I was sent a copy of the book for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.
Today I am here for a mini blog blitz for The Chocolate Box by Isabella May. Thanks go to Rachel’s Random Resources and the author for allowing me to be a part of this tour. Please do check out the other stops!
About The Book
Ellie Sanchez wants revenge. Spurned during her school days at prestigious Monty’s academy when she was plain Eleanor Finch, and played second fiddle to her idol, Barnaby Westwood, and his show-off sister, Clementine, Ellie will stop at nothing to turn the tables now she’s all grown up. The siblings and their snubbing have been the catalyst for everything that’s gone wrong in her life, from parental neglect to her divorce.
When the Westwood travel merchandise company advertises for a new HR manager, Ellie decides her unique combo of karma and Law of Attraction has finally come good. And she’ll be bagging herself a cherry-on-the-cake, second, and richer, husband in the process – once Barnaby sees how much she’s changed, anyway.
Fast forward two years and he STILL doesn’t recognise her!
Fast forward two years and the company is in a financial mess.
Last Chance Saloon-style, Ellie coerces the siblings and their older sister, Brooke (the perpetual spanner in her works) to a rustic gîte in Normandy for a spot of team-building… over a very ‘special’ box of artisan chocolates.
Cue ALL the fireworks in the cocoa bean version of Jumanji…
My Review
First of all, how beautiful is that cover image? Instantly draws me in….and makes me hungry!
I had never tried a book from Isabella May before but I will definitely check out more. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but what I did get wasn’t it – and I mean that in a good way. What I thought would be a good old revenge plan turned into so much more.
I really liked Ellie as a character and could see why she was reacting the way she was based on how the characters had treated her in the past although she did go a little far in the end, and in a big way. I found Brooke a little bit annoying at times – the constant to-ing and fro-ing between loyalty to her family and her disgust in them which saw her colluding with Ellie.
I did not see the big reveal coming about a certain character that interlinks the three females – when it is revealed, you can totally see it if you truly think about it but it was a big shocker for me.
I will definitely be checking out more from the author based on this read.
About The Author
Isabella May lives in (mostly) sunny Andalusia, Spain with her husband, daughter and son, creatively inspired by the mountains and the sea. Having grown up on Glastonbury’s ley lines however, she’s unable to completely shake off her spiritual inner child, and is a Law of Attraction fanatic, as well as a Pranic Healer.
After a degree in Modern Languages and European Studies at UWE, Bristol (and a year working abroad in Bordeaux and Stuttgart), Isabella bagged an extremely jammy and fascinating job in children’s publishing… selling foreign rights for novelty, board, pop-up and non-fiction books all over the world; in every language from Icelandic to Korean, Bahasa Indonesian to Papiamento!
All of which has fuelled her curiosity and love of international food and travel – both feature extensively in her cross-genre novels, fused with a dollop of romcom, and a sprinkle of magical realism.
You can follow her Foodie Romance Journey series at the following hang-outs:
Website // Twitter // Facebook // Instagram
Buy the book on UK Amazon here {affiliate link} or on US Amazon here.
Sounds an amazing read and another to add to my list!
Perfect to read over the christmas period when i have time off.
I think I’d enjoy reading the book and I love the cover too!
This sounds like a great read. I love the idea of “revenge” on nasty people from schooldays as a plot device.
The front cover had me sold but your review makes it sound like a book I need to read!
I think I have read one from this Author before but I will definitely check this out x
I really like the front cover of this book. Makes me hungry just looking at it. Never heard of this author before, will have to look more into it
Sounds a great read, be good to have a look at this book.
Sounds interesting! I love the cover it really is making me crave some chocolate!
This sounds like an interesting read, I have to admit I definitely didn’t quite guess what it was going to be about from the cover and name, but it does draw you in and make you want to know more.
I love to read. This sounds like a nice fairly light fiction, which is perfect for those times you want to relax and not think. And the cover sure does grab your attention.
It’s always nice when you can’t predict what’s going to happen so it’s good that you didn’t pick up on it. This sounds like the nice light sort of fiction I’d enjoy x
Sounds like such an interesting read and I think the cover definitely draws one in, I am curious about the big reveal
Oh My! What an eye catching cover! I love chocolates so this is definitely my kind of book especially since you were not able to predict the ending, which I like in a book
I would buy this book just for the cover, glad to hear it is a good read too
This sounds like my kind of book and I love the cover!
This sounds like a great read and your right the cover is super appealing and makes me want to pick up the book! Great review and I do love a good book that can sneak in a shocker or twist at the end! x
The cover of this is so eye-catching, it would definitely make me want to pick it up and read it.
This sounds like a great read, very entertaining. That cover is fantastic, really eyecatching.
Sounds interesting! Also the cover design is wonderful .
Sounds like a good read, have added it to my book bucket list. Love the front cover, really eye-catching.
You had me sold on the cover! If only that box of chocolates came with the book eh 🙂