Until ‘Chocolatier’s Wife’ I don’t believe I’d ever read a cozy before, and I’m glad I did. Speer has very strong characterization. Part fantasy, part romance, part cozy, this is a wonderful novel to curl up with, holding a cup or two of hot chocolate. Be sure to make it yourself; you never know who your enemies are.
You can buy it here:
http://drolleriepress.com/books/
Here’s the synopsis:
Tasmin, William's wife to be, was chosen by a spell, as all wives and husbands are chosen. It's a nice, tidy way to find a reasonable mate for almost everyone. Unfortunately, Tasmin is from the North, a place of magic and strange ritual, and William is from the South, where people pride themselves on being above the kind of insanity practiced by the Northerners, which has nothing to do with the fact that most people in the South have lost their ability to practice magic.
William doesn't seem in a hurry to send for Tasmin, for which none of his family blame him. After all, she's a barbarian. She, on the other hand, would like to know what's keeping him. When he's framed for murdering his patron, Tasmin takes matters into her own hands, harnessing the wind to bring her to William's side. She's gotten to know Wiliam from his letters. He's not a murderer and she's going to help him prove it.
William, incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit is shunned by his family for the embarrassment, and for giving up the family shipping business for foolishness, and for saddling them with a Hag for a wife, which means he can't protect Tasmin from his family's cold dislike of his barbiaran wife-to-be--but that's not the worst of it.
Someone out there doesn't like him and is begining to dislike Tasmin almost as much, and that someone isn't at all averse to making sure William and Tasmin aren't around long enough to celebrate their wedding.
Tasmin, of course, has other plans.
Here’s what the reviewers said:
Amanda from Fiction eBook Review:
“This one is an excellent read for anyone who enjoys a good keep-you-on-your toes suspense novel. Throughout the whole book you will find yourself wondering who committed the crime…”
eBook Guru.org gave Cindy Lynn Speer’s The Chocolatier’s Wife their award for Best Fiction eBook for January 2009.
“This book was completely original in its story line, expressively written, and it draws the reader into the story right away. When I read this one, I quite honestly couldn’t put it down.”
Orange Blossom of The Long and The Short of It review:
“I love a good fantasy but throw in mystery, romance and even chocolate and I’m hooked. That’s exactly what you get in The Chocolatier’s Wife. Ms. Speer created an Exceptional Read.”
Mrs. Giggles review:
“I would heartily recommend this thing of beauty to anyone who likes a fantasy cozy mystery.”
Enjoy!