I just finished an anthology of three wonderful books, plus the short story that started their series, the Chocoholic Mysteries. It's titled, Crime de Cocoa, by JoAnna Carl. I know! This series is perfect for me or for anyone who loves chocolate and mysteries. It combines two of the greatest things on Earth!

It (the series) takes place in a small resort town in southwest Michigan, settled by Dutch immigrants in the 1880s. The main character, Lee McKinney, is a Texas girl who's moved to Warner Pier to be her aunt's business manager. Aunt Nettie owns and runs the small chocolate factory/shop: TenHuis Chocolade. (TenHuis is pronounced Ten-Hice. Obviously Dutch.) The fun thing about the shop (or factory) is she makes European-style chocolates only. You know, bonbons, truffles and moulded chocolates, and Lee describes them...which makes me wish I could try them. Especially the Italian cherry bonbon ("Amareena cherry in syrup and white chocolate cream") and the Bailey's Irish Cream bonbon ("Classic cream liqueur interior").

Lee has a knack for attracting or stumbling across trouble...and solving mysteries, of course. I like her, her aunt and most of the people I've met so far in Warner Pier. The town's even got its own gossip, the pharmacist Greg Glossop, better known as "Greg Gossip." *grins* And the police chief, Hogan Jones, she describes as being "Lincolnesque," or a look-alike to President Lincoln.

But there's more to the books than just the mysteries. Dispersed throughout the novels, in between every third or fourth chapter, are fun factoids about chocolate. They're the "Chocolate Chat" break in the books. *smiles* For example,

The myth of chocolate is echoed in its scientific name--Theobroma Cacao--which translates as "food of the gods."

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The Chocoholic Mysteries aren't the only themed mysteries out there; in fact, it seems themed mysteries are all the rage anymore. There's the Flower Shop Mysteries, the Teddy Bear Mysteries, the Scrapbooking Mysteries, the Quilting Mysteries, the Coffeehouse Mysteries...you name it. Just go on Amazon.com, type in any of the keywords above and voila! You'll find these mystery series at your fingertips and a few others to boot, that I've forgotten. Whatever you're interested in, I'm sure there's a mystery series for you.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first three books of the Chocoholic Mysteries, and am chomping at the bit to get the rest of the series. As I kept telling Mom, I am sssssooo glad I happened to spy this anthology as I was hurrying down the mystery aisle of Barnes and Noble to go up to the front of the store and check out. I highly recommend these novels to anyone who loves chocolate or mysteries in general. And if chocolate isn't your thing but mysteries are, then visit Amazon.com for more of the themed mysteries. And enjoy the pleasure of discovery. *smiles*

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Yesterday
02-09-2012 Thursday 13: Netflix

moon phase