The Chocolatier

A Heartwarming Novel of Chocolate, Love, and Secrets on the Italian Coast

By: Jan Moran

Narrated by: Erin Bennett

Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

A young widow. A husband she thought she knew. On the picturesque Italian coast of Amalfi lies a chocolatier's destiny...

San Francisco, 1953: Heartbroken over the mysterious death of her husband, Celina Savoia, a second-generation chocolatière, resolves to take their young son to Italy's shimmering Amalfi coast to introduce him to his father's family. Just as she embarks on a magical, romantic life of making chocolate by the sea surrounded by a loving family, she begins to suspect that her husband had a dark secret - forged in the final days of WWII - that could destroy the relationships she's come to cherish.

While a second chance at love is tempting, the mystery of her husband's true identity thwarts her efforts. Challenged to pursue the truth or lose the life and those she's come to love, Celina and her late husband's brother, Lauro, must trace the past to a remote, Peruvian cocoa region to face the deceit that threatens to shatter their lives.

In The Chocolatier, Jan Moran, best-selling author of the contemporary Summer Beach series and the historical novels, The Winemakers and Scent of Triumph, from St. Martin's Press, offers a testament to the resilience of love, along with insights into the fascinating world of chocolate making. The Chocolatier is available in ebook, trade paperback, audiobook, hardcover, and large print editions. For readers of Danielle Steel, Renee Rosen, Chanel Cleeton, Susan Meissner, Barbara Taylor Bradford, and Gill Paul.

A solid pick for fans of historical romances combined with a heartbreaking mystery." (The Library Journal)

"A novel that gives fans of romantic sagas a compelling voice to follow." (Booklist)

"Jan Moran is the new queen of the epic romance." (USA Today Best-selling Author Rebecca Forster)

Excerpt:

"One chocolate truffle had changed her destiny. Indeed, it was one of Celina's best - a silky cocoa powder-dusted truffle filled with raspberry-infused dark chocolate ganache and enrobed with a couverture, a layer of rich chocolate that melted optimally with the warmth of the body.

After she had offered one to a weary, dark-haired soldier who had just returned from the European front, he introduced himself as Tony Savoia, an Italian immigrant whose family had owned and operated Cioccolata Savoia before war rationing had made sugar difficult to obtain."

And so the saga begins...give yourself the gift of The Chocolatier now.

©2020 Jan Moran (P)2020 Jan Moran

Great listen

I rarely write reviews but I really enjoyed this book. It was was such a pleasant listen.

Chocolate Delight!!

This was amazing, from the beginning to the end. One I begin listening to this audiobook the story grabbed me and I could not stop listening. Selina’s life is turned upside down since her husband passed away. She never dreamed of what would happened next in her life. All of her family had died but her mom had taught her how to make the best chocolates and this turns into her making a life for her and her small son. Once she had the strength to contact her late husband family, she had never met before of his death, more twist comes her way. The storyline has so many twist, turns and mystery you will have to listen until the end. The narrator of this wonderful story did an outstanding job preforming the role of so many characters. This is a must listen to story. Hope you enjoy his incredible book as I did.

Excellently written, presenting wonderful visuals

Transparent characterizations, passion, romance, mystery and chocolate - and all in Capri, Italy.

Of course, it’s a great story!

Robert Robotti

Intriguing story

Enjoyed this story with it’s journey into chocolate. Reminiscent of the book “from scratch” and it’s loving history of Italian food/cooking.

Voices

I did not enjoy the narration. The voices did not seem real, one could tell it was a woman trying to sound like a man, and like a child.

Literary Fiction at its best!

Celina is a widow living in California with her young son. She does what she feels is right, and makes connections with her husband's family in Italy to let them know their son has died and that he left a son behind. And from there the story takes off. She is given tickets to fly to Italy with her son. Her parents-in-law are excited to meet her. Her brother-in-law is skeptical of her presence. The more they talk about her deceased husband and their deceased son, the more the pieces of the puzzle don't fit together. All of this is written against the the backdrop of the beautiful Italian countryside and the chocolate trade.

The narration is perfect for the story. Voices, accents, timing are excellent and make this an easy story to listen to and get lost in.
I am now listening to the story for the second time and knowing the end of the story allows me to catch so many hints at the ending throughout the book. I recommend listening to it not just once, but at least twice!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

Wonderful book & narrator!

I loved this book! The narrator is exceptional, and all the references to places in Italy brought back wonderful memories.

Loved this book!

I enjoyed the love story and the historical backstory in this novel. Plus, being a chocolate lover, learning about how it’s created was so interesting. Once again, Jan Moran has delivered another great story.

Very good read!

Happy to have recently found Jan Moran books and enjoy Erin’s narration. So far all have been great!

Oh, the Sweetness!

I absolutely loved listening to this book. It was a story of loss, love, courage, family, values, and hope! The narration was beautiful, and the story warmed my heart. I had only a few eye-rolls, but it did not make me love the story any less. So very sweet!