About the Book
Book: Love and Chocolate
Author: Linda Shenton Matchett
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Release date: September 13, 2024
She just needs a job. He wants a career. Is there room in their hearts for love?
Ilsa Krause and her siblings are stunned to discover their father left massive debt behind upon his death. To help pay off their creditors and save the farm, she takes a job at Beck’s Chocolates, the company her father despised and refused to supply with milk. Then she discovers her boss is Ernst Webber, her high school love who unceremoniously dumped her via letter from college. Could life get any more difficult?
A freshly-minted university diploma in his hand, Ernst Webber lands his dream job at Beck’s Chocolates. His plans to work his way up the ladder don’t include romantic entanglements, then Ilsa Krause walks back into his life resurrecting feelings he thought long dead. However, her animosity makes it clear she has no interest in giving him a second chance. Can he get her to change her mind? Does he want to?
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My Thoughts:
Who doesn't love chocolate? Well, I suppose some don't, but I am not one of them. This was a story of second chances in love and faith. When Ilsa Krause and her siblings' lives are upended, not only by their father's sudden death, but also by his massive debt, certain hard decisions must be made. Many changes begin to happen quickly. It is a shock to all of them, change is hard no matter what. Even going against some of their late father's stubborn hard fast rules.
Ernst Webber is back in town hoping to move his way up in his new position at the chocolate factory. Little does he know that his ex-fiancé has now come to work there. Problem, he is still in love with her, but he broke her heart. He went to college and thought he could leave her and his beliefs behind. When he comes back, he has some work to do to repair their relationship including his with God. Only problem, Ilsa is older and wiser now. Between family problem, workplace politics, and faith-based questions, these two have their work cut out for them.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.
About the Author
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of this great state and immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.
More from Linda
A couple of years ago while I was planning my upcoming writing projects, I knew I wanted to write a series of books about siblings but couldn’t decide where or went to set the stories. Lots of research later, I discovered the 1898 Columbian Exposition here in the United States and the various inventions associated with that event. Further study led me to Milton Hershey who attended that World’s Fair and was so enamored with the concept of chocolate production for the masses that he sold his caramel company to enter the chocolate business – a risky proposition at that time. As I read more about Milton and his wife Catherine “Kitty” Sweeney-Hershey, I knew I had the beginnings of a story.
The owner of Beck’s Chocolates in my latest release Love and Chocolate is inspired by Milton Hershey, and I enjoyed creating my own “company town,” Cocoaville in which to set the story. Taking place in 1914 prior to the beginning of World War I, the story explores the mixed feelings about German Americans that were prevalent at the time as well as themes of second chances and forgiveness.
In the early days of my career, I worked in a printed circuit board factory, but I knew nothing about chocolate or how to manufacture it. Research for Love and Chocolate included interviewing a close friend who is a chocolatier and trying various brands of chocolate to understand the difference in flavor and texture. Here are a few fun facts I learned about chocolate along the way:
- The Aztecs and the Mayans were the first to realize the benefits of cacao beans, ground and soaked in water approximately 5,000 years ago.
- Switzerland has the highest per capita chocolate consumption.
- The smell of chocolate can help relax and reduce stress.
- It takes two to four days to produce a single serving chocolate bar.
- Cote d’Ivoire is the single largest producer of cocoa, providing roughly 40 percent of the world’s supply.
- The world’s largest chocolate bar weighed over 12,000 pounds.
- It takes about 400 cacao beans to make a pound of chocolate.
- Cacao trees can live up to 100 years.
Blog Stops
Vicky
Sluiter, February 14
Debbie’s
Dusty Deliberations, February 15
lakesidelivingsite,
February 16
Book
Looks by Lisa, February 16
Texas Book-aholic,
February 17
She
Lives To Read, February 18
Pause for
Tales, February 18
Locks, Hooks
and Books, February 19
Devoted
To Hope, February 20
Happily
Managing a Household of Boys, February 21
Leslie’s
Library Escape, February 21
Truth and Grace
Homeschool Academy, February 22
Sylvan
Musings, February 23
Books
You Can Feel Good About, February 24
Connie’s
History Classroom, February 25
For Him and My
Family, February 26
Holly’s Book
Corner, February 27
Mary Hake,
February 27
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Visa Gift Card and a signed copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54156