Secrets of the Chocolate House

This is the second book in the Found Things series, and I loved the first one so it was no surprise that I'd want to follow Xanthe further into her adventures! Now that they've settled fairly well into their new antique business, Xanthe and her mother Flora are becoming part of the fabric of the little town they live in. Of course, Xanthe's specialty is still in full force, and still allows her to hear stories from certain objects that she touches. It's no spoiler to let you know that she does indeed find a new item to take her back, once again, to the place she left behind. Back to the 17th century where goes, where she learns that there are others like her. Other “spinners”.

What fell short for me this time around was all the tiptoeing around that Xanthe had to do to complete her missions. I felt like Brackston had to spend more time making excuses for Xanthe's departures than felt necessary. On top of that, the idea of “spinners” is dangled in front of the reader, with a little more background given, but there wasn't as much forward movement as I would have liked. I loved the unrequited romance in the first book, but I'm ready for something new. I want to know who Xanthe descends from, and what her future will hold. This book read a lot slower for me than the first one.

Will I continue on, despite that? Absolutely. I'm too invested in this antique shop and its dealers not to.