St James makes good use of her Camellia Beach setting in this third installment in a cozy series. Don't worry if you haven't read the first two (I read the first and missed the second), Charity Penn's backstory is fleshed out here as it's actually a sub plot to the murder mystery. This time out, her attorney's ex-wife Jody is found with a gun standing over the body of Cassidy, her (and almost everyone else's) lover. AND then Jody manages to graze Penn with a bullet. Not someone you would expect Penn, who's a fairly tart person, to help but she does because Jody's kid asks. There are some twists in the mystery but it's fairly simple. What's more intriguing is the battle over Penn's shop. Oh, and there's a dog. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

In Cold Chocolate is third book in the A Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series by Dorothy St.James.
This book could be read and as a stand alone mystery .
I really enjoyed this installment to the series, the mystery was solid and moved along quickly, lots of clues and multiple suspects to keep you guessing as to the killers identity, the ending was a definite surprise!
I am already anxious for the next book in this charming series!
I would recommend this book to all cozy mystery fans and any reader who enjoys a lighthearted culinary mystery.
i would like to thank Netgalley for an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

I'm enjoying this series, and this book in particular was very interesting to me. The characters and their relationships are delved into a little more, so it was nice to get to know them better. I also really enjoyed the sea turtle storyline - I know little about that area and its natural resources, and so this was a great addition to the mystery! A fun mystery with some unexpected twists and turns.

“In Cold Chocolate” earns 5/5 Chocolatey Delights…Very Clever!

Ok, first, it says “chocolate,” so it's a no-brainer that I'd pick up this book to read. I also love cozies, and the premise is common for the cozy mystery genre: girl is minding her own business, dead body is found, someone ends up in personal jeopardy, and justice is served. However, Dorothy St. James has gone beyond the formula by penning a clever mystery with a bit of Karma attached, well-defined characters that act and respond realistically, excellent descriptions of setting and inner thoughts, delightful banter, intriguing side dramas, and three recipes related to characters in the story. I am new to her work, but St. James provided enough background and character connections to keep me engaged. Most issues have a satisfying resolution, but the side story about Charity and the argument with her family continues into the next installment. This third book in her Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series is a new favorite!

With a first-person narrative, St. James pens an engaging mystery easily read…page-turner dipped in chocolate! Charity Penn inherited The Chocolate Box shop in the seaside town of Camellia Beach, South Carolina. She is excited her role on the turtle watch protecting the area to assure the new batch of sea turtles hatch and make their way to the ocean safely, but it is interrupted by a gunshot, a dead lothario, and a lover holding a gun. Making matters worse the “lover” and Charity have had “issues,” but hard to ignore pleas to find answers puts Charity on the case. Beyond the mystery, suspects and motives, the investigation, and an “Oh, my!” ending, we have missing turtle eggs, “best of intentions” interferences, family squabbles, and lots of chocolate! I highly recommend this book, and as for me, the other two books have been moved up on the “TBR” queue.

There may be a dog on the cover, but sea turtles are the bigger feature in this tale. Entertaining series and this is a great addition. Clever mystery. Some surprises. A few things are resolved, but some secrets are yet to be revealed. I am eager for the next one.

Must.Love.Chocolate

A delicious little series! I had read book one so when I saw #3 was out I kicked myself for not noticing the publication of #2, but went ahead and snagged this tale from Netgalley. Enough information is provided that although I don't have the details of the interim story, the continuity is comfortable and, I suspect, one reading this book first would not suffer greatly from not reading in order [other than missing out on the enjoyment of unveiling the first and/or second puzzle(s)].

OK, so if you read the blurb you know the dead man is a local lothario and one of his lovers is found literally holding the smoking gun. Certain of the issues are resolved (the central crimes are solved!) but others, in the larger story arc, remain a mystery. Little teasers! Modestly paced, you have time to wrap your mind around the pieces and help examine the clues. But Penn relies heavily on her intuition which is not her most reliable asset so you have to puzzle out for yourself what is and isn't a valid conclusion. Fun! Or if you prefer to just relax and let yourself be surprised, that works, too.

And, as an added bonus, RECIPES!

In Cold Chocolate isn't the first in this series, but it's the first one I've read. The author brings enough information from the previous books to make this an easy read.
Penn has inherited The Chocolate Box, a unique candy store in a tourist community located by the beach. The main story is Penn trying to solve a murder of a prominent but much disliked citizen of this small community but there are many side stories.
I loved the characters and enjoyed the story. I plan on reading more books by this author.

I missed the second book in this series so I had to go and buy it. Not much in the way of spoilers but just enough information that I realized I had skipped a book. The third book in this series remains as amazing as the first. I absolutely am a fan of the series. Still not the most popular resident of Camellia Beach, Charity Penn continues to poor her heart into her shop, the Chocolate Box. Still not the most adept in the kitchen, she is finding her way with new additions she is coming up with on her own. She just needs Bertie to help her make the ideas come together into the yummy treat she knows they can be. She continues to have an excellent head for business but her heart gets her into as much trouble as ever as she promises Harley's son, Gavin, that she will help his mom out of a bit of trouble she found herself in and she'd do it in under a week. All of this while her shop is being renovated and she's volunteered to be an observer of the sea turtles and their hatching under the oversight of her best friend Althea. Unfortunately, someone is stealing the eggs. With a few mysteries on her hands, a little boy's hope weighing on her shoulders, and her biological family back to playing games and trying to steal back her shop, Penn has more on her plate than she can possibly handle.

I literally could not put this book down. I read it out loud - to everyone. If you called me? I read a snippet to you. Then, I hung up. The school year has just gotten started so thankfully, there hasn't been much in the way of homework or I've no idea what my kid would have done. Probably asked her brother to help her. I definitely recommend it.

Once again, there are recipes at the end of the book. This time, they are Penn's Moon Benne Wafer Cookies, Bubba's Spicy Cocoa Pork Tenderloin, and Bertie's Cheer-Me-Up Chocolate Chip Pancakes.

Thank you to Dorothy St. James, NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for giving me the chance to read this and share my thoughts and opinions with others.

I was intrigued as with the title of this book and was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed this book! I will look for more!

Chocolate shop owner Charity Penn is facing numerous problems but what worries her most is her promise to a ten year old boy to help get his mom out of jail by his first day of the new school year. Not only does she need to clear the person who was caught holding the gun at the scene but that person shot her too.

This story has a great flow with relatable characters but what I enjoyed the most was the wide range of little mysteries within the big mystery.

This is the third book in A Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series but could easily be read as a stand alone. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In Cold Chocolate is the third in this wonderful series by Dorothy St. James. I highly recommend the entire series. i have read all three in the series and each one is enchanting. This next in series is delightful and a fun read. Charity Penn is a smart savvy interesting protagonist. In this next in series our protagonist has many challenges as well as solving a murder.

Charity has inherited the Chocolate Box store where she is successfully making and selling unique chocolates from her grandmother. She inherited the shop upon her grandmother's death but her relatives are contesting the will and giving her a difficult time.

Charity is involved in this next in series with the turtle watch because the island is a active breeding ground for sea turtles. One of the other volunteers has a grudge for Penn. When the women's boyfriend is murdered over a dispute about the sea turtles Charity steps up to defend the woman and help her clear her name. In between contesting her Grandmother's will , managing her shop and investigating she has much on her busy plate . The sleuth takes a dangerous turn and Charity has a challenging investigation.

I love the addition of sea turtle conservation and found this a interesting fun addition to the series. I hope the author will continue turtle conservation into the series. The sleuth was well crafted and kept me guessing with many twists and turns. I love the supporting charcters and how they all add to the story. The chocolate shop is divine and the recipes included great fun to try. A winning series and a great third in series. I highly recommend this series for your reading enjoyment..

An interesting and enjoyable book! The plot is sound and keep you guessing, the cast of characters is likeable, and there's a lovely setting.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading other in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Crooked Lane and Netgalley for this book.

Charity Penn is excited to join her best friend Althea to watch a new generation of sea turtles hatch and make their way to the ocean. Before the babies can hatch the watch team needs to cover a porch light that a careless person has left on. If the light stays on the baby turtles can become confused and go away from the ocean. Jody Dalton is determined to handle things her way. A few minutes after Jody leaves the nest area gunshots rang out in the night. Jody is found standing nearby the dead body of a man she’s been seeing. Jody and Harley's son is understandably upset and asks Penn to clear his mother’s name.

This is a delightful read! The mystery has several red herrings to keep the reader entertained and invested in the storyline. I love how Stella, Penn’s pup, and Penn have finally bonded. Also, I am happy that Penn has started to let people get close to her, such as Harley. Althea and her mother are equally enjoyable characters. The secondary storyline about the sea turtles was also a delight and informative which greatly added to the setting and overall storyline.

This is the third book in the series but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone mystery. I recommend this book to mystery and chocolate lovers (recipes are included in the book). I received an ARC copy through NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own and have been not been influenced in any way.

Chocolate and a cozy mystery who could ask for more. This book really held my interest and had 3 mysteries in one. Penn is an interesting character as are her friends Bertie (who is a candy maker in her shop), and Athenia (who owns the Crystal Shop and is Bertie's daughter). Throw in a insecure dog and you have a good read. I found it so interesting on the detail of the birth of sea turtles. I did not know the dangers they face being born. Though this is the 3rd book I was able to figure out some of what went on in the first 2 which I will purchase. Penn is left the Chocolate Shop by her Grandmother. The family is fighting the will claiming she is not her real granddaughter. The poor girl is overwhelmed with that, running the shop, and a promise made to the son of the man she loves to clear his Mother of a murder. Throw in someone stealing her new recipe candy of sea turtles and you have more twists and turns. I love the fact that 3 recipes are included and being a avid baker and making cookies and candy myself I will try them all. I found her dog to actually be a comic relief in the book and some of the tips on training in the book sounded very true. I will be waiting for the next book about Penn and her friends eagerly.

In Cold Chocolate by Dorothy St. James is the 3nd book in the A Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series, located in Camellia Beach, South Carolina. In this exciting book Penn and her friends are trying to protect the baby sea turtles, so they can hatch and walk into the ocean. One night while watching for turtles a man was shot and murdered. This book has more twists and turns, that kept me reading page after page. I love the unique people and situations in this book. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What can be more exciting than waiting for baby turtles to be born? You wouldn't think anything can top that, but when a dead body is found on the beach, and Charity Penn's nemesis is found holding the gun, the excitement just keeps on building.
This book can be read as a stand alone as well as part of the series.
I volunteered to read and review an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

In Cold Chocolate is the third installment in Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series but can be read as a standalone.
Since I haven't read the previous books I found references to previous happening s quite useful.
Shop owner Charity is very excited to help her friend keep watch over hatchong of baby turtles. While keeping watch on the beach they happen to witness a murder of the local Casanova and murderer is no other than Charity's nemesis Jody. But when Jody's young son asks Charity to help clear his mother's name she can't say no.
I loved the turtle references, found it enlightning and educational.
I like the cast of characters, they are all wonderfully quirky as only Southerners can be.
Solid story with enough twists and turns to keep readers engaged. Fast paced and exciting this is the perfect choice for whodunnit fans.

Penn has inherited a chocolate shop...or so she thinks. She has fixed it up and it is a busy place now. But extended family is making trouble. Meanwhile it is time for the sea turtles to hatch. But someone dies on the beach which leads to a hunt for the guilty party. The book has some interesting twists and turns along with a hint of romance. I thought the book was interesting and the end a bit of a surprise.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a fun, whimsical cozy mystery. If you like chocolate, murder, and mystery you will enjoy Dorothy St. James' third series book. Penn is a wonderful character with substance and charm. Well written and entertaining. Enjoy!

This was a nice little escape. Penn is back and now she is trying to clear Jody (a woman who hates her) of murder. These are easy-to-read books and there is also the added mystery of Penn's mother. Most of the characters are likeable. The ones that aren't are those you are meant to hate. I like the mystery within a mystery, but feel kind of bad about Penn's family.

If you like cozies, this one is fun and includes baby turtles!