My days are pretty similar. I get up early, drink two cups of very strong coffee from my French press, and get ready to run. I’m a chocolatier and if I want to sample my products and still be able to kick butt on the softball field, exercising every day is crucial.
I share a shop – Chocolates and Chapters – with my best friend, Erica Russell. She and her sister run the book store side. Can you imagine a better combination than chocolates and books?
It looks just like it sounds: a homey, welcoming store with books lining the walls, tempting customers to pick one up and read in an overstuffed chair, and the smell of chocolate enticing them to choose from my selection of sinful sweets. Chocolates and Chapters had become an unofficial community center for our little town of West Riverdale, Maryland. Our smattering of mismatched couches and coffee tables now host various committee meetings, knitting circles, book clubs and birthday parties.
Mondays are my favorite day of the week. That’s when I decide what chocolate magic my assistants and I will perform that week. I take stock of my supplies and then imagine. Will we make simple but amazing caramels, filled bonbons or elaborate truffles decorated with airbrushed designs? I could decide. I was queen of my little chocolate world. Wizard of the magic I’d create in my kitchen. Some people think of chocolate as an expression of passion and love, but to me chocolate is food and family and friends. It means kindness and giving.
My assistants open up the store on Mondays but have learned to steer clear of the kitchen for a few hours. I get to play and compose without interruption.
Unfortunately, one Monday doesn’t go as planned. Our friend is found murdered right in our shop, making Erica and I top suspects. State police Homicide Detective Roger Lockett didn’t know us like our small town police department does, but he’s going to learn that we’ll do anything to protect our store, our friends, and our town.
And we’re going to have a delicious story to tell.
Death is Like a Box of Chocolates
Whether it’s to satisfy a craving for chocolate or pick up the hottest new bestseller, the locals in charming West Riverdale, Maryland, are heading to Chocolates and Chapters, where everything sold is to die for…Best friends Michelle Serrano and Erica Russell are celebrating the sweet rewards of their combined bookstore and chocolate shop by hosting the Great Fudge Cook-off during the town’s Memorial Day weekend Arts Festival. But success turns bittersweet when Main Street’s portrait photographer is found dead in their store, poisoned by Michelle’s signature truffles.
As suspicion mounts against Michelle, her sales begin to crumble and her career seems whipped. With Erica by her side, Michelle must pick through an assortment of suspects before the future of their dream store melts away…
Includes Scrumptious Chocolate-Making Recipes!
You can read more about Michelle in Death is Like a Box of Chocolates, the first in the new “Chocolate Covered” mystery series by Berkley Prime Crime.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on November 6 for the chance to win a copy of DEATH IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
Kathy Aarons is the author of Death is Like a Box of Chocolates and research for the series was such a 
hardship: sampling chocolate, making chocolate, sampling more chocolate, and hanging out in bookstores.
After growing up in rural Pennsylvania and attending Carnegie Mellon University, Kathy built a career in public relations in New York City. She now lives in San Diego with her husband and two daughters where she wakes up far too early, and is currently obsessed with the Broadway Idiot documentary, finding the perfect cup of coffee, and Dallmann’s Sea Salt Caramels.
You can follow Kathy on Facebook or Twitter or visit her at: www.kathyaarons.com.
Chocolate and cozies always go well together.
Dru, considering I ate 3 bags of chocolate that were supposed to be for the kids on Halloween I think I can say I’m a chocaholic. Toss my hat in the contest ring please… I want this one. It promises to be a very sweet read.
Reading & chocolates mmmm good 🙂
I bought some marked down Halloween candy to put out on Thanksgiving. I finally had to hide it in our guest house or we would have eaten it all. I allow myself one piece of chocolate a night with my chamomile tea. Coffee unfortunately is just for the mornings of my life. Thanks for the great give away!
Sounds like another winner. Chocolates and a bookstore, what a great combination! Please enter me in the drawing.
Enter me too!! I love chocolates and cozies. Thank you!
Works for me even though I am allergic to chocolate 🙁
My two favorite things Chocolate and books . Life is beautiful lol
Sounds like the perfect world – books and chocolate!
Yum Yun – wish I could have helped her research the book.
I love the sound of the book. Chocolate and books go great together.
This sounds like a fun book
A perfect combination.
I looks fantastic; I hope to get a chance to read it soon:)
Who wouldn’t love reading about chocolates and books.
Chocolate and books? I definitely think so! I hadn’t seen this book yet, and I’m interested in reading it.
Love chocolates. This should be a great read.
I so want to read this, it sounds like a fabulous book. Chocolate and books, where can you go wrong?
Who does not love chocolate!
I used to work for the Hershey Company so I am all about chocolate. Add books to the mix and I’m all in!!
Lauigl [at] carolina [dot] rr [dot] com
I would be a regular visitor to Chocolate and Chapters. Chocolate and books who could ask for more. A definite TBR addition.
Chocolate and mystery together…gotta love it.
Love Chocolate!! Book sounds great.
Yes, this author’s research sounds so exhausting! I’d like to help.
Books and yummies–a combination to die for!
Chocolate and books, what a great combination!
Have a box of chocolate turtles right next to where I curl up and read. A must.
I always have a box of dark chocolate turtles next to where I read for complete bliss.
Love chocolates, have one tiny piece everyday, lol
Thanks, Dru and Michelle/Kathy. Who wouldn’t love this book?
Books + Chocolate = Heaven! How can this one miss?
I agree chocolate and books are the perfect combo.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
A cozy that takes place in my state–yeah!!! With fudge and books too–yeah twice😀
Ooooooooo! Chocolate! I can almost taste it already. Chocolate, books, and a mystery, too. I’m not ready.
Yum! Chocolate in a book! What could be better? Nothing
…”elaborate truffles decorated with airbrushed designs…” I’m in!!
What a great sounding series. I would love to read this book. Any kind of food especially chocolate lures me into reading a book if that is the subject or even mentioned in the story. 🙂 Thank you so much for letting us know about this series, Dru Ann.
Cynthia
Oh I would love to read this.
Sounds like an exciting adventure with my favorite candy… chocolate. , I would love to read this book.
Elisa
Sounds interesting. Chocolate and books … what a great relationship!
This book looks like a good read 🙂 Thank you for a chance to win !!
Chocolate, books, and murder. Love it already.
kaye.killgor@comcast.net
Yum!
would love to win this sounds like a book I would love to read thanks for running the giveaway
Thanks so much for having me! It was very fun to write a day in the life of Michelle! Good luck to all of you and I hope you like the book!
It goes without saying that you can never have enough chocolate, and for me you can never read about enough murder! We used to have a nice coffee shop with the books to read and tasty treats and comfy chairs but unfortunately it closed down.
Love this post and great giveaway. Thanks.
Chocolates and chapters – Sounds like my life.
Books, chocolate and a mystery. Great combination! Looking forward to hearing excerpts from the book on at your first library reading!
So happy when I learned dark chocolate was good to eat every day.
although i am not a fan of chocolate, i would love to read this
Sounds veryyyy. Interesting
Love chocolate, bookstores, and cats. And one of the characters is also named Michelle, like me!
Love the sweet story line!
Love chocolate. Add that to a mystery & I am in heaven!
Chocolate and murder what a combination.
Love the way she starts her day!
giveaway is closed.