~ What makes a heart-stopping romance? ~

I have just finished reading All for You by Laura Florand (2015). This is the first book I have read by her, and I was very impressed. The story is emotionally engaging, and heart-wrenching with the perfect happy ending.

Florand specializes in romances that take place at top level chocolatiers in Paris, France. You can’t beat the combination of chocolate, Paris, and a hero who won’t give up. Her first romance in her Chocolate series, The Chocolate Kiss, was named one of the top 100 swoon-worthy romances of all time.

The Story

All for You is Book 1 in the Paris Nights series and features a heroine, Célie, who is the top chocolate maker and a hero, Joss, who was her best friend growing up poor, but who left her of a sudden to join the French Foreign Legion because he didn’t feel worthy of her.

The crux of their problem is that by the time he comes back five years later, the heroine is not going to just fall into his arms. In fact, she is absolutely furious with him.

As she puts it:

Guys who screwed over a woman’s chance at happiness because they were so convinced they weren’t good enough did not earn any points in her book. All for You (Paris Nights Book 1) (p. 2).

While Joss has been off becoming the best man he can be, Celie has not been waiting around for him, but has worked hard to make something of herself. So, despite the fact that she’s never stopped loving him, she wants nothing to do with a man who doesn’t recognize her strength as a woman and who doesn’t get the point that he needs to communicate with her, not just assume he knows best. The tension builds as he persists, and she resists.

The Book’s Strengths

Florand has done an excellent job depicting a strong, communication-challenged man who loves deeply, lives to protect, and has a hard time opening himself up emotionally.

This quote summarizes his problem precisely:

He just didn’t know what to write to her. He never had. He always, always had needed to be that thing he needed to write, to be that thing there, next to her, touching her. What the hell was there to say? (p. 59).

The sexual attraction between the two is adeptly depicted against the romantic background of the Seine and the Eiffel Tower and builds slowly through Florand’s small sensory details.

She turned her head suddenly and kissed his hand covering hers. The touch of her lips lanced through him in ways he didn’t have the words to describe. A heat and hunger and sweetness that went so far beyond sex. (p. 113).

He ate a chocolate, his lips softening around the flavor. “Joss!” “Ah, this is where you got that chocolate on your skin.” His gaze moved over her face and lingered on her lips. “There’s a kick to it.” (p. 213)

The story is enriched by Florand’s detailed knowledge of French chocolate making and a cast of supportive and interesting secondary characters.

Why It Works

Based on my analysis, here are the four things that make this novel work so well.

One The setting is unique and expertly rendered

Two The love story is the focus of the plot, and the character flaws are perfectly matched. She fears being abandoned, because her parents and brother have left her. He fears being inadequate because he couldn’t support his mother as a young teen.

Three The sexual chemistry is enhanced through the use of chocolate and the slow build up of intimacy.

Four The hero’s grand gesture is rejected in the most heart-twisting way, because it is not the right gesture.

Altogether, this was a very satisfying read. I just hope that my next novel will approach the same emotional level.

To learn more about Laura Florand visit her website: http://lauraflorand.com

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I welcome your thought and comments.