. So many decisions and choices are made and decided because of love and loyalty. That to me, is the heart of Xanthe and the Found Things series. History is woven into this romance mystery that it is in the best way timeless. A person can reside anywhen and still be the same all the same, both the good and the bad. I think what lies ahead is how a gift can be dangerous when placed in the hands of someone so easily swayed by power and greed. So many thanks go to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the privilege to read an early copy for review.

It’s been a little while since I read the first book, The Little Shop of Found Things which I thoroughly enjoyed and it took me no time to get swept back into Xnathe’s world once again and it did not disappoint either.

The story starts not too long after Xanthe’s return from 17th century Marlborough, England where she had quite the adventure/romance and is trying to settle back in to the everyday grind of running the antique shop with her mother. It hasn’t been easy for her adjusting to her ability to “hear” objects speak to her. This time around it is a old chocolate pot that tells her that Samuel who she met in historical Marlborough is in danger. After everything that happened in the first book, I just had to know where Xanthe and Samuel stood now. Would they have a second chance or was something in the cards for them both?

Xanthe was such an enjoyable character for me. She has her flaws don’t get me wrong. But she has a heart of gold when it comes to her mother. She is however torn between her ailing mother and her ability to to travel in time or what we now know as Spinning Time. Her mother doesn’t know of her ability and that just makes it that much harder for her to leave her when she gets a “call” from an object. But I like that she follows her heart when it comes to the spinning even if it doesn’t end up the way she believes it will turn out for her.

We are introduced to a couple new characters this time around. A woman named Mistress Flyte, who know what Xanthe is and what she can do but isn’t all that helpful at first helping Xanthe to understand her ability. Then there is Benedict Fairfax who is also a spinner but not in a good way. He turned out to be quite the villain. There are a few others that Xanthe meets back in the 17th century that I really liked and was happy that they were there for her. And the there is Xanthe’s ex, oh wow don’t get me start on him. Let’s just say he is a piece of work! But overall, it was a fantastic cast of characters who had their parts to play and that they did.

The whole spinning time aspect was something that I enjoyed in the first book and this time around we get to know a lot more about Xanthe and her ability to go back and forth in time. And now we know that she is not alone in the world of being a spinner. She might lack the technique but her heart is in the right place and she meets some people along the way that just might be able to help her grow her ability and strength at it too. She finds herself in some dangerous situations but trudged through it all to save Samuel. There is a hint of a romance blooming with a man from her time, but it wasn’t really developed so I guess we’ll have to see where that goes but it was still kinda sweet. The ending was a good one and left room for another book which I am certainly hoping for.

While this is the second book in the series, there is enough information at the beginning to catch you up but I certainly recommend reading the first book too. It is such a wonderful read! And Brackston does such an amazing job creating a world with both historical, a little bit contemporary and fantasy with a blend of romance and suspense that I can’t recommend this one enough.