REVIEW: In Cold Chocolate

In Cold Chocolate
Author: Dorothy St. James

It's been seven months since Charity Penn inherited her grandmother's chocolate shop, The Chocolate Box, in Camellia Beach, SC. With rumblings and problems from her grandmother's family continuing, Penn isn't too surprised when Jody Dalton threatens to reveal information she knows that will run Penn's reputation and take away her shop. When local real estate agent and playboy, Cassidy Jones, is shot dead on the beach and Jody is accused of the killing, Penn promises to try to clear her name despite her threats. How can she say no to a little boy who wants his mama home in time to take him to his first day of school?

This book had a little bit of everything I love in a cozy series....chocolate, murder, sea turtles, lots of sleuthing, and secrets. And, a cute but impish dog, too. The mystery portion of the plot moved along at a nice speed, with plenty of suspects and twists. The plot isn't overly complex, but held my attention. I like the characters and the chocolate background theme.

In Cold Chocolate is the third book in the Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series. But it isn't vitally necessary to read the books in order. There is enough of the backstory woven in with the new plot to make it easy for new readers to just jump in and enjoy this book. But, for the full story about Penn, her inheritance, the subsequent family squabbles and attempts to contest the will, and the story of Camellia Beach, try reading from Book one, Asking For Truffle.

There are several yummy recipes containing chocolate at the back of this book! Cookies, pancakes and cocoa pork tenderloin! Yummy!

I will definitely keep reading this series. Looking forward to the next book!

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**