I enjoyed this story quite a bit even though several parts struck me as implausible. A lot of times, implausibility will throw me out of a story, but Usher managed to keep my attention in spite of that. I love how Chanel ended up joining the police department, and I found her quest for change amusing and endearing. I appreciated the fact that several sensitive subjects were covered, including an overweight friend and a lesbian cadet in the training program, in a respectful, positive manner. It seems all too often that the overweight girl is picked on in a lot of romance novels, but in this case, Chanel tells her she is awesome how she is but then helps her become more healthy as opposed to just trying to crash diet to fit an ideal. I LOVED that part. I also loved that Chanel handled the fellow cadet who happened to be a lesbian as a real person and didn't turn it into a joke or a problem (as was clearly a possibility). Honestly, I would have given the story five stars if I had not figured out who the killer was as soon as I did. Some predictability is nice, but making things too obvious is less fun in the long run. Overall, I found the story to be well told and quirky. I enjoyed the depictions of alternative lifestyles as real as opposed to them being treated like a joke. I also actually almost teared up at one point because the story made me care about a character and then something happened to said character. (It is really difficult to write a review about something like that without giving away spoilers!) I highly recommend the series, and I think that when I have a budget for new books again that I will likely purchase the second in the series which is not something that I do often when I receive the first in a series for free. (It tends to come down to: did I enjoy the storytelling enough to buy more or did I just finish the book because I don't leave books unfinished?) Cocoa and Chanel is a little cheesy, a little fun, definitely sassy, and overall, totally worth reading.As an aside, I reviewed this on Amazon first and had a pleasant note from the author which actually pleased me a great deal since it was the first time I'd had feedback on a review from an author I don't personally know. She was polite and thanked me for the honest review which I appreciated. It makes me much more likely to purchase her books in the future. I love it. But of course I do - I wrote it. And if I didn't love it I wouldn't have published it.Cocoa and Chanel still fits in the chick lit genre but has a twist of mystery as our female sleuth tries to find the killer before he finds her. It's fast and funny and will leave you a little breathless. And the good news is that it's number one in a series, so there will be more of the kooky Chanel to come.
What do You think about Cocoa And Chanel (2013)?
I really enjoyed this book. Can't wait to see what Chanel will be getting into next.
—cby
Quick read, will definitely follow the series.
—Adina
