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Chocolate-Box #1
A Chocolate-Box Christmas
Love is sweeter with a touch of mischief.
Judging a chocolate-making competition for the women’s shelter’s annual fundraiser should be an easy, even pleasurable, assignment for Maise, new food critic for the Bloomingfield Daily Dispatch. Too bad just the smell of chocolate makes her stomach roil.
By the time she reaches the last table, she hopes her face isn’t as green as her holiday sweater. But the tall, square-jawed man behind piles of fudge makes her want to linger, even savor the moment along with his chocolate-coffee-flavored confection.
Except there’s something Ben Elliot is hiding behind his piercing blue eyes and lazy grin, and her reporter’s nose senses a story worth exploring. She finds herself longing to discover the secret ingredient sweetening their mutual attraction.
Judging a chocolate-making competition for the women’s shelter’s annual fundraiser should be an easy, even pleasurable, assignment for Maise, new food critic for the Bloomingfield Daily Dispatch. Too bad just the smell of chocolate makes her stomach roil.
By the time she reaches the last table, she hopes her face isn’t as green as her holiday sweater. But the tall, square-jawed man behind piles of fudge makes her want to linger, even savor the moment along with his chocolate-coffee-flavored confection.
Except there’s something Ben Elliot is hiding behind his piercing blue eyes and lazy grin, and her reporter’s nose senses a story worth exploring. She finds herself longing to discover the secret ingredient sweetening their mutual attraction.
40 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2019
58 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Josie Riviera
142 books467 followersUSA TODAY bestselling author Josie Riviera writes contemporary, inspirational, and historical sweet romances. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully supportive husband. They share their home with an adorable shih tzu, who constantly needs grooming, and live in an old house forever needing renovations.
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Send her an email at: josieriviera@aol.com
Visit her website and sign up for her newsletter. You'll receive a free sweet romance ebook!
josieriviera.com
Follow her on Bookbub:
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Pinterest:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
December 26, 2019
Cute short story. It's a quick read and perfect when you want something fast to read. It left me craving chocolate.
April 18, 2020
A delightful short!
This story is so short it is more of a reading snack than a novella, but it is cute and I enjoyed reading it. It’s part of the Chocolate-box series but it can be read as a standalone story. I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary. Maisie and Ben are likable characters and I hope that Josie Riviera adds to their story sometime in the future because I can imagine some good possibilities.
This story is so short it is more of a reading snack than a novella, but it is cute and I enjoyed reading it. It’s part of the Chocolate-box series but it can be read as a standalone story. I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary. Maisie and Ben are likable characters and I hope that Josie Riviera adds to their story sometime in the future because I can imagine some good possibilities.
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January 4, 2023This book is also available in my boxed set, Leading Hearts, First books in series:
mybook.to/leadinghearts
mybook.to/leadinghearts
May 20, 2021
This audiobook is more of a short story and the beginning of the author’s new series titled, Chocolate box.
In this first vignette, we meet the new newspaper food critic Maise Anderson. She’s been sent to be a judge of a chocolate competition. Though not fond of the ingredient she knows she has to follow her assignment.
The high point of the competition is meeting Ben Elliot , one of the contestants. Whom she suspects is not telling her all his story.
As with most short stories, the characters nor the plot get much development. That said, it was a cute, fast moving story perfect for an hour of leisure.
In this first vignette, we meet the new newspaper food critic Maise Anderson. She’s been sent to be a judge of a chocolate competition. Though not fond of the ingredient she knows she has to follow her assignment.
The high point of the competition is meeting Ben Elliot , one of the contestants. Whom she suspects is not telling her all his story.
As with most short stories, the characters nor the plot get much development. That said, it was a cute, fast moving story perfect for an hour of leisure.
December 13, 2020
Josie Riviera's "A Chocolate-Box Christmas" is a super sweet Christmas romance novella. The premise is original - a food critic, new-in-town Maise, with an aversion to chocolate called upon to judge a chocolate-making competition. To complicate things further, Maise experiences an instant attraction to one of the contestants, Ben. Their banter is entertaining, their chemistry strong, and the writing engaging. A fun way to spend an hour during the Holidays.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 14, 2021
A very sweet and delightful Christmas novella! I had a lot of fun reading this and especially enjoyed the witty banter between Ben and Maise. They were so cute together and had really great chemistry. I loved the original idea of a food critic coming to town and being called upon to judge a chocolate competition. The task being made quite challenging since Maise has an aversion to chocolate!
A very fun story to read on a lunch break. I am happy to recommend!
I received a complimentary copy of the story from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review.
A very fun story to read on a lunch break. I am happy to recommend!
I received a complimentary copy of the story from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review.
December 22, 2020
What a funny idea, to have a food critic who doesn't like chocolate because she associates it with food poisoning! Yet, she has been asked to judge a chocolate competition by her boss. But there's much more than chocolate on the table. Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink! A Christmas romance that is just a nibble, allowing you to read it all over the course of a quick lunch or a couple of breaks.
I was gifted this as an eARC but this is my honest opinion.
I was gifted this as an eARC but this is my honest opinion.
April 7, 2020
A very sweet and short (2 chapters) romance. For being so short I thought that it couldn’t possibly turn out as so many stars, but it was perfectly done. I was very pleasantly surprised.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
December 5, 2020
This is a cute contemporary Christmas romance. I loved it! It is fun and interesting, with likable characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 12, 2020
The book is a good holiday romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry. The story is an enjoyable short and sweet holiday romance read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 14, 2020
I liked this book. The story was well written and flowed beautifully. The characters were well defined within the story and they had such great chemistry. I loved the ending. If you like the works of this wonderful author, then this book is a must-read.
December 15, 2020
This very short story is a Christmas sweet treat...I loved it...read in half an hour...I am looking forward for more stories from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 7, 2021
I loved it!!
I enjoyed listening to this short story.
Thank you for the recipe, I can't wait to try it out.
I enjoyed listening to this short story.
Thank you for the recipe, I can't wait to try it out.
January 6, 2020
This is basically a short story with one long scene and another short one. The writing is good and easy to read.
December 29, 2020
This was a quick and easy read. it was an enjoyable story. I wish it was longer. Looking forward to more from Josie.
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January 7, 2021As food critic Maise is assigned to judge a chocolate competition she is in a bit of a panic because she has an aversion to chocolate, she can not be around the stuff with out being very sick. Enter Ben the mystery chocolatier, I say mystery because even though Maise is a food journalist a reporter knows a good story when she smells one even if that story is covered in chocolate.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 29, 2020
This was more of a "meet-cute plus" than a full story.
It's super short, but you see the connection the main characters make. They "see" each other right away and notice what the other is hiding while those around them don't.
It was adorable.
It's super short, but you see the connection the main characters make. They "see" each other right away and notice what the other is hiding while those around them don't.
It was adorable.
December 15, 2022
A cute and sweet quick read! Definitely want to find out more about Maise and Ben and the town of Bloomingfield.
January 10, 2020
This is a very short read about a chocolate tasting by three food critics in a small California town. The local town food critic hasn't been there long but was given this assignment that she is not in favor of doing as anything chocolate these days is rather distasteful in a real sense of the word. She associates chocolate now to one bad experience she had in Alaska where she is from. But she meets one chocolate maker who just happens to be handsome and has gorgeous eyes and he is constantly watching her. He just happens to be the last person in the group of candy makers and she just wants to find a way to leave. He calls out to her and mentions she hasn't tasted his chocolate yet. As everyone watches her, she has to go back.
Well this short candy story has more going for it that just tasting a few pieces of chocolate. Read this one in about thirty minutes to see what else is in store. Get a cup of hot chocolate, sit in your favorite chair, oh and don't forget to gather your favorite chocolates, I guarantee this will get you smiling during any busy time of the year. Can't wait for the next book in this new series and I hope more is mentioned about a couple of people in this story.
Well this short candy story has more going for it that just tasting a few pieces of chocolate. Read this one in about thirty minutes to see what else is in store. Get a cup of hot chocolate, sit in your favorite chair, oh and don't forget to gather your favorite chocolates, I guarantee this will get you smiling during any busy time of the year. Can't wait for the next book in this new series and I hope more is mentioned about a couple of people in this story.
December 3, 2019
This is a delectable beginning to Josie Riviera’s Chocolate-Box Series. After all, it contains two primary ingredients that are a winning combination for many women: chocolate and romance.
It all begins when food critic Maise Anderson is asked to serve as a judge for a local chocolate competition. It isn’t something she is excited about doing but is part of her job for the local newspaper. Here she meets entrant Ben Elliot, the co-owner of a candy shop.
Ms. Riviera packs plenty of flavor into A Chocolate-Box Christmas. We get to know enough about both Maise and Ben within the confines of this short story to make them feel like real people. It is well written and even includes a recipe for Chocolate Coffee Fudge.
Even if you don’t have a lot of spare time, pick up a copy of this book. It takes less than 30 minutes to read and might just help get you into the Christmas spirit.
I am looking forward to Book 2.
It all begins when food critic Maise Anderson is asked to serve as a judge for a local chocolate competition. It isn’t something she is excited about doing but is part of her job for the local newspaper. Here she meets entrant Ben Elliot, the co-owner of a candy shop.
Ms. Riviera packs plenty of flavor into A Chocolate-Box Christmas. We get to know enough about both Maise and Ben within the confines of this short story to make them feel like real people. It is well written and even includes a recipe for Chocolate Coffee Fudge.
Even if you don’t have a lot of spare time, pick up a copy of this book. It takes less than 30 minutes to read and might just help get you into the Christmas spirit.
I am looking forward to Book 2.
February 10, 2020
The Chocolate Box Christmas by Josie Riviera
This short story is about Maise who's relocated from Alaska to CA and she's taken a job being a food/writer reporter.
On this assignment she must judge the chocolate contest at a nearby shelter. She knows many of the contestants as she's been around town.
She is able to meet Ben and she discovers his secret as to why he is there. He also finds out why she doesn't really want to be a judge, especially with anything to do with chocolate.
Fun Christmas read, enjoyed it.
Book ends with a note from the author, recipes, and about the author, other works by the author in series format but all can be read as stand alone.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
This short story is about Maise who's relocated from Alaska to CA and she's taken a job being a food/writer reporter.
On this assignment she must judge the chocolate contest at a nearby shelter. She knows many of the contestants as she's been around town.
She is able to meet Ben and she discovers his secret as to why he is there. He also finds out why she doesn't really want to be a judge, especially with anything to do with chocolate.
Fun Christmas read, enjoyed it.
Book ends with a note from the author, recipes, and about the author, other works by the author in series format but all can be read as stand alone.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
May 18, 2020
With chocolate and romance as the main elements of this story, a reader who loves both cannot go wrong! Maise is a food critic judging a candy contest and sweets make her nauseous. What is up with that? And then there is Ben who isn't quite who he seems to be when he has difficulty saying how his entry has been concocted. A sweet story that looks to be the beginnning of a series. I'm looking forward to listening to more. Allyson Voller did a nice job with the narration which made for an enjoyable listening experience. I was given a complimentary copy of this audio short story and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
August 7, 2020
Such a sweet, short story. Maise is new in town and is asked to judge a chocolate-making contest. The thing is, she has a problem eating chocolate. By the time she gets to the last entry, she is ready to sneak out the back door. But, the last table is manned by Ben. He doesn't even know the process for making the chocolate he is displaying. Maise isn't sure she can choke down one more piece of chocolate, but she tries anyway because she doesn't want to disappoint Ben. There is an instant attraction and she thinks she may want to explore that further. Can she stomach just one more piece of chocolate?
April 24, 2020
This was a short sweet romance that left me wanting more. I thought it was funny that Maisy can’t stand chocolate and is asked to judge a chocolate contest. Some of the chocolates would have upset my stomach too, but I love mocha and Ben’s chocolate sounded yummy. I liked the fudge recipe at the end.
The narrator in the Audible version had a nice clear upbeat voice with voice changes in all the right places.
The narrator in the Audible version had a nice clear upbeat voice with voice changes in all the right places.
September 7, 2020
A Chocolate-Box Christmas (Chocolate-Box #1) was a great read by Josie Riviera. Kaiser has been tasked with judging a chocolate-making competition for an annual fundraiser for the women’s shelter. Makes is a food critic for the Bloomingfield Daily Dispatch. Unfortunately for her, she doesn’t like chocolate. Ben is the chocolatier at the last table and she knows that something isn’t right with him. I really enjoyed this book and cant wait to read more by Josie Riviera.
December 17, 2019
I can totally understand Maise’s dislike of chocolate, but I’m not a food critic judging a chocolate contest. Ben is covering for his sister who is the chocolatier for the candy shop they co-own. When she shows up at the candy shop on Christmas Eve a new romance is born. This was a sweet story with a recipe for Chocolate Coffee Fudge included.
December 26, 2019
Maise is a new food critic in town. Her boss made her cover and judge a chocolate contest. One of the contestants knows next to nothing about the chocolate making process because he is covering for his sister. He is attracted to Maise and she is attracted to him. Short story, but it seems like it would be a nice lead-in to a longer novel.
February 8, 2020
A sweet (in more ways than one!), quick read.
I enjoy Josie's writing style and the way her characters are realistic, yet sweet.
And imperfect. Heh. There's nothing like a food critic with a chocolate aversion judging a chocolate tasting event. 🙊 A happy story promising the potential of more.
I enjoy Josie's writing style and the way her characters are realistic, yet sweet.
And imperfect. Heh. There's nothing like a food critic with a chocolate aversion judging a chocolate tasting event. 🙊 A happy story promising the potential of more.
January 13, 2020
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Maise a food critic is judging a chocolate competition and chocolate is not really her thing. But at the last table the coffee flavored chocolates and the man Ben start to change her mind. What will happen? It's a short story and a fun read.
April 7, 2020
A chocolate tasting contest was the least Sought after thing Maize wanted to do, but she also needed her job for the newspaper. So she went and did the contest and felt nauseous most of the time,
Because of the chocolate. I could so relate to this story as I myself do not like chocolate! Cute sweet short story. This is my honest opinion for my honest review
Because of the chocolate. I could so relate to this story as I myself do not like chocolate! Cute sweet short story. This is my honest opinion for my honest review
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews