Chocolicious

by Geraldine Solon

A week after Blair Nightingale’s husband, Larry, dies, she learns she’s about to lose everything she owns due to a foolish mistake Larry made. In an instant, Blair’s life is transformed from rich, Silicon Valley trophy wife to poor, widowed single mom. Her only goal now is to provide for her daughter. As Blair begins to pick up the pieces, George—Larry’s best friend and the man she truly resents—seems to always be around. When Blair is overwhelmed by all the challenges she faces, she seeks comfort in baking rich, filled, three-layered chocolate cupcakes that her grandmother once taught her, and soon Blair's life is changed forever.





Geraldine Solon is the award winning author of Romance and Women’s fiction novels. Her debut novel, Love Letters won the Beach Book Festival for the Romance category and has also been nominated for the Global eBook Awards. Dream Real Pictures has optioned Love Letters and is currently being adapted into film. Love Letters was listed on Goodreads as one of the best books published in 2011. Geraldine is a member of the California Writers Club and has studied writing courses at Stanford University. She resides in the Bay area California with her family. You can visit her website at www.geraldinesolon.com

Genres: Romance, Fiction

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 7, 2011

About the author

Geraldine Solon is an international bestselling and award-winning author of thirteen novels and a marketing guidebook for authors. Her books made it to the overall top 25 of Amazon’s bestseller list, qualifying her as one of the most read authors with the most read titles. Geraldine’s books have been translated into 7 languages and featured in various magazines and print, including Glamour UK, The San Francisco Examiner, House of Coco, etc. She has appeared in TV shows such as King 5, The Heart of Silicon Valley, and KTSF. Aside from writing novels, Geraldine also writes screenplays, product descriptions, resumes, book summaries, book descriptions, blogs, and magazine articles. She speaks at writing conferences, teaches writing workshops, provides ghostwriting, developmental, and copyediting services for various clients. Geraldine worked for ten years at Stanford University and served as Treasurer, Event Coordinator, and Vice President for the Fremont Area Writers Club. As an advocate to promote literacy, Geraldine has opened four mini libraries in the Philippines and plans to establish more all over the country.
https://geraldinesolon.com/

Reviews

[Yvonne G · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A fantastic emotional rollercoaster, that leaves you with a renewed sense of faith in people."

If I thought that Geraldine's debut novel `Love Letters' was great, then `Chocolicious' has gone one better, in all ways.

Geraldine has improved in all aspects of her authorship. The writing itself flows more easily, the storyline is more fluid with the characters coming to life and being more animated, to the point where you are completely consumed by them and start to think of them as real people.

As for that very decadent cover art ... well! we have already had quite enough discussion about the impact which that CHOCOLATE cupcake, has had on us all!! Needless to say, the cover artist deserves a big thumbs up for creating something which is sure to attract attention and a positive reaction.

`Chocolicious' is the end of a tumultuous time for Blair, George and baby Rebecca, but their story is more one of the journey, rather than the beginning or end.

Be warned that there are a couple of sex scenes in the book, but nothing too lengthy or graphic.

This captivating story encompasses just about every emotion there is, as Blair sets out on her journey to discover the person she was really always destined to be.

I was with her every step of the way, from her determination to leave her small town roots and family behind her, to her loneliness and despair when she realises that money can't buy you happiness or true friends. The sadness and sense of loss when her husband dies leaving her broken and vulnerable, to the hopelessness and despair of losing everything, and the humiliation of the circumstances surrounding her financial and social ruin.

Her baby daughter Rebecca, is the one shining beacon of hope and light in Blair's life, but even this is tinged with resentment, when it is Frank's best friend George who is there at her birth and who sets out to be her rock and a shoulder to cry on in her time of need.

Blair somehow summons the strength to begin rebuilding a life for herself and Rebecca, but finds her efforts thwarted at every turn, making her realise just how dependent she had become on Frank and how unprepared she is to survive as her own person and make her way in the world she has chosen to belong to.

Inspiring and powerful advice from another unexpected source, shows Blair that she is not alone in her dilemma and that every one of us has our own problems and demons to challenge and confront; that she should accept any help sincerely offered to her and that she should follow her heart to find her path to true happiness, are the words of wisdom that she really needed to hear.

Slowly, Blair realises that family is an important part of her life and that giving Rebecca the stability of a secure homelife, far outweighs any thoughts she may have once had of giving her daughter the `choices and options', that she felt would only be available in city living.

George is there, every step of the way, until finally he sees Blair soften towards him and little by little a grudging friendship is replaced by a loving relationship that shows Blair what true romance can be like, when it is nurtured and honestly given, although George too has his own secrets and demons to confront .....

Life deals Blair one more, almost fatal blow, but she has learnt that forgiveness in its many guises, is the elusive key to her happiness. That and her Nana's famous recipe for 3 layered chocolate cupcakes and other delicious `choclaty' desserts, which sees herself and her sister re-united and with their mutual support and that of their partners, strong and confident enough to take on the world, as `CHOCOLICIOUS'!!

[Georgina · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://chicklitaholic.blogspot.com

When I first heard about Geraldine Solon’s new novel Chocolicious there was only one thing that came to mind; my love of chocolate. The cover instantly had me running to my cupboard to crap a chocolate bar before settling down to devour this novel (almost as fast as I devoured the chocolate bar!). Chocolicious is about much more than chocolate though, and predominantly centres around going through hard times in life and coming out the other side.

Blair Nightingale is devastated when her husband Larry dies. Her life is turned upside down again when she learns that she is about to lose everything due to a mistake that Larry made. Blair’s life is transformed from rich, Silicon Valley trophy life to a poor widowed single mother. She must now find a way to provide for herself and her daughter. As Blair tries to put her life back together again, George, Larry’s best friend, always seems to be around. Blair finds comfort in baking rich, three layered cupcakes that her grandmother taught her to make. Little does Blair realise that these cupcake could change her life forever.

I really enjoyed the way in which Geraldine wrote the storyline of Chocolicious. At many times you may think you know exactly how the novel will pan out and then Geraldine will throw an element into the works which will leave you intrigued and in suspense. I found that because of this, it was difficult to put the novel down, and I just wanted to keep reading to find out exactly what happens. I found the storyline to flow easily which made the characters come to life. I fell in love with the character of Blair, feeling her emotions throughout the hard times that she suffers and routing for things to work out for her in the end. I’m sure many people will be able to relate to the hardships faced by Blair in the economy that we now live in, therefore I felt as though this was a great time to create this very current storyline. I absolutely love the cover of Chocolicious and it defiantly made me want to just dive into the book. The cover art is unique and inviting and which I’m sure will attract the attention of many readers.

I only had a couple of small issues within Chocolicious. The first being that I thought the birth of Blair’s daughter at the beginning of the novel was a little unrealistic. Blair seems to give birth really quickly and the man she hates, George was there to help her deliver. I understand that many births can happen that quickly but just from my point of view I didn’t enjoy this. Secondly, and I don’t want to give too much away here, but there are moments of infidelity between characters within the novel which I felt were swept under the matt a little too quickly and cleanly. Characters forgave where I felt that there should have been a little more turmoil with their decisions.

Overall Chocolicious is a delicious captivating novel which will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions and leave you feeling satisfied at the end. The messages of being independent, strong and trusting your family in hard times is a heartfelt one which will stay with you long after you have finished the book. Like the tempting chocolate three layer cupcakes in the novel I would happily devour this novel again.

[Kristin (Kritters Ramblings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Officially sitting on the fence in this book, a great story and I was moved to read until the end to find out where Blair would find herself in the end. Although there were something things that bothered me about the plot and the structure, so I think this is a good read, but I would warn that there were some things that I would have tweaked if I had been an editor

One change I would make in the telling of the story was throughout the book, the author quickly changed from speaking in the present to switching to a memory from the past, I wish there was a little more transition because at times I was lost whether she was talking about her current situation or was speaking about her past.

The other change is about the main character Blair. There were moments where from page to page there was something negative happening and it quickly get fixed, maybe a little too easily. At the same time, she was just a depressing character to read and just spent most of her time whining when things were coming together way too easily. Blair also had some weird character developments when she went from not liking a certain male to making out with him on the next page - I just didn't get it. I saw growth by the end, but towards the middle I was worried for her and her story.

In the end, this was a story that centers around a woman who has to pick herself up for her and her child after her husband tragically dies. She must obtain her first job and create a life that she loves, this part of the story was great to see empowerment in a woman and a drive to provide for her family.

[Valentina · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book! Not only is the cover alluring, with its lush concoction flirting with our eyes, but the writing is fresh and a treat to read.
The plot is well planned, that becomes obvious from the first few pages. There is a bit of tension at the beginning, as Blair starts to realize her husband has left her in an economic lurch, and the reader really begins to feel for the heroine. What I enjoyed most is the way that she refuses to fall into self-pity, and instead finds a way of getting out of her problems. It’s wonderful to see real, strong women take charge, even if it’s in a book. The way that she manages to put her life back together is inventive and very different, immediately catching the reader’s attention.
The writing is very carefully edited, making for a pleasant read without annoying grammatical mistakes. The only thing I wish had been expanded a bit more was some of the conflicts that had to do with some infidelities in the novel. They weren’t really resolved as well as they could have.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I can easily recommend it to most adults who like a fun read. There are some sex scenes in it, so maybe it’s not that well suited for teens.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet romance. There were two sex scenes that seemed unnecessarily explicit. If these were removed or toned down, this would make a great clean romance.

I found the characters quite well developed. Blair was very naive and gullible when it came to Larry, and she unfortunately paid for it. Speaking of Larry, for a character who wasn't really present in the story, he sure can generate an emotional response from me. And not in a good way; what a jerk! He seemed like he should be a nice guy, but the glimpses seen in Blair's memories reveal him to be a manipulative jerk.

This book did contain one of my romance story pet peeves: when a character is told a story from someone with suspicious motives and believes it to be the whole destructive truth without giving their loved one any benefit of the doubt. Really? How can people do that? Where is the trust for your loved one? And where is your suspicion about the motives behind this story "you just needed to be told"?

Overall, this was an enjoyable romance story that left me craving a chocolate cupcake. Yummy.

[Maria Suson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chocolicious is a yummy tale about Blair, a woman who lost her husband, only to find out later discover that he had many secrets. I won’t give it all away, but he was leading a double life resulting in her left alone with a baby and without even a life insurance.

But that’s not the half of it. It’s also about ‘sister love’, which I can heavily relate to. I love the story because it was on such familiar grounds; I am well acquainted with Silicon Valley culture. Chocolicious is a yummy ‘feel good’ story about a woman who hits rock bottom and struggles to stand and rise-up again. Who hasn’t hit rock bottom in their life? Well maybe not quite like this!

I’m such a sucker for second chances stories and happy endings, and Chocolicious fulfills this in spades! Thanks again Geraldine for weaving a warm and wonderful tale, taking us through the ringer with all Blair’s problems, giving us that glimmer of light so that we never stop rooting for Blair to make it.

All in all, it was a tasty lighthearted read!

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope. I was completely misled by the title and description of this book… I thought there would be a lot more chocolate and cupcakes. Instead, I got a predictable tale of a woman done wrong who finds love again and gets a happily ever after. Not much depth to this one… Do not recommend

[Gloria Antypowich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chocolicious! (That cover makes me drool—I’d love the recipe!)

Everything in Blair Nightingale’s life has not been sweet, addicting comfort.

As a young woman Blair didn’t really know what she wanted. Her sister, Vicki, said that she all she did was spend her time dreaming about new exotics places and wild adventures. She had gone to college and gotten a degree in psychology, but she had wanted to escape the routine dullness of her life in small town, Lakepoint, Indianna. When she met charming, wonderful Larry, she felt she had opened the door to an exciting life in California where he lived.

In the beginning Larry was persistent and heady in his pursuit of her—the perfect romance! And in the beginning he truly was in love and he worked hard to provide the security and life that he wanted for his family; the life he had never had in his childhood.

But in real life there can be a fine line between ambition and greed. Larry lost sight of his noble goals; his dreams burgeoned, leading him into the grasp of greed which carried him into a life of crime. His possessions took the forefront; bigger houses, more expensive cars, fancy parties that she grew to hate. He spent less and less time with Blair. She had built her whole world around Larry, but he was never there to share it with her. All he did was work and seek to get more money, more things.

The exciting life that Blair had sought didn’t turn out to be what she had expected. She had glamour and wealth, but she was desperately lonely. She came to realise that money didn’t buy her happiness or true friends. She was isolated, a prisoner in a modern luxurious palace.

Then Larry dies, leaving her pregnant and alone. She is desolate, facing a lifetime ahead of her without the man she had given up her individuality for. Her child would never know her father.

Then she finds that this heroic man was actually a common thief, who had stolen millions from his boss and now she is losing everything because of his actions; her home, her cars, her jewellery, all the “things” that he had prized; that she had gotten used to.

She resented Larry’s friend, George, because Larry truly had spent more time with him than he had with her. Now Larry is dead, and ironically George is the one who is there for her. He is there when her baby is delivered. He will do anything to help her, look after her.

But she realises that she has always had someone there to look after her; first her Nana, her sister Vicki, her husband Larry. Vicki wants her to come back to Lakepoint, Indianna so she can have the help and support of old friends and family. Blair resists that move. She doesn't want to slip back into thee old small town rut. She wants to become independent and make her own way. She moves into a dingy apartment and looks for work. There are not many choices and since she hasn’t worked since she graduated, she is totally unskilled and unprepared for taking on a job.

She lands mediocre positions, but they never last very long. George is so desperately in love with her, he can’t imagine his life without her and the baby. Gradually, she grows to love him, admitting how much had been missing in her marriage before, how different love was when it was honestly given.

But George has secrets, just as Larry did. He doesn’t know if Blair will still love him if he tells her and he is unwilling to take that risk. But secrets have a way of coming to the surface. Blair finds out that George has not always been truthful and honest. She doesn’t know if she can forgive him or trust him again.

Blair moves back to her home town. She and her sister go into business making the three layer chocolate cup cakes that their Nana had been famous for. They call their business Chocolicious!

For me this story was about family and loyalty, unconditional love, secrets that come back to haunt you, second chances, betrayal, forgiveness, finding one’s self and the courage to follow your dream.

This was a good read and I would definitely recommend it.

[Catcti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: received kindle version for review from the author. Thank you Ms. Solon.

Read my reviews at A Sakura Between Pages

Wow... I've never read such a realistic and moving story. After years of reading YA and idealistic books, I've grown accustomed to a perfect book with all the components that you want it to have. Chocolicious was slightly different.

Blair went through some nasty things after her husband, Larry, died. First, all of her possessions were taken away because of Larry's mistake. Instantly, she fell from the top of society to the bottom. And to make it worst, she couldn't get a stable job because she was a housewife. Seems pretty horrible right? But that wasn't all. She just delivered her baby. How can someone's life become so difficult in one instant?

All of the troubles Blair went through opened my eyes and broke the idealistic world I have created in my mind after reading so many cutesy-fluffy-tingly-romantic-perfect YA books.

Unlike all the YA books I'm recently reading, George isn't the hot and shmexy dude in the book. But I still loved him. He was dependable, straight laced, sincere, and caring. Sure, the hot guys in typical YA books are tempting and delicious, but when it comes down to marriage, someone like George is who we really wish for. All girls want someone to treasure them like they're precious for the rest of their life time, and to me, George is someone like that. When it really comes down to it, I will definitely choose George, though he's definitely not as handsome.

The only thing I had a problem with in this book is that the concept of chocolate = cure is not seen throughout the entire book. This concept was mentioned very very late in the book. If I remembered correctly, chocolate was mentioned after I was 2/3 the way through the book. Yes, it was introduced in the beginning, however it was not touched upon again until much later. That would have been fine if chocolate wasn't important, but in the last 1/3 of the book, chocolate became something extremely important. Sure, it definitely did help Blair back on her feet, however Chocolate wasn't the main reason Blair pulled herself together. From what I've seen, George, Rebecca and Vicki were the reason she was able to come back, not chocolate. In other words, since Chocolicious is the title of the book, then chocolate should be mentioned more in the book. Else, chocolate became over shadowed by the amazing characters that were created, and the title Chocolicious is no longer appropriate.

Chocolicious was a very enjoyable book. The writing flowed smoothly and easily grabbed the reader. It was a great break from all of the idealistic stories I've read so far. Sadly, the world is a cruel world no matter how much idealistic fictions I read. Lastly I want to give a big thank you and a pat on the back to all the single mothers out there. Your children should definitely thank you for all you have done. =]

[Lindsay Paige]

Interest: I've read Solon's first book Love Letters and wanted to read more of her work.

Title Thoughts: I love it!

Cover Thoughts: I like it.

WARNINGS: There is sex here and there.

There is just something about Solon's books where she can keep me wondering through out the book whether I will like it or love it. By the end of the book, I realized how wrapped around Solon's finger I was. Even though I had a feeling how things would go, Solon has a way of writing it that makes me get just as consumed in these characters anyway.

It's like someone told me once: It's not about the end result, but about the journey the characters have on the way. I really enjoyed these characters too. I really felt for Blair when she lost everything and I was able to really see how she saw things. I was able to connect with her even though I couldn't relate to being a single mom. I can relate to going through hardships, wanting to be independent and getting through tough times.

That is really what this book is about. Not to mention, the chocolate factor added in. It reminds me of Darien Gee's Friendship Bread. This family connected through chocolate and it just reminds me that food is an important part of our lives and we can use it to learn about life and be close to our family.

Addict's Last Words: Chocolicious is a book about getting through tough times, learning that accepting help doesn't make you weak, and that chocolate, with family, can help you through anything.

To Buy or To Borrow: I enjoyed this book too much and therefore, this is a buy for me. You can buy a copy at Amazon. Keep an eye out for this book because it will be available in more formats soon.

Favorite Quote: "May your life be filled, as mine has been, with love and laughter; and remember, when things are rough all you need is ... Chocolate."

Disclosure: A copy of this book was provided for me by the author. No payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was not any obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist, or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

[Sandra "Jeanz" · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Blair Nightingale’s husband, Larry, dies,its a week later that she learns she’s about to lose everything she owns due to a foolish mistake her husband made.Blair’s life is transformed in almost an instant from rich, Silicon Valley trophy wife to poor, widowed single mum. Blair's only goal now is to provide for her daughter. So Blair begins to pick up the pieces, she realises that Larry’s best friend George always seems to be around. Blair really resents George. When Blair is overwhelmed by all the challenges she faces, she seeks comfort in baking rich, filled, three-layered cupcakes that her grandmother once taught her, and soon Blair's life is changed forever.


First of all I have to say the cover is delicious! I think I put a stone on in weight just looking at it! Back to the book, Blair obviously feels hurt and betrayed by her husband Larry, and the fact he hid their true circumstances and his mistakes away from her. Blair knows she cannot turn back time so has to knuckle down and forge a new life for herself and her daughter. Blair needs comfort so she does what most of us women do in a crisis and seek comfort. Blair seeks comfort in baking the gorgeous cupcakes she used to bake with her grandmother. That's when things begin to turn around for Blair and her daughter, as with help from George, Blair sets up her own business. The book started out being quite slow paced and then just as I was about to give up it started to gather pace and in the end I really quite enjoyed the book. I had never read anything by this author before but will certainly be keeping an eye for more now and would recommend her books to friends too.

Read & Reviewed by Ena (Sandra's mum)

[Karen S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by saying I am a total chocaholic, so the title Chocolicious intrigued me from the outset. I whole-heartedly empathize with the idea that eating chocolate is the cure for most of what ails me. That said, this novel left me a bit hungry for more of the soothing flavor of chocolate and possibly for recipes for the chocolate treats mentioned by the author.
Blair Nightingale, the main character, finds herself in an untenable position when her young husband dies right before she gives birth to their first child. After having completely relied on him to provide for her and to define her role in life, she must begin her life again, but this time as a single mother. Along the way, she finds a few allies, some in unexpected quarters. She struggles to find romance again, and chocolate comes to the rescue.
Although the plot was interesting enough for me to finish this book, there were times when I frankly felt a little bored. In particular, a lot of the dialogues were unrealistic and contained cliché phrases. Also, I felt that many things were spelled out for me as the reader, and I would have preferred to infer them from observing the scenes.
The main characters in the book are likable, although I would have appreciated a bit more depth in their development. Sometimes, my lack of understanding of who they really were interfered with my acceptance of what appeared to be the impulsive actions that drove the plot.
That said, I would recommend the book to those who like romance novels and are looking for a good girl meets boy just in the nick of time story .The plot is interesting and reinforces the values of family, love, and chocolate.

[Kimberly Tennile · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am going to finish this book. I don't dislike it, Blair, though a little whiny (with reason of course, but I digress) is a likable character with some really dung filled things happening to her. George, the best friend of her deceased husband is in love with her and hiding a few things, but I get the feeling I have one more twist to go before the HEA (Happily Ever After). Unless the author surprises me; no worries, I'll come back and update.

Though the story itself is compelling enough, there is something about the pace that is bugging me. It feels hurried, and I think it is the language. The dialogue though informative has no zip. There is something missing for me. There is a story being told, but the descriptions lack depth. It's very surface.

I think the writer is a wonderful story teller, but I'm not feeling the author coming out of her pen. It feels very bare bones to me, which makes me feel off kilter while reading it. I don't like mounds and mounds of descriptive adjectives, but I like to feel the language surround me when I read. I am not getting that from this story.

I purchased this writer's first story as well, since they both had very high reviews. I'm going to try and read that one as well. I suggest giving it a try, but it's not a full fledged glowing recommendation.

[Romancing the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed By: JoAnne
Review Copy Provided By: Author
From the beginning this book captured my attention and I didn't want to put it down. It had deception, intrigue, romance and real life angst throughout. You had no choice but to hope that Blair's life as well as her newborn daughter's would turn out well. Family and friends played an important role and everyday life often got in the way. I'm not sure I would classify what Larry Nightingale did as a mistake as much as illegal and dishonest but however it's categorized his wife Blair pays the price and everything she does is to ensure her survival. As I read I knew that those rich filled, three-layered chocolate cupcakes that her grandmother baked had to play a major role in the story and I wasn't disappointed. So many details went into the description of the cupcakes that I could almost taste them. I recommend this book and look forward to reading other books by Geraldine Solon since this is the second book of hers that I've read and
thoroughly enjoyed.

Favorite Quote: "Vicki took a bite from Blair's piece and licked her lips." ""Ooooh, it's sinful. We have to let Liz and Dave try it

[Rachelle Ayala · Rating 5 out of 5]

The redeeming power of chocolate. No one can stay mad at anyone when chocolate is in the air. Chocolicious is a story about second chances. Blair's life is destroyed when her husband died and left her with nothing, not even a life insurance policy.

Alone, with her newborn daughter, Blair fends for herself while having no job experience. Her late husband's best friend, George, looks out for her, but hides his secret involvement in Blair's late husband's scheme.

Everything blows up, but Blair and her sister bake five hundred triple layered chocolate cupcakes for a wedding and with all the chocolate feelings permeating the banquet hall, everything is forgiven and everyone lives happily ever after, high on chocolate, more chocolate, and extreme chocolate. There was a LOT of moaning in the book, but it was all over chocolate. Steamy, creamy, chocolate of all shapes, sizes and textures.

I loved reading this book and it had me laughing out loud at some of the cute situations. The only peeve I have is the website at the end does not exist and there are no recipes for all of the chocolate delights described in the book, especially the signature triple layered chocolate cupcakes.

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review was originally posted on Romancing-the-book.com and is now below:

From the beginning this book captured my attention and I didn't want to put it down. It had deception, intrigue, romance and real life angst throughout. You had no choice but to hope that Blair's life as well as her newborn daughter's would turn out well. Family and friends played an important role and everyday life often got in the way. I'm not sure I would classify what Larry Nightingale did as a mistake as much as illegal and dishonest but however it's categorized his wife Blair pays the price and everything she does is to ensure her survival. As I read I knew that those rich filled, three-layered chocolate cupcakes that her grandmother baked had to play a major role in the story and I wasn't disappointed. So many details went into the description of the cupcakes that I could almost taste them. I recommend this book and look forward to reading other books by Geraldine Solon since this is the second book of hers that I've read and
thoroughly enjoyed.

Favorite Quote: "Vicki took a bite from Blair's piece and licked her lips." ""Ooooh, it's sinful. We have to let Liz and Dave try it

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on my blog
http://lratrandom.blogspot.com/2012/0...

I wanted to like this book more but I almost felt as if I was just going through the paces while reading it. Nothing really struck me. It’s about Blair who is grieving due to  recently being widowed, then she gives birth to her baby. Shortly after she finds out her husband left her with literally nothing. The story follows her through her struggles. At first it’s one bad thing after another and then some things seem to come too easy for her. One of the things that seemed too easy was the fact that she loses job after job but she almost instantly finds a new one every time; it just didn’t sit well with me. There were other things too but I don’t want to spoil the book. I think it’s just one of those things where the author is targeting a certain demographic and that demographic isn’t me. I don’t know, maybe parents may be able to connect with this book more than I did.

Overall rating is 2.5 out of 5

[ILoveBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.co...

This book is full of surprising twists and sweet treats. The cover will pull in any reader, especially women >.> Blair is a sympathetic character, she recently lost her husband and she learns that she may be losing a very large sum of money-possibly her livelihood. So what does she do when she seeks solace? She bakes! She goes back to the basics, taking up a recipes her grandmother taught her when she was little.



Soon, Blair realizes that her cupcake baking endeavors could be the solution to her money problems. She sets up a small business and the book takes off from there.



The characters are very likable, Blair doesn't really throw a pity party-she literally works instead. George adds some of the comic relief and is a potential love interest. The secondary characters are all fun to get to know. The events are fast-paced, no dragging. The ending is very satisfying and the reader will put down this novel happy. This book is recommended to adults.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

From riches to rags, Blair loses everything after the sudden death of her husband in Geraldine Solon's Chocolicious. It’s all too easy to resent George, who saw more of her husband than she ever did, and all too hard to accept his help. But Blair has a baby to care for, and memories to mend.

Though it takes a while to appear in the story, chocolate, baked with love, is the key to this tale. Returning home to her small-town roots, Blair rediscovers the world she left behind. But will she find purpose, and will she find love?

Meanwhile George is wracked with guilt, chased by his ex-wife, and falling in love.

A love story with chocolate, mystery and hope, Chocolicious cleverly avoids the trap of making big-city evil and small-town kind, leaving characters filled with promise in both parts of the reader’s mind. There are places where solutions seem a little too quick and easy, or actions too hard to imagine. But the story moves well and makes a satisfying read, with chocolate.



Disclosure: I was lucky enough to get a free ecopy and am saying thank you with an honest review.

[The Pen & Muse]

Chocolate and family together does solve some of our problems. Solon once again comes with a beautifully written inspirational piece. She tells the tale of a trophy wife from Silicon Valley who has it all until her husband passes away. She also learns that her husband made a poor decision in life which has left her penniless and pretty much to fend for her daughter and herself. So what does Blair do? She goes back to the basics with an amazing treat that her grandmother once taught her, a three layered cupcake. Her life starts to change and well the rest you will have to read. Solon creates such feel good books. She teaches us that every life has meaning and that we should go for what we want, but also know when to go back to the basics. Not only will you love the book, I warn you.. I wanted cupcakes and chocolate after this. I mean what else is great with a feel good book?! Solon is an amazing author, once you read her work, you will be hooked!

[Christine Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story about how Blair Nightingale found what she truly wanted. In the beginning, all Blair wants to do is escape her small town for the wonderful world of opportunities outside it. Larry is just the handsome man to give her the opportunity she desires. Within a few months Blair is transplanted from her quiet Indiana home to the noise of California. Blair’s dreams seem to have come true until Larry dies of a heart attack, and Blair’s world is thrown into chaos.

I absolutely loved the interaction between Blair and her sister. I have four sisters of my own, and they are my best friends. There were a few moments in this book that made me smile. Everyone loved Nana’s three-layer chocolate cupcakes. (I may have to experiment with that) Forgiveness is a part of any relationship. Do what makes you happy in life, and you’ll never work a day.

Fans of chocolate, drama, and romance will fall head over heels for this delightful tale.

[Chandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

WHAT I LIKED:
The main male character stayed around regardless of the main female character's difficulties. He really cared....ahhhh. Great love interest development.
Emphasis on family traditions was fantastic. Makes you wish for if you never had.
Nothing like sisterly love to carry you through.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE:
Passion was distasteful and could have been written without adding a lump of syrup to two servings of just the right amount of sugar coated love. I'm not a prude. It's just that reference to 'cock thrusting' did not seem to flow with the storyline.
The author appeared to have dragged the story out with uninteresting events happening within events much of which were entirely too sappy.

IF YOU FIND THE FOLLOWING OFFENSIVE, YOU MAY NOT WANT TO READ THIS BOOK:
"....thrust his hard cock inside her", (Okay....to be honest with you he only thrust twice in the book).
"Oh George, don't you know how sexy you are when you have chocolate all over your mouth."
(What? Whoa!)

[May Goh · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Geraldine's romance-widow fiction, I would say she has done a great job in potraying Blair as a vulnerable, yet a woman who has strive hard to persevere to stay alive, for the sake of her only child. This book had taught me alot of issues between a man and women. From relationships to marriage, second chances, the life that entails each individual. At the end of the day, Blair's daughter had brought the ultimate cupcakes recipes to share with everyone. Chocolates does makes everyone happy. When life is at it's worst or you are lost, take a step one at a time, pick up the pieces as you walk and sometimes you find that hey, things doesn't seem so bad as it is. Eventually, the puzzles will all fall into places. You'll never know if you have yet to try.

[Stacy Eaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a story of rags to riches back to rags again - although that was just the money aspect. If you are thinking about the relationships in the story then it was the opposite, riches to rags back to the wealth of riches.

While there were tough times, the plot line was fun. It was a feel good book that you knew would have a happy ending, and I was correct near the start about exactly how the book would end.

This is the first book I have read by Ms. Solon and I will be looking for more of her work.

[Mary Gwatkin · Rating 2 out of 5]

So the only reason I read this book was because it was free on Kindle. It sounded like a cute book. The story lines about how the main female character gets her jobs is ridiculous. That just old...fast. Then I thought if they say one more time three-layered chocolate cupcakes I was going to scream. I enjoyed the ending and after she moves back with her sister. Maybe this book needs more editing?? I'm interested in reading Love Letters by Geraldine Solon. We shall see how that one is...

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable romance - pretty smooth writing - The plot was good, but I had the entire story figured out before I was a third of the way through. I know that romance novels give you the happily ever after - and I like that - but I don't want to see it coming from the start. The characters were good and I enjoyed the writing style.

[Joan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why did I bother to finish reading this book??? Guess I kept hoping there'd be a recipe for the "famous" triple chocolate cupcakes.

[Colleen Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review to come soon.

[Maureen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreadful. The characters were unlikeable and it was poorly written.

[Shelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would have been a really cute little story and pretty well written if not for the two graphic sex scenes and some foul language. I'm not gonna recommend it to anyone I know.