Love & Chocolate by Gail Cleare
“An engaging, irresistible chocolate-laced romance.” Kirkus Reviews — When Sarah Westwood’s deadbeat husband deserts her and their young son, she takes a job at her family’s restaurant, The Three Chocolatiers, Determined to never fall for the wrong guy again, Sarah vows to stick with chocolate for stimulation and steer clear of men, especially her delicious ice-cream supplier, Blake Harrison. He wants Sarah to give him a chance, but all he gets is the cold shoulder. Since they both happen to be on the same dating site, he’s not above using a little cyber-intel to worm his way into her heart. When the chef collapses mere weeks before an upscale chocolate-themed wedding, the staff goes into a tailspin. With pressure rising on personal and professional fronts, Sarah might just have to let someone sweet melt her defenses.
Description
Find more from this author on:
Amazon
Barnes&Noble
Author Site
GoodReads
Facebook
TwitterAbout the author:
USA Today Bestselling author Gail Cleare used to write for newspapers, magazines, ad agencies, Fortune 50 companies and AOL. Now she writes fiction, and lives on an 18th century farm in Massachusetts with her family and dogs, cats, chickens, black bears, blue herons, rushing streams and wide, windy skies. When not on the computer, Gail is usually working in her organic vegetable garden or absorbed in nature photography. She can often be found stalking wild creatures with a 300 mm lens.
Cleare's debut novel, "Destined, a Novel of the Tarot" (2011), was a finalist for a Somerset Award, and for the Green Book Festival and New England Book Festival competitions. The audiobook, featuring narrator Marnye Young, will be released in 2018.
USA Today Bestseller "The Taste of Air" (2016), is a womens' fiction family drama, and in 2017 it won Readers' Favorite awards for both the book and the audio book. The sequel is currently in progress.
"Love & Chocolate, a Romance with Recipes," is a new romantic comedy to be released in 2018. It's the first volume of a trilogy featuring the Dumas family and their restaurant, The Three Chocolatiers.
For the latest news, visit http://www.gailcleare.com or Gail's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GailCleareAuthor/
What inspired you to write your book?
I wrote a column about chocolate for AOL, and produced a chocolate festival. It seemed like a popular topic!
Here is a short sample from the book:
Chapter One
Cocoa shadows fluttered on the bedroom wall. A warm breeze sifted in through the casement windows. The moon floated high behind the trees, and bars of milky light spilled across the floor.
Silence filled the house. Everyone was sleeping. Everyone except Sarah.
A greenish glow illuminated her long, bare legs, splayed in front of her on the sheets. The laptop battery felt warm against her thighs, and her fingernails clicked on the keys, loud in the stillness.
A pop-up window appeared on the screen, white letters glowing inside a small blue rectangle: “Coco, want to chat or… cyber?”
She knew that lots of people were hooking up online at these dating sites. They called it “cybersex” or “sexting.” It seemed perfectly safe, invisible, and anonymous. Wickedly spontaneous.
Sarah clicked Reply, and the window expanded, with space for her to type a response. Her fingers hesitated.
His online dating name was HotNCold. The avatar next to his name was a selfie of a firm, lean set of abs. His profile said, “Single man 36 seeking single woman 30-45 for walks along the river, coffee by the fireplace, and whatever develops.”
She had signed in just now as CocoLvr, the account created by her cousin Paisley last night after they’d polished off too many bottles of merlot. Sarah had kept saying, “No, no—I’m not ready for this! I’m barely over the divorce” as she’d grabbed for Paisley’s phone. Holding it aloft with a grin, Paisley had snapped a shot of Sarah’s cleavage. She’d posted it with the caption “Sexy mama wants to paint you with chocolate sauce and you can imagine the rest, Big Boy.”
“See?” Paisley had said. “You’re only two years older than this guy and well below his expiration date.”
They’d laughed until tears rolled down their cheeks, reminding Sarah of the carefree days before everything changed. Paisley had sent out a dozen silly messages, including one to this guy, who she’d found on the page for new local members. Sarah figured if his face was half as gorgeous as his midsection, it must be amazing. But it didn’t really matter what he looked like. She never planned to see him in person.
Too late to change her ridiculous profile now. This was irresistible. Just for fun.
“Sure,” she typed. “Love to.”
Her pulse beat faster, and she clicked Send.
Single since her ex-husband had revealed his true colors, Sarah ached for intimacy. But she couldn’t see herself sitting down with a blind date, making awkward conversation while they checked each other out, or going to a bar to meet a stranger. An imaginary love affair seemed like the perfect amount of togetherness. Especially if it could satisfy her in more ways than one.
It wasn't as if they were actually going to touch each other. No condoms required, no embarrassment the next morning. The private message was all text, so he couldn’t see her. He had no idea what her real name was. Nobody would ever know, and she was ravenous for a man's touch, virtual or otherwise.
“Teach me,” she typed, her wrists tingling. “I’m a cyber-virgin.”
“OK baby have no fear, I’ll be gentle. Tell me what you’re wearing.”
“Not much. Just a cami and bikinis.” She inhaled as though about to speak and typed, “You?” She clicked the send button.
“Just a big smile, baby.”
Her eyes opened wider as she read his reply. A shiver of anticipation shook her, and a trail of goose bumps popped up on her arms.
“Where are you right now? Want to picture it,” he said.
“In bed.”
“Alone?”
“Of course.” Sara searched the keyboard, looking for the plus sign. “Me + laptop.”
“Make room for me, baby.”
“Okay, come on over.” She leaned forward, her eyes fixed on the screen.
“…Sits on edge of bed and strokes his hand slowly up her leg, starting at the ankle…”
“Oooh,” she wrote, starting to get the hang of it.
“…Bends over to kiss her gently on the lips, while running his hand up, and up, and up…”
Sarah read the words, and her imagination went wild. She licked her dry lips. This was just as up-close and personal as making out in real life but without the actual touching.
Now her lap was hot for more than one reason.
“Mom?” A small voice came from across the hall.
Sarah gasped and jumped, feeling as if she were still sixteen and her parents had caught her kissing a boy on the front porch. She snapped the laptop shut and shoved it under her pillow. The room suddenly filled with darkness and the sound of Sarah’s panting.
Or was that Hershey, her chocolate-brown Labrador? He lay on his pad across the room. She heard him hold his breath to listen, as she did, for the sound of that little voice to come again.
“Mom?” Devon called, his tone quavering.
“Coming.” She swung her legs off the bed.
As she walked across the hallway to his room, her breathing became calmer. A guilty smile pulled at the corners of her lips.
His room was lit by a nightlight shaped like a star.
“What’s up, sweetie?” Sarah asked, sitting on the edge of the bed to hug him.
“Bad dream.” He rubbed his head against her shoulder.
“Want to tell me?”
He shook his head and sighed. “Gone now.”
“Okay, buddy. Need to pee?”
Devon nodded. She took him by the hand and steered his wobbly form into the bathroom, then lifted the toilet seat for him. He peed, yawning, and slammed the seat down as he flushed. After he ran his hands under the water in the sink, she dried them with a towel. Devon staggered back to his bed.
After he burrowed down under the covers, Sarah kissed him on the forehead and tucked him in. She left his door ajar and hurried back to her own room.
When she opened the laptop, the private message had disappeared. HotNCold must have thought she’d chickened out. She looked for him on the list of people online, but it no longer showed his name. He'd probably quit for the night.
Sarah lay alone in her big empty bed, with no one's head on the other pillow. No slow, even breathing to hear in the darkness. No warm body radiating coziness, pressed up against her under the sheet. Not even a virtual lover to soothe her with a sweet fantasy. A wave of bleak desolation rolled over her, and her stomach clenched as she swallowed the lump in her throat.
She shut down the computer, curled on her side, and hugged a pillow spooned against her. Then she reached over to pull open the drawer in her bedside table, the drawer that hid her guilty secrets. Her hand encountered a foil packet but rummaged further to find the plastic container. She pulled it out and peeled off the lid.
A dusky, delicious scent tickled her nose.
Mmm. Dark, sweet, and oozing, with just a little crunch for texture.
The best brownies on the planet, or so everyone at the restaurant said. The treat was another of Paisley’s original recipes and one of their most popular desserts served à la mode. Cocoa, dark chocolate, and pecans, chock-full of the magic chemicals that made Sarah’s heart beat faster and her body quiver with joy. The best high she’d ever felt. Well, nearly the best. Maybe chocolate wasn't really better than sex, but under the circumstances, it was a damn good substitute.
The sugar-laced chocolate bliss pumped through Sarah’s body. Her anxiety began to subside. Maybe someday the right guy would come along, but in the meanwhile, she had to make sure Devon wasn’t hurt by another of her flawed judgment calls. She never wanted to see that expression on his face again, as she had when she’d told him Daddy wasn’t coming home any more. It had broken her heart to watch Devon assume this was his fault. Too many times, Devon had heard Jim refer to him as Sarah’s son, not his own. “Your son isn’t normal,” Jim would complain. “He’s some kind of freak. Get him under control.”
Sarah lay on the bed and watched shadows crawl up and down the wall as the trees outside moved in the wind. She imagined that someday a man might climb up to her window. A beautiful man, maybe one with a Zorro cape and a neat little mustache, intense eyes. He would stare at her through the casement window as she dropped her flowing silk nightgown to the floor, then she’d reach out to open the latch. His eyes would shine in the moonlight as he swung inside before standing tall and strong in front of her. His hand would stroke her hair as he leaned close to kiss her. Their tongues would touch, sweet, dark, and smooth with a spark of cinnamon. Ahhhh.
She swallowed and reluctantly put the remaining brownies back in their container, then slipped it into the drawer. Sliding down to rest her head on the pillow, she stared into the darkness and pictured a naked man beside her, running his hand up her bare leg.
Up, and up, and up…
Related products
-
A Thin Line Between Love and Lust by C E Long
Dominique- Louisiana’s most devastating natural disaster tore Dominique from her loved ones. She moved to California to escape the memories and forget the pain. With top-notch looks and a keen business sense, she has all the tools to get what she wants out of life. But the loss she suffered might have crippled her from seeking the one thing she needs most, love.
Angela- A single mother of two young boys, Angela’s overwhelmed with responsibilities. After divorcing a husband who chose the streets over his family, she’s ready to experience life in new ways. When she meets Prince, she sees the opportunity to test her fresh independence. When emotions get involved, will she settle for the fling and move on, independence intact, or allow herself to depend on others for once.
Nyla- Young and strong, yet tender of heart, Nyla jumped into adulthood with both feet. She’s driven by passion and courage, while still hindered by innocence and fear. All men have an agenda. They want the same thing. She quit them all until she met Prince. She didn’t know what he had going on. Something so uncommon can’t be safe. Can she see herself diving into something so bizarre, or has her experiences already left her too jaded to explore the unknown?
Prince- All his life girls thought his friendship was too valuable to risk losing by having sex with him. Tired of being stuck in the friend zone, he thought leaving Mr. Nice Guy behind would be the answer to all his problems. But after meeting Dominique… and Angela… and Nyla, his idea of who he’s supposed to be changes. What he comes to find will challenge our expectations, question the rules of love, and redefine the cliché of Happily Ever After… MASHED: The Culinary Delights of Twisted Erotic Horror by Grivante
A Woman’s Corn – Two secret lovers with more secrets then either of them knew, brings about a special witches brew while the devil stews.
Charlies Chunky Munching Meat – A tale of obsession over a certain pink meat, gone too far.
Halloween Nosh – Two old-world vampires celebrating their love during the holidays with a special feast in the dungeon.
Biscuit : A Love Story – A baker’s dreams destroyed by a homeless man with unnatural hungers, leads to super-natural revenge.
Burnt Scrambled Eggs – What happens when your succubus lover stays over for breakfast?
The Disagreeable Dinner – Ever eaten a bad meal? Not like this one. Join us for this strange and hilarious case of food poisoning
Sugar – Honey is sweet, but when a potential sugar daddy turns out to be one of her high school teachers, a night of planned BDSM fun ends in a most unsavory of ways.
The Henry Problem – Fruit as an aphrodisiac, exorcisms for dummies? All that and more!
Nibble, Nibble, My Wolf – It’s all the rage to reimagine fairy tales these days and this story gets it right in the most beautifully twisted and erotic way.
The Wrath of the Buttery Bastard Taters – GMO’s are out of hand. A couples romantic dinner turns into a nightmare when their frankenfood decides to eat them instead.
Sauce – When cooking lessons lead to a new fetish, narcissistic Bart, takes self-satisfaction to a new level.
The Care and Feeding of your Personal Demon – Be careful what you wish for. Sometimes, asking for a little help from down below can come with a lifetime of demented and hilarious torment.
P.A.C.D. The Kitchen of Tomorrow, Today! – Advancements in technology are often quickly perverted for sexual experimentation. Find out what happens when a couple’s cooling romance heats back up with a new kitchen appliance.
Arabica – Do you like coffee? Maybe a little too much? Here’s a tale of a woman using BDSM aversion therapy to overcome her caffeine addiction.
Toilet Manners – Marital impropriety leads to the strangest meal of a man’s life after a visit to a glory hole inside a fancy french restaurant.
The Stray – Is the story of a man’s lifelong dedication to helping strays. But, what happens when one gets a little upset when he announces he is moving away.
The Old Man in the Suit – Voodoo and baked goods outside a lesbian bar during Mardi Gras.
Do you like food? Sex? Horror? Humor? Then this book is for you!
Blind Dating by Kerry Taylor
When mid-forties, divorced, single-mother-of-three, Kimberly, realizes her own mother has more of a life than she does, she decides to do something about it. Encouraged by success stories from people at work, she joins a dating chat room, ICQ, which starts to rock her world.
All of a sudden she’s a swinging single, online, with extreme dates, a little dirty talk, and a sense of her new, sexy self— until that fateful moment when her long-time chat-room buddy, LonelySingle, wants to meet.
“Are you trying to find a man on Facelook?” her Mom questions, after years of being told it is Facebook!
What if he doesn’t like her?
What if she doesn’t like him?
These are the thoughts, inside her head. Until they meet and realize, that they have been friends offline aswell as online!
What happens next?
A light-hearted, romantic comedy about a single mom finding true love, which was right before her eyes.
Red (A Brett MacLean Duet) by J.M. Walker
Just when you thought you had it all…… It can be ripped from you in the most devastating way. Will you be prepared to fight?
It started without trust. Passion. Lust. An all-consuming need; that was all we had in the beginning.
Lies. Betrayal. Deceit. We moved past it all and fell in love anyway.
Over ten years later, with a family of our own, our little world was perfect. Happy.But then that happiness faded away when she came into our lives.
No control. No power. Just heartbreak and unwanted submission.We were forced to our knees at the sight of her. The words falling from her lips were like nails digging at our soul because we knew.
We would have to go through hell to get out of this.
And even then, I wasn’t sure if it would be enough.
Pam of Babylon by Suzanne Jenkins
For Long Islander Pam Smith, keeping house and staying beautiful dominate her daily routine as she awaits the return of her husband, Jack, every Friday evening. When he suffers a fatal heart attack on the train home from Manhattan, Pam’s exquisitely arranged life is catapulted into turmoil as she is forced to face the realization that her marriage is nothing more than a black hole plagued with cruel infidelity, abuse, and sexual deviance. Witness Pam as she graciously and gracefully accepts the foul world her husband’s “other life” forces on her previously immaculate existence. Come along for the ride of your life as you ask yourself this one question. How well do I know my husband?
A Soldier’s Promise by Tory Richards
Keeping promises is important to Ryan, but keeping his promise to his younger brother David will be hard. David’s final wish is for Ryan to watch over his wife and daughter, but Ryan’s been in love with Shannon for years. This holiday season, Ryan will learn he can keep his promise and still have his heart’s desire.
Made To Break Your Heart by Richard Fellinger
It’s 2008, and Nick Marhoffer is a stressed-out dad who finds himself flirting with thoughts of infidelity. While is job is being threatened by a crumbling economy, he is fraught with anxiety over his only son’s well-being. So when his son starts playing baseball, Nick becomes a rabid Little League dad who loses sight of what’s good in his life. After developing a crush on a gorgeous team mom, he can’t decide between her and his wife, then finds himself at risk of losing everything that is most important to him. This is a smart, sexy, and funny novel about bad breaks, bad decisions, and the long road of life.
Alice-Rose by Caitriona Leslie
A new romance with an old fashioned feel. Alice-Rose is a gentle modern day love story with very real feeling and warm characters who you want to befriend.
Libby Finn, widow of 3 years, is just about ready to start facing the real world again and when she discovers that Alice-Rose, a local and somewhat dilapidated house, is up for sale she immediately puts in an offer, for Libby has always been a little in love with Alice-Rose and when the purchase of the house involves meeting Dan the local estate agent, Libby starts to fall a little bit in love with him too!
But true love is not an easy path and between organizing the refurbishment of Alice-Rose, planning best friend Jules’ up and coming wedding and dealing with surly builder Paddy, not to mention Dan’s own family problems, the chances to get romance off to a start are few and far between and just when it looks like there might be a way forward something else happens to throw a spanner in the works…..but sometimes love is where you least expect it…..
This is a very warm and genuinely romantic book with likable characters and lovely descriptions of the Irish countryside and the residents in the small country town. I loved the details of Alice-Rose and could see it being put back together in my minds eye. Plenty of humour and a bit of ‘will they, won’t you’ make for a very enjoyable and feel good read.
A great start for a new author.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.