The Duchess of Chocolate

The Duchess of Chocolate
Rare Confectionery Series #1
Sydney Jane Baily

https://www.facebook.com/sydney.jane.baily/
Release date 02/14/2020
Publisher Cat Whisker Press

Blurb :

Step into Rare Confectionery on New Bond Street, where three talented sisters create treats as appealing to the eye as they are delectable to the tongue. One taste is all it takes to be captivated…
The Duke of Pelham desires a brand-new confection to win the Season’s loveliest lady. Naturally, he turns to London’s premiere chocolatier for assistance.
Amity has never had a customer quite like the duke. In status, he’s far above ordinary men, yet he is one of the friendliest, funniest, and most engaging males she has ever met.
As the duke enters the scrumptious world of confectionery, he discovers the chocolatier is as delightful—and tempting—as her creations. While Amity designs the perfect proposal chocolate, her heart begins to wish the duke could be her very own mouthwatering reward.
Join Amity and her duke on a chocolate-filled romance in the heart of Mayfair, where nobility often acts in a less-than noble fashion. Will the upper-echelon of society sour their happiness and keep them from the sweetest of endings?

My review :

When a master at creating chocolate confections meets the man who enhances her muse but so far out of her reach …

This is my first read by Mrs Sydney Jane Baily, and what a better choice than the first in a series.
I loved this foray in this yummy sweet business, the insights about how it was made during this Victorian period had me drooling for most of the story.
Plus the light humor, fast quips and funny banters between the siblings, but also between Amity and the duke had me smiling often.
Their first encounter was quite hilarious, Amity at first interpreting Pelham’s request wrongly until she understands her mistake.
From there, their shared moments partaking about chocolate and other things give them awareness of each other.
Amity is a devoted daughter to her parents business, but not solely, she finds completion in creating chocolate delicacies, it is what fulfills her dreams and brings her pleasure. In some way, she is a caretaker, she loves offering these tiny bits of delight to her customers.
With Pelham she has found a soul sister, they have so much in common, if only he was not a duke and ready to be engaged to the diamond of the first water of the season.
The more they work together for his special treat, the more she sees despite his lofty rank, he is a kind and caring man but what can a woman in trade expect.
Henry, the Duke of Pelham is very certain he will easily win his intended betrothed with his surprise, what he never expected was to be attracted to the woman commissioned for said surprise.
He is not a haughty full of himself peer, in spite of being just bellow a Prince, he is kind and caring. A bit on the stubborn side, so set on his ladybird while he really does not know her, but it was the way of things at this time. But as a duke he could only wed the most beautiful and well bred woman but will it be enough for his lifetime. Well, it is what he says to himself until Amity détails everything he makes him realize he knows near to nothing about the woman he has set his sight on. Worse, he feels more connected to Amity than to Lady Madeleine. But who can compete against an Earl’s daughter, not a simple commoner whatever is her talent at creating tasty sweets.
I loved the plot was divided between prior their epiphany and after, but I was very upset when Amity took what I think is the coward way.
Luckily for her and them, they have very meddling families.

5 stars for this rare treat.

Can’t wait to read the epilogue which will be offered on release day as a link.

I was granted an advance copy by the author and I preordered my own prior to it.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

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