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Susan Bishop Crispell
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Dreaming in Chocolate: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Susan Bishop Crispell (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 157 ratings
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“Come for the life-changing chocolates and opinionated apothecary table, stay for the enchanting eight-year old and complicated secrets." —Amy Reichert, author of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake

With an endless supply of magical gifts and recipes from the hot chocolate café Penelope Dalton runs alongside her mother, she is able to give her daughter almost everything she wants. The one sticking point is Ella’s latest request: get a dad. And not just any dad. Ella has her sights set on Noah Gregory, her biological father who’s back in town for a few months – and as charming as ever.

Noah broke Penelope’s heart years ago, but now part of her wonders if she made the right decision to keep the truth of their daughter from him. The other, more practical part, is determined to protect Ella from the same heartbreak. Now Penelope must give in to her fate or face a future of regrets.

Dreaming in Chocolate by Susan Bishop Crispell is a heartwarming story of love, hot chocolate, and one little girl’s wish for her mother.

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  1. Print length
    262 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    St. Martin's Griffin
  4. Publication date
    February 6, 2018
  5. File size
    4.5 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Come for the life-changing chocolates and opinionated apothecary table, stay for the enchanting eight-year old and complicated secrets. After reading Susan Bishop Crispell’s charming Dreaming in Chocolate, you’ll want to take up residence in Malarkey, sip magical hot cocoa, and change your own fate!" ―Amy Reichert, author of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake

"Dreaming in Chocolate is an endearing and beautifully spun tale of three generations of women and the enchanted chocolate shop that they share. A story of broken hearts, missed opportunities and the sometimes excruciating realities of motherhood, Susan Bishop Crispell teaches us that, even in a life surrounded by the mystical and inexplicable, sometimes, finding true love is the real magic." ―Kristy Woodson Harvey, author of Slightly South of Simple

“In a world where people too often lose faith in second chances, happy endings, heart’s desires and homemade miracles, Susan Bishop Crispell’s Dreaming in Chocolate makes me a believer again. This tender story about unthinkable loss and the strength of a family’s love to bring them together as they face a future that is uncertain, is a reminder that the most powerful magic any of us possesses is hope.” ―Kimberly Brock, award winning author of The River Witch

"Set in the world where salty caramels inspire truth telling and bittersweet truffles conjure happiness, the real magic of this warm and enchanting romance is found in the love the characters have for each other. A sweet treat for fans of Joanne Harris and Alice Hoffman." ―Louise Miller, author of The City Baker's Guide to Country Living

"Like a good piece of chocolate, Crispell's latest is sweet, without being cloying, and utterly satisfying. Perfect for fans of Sarah Addison Allen, this is a real treat of a novel." ― Colleen Oakley, author of Close Enough to Touch

About the Author

SUSAN BISHOP CRISPELL earned a BFA in creative writing from the University of North Carolina – Wilmington. Susan lives and writes near Wilmington, NC with her husband and their two literary-named cats.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B073TSYCN7
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Griffin (February 6, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 6, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.5 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 262 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 157 ratings

About the author

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Susan Bishop Crispell

Susan Bishop Crispell

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Susan Bishop Crispell earned a BFA in creative writing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Born and raised in the mountains of Tennessee, she now lives twenty minutes from the beach in North Carolina with her husband and their two cats, Whisky and Orkney. She is very fond of baked goods and is always on the lookout for hints of magic in the real world. Susan is the author of women's fiction novels The Secret Ingredient of Wishes (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press) and Dreaming in Chocolate (St. Martin's Griffin), which was selected as a SIBA Okra pick Winter 2018, and the upcoming young adult novel The Holloway Girls (June 2022, Sourcebooks Fire).

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
157 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the touching story and find it enjoyable. They describe the book as a good read with well-developed characters and settings. Readers appreciate the magical realism and believable characters. The imagery and descriptions of chocolate are perfect.

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Story qualityReadabilityChocolate contentCharacter developmentRealism
9 customers mention "Story quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story. They find the writing beautiful and enchanting from the first page. The premise is interesting, and they appreciate the characters and setting. The book brings them joy and provides an escape from their everyday reality.

"Lots of loose ends - maybe for the next book? Interesting premise but needed an ending that brought the story to a close" Read more

"...The story was very touching, and I loved how the town was all so connected in their concern for Ella, which made Penelope's decisions so..." Read more

"A deliciously yummy love story. A bit of magic, chocolate, and 8 year old Ella with her wishes; I think you may fall in love with this book." Read more

"I fell in love with both the characters and the setting of this story. While heartbreaking at times, the novel never felt heavy...." Read more

6 customers mention "Readability"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable, with well-developed secondary characters. They say it's an enjoyable way to pass a few days.

"...It was a lovely way to spend a couple days!! I fell in love with Sabina, Penelope, Ella and Noah and wish them all the best!!" Read more

"...The characters, including the secondary characters, were well done and felt whole...." Read more

"...Such a wonderful, cozy read. From the first scene I had the same feeling as I do when watching Gilmore Girls...." Read more

"Loved this as much as the first book. If you like Sarah Addison Allen’s novels, give this author a try" Read more

5 customers mention "Chocolate content"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's chocolate content. They find it immersive, with magical chocolate and apothecary tables.

"...over the weekend and found myself immersed in this world where magical chocolate and apothecary tables are part of the everyday...." Read more

"A deliciously yummy love story. A bit of magic, chocolate, and 8 year old Ella with her wishes; I think you may fall in love with this book." Read more

"...joy, a great escape from my non-magical reality and, well, lots of chocolate cravings...." Read more

"...Does the magical chocolate help, or not? Very enjoyable story." Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the character development and setting. They appreciate the magical realism and quirky characters and towns.

"...I love the southern charm, the magical realism, and the quirky people and towns...." Read more

"...I love the world that Susan created and the rich tapestry of characters. I can't wait to read more from her. Buy this. You're gonna love it!" Read more

"I fell in love with both the characters and the setting of this story. While heartbreaking at times, the novel never felt heavy...." Read more

"I adore this book! The characters are so dynamic and believable, and I was enchanted from the first page!..." Read more

3 customers mention "Realism"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's realism. They find the southern charm, magical realism, and quirky characters believable. The imagery and descriptions are perfect for them.

"Magic and realism make a perfect blend in this story of a mother and daughter facing the girl's serious illness...." Read more

"...I love the southern charm, the magical realism, and the quirky people and towns...." Read more

"...As a chocolate lover, the imagery and the descriptions are perfect. Definitely read this! You won't be disappointed." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Rachel Dacus
    5.0 out of 5 stars Magic + realism + serious illness = a heart-tugging, page-turning read
    Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Magic and realism make a perfect blend in this story of a mother and daughter facing the girl's serious illness. The mother crosses hope off her list while her young daughter adds bucket list items to hers. I was fascinated to see how the story would balance these two opposite perspectives on the situation, and how destiny might intervene, whether or not the magic was part of the resolution. An un-put-downable book that reminded me of Gilmore Girls with a more serious theme. Highly recommend it for fans of Sarah Addison Allen and other magical realism novels.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good book up to the abrupt ending
    Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Lots of loose ends - maybe for the next book?
    Interesting premise but needed an ending that brought the story to a close
    Helpful
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  • iron cupcake
    5.0 out of 5 stars magic + chocolate + hope
    Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I may not have been ready for this book when I first bought it, because it took me a while to warm up to it!

    But it was cold and I curled up on the couch over the weekend and found myself immersed in this world where magical chocolate and apothecary tables are part of the everyday.

    It was a lovely way to spend a couple days!! I fell in love with Sabina, Penelope, Ella and Noah and wish them all the best!!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Barbara Verster
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected
    Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    It seems rather shallow that a mother will find a love affair amidst her daughter being ill. It would have been more congruent if she quit her job and her daughter's school and focus on her bucket list.
    It had a nice ending though.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • ls_reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Something to Savor
    Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I've been a fan of Susan Bishop Crispell since reading The Secret Ingredient of Wishes last year. I love the southern charm, the magical realism, and the quirky people and towns. I'm also a fan of Sarah Addison Allen, and her writing is very much in the same vein.

    In this novel, we spend our time in the fictional town of Malarkey, where we get to fall in love with Penelope and her terminally ill daughter Ella. Penelope and her mother run a chocolate shop, aided by a magic producing apothecary table. The strong-willed table gives them the ingredients they need to run the shop, but also what they need to learn and grow and change.

    Penelope is doing as well as she can given her situation until Noah comes back to town- the man who broke her heart many years ago, and is also Ella's father. We join Penelope as she wrestles with the ideas of loss, love and fate, and whether hearts can be mended and futures can be changed.

    I highly recommend settling in with this book, a cozy blanket and a side of something chocolate. It's something to savor.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • R.M. Schieffelbein
    5.0 out of 5 stars Touching, Magical Story
    Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This was a lovely book. Crispell's writing is beautiful and magical. The characters, including the secondary characters, were well done and felt whole. The story was very touching, and I loved how the town was all so connected in their concern for Ella, which made Penelope's decisions so understandable.
    I'd definitely recommend this one, and am looking forward to more from Crispell.
    Helpful
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  • Pamela J. Gardner
    4.0 out of 5 stars A deliciously yummy love story. A bit of magic
    Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A deliciously yummy love story. A bit of magic, chocolate, and 8 year old Ella with her wishes; I think you may fall in love with this book.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Leslie Gail
    5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful Read!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I listened to this on audio book, then went back and bought the physical book because I loved it so much! Such a wonderful, cozy read. From the first scene I had the same feeling as I do when watching Gilmore Girls. That magical feeling that amazing things are about to happen. I love the world that Susan created and the rich tapestry of characters. I can't wait to read more from her. Buy this. You're gonna love it!
    Helpful
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