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In Cold Chocolate

(A Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery #3)

Dorothy St. James

4.09 · Rating details · 216 ratings · 110 reviews

In Dorothy St. James’s third delectable Southern Chocolate Shop mystery, a new batch of chocolate and troubles of the heart cause a string of disasters for the Chocolate Box’s new owner, Charity Penn.

The vintage seaside town of Camellia Beach, South Carolina seems like the perfect place for romance with its quiet beach and its decadent chocolate shop that serves the world’ ...more

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Kindle Edition, 263 pages

Published September 11th 2018 by Crooked Lane Books

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· 216 ratings · 110 reviews

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May 10, 2018 Chatting About rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2018-cozy-mysteries-read, beach-setting, pet-lovers-will-enjoy, home-family-hearth, kindle, cozy-mystery, cozy-series, contemporary, netgalley, mystery

Excellent southern cozy mystery. The plot held a few surprises for me, plus I also found it educational. I’ve always wanted to be present when some baby sea turtles hatch, and it’s that time of the summer in the small island town of Camellia Beach, South Carolina where Charity Penn has inherited her grandmother’s chocolate shop, the Chocolate Box.

Penn’s best friend, Althea, has an emotional crisis over some missing sea turtle eggs, and Penn later discovers she’s interfered in Penn’s personal lif ...more

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Sep 26, 2018 Juli rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-review-copies-2018

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 desp ...more

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Sep 28, 2018 Sabine rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley-2018, usa-south-carolina, 2018

This series is just getting better and better.

As always there were several different things going on in this mystery which didn't seem connected at first but in the end were tied all neatly together.

I love how the characters are developing and I especially liked how the relationship between Penn and her sweet little dog is improving.

This book can stand on its own but due to the background story it is so much more interesting to read the series in order.

I had a great time reading this book and ...more

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Oct 12, 2018 LORI (Dollycas) CASWELL rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2018

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Bullets! Missing turtle eggs! Missing chocolate turtles! The quiet seaside town of Camellia Beach, South Carolina is having a crime wave. A local man is dead and someone is stealing sea turtle eggs from the nests on the beach, and Sea Salt Chocolate Turtles are disappearing almost right before Charity Penn’s eyes from her shop. Jody Dalton has accused Penn of lying to get The Chocolate Box Sweet Shop and taunts her almost daily about it, but when she is arrested for Cassidy Jo Dollycas’s Thoughts

Bullets! Missing turtle eggs! Missing chocolate turtles! The quiet seaside town of Camellia Beach, South Carolina is having a crime wave. A local man is dead and someone is stealing sea turtle eggs from the nests on the beach, and Sea Salt Chocolate Turtles are disappearing almost right before Charity Penn’s eyes from her shop. Jody Dalton has accused Penn of lying to get The Chocolate Box Sweet Shop and taunts her almost daily about it, but when she is arrested for Cassidy Jones murder Penn just can’t believe it. Then Jody’s young son begs Penn to help get his mother out of jail. She finds herself quickly promising that she will do just that. There is nothing sweet about the point Penn finds herself in. There are several suspects in addition to Jody, but Penn needs to be careful or she may end up the killer’s next victim.

Penn has so much on her plate in this third Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery. Penn has found her mother, but the family has opened up yet another lawsuit to try to take The Chocolate Shop away from her. The shop is busy so she needs to hire more help and she is still trying diligently to learn all she can about making luscious chocolate treats. She has started observing with the sea turtle watch team her friend Althea Bays is in charge of. Her relationship with Harley, Jody’s ex, is starting to move in a new direction. And on top of all that she has told Harley and Jody’s son, she will get his mom out of jail before school starts next week.

I really enjoy how all the recurring characters not only grow from book to book but within the pages of this story. Penn is getting comfortable in Camellia Beach and is meeting new people and making friends. She is still struggling with the chocolate making but the woman does not give up. She has a great core of support when any sort o trouble arrives, but she is learning to stand up for herself much better when her family tries to take her shop away. She learns something in this story that shakes and bends her but doesn’t break her.

The author has written a dynamic story with a couple of mysteries swirled together with family drama. I really like the way all the subplots flowed together with the main plot almost effortlessly. This seaside mystery does have its share of red herrings and diversions that keep us readers on our toes. Penn seems to hone in on one individual but my mind kept pulling me in another direction. In my mind, the answer really depended on if the mysteries are separate or connected. The family battle over Penn’s inheritance gets a new twist that made me dislike members of that family even more. The ending left me surprised and wondering how I was going to wait the approximately 6 months until the next book comes out. 🙂

It was fun learning about the sea turtles and the great lengths people go to to protect their eggs and the species.

Oh and the chocolate! I have learned to have some nearby while reading this series. It doesn’t come close to what Penn and Bertie create for The Chocolate Box, but it takes care of my cravings.

Ms. St. James has penned another delectable treat for her readers to enjoy. I hope she writes the next one fast! ...more

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Jul 07, 2019 Cozy Reads rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: cozy-series-reading-placeholder, cozy-read-shelf, cozy-mystery

Please tell me there are going to be more books in this series! We need answers for Penn!

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Nov 14, 2018 Lisa Ks Book Reviews rated it really liked it

Chocolate, baby sea turtles, and murder. Oh my!

In this third installment of the Southern Chocolate Shop Mysteries, author Dorothy St. James offers up another sweet tale of murder and mayhem.

There are two mysteries between the covers of IN COLD CHOCOLATE. Both were extremely well done. And with all that was going on in this story, author James made it very difficult to solve either one of them. She has a true talent for deception. That is, in her books of course!

This book was so much fun to re ...more

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Oct 11, 2018 Mary Brown rated it really liked it

Synopsis:

In Dorothy St. James’s third delectable Southern Chocolate Shop mystery, a new batch of chocolate and troubles of the heart cause a string of disasters for the Chocolate Box’s new owner, Charity Penn.

The vintage seaside town of Camellia Beach, South Carolina seems like the perfect place for romance with its quiet beach and its decadent chocolate shop that serves the world’s richest dark chocolates. The Chocolate Box’s owner, Charity Penn, falls even further under the island’s moonlit s Synopsis:

In Dorothy St. James’s third delectable Southern Chocolate Shop mystery, a new batch of chocolate and troubles of the heart cause a string of disasters for the Chocolate Box’s new owner, Charity Penn.

The vintage seaside town of Camellia Beach, South Carolina seems like the perfect place for romance with its quiet beach and its decadent chocolate shop that serves the world’s richest dark chocolates. The Chocolate Box’s owner, Charity Penn, falls even further under the island’s moonlit spell as she joins Althea Bays and the rest of the turtle watch team to witness a new generation of baby sea turtles hatch and make their way into the wide ocean.

Before the babies arrive, gunshots ring out in the night. Cassidy Jones, the local Casanova, is found dead in the sand with his lover Jody Dalton—the same woman who has vowed to destroy the Chocolate Box—holding the gun. It’s an obvious crime of passion, or so everyone believes. But when Jody’s young son pleads with Penn to bring his mother back to him, she can’t say no. She dives headfirst into a chocolate swirl of truth and lies, and must pick through an assortment of likely (and sometimes unsavory) suspects before it’s too late for Penn and for those she loves in Dorothy St. James’s third rich installment of the Southern Chocolate Shop mysteries, In Cold Chocolate. (Amazon)

Review:

Penn is a smart hardworking woman. She is the owner of The Chocolate Box and she loves what she is doing and is proud of what she has accomplished. But she has family members that want to claim the chocolate shop as their own. So she knows that she has a fight on her hands, one that she does not intend to lose. And when someone is killed, and a woman she does not like is accused of the crime, she knows that she has to find the killer, because the suspect’s young son begs her to bring his mom back. The characters are well rounded and well developed. I really enjoyed reading about her relationships with the citizens of Camellia Beach. And I thought the dog, Stella, was really cute and a fun addition to the book.

I especially liked the time she spent with her best friend, Althea Bays, and the time spent with the sea turtles. I felt that this added another dimension to the story. I learned some things that I did not know and that always makes me happy.

The writing style flows smoothly and defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and she brought the seaside town to life in my mind. The mystery was well plotted and nicely paced. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through, which made it difficult to solve.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. There is a lot of action and a few mysteries to solve and you will be hooked from the start.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate

...more

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Nov 10, 2018 Carol rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own-cozies-unread, book-i-own-mystery-thriller-suspens, cozy-review-crew, z2018-cruisin-thru-the-cozies, z2018-craving-for-cozies, z2018-cloak-and-dagger-inspector, z2018-animal-reading-challenge

Charity Penn is the new owner of the Chocolate
Box in Camellia Beach, South Carolina. This town
is the natural nesting place for sea turtles.
Charity inherited from the shop from her
grandmother. Much to her dismay, her
grandmother’s family is disputing this inheritance.
It is time for the sea turtles to hatch and head out
to sea. Charity joins her friend, Althea Bays and
the rest of the turtle watch team to see the baby
turtles hatch and go to sea.
But before any hatching occurs, there are gun
sh ...more

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Mar 28, 2018 Ell rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley

I so enjoy the writing style of Dorothy St. James. It is such a pleasure to read her words and have them jump off the page creating images and settings that envelope you. In Cold Chocolate starts out beautifully and quickly builds suspense, climaxing in a satisfying ending. This is the third book in the Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series. I somehow missed the debut book, which I plan to purchase this weekend. Fortunately, each book can stand on its own. This is one great cozy mystery series. ...more

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Nov 12, 2018 Sara Gordon rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this book and will need to get copies of the previous installments to catch up on a lot of back story. If you are looking to read this book without reading the previous, expect a little bit of information to be missing. While that is often a detail I am bothered with when picking up a book in a series out of order, this one didn't need as much of the back story right off the starting line. I enjoyed that there are multiple mysteries in this story and the whole island is full of ...more

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Aug 04, 2018 Amy rated it really liked it

In Cold Chocolate is the third installment of the Southern Chocolate Shop series. In addition to owning to the Chocolate Box, Charity Penn is now volunteering on the sea turtle watch. They guard the nests to ensure the next hatchlings make their way into the ocean safely. When Penn and some of the other women are volunteering, Cassidy Jones appears to have been shot by her nemesis, Jody Belton, who also shoots Penn. But did Jody actually pull the trigger to both guns? What seems like an open and ...more

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Oct 05, 2018 Carla Johnson-Hicks rated it really liked it

Shelves: cozy-mystery, family-relationships, netgalley, audio, hoopla

Seven months since Charity Penn inherited her grandmother's chocolate shop, and her family are still trying to prove she is not who she says she is. Legal wranglings continue to try and turn over Mabel's will but Charity is trying to make a go of the shop, The Chocolate Box, in Camellia Beach, SC. Althea tries to help Penn forget her troubles by inviting her to observe with the "turtle watch team". This is a serious activity as sea turtles are endangered and there are a lot of rules and laws rev Seven months since Charity Penn inherited her grandmother's chocolate shop, and her family are still trying to prove she is not who she says she is. Legal wranglings continue to try and turn over Mabel's will but Charity is trying to make a go of the shop, The Chocolate Box, in Camellia Beach, SC. Althea tries to help Penn forget her troubles by inviting her to observe with the "turtle watch team". This is a serious activity as sea turtles are endangered and there are a lot of rules and laws revolving around sea turtle hatching time. When local real estate agent and playboy, Cassidy Jones, is shot dead on the beach, Jody is arrested for the killing. Penn has a very difficult relationship with Jody, as she is always threatening her shop and it's ownership, but she promises Gavin, Harley's son, that she will help get her out of jail in time for his first day of school.

This book had a little bit of everything that is good about cozy mysteries: chocolate, murder, lots of sleuthing, secrets, quirky characters, some romance and family dynamics. The mystery moved along at a nice speed, with plenty of suspects and twists. The plot isn't overly complex, but held my attention. There is a lot going on in the second mystery of who is Penn's mother, but I will not spill the beans about where that goes. Then there is the side story about Penn's dog. She is working with a dog trainer to try and get her to listen, but there is still a ways to go in that story line. I really enjoy how Dorothy St. James' series is more than just a quick mystery. There has been a lot of growth and development in Penn's character and I have really liked that. You would be able to follow this story without reading the others in this series, but I recommend you start at the beginning to get the full story of Penn and the Chocolate Shop. I will definitely keep reading this series. Looking forward to the next book! The publisher, Crooked Lane Books, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, ideas and opinions are my own. ...more

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Oct 26, 2018 Tari rated it it was amazing

This installment definitely didn't disappoint! It was a real page turner at times and even though Penn got some weird news at one point, the book still had a good ending.

Penn's new relatives have been making it really hard for her by continuing to contest the will and spreading rumors that she'll lose the shop. As if she didn't have enough on her plate, the most disliked woman in town, Jody (Harley's ex) was found standing over her dead lover on the beach. Harley's son begged Penn to find the ki This installment definitely didn't disappoint! It was a real page turner at times and even though Penn got some weird news at one point, the book still had a good ending.

Penn's new relatives have been making it really hard for her by continuing to contest the will and spreading rumors that she'll lose the shop. As if she didn't have enough on her plate, the most disliked woman in town, Jody (Harley's ex) was found standing over her dead lover on the beach. Harley's son begged Penn to find the killer so his mom could come home. Not wanting to disappoint a little boy, Penn ignored the danger that could be and was involved in investigating. The real perp was flushed out, a little boy was happy again...and so was Penn.

I really love the character of Frank Gibbons, the detective that has been on all three of the books' cases. He's so much more understanding than Chief Byrd. While Byrd thinks Penn is just a menace who brought mainland killers to the island with her, Gibbons honestly cares about her well-being. She has a feeling that if her own dad had been a normal father, this is what it would be like to have someone care what happens to you. I was happy that she and Harley came to a good understanding, making a little more progress in their relationship. Penn and Althea had a falling-out, but I'm sure by the next book, Penn will be ready to forgive her and move on.

I also thought it was cool that even though Penn has issues following Mabel's recipes, she's becoming really creative in the candy kitchen and developing some flavors and products herself. I think she'll always be grateful for Bertie since Penn's attempts at Mabel's recipes usually result in the waste of good chocolate lol. Little Stella the Papillon got some more story this time since a local woman named Lidia is helping Penn to train the little ankle biter. She told Penn that Stella is picking up on her fear of love. As Penn progresses with her own life, hopefully Stella will too! The cover pics of Stella are so stinking cute that I really hope she turns into a nice, behaved dog.

I did guess the killer correctly and eventually figured out the why before it was revealed. But it was still fun watching Penn and her friends track them down. The showdown was really good!

I'm so anxious now for the next book but I'm sure it might be awhile. That's the only drawback when you binge-read everything so far in a series. ;) There are more recipes in the back of this book. I like how there's a little comment before each one--it's supposed to look like they've been published in the local newspaper.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. ...more

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Sep 06, 2018 Kathleen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2018

“In Cold Chocolate” earns 5/5 Chocolatey Delights…Very Clever!

Ok, first, it says “chocolate,” so it's a no-brainer that I'd pick up this book to read. I also love cozies, and the premise is common for the cozy mystery genre: girl is minding her own business, dead body is found, someone ends up in personal jeopardy, and justice is served. However, Dorothy St. James has gone beyond the formula by penning a clever mystery with a bit of Karma attached, well-defined characters that act and respond re ...more

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Jul 28, 2018 Betty rated it it was amazing

Camelia Beach, South Carolina is all excited as it time for the hatching of baby sea turtles to leave the best and to the ocean in The third book of this series.The island very protective of the sea turtles and there are laws that are design for their safety. Pen joins the volunteers to see the sea turtle babies head for ocean. What is completely different as gun shots expose and Penn's is shot. When the area becomes silent again Jody Walker is found standby over Cassidy Jones who has been shot ...more

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Oct 15, 2018 Micky Cox rated it really liked it

This series just keeps getting better. The characters have grown and developed so much over the three books so far. I find myself oddly invested in finding out if Penn will get to keep the Chocolate Shop, is she really related to the Maybank family and if so who is her mother and of course who is killing people this time around! The plot is interesting and the suspense is building to see who will turn out to be Penn's mother and will that person be sweet or miserable like her father's family. Th ...more

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Apr 13, 2019 Kristina rated it liked it

Shelves: 2019-netgalley-challenge, 2019, cozy-mysteries, netgalley

In Cold Chocolate by Dorothy St. James is the third story in A Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series. In Cold Chocolate can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. Charity Penn owns The Chocolate Box in Camellia Beach, South Carolina where she is currently finishing up renovations to the shop. The sea turtles will soon be hatching so Penn has created a delectable treat in their honor that is flying off the shelves. On the night of the hatching, Cassidy Jones is killed, and it look ...more

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Sep 11, 2018 K.A. Davis rated it it was amazing

IN COLD CHOCOLATE, is the third installment in the Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series by Dorothy St. James. This newest release is a worthy addition to a delightful story centered on protagonist, Charity Penn, who goes by the name of Penn. I love how the author has developed Penn’s character from the very first book and continues her progression through this third book. While this can be read as a stand-alone I personally think it is better to start at the beginning. The metamorphosis the pr IN COLD CHOCOLATE, is the third installment in the Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series by Dorothy St. James. This newest release is a worthy addition to a delightful story centered on protagonist, Charity Penn, who goes by the name of Penn. I love how the author has developed Penn’s character from the very first book and continues her progression through this third book. While this can be read as a stand-alone I personally think it is better to start at the beginning. The metamorphosis the protagonist experiences after inheriting her grandmother’s chocolate shop (whom she never even knew existed while growing up) can be better appreciated by reading the first two books first. There is a subplot thread through each book with Penn trying to find out who her mother is and trying to connect with family she never knew existed. Ms. St. James throws in several curves that had me thinking about the story long after I read the last page. After all, life is truly about family and friends and the author has centered the books on this important theme.

When I started the book, I didn’t have much time before I had to leave for an appointment. I thought I would sit down, read a few pages to get a sense of the story and then be on my way. But instead, the first chapter started off quickly with conflict and pulled me so deeply into the story that I didn’t want to put it down at all. (I may have been a tad late for that appointment.) Ms. St. James creates memorable characters and scenes. I especially loved her portrayal of the sea turtles nesting and the hatchlings. She brings their risk of survival to light and what rescue groups are doing to help the sea turtles. The author effortlessly weaves these themes into a tightly knit plot with plenty of clues and suspects to keep the reader guessing while providing a cohesive and exciting conclusion.

Not only was this a page-turner of a story, but also a sweet read that had me craving chocolate and the desire to visit Penn’s chocolate shop! Ms. St. James includes a few recipes at the back of the book and they all sound delicious!

I was provided an advance copy via Netgalley with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more

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Nov 24, 2018 Robin Loves Reading rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle, netgalley, october-december-2018

Please see all of my reviews on my blog at www.robinlovesreading.com.

Charity Penn, called Penn by her friends, is a relatively new resident to the town of Camellia Beach. She is now the owner of the Chocolate Box, which serves the world’s richest chocolates and some people are not happy about that. These include her estranged family and at least one of the town’s residents, Jody Dalton.

One night the town gathers to witness a batch of baby sea turtles hatching to in order to watch their journey Please see all of my reviews on my blog at www.robinlovesreading.com.

Charity Penn, called Penn by her friends, is a relatively new resident to the town of Camellia Beach. She is now the owner of the Chocolate Box, which serves the world’s richest chocolates and some people are not happy about that. These include her estranged family and at least one of the town’s residents, Jody Dalton.

One night the town gathers to witness a batch of baby sea turtles hatching to in order to watch their journey into the ocean. However, while are approaching the ocean, they hear gunshots. A man is dead. His name was Cassidy Jones and he was the local Casanova. Oddly enough, Jody Dalton, the same woman that threatened to destroy the chocolate shop, is seen wielding two guns. It seems quite evident that she is the killer. The woman’s son begs Penn to prove that his mother is innocent. What a task!

This is not the first time that Penn has become involved in a murder investigation. As she begins to ask questions, much to the annoyance of the local police, it becomes quite possible that Jody is not the killer. Well, why did she have the guns in the first place, and if she is indeed innocent, who was it that killed Cassidy?

There is more going on than the murder. Turtle eggs on the beach are missing and chocolate turtles are being stolen from Penn’s shop - very expensive chocolate turtles. Meanwhile, there is a lawsuit pending against Penn and her shop is in a state of disrepair.

So with quite a bit facing Penn, along with her attraction to her neighbor, she seeks to divide her time in order to find answers. She has put herself in danger due to her actions. In this fast-paced story there are a lot of questions that need answering. Dorothy St. James does a great job at pulling many of these things together while capturing the readers’ attention, but there are some things that we are left to look forward to in the next book in the series.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion. ...more

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Nov 03, 2018 Seraphia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, fiction, page-turner, suspense, thriller, series, mystery, women-s-fiction, whodunit, cozy-mystery

Charity Penn is back in this new book in A Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series. Penn thinks now she can finally settle in, run the Chocolate Box and be safe from her relatives. Sadly, her problems are only just beginning. Trouble with the woman she calls mother, a murder and more are brewing in this third installment of A Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series.
In Cold Chocolate by Dorothy St. James is a cozy mystery novel with twists, surprises, and a suspect list a mile long. Penn has defini ...more

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Jun 08, 2019 Carole Jarvis rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery-cozy

Reviewed at The Power of Words: https://bit.ly/2QuWBsv

The atmospheric and multilayered In Cold Chocolate is an impressive, compelling, and engrossing read. It not only fulfilled all my expectations for an enjoyable cozy read, but took everything several steps higher. The writing itself is excellent and Dorothy St. James knows how to craft a story that draws readers in from the very first page. Reading the previous two series books would probably have given me a better sense of all that’s going o Reviewed at The Power of Words: https://bit.ly/2QuWBsv

The atmospheric and multilayered In Cold Chocolate is an impressive, compelling, and engrossing read. It not only fulfilled all my expectations for an enjoyable cozy read, but took everything several steps higher. The writing itself is excellent and Dorothy St. James knows how to craft a story that draws readers in from the very first page. Reading the previous two series books would probably have given me a better sense of all that’s going on with the regular characters, but sufficient background is provided so that this story works well as a standalone.

Tightly-knit plot, rich characters, and beautiful setting are skillfully woven together and contribute equally to the story’s pull. South Carolina’s Lowcountry setting is vividly conveyed and so integral to the story that it almost becomes a major character. I was literally transported to the seaside town of Camellia Beach, home to Charity Penn and her delightful chocolate shop. Missing turtle eggs, family dynamics, and a question of parentage are just a few of the intriguing elements in this story. The rescue efforts of newly-hatched turtle babies is fascinating and I’m pretty sure I would be involved if I lived in a community like Camellia Beach.

In Cold Chocolate has an emotional hook – two or three, even – that drew me to these characters. Charity Penn is an appealing leading lady and I could easily relate to her work ethic and desire to be accepted into the community. Environmental and real estate development are in conflict with each other as the question of who Charity’s mother was and right to ownership of the chocolate shop continue to develop.

A murder case that seems to be open and shut, with the guilt of Charity’s nemesis being obvious, becomes anything but that when Jody Dalton’s ten-year-old son begs her to help prove his mother’s innocence. Whether in tension-filled moments or less stressful scenes, the pace moves steadily and I never wanted to put this book down. This is an excellent series and I hope for many more stories by Dorothy St. James.

Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. ...more

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Sep 13, 2018 Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) rated it really liked it

Shelves: cozy-food

This was a fun read and even though it is the third in the series I didn't feel as though I had missed much as the back story was cleverly woven in (mind you I WILL be getting the previous books and reading them!), this has Southern Charm and Midwestern tenacity in abundance and I want more!

Charity Penn is settling in to her life in Camellia Beach, she is slowly learning the art and skill of chocolate making, she also wishes to become involved in the Sea Turtle rescue (her good friend Althea is ...more

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Nov 09, 2018 Edyee Stocks rated it it was amazing

I throughly enjoyed reading this book! I was hooked from the first page! The characters are a hoot! The author has a way of bringing you into the story even if you have not read the prior books (which I plan on doing soon). This is definitely a read I would recommend to people that want a "cozy" book to read. I love the way she brings in interesting tidbits about chocolate and sea turtles and the area where the book is based, it makes me want to visit! ...more

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Apr 04, 2018 Amy rated it it was amazing

This is the third book in the Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series. It takes place in the Low country of South Carolina on Camellia Island.
Charity Penn owns the Chocolate Box shop, a popular place for local and tourists to get wonderful sweets. It was left to Penn by her grandmother.
I so loved being back with Penn and friends, learning about the sea turtles and taking a roller coaster ride of suspense and adventure with her. I absolutely adore Stella!
Looking forward to the next adventure.

Tha ...more

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Aug 12, 2018 Patty rated it it was amazing

In Cold Chocolate by Dorothy St. James is the 3nd book in the A Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series, located in Camellia Beach, South Carolina. In this exciting book Penn and her friends are trying to protect the baby sea turtles, so they can hatch and walk into the ocean. One night while watching for turtles a man was shot and murdered. This book has more twists and turns, that kept me reading page after page. I love the unique people and situations in this book. I found this book to be a qu ...more

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May 27, 2018 Brenda rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

In Cold Chocolate is the third installment in the A Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series set in the small seaside town of Camellia Beach, SC and featuring Charity Penn, owner of the Chocolate Box. Penn is settling into her new life - thankfully her business partner, roommate and grandmother Mabel's best friend, Bertie Bays, is still helping her to perfect the delicious recipes left by her grandmother. Still having to contend with her aunts and uncle fighting for the building and trying to deny ...more

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Sep 15, 2018 OpenBookSociety.com rated it really liked it

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In Cold Chocolate
A Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery
By Dorothy St. James, #3
ISBN13: 9781683317449
Author’s Website: dorothystjames.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Summary:

In Dorothy St. James’s third delectable Southern Chocolate Shop mystery, a new batch of chocolate and troubles of the heart cause a string of disasters for the Chocolate Box’s new owner, Charity Penn.

The vintage seaside town of Camellia Beach, South Carolina seems like the perfect pla ...more

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Nov 12, 2018 Melanie Mckinney rated it it was amazing

This is the third book in the “Southern Chocolate Shop Mysteries”. Penn returns for the third installment of this mystery series. Cassidy Jones, a realtor and the town’s Casanova is found dead on the beach one night. All signs point to Jody as she is the one who was shooting guns in the dark night, and she was supposedly involved with him. However, not all things are as they appear. There was a list of women who might have wanted Cassidy dead. Penn didn’t have a good relationship with Jody as Jo This is the third book in the “Southern Chocolate Shop Mysteries”. Penn returns for the third installment of this mystery series. Cassidy Jones, a realtor and the town’s Casanova is found dead on the beach one night. All signs point to Jody as she is the one who was shooting guns in the dark night, and she was supposedly involved with him. However, not all things are as they appear. There was a list of women who might have wanted Cassidy dead. Penn didn’t have a good relationship with Jody as Jody is always threatening her shop and it’s ownership but she will do what she has to for justice. Penn makes a promise to Gavin, Jody’s son that she will make sure justice is served. Penn wants to see that Jody is released from prison for Gavin’s first day of school.

Not only has a murder developed but Penn also has a run in again with her family. The family is very upset that she inherited the shop from her grandmother. Not everyone in the family believes that Penn is who she says she is. Some of the family members will stop at nothing to prove their point!

Penn is also in the process of working with a dog trainer to train her dog throughout the book. I could completely relate to this part of the book as I am in the process of training two dogs myself.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! This book was a great combination of mystery, romance, turtles, and of course chocolates. The book is based in a small town called Camellia Beach, SC. I loved how the author incorporated the hatching of sea turtles in the book. Being a turtle lover myself this was just an added bonus when reading a cozy mystery murder with chocolate involved as well. Growing up in a small town I can relate to how everyone knows the people that live there. The author also did a great job of bringing in family and friends with this book as this is an important part of anyone’s life. This book has many twists and turns and subplots throughout the book. It was a great read. I didn’t read the two previous books 1. “Asking for Truffle, and 2. “Playing with Bonbon Fire”, but I didn’t have any problems following along with the characters within this book. I will be going back and reading both the first and second book of this series. I am looking forward to the next book in this series and where the author will take this story next. I am also excited to see where the relationship with Penn and Harley will go. :)
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Aug 14, 2018 Kathy Martin rated it it was amazing

This story is the third of Charity Penn's adventures in Camellia Beach, South Carolina. She has inherited the Chocolate Box - a store making and selling unique chocolates from a rare cocoa bean - from a woman she believes to be her grandmother. However, her aunts and uncles are contesting the will because they don't believe Penn is actually their mother's granddaughter. One of the aunts did confess that she was Penn's mother but only Penn and her lawyer Harley heard the confession and now she's This story is the third of Charity Penn's adventures in Camellia Beach, South Carolina. She has inherited the Chocolate Box - a store making and selling unique chocolates from a rare cocoa bean - from a woman she believes to be her grandmother. However, her aunts and uncles are contesting the will because they don't believe Penn is actually their mother's granddaughter. One of the aunts did confess that she was Penn's mother but only Penn and her lawyer Harley heard the confession and now she's denying it.

Penn has gotten involved with the turtle watch because the island is a prime breeding ground for sea turtles. One of the other volunteers in Jody Dalton who is Harley's ex-wife and an anger-filled person who seems to have a particular grudge for Penn. When Jody loses her temper because a new owner hasn't turned off his house lights and takes out her gun to take care of the lights, an accident happens and the local lothario, and Jody's current lover, is found shot to death with Jody holding the gun. It should be an open-and-shut case but Jody says she's innocent and Jody's 10-year-old son Gavin asks Penn to find out the truth.

Penn begins investigating but she receives threats and discouragement from almost everyone. As she investigates, she finds that many people wanted Cassidy dead since he delighted in gathering secrets about the town people.

Because this is the third book in the series, a lot of Penn's background isn't stated. I did learn that she is not a trusting person who was abandoned by her mother and left on her father's doorstep as an infant. Apparently, he wasn't a loving father and his mother didn't nurture her either. She grew up feeling that she wasn't valued. That seems to be why she is so determined to make a place for herself in Camellia Beach where her mother's mother welcomed her and valued her.

I figured out who the villain was pretty early on in this mystery but that didn't stop me from enjoying this cozy mystery. I liked Penn and feel, from some information at the end, that she has more adventures in store. I don't think the question of her parentage has been resolved yet even though her inheritance seems to be. I liked the setting of this story and the quirky characters, including Penn, who inhabit this story. ...more

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Nov 09, 2018 Patty rated it it was amazing

Penn is at it again in this third installment of the Southern Chocolate Shop Mysteries. The Maybanks are still contesting the will and Penn is determined to keep her shop. But when a dark secret is revealed by her best friend, Penn is blindsided. This secret could cause her to lose it all.

On top of all that Jody is framed for murder and Penn makes a promise to Gavin, to prove her innocence. While sea turtles and chocolates keep disappearing, Penn is determined to figure out the mystery, ev Penn is at it again in this third installment of the Southern Chocolate Shop Mysteries. The Maybanks are still contesting the will and Penn is determined to keep her shop. But when a dark secret is revealed by her best friend, Penn is blindsided. This secret could cause her to lose it all.

On top of all that Jody is framed for murder and Penn makes a promise to Gavin, to prove her innocence. While sea turtles and chocolates keep disappearing, Penn is determined to figure out the mystery, even as the death threats roll in. With her life in danger, Penn's time might just run out and wouldn't that be a shame with things heating up between Harley and her. Can Penn solve the mystery in time? Or will this mystery be her death?

I really enjoy this series. I was really excited with this book, because Harley and Penn finally start to move forward in their relationship. I love Harley. He is the small time cute lawyer with a heart of gold. It is about time Penn had someone on her side to love her.

In this book things really get heated with Penn and her mother. A lot of secrets and truths are revealed and it is not pretty. I cried reading this book. It was sad and heart breaking at times. This book is a steady pace cozy mystery, with fun-loving characters that will make you giggle. I have fallen in love with these characters and look forward to more from Penn and the gang. Especially since the ending has left me wondering who she is. You will see what I am talking about when you read this one. I can't say more without ruining the book for you.

You could try and read this book as a standalone, but it would make more sense to read in order so you don't feel like you are missing something. I haven't read book 1 Asking for Truffle, but I did read book 2 Playing With Bonbon Fire. Sometimes I wish I would have read book 1 so I could get the whole story on how Penn came about to be the owner of the chocolate shop.

So if you are looking for a good cozy mystery with wonderful characters, then this book is for you. So grab some truffles and bonbons and curl up with this book. You are sure to enjoy. ...more

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About Dorothy St. James

Dorothy St. James

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Pseudonym for author Dorothy McFalls

Mystery author Dorothy St. James was born in New York but raised in South Carolina. She makes her home on an artsy island community in South Carolina with her husband, tiny little dog and fluffy cat. Though writing has always been a passion for her, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Urban ...more