Enchanting Confections series review

My review: (get ready, buckle up for a good one)

From the first two sentences I was hooked: 

“In the classroom kitchen of the Royal Academy of Flouriers, the wee hours before dawn belonged to the desperate. 

And Matthias was, indeed, desperate.” 

True authors (like Jane Austen) have great hooking sentences like the example above. I try my best, but I think Emily Deady has me beat. 

The rest of the book did not disappoint. I fell in love with all the characters, flaws and all, and like most books, did not put it down. But this one stuck with me in several different ways. 

First: The FMC reminds me of a friend of mine, and that fact alone makes her relatable. I wanted to live there and be her friend, and eat what she eats. 

Second: I love chocolate. And I can tell Emily did her research on the chocolate making process, because I learned lots of new things just by reading her story. 

Third: I have always wanted a pet crow. 

Fourth: Next on my to-do list is make the recipe at the end of the book. Lavender and Lemon Balm truffles? I mean, come on. Can’t you feel like the taste is there, just beyond your reach, ready to be eaten already? My mouth waters even though I have no idea what they’re like.

And also I’m pretty sure the author made the recipe up, with her sisters. 

Just wow. Five stars.

(Book blurb below)

Book blurb:

A spoonful of green peas.
A sprinkle of cocoa nibs.
And a melting pot of opposites attract.Una of Lamera has a secret.In a prosperous kingdom known for its golden wheat and ever-laden tables, she is a rare thorn. As the Royal Flourier's daughter, one tilt of her chin can make or end a baker's career. But she knows the cruel things they whisper behind her back. Won't take a single bite. Impossible to please.And sometimes, when her stomach is churning after a simple taste of honeyed pastry, she believes them. Una learned long ago to avoid the foods that left her ill for days.But then Matthias arrives. A charming, ambitious student who wins the king's favor with his perfect choux pastry. However, it's Una's approval he needs to complete his apprenticeship—and she only pretended to taste his cocoa before refusing to eat anything made by his hand. Matthias saw right through the ruse, and now he's determined to make her eat her words.Neither of them suspects that his rare, unfashionable cocoa might be the one sweet thing in Lamera that doesn't leave her ill. Can he melt her icy exterior before she ruins his career?A Cup of Cocoa and Chaos is loose retelling of The Princess and the Pea and King Midas. If you've ever watched the Great British Bakeoff while lamenting that you can't eat any of the delicious-looking glutenous bakes, this book is for you.

This standalone novella is full of sweet delicacies, hilarious conversations, and the perfect amount of true love. It is part of the Enchanting Confections series, a collection of cozy stories with no-spice romance guaranteed to delight your sweet tooth.

I received an ARC from the author, but I truly loved this book.