Cathy Lamb, Julia's Chocolates

Julia's Chocolates

Cathy Lamb

Kensington, May 2007, $14.00

ISBN: 0758214626

Julia Bennett decides to flee her abusive fianc Robert before he seriously harms her physically, which he has already done mentally. She decides the best place to reflect on her life safely is her Aunt Lydia's farm near rural Golden, Oregon, where making chocolate has always been a relaxant for her. She knows an "inconvenienced" Robert eventually will come for her once he obtains Aunt Lydia's address from her mom hidden in Minnesota with her zillionth boyfriend, but Julia will not go with him.

Lydia welcomes her beloved niece and offers sanctuary while Julia tries to recoup her lost optimism. Lydia's warm friends also greet Julia as one of them. She and her circle of friends welcome Julia into their lives. As Julia begins to feel better about herself and her future, she makes friends and chocolate.

From the opening line of leaving her wedding dress on a tree in North Dakota to the climax, JULIA'S CHOCOLATES is a strong character study looking deep at a woman trying desperately to regain the hope she once had about life. The supporting females like Aunt Lydia and her friends add depth to the audience comprehending the demons eroding Julia's dreams. Contemporary fiction fans will appreciate this fine portrayal just go easy on the chocolates.

Harriet Klausner