What a fun read! Trying to think of adjectives to describe it - Delicious, Sensual, Romantic, Seductive, Funny, Beautiful.... I am sure it has a little bit of an advantage if you happen to be a chocolate lover, because you can just almost taste chocolate on nearly every page. It helps if you are romantic at heart too. It also helps if you appreciate an author who can make you want to be wherever the story takes place. I have no interest in ever going to Paris, but I loved being there in this book. It also helps if you appreciate an author who can write a fun light story and yet allows the reader to see deeply into the characters and feel their insecurities, their desires, and even more importantly why they have those desires. Just a really good fun story.The book tells the story and so does the symopsis, but Cade Corey is the heir to the largest chocolate manufacturer in America and deeply involved in the business. She goes to Paris with a dream of her own of buying the recipe and the name of a world famous Chocolatier, Sylvain Marquis. She has millions of dollars at her disposal and has no doubt she can accomplish her goal. This brings together a young American woman deeply loyal to her family and their company and a young man as dedicated to his craft and his name as any artist imaginable. Their initial meeting does not go well. The story that ensues does not have a lot of side characters, although there are a few. It is the story of Cade and Sylvain, and the way the author has written it in the third person, we get to know them both very well and see into their minds. As the chocolate and their relationship is delicious - so is the writing from the two of them to the city around them.Lots of humor although it is not what I would consider a laugh out loud book. The difference between a Corey Bar that has earned billions for Cade's company and sells for 33 cents at WalMart and Sulvain's chocolates that sell for $4 an ounce from his exclusive store is a wide gap for either of them to understand.If you love chocolate and love romance - great book. Probably a great book if ou don't love chocolate although I would not know on that one. It is not YA but it is not at all smutty or overly graphic. It's a chic flick but a very very good one. Highly recommend. It was an enjoyable read - finished it in less than 24 hours! My first forray into the world of culinary erotica and I am smitten. The chocolate and dessert descriptions were perfect, sumptuous, absolutely delicious! I don't think I can eat condescend to eat Cadbury ever again. Also, technically, most of the characters' conversations are in French that we are reading in English and I am very impressed on how Florand crafted that. Her use of sex and sensuality through chocolate was PERFECT (of which there is much of) but when it came to the actual sex, it fell a little flat comparatively.The novel has been called a "fairytale" and yes, perhaps it is. But it is little more than that and it doesn't pretend to be. Cade is a career woman who has no qualms in sexual submission to the sexy Sylvain who is redeemed by his boyish romanticism. I thought the first half of the novel was quite tight but the second half started to undo at the seams. Florand could have been more focused on telling the story in a clearer manner rather than witty/charming one liners that compromised character voice. I was hoping to read something new especially after the first half had gotten me so excited but it didn't quite hit the spot.
What do You think about The Chocolate Thief (2012)?
Sylvain and Cade. Liked it a lot. Wished there was more of Sylvain's perspective.
—haslamjd
The chocolate and love what else that you want?
—Madison
