The Chocolatier's Secret

Magnolia Creek #2

by Helen J. Rolfe

Will one mistake ruin everything? Andrew Bennett has an idyllic life in Magnolia Creek, Australia. He runs a chocolate business he adores, is married to Gemma, the love of his life, and has a close relationship with his father, Louis. But when Andrew receives a message from his high school sweetheart, it sends his world into a spiral, and the relationships he holds dear will never be the same again.

Molly Ramsey is looking for answers. After her last attempt, she believes the only way to get them this time is to face her past head-on. But to do this, she has to fly to the other side of the world – and she’s afraid of flying. Her search for answers lands her in an emotional tangle, not only with her past but also with a man very much in her present.

Family is everything to Gemma Bennett and she longs to have a house full of kids, but it just isn’t happening. And when Andrew’s past makes an explosive impact on the family, Gemma must decide whether she can accept the truth and open her heart in a way she never thought possible.

In this story of love, family ties and forgiveness, will past mistakes be the obstacle to a Happy Ever After?

Genres: Fiction

361 pages, Paperback

Published June 29, 2016

About the author

Helen J. Rolfe writes romantic fiction and contemporary women's fiction and enjoys weaving stories about family, friendship, secrets, and community.

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Location is a big part of the adventure in Helen's books, and she enjoys setting stories in different cities and countries where she thinks her readers might like to escape to.

Helen J. Rolfe also writes for Orion Books under the name Helen Rolfe.

Born and raised in the UK, Helen graduated from University with a business degree and began working in I.T. This job took her over to Australia and it was there that she finally turned to what she loved and studied writing and journalism. She spent a while freelancing for women's health and fitness magazines, volunteered with the PR department of a children's hospital where she wrote articles and media releases, and eventually began writing fiction in 2011. And now, she thinks she may just have found her dream job.

Helen currently lives in Hertfordshire, UK, with her husband and their children.

Helen loves to hear from readers so please don't hesitate to get in touch. She can be found at:

www.helenjrolfe.com
https://www.facebook.com/helenjrolfew...
https://twitter.com/hjrolfe
www.instagram.com/helen_j_rolfe

Reviews

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew and Gemma are happy together. They live in Magnolia Creek where Andrew runs his own business. He's a successful chocolatier and he loves working in his new hometown. His father Louis is ill and he lives close to Andrew and Gemma so they can take care of them. He needs a kidney transplant and is on dialysis several times a week. Gemma and Andrew share his care while they are also planning their own future. Andrew's biggest wish is to become a father, but so far he and Gemma haven't had any luck. Andrew and Gemma can deal with a lot, but when Andrew receives a shocking message from his high school sweetheart their lives are suddenly being turned upside down.

Molly wants to have answers about the past. To get them she has to fly from England to Australia though. She is afraid of flying, but wants to overcome her fear. Her brothers wedding will be in America and she can't let him get married without her, so she has a clear goal she wants to achieve. She's joined an online support group and that's where she meets Ben. He offers to accompany her on the first part of her journey and they instantly click. Will this be their only chance to spend time together or will fate help them a little?

I love Magnolia Creek. It's a wonderful and welcoming place and I really enjoyed Helen J Rolfe's vivid descriptions of the town and its inhabitants. She makes her setting and characters come to life very well. I instantly loved being taken back there. The Chocolatier's Secret is the second part of a series that can easily be read as a standalone. Andrew's shop is quite new, but he and his family are already part of the community. The warmth of the Magnolia Creek residents is amazing to read about. I hope I'll be able to read many more stories about them.

Helen Rolfe's writing has an easy flow. Her atmosphere is laidback, while there's still a lot of depth in the story. She writes about difficult topics, problems with having children and adoption, in a sensitive and touching realistic way. There are plenty of different emotional layers. I loved the contrasts, there's sadness and joy, anger and unconditional acceptance, fear and bravery and there are secrets and truths. The ending is unexpected and sweet, which is something I also liked a lot.

Andrew is a chocolatier and therefore chocolate plays an important part in The Chocolatier's Secret. I loved reading Helen Rolfe's mouthwatering descriptions of his creations. He has a fantastic business where everyone feels at home. Reading about places like that puts a big smile on my face. I liked that Helen Rolfe has done her research about the chocolate making process. Her writing about Andrew's profession gives a lot of information combined with tempting descriptions. All of this makes The Chocolatier's Secret a delicious, heartwarming story.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first book ‘What Rosie Found Next’ (Magnolia Creek Book 1) and really, really loved it so I was over the moon when Helen asked if I would read ‘The Chocolatier’s Secret’ (Magnolia Creek Book 2) and review it.

While it is fascinating to catch up with some of the previous characters/residents and see how they have developed I don’t feel it is necessary to read Book 1 prior to Book 2 because the story continuation is seamless whereby they are included naturally as family members etc. However Book 1 is so wonderful you won’t want to miss it!

This time the story revolves around Molly, she has a pathological fear of flying and has joined a Facebook group to discuss her feelings and gain support. Her brother Issac is getting married shortly in America so she longs to be able to travel and attend. Meanwhile she has begun tracing her birth mother and father .. without too many spoilers she suddenly decides she needs to go to Australia. Mega problem, how will she cope with her nerves!

She has become friendly with one of the members of the group, Ben, they flirt via messages etc. Once she has plucked up courage to go to Australia he offers to travel with her to soothe her stress.

Andrew, lives with wife Gemma, they are longing for a baby but Mother Nature is playing cruel. Louis, Andrew’s dad lives in the annex and it appears that they are one happy family.

I could go on but I’d rather you read it for yourselves, there is a huge secret incorporating deception, surely that will be enough to wreck any relationship. This is a book that will keep you turning the pages anxious to find out what critical situation occurs next. I went through a gamut of emotions and confess to a tear or two.

I don’t think there was a character that I disliked which is rare, Gemma is so sweet and understanding. Molly is shy but gains confidence. Andrew is passionate about his chocolate business and just wants to support his family and live the dream, Louis declines in health as an older man, is he as wise as a father should be or does he hold the answers? If I have to pick a favourite it will be Ben, I imagine him as a hunky surfer dude.

I adore Helen’s books and this one has hit the spot again, absolutely wonderful, be sure to pick up a copy, settle down and savour it. Now I will be waiting for another in the series, there is plenty more action to be had I hope!?

Thanks to Helen and the publisher for this ARC.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

audiobook

[Tawnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounding up bc I liked the characters but for me the story was meh

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. You can really feel the heartache and love in the writing ❤️

[Isabell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on Dreaming With Open Eyes



I kindly received The Chocolatier's Secret in exchange of an honest review by the author.

After reading a few of Helen J. Rolfe’s previously published books, including What Rosie Found Next (Part 1 in the Magnolia Creek Series) and absolutely loving it, I was super excited to pick up book two in the series and I wasn't disappointed. The Chocolatier's Secret is the second part of a series that can easily be read as a standalone. For me it was lovely to return into the world of Magnolia Creek, not only for getting to know the new characters, also for catching up with the old ones. Magnolia Creek is such a lovely town; it’s got that small town charm for sure.

In The Chocolatier's Secret we have Andrew and Gemma Bennett, a happy married couple, who shortly moved to Magnolia Creek. Andrew successfully runs Magnolia Creek Chocolaterie. Apart from family, chocolate was Andrew’s life. He loved creating new recipes intricate designs. The couple is dealing with some family issues. Andrew’s father is ill and desperately needs a kidney transplant and is on dialysis several times a week. He lives close by so they can take care of him. That’s not the only struggle they are facing. Gemma and Andrew would love nothing more to become parents, so far without any luck. They are a rock solid couple until Andrew receives a shocking message from his high school sweetheart via Facebook which turns their lives upside town.

Alongside Andrew and Gemma, we have Molly Ramsey, a midwife from the UK with a huge fear of flying. Molly’s brothers wedding in America is right on the doorstep and she can’t let him get married without her. To overcome her fear she joins an online support group and that's where she meets Ben Harrison. She has no idea who he really is but Ben offers to accompany her on the first part of her journey for moral support and she agrees to go on that adventure with him. How will the Bennets and Mollys story come tohether? There is only one way to find out!

Reading The Chocolatier's Secret is like eating a chocolate bar - you eat to the end without wanting to put it down. And you enjoy it whole-heartedly, even though it's not really that good for you ;-)

With The Chocolatier's Secret, Helen J. Rolfe presents us another fantastic novel. The Chocolatier's Secret is an emotional, thought-provoking read on sensitive and sometimes difficult subjects. This story is cleverly and lovingly elaborated, has a very pleasant flow and focuses on its protagonists. Rolfe describes the location, her characters looks and personalities very well – you can see them clearly before you and comprehend their feelings. I was drawn in, felt very close to the protagonists and the events. I could easily envision the characters and locations. I loved the unfolding of the revelations about Andrew’s secret and how Molly’s and Andrew’s lives will lead into one. Rolfe is a talented writer, both on the surface of her writing and on a deeper level. I am very looking forward to read more by this author.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a lovely surprise – strong characters, a wonderful sense of place, such excellent dialogue and a story that grabbed me from the very beginning. There was a lot more substance to the book than I ever expected – big issues around families, parenthood, identity, relationships, infertility and severe illness handled well and suitably seriously, but with a lightness of touch that means the book never really gets “heavy” at any stage.

I did find I got very involved with the characters and their issues. Andrew – the chocolatier – and his wife Gemma are wrestling with their problems of starting a family and the illness of Andrew’s father Louis when they’re hit by an issue that threatens to dwarf everything else. Enter Molly, a thoroughly likeable young midwife who flies to Australia – overcoming her fear of flying with the help of a Facebook group and the lovely Ben – to lay to rest some issues of her own. The characters are remarkably real, reacting to the twists and turns of the story in a believable way, and it felt like watching friends working their way through the difficulties facing them. I loved the relationships – Molly and Ben, Andrew and Gemma, Louis and his family – and found them totally convincing and really well described and developed. The story is very emotionally engaging too – I had a tear in my eye at a few points in the story, but a smile was never very far away. And the community of Magnolia Creek was simply wonderful – beautifully described, full of the detail that I love and that brings a location to life. And as for the detail around the chocolate making – this really isn’t a book to read when you’re feeling hungry!

I very rarely make comparisons when reading, but this book reminded me a lot of earlier books by Diane Chamberlain (particularly the Kiss River series) and Barbara Delinsky – authors I’ve really enjoyed – but with an added vivid Australian setting and perhaps a slightly lighter touch. The author writes quite beautifully, and creates a lovely feel-good read – Helen Rolfe is most definitely added to my list of authors that I’d really like to read again.

[Dominga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molly is a midwife with a terrible fear of flying. So she usually turns down all her friends’ invitations to summer breaks to Spain or other exotic places that involve a flight. But then something “swirling” happens in her life. And she finds herself on a plane, direction Australia, sat next to a total stranger from Australia, met on the internet.

As I usually don’t spoil, I won’t this time either. This book is much much more than a romantic novel. So go ahead, read this book and you will find out! A great read for your summer or for a cozy evening curled up on the sofa.

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I remember seeing a tweet from some romantic writers, and I thought to fire a question: “In search for a good relaxing read, what do you suggest?” Ms. Rolfe answered with a link to a Sunday readings list. That was the time when I purchased Handle me with care. After that I decided to read all her novels. They give me a sense of peace, they are so real, tangible and solid.

This is her fourth novel. Her second set in Magnolia Creek, but you can read it as a standalone.

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You can find my whole review in my book reviews' blog https://thesleepingreadingbeauty.word...

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first book in this series and absolutely loving it I was excited to see book 2 was out and I wasn't disappointed. It was great getting snippets of what the original characters had been up to and I loved the new bunch. Really hoping we get another dose of magnolia creek!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book, loved the characters and the way the story was structured and written. It was a slight disappointment to realise that there is not a sequence to this book as I feel the characters can be taken further. But a highly recommended book.