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For the Love of Hot Cocoa
Is it possible for a simple café owner and a disgruntled prince to find magic at the Snow Solstice Festival? All Icelyn wants is for her little café to be successful. But opening across from Mother Maude’s could have been her first mistake. Icelyn and her pet dragon have escaped the clutches of her cruel family just in time for the Snow Solstice Festival. Her best friend convinces her to accept the contract to supply her baked goods and hot cocoa for the festival. “It will be good for business,” she said … But when Icelyn agrees to be a part of a fake relationship, her world is turned upside down … her life and café are sabotaged at every turn. “It will be good for business,” she said … Icelyn watches her life and business fall apart with every decision she makes. Will she be able to save herself and her café before they’re both nothing more than crumbles from her Caramel Apple cookies? Prince Colden should have known better. Sure he wanted his father to give him more responsibility. But to be in charge of this year’s Snow Solstice Festival? That wasn’t exactly what he wanted. He definitely didn’t expect his father’s ultimatum— the proverbial icing on the cake. That is until his Captain of the Guard and best friend handed him a mug of hot cocoa. One sip was all it took. It was more than delicious—it was magical.
A perfect solution to his father’s ultimatum. All Colden had to do was find who made the hot cocoa. Simple. That is until he meets Icelyn. Beautiful, intelligent, stubborn. Very stubborn. The one person capable of showing him the festival’s importance to the townsfolk. His people. How easy it would be to fall in love with her. But he was already in love with someone he has yet to meet … Will Colden make the right choice … Icelyn or for the love of hot cocoa?
A perfect solution to his father’s ultimatum. All Colden had to do was find who made the hot cocoa. Simple. That is until he meets Icelyn. Beautiful, intelligent, stubborn. Very stubborn. The one person capable of showing him the festival’s importance to the townsfolk. His people. How easy it would be to fall in love with her. But he was already in love with someone he has yet to meet … Will Colden make the right choice … Icelyn or for the love of hot cocoa?
326 pages, Paperback
First published November 25, 2022
18 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie K. Clemens
18 books66 followersStephanie K Clemens is known for many things: an author, photographer, dog mom, instagrammer, adventurer, teacher, lawyer, and more. When she’s not sitting behind her laptop she can be found on some adventure. Most of the time it’s a road trip with her two doggos, but recently it has been in the pages of a book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
September 26, 2023
This was such a cute and cozy read! I loved the Cinderella retelling aspect of the book. I loved all the characters... even the clueless yet sweet prince. I absolutely loved the writing and I am so happy that I found this author's TikTok page. This gave me all the winter cozy vibes and I really loved it. I wish I had some hot coco while I was reading this as it would've made it even better! Also there is a baby dragon! I can't wait to read more from this author! Thank you for the ARC of this!
September 26, 2023
I received a free ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Oh, there’s so much to love in here! First off, it sets the perfect winter atmosphere. I will absolutely be pulling this out around Christmas to revisit it. It generates a feeling of snowy nights, roaring fires and frost on the eyelashes.
Then, there’s our characters who are all amazing. Icelyn our lead is full of kindness, tenacity and a desire to make a life for herself. Holly, her best friend, is the ultimate cheerleader and the one that pushes her when she’s down. Our Prince, Colden, is an oblivious sweetheart of a man but luckily he has his right hand man Douglas to steer him straight.
And there’s a baby dragon. You can’t go wrong with a baby dragon.
One of the best features in this Cinderella retelling though is that the Prince and Icelyn get to know each other. It isn’t a case of love at first sight but rather friends that grow into something more.
I finished this book in one night and I look forward to visiting it again!
Oh, there’s so much to love in here! First off, it sets the perfect winter atmosphere. I will absolutely be pulling this out around Christmas to revisit it. It generates a feeling of snowy nights, roaring fires and frost on the eyelashes.
Then, there’s our characters who are all amazing. Icelyn our lead is full of kindness, tenacity and a desire to make a life for herself. Holly, her best friend, is the ultimate cheerleader and the one that pushes her when she’s down. Our Prince, Colden, is an oblivious sweetheart of a man but luckily he has his right hand man Douglas to steer him straight.
And there’s a baby dragon. You can’t go wrong with a baby dragon.
One of the best features in this Cinderella retelling though is that the Prince and Icelyn get to know each other. It isn’t a case of love at first sight but rather friends that grow into something more.
I finished this book in one night and I look forward to visiting it again!
January 3, 2024
Super cute and cozy. And so perfect for winter—the atmosphere was magical. I wanted to live in Wynterfell and stop into Icelyn’s cafe for her hot cocoa (especially the mint hot chocolate, an absolute favorite of mine) and other delicious-sounding treats forever, lol.
September 19, 2023
I was stuck in a reading rut and this fantasy Cinderella retelling was exactly what I needed to get myself out of it! The whole vibe of it had me wanting to cozy up with a fuzzy blanket, hot cocoa, and watch it snow. Also, the vibe of it wants me to call my hair dresser up and see if we can recreate Icelyn’s hair. I love it when I finish a book and I can very easily picture it as a movie. This would be a book that could be come a favorite winter movie for sure. I would read it again!
December 23, 2023
This book is very cheesy, but I got Ella Enchanted vibes from it-- a piece of media that doesn't take itself too seriously and plays up the cheesiness intentionally.... At least that's the feeling I got while reading it. It was a fun Cinderella telling.
December 15, 2023
Think Hallmark meets Cinderella retelling but there's a baby dragon and a baker who specializes in hot cocoa. Sprinkle the top with fake dating, and you've got the outline for this story.
Icelyn as a character thrived for me. She kept her head on her shoulders and pushed through everything she was handed. And she was handed a lot. A LOT. But with her best friend by her side, and her sweet dragon Ember, Icelyn handles her business. I was frustrated she did not want her step siblings being held accountable for their actions towards her, especially since opening her own shop, but that tracks with how Cinderella stories usually go. There is usually a punishment, but it is not to the level they deserve (in my opinion).
Icelyn and Colden on the page were adorable. I've seen complaints about Colden's character being so clueless and how is that possible...and I agree. For me, this was a large frustration with the story, and sometimes I would have to close my Kindle and just shake my head because good golly sir...how ARE you that clueless?
And what's the point for keeping him so? I get intrigue and needing a complication for him and Icelyn to work past, but still.
You know how in Cinderella (Disney version) we don't see much of the prince except in small bits? We don't get that in this story. Prince Colden is front and center with Icelyn (our Cinderellaesque character), but there feels like there is a struggle with characterizing a prince who needs to find a wife, loves hot cocoa, but just cannot seem to realize the girl he is fake dating is also the girl who makes that hot cocoa he loves so much.
As a full package, I liked the story. It has a lot of promise as a series, and if there is a second one, I will read it just to see what becomes of Icelyn and Colden - and those wicked step siblings. Grrr...they almost ruin the book for me. Almost.
Icelyn as a character thrived for me. She kept her head on her shoulders and pushed through everything she was handed. And she was handed a lot. A LOT. But with her best friend by her side, and her sweet dragon Ember, Icelyn handles her business. I was frustrated she did not want her step siblings being held accountable for their actions towards her, especially since opening her own shop, but that tracks with how Cinderella stories usually go. There is usually a punishment, but it is not to the level they deserve (in my opinion).
Icelyn and Colden on the page were adorable. I've seen complaints about Colden's character being so clueless and how is that possible...and I agree. For me, this was a large frustration with the story, and sometimes I would have to close my Kindle and just shake my head because good golly sir...how ARE you that clueless?
And what's the point for keeping him so? I get intrigue and needing a complication for him and Icelyn to work past, but still.
You know how in Cinderella (Disney version) we don't see much of the prince except in small bits? We don't get that in this story. Prince Colden is front and center with Icelyn (our Cinderellaesque character), but there feels like there is a struggle with characterizing a prince who needs to find a wife, loves hot cocoa, but just cannot seem to realize the girl he is fake dating is also the girl who makes that hot cocoa he loves so much.
As a full package, I liked the story. It has a lot of promise as a series, and if there is a second one, I will read it just to see what becomes of Icelyn and Colden - and those wicked step siblings. Grrr...they almost ruin the book for me. Almost.
September 25, 2023
☕️𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒐𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒄𝒐𝒂🍫
first of all, happy release day to this book!!🥳
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
this story was so cozy and so cute! i even made myself a hot chocolate to drink while i sat down to read it — the only thing that could have made the vibes better would have been a fresh blanket of snow outside❄️
i loved the cinderella retelling aspect while it still maintained its own originality! this cozy story and its characters are simple, but i really enjoyed that. also the cute baby dragon instead of mice?! adored!
this quick and easy feel-good cozy fantasy romance was a great pallet cleanser after the confusing and heavy book i read prior to it — it was exactly what i needed😌
overall, i enjoyed this a lot, and i wish i could live in Wynterfell!
thank you so much Stephanie for this eARC! i look forward to reading more from you!🥰
first of all, happy release day to this book!!🥳
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
this story was so cozy and so cute! i even made myself a hot chocolate to drink while i sat down to read it — the only thing that could have made the vibes better would have been a fresh blanket of snow outside❄️
i loved the cinderella retelling aspect while it still maintained its own originality! this cozy story and its characters are simple, but i really enjoyed that. also the cute baby dragon instead of mice?! adored!
this quick and easy feel-good cozy fantasy romance was a great pallet cleanser after the confusing and heavy book i read prior to it — it was exactly what i needed😌
overall, i enjoyed this a lot, and i wish i could live in Wynterfell!
thank you so much Stephanie for this eARC! i look forward to reading more from you!🥰
December 20, 2023
This book was def not for me. It was a Hallmark level paper thin plot with the most infuriating main characters making stupid decisions left & right. It was about 200 pages too long and the writing style def could use some polish. I thought this was going to be a cozy fantasy, but the only fantasy thing was a pet dragon and the mention of unicorns. I felt no comfort or warmth from the story. Just absolute frustration at the characters. Especially the FMC not wanting justice when people are literally committing criminal acts towards her.
September 26, 2023
This book was an adorable fantasy Cinderella retelling. Such a cozy read where you wrap up with a blanket and a hot vocoder. Preferable peppermint coco.
It was such a cute story I can't wait to reread during Christmas
It was such a cute story I can't wait to reread during Christmas
September 15, 2023
I’m going to be completely honest. I went into this book thinking it sounds really cute and like such a cozy read, but what I wasn’t expecting was to devour it in a couple of hours and to then re-read my favourite parts of it immediately afterwards.
This book is the perfect winter read: bundled up with blankets and hot chocolate, while you sit and watch the sunset. It was a cute feel-good romance with origins from Cinderella, but also maintained it’s own style. And I am a sucker for a baby dragon, so if you’re like me, you will also love this.
All of the characters were simple, but interesting and likeable, and the plot was easy to follow and engaging to read. If you’re after a book that will get you out of a slump or a nice read to break up some high fantasy, this book is perfect for you.
I received an e-ARC of this book and have voluntarily left a review.
This book is the perfect winter read: bundled up with blankets and hot chocolate, while you sit and watch the sunset. It was a cute feel-good romance with origins from Cinderella, but also maintained it’s own style. And I am a sucker for a baby dragon, so if you’re like me, you will also love this.
All of the characters were simple, but interesting and likeable, and the plot was easy to follow and engaging to read. If you’re after a book that will get you out of a slump or a nice read to break up some high fantasy, this book is perfect for you.
I received an e-ARC of this book and have voluntarily left a review.
December 5, 2023
2.5/5 stars. A very cozy cinderella retelling. I quickly devoured the first part, but the latter half was a struggle. I did enjoy the setting, theme, and overall idea. Also, a pet dragon? SO CUTE! It did feel a bit rushed in certain areas and the plot was a bit disjointed. I have a hard time with books that just aren't practical. I cannot be convinced that the prince or any person for that matter wouldn't have immediately figured out the identity of the hot cocoa maker early on. Although, he was said to be a clueless person. This also led to a few plot holes that were hard to overlook. Overall, It was a quick wintry read and I did enjoy certain aspects.
February 13, 2024
A charming story which was exactly the right kind of book to be reading as the cold weather sets in. I thoroughly enjoyed it and managed to finish it over the course of two cosy afternoons, accompanied by a cup of hot cocoa! (Eileen Tilley Book Tour Reviewer)
This is a charming and sweet wintry Cinderella retelling. The characters are simple, with lots of wintry themed names: Holly Green, Douglas Fir, etc. I enjoyed the addition of unicorn heritage and a baby dragon, though. There’s a low stakes situation as Icelyn’s step-siblings want her new chocolate shop to fail, as they’re her rivals (but they can’t bake for toffee). So she has to shine, and get enough customers, at the Solstice fair. The real draw of the book is the themes of friendship, even more than the romantic undertones. I really liked seeing how the town rallied around Icelynn and her stall, to bring about the Solstice Festival. It’s light, frothy and rather funny. I recommend it. (Eryn McConnell Book Tour Reviewer)
A very sweet story, appropriately, given the title of the book. I breezed through it, finding it charming and very easy to read. It’s a perfect book to read curled up in front of the fire on a cold and cosy afternoon, preferably with hot cocoa in hand! Stephanie has created a heartwarming and uplifting novel, which I’d recommend reading in the approach to the holiday season. (Michelle Marshall Book Tour Reviewer)
Stephanie Clement’s ‘For the Love of Hot Cocoa’ is a Cinderella story with a difference. Instead of a glass slipper to fit the maiden, the Prince must find the woman who makes the most magical hot cocoa he has ever tasted. However, he meets and develops feelings for the lovely Icelyn, who has just opened a bakery in town. As the story unfolds, we see how Prince Colten tries to live up to his father’s expectations and find himself a princess before the end of the Snow Solstice Festival, and how Icelyn thwarts the evil intent of her stepmother and siblings. This is a delightful, lighthearted twist on a classic. The story is well-written and engaging from the outset, drawing you into the plights of the two main characters as they try to make the Snow Solstice Festival the best yet, despite the setbacks. Dialogue is witty and relevant, moving the story along at a lively pace. The two main supporting characters are well-rounded as well, without stealing the limelight from our hero and heroine. There may have been a few grammatical errors because there usually are, but none stood out enough to draw the reader away from the story. Overall, I enjoyed the story – after all, who doesn’t like a good happily ever after story! (Phoebe Wilby Book Tour Reviewer)
All Icelyn wants is to have her café be successful. But opening near Mother Maude’s could be her first mistake. She and her pet dragon have escaped the clutches of her cruel family just in time for the Snow Solstice Festival. Her best friend convinces her to supply baked goods and hot cocoa for the festival. But when Icelyn agrees to be a part of Prince Colden’s fake relationship, her world is turned upside down as her life and café are sabotaged at every turn. Will she save herself and her café? Prince Colden wants more responsibility, so his father puts him in charge of this year’s Snow Solstice Festival – and gives him an unexpected ultimatum. When his Captain of the Guard and best friend handed him a mug of hot cocoa, one magical sip was all it took. It was the perfect solution to the ultimatum, if he could find who made the hot cocoa. That is until he meets beautiful, intelligent, very stubborn Icelyn. She is the person capable of showing him the festival’s importance to the townsfolk, his people. He could easily fall in love with her, but he was already in love with someone he has yet to meet – the maker of the hot cocoa. Will he make the right choice? A fantastical tale which has the reader rooting for Icelyn, wanting retribution for her horrid life with her cruel family. As a twist on an old fairytale, it was cleverly thought out – I’m not sure what target audience this would be for, as it can be appreciated by kids and adults alike. The author can easily alter the phrasing and scenes that are more awkward than the rest of the book to perfect it. Overall, readers will identify with Icelyn and her best friend, and the challenges they face throughout the book. I have no issues with recommending the book. (Yvonne Marrs Book Tour Reviewer)
The book begins with Icelyn, a talented, kind café owner trying to make a name for herself in Wynterfell. She has some magic and great baking chops to stand out; yet she is sabotaged at every turn by her step-siblings Dru and Stacey. When the Snow Solstice Festival arrives, her chance to shine comes thanks to a fortuitous encounter with Prince Colden’s bodyguard, Douglas. We have a strong cast of characters with Holly– Icelyn’s best friend, Ember, her cute dragon pet, and the prince and his bodyguard. Everyone felt fleshed out and real; the dialogues as a result flowed and it was easy to see who’s who. Sometimes the twins felt a little too dastardly but otherwise the characters were authentic. The pacing was good; it was a short, exciting read. There is lots of tension and conflicts throughout. Sometimes Prince Colden’s level of naiveté was almost over the top, but he does come into his own eventually. For the most part the story felt balanced and satisfying. This book gives cozy, sweet, holiday vibes. (Sophie Jupillat Posey Book Tour Reviewer)
A perfect story for those dark winter nights, to cozy up on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate or your favourite festive tipple and slowly drift away into a cinderella like fairy tale. The characters are endearing and extremely credible, the relationships are heartwarming, not only between Icelyn and Prince Colden but their friendships with Holly and Douglas. And of course who can forget the adorable Ember the Dragon and the incredible bond shared with Icelyn. I thoroughly enjoyed the drama and conflicts introduced, the gentle teasing and tenderness between the couples, all of their quirks, foibles and imperfections which were not too over the top or eye rolling cringe worthy, as can happen with some fairy tale stories. The dialogue felt authentic and the plot moved along at a good pace, sweeping the reader through the pages and keeping them engaged. Suitable for all adults who are young at heart and enjoy a feel good read with love and laughter. (Kirsty McKay Book Tour Reviewer)
We award 4.5 stars.
This is a charming and sweet wintry Cinderella retelling. The characters are simple, with lots of wintry themed names: Holly Green, Douglas Fir, etc. I enjoyed the addition of unicorn heritage and a baby dragon, though. There’s a low stakes situation as Icelyn’s step-siblings want her new chocolate shop to fail, as they’re her rivals (but they can’t bake for toffee). So she has to shine, and get enough customers, at the Solstice fair. The real draw of the book is the themes of friendship, even more than the romantic undertones. I really liked seeing how the town rallied around Icelynn and her stall, to bring about the Solstice Festival. It’s light, frothy and rather funny. I recommend it. (Eryn McConnell Book Tour Reviewer)
A very sweet story, appropriately, given the title of the book. I breezed through it, finding it charming and very easy to read. It’s a perfect book to read curled up in front of the fire on a cold and cosy afternoon, preferably with hot cocoa in hand! Stephanie has created a heartwarming and uplifting novel, which I’d recommend reading in the approach to the holiday season. (Michelle Marshall Book Tour Reviewer)
Stephanie Clement’s ‘For the Love of Hot Cocoa’ is a Cinderella story with a difference. Instead of a glass slipper to fit the maiden, the Prince must find the woman who makes the most magical hot cocoa he has ever tasted. However, he meets and develops feelings for the lovely Icelyn, who has just opened a bakery in town. As the story unfolds, we see how Prince Colten tries to live up to his father’s expectations and find himself a princess before the end of the Snow Solstice Festival, and how Icelyn thwarts the evil intent of her stepmother and siblings. This is a delightful, lighthearted twist on a classic. The story is well-written and engaging from the outset, drawing you into the plights of the two main characters as they try to make the Snow Solstice Festival the best yet, despite the setbacks. Dialogue is witty and relevant, moving the story along at a lively pace. The two main supporting characters are well-rounded as well, without stealing the limelight from our hero and heroine. There may have been a few grammatical errors because there usually are, but none stood out enough to draw the reader away from the story. Overall, I enjoyed the story – after all, who doesn’t like a good happily ever after story! (Phoebe Wilby Book Tour Reviewer)
All Icelyn wants is to have her café be successful. But opening near Mother Maude’s could be her first mistake. She and her pet dragon have escaped the clutches of her cruel family just in time for the Snow Solstice Festival. Her best friend convinces her to supply baked goods and hot cocoa for the festival. But when Icelyn agrees to be a part of Prince Colden’s fake relationship, her world is turned upside down as her life and café are sabotaged at every turn. Will she save herself and her café? Prince Colden wants more responsibility, so his father puts him in charge of this year’s Snow Solstice Festival – and gives him an unexpected ultimatum. When his Captain of the Guard and best friend handed him a mug of hot cocoa, one magical sip was all it took. It was the perfect solution to the ultimatum, if he could find who made the hot cocoa. That is until he meets beautiful, intelligent, very stubborn Icelyn. She is the person capable of showing him the festival’s importance to the townsfolk, his people. He could easily fall in love with her, but he was already in love with someone he has yet to meet – the maker of the hot cocoa. Will he make the right choice? A fantastical tale which has the reader rooting for Icelyn, wanting retribution for her horrid life with her cruel family. As a twist on an old fairytale, it was cleverly thought out – I’m not sure what target audience this would be for, as it can be appreciated by kids and adults alike. The author can easily alter the phrasing and scenes that are more awkward than the rest of the book to perfect it. Overall, readers will identify with Icelyn and her best friend, and the challenges they face throughout the book. I have no issues with recommending the book. (Yvonne Marrs Book Tour Reviewer)
The book begins with Icelyn, a talented, kind café owner trying to make a name for herself in Wynterfell. She has some magic and great baking chops to stand out; yet she is sabotaged at every turn by her step-siblings Dru and Stacey. When the Snow Solstice Festival arrives, her chance to shine comes thanks to a fortuitous encounter with Prince Colden’s bodyguard, Douglas. We have a strong cast of characters with Holly– Icelyn’s best friend, Ember, her cute dragon pet, and the prince and his bodyguard. Everyone felt fleshed out and real; the dialogues as a result flowed and it was easy to see who’s who. Sometimes the twins felt a little too dastardly but otherwise the characters were authentic. The pacing was good; it was a short, exciting read. There is lots of tension and conflicts throughout. Sometimes Prince Colden’s level of naiveté was almost over the top, but he does come into his own eventually. For the most part the story felt balanced and satisfying. This book gives cozy, sweet, holiday vibes. (Sophie Jupillat Posey Book Tour Reviewer)
A perfect story for those dark winter nights, to cozy up on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate or your favourite festive tipple and slowly drift away into a cinderella like fairy tale. The characters are endearing and extremely credible, the relationships are heartwarming, not only between Icelyn and Prince Colden but their friendships with Holly and Douglas. And of course who can forget the adorable Ember the Dragon and the incredible bond shared with Icelyn. I thoroughly enjoyed the drama and conflicts introduced, the gentle teasing and tenderness between the couples, all of their quirks, foibles and imperfections which were not too over the top or eye rolling cringe worthy, as can happen with some fairy tale stories. The dialogue felt authentic and the plot moved along at a good pace, sweeping the reader through the pages and keeping them engaged. Suitable for all adults who are young at heart and enjoy a feel good read with love and laughter. (Kirsty McKay Book Tour Reviewer)
We award 4.5 stars.
January 20, 2025
Love, Bullies, and Dragons, oh my...
This was a fun book to read. It was written in an easy going manner and I think that it is good for most ages, though here and there some parts could have flowed more easily. There was a little steaminess in the romance but nothing that would push it into an "R" rating and there was no extreme violence or swearing.
The characters were all relatable though I was ready for the antagonists in the story to get their due long before it happened. At least a slap on the wrist to provide relief from the injustice would have warmed my heart.
I wish all kingdoms had the fortune of being ruled by such kind, involved, and concerned leaders as Wynterfell, perhaps someday...
I can honestly say I never thought that I'd enjoy reading scenes set in a kitchen and centering on baking as much as I did while reading For the Love of Hot Cocoa. This book helped me confirm that yes, I do want my own pet dragon someday, and now I also want a hot cocoa imbued with love.
This was a fun book to read. It was written in an easy going manner and I think that it is good for most ages, though here and there some parts could have flowed more easily. There was a little steaminess in the romance but nothing that would push it into an "R" rating and there was no extreme violence or swearing.
The characters were all relatable though I was ready for the antagonists in the story to get their due long before it happened. At least a slap on the wrist to provide relief from the injustice would have warmed my heart.
I wish all kingdoms had the fortune of being ruled by such kind, involved, and concerned leaders as Wynterfell, perhaps someday...
I can honestly say I never thought that I'd enjoy reading scenes set in a kitchen and centering on baking as much as I did while reading For the Love of Hot Cocoa. This book helped me confirm that yes, I do want my own pet dragon someday, and now I also want a hot cocoa imbued with love.
December 14, 2023
Title: For The Love Of Hot Cocoa
Author: Stephanie K. Clemens
Synopsis: Is it possible for a simple café owner and a disgruntled prince to find magic at the Snow Solstice Festival? All Icelyn wants is for her little café to be successful. But opening across from Mother Maude’s could have been her first mistake. Icelyn and her pet dragon have escaped the clutches of her cruel family just in time for the Snow Solstice Festival. Her best friend convinces her to accept the contract to supply her baked goods and hot cocoa for the festival. “It will be good for business,” she said … But when Icelyn agrees to be a part of a fake relationship, her world is turned upside down … her life and café are sabotaged at every turn. “It will be good for business,” she said … Icelyn watches her life and business fall apart with every decision she makes. Will she be able to save herself and her café before they’re both nothing more than crumbles from her Caramel Apple cookies? Prince Colden should have known better. Sure he wanted his father to give him more responsibility. But to be in charge of this year’s Snow Solstice Festival? That wasn’t exactly what he wanted. He definitely didn’t expect his father’s ultimatum— the proverbial icing on the cake. That is until his Captain of the Guard and best friend handed him a mug of hot cocoa. One sip was all it took. It was more than delicious—it was magical.
A perfect solution to his father’s ultimatum. All Colden had to do was find who made the hot cocoa. Simple. That is until he meets Icelyn. Beautiful, intelligent, stubborn. Very stubborn. The one person capable of showing him the festival’s importance to the townsfolk. His people. How easy it would be to fall in love with her. But he was already in love with someone he has yet to meet … Will Colden make the right choice … Icelyn or for the love of hot cocoa?
Review: I absolutely adored this book! This is definitely a Cinderella retelling but make it cozy! This has me smiling! It also made me want to drink hot chocolate! I even turned on my Hot cocoa candle! This book flew by and I couldn’t believe when I reached to the end and it was over! I can’t wait to read other books in this series!! This is the perfect cozy Christmas book!
Author: Stephanie K. Clemens
Synopsis: Is it possible for a simple café owner and a disgruntled prince to find magic at the Snow Solstice Festival? All Icelyn wants is for her little café to be successful. But opening across from Mother Maude’s could have been her first mistake. Icelyn and her pet dragon have escaped the clutches of her cruel family just in time for the Snow Solstice Festival. Her best friend convinces her to accept the contract to supply her baked goods and hot cocoa for the festival. “It will be good for business,” she said … But when Icelyn agrees to be a part of a fake relationship, her world is turned upside down … her life and café are sabotaged at every turn. “It will be good for business,” she said … Icelyn watches her life and business fall apart with every decision she makes. Will she be able to save herself and her café before they’re both nothing more than crumbles from her Caramel Apple cookies? Prince Colden should have known better. Sure he wanted his father to give him more responsibility. But to be in charge of this year’s Snow Solstice Festival? That wasn’t exactly what he wanted. He definitely didn’t expect his father’s ultimatum— the proverbial icing on the cake. That is until his Captain of the Guard and best friend handed him a mug of hot cocoa. One sip was all it took. It was more than delicious—it was magical.
A perfect solution to his father’s ultimatum. All Colden had to do was find who made the hot cocoa. Simple. That is until he meets Icelyn. Beautiful, intelligent, stubborn. Very stubborn. The one person capable of showing him the festival’s importance to the townsfolk. His people. How easy it would be to fall in love with her. But he was already in love with someone he has yet to meet … Will Colden make the right choice … Icelyn or for the love of hot cocoa?
Review: I absolutely adored this book! This is definitely a Cinderella retelling but make it cozy! This has me smiling! It also made me want to drink hot chocolate! I even turned on my Hot cocoa candle! This book flew by and I couldn’t believe when I reached to the end and it was over! I can’t wait to read other books in this series!! This is the perfect cozy Christmas book!
August 19, 2024
What a sweet cozy Cinderella retelling! All the references to the fairytale, just.... different. Nice different. Warm difference. Clever difference. When there's a dragon, and a baker, and hot cocoa all wrapped up in a book, yeah, clever! As are the portrayal of the characters, not the insta love, heart's gonna jump out of my chest attraction, but a steady build up of understanding and caring, quite refreshing actually. I did enjoy the visual effects the author so expertly put on display, like Icelyn's unique hair, I could see and feel it all! It also gives me very Frozen vibes, the whole frosty landscape and all. A princess, a prince, 2 stepsiblings in the guise of Stacey and Dru and a café, yes ..a café, in a setting that lends itself to warm blankets and a steamy cup of hot chocolate!
Icelyn is tenacious, she's had a lot to deal with but she somehow manages to see a way out even though the pain she feels. I loved her beautiful relationship with her little dragon Ember, so sweet. I enjoyed the characters, simple yet hearty, like Douglas, a true friend to the Colden, Holly, who supports Icelyn as only a bestie can. The prince in the story, Colden is a honey but geez is he dense at times! I know many people can be oblivious but he's a bit too much perhaps, he just couldn't see what was right in his face, but still, he's a lovely likeable character. So, he has to marry, except he's not that thrilled with his father's decree and it's not a ball that takes place but a festival....
A lovely little story, with a delightful HEA, with a lovely warm feeling that made me want to cuddle up on my couch with a cup of peppermint hot chocolate....
Icelyn is tenacious, she's had a lot to deal with but she somehow manages to see a way out even though the pain she feels. I loved her beautiful relationship with her little dragon Ember, so sweet. I enjoyed the characters, simple yet hearty, like Douglas, a true friend to the Colden, Holly, who supports Icelyn as only a bestie can. The prince in the story, Colden is a honey but geez is he dense at times! I know many people can be oblivious but he's a bit too much perhaps, he just couldn't see what was right in his face, but still, he's a lovely likeable character. So, he has to marry, except he's not that thrilled with his father's decree and it's not a ball that takes place but a festival....
A lovely little story, with a delightful HEA, with a lovely warm feeling that made me want to cuddle up on my couch with a cup of peppermint hot chocolate....
September 28, 2023
If you like cozy, sweet romance fantasy this is what you are looking for. Especially if you enjoy the winter hallmark romance movies, this is that with magic as well and an adorable baby dragon. This like a Cinderella but our lead girl is working on making her dream come true of having a coffee shop with drinks and pastries that have a little bit of magic in them. However, her step-sibling do everything they can to make her life difficult. The town is in their winter season and a solstice festival will be held where all businesses have the opportunity to promote themselves. Also the prince is put in charge of it for the first time and he has tasted a hot cocoa that has him falling in love with the maker. But he is so clueless about who made it that it’s so cute, when he finally realizes who it was and his internal conflict about who to marry was for nothing. I really enjoyed how cute he was with his cluelessness. What I also enjoyed was that Icelyn is descendent of unicorns, but the author makes sure to include a bit of history on how that came about which I like when authors do that.
I received an ARC of this book and reviewed this voluntarily.
I received an ARC of this book and reviewed this voluntarily.
December 24, 2023
For the Love of Hot Cocoa
⭐️⭐️⭐️
When this book was described as a romance, I assumed it was an adult book, but once started, it read like a middle grade fantasy for 12-15 year olds. A Cinderella retelling, the MC is half unicorn and runs a chocolate shop. Idyllic small town charm combines with cottagecore food descriptions making this cosy and just tooo sweet. There IS a LOT of pouting/wailing/huffing/stomping which adds to the childish vibes and without the depth of world building, emotional tension or plot, it would suit better with a younger audience.
However! Around 50% of the way through the book, you get hit with a far more adult kiss scene, so then I was just confused. They talk like children and the plot is total fairy tale but are we headed for SPICE right now?
I feel like this book doesn’t know where it belongs- it would have been great as a mid grade cosy fantasy, something similar to Legends and Lattes for early to mid teens.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
When this book was described as a romance, I assumed it was an adult book, but once started, it read like a middle grade fantasy for 12-15 year olds. A Cinderella retelling, the MC is half unicorn and runs a chocolate shop. Idyllic small town charm combines with cottagecore food descriptions making this cosy and just tooo sweet. There IS a LOT of pouting/wailing/huffing/stomping which adds to the childish vibes and without the depth of world building, emotional tension or plot, it would suit better with a younger audience.
However! Around 50% of the way through the book, you get hit with a far more adult kiss scene, so then I was just confused. They talk like children and the plot is total fairy tale but are we headed for SPICE right now?
I feel like this book doesn’t know where it belongs- it would have been great as a mid grade cosy fantasy, something similar to Legends and Lattes for early to mid teens.
January 16, 2024
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A review by you!
For the Love of Hot Cocoa by Stephanie K. Clemens, Stephanie K. Clemens
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Have you ever looked forward to a book then become completely crushed by disappointment? That's how I feel about For the Love of Hot Cocoa. I wanted a fun, cozy, wintery, low stakes fantasy. Premise: Woman opens hot cocoa and bakery with her pet dragon. Fake dating occurs with royalty, chaos ensues. I'm on chapter 5. And. I do not think I can do it. I love a pun..
But these are outrageous. Icelyn Frost is the main character who is like Cinderella (had no idea this was a retelling). Her BFF is Holly... Her step siblings are Drusillo (yes) and Anastasia (shortened to Dru and Stacey). And the prince is Prince Colden. His first attendant (and this is where I started losing it) is Douglas Fir. The dialog is so bad it's downright offensive. I just want a nice feel good story!
Search all books...
Open main menu
A review by you!
For the Love of Hot Cocoa by Stephanie K. Clemens, Stephanie K. Clemens
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Have you ever looked forward to a book then become completely crushed by disappointment? That's how I feel about For the Love of Hot Cocoa. I wanted a fun, cozy, wintery, low stakes fantasy. Premise: Woman opens hot cocoa and bakery with her pet dragon. Fake dating occurs with royalty, chaos ensues. I'm on chapter 5. And. I do not think I can do it. I love a pun..
But these are outrageous. Icelyn Frost is the main character who is like Cinderella (had no idea this was a retelling). Her BFF is Holly... Her step siblings are Drusillo (yes) and Anastasia (shortened to Dru and Stacey). And the prince is Prince Colden. His first attendant (and this is where I started losing it) is Douglas Fir. The dialog is so bad it's downright offensive. I just want a nice feel good story!
September 12, 2023
This was such a cute cozy winter read!! I loved the take on a cinderella retelling with a cute little dragon instead of mice. This book was the perfect winter read that just made me want to curl up with a cup of cocoa next to a fire. It had clueless princes, sabotaging twins, cute dragon sidekicks and a lot of hot cocoa. Def an amazing read for cozy seasons!
The story follows Icelyn who just opened up her own cafe, separate from her step mother and siblings. She’s determined to be able to start this business by herself, but this doesn’t stop her step siblings from interfering with her business. The twins had been stealing away her customers, until Icelyn fortunately runs into the prince and is the talk of the town. The prince falls in love with Icelyn at first sight and falls in love with her hot cocoa at first sip, but he doesn’t know they are the same person.
The story follows Icelyn who just opened up her own cafe, separate from her step mother and siblings. She’s determined to be able to start this business by herself, but this doesn’t stop her step siblings from interfering with her business. The twins had been stealing away her customers, until Icelyn fortunately runs into the prince and is the talk of the town. The prince falls in love with Icelyn at first sight and falls in love with her hot cocoa at first sip, but he doesn’t know they are the same person.
September 27, 2023
I received an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review after seeing the author on Tiktok. This was my first book by Stephanie Clemens so I was excited to give it a try.
I'll skip plot--and in full disclosure I am still reading. I'll skip recapping the plot since you can find that easily. For me, the book reads too much like fanfiction. There is too much telling us and not enough showing us (again, so far. If my opinion changes I'll update my review). It is dialogue heavy. Not that we need Tolkien-esque descriptions, but we don't see anything. For example, the prince describes his body guard as his best friend, but we don't see that other than what they say to each other.
It has peaked my interest that I will continue to read the book, but is a 'borrow from the library' type of book in my opinion.
I'll skip plot--and in full disclosure I am still reading. I'll skip recapping the plot since you can find that easily. For me, the book reads too much like fanfiction. There is too much telling us and not enough showing us (again, so far. If my opinion changes I'll update my review). It is dialogue heavy. Not that we need Tolkien-esque descriptions, but we don't see anything. For example, the prince describes his body guard as his best friend, but we don't see that other than what they say to each other.
It has peaked my interest that I will continue to read the book, but is a 'borrow from the library' type of book in my opinion.
December 28, 2023
2.5 stars. DNF at 60%
This had the potential to be super cute and I wanted to love it a lot more than I did. It was a cozy Cinderella retelling. I wanted to see more of the unicorn magic given that the FMC was half unicorn, I wanted to know how they fit into the world. The writing was mildly repetitive, words reused after just a few sentences frequently which is a personal pet peeve of mine. My biggest issue, though, was the prince. He just made my head hurt with his inability to figure out who the hot cocoa seller was, never asking Icelyn what her shop was, and then at the ball not questioning far more quickly why the person he thought was Icelyn was acting strange. The ball was the breaking point for me. I wanted to love this and I really think this author has potential, but this one was not for me.
This had the potential to be super cute and I wanted to love it a lot more than I did. It was a cozy Cinderella retelling. I wanted to see more of the unicorn magic given that the FMC was half unicorn, I wanted to know how they fit into the world. The writing was mildly repetitive, words reused after just a few sentences frequently which is a personal pet peeve of mine. My biggest issue, though, was the prince. He just made my head hurt with his inability to figure out who the hot cocoa seller was, never asking Icelyn what her shop was, and then at the ball not questioning far more quickly why the person he thought was Icelyn was acting strange. The ball was the breaking point for me. I wanted to love this and I really think this author has potential, but this one was not for me.
February 14, 2024
Cute but stupid characters are frustrating
Cute and mostly harmless story. Low spice: kissing and a closed door encounter.
Spoilers below
My main issue is with how clueless and inconsiderate the MMC acts. Combine his denseness with his inability to listen to makes this story unnecessarily frustrating. Icelyn literally tells him that she baked the desserts at the party that he KNEW came from the cocoa maker, and he still doesn’t realize they’re the same person. Colden’s obsession with the cocoa maker makes him seem callous and insincere when he also interested in Icelyn at the same time. I dislike the emotional cheating (even though Icelyn = cocoa maker, HE doesn’t know that).
I’m ranking it 3 stars because I did enjoy how everyone else seemed to recognize that that Colden was a complete idiot.
Cute and mostly harmless story. Low spice: kissing and a closed door encounter.
Spoilers below
My main issue is with how clueless and inconsiderate the MMC acts. Combine his denseness with his inability to listen to makes this story unnecessarily frustrating. Icelyn literally tells him that she baked the desserts at the party that he KNEW came from the cocoa maker, and he still doesn’t realize they’re the same person. Colden’s obsession with the cocoa maker makes him seem callous and insincere when he also interested in Icelyn at the same time. I dislike the emotional cheating (even though Icelyn = cocoa maker, HE doesn’t know that).
I’m ranking it 3 stars because I did enjoy how everyone else seemed to recognize that that Colden was a complete idiot.
October 1, 2023
If you like cozy romance fantasy, "For the Love of Hot Chocolate" is a great read. It's perfect for fans of winter Hallmark romance movies, with the bonus of magic and an adorable baby dragon. Stephanie K. Clemens
creates a charming world and delightful characters that make a heartwarming story.
This story is a twist on the classic Cinderella tale, with FML working hard to make her dream of owning a coffee shop come true while her step-siblings try to make her life difficult. When the town holds a winter solstice festival, the prince falls in love with a hot cocoa she makes but has no idea who made it. The book is fresh air, with lovable characters and mouth-watering descriptions of drinks and treats.
creates a charming world and delightful characters that make a heartwarming story.
This story is a twist on the classic Cinderella tale, with FML working hard to make her dream of owning a coffee shop come true while her step-siblings try to make her life difficult. When the town holds a winter solstice festival, the prince falls in love with a hot cocoa she makes but has no idea who made it. The book is fresh air, with lovable characters and mouth-watering descriptions of drinks and treats.
September 18, 2023
I received an ARC of For the Love of Hot Chocolate. I absolutely loved it. It's one of my 1st cozy fantasies and it's my favorite so far. I was reading some pretty heavy stuff then, and this book gave me such a breath of fresh air. Every day, I looked forward to reading more chapters. I love the characters and the story. And the drinks and treats sound mouthwatering! I'm making a few of the recipes immediately. I wanted to be one of the FMC's friends in Wynterfell. I wanted to live in Wynterfell. And I want a pet dragon like Ember! I recommend this book highly to anyone wanting to read a cozy fantasy. You won't regret a moment of it! 4/5 stars
September 21, 2023
I’m on my cozy fantasy era and couldn’t be happier about it.
This cozy fantasy twist on the classic tale of Cinderella warmed my heart; I suppose I should thank Ember for thank. ;)
I adored all of the baking and hot cocoa and wintery activities. I loved watching the “Cinderella” of the story be older and out of the house; it made for a different and interesting dynamic. I love the relationship between Holly and Douglas. And I want my own pet dragon and magical recipe book now.
Thank you to the author for an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This cozy fantasy twist on the classic tale of Cinderella warmed my heart; I suppose I should thank Ember for thank. ;)
I adored all of the baking and hot cocoa and wintery activities. I loved watching the “Cinderella” of the story be older and out of the house; it made for a different and interesting dynamic. I love the relationship between Holly and Douglas. And I want my own pet dragon and magical recipe book now.
Thank you to the author for an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
December 15, 2023
I'm super disappointed I didn't like this more! I was sent a PR Box and was really excited. But I didn't care for the FMC for most of the book. Icelyn's logic was infuriating when blaming the prince for everything that was going wrong instead of her step siblings. And Colden immediately thinking he was in love with the hot cocoa maker and insisting he'd marry them and having trouble choosing between the hot cocoa maker and Icelyn, when they are the same person and has never "met" the cocoa maker 🙄
I would have rated it 3.5 if the logic of everything made sense but it didn't.
I would have rated it 3.5 if the logic of everything made sense but it didn't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2025
Super cute cozy book.
Legends & Lattes x Cinderella
Icelyn a hot cocoa and pastry artist opens her dream shop, with her mini dragon and her best friend Holly. With the ice festival in full swing Icelyn is hopeful to make her business successful however her dastardly step siblings are sure to derail her plans. All the while the Icelyn catches the handsome princes eye, and interest. This fast paced, cozy novel is a perfect palate cleanser for those who are looking for a sweet story.
Tropes
Fake Dating
Fade to Black
Sunshine FMC
Legends & Lattes x Cinderella
Icelyn a hot cocoa and pastry artist opens her dream shop, with her mini dragon and her best friend Holly. With the ice festival in full swing Icelyn is hopeful to make her business successful however her dastardly step siblings are sure to derail her plans. All the while the Icelyn catches the handsome princes eye, and interest. This fast paced, cozy novel is a perfect palate cleanser for those who are looking for a sweet story.
Tropes
Fake Dating
Fade to Black
Sunshine FMC
September 26, 2023
❄️For the Love of Hot Cocoa ☕️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*ARC review
Grab a warm drink, a fuzzy blanket and turn the world off for awhile! Author Stephanie K. Clemens may have written the best YA winter fantasy 🩵
“Love, everything is made with love. Which is its very own type of magic.” - Icelyn Frost
What started out as an ultimatum for Prince Colden Whittaker turned into not only the best cup of hot cocoa, but a beautiful girl with subtlety sparkling rainbow colored hair.
Throughout Prince Coldens attempts to get to know this mysterious woman, rather odd events keep taking place.
This is a wonderful Cinderella retelling 👸❄️
I adore that Stephanie uses words like “befallen and flippant”
I would label this book YA/teen fantasy/clean romance
Duel POV but the chapters aren’t named. It’s not hard to figure out who you’re reading though.
Keep an eye out for Stephanie’s next book coming soon: Villain Rehab 🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*ARC review
Grab a warm drink, a fuzzy blanket and turn the world off for awhile! Author Stephanie K. Clemens may have written the best YA winter fantasy 🩵
“Love, everything is made with love. Which is its very own type of magic.” - Icelyn Frost
What started out as an ultimatum for Prince Colden Whittaker turned into not only the best cup of hot cocoa, but a beautiful girl with subtlety sparkling rainbow colored hair.
Throughout Prince Coldens attempts to get to know this mysterious woman, rather odd events keep taking place.
This is a wonderful Cinderella retelling 👸❄️
I adore that Stephanie uses words like “befallen and flippant”
I would label this book YA/teen fantasy/clean romance
Duel POV but the chapters aren’t named. It’s not hard to figure out who you’re reading though.
Keep an eye out for Stephanie’s next book coming soon: Villain Rehab 🖤
September 28, 2023
Snowflakes, Gitter, Dragons, Unicorns, and Sparkles! Thank you so much for the ARC of this book! This is a sweet Cinderella retelling with hot cocoa and a baby dragon (sooo stinkin cute). This was my first cozy fantasy and was a nice change of pace from the dark fantasy genre that I typically read. For the Love of Hot Cocoa would be a great book for a winter day with a fire - and of course hot cocoa (plus more chocolate).
December 15, 2023
I absolutely loved this book! Has a bit of a Cinderella vibe to it but nonetheless, it was one of the best books I’ve ever read. What’s not to love? Hot Cocoa and sweet treats, an adorable little pet dragon, some romance and one of the best friendships I’ve ever read in a book. If you haven’t already picked this cozy book up yet, I encourage you to. It’s so good and is a page turner. It hasn’t disappointed me and I hope to you all that you enjoy reading it as much as I did!
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