Truffles by the Sea by Julie Carobini

Book Synopsis: Gaby Flores has a penchant for drama and an unfortunate knack for dating Mr. So Wrong. After breaking off yet another relationship, watching her apartment building burn to the ground, and discovering that her dippy delivery guy has run off with most of her business, Gaby decides it’s time to turn things around.

So she moves to a tiny waterfront loft and takes on a new motto: “Be gullible no more!” With help from her friends, she works to rebuild her flower shop—and her life. But when legal troubles and quirky neighbors and two surprising romances enter her beachy world, Gaby’s motto and fledgling faith are put to the test.

My Review: I will never forget the time I tried chocolate in Belgium. Up to that point in my life, I thought I had tasted chocolate, but it was nothing compared to the treasure that awaited me in the Belgian chocolate shops. I was craving some of those yummy delights while I read this book!

I read and enjoyed Julie's debut novel, Chocolate Beach, but I feel she really comes into her own in this, her follow up novel Truffles by the Sea.

We are first introduced to the character of Gaby in Chocolate Beach and I knew from that novel that I would enjoy her story. I wasn't wrong. Gaby is the perfect sort of chick lit character, full of life and zest and heaps of bad luck! She longs to get her life to that place she envisions but everytime she turns around something else unfortunate occurs. She gets by with a little help from her truffles. :) Truly it's quite a fun book that will make you wish you lived on the beach.

The prose is strong in this book and the humor quick and delightful. I enjoy Julie's writing style, and I feel that Gaby's voice really comes through in this book. This can sometimes be a challenge when you read an author's blog, (as I do Julie's) since you see pieces of them in their books and the voices of their characters but I had no problem with that. I even met Julie this weekend while she was on book tour and she is absolutely lovely! I would like to tell you just how lovely she is...she is giving away chocolate this week on her blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And a copy of her book. So if you're interested in reading this book and maybe winning some chocolate, please stop by her blog and leave a comment, she'll be choosing one winner each day.