The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris (A Novel with Recipes) Paperback – February 4, 2014

This is a really good story, about Chocolate, and Love!I knew Claire was going to pass away, but I didn’t know she was going to pass away in Paris, I was hoping she would make it back home to be with her family.Everyone will enjoy reading this story.

I really liked this story. The writing lacked a bit in polish and there were a,few mistakes that were complete editing errors, sloppy and should not have occurred, but overall, the story was good and kept me interested and coming back.Please know, upon reading this review, that I am very discerning, having read about 10,000 books in my life. Most books don't meet my standards of believable storyline, exceptional writing, perfect editing, and really engaging characters with believable dialogue. This story met most of my standards, but fell a bit behind in writing ability and editing errors. I do not hold the writer responsible for editing errors, but I do think the finished product needs to be read through by many before publishing, and in a few glaring areas in this story, there are important and confusing mistakes.This device is very hard to type in so I have mistakes here and should not cast stones, but I wanted to comment on this book despite the hardship of doing so with this crazy keyboard. Please disregard typos.I loved Anna, Claire, in fact, most of the characters. I found this story very readable and endeared the storyline to me. Please read this story and enjoy it for what it's worth. It has a lovely message and the main character has a,heart of gold, is entirely lacking in judgement of other, less ambitious characters, allowing the reader to enjoy all the people in this story with the freedom.to just read the story that unfolds before you. I would recommend and read another of this author's work. High praise coming from this grumpy reviewer and please,keep in mind the time it takes to write out a,review on a notebook that adds commas for no apparent reason, with no ability to fix said offences! Please do read it. You will enjoy this story.

As this story begins, Anna is recovering from a work accident. In the ward, she gets reacquainted with her old French teacher, who is very ill with cancer. To pass the time, Claire reteaches French to Anna, and then, when Anna is languishing, depressed over her mutilated foot, Claire makes an opportunity for her to go to Paris and work in the chocolate shop of a former friend.As we learn in a parallel flashback story, Claire was once like Anna, wan and languishing, but she went to France as a young au pair. There, she came alive and found the great love of her life, Thierry. It is to his shop Anna is sent. There, she begins to live again, is challenged over and over, grows, blossoms, and finds love.But this story is so much more than that. In fact, it's the deepest, most sweeping story I remember reading from this author, who tends to write somewhat lighter stories. With rich descriptions of food, chocolate, fashion, and dramatic performance, set in the loveliness of Paris, and as always with characters who are compelling and nuanced, this was one of her best.

This is a sweet story with such a semi-sweet ending. Interesting how the past and the present intertwine.

🗼💗 I must admit, it took me a good part of the book to get into this story told alternately in present day and in flashbacks to a magical summer in 1972. Claire's story is bittersweet; Anna's begins with sadness and depression but ends in a joyous atmosphere of good friends well met and accomplishment. I was more drawn to Claire's story, but both provide scintillating glimpses into a Parisian life and aesthetic that few foreigners ever experience. It seemed that one woman's life was just getting interesting when it switched to the other until closer to the conclusion when their tales converged.The chocolate-making, described in aching detail as a central activity in both Claire and Anna's story, was a bit too down in the weeds for me. I hungered for the romantic bits and would rather experience the tasting over the laborious creative process.This was not my favorite Jenny Colgan effort but the ending was truly touching and both women's journeys , with such different outcomes, lovingly depicted by a skilled writer.I read a complimentary advance copy of the book provided by the publisher through NetGalley; this is my voluntary and honest review.

I had never read this author before and at first I wasn't too sure but before 1/2 way, I was hooked; couldn't wait to get back to it. I wanted a light read but not too silly or too "Hallmark-y". This is perfect. Loved it. I just started another of her books and am loving it, too. One thing, however, the front of the book says "a novel in recipes" or something like that. I don't know why they felt like they had to put that on the cover. It is nowhere near a novel in recipes. There are some recipes in the back of the book but that's it and they are unrelated to the story. But having said that, loved the book and highly recommend it for a light read.

Big fan of Jenny. This one was different in that it had two stories woven together, and was much more detailed about the food processes than in the others. Both stories were interesting and charming. Several reviewers call the “modern” character, Anna, boring, but she wasn’t. Like so many of us, she had allowed herself to lead a narrow life, a job and a boyfriend and social life that demanded nothing of her, and to which she offered the minimum. Claire, the older woman’s, earlier life was very different as expectations and opportunities for women were different in the ‘70’s, but she, too, had allowed herself to be caught up in a path of least resistance, and spent her adult life grieving for an intense summer romance from her youth. How their lives intersect make up the story, which is funny and sad and interesting all at once. There is a bit more about gourmet chocolate making than I needed to know, but the magical descriptions of Paris made up for it. Thank you, Jenny, for a wonderful summer in Paris. Or two wonderful summers, 40 years apart.

I don't often like stories which dot around from one time period to another but in this book, because the two main female characters, Anna and Claire, are so closely linked, it worked. I loved the Parisian detail which felt truly authentic - I have visited Paris both in the 1960s and the present day myself - and the two women's love stories were so well linked to the social mores of the times that my heart bled for Claire, whose restricted, highly moral upbringing separated her from the love of her life until (almost) too late. If I have a criticism, it's that I found the fact of the two male characters being father and son a bit contrived. It might have been better if they had been uncle and nephew, or even boss and employee. But that's a minor quibble. The book is a lovely, satisfying read - rejoice all ye chocolate lovers - the author has included some yummy chocolate recipes at the back. Wish I hadn't bought the e-book! I shall just have to photograph my Kindle screen instead.

Title: The Loveliest Chocolate Shop In ParisAuthor: Jenny ColganPublisher: SpherePublication Date: March 2013Life is sweet in this heartwarming tale of a little chocolate shop in Paris, by the bestselling author of Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop of Dreams and Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe.Mouth-watering recipes inside!As dawn breaks over the Pont Neuf, and the cobbled alleyways of Paris come to life, Anna Trent is already awake and at work; mixing and stirring the finest, smoothest, richest chocolate; made entirely by hand, it is sold to the grandes dames of Paris.It's a huge shift from the chocolate factory she worked in at home in the north of England. But when an accident changed everything, Anna was thrown back in touch with her French teacher, Claire, who offered her the chance of a lifetime - to work in Paris with her former sweetheart, Thierry, a master chocolatier.With old wounds about to be uncovered and healed, Anna is set to discover more about real chocolate - and herself - than she ever dreamed.I am such a huge fan of Jenny Colgan's book, they are always so good, tempting and have brilliant recipes of either cakes, sweets or even chocolate now! Her books always stand out on shelves, you always know a Jenny Colgan book, they are just superb!The Loveliest Chocolate Shop In Paris was a fabulous book with two of my favourite things ever Chocolate and Paris, Love them both very much. We meet Anna Trent who works in a chocolate factory in England until she has an accident and loses some toes...Yes bit gross I know! but while being in hospital recovering, she meets her old french teacher Claire who is currently battling Cancer. They strike up conversations and a lovely friendship better than when it was teacher & pupil. Claire soon encourages Anna to follow her dream and learn how to make proper smooth chocolate in France with Thierry, Claire's old flame and a famous chocolatier in Paris.It is a wonderful book! a best for chocoholic's & for people who love Paris like myself. I love reading about Anna's adventure's while in Paris, having to put up with the stubborn Laurent. I loved how Anna got to make chocolate with Thierry, although two of his workers weren't so nice to begin with but soon changed their minds eventually.I did think the choice of Anna's injury was a bit weird but the story line was just amazing, you can easily picture the chocolate shop in Paris in your mind and how you can imagine drooling outside the shop seeing the chocolate..I loved how you flicked between Anna and Claire, it was sweet because you got to read how Claire & Thierry's relationship blossomed but came crashing down until they get to meet for one last time.This book is certainly one to treasure and the best part is Jenny put some chocolate recipes in the back of the book, boy do they get my mouth watering..may have to try a couple of the recipes myself!For huge fan's of Jenny Colgan's book are certainly going to love this book just like all her other ones. I cannot wait for her next one already!Go Grab your copies now ladies!!

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris is not only an interesting read but a novel that offers a clear insight into Parisian culture and the world of handmade chocolate. I got a real sense of Paris with its tiny cobbled streets, smells of fresh bread and coffee, history and architecture.The writing style is very engaging and descriptive, a great story idea and a funny start with Anna in fits of laughter and covered in chocolate. Why was she covered in so much chocolate and lying on the floor? Colgan's knowledge on chocolate making, the herbs and expertise shows she must have spent considerable amount of time with a chocolatier. What a lucky lady. The details of chocolate making, the preparation and how the characters worked is so believeable.Parts of this book is written in the first person and other parts in the third person. I've never read a book written in this way and surprised to find I wasn't confused having to switch point of view every few chapters. The descriptions of Paris were amazing and would make anyone want to visit and perhaps visit the places mention in the book.The main character, Anna Trent, her part is written in the first person. After her nasty accident at work Anna is admitted to hospital where she bumps into an old Primary school French teacher called Claire, who is also a patient at the hospital. They form a grown-up friendship and Claire offers to help Anna to find another job to work in a chocolate shop in Paris. Anna is thrilled by this opportunity and to get away from the little town that she lives in.Claire is very much a part of the main story in this novel and when the story focuses on Claire it goes into a third person narrative, back to her youth. So you get to see what sort of person Claire was and the history between her and Thierry, the chocolatier in Paris she knew from her youth. This angle gave the book more depth.Anna, being in a foreign land often noticed the intricate things about Paris. The way roads narrowed until they disappeared into nothing, the shops and how they came to life early in the morning. There were a quite a few lines in the book that brought the scenes of Paris to life for me such as: `Paris laid out in front like a huge tray of macaroons,' and how the `light in Paris felt like dripping gold.' Mmm how nice is that.I loved all the characters in the book, Thierry and his out-going nature and love of good food and duck. Laurent and his funny odd sayings, and Alice, I wasn't keen on Alice at all but, there's always one character not to like in a book and it was her, what a cow. For me there weren't many laugh out loud moments (apart from Laurent's sayings and Sami's eyeliner) I wouldn't say its a comedy as far as comedies go but definitely an interesting read with romance. The romance not only exuded from some of these characters but also from the city of Paris itself.I could see myself reading this again and would recommend it. Jenny took me to Paris with this book and left me yearning for more chocolate. Brilliant!

Claire and Anna. Two women's stories in this bubbly book. Lots of happiness and still very realistic about love, life and chocolate!Caused by an accident in the chocolate factory in England where Anna is working, se looses two toes. In the hospital she meets her previous French teacher Claire, gravely ill with cancer. A friendship grows between the two and Claire suggests that Anna go to Paris to work in a famous chocolate shop.It's like a fairy tale. Despite old age and illness, love has survived and what should have been only sad and awful becomes a happy and wonderful late life rendevouz in perfect harmony. The description of Paris is beautiful and so alive; you can close your eyes and just be there.Jenny Colgan writes about real life, but always tinged with lots of laughter, fun and happiness. Her characterization is brilliantly colourful. The description of the dancing scene from "la Boheme" breathtaking.And of course the making of fresh chocolate. Chocolate to be eaten the very same day. Made with fresh creme, no digestives.A feast to read about and I'm sure, a feast to taste.Colgan creates happiness with her bubbly writing. I have just ordered more of her books and can only recommend from the deepest of my heart. Especially if you are a little down, read Jenny and eat chocolate!!

I adore the Cupcake books so was delighted to see Jenny had written this.It starts off terrifically with Anna having an accident in the chocolate factory where she works. Whilst in hospital she meets her old schoolteacher, Claire Shawcross, and they strike up a wonderful friendship.The story jumps between Claire's story in 1972, and Anna's in the present day. Claire sends Anna to Paris, where she had been in 1972, for her to convalesce and try and regain some confidence after her terrible injuries. Anna stays with the wonderful Sami and works at the chocolate shop for the really nice Thierry who is estranged from his handsome son, Laurent.The story sadly fell a little flat to me when I got to the middle of the book and I became quite bored (something which I have never done with Jenny's books before) and really wanted the story to end. The final quarter does pick up somewhat but this is nowhere near as enjoyable as her other reads, sadly.It won't deter me from reading any of Jenny's further books though.Sorry, Jenny :-(