Emma works in a candy shop, The Sweetery, that her late father owned and now her step-mother wants to sell it to a conglomerate. Emma loves the store and would love to own it and stay in the little lakeside town where she lives and where the store is located.

Several things conspire to make it possible for Emma to buy the store, but standing in the way are also several things that might spoil her plan, including a painting whose worth is in question and a homeless mom and her son who turn out to be more of a blessing than a curse in the end.

This book is populated with the kinds of people you would expect to find in a small town where everyone knows everyone else. Emma has lots of friends who would like to see her succeed and take ownership of the candy shop, but are there enemies in the background, hoping to see her fail?

Emma runs into one obstacle after another and finding ways to overcome these obstacles makes up for the most interesting parts of this book. There are some twists and turns here, too. All in all, an enjoyable mystery with a feel-good ending.

I was given an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A nice read that takes place in a candy shop.
I would recommend this book.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review from Net Galley.

This is a easy and quick read with lots of emotion and a good plot. I didn't know this was part of a series but I enjoyed this one enough that I am going to read the other ones. I definitely recommend this book. It kept my interest enough that I read it in one setting.

Thanks Net Galley for allowing to read this book for honest review.

This was a heartbreaking story. Emma is a kind hearted person who is always trying to help others. It has not always gone well but she can’t help but try to help. She finds a woman and her son sleeping in a car looking like she has been assaulted. Emma steps in to help.
Emma’s life has been difficult. She lost her fiancé over 10 yrs ago and still has not tried to get back out there. She was raised by her father and a step mother, when her father died her step mother Gillian takes her to her grandmother to raise her. Gillian has never been loving towards her and she stands in her way from taking over her fathers chocolate store.
Emma tried to get a loan but nothing is falling into place.
Will Emma ever be able to get past the lose of her fiancé? Will Emma be able to secure a loan to purchase the chocolate store? Will Emma put her self at risk by helping the woman and her son?

It was a well written story with real emotion and a surprise or two.

A sweet book, engrossing and entertaining.
I loved the plot, the cast of characters and the setting.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Emma has always been one to help anyone who needed anything, but she herself didn't like to ask, or wouldn't ask. Her step mother was going to sell the candy store that Emma's father had begun so many years ago. Perhaps if people would learn to say what they meant, instead of leaving innuendos unchallenged life would be simpler - but then again, there wouldn't be any point to this book. However, I Ioved the book. = please pass the chocolate!

I didn’t realize this was part of a series when I started reading this book. It was fun, sad, a bit romantic and had a little mystery thrown in too. I really enjoyed the story and will search for more in this series. Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union publishers for the early copy!

There is no way a book set in a candy shop could be bad....this was an easy, enjoyable read. A picture wanted so badly by a couple, they are willing to buy it for $20,000...why? Will it be sold, what secrets does this painting hold? The answers are between the pages!

My thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Emma didn’t have the easy childhood and her adulthood isn’t going much better. Her loving father, owner of the Sweetery, died suddenly of a heart attack when she was young. Her step-mother wasn’t the most loving person in the world and left Emma to be raised by her grandmother, who was a wonderful and loving person. Now her step-mother wants to sell the chocolate shop where Emma works. This causes a number of problems for Emma, with no straight-forward solutions.
This story could just be a bit of fluff. However, it is well-crafted with a variety of storylines interwoven. Emma also has some interesting personality traits, like the need to help everyone she meets. All of this is pulled together to create enough tension but with a satisfying resolution.

A easy and cosy read,simple storyline but well presented,you can't help but fall in love with the character's,either you love them or hate them like Gillian,the stepmother.
A nice holiday read,.

This book was a quick read. It did not have a great deal of depth; the storyline was very easy to follow. I enjoyed it.