It’s a double whammy. I love chocolate, I write romances, and Valentine’s Day wraps up the two very neatly.
So it’s hard to ignore the day even though many people chose to by-pass the fuss because it’s a “Hallmark” day.
While I don’t rush out and send cards, handmake chocolates and wrap them in home-designed boxes, with copperplate engraved cards, I still like to acknowledge the deep attraction that romance readers in particular have for la chocolate.
Just to prove that, I did some quick research on Amazon for romances that features chocolate. I thought there would be one or two. Wow! Was I wrong.
Here’s just a six of them. Well, 13, actually, if you count each book in the boxed sets!
The Bakery Romance Series by Cecilia Dowdy
[link]
Facing eviction, Rhea Morrison, a young grieving widow, must save her failing bakery. An unexpected turn of events lands her at a singles retreat where she meets Martin Lane.
Pastor Martin laments over his secret, traumatic past mistakes. He’s destined to lead his father’s church, despite blatant rejection. He can’t love Rhea – he’s yet to forgive himself for his past. If Rhea knew how he used to be, she would have no interest in pursuing a relationship with him.
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Chocolate & Sensibility by Zelda Benjamin
[link]
Her logic says go.
Her heart says stay.
When a Food Network TV crew arrives at Ocino Cacao Plantation, life in this tropical paradise is turned upside down.
Ph.D scientist, Sophia Perkins, the plantation’s logical horticulturist, faces a life changing decision that could take her away from her beloved Amazon rainforest and the man she has come to realize she loves, Luis Ocino.
For Luis Ocino, life revolves around the cherished rainforest he grew up in, and the brilliant Sophia, his lifelong best friend. When his friendship turns to love, he struggles with his feelings and the desire to keep her close.
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Dark, Witch & Creamy by H.Y. Hanna
[link]
A witch, a kitty and dark chocolate magic…
Caitlyn is used to being the ugly duckling in her glamorous showbiz family… until the day she learns that she was adopted as an abandoned baby. Now, her search for answers takes her to the tiny English village of Tillyhenge where a man has been murdered by witchcraft – and where a mysterious shop selling enchanted chocolates is home to the “local witch”…
Soon Caitlyn finds herself fending off a toothless old vampire, rescuing an adorable kitten and meeting handsome aristocrat Lord James Fitzroy… not to mention discovering that she herself might have magical blood in her veins!
When she’s dragged into the murder investigation and realises that dark magic is involved, Caitlyn is forced to choose. Can she embrace her witchy powers in time to solve the mystery and save those she loves?
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The Bride Wore Chocolate: Sweet and Savory Romances, Book 1 by Shirley Jump
[link]
Enter the sinfully delicious universe of New York Times bestselling author Shirley Jump’s Sweet and Savory Romances with the USA Today and Amazon Top 20 bestseller – The Bride Wore Chocolate!
Life couldn’t be more perfect for Candace Woodrow. Her gourmet gift basket company is thriving, and she’s set to marry steady, dependable Barry. There’s just one wrench in the fairytale. Two weeks before her wedding she wakes up in the wrong man’s bed. Candace thinks she’ll be able to run out the door and forget all about Michael Vogler, but the Boston millionaire has other plans for the jittery bride.
As the wedding approaches, Candace’s life is further complicated by a thrill-seeking grandma and a meddlesome mother whose marriage track record rivals Elizabeth Taylor’s. She attempts to drown her sorrows in chocolate, but with a sexy bachelor appearing on her doorstep at every turn – she finds herself wondering if there’s enough of the sweet stuff in the world to stop her heart from racing every time he comes near.
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The Chocolate House – Regency Anthology/Boxed Set
by Francine Howarth, Giselle Marks, Elizabeth Bailey, Susan Ruth, Jessica Schira, David W. Wilkin
[link]
A Sensual blend of Chocolate, Romance, Murder & Mystery at “Masqueraders”. So it could be said, essence of chocolate drifting on the ether denotes where the seemingly mystical Masqueraders’ once existed, and it is that spiritual essence that has brought authors together from around the globe, to pen a delightful collection of Georgian & Regency romances, that are, all, in some way, linked to The Chocolate House. We sincerely hope you will enjoy the individual stories, and be assured all the royalties earned will be donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London.
The stories:
A Rose by Any Other – Giselle Marks.
A Fatal Connection – Elizabeth Bailey
The Runaway Duchess – Francine Howarth
Death at the Chocolate House – Susan Ruth
A-Pig-in-a-Poke – Jessica Schira
A Little Chocolate in the Morning – David W. Wilkin.
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Blame It on Chocolate by Jennifer Greene
[link]
Lucy Fitzhenry didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to do something stupid…
But when an experimental strain of chocolate that she’d developed needed testing, someone had to do it. Who knew that overindulging in her creation would turn an introverted plant lover into a wild nymphomaniac? Or that a celebration with Nick, her boss, would lead to a shocking kiss…and a whole lot more.
She blamed it on the chocolate. Her new discovery was supposed to have made her career. Not turn her practical, logical, normal life upside down and get her pregnant with her boss’s baby! Though she and Nick butted heads at work, if their one night together was any indication, they were a great match in bed. With a little luck (and chocolate!) maybe they could turn their one-night stand into the chance of a lifetime.
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Goodreads also has a list of chocolate-related romance novels, here.
Enjoy your Valentine’s Day!
Cheers,
.
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I love reading all your books, even the SF now, which I didn’t think I’d be into. I really enjoyed the last two I read though, namely Junkyard Heros & Flying Blind. Great reading in both of them. The story lines were fab.
Thanks so much, Heather!
I guess your comment is a Valentine of a different sort — thanks again!
Cheers,
t.