This second installment in the Found Things series by Paula Brackston is an expertly written tale that you'll find hard to put down. I'm a sucker for time travel stories, and the idea of an object like a copper chocolate pot being the conduit for the protagonist is a fun little detail. Unfortunately, I hadn't read the first book in the series, so I think that I missed some of the importance of some of the little details. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book a lot. It will make a wonderful read to sit on the porch and enjoy a cup of tea or hot chocolate while smelling that distinctive smell of fall.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Paula Brackston, and NetGalley for allowing me access to a digital copy for me to review. As always, all opinions are my own.

Beautiful atmospheric novel, fans of time travel will not be disappointed. I didn’t realize that there are other books in the series, will definitely be picking them up.

When starting this book, I noticed that I should read the first book in the series. They do not make much sense as stand-alone novels. Anyway, I splurged on the nearly 15 Euros for the first book and tried to read it quickly before getting back to this ARC.

I neither liked the first book and hence was very disappointed to discover that the second book in the series wasn't much better.

There are a lot of descriptions of scenery, rooms, furniture, clothes, but there is little action. A lot of the plot items in the novel don't make sense. For example, why can't Xanthe talk to her mother about the time travelling? Her mother knows about her ability to "listen" to antiques, so why not tell her about the time travelling? Why the need to tell lies? Just one of the things that annoyed me.

And for the record, the 17th century is not the Middle Ages, hence the clothes aren't medieval!

I could read this book thankfully to the courtesy of the publishers and Netgalley.
I hadn't read the previous book in the series, still, it was possible to understand the full story and being enticed to read the first book anytime.
The countryside and towns of Witlshire are described in such a vivid way, that, when you stop reading, you hardly know where you are !
The story is full of surprises and you hardly guess the twists and turns that await the heroine.
This book is impossible to turn down, and I cannot wait for the next one in the series !
I've read a lot of time travel novels, I truly enjoy the genre. I will stick up with the author, Paula Brackston, because it does not feel like being in a movie, her time travel adventures are not just visual and paced like in an action movie, it is tinted with colours, perfumed with smells, and vivid with the British charm of many characters.

I am now an official fan of Paula Brackston! Secrets of the Chocolate House was brilliantly written. I am a sucker for an impeccably written setting, and was thrilled to find myself pulled into each scene with ease. I happily invested myself in the lives of the characters, and took them with me each time I walked away from the book. (Which wasn't often, as I literally couldn't put the thing down.) Marvelously written and a definite recommend.

"Secrets of the Chocolate House" is an absolutely amazing book. I've loved every Paula Brackston book to date, and I knew this book would not disappoint me, especially with the word "chocolate" in the title.
Brackston creates such vivid worlds in every book. Her prose is so beautifully wrought and just keeps getting better. When I read "Secrets of the Chocolate House" I was fully immersed in the unique, riveting tale. Each night when I treated myself to a few more chapters, I felt like I was immersing myself into a relaxing bath that took me away from all my woes.

Brackston is such a magnificent author -- perhaps her gift is enhanced by the fresh Welsh air she inhales in her Wales writing office - who knows? She has the gift of the pen/computer kepyboard in spades. I hope you'll read this book and love it as much as I do!

SECRETS OF THE CHOCOLATE HOUSE is a thrilling second installment to this fascinating new series. As we know from the first book, Xanthe has a special ability where certain objects will sing to her, leading her to know more about their history. We learned along with Xanthe in that book that she can use them to travel through time to right injustices and cause the objects to quiet down. She newly runs an antique shop with her mother in a small town, and this ability can be a help- and a hindrance.

While it helps to have the context of the first book when reading this one, this second book could easily function as a stand-alone. Here, Xanthe encounters a chocolate pot that sings to her- and tells her that Samuel, her seventeenth century love interest, is in danger. Xanthe travels through time to help him and learns that even bigger forces are at play here. Confronted by more possibility and knowledge, Xanthe must figure out a way to save Samuel while also fighting a new and sinister adversary.

Similar to the first book, this one bounces back and forth between the present and past, as Xanthe must go between the two. We also get a lot more answers about Xanthe's abilities here, though I imagine this will continue to grow in future books. The threads crafted in this book set us up for more exciting and bigger plots to come, even though the main story is settled.

With suspense, romance, mystery, and time travel, this book is absolutely engaging and quite the page turner. I highly recommend for fans of Outlander- and anyone looking for something a little different. I absolutely adore this series and cannot wait for the next installment!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I so badly wanted to like this Chocolate House tale. Its got lot of good pieces, including a character set that includes a disabled person, a biker with a bent for the paranormal, and a heroine who can travel through time to fight off baddies. However, when you look closer those pieces fall away.
Xanthe, the main character, lives with her mother although she's an adult with secrets. It seems as though her life would be considerably easier and the plot faster if she just got her own place. Yes, they'd still work at the antiques shop together, but it'd put the obstacle of constantly lying to bed. Also, the whole 'fighting baddies' premise is flimsy. There really aren't any fights that take place 'on screen,' except for one which involves an old boyfriend and potential new boyfriend, which let's admit, has been done a time or two before.
Even the time traveling aspect is all about a man. Xanthe's caught feelings for a highborn man from the 1600s who keeps landing himself in trouble and needing saving. For a book that has no romantic scenes (really, not even pg13 ones), this girl really spends a lot of wasted time on various men.
It's not a bad book. It's also not a good one. It's fine.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Secrets of the Chocolate House is the sequel in the Found Things series. Xanthe has returned from her time travel after successfully saving the woman she was sent to help, but heartbroken over the man, Samuel, she had to leave behind in the 17th century. But while searching for new items for their antiques shop, another item "sings" to her...an antique copper chocolate pot. This new item sends her back to the same time as before, only Samuel is now in trouble and needs rescue from a very dangerous man...a man desperate for Xanthe's secrets of time travel. Will she survive to rescue Samuel, or will they both die in the attempt?
I absolutely love this series! I fell in love with the idea of these antique objects singing Xanthe into the past. There are so many time periods and story lines that this series can follow and I'm excited to see where her time spinning takes her next, especially after that cliffhanger ending!

Secrets of the Chocolate House by Paula Brackston. St. Martin’s Press, 2019.

This is the second in Brackston’s series about Xanthe and her mother Flora, antique dealers who live in a Wiltshire market town. Xanthe’s extrasensory psychometry allows her to hear stories from certain objects stories. These guide her back to the 17th century where she learns that there are others like her called “spinners”.

I love time travel fiction and this book ticks off almost all the boxes for me. Except for the two villains, despicable as the author intended, characters in both eras are appealing and likeable.

The book is well written with a story that flows well and is supported with geographical and historical detail; readers will enjoy the familiar or learn something new. Running a small-town antiques shop and looking for stock at sales is likely a dream job for many readers who, like me, will love reading about it.

The story is enhanced with details from the seventeenth century: making hot chocolate, the nature and function of chocolate houses and discussion of architecture. I also liked discussion about antiques, baking and pastries and about planning the Christmas street market.

I liked this book just a little less than the first in the series, perhaps because something of Xanthe’s behaviour was off kilter for me. Even considering her mother’s chronic illness, their close relationship and that they shared a business, I was distracted and disturbed by Xanthe’s lies about where she was going. Adults should not be expected to disclose everything they do and everywhere they go to their parents. Then despite their financial issues, she compounded the lie with expensive shopping. This both undermined her character and jarred with leaving her cell phone unattended instead of simply saying she would be out of touch for a few days. It struck me as inconsistent and disordered. Adults do turn of their cell phones sometimes, or their batteries go dead, or they travel out of range.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of Secrets of the Chocolate House for free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

So many times subsequent books in a series do not live up to the excitement and creativity of the first, but this book is an exception. The story begins only months after the ending of the first book (The Little Shop of Found Things) so Xanthe is still struggling to deal with her new found ability to time travel and the loss of Samuel. The chocolate pot is such a creative item to have "sing" to Xanthe and it presents the opportunity to highlight the history of the chocolate house and the role they played in society. Certainly all new information for me. I enjoyed the new concept of a group of "spinners" and how they each had unique abilities to control their travel. And the introduction of the book will probably be a major component in each new book. The story was creative and the characters are well developed so you feel like you know how they are going to react and you definitely care what happens to them.

While I really enjoyed reading the book there are certain things that just seem a little sloppy, like Xanthe planning her return to the 1600's but not taking the extra step of finding clothing more appropriate to the time so she would not stand out. I did not think the Marcus storyline really added anything to this story and it felt as though it could have been completely eliminated without impacting anything. In places there were long paragraphs describing the weather or furnishings that just ran on. And I wanted Xanthe to stop agonizing over the decisions she was making, it was clear she was trying to come to terms with her desire to help Samuel while not deserting her mum, but it felt like the same thoughts were repeated over and over. So easy to be an arm chair reviewer while not doing the hard work of thinking up the story and putting it all together!

So, overall a great book and I definitely look forward to the next installment.

This is a delightful new series. It is a fast-paced, easy read that keeps you interested from beginning to end. This is the second book and I definitely recommend reading book one first. (The Little Shop of Found Things)

Xanthe, Flora, and Samuel are some of best developed and well drawn characters I have come across in a cozy mystery. Even the secondary characters, good and bad, add depth, direction, and lots of emotion.

In Secrets of Chocolate House we learn more about time traveling, that there are many others than possess the ability -- and some of them actively try to harm Xanthe. Author Paula Brackston has found her niche with this wonderful cast of characters and developed their unique story into one-heck-of-an adventure. I cannot wait to read book three.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. Wow what can I say about this title it was just an awesome read. This book was just something so wonderfully different I’ve never quite read anything like this. You should read to find out you won’t be disappointed. I’m definitely going to read more by this author.

Many thanks to #NetGalley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was delighted to be asked to read and review this book as I had already read the first book in the series - The Little Shop of Found Things. I loved it and was pleased to know that I would find out what was to happen next in the story.

My first piece of advice to readers who are thinking about reading “Secrets of the Chocolate House” is to make sure you have read “The Little Shop of Found Things” first. While you can read this one without having read the first book, it likely won’t mean as much to you.

Once again, the cover art is tremendously appealing and not many people can resist the idea of chocolate. My Pathfinder group in Girl Guides had been working on a “Chocolate Challenge” just before I was reading this advanced copy and the history of chocolate and how it was served that is described in the book matched up closely with what we had researched. Paula Braxton clearly does her homework when it comes to telling her story in as factual a way as she can.

The story begins shortly after where it ended in the first book. Xanthe is back in Marleborough where she lives with her mother and works at an interesting new antique store that they run together. She has left behind Samuel, a man she met and fell in love with back in the 17th century and fully believes that she will not be able to see him again. Little does she know what is next in store for her.

In this second book of the series we learn more about the process of “spinning” as the author calls travelling in time. We also learn that Xanthe is not the only person that can do this and there are others who will help her and some who would harm her to take advantage of her skills. Xanthe begins what is to become a series of time jumps and hates that she can’t be open and honest with those she cares for about just what she is doing. There are some definite surprises throughout the story including the return of Xanthe’s wicked ex-boyfriend who caused her to spend time in jail in the past. How will it all turn out? You’ll have to read it to find out, but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

Paula Brackston clearly has a wonderful imagination, but she also does her job in researching the background for her stories. She also has an incredible way with words. I truly hope there will be many more installments in this series for readers to enjoy. This book won’t be published until late October. I know there are many readers out there just counting the days!

A very good sequel to the first book, really a delightful read. A time travel story that is actually quite well done with quite a cliff hanger at the end. Can't wait for the next book in the series.

The second in a series, SECRETS OF THE CHOCOLATE HOUSE, has a good plot and nice time travel elements but I struggled with the long narratives which did not add depth to the main character.. Xanthe has special skills that cause found objects to sing to her. I wish they made her a stronger character to withstand some of the battles in which she fought with Fairfield. She has an apathy that makes her hard to support her character. Brackston is an author I really enjoy but this is a character flaw too fatal for me to endure. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This was a pretty good book. Fans of Outlander and time travel novels will probably like it. The pace of the book was a bit more mellow than Outlander, but the story was interesting and the characters well done.

Chocolate, antiques and time travel ... what's not to love? I did not realize this was the second book in a series, so did not read "The Little Shop of Found Things". That explains the feeling that I missed something in the first few chapters of the book. Even so, I acclimated quickly and enjoyed the ride. I do have a bone to pick with the time frame. Five minutes on Wikipedia revealed that the first chocolate house in England didn't exist until 1657, and, then, only for the wealthy elites. Why not set the story in the correct time period for an establishment that is central to the book(s). I also found some conflicting information about the "rules" of time travel as presented in the story, which I had to gloss over in order to remain interested. Ms. Brackston is clearly a skilled writer and her prose is beautiful, but there seemed to be a lot of extended weather and landscape details that did not advance the story ... it felt a bit like padding. Without adding a spoiler, I'll say that I was expecting a certain turn of events that, as the story came to a close, I thought was going to be a huge loose end. Nope, there it was in the last sentence. At that point, I saw that this was book 2 of 3. I do recommend reading book 1 first in order to be sufficiently invested in the characters for maximum enjoyment. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I recently stumbled across The Little Shop of Found Things (the first book in the series) in the "New books" section of my library, so I was delighted to be able to read the second installment so soon after the first! (And to that end, while not needed, I think this book would be more enjoyed from having read the first book.)

In Secrets of the Chocolate House, it is a copper chocolate pot that sings to Xanthe, our time traveler, and quite noisily. In this book, we learn more about time travelers, also called spinners, and Xanthe gets a bit of needed guidance (while we get more information - and are still left with a lot of other questions.)

This book has more tension - from Xanthe's guilt about leaving her ailing mother on her own, and the lies she needs to tell to jump back in time, to her ex-boyfriend showing up, to a threatening presence that more than hints that there is even more to come.

I felt like this book did a lot of explaining as well as set up for future stories, and while helpful, it added to the confusion of ALL that was going on. The history of chocolate houses, saving Samuel, threats/demands from all directions (the ex, the greedy Spinner), the lies, the guilt - Brackston juggles it well, but parts did feel like it was housekeeping to sort out the foundation for future stories at the expense of Samuel.

I'm looking forward to where Brackston will take Xanthe next as she grows into her Spinner abilities.

I love time travel books and was excited to be able to read the next book in the series. The story was very descriptive and made me feel like I was there! Can’t believe it ended with a cliffhanger! I want to read book 3 now! Will be hard to wait til next year when it comes out! Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the early copy. Definitely recommend this book!!