Chocolate Books

12 Secrets fills a big need for creatively-bent women to hear how other creative women become successful following their inspirations and fascinations. Because I didn't have a strong creative female role model who earned a living at her craft growing up, this book inspired me to push on with my creative endeavors with helpful 'challenges' to personally work through and understanding what creative cycles are, how to conquer 'saboteurs', and transcending rejections and roadblocks. My copy is so marked up with highlighting and notes in the margins. Great quotes throughout. Thank you Gail for writing this book-we need more enlightened creative women to channel more inspiring voices like this book-

McMeekin's book is a must for all who feel frustrated and stuck in their career. She takes you step by step through a process that helps you define your needs, your desires, and tap into your own creativity...you. Eight women read it as part of our book club and more than half of us are expanding our paths as a result. Incredible!

This is the best book I've read on the creative process, and as a creativity coach, I've read a lot of them. This is one of the very few 'self-help' books that I have read in its entirety, and I've gone back and reread it several times.
If you're looking for inspiration and a path to emerge as your authentic creative self, this is the book for you. Full of honest stories of women who have thrived creatively, The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women is an A-Z source book for navigating the ups and downs of the creative life.
I can't recommend it enough! Thanks to Gail for writing such a powerful book that holds up very well years after publication.

This is a wonderful book for any person struggling with career decisions. McMeekin provides the tools for rediscovering one's inner needs in a simple step-by-step manner. Her vignettes provided real life situations that anyone in that position can identify with. McMeekin guides you to your own true path. The book was truly an inspiration!

I've read many self help books but this one was different. McMeekin is an inspiration for all who feel locked into a path that doesn't fulfill. I highly recommend this book. It has truly changed my life and my priorities.

I took this book as my reading for a trip to NYC from Houston. Time flew by! There are gorgeous pictures-check out her blog too! I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to try the recipes :)

Beatifully written. I would love to be one of the author's neighbours or friends and be invited to try her creations and experiments. She overflows with warmth and generosity ... we could all learn alot from her, and not just how to cook and eat well.

This book is a great read as is anything to do with chocolate. Also a bonus of great healthy recipes. All round worth a 5 star rating.

This book is great and Clotilde is an interesting writer. She has written the book as a novel and that makes it so, so interesting. Makes you want to cook and feed your friends. Congratulations Clotilde!!

"Chocolate & Zucchini" is an entertaining combination of Clotilde Dusoulier's thoughts on food, cooking, and the Parisian lifestyle, and recipes chosen to reflect that lifestyle in a way American audiences can recreate. For my own tastes (so to speak), I could have done with more discussion and fewer recipes, but I certainly cannot complain. For one thing, it sounds like her forthcoming second book is more along those lines. And for another, these recipes are quite good -- I made the Biscuits Très Chocolate (p. 229) for a friend's birthday present, and they were very well received.

The author is a charming, and dare I say "sweet," guide, with a command of English that transcends mere fluency to being distinctive and very personal. One of the reasons I wished there was more personal narrative was because I liked that voice. Good thing we have her blog -- and, as I said, her next book. I'm looking forward to getting into that as soon as I can. Perhaps with a plate of biscuits très chocolate.

It's like being in school - fantastic book. Great educational book. It's a wonderful learning tool.

As a culinary student, my chocolates and confections class instructor relied heavily on this book to teach us recipes and techniques. My team has yet to fail in any of our candy making endeavors. :)

Part food-porn, and all instructional, if you're serious about making the best ganaches, chocolates and confections, look no further. This book is absolutely indespensible.

My wife wanted this for Valentine's Day. It went over swimmingly. She's a bit of a cooking freak. I can't vouch for the contents of this book, but it's managed to give her ambitions to be an artisan chocaltier.

This book is a little pricey, but you get what you pay for. I am getting into the chocolate business and have a recent certificate in chocolate making. Of all of the books I have read on chocolate making, this one has the best lay out and photographs. The how to sections are easily read for the amateur but very comprehensive for those wishing to read further.

Excellent book. Lots of technical detail for those readers who enjoy such information. The recipes are not for the faint-of-heart, and some should be considered "expert" level. All will take plenty of practice to perfect. Nevertheless, this is one of the best books I have on making chocolates.

WOW! What an amazing book! If you are looking for guidance, support, understanding, encouragement or just someone who has REALLY been there, Joyce Schneider and this book are for you!! You won't get a one way ticket to guilt island, just a real life person willing to share her past and life experiences and ultimately a "recipe" for a sweeter life than you could have ever dreamed possible! Thank you Joyce for not being ashamed to tell your story! It inspires me to empty my dark closet of secrets and gives me a desire to not only seek forgiveness, but permission to forgive myself!!

When I first saw the title, Chili and Chocolate Cake and realized the meaning behind it (Sunday church nights) I became familiar with my own special place I have in my church and particularly the church I grew up in. The book is not only a pure and honest account of the authors life, but it brought us readers drawn to the innocence of the author and her wanting to share her spritual growth and her path that took her there. This book is great for young teens, kids going off to college, and parents to understand and find their own spiritual path.

I love the fact that the author, Joyce, uses her life in a way that touches your heart and brings you to see God through her eyes and her heart. She is vulnerable and yet so strong, as she experiences God through her everyday experiences. God has definitely used her to communicate His love to all of us. A great read!

This book has forever blessed my life! Not only can I personally relate to so many of the topics that Joyce talks about, it truly ministered to me in so many areas that I had "swept under the carpet". Healing through the Word of God is the key to living a life FULL of peace and joy...and this book walks you through that. So many times, we tend to turn to things or to people to try and fill the "holes" that we have created...but there is ONE who will take you in His loving arms and make you feel complete...like no other can. Joyce, thank you so much for sharing the words that God has given you. Your book has helped me in more ways than I can ever tell you!! And God, thank YOU for this amazing woman who uses the precious gifts You have given her to help a hurting world. Please bless her Father!! I love you Joyce!! AN AMAZING BOOK!!!!!!!!!!

Joyce is a living testimony of what God can do and wants to do in our lives. She was willing to give it ALL to God and in return she now has the freedom we all strive for!! Lets all take a lesson from Joyce and put our complete TRUST IN GOD and let God heal us from our past!!!! Great book Joyce!!!!

Rhett DeVane has written a gem with The Madhatter's Guide to Chocolate. Her descriptive phrases put the reader completely into the scene, experiencing the smells, tastes, and emotions on every page. The title may be a tad misleading; it is not a cookbook, although there ARE delicioius recipes scattered throughout. A thoroughly delightful read.

Mary Thomas Acton

The Madhatter's Guide to Chocolate is a wonderful mix of Southern Charm and modern day relationships. The reader is captivated with the forgiving heart that overcomes bigotry; and how the greatest insights into life can come from the mentally ill. The characters in this incredible story are so real I had to keep reminding myself this book was fiction.

First of all, I could not resist a title with "guide to chocolate" in it. And I was not disappointed; I loved the chapters starting with insightful quotes and chocolate recipes.

All of that was a brilliant introduction to the next part of the story, which is so wonderfully told you can almost hear the storyteller's voice. The characters are quirky yet real, the town different yet average ... the story captured me and took me on a delightful journey that kept me laughing in between tears.

I highly recommend this novel and look forwarded to Devane's next.

DeVane has done a superb job in weaving a story that tickles and prickles all the senses. I laughed, cried, got angry, and felt frustrated with some of her characters. I feel like I would know the characters if I met them on the street. As a matter of fact, I have met some of them. They are in the neighborhood and in the market place.
I look forward to reading her next book and hope she has several others in the series.
Genesis

While this is strictly a work of fiction, the town of Chattahoochee is real. In fact, it is the town in which author Rhett Devane lived as a child. From the "about the author" insert: "Rhett DeVane is a true southerner, born and raised in the piney woods of the north Florida panhandle. Originally from Chattahoochee, Florida, she now lives in Tallahassee where she is completing a series of southern fiction novels. Rhett is owned by two cats, Sisko and Saki, and a rescued Florida Cracker Retriever named Shelly." With every ounce of her Florida background invested in the characters of this novel, DeVane has brought to life a charming group of individuals and a tale that is at once funny, sad and everything in between.

Welcome to Chattahoochee, Florida. Welcome to Hattie's world where her home town's claim to fame is the nearby mental institution. For Hattie Davis, getting out of rural northern Florida had not come soon enough. But, when she returns to her childhood home of Chatthoochee for her mother's funeral, her view of the town has changed, her view of life has changed. In fact, Hattie has changed.

As a young girl, Hattie spent many hours at her father's small-town hardware store. It was here that she first became aware of Max the Madhatter as he was called. This eccentric resident of the local mental institution paid frequent visits to the hardware store - observing the father and child...observing life outside the confines of the institution. And making frequent entries in his notebook. With childhood innocence and unconditional acceptance of Mr. Max, Hattie befriended the man who would one day be the force behind a great change in Hattie and the town of Chattahoochee.

Mr. Max looked forward to the gift of a chocolate bar from Mr. Davis on his trips to the hardware store. Mr. Max had more than a passing fancy for chocolate although it would be years before Hattie would realize the extent of his obsession and how it would impact her own adult life.

At the reading of her mother's will, not only did Hattie learn that she had inherited far more than she realized her mother had saved, but she became the owner of a tattered gray notebook. The family attorney indicated that the notebook had been in with her parents' papers and although he had no idea what the significance of the notebook was, he knew that it was meant for Hattie. On the front of the notebook, in handwritten block letters the words "TO MY FRIEND, MR. DAN DAVIS AND HIS SWEET CHILD HATTIE." It was Max the Madhatter's notebook.

Even after looking into the notebook, Hattie was not quite sure what to make of it until her childhood friend Jake reminded her of its original owner. "It's Max the Madhatter's private notebook... He was one of those patients that had town privileges back during the sixties. He used to hang out at your daddy's store... He wasn't mental, just kind of slow. You know, they used to lock 'em up when the family didn't want them and they had nowhere else to go. He'd been a patient his whole life...Some of those Florida State Hospital records had diagnoses like idiot or moron. I remember Max the Madhatter helping out around town doing odd jobs. People would pay him in chocolate. That was his passion. He used to scribble constantly in a notebook he carried around all the time. No one had any idea what he was writing. or if he could even write at all."

The notebook was filled with sketches, descriptions of the merchants from the downtown area for whom Max worked for chocolate, and lots of chocolate recipes. A treasure trove for the chocolate lover in everyone! This book is filled with excerpts from Max's notebook ... and the recipes that are sprinkled through out the pages of the book add to its charm.

Just as endearing as the chocolate recipes with names like " Aunt Piddie Longman's Best Damn Chocolate Icing" and "Sweet Chocolate Treats for the Youngin's" are the clips of writing from Max himself... proof that he was by no means an illiterate man or a man of impaired understanding of the world around him. Quite the contrary!

"Excerpt from Max the Madhatter's Notebook: July 4, 1959: 'I see the map of a person's life written on him like a see-through film. Not always, but often, for just a brief blink of time. Hidden secrets glow like the light from a dim candle - buried deep. Secrets ready to rise up and cause hurt. Or heal it.'"

With Hattie's inheritance, Jake's ideas, and the Madhatter's recipes as the spark needed to light a creative fire, Jake and Hattie become business partners and work to bring new life to the old downtown area of their childhood home.

When an unspeakable crime is carried out against Jake, Hattie's resolve becomes even stronger. Returning to Chattahoochee and establishing herself there permanently is of utmost importance. As the events unfold, Hattie learns to accept life in a small town as a challenge and a gift rolled into one. With the help of other local merchants, she and Jake become instrumental in breathing new life into the old town. In doing so, she finds a peace she never knew she was capable of experiencing.

"From the Madhatter's notebook: May 14, 1957: 'Why are so many people looking for peace? All you have to do is look inside. I guess if you have your insides right, the rest will follow.'" Apparently Max the Madhatter knew the secret all along.

This is a delightful read that, while holding its fair share of tragedy and twists of fate, is sure to leave its reader with a "feel good" attitude when the final page is read.

by Lee Ambrose
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

The author tells us, in a whispered and poetic voice, an intimate story of her search for love and chocolate across continents and years. On the way, we learn how love and chocolate conspire to fuel her odyssey. Bittersweet Journey's end reveals that, at least for Charlotte, you can go home again.

Thank you, thank you for the incredible experience of having a book, in its simplicity, tenderly assault one's senses in so many ways. I feel completely saturated, utterly spiritually fulfilled, and terribly well fed.

Like a fine truffle this book seems best consumed in one or two bites ... marvelous bites. The text is the most poetic prose I have read in some time, and the stunning photographs (also by the author) make the various chocolates as delicious, alive and sensuous as the book's heroine, Charlotte. I found the "journey" hauntingly appealing. It is alternately nostalgic, melancholy, exciting, intriguing, fulfilling ... but always permeated by an atmosphere of longing and the "bittersweet."

It is also a most unique and sophisticated book. The chocolate stands as both metaphor and solid object in the writing, with recipes for some of its delicacies spelled out in an appendix. The design of the book and its pages is beautiful, unusual and clever: a perfect complement to the text. Yet it is one of the rare cases where the whole seems even greater than some very high-quality parts. A delicious book.

Deep questions are looked at and lived .Wisdom gained by walking the razor's edge is on on nearly every page .

I know several people who need these questions explored and I'm glad there is this book to recommend.

There is more than enough chocolate lore and lust for anyone...and who thought there ever COULD be enough?

Fnid Futterman understands .

Also having Ms Futterman's own photos illustrate her journey added, on many levels, a wholeness of vision .

Chocolate is itself... and a metaphor for much.

This book will take you as deep as you want to go and most likely futher than you thought possible

It's deep fun.

The photography, the story, the knowledge of chocolate -- altogether Enid Futterman's Bittersweet Journey is a delight for all the senses. Perhaps the first of its kind, it is a visual novel, and it is just beautiful. In this deliciously rich and psychologically profound piece of work, the photography is every bit as evocative as the narrative.

It is the story of a woman sprung loose from her marriage who begins an obsessive journey to find the right man via the great capitals of chocolate. Sampling love the way she samples truffles, Charlotte scours Vienna, Munich, Zurich, Brussels, London, Paris, Hawaii, New York and New Hapshire (where the most delicious real ganache is housed in the unlikely bodies of chocolate mice) finding bad boys and beautiful chocolates to arouse her.

But most significantly, Bittersweet Journey is the story of journey into the interior of a woman, a dark tour of the female psyche where longing and love are indistinguishable. Enid Futterman writes in a sharp, spare, deeply poetic way that is reminiscent of Jean Rhys and Marguerite Duras, and comes up with something that will resonate in the heart, mind and palate for a long time to come.

If you're buying books on chocolate, this one should be in your collection.
Lovely

I have learned a lot about how chocolate is created with this book. I have not tried the recipes yet but I have learnt what going into making chocolate. From selecting the beans to fermentation... I also like how the book give some nice tidbits about the history of chocolate such as how Devil's Food cake got its name and how Hershey started out.

This is an excellent book with great recipes. It is well
worth buying. I loved it. Here are two men who have a
passion that is translated into a well written book that makes
you want to delve into their passion as well and bake.

I would like to rate the book separating the story from the recipes and the artwork. The story is just amazing, how John and Robert started Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker from nothing an how they learned about chocolate.It just leaves you with a really bitter aftertaste when you learn they sold their factory to a huge company that never specialized in fine chocolates. Sad.
As far as the recipes, there is a mix: some very simple and some very sophisticated. The good thing is that, because of the way they are presented, you don't need to be a pastry chef to be able to make them. It's one of those books that make you want to cook, it doesn't scare you.The photos are impressive.

Memoir: minus two stars. Reason: too disappointing they sold it, it just doesn't fit the story, such hard work, why selling it? To Hersheys!!! Unforgivable.

Recipes: 4 stars. Reason: some of them are confusing when it comes to ingredients, and the "Dulce de leche" one is SO sad it's even insulting. They could have done a better job at researching how to make good "Dulce de leche", it is not too hard.

What a beautiful book! I pretty much collect cookbooks and I definitely have my favorites. I had my eye on this one but I stopped myself from making the purchase (well... at least for a while). I am glad I did finally break down and buy it. Besides it being a truly beautiful book, it is filled with the inspiring story of how one can turn a tragedy around and how 2 people could do so much in such a short period of time (in the chocolate world). The recipes and pictures are truly inspiring. A lot of love went into this book!

How marvelous to see this wonderful cookbook back in print. I have an original hardcover, stained and old and with a broken binding - but that shows the hard use it has seen over the years. I love desserts, and I love chocolate - but I have other chocolate cookbooks that almost never get opened. When I think "chocolate" this is always the first, and usually the only, cookbook to come out.

I have never had a bad choice made from this cookbook. Some can be a bit complicated in the making, like the incredible Sept. 7th Cake, but are well worth it in the end.

But probably the biggest part of the charm, to me, are all the wonderful anecdotes about each recipe. Just reading them makes we want to try the recipes out as a mere list of ingredients never would. I'm sorely tempted to buy myself a a new fresh copy of this book.

I gave this to my sister in law who is a very good cook, and I know she has lots of cookbooks, but I thought this seemed like the quintessential book on chocolate. (I also was secretly hoping she'd experiment with some of the recipes, and that I could be one of the taste testers!)
I think she seemed pleased with the book, and mentioned that is covers rudimentary tips, as well as, more complicated recipes.

It is one of the best written cookbooks with regard to instructions ansd the reciope for chocolate expresso ice cream is worth the price of the book.
cincinnatus

I received this book many years ago at my Sweet Sixteen birthday party. I was already a pretty good cook, but I credit this book with taking me to the next level.

What is truly special about this book is that the author takes her time to tell us things other cookbook writers don't. First, she gives us a lovely introduction to each recipe, including where it comes from, and what to expect from it. That certainly saves the home cook much time and effort trying recipes that might not be a good match. She tells us at beginning of each one which desserts are moist, dense, light, easy, challenging, sweet, less-sweet, etc. Which means that I was able to zero in on the recipes which were most likely to match what I or my guests like.

Second, she discusses choices of equipment and ingredients, both in an introductory chapter and then again throughout. And unlike other gourmet cookbooks which are sometimes inflexible, she is frank about choices and substitutions, and when it's o.k. to use less costly or more readily available ingredients.

And third, she doesn't assume that the home cook has training as a pastry chef, which means she includes details like how & why to temper your eggs, how to arrange the oven racks for a particular recipe, and which way of preparing your spring-form pan will work best with this particular recipe.

And lastly, she ends most recipes with ideas for alternate forms of the same recipe, either in suggested ingredient substitutions, or alternative prep methods, or variant presentation.

As a result, this is a hefty book, and many recipes take up several pages. The first chocolate chip cookie recipe itself is 3 full pages long. (There are eleven chocolate chip cookie recipes to choose from!)

Many (!) years later, when I see friends from high school, they still talk about the chocolate desserts I made from recipes in this fabulous cookbook.

I bought it when it was first available back in the early 80s and all the recipes are really great. But first among equals is the Toblerone Milk Chocolate Mousse - I regularly double the recipe and it never fails to please.

I found this book to be very useful. It was a pleasure to read, fun actually. It helped me to finally take off the last few pounds I was trying to lose. I am a physician and found Dr. Jampolis's approach so easy, that I have recommended it to many of my patients. I like the simple recipes. Her tips on traveling and eating out are great. The information about cholesterol and diet is teriffic, too. Keep at it Dr. Jampolis.

Thank you Dr. Melina for this incredibly user-friendly book. I have always been interested in nutrition, eating healthy and maintaining a healthy weight, and I became very frustrated when, after having my kids, I couldn't get rid of that last 5-7 pounds despite perfectly adhering to Weight Watchers and calorie counting etc.

I finally met with a nutritionist who helped me create a lifelong way of eating that didn't involve counting calories or obsessing about points etc. I was able to lose the last 5 pounds and have kept it off. After seeing Dr. Melina on local TV, I was curious and bought her book. I was so pleased to find that her guidelines and principles are very similar to those that my nutritionist laid out to me. She presents these very sound principles in such an easy-to-follow way that I have been recommending her book to friends and patients in my practice.

Her principles will be helpful to anyone, whether you feel like you know everything about nutrition (I thought I did) or whether you're starting from scratch and want to start leading a healthier lifestyle. Dr. Melina is a physician who has dedicated her practice to nutrition, which engenders so much confidence in me as I read through her book. And this is also a way of eating that you will take with you for the rest of your life.

I have watched Dr. Jampolis on Tv for years and was excited when she wrote this book. It is very informative and helped me greatly!

This book/diet is wonderful and very easy to incorporate into your busy schedule. Not to mention is small enough to carry around on vacations and to the office. Highly recommend it to anyone!!

For any one who has fought or is fighting the battle of the bulge ,The No Time to Lose Diet by Dr Jampolis is a MUST READ. It emphasizes permanent life style changes addressing behavior, exercise and nutrition. It gives realistic and attainable ways for not only losing weight but most importantly maintaining weight loss. It's doable for those who have hectic lives, are always on the go,juggling work, family and community responsibilities and still want to feel and look good. It deals with daily challenges faced in the real world and has strategies to over come them that can be incorporated into your life to achieve a healthier better you. I highly recommend it.

This is my second book by ms.arnold and i am quite pleased with this book. It was well written, the characters were defined and easy to relate to.Although i was suprised that the main character had a gay friend.The romance bettween Oliva and Andre is something women long for.

Thank God for Andre. His patience, love, and understanding should be sprinkled amongst a lot of men I know. I loved is sense of humor, his "foreplay" and his willingness to protect his woman.

I didn't like the ending, wrapped up too nicely.

Chocolate Friday is a serious must-read. The story centers around a professor, Olivia, and her hilarious/quirky journey to discovering her sensual self. The storyline will definitely keep you in stitches, and in lust. LOL.

Book Description: THE NECESSARY HUNGER! A foreign phrase to sedate English professor, Olivia Anderson, unless one were referring to food and such. However, Olivia learns the erotic meaning when she's enticed to take a walk on the wild side and attends an all male revue with a distinct urban edge. There, hidden desires are brought forth especially by one dancer known only as Flava. Returning from her adventure only slightly singed, Professor Anderson gets the shock of her life the first day of the semester when none other than Flava is sitting front and center in her classroom. From that point on, Olivia's world becomes a roller coaster ride of self-discovery where she will either face her deepest fears and possibly discover the love of her life...or endure great anguish.

Purchased during a book-buying-burst as part of my holiday down-time reading (ha), this book, to my horror, sat on my shelf 4 months before I finally read it. I found Chocolate Friday to be a magnificent chocolate treat. This book is a kin to the finest dark chocolate - rich, flavorful, not too sweet, just a little decadent, and oh so satisfying. The story of English professor Olivia Anderson and Andre "Flava" Flaven is more than a wonderful well-told romance. It captures and incorporates a little of the feel of campus life and politics; it has humor, passion, "flava" - not just flavor, and depth within a quick enjoyable read. Olivia learns, among other things, that you can't judge a book by its cover. The story incorporates love and patience from what initially appears to be an unlikely source with solid, supportive family and friends to assist Olivia on her journey to personal growth and ultimately a much more gratifying life. I loved this book from the sexy, humorous beginning to the passionate, amusing center until the loving, witty end. This book was one treat I had to share with friends.

I am truly a chocolate lover so this just put a little "FLAVA" into my already healthy appetite for the dessert. What a wonderful story, I loved the story just from reading the back cover. Olivia was a beautiful, intelligent thick sister who was all that plus some, she struggled with a demon but "FLAVA" helped her to work it out with buckets full of tender loving care. "DRE" what can I say but YUMMY. He was truly a dream, a man who knew what he wanted and went after it. This is a must read. Edwina Martin-Arnold is a wonderful writer. I would recommend this book and all her additional titles as well.