![The Chocolate Works by [Geoffrey Knight]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51HZxF8Bl0L.jpg)
Poor Henry. I felt for him throughout the entire story. To have him be so overlooked, dismissed, and thought poorly of for nearly the entire story was frustrating for me. Aside from sometimes being seen by Levi no one else ever truly tried to see him for who he was and was trying to be. Yes, he came off as being unfeeling, but even Levi reacted poorly to Henry's obvious distress. Nearly every person was guilty of judging him poorly and I felt most of it was unjustified. Henry did have some bits to make up for because he was a prickly and lost man and reacted accordingly, but with no one trying to try to see beyond the first unfortunate impression I felt so resentful toward nearly everyone.
This story really would have benefitted from a dual POV because aside from Henry's journey of acceptance and self-realization there was another redemption story parallel to his. Seeing it only through Henry's lens impaired the depth that could have been achieved. I really wanted to see Henry through Levi's eyes, something to give me a sense that Levi knew what an unpolished gem Henry was. There were moments that spoke to Levi seeing Henry as a balancing, grounding presence for him, but how much he was valued, appreciated, and loved was left off to nearly the end when almost everything was lost.
Aside from a few inconsistencies in behaviors, waxing a little too poetic when in the "chocolate mindset", as well as an overly dramatic big conflict, this was an incredibly sweet story (pun kind of intended) where there was a wonderful coming together of the townspeople, a valuable lesson in bringing out the best in everyone, and finding a home and family where you least expected. I enjoyed the story overall and felt a few fantastic moments made up for what Henry had to endure to find his place and his tribe.
*$4.99 on Amazon
Henry Dawson lives a quiet life of perfect order and routine. His job as a cross-checker at a Chicago-based risk assessment firm means there’s no detail unmissed, no error unfixed and no room in his world for curve balls. That is until the day he loses his job, finds out his apartment building has been condemned, and receives an inheritance from an uncle he never even knew he had.
Now with no job, no home and no hope for the future, Henry suddenly finds himself in the tiny dead-end town of Los Encantados in the middle of the New Mexico desert, ready to sell the small roadside diner bequeathed to him by the uncle he never met. Given the circumstances, what choice does he have but to offload the diner—operated by waffle-loving Doris Day fan, Gracie Garcia—in an effort to try and fund his way back to his old life in Chicago?
But Henry was never planning on the arrival of wild, passionate and incredibly sexy Levi Jones. Nor was he ready for Levi’s crazy plan to turn Gracie’s Diner into the greatest Chocolate Works the world has ever known. For Levi claims to be the country’s finest chocolatier… or is he?
Before he knows it, Henry is pulled into Levi’s plan to create the most delicious, irresistible, mouth-watering, knee-buckling chocolates the world has ever imagined. At the same time Henry finds himself falling head over heels for the reckless, romantic allure of a man who is the complete opposite of everything Henry holds sacred.
Will Henry succumb to the charms of a handsome stranger despite every instinct warning him that Levi is nothing but a snake oil salesman? Will the secrets of Levi’s past destroy Henry’s hopes of ever finding true romance?
Or is Levi destined to melt Henry’s heart as he discovers that chocolate truly is the food of love?
Now with no job, no home and no hope for the future, Henry suddenly finds himself in the tiny dead-end town of Los Encantados in the middle of the New Mexico desert, ready to sell the small roadside diner bequeathed to him by the uncle he never met. Given the circumstances, what choice does he have but to offload the diner—operated by waffle-loving Doris Day fan, Gracie Garcia—in an effort to try and fund his way back to his old life in Chicago?
But Henry was never planning on the arrival of wild, passionate and incredibly sexy Levi Jones. Nor was he ready for Levi’s crazy plan to turn Gracie’s Diner into the greatest Chocolate Works the world has ever known. For Levi claims to be the country’s finest chocolatier… or is he?
Before he knows it, Henry is pulled into Levi’s plan to create the most delicious, irresistible, mouth-watering, knee-buckling chocolates the world has ever imagined. At the same time Henry finds himself falling head over heels for the reckless, romantic allure of a man who is the complete opposite of everything Henry holds sacred.
Will Henry succumb to the charms of a handsome stranger despite every instinct warning him that Levi is nothing but a snake oil salesman? Will the secrets of Levi’s past destroy Henry’s hopes of ever finding true romance?
Or is Levi destined to melt Henry’s heart as he discovers that chocolate truly is the food of love?
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