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 … 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.
The Chocolatier offers a testament to the resilience of love, along with insights into the fascinating world of chocolate-making. Jan Moran is a USA Today bestselling author of historical novels, including Hepburn’s Necklace, The Winemakers, The Perfumers: Scent of Triumph, and the contemporary Summer Beach series. A chocolate truffle recipe by Chef Michael of Chuao Chocolatier is also included, along with Discussion Questions for book clubs. The Chocolatier is available in ebook, trade paperback, audiobook, hardcover, and large print editions. For readers of Danielle Steel, Renee Rosen, Chanel Cleeton, Barbara Taylor Bradford, and Gill Paul.
REVIEWS
A solid pick for fans of historical romances combined with a heartbreaking mystery.” – 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 Bestselling 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.
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Celina Savoia is recently widowed, with a young son. She works as a chocolatier in San Francisco, following in her mother’s footsteps. She decides to try to contact her husband’s family in Italy and possibly take her son, Marco, to meet them. Little does she know what secrets she will uncover.
This was a well-written book, easy to read and entertaining. The characters were well-developed and the pace was fast enough to keep the reader’s interest. A good look at a possible scenario related to WWII. I also enjoyed learning more about the making of fine chocolates and would love to be able to actually taste some of the ones mentioned in the book!
This was a fun read and I learned something about chocolate and its production.
My Review of The Chocolatier by Jan Moran; published by Sunny Palms Press
Resilience, fortitude, and the most powerful trait of all, the ability to love. This is what I felt emanating from the protagonist of the story, Celina. So many of us moms have been faced with immeasurable strife, yet due to necessity, we stand tall and move forward as Celina so eloquently does. Not only was Jan Moran able to create a delectable story encircling the intricate details involved in the creation of chocolate and all it has to offer, she also entwined a story of the ever powerful love amongst family. Back to the chocolate! While reading Celina’s mouth-watering descriptions of her chocolate creations, I found myself reminiscing about the times I had the pleasures of enjoying handmade chocolates. (Jan receives many kuddos from me for enticing my taste buds so incredibly.) My heart strings were pulled multiple times, inducing some “ugly” tears, especially near the closing of the story, but that’s part of the reading experience I embrace and love wholeheartedly. I loved everything about this book as you will too! The Chocolatier by Jan Moran is a book I highly recommend on so many levels, not just because of the chocolate!
“In families,my dear, what is not said is often more important than what is said”
Told in subtle time shifts, this is the story of Celina Savoia, chocolatiere, recent widow of Antonino Savoia, first born of a long established Amalfi family and her young son Marco, living in California after WW2. While trying to inform Tony’s family of his death, she opens a can of worms that changes her and their lives forever.
Invited to stay with the Savoias, Celina and Marco travel to Amalfi and begin to find family in Tony’s homestead. But her tales of Tony, long estranged from his own family don’t.quite. fit the life their Ninio had left behind. And Lauro, his brother, is both maddening and attractive, sending Celina into a long buried family horror story and culture clash that could affect everyone.
Ever since I first stumbled upon Jan Moran’s “Scent of Triumph” I have been transported to different worlds, educated about beauty, wine and culture and how things if allowed, can open doors to other worlds, even if we remain in the same place. I read this book in one day, gloriously transported to another time and place even with familiar touchstones. In my mind’s eye, I could easily see a glorious movie unfolding,a trick few authors use well. Thank you Jan Moran, for inviting us along for the ride. Highly recommended 5/5
[disclosure: I received this book from the author and voluntarily read and reviewed it.]
I enjoyed this book but craved Chocolate
Lol
If chocolate is your passion, you will want to indulge and savor every word of this delightful novel as you would a rich dark chocolate truffle. From San Francisco to Amalfi to the exotic Andean Highlands of Peru, the world of cacao, chocolatières and chocolateries come alive in a captivating story of secrets, mystery and romance. I had high expectations for this book and found it beautifully written and lusciously descriptive.
I enjoyed the fact that this story took place in the 40s and 50s, before I was born. It was interesting to note the differences in how women were treated versus now. Even though I am not a lover of chocolate some of those mixes if flavors sounded quite lovely!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Delicious journey in store
The Chocolatier is just a delicious story to dig into and savour. It is definitely a very engaging and fascinating story which takes the reader on the journey of a young widow, Celina, and her son. Her husband had been estranged from his family in Italy, his parents and a brother, and never wanted her to contact them. But she decides that she must inform them about his passing and that starts her journey. She is a strong woman but what happens when she goes to Italy makes her doubt what she believed because of the secrets which are revealed while she is there. This story is based in the 1940’s to 1950’s with the author doing a great job of putting the reader into this time period with her descriptions and phrasing.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Chocolatier just as I would enjoy opening a new box of chocolates and getting to see where the flavors take my tastebuds and the surprises that are in store. This is a RECOMMEND Read for everyone!!!
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are all my own.
The Chocolatier by Jan Moran is a wonderful story of love, heartbreak, the war and its after effects, family secrets and one strong, determined woman’s search for the truth. This book completely captivated me and I was totally immersed from page one. Celina’s husband passes away with deep, dark hidden family secrets. She and her young son leave San Francisco for Italy as she is determined to have her son meet and know his grandparents and uncover the truth about the man she married. She didn’t bargain on falling in love with her deceased husband’s estranged brother. This book has it all including mystery, romance, danger, and suspense. The author really did her homework in describing the beautiful countryside in Italy, its history and what life was like after the war. The ending was a surprise and fantastic. The characters she created are real and likable. This is the first book I have read, but she’s been added to my list of favorite authors and this is one of my favorite reads. Be sure to have a box of tissue and plenty of chocolate beside you when you read this heartwarming story which I rated as a five.
I just may have to change my mind about not particularly reading historical fiction, especially if written by Jan Moran.
Set in San Francisco and Italy after World War II, The Chocolatier is a book worth reading, enjoying and dreaming of the deliciousness of truffles and chocolates that the main character Celina, a chocolatier makes.
If not for her son and her business, widowed Celina would be desolate. Her husband, Antonio never wanted to speak of his family or why he left Italy. But as the days and years pass, Celina, with her own family gone, wants her son to know his grandparents and extended family. Reaching out to Antonio’s family, the famous Italian Savoia family known world- wide for their chocolates, Celina starts a journey that encompasses deceit, heartbreak and loss. But only with her strength, resolve and hope does she finally find the enduring love of family.
I received a copy of this book from the Author and Book Funnel. The review and comments are my honest opinion.
A well written story with a great storyline the story flowed smoothly across the pages. This is the first book by this Author that I have read. Celina Savoia a Chocolatier from San Francisco in 1953 and her son Marco after the death of her husband Tony gets in touch with who she thinks was her husband family on the Amalfi coast of Italy. She meets Lauro Savoia who she thinks was her husbands brother. This story takes us from Italy to Peru and back to Italy with a lot of action and danger along the way and finding Nino called the doctor de milagros when Lauro needs help. Nino has a hidden secret. I loved reading this story, once I started reading I was not putting it down. I wonder if Nino has his own story? I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Chocolatier is a heartfelt, heartwarming, and a delightful read. Its a wonderful well written story. It has a really good storyline. I truly enjoyed reading about the characters.
I read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.
This is the 1st book I’ve read written by Jan Moran; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
4.5 stars! Celina, 30, is a widow and single mother when she defies her dead husband Tony’s wish for her never to contact them. He won’t tell get why or what happened. She decides that his family should k ow of his passing regardless, and that starts the adventure of her life. There is Lauro the younger brother, and his parents. There was a falling out between the brothers. There are stories that don’t add up, and Celina finds herself doubting her decision.
Then there is the moment that changes everything, where she finds her inner strength to defy the family and be independent, which leads to the discovery of Tony’s biggest secret.
I enjoyed the writing that conveyed what it was like for them in the 1940s and 1950s. I loved that she was an artist with her medium being chocolate. She was also a kickass heroine. I recommend this for romance, mystery to be solved, and adventure.
Note: I received an advance reading copy from Booksprout. This is my honest review. I have read and purchased other books by this author.
Charmed by the handsome former soldier, the Chocolatier married her love Tony. His death from a sudden heart attack left her with a desire to inform his family of their loss, and share the blessing of their young grandson- her Tony asked for no contact with them while he was alive.
Her determination would lead her on extensive travels in an effort to make that family whole again.
The confusion of war and its aftermath, the determination of a mother, a devotion to family- intense and epic action and adventure
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Chocolatier – I enjoyed several books by this author, but is my favorite. The multiple storylines, the multiple countries, the multiple time frames all blend together into a heartwarming, heartbreaking, heartfelt story impossible to put down. The range of emotions from pure joy to sheer terror add to the rollercoaster ride through love, deception, survival, guilt, determination and perseverance.
One woman deceived by a loving, tormented husband opens a new world when contacting his estranged family about his death and their child. The decisions, the battles and the secrets she surmounts in order to bring happiness to everyone so she may remarry the new love of her life and have the family she needs and wants.
All the characters are just what the story needs. The loving, the miserable, the protective, the lost and the hiding, combined with plenty of danger and searches, weave a rich tapestry filled with good and decency.
I enjoy that this rich, substantial book is a melting pot of people, history, morals, chocolate and taking the right path through life. A clean read without explicit sex or vulgar language, but a book to savor and get lost in the pages. My complaint about this book is the lack of chocolate samples for the reader. I found this author on Booksprout. 5*
Seabreeze Inn #1 – This is my first read by this author and I enjoyed the story. I thought Ivy was a bit too much with her constant treatment of Bennett; she is too old for such immature behavior. The story was too good to put down and I really liked all the characters, even Ivy after she wised up. The family, the town and the friends were all a good match to the good storylines. There was a good mystery about the previous owner and some items, and a bit of intrigue about Ivy’s deceased husband. There are always rumors in a small town and Ivy heard them. The story is complete but this is the first of a series and I am interested in the next book. 4*
Seabreeze Summer #2 – Picks up the next day from where Seabreeze Inn ended. The storylines are interesting and I like that Amelia is still plays a great part when the house gives up another secret. More characters are introduced ranging from locals to family. The romances are out in the open. While parts of the redundancies in Ivy’s head bored me, overall this is still a good read but not as good as S. Inn. Everyone did Mitch wrong, especially Bennett, which disappointed me since I expected better of the group. The one responsible is too easy to figure out. 4*
Epic Adventure and Romance
This lovely story takes the reader from San Francisco post -WWII to Italy some years later. There is romance, tragedy and more information on being a chocolate artist than the reader can absorb. I so enjoyed the story. It is clean with no onscreen sex or violence. The book is long enough to have all of the detail to make a wonderful story. I received this ARC book for free from Booksprouts and this is my honest review.
I loved this story!!!!! I had so many different emotions throughout the story..laughed, cried. Loved how devoted Celina was to her son and those she cared about. And the chocolates sounded so good…I wanted some truffles. I would recommend this book to everyone.
I truly enjoyed reading this book.
Absolutely wonderful, beautiful, emotional
& surprising.
Such great characters & intriguing
story line. All the chocolate you can
read & dream about. A great description
of life in the 50’s in San Francisco & Italy.
A MUST READ!!
Interesting romantic suspense. Combining hot men, the Amalfi coast and chocolate, what more could you ask?