This is a genial and gentle time traveling novel. If you missed the first one, and I did, you'll be fine reading this as a standalone, although I suspect it would be a richer experience if you were already familiar with the characters. Xanthe and her mother Flora have moved into and run a new antiques shop after Xanthe remakes her (modern) life when a chocolate pot found at an estate sale sings to Xanthe. Xanthe, a time spinner, sends herself back to the 17th century to find and rescue Samuel, who she met in her first adventures. What she finds is not only Samuel but another spinner- Benedict Fairfax- who is the villain. Fairfax has the ability to go forward as well as back and he's trying to avoid what he sees in his future. There are some nice details of 17th century life but Brackston never goes too much detail. She's also left things open for the next installment! Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Good clean fun for fans of the genre.

Secrets of the Chocolate House is the second book in the Found Things series, and it continues with Xanthe learning even more about her powers as a Spinner (of Time) and finding a couple of people she can talk to about her time traveling ability. The book picks up right after the events of book one, The Little Shop of Found Things.

The way Paula Brackston incorporates the history, customs, and atmosphere of 17th century English villages is spectacular. You can tell she’s spent a lot of time researching the era. Brackston intertwines Historical Fiction and Fantasy seamlessly. And all of the characters from the first book continue to grow. The new characters that are introduced in Secrets of the Chocolate House are very well written with lots of details and back stories. Brackston really shines in her ability to write characters that you are sympathetic to and want to continue to get to know.

I did get a bit exasperated with Xanthe. She would go gung ho into situations and then right when something major would happen (like a knife fight between a man she cared about and the main villain) she would go to a different time worrying about the situation but not hurrying back to do anything to help. I think if Xanthe’s mom doesn’t find out about her time traveling in the next book, this could be a deal breaker for me continuing this series. And there does seem like there are plans for more books in the Found Things series since this book leaves off on a cliffhanger!

If you are into the science of time travel, this book might not be for you since you have to suspend your imagination a lot, and Xanthe is constantly changing things with no regard as to how it might affect the future. Brackson explains how this is possible in the first book, but the reader still must really suspend belief. But since this is an Historical Fantasy novel, I would think you would be willing to do this going in. And if you enjoy The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon or Brackston’s other books, you will definitely want to give the Found Things series a try.

A great second book in the Found Things series. I can't help but make some comparison to Outlander with Xanthe going back in time and falling in love with Samuel in the 17th century - but she has a a full life in current time. Although this is the second book, it could easily stand on its own, but for those who read A Little Shop of Found Things they will recognize some of the characters in current time and in the past that they loved.

The switch between current and past is transitioned well. I enjoyed the mix of fantasy and historical fiction. Brackston does a really good job describing period scenes and objects which allows you to get a feel for that time in history. I think my favorite character, other than Xanthe, is Liam. He seems such a sweet, reliable man who would do anything for Xanthe.

I will be looking forward to the next book in the series - I'm assuming there will be one since there's a cliffhanger here.

Thanks to Paula Brackston and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rich in historical detail of both the customs of the time and in its descriptions of English villages, Secrets of the Chocolate House combines mystery, romance, dangerous situations, and time travel. Flora and Xanthe are a mother and daughter who’ve recently moved to Marlborough and opened an antique shop. In this sequel to The Little Shop of Found Things, Xanthe's ability for psychometry enables her to hear a chocolate pot that "sings" to her, compelling her to return to the seventeenth century in order to find out what this pot "demands" of her. Once back in the past, she reencounters Samuel, a love interest from the previous novel. Realizing that his life is imperiled, Xanthe is determined to find a way to help him. She also meets two other time spinners, one helpful and one harmful, and learns more about her unique ability to time travel. This novel builds tension regarding these two fellow spinners, leaving the reader with a cliffhanger ending. Curious to find out what happens next, I hope to read more of Xanthe’s adventures in future books in this original series.

This book is a sequel to The Little Shop of Found Things. You should read that one first since this continues teh this character development and history. An enjoyable time traveling read.

Secrets of the Chocolate House is the second book in Brackston's series about Time Spinners, people who can travel through time. I found that I wanted to have the first book under my belt before I started this one, so I cycled back. This wasn’t a hardship, the books read quickly and are light entertainment. Although Brackston goes to some pains to explain how time travel can be done without impacting the present and future, I found it useful to keep an open mind and not get too bothered by all of the logistics and their contradictions.

I enjoyed the books, and expect that I’ll pick up the next in the series, if only to find out what happens to the super-villain!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I requested this book because I loved The Little Shop of Found Things. It is a cutesy and fast read. This one was good but I tire of Xanthe’s irresponsible and horrible choices.

Take this passage…

“The pill bottle on her bedside table suggested she had needed stronger painkillers. Had her arthritis worsened? Was she going to be able to manage on her own? Xanthe shook such thoughts from her head. The quicker she did what she needed to do, the sooner she could return to help her mother.”

My problems with this attitude versus the plot… Why is Xanthe putting the needs of strangers above her mother? She leaves her mother to care for herself and all the duties of running the shop. This could be somewhat forgivable if Xanthe was honest with her mother but she constantly lies. In addition, we do not know what events in the present Xanthe is preserving by going back in time to help Samuel. The only thing we learn is a cottage gets built that wouldn’t have been built if Samuel died young.

Then there is this passage regarding Xanthe’s adversary Benedict Fairfax...

“However much she had convinced herself that she was going to give him something so wonderful he would have no reason to want more from her, Mistress Flyte’s words had struck home. He was a man of no principle. A man who had set himself apart from others already by changing allegiances and serving only himself. Who could say what he would or would not do once he was in possession of his astrolabe?”

Yet she helps retrieve it for him. Wouldn’t giving a time travel device to a bad man cause worse ripples in time than a cottage not being built? I know this sounds insensitive because Xanthe clearly has feelings for Samuel but she is possibly setting in motion something far worse. Especially with what happens at the very end.

Two other issues I had:

Fairfax escapes the hangman’s noose by time traveling back 6 years. So are there two of him?
Xanthe loses her locket at the abbey. Fairfax is conveniently called away to London allowing her to go and look for it. He then is conveniently intercepted and goes back to the abbey in time to catch her and Samuel. There is just too much convenience happening in order to move the plot forward.

I will continue reading this series with the hope that Xanthe can sit her mother down and tell her what it is that she can do so the lying will stop. Lying never ends well.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a sequel to The Little Shop of Found Things, I would highly recommend you read that one first, this series depends on the previous character development and history. It had been a while since I had read Found Things and it took me a little bit to refresh myself, but once I remembered Xanthe, Flora, Liam, Samuel and the Blind House, we were back on a roll.
This was a great sequel, continuing the original story on and taking it up a notch or two. The tale is quite entertaining with Xanthe again “spinning” time. The writing is excellent, the storyline is well done, and the author again does wonderful descriptions of the time periods, the architecture, the clothing and the antiques from hundreds of years before.
The ending was excellent, leaving us with a great twist to set the stage for the next one in the series. I’ll be watching for it. I would highly recommend if you enjoy a light hearted yarn with a bit of time travel, a rogue ex-boyfriend, an evil villain, a little bit of romance and a lot of heart.
I was given the opportunity to receive this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This one gets a high 5*****’s.

So many thanks to St. Martin's Press & Netgalley for the chance to read this novel.

Almost exactly a year ago I read The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston and was absolutely absorbed. Twelve months later, the same is true with Secrets of the Chocolate House! The Found Things Series is completely enthralling! Both books have played to my tastes (forgive the pun) with their unique stories, vivid imagery, and magical realism. I simply can't get enough!

I'm not normally someone who enjoys reading books in a series as they come out because I like experiencing the full impact of the story without forgetting important details along the way. Luckily, this continuation effortlessly put me back in the story without feeling like a year had elapsed in time. Maybe some of the magic of time-travel really exists within these pages? I was surprised to find I remembered the previous story quite clearly!

I've come to greatly appreciate Paula Brackston's atmospheric writing, transporting me to the quaint town of Marlborough, England and beyond. I relish in the clear descriptions of the weather, the homey shops, and the adventures Xanthe finds herself in. I wish I could meet her in real life if just to ride around in her taxi and look for antique treasures myself.

While this was a slow read for me, taking me several days and hours to read, I was happy to kick back and take my time in this world of magical possibility. I think the author may have a few tricks up her sleeve when it comes to controlling time herself. I was pleased to see the story basically picking up where it left off in both the past and present settings, allowing readers to catch up on the lives of characters we've grown fond of. I was worried when I finished the first book Xanthe's upcoming travels would take her somewhere else entirely. Thankfully, the old characters made their presence known, with the welcome additions of a few new folks.

I especially enjoyed the dimension added to the time-traveling, or Spinning, in Secrets of the Chocolate House. It added further possibility, which could ultimately mean the series would be able to go on for the foreseeable future, or as long as the author can dream up new exploits for Xanthe. Ordinarily, I'm not too wild about the added presence of a new villain in a story, but the addition of Ben Fairfax opened up some extremely interesting doors with where things can go as well.

If you're a fan of magical realism or Historical Fiction, I highly recommend this series. It inspires me to look for magic in the mundane around me. And an added bonus - it pairs perfectly with the Autumn season. Even though the Summer hasn't left us in Texas, I could easily imagine a nip in the air and frost on the ground. I will eagerly be awaiting future books from Paula Brackston and may find my way to her backlist titles soon! I love her writing style. My main question upon finishing this novel is this: Why haven't chocolate houses stood the test of time? That's a true injustice.

It’s hard to resist a book with chocolate in the title! Not just chocolate, but a chocolate house! And secrets!

In this sequel to Paula Brackston’s Found Things series, readers find themselves back in Marlborough with Xanthe and Flora, as they search for antique items to sell in their shop in preparation for the upcoming Christmas season.

As luck would have it, Xanthe comes upon another item that sings to her in a way she cannot ignore. This time the item is a copper chocolate pot. From the pot, Xanthe senses danger for Samuel, a man she met from the past and cares deeply for. Understandably, Xanthe feels she must journey back in time and do what she can to help Samuel.

This trip to the past proves much more enlightening for Xanthe. She comes into contact with two other people who have the ability to travel to another time. The first is Mistress Flyte, who owns the Chocolate House and the other is Benedict Fairfax, a man who soon becomes a formidable adversary to Xanthe. I expect readers will see much more of these new characters in the next book of the series.

The ending was very atmospheric, with the shopkeepers getting together to have a 17th century theme to welcome in the Christmas shopping season. Just as the event is over, the big cliffhanger comes and it will have readers impatient for the next book in the series!

An enjoyable read and one that will appeal to historical fiction and fantasy readers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

Xanthe can travel back in time using antique items from her shop. Some antique items just sing for her, telling her that they hold secrets that need to be told. Ever since she touched a chatelaine and was transported back to 1605 in the first book in this series (The Little Shop of Found Things), I've been eagerly awaiting Xanthe's next trip back in time! This time, a copper chocolate pot calls out to her...and she decides to answer the call of the past again.

This story is just as entertaining and exciting as the first one, but with a lot more character development. Xanthe is learning to take time travel in stride...taking time to better prepare and being more open to learning more about her strange calling (or talent, powers....whatever you want to call it). I enjoyed seeing Xanthe's relationship with her grandmother Flora develop a bit more....plus her relationships with locals in present time become a bit deeper.....and her coming to terms with her ties to the past and history.

A reader could jump in and start reading with this story. It isn't totally necessary to have read book one first. There is enough information given to understand the characters and situation. But, in order to fully understand all the nuances, it really is best to read book one, The Little Shop of Found Things, first. Plus, it's a very enjoyable book!

Nice addition to this developing series. I will definitely be reading more by Paula Brackston!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St Martins Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

The second in the Found Things series does not disappoint. Time travel, exceptional characters , I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. More please! Thank you #NetGalley #SecretsoftheChocolateHouse #StMartinsPress

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a complimentary copy of this book to read in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This is the second book in the “found things” series, I did not read the first book but found this in no way hampered my enjoyment of this book. I will now be going back to read the first book I really enjoyed this one.

Xanthe is a time traveler, she is in antiques dealer, and some of the things that she has found sing to her she hears them in her mind and they will bring her to a point in history where she is needed. This book furthers her knowledge of time travel as a spinner. In this book she finds a chocolate pot, that takes her back in time to someone she met in the first book, Samuel, she knows from the visions that he’s in trouble and she needs to help him, Xanthe has a hard time trying to mix her trips to the past with her real time life, she worries about her elderly mother and what would happen if she isn’t there when she needs her. Xanthe also is not sure where she really belongs, as this book continues she feels the pull of the past and the present. She meets others with the same ability as her in this book and finds it not all spinners are working for the good side. I can’t wait to see how the story is developed in the next books.

It is such a shame that my arc copy doesn’t have the cover for the book. Secrets of the Chocolate House by Paula Brackston has an absolutely GORGEOUS cover. It will dazzle once the book hits the shelves! I also adored the first book in this series called Little Shop of Found Things, so I was so excited to read this one.

SPOILERS!

Xanthe starts to return back to her routine with her mother in her own time. Her adventures took her to back to the 17th Century in the first book where she met Samuel. Now, she must focus on her antique shop and singing at a local pub. Items still speak to her and she is taken by surprise when an old copper chocolate pot shows her a vision of Samuel in danger. She knows she must help him, but traveling through time isn’t always so easy. She becomes familiar with other Time Spinners. One who would use his abilities for selfish reasons and happens to punish those around him. She must be able to save Samuel, without being discovered so she can return to her own time. Can it be done? Or will she be discovered and tried as a witch?

This book just exudes charm and magic. I can’t express how much I love this series. Xanthe captures readers with her spunk and wit. She is the type of person who everyone wants to be friends with. I love how the author really creates her inner conflict as she tries to discover who she is and where she wants to go in life. When her ex pops back into her life it just shows how easy it could be to fall back into old habits if one isn’t strong enough. My favorite character in this book has to be Harley, the pub owner. He is hilarious, protective, and supportive. I love how she can open up to him and he does not show any judgment. He definitely embodies what it means to be a true friend.

Paula Brackston is a master with detail. Like the cover, her writing is absolutely captivating. She leaves no stone unturned when it comes to historical detail which makes my history lovers heart happy! I really recommend this read for those who love historical fiction, romance, and time travel. Overall, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. This book will be released on October 22nd. Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Paula Brackston for a copy of this book!

This is the second in series about a young woman living in Marlborough and helping her mum run an antique shop.

Xanthe has a gift for hearing certain antique objects “speak” (in this case a copper chocolate kettle from the 17th century). She has a vision that Samuel (an architect she fell for in the previous book) may be in trouble and travels back to try and help him. In the process she learns more about her gift of “spinning” time from a former Spinner, gains a vicious enemy, and resolves her feelings for Samuel.

This second book does a good job of expounding on the first by answering some questions and further developing characters. And it also leaves a convenient cliffhanger for book three.

Thanks to #StMartinsPress and to #NetGalley for providing the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

I am sorry, this story was just not appealing to me. And there are soooo many good books out there, that it was really difficult for me to hang in there and finish reading the book.

Maybe it's the genre ... like the Game of Thrones series that so many people love ... but does not interest me. Time travel could be interesting, but I think it has to be presented in a way that I would enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Goodreads for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a free e-copy of Secrets of the Chocolate House by Paula Brackston from NetGalley for my honest review.

Paula Brackston's second installment in her Little Shop of Found Things series is a winning combination of mystery, suspense, magic, time travel, and heartachingly difficult choices that confront Xanthe. Bittersweet romance, a cunning villain, and obligations that span the vast distance between centuries will keep readers up well past their bedtime and leave them eager for the next adventure Brackston has in store for Xanthe

Paula Brackston’s Found Things series continues in Secrets of the Chocolate House. Ms. Brackston is a fantastic storyteller. She has beautifully incorporated historical fact into a time travel fantasy. When Xanthe and her ailing mother go to an estate sale in hopes of restocking their antique shop with tempting items, she happens upon a copper chocolate pot that sings to her. So begins another adventure that spans the present and the early seventeenth century.

In this engaging second installment, Xanthe is not only drawn to the seventeen century by an object, but also by her interest in Samuel. Through Samuel, his family and friends, readers learn a lot of history. Ms. Brackston’s research is evident. Her writing hits all the senses in both the present day as well as the past.

I really enjoyed Xanthe’s present day predicament with a suitor and a smarmy ex-boyfriend. I loved how the addition of the ex-boyfriend exponentially expanded the reader’s understanding of Xanthe’s tentative, questioning decision making. I have mixed feelings about how torn she was between the past and present. I liked the slowly evolving information about how she is able to time travel. While it was frustrating at times, the reader learns as Xanthe learns—as opposed to the reader having more information than the main character.

A strong, dark nemesis has been revealed in Secrets of the Chocolate House. Even though that antagonist doesn’t have the same deep threatening evil feel as the antagonist in the Witch’s Daughter, I am sure that as the story continues, the “plot will thicken” and the evil and threat will be more revealed.

I received a digital advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely Captivating! As a huge fan of Brackston, I was super excited to get this arc and it fantastic like all her work!

Xanthe is one of my favorite literary characters period.

I really wish I had her abilities. I am an antiquing junkie and I would love something that I connected with to sing to me. It would be so cool!

Brackston is just magical with her storytelling. I loved it and I cannot wait to see what further antics Xanthe gets up to in the future.

This series is one of my favorites of all times. I highly suggest you dive right into this series immediately!

I was hoping that this book could turn it around, but honestly I was just bored. You would think a book about time travel would be interesting, but it's really not. I think Brackston is hoping to set up Xanthe so have an epic nemesis like in her "The Witch's Daughter" series and I just cannot live through that mess again. This book doesn't hang together very well. Xanthe is not interesting at all. We have some pieces about her ability to "spin" through time, but no real information. We also have her talking to another character about this and my eyes glazed over. I wanted Xanthe to go back to Samuel and her protestations about her mother and her store just got annoying. We also have three love interests this time through and I just threw up my hands. The big bad was a laugh and a half and I just maybe snickered at the ending. Maybe next time Xanthe listens to someone.

Xanthe is trying to stay focused on helping her mother run her antique business in the town of Marlborough. Xanthe still thinks about Samuel, the man she met back in the seventeenth century. However, Xanthe is determined to not travel back in time. She had a hard time lying to her mother and she knows that she can't say back in the past. However, on a shopping trip with her mother, a chocolate pot "sings" to Xanthe. She doesn't know why it's calling to her and why it seems so reluctant to show her it's story. When Xanthe gets a vision that Samuel is in danger, she travels back in time to find out that he is being held prisoner and soon to be hanged for a plot against the king. If this isn't enough, Xanthe's ex Marcus is running around Marlborough trying to get her to talk to him again. And of course we have Liam still wanting more from Xanthe though she's told him she's not ready for a relationship.

I don't know, I should not have been hoping that Xanthe fail and stay back in the past. Her reasoning behind staying for her mother made me cringe a bit. I don't really see Xanthe doing what she loves, she's staying to take care of her mother and help her with her business. We hear how Xanthe is a really good singer, and I don't recall her singing that much this go round. Maybe once I think? It just seems as if all of her supposed passions are dried up. When Xanthe finally meets someone who knows about her abilities though she can't get information out of them. I started to get annoyed because it makes zero sense to me why it's not discussed. And then of course, Xanthe meets another spinner, or what I call a dark leaper (you Quantum Leap fans know what I am talking about). Honestly that is what jarred me a bit, I did start thinking about this book being a send up of Quantum Leap and then I started to see if I could find that series streaming anywhere.

I can't even say much about other characters. The most interesting one to me is a woman that Xanthe meets in the past who won't tell her much. We sadly don't get enough scenes with her and Samuel. Liam bugs me and Marcus sucked. We have Xanthe revealing her powers to someone and I was so bored with that that I started looking up Quantum Leap gifs.

The writing read as forced to me a few times. I mean honestly this whole Samuel is in danger thing could have been tied up pretty fast. But nope, we have Xanthe jumping back and forth in time and dealing with nonsense from Marcus and going over her abilities with someone and then going back in time trying to deal with the evil leaper. Pick a story-line and stick with it please.

The flow was off and I kept going oh is she still on that with so and so? I just started to lose interest in this whole book by the 70 percent mark or so. It was a struggle to finish cause we have like 3 or 4 "endings" before we get to the dun dun dun one.

The book jumps back and forth from our time to the 1600s in England again. The only reason why I am giving this book 2 stars though is that Brackston obviously did research on chocolate houses in that time and place and chocolate pots. I didn't even know that this was a real thing and got interested in reading about them and liked the details we are given. At times the book reads as a history book, but it didn't bother me at all.

The ending is a cliffhanger and one wonders how Xanthe is going to get her way out of this one.