The Chocolate Garden Paperback – August 2, 2014

After reading book 1, this is a fun book to read. Cute love story to see how someone who has been hurt gets through the pain and can learn to love again.

One of the casualties of Country Heaven, the first Dare River book, was Rye Crenshaw's sister, Tammy and her two children. Remaking her life with him and Tori in Nashville is a bit scary, but quite exciting for this ever-so-proper Southern lady. Her evolution of inner freedom is a delight to read and the moment when her younger sister discusses cutting her hose to pieces, a revolutionary act like bra burning in the 70s, I was dissolving in laughter.For me, the centerpiece of The Chocolate Garden was Tammy's inner transformation from down-trodden, stiff-upper-lip, country club wife to a woman of passion and confidence. Each step, from cutting her hair to choosing new clothes is lovingly depicted by Miles. Her ability to convey the societal strictures that had bound Tammy so tightly were most convincing - as was her portrait of Tammy's mother.Tammy's children had captured my heart in Country Heaven and it was wonderful to see them spreading their little wings here.But J.P. McGuiness (John Parker McGuiness) was the one who walked away with my heart. Oh my goodness, Ava Miles, you just keep writing the best book boyfriends any girl could wish for. Yes, this Nashville lawyer and college friend of Tammy's brother, is a guy any woman would want fighting on her side. It's clear from the opening pages of a wedding scene, that John Parker (as Tammy alone calls him) recognizes Tammy as his "one and only."To me, that recognition is the mark of a brave and secure man. I love reading romances where the alpha hero fears love and commitment, but what really sends my book heart into a flutter is when the alpha hero is secure within himself. Yes, John Parker is that man and I had faith in him, from the beginning, that somehow this story would have a happily-ever-after.There's plenty of conflict, between Tammy's desire to stand on her own, a crazy stalker, the search for the tabloid leak, and providing the children security when they feel their security ripped away. When Tammy and John Parker finally confront their desire for one another, oh my goodness, my eReader was sizzling!Just as a bit of fairy magic is invoked to solve some of these conflicts and encourage romance, I think Miles sprinkled a bit virtually on the pages as this story just swept me away. With each plant that was chosen, I'd imagine the fragrance. The songs sung? Yes, I think I heard music too.It's a real gifted writer who can achieve these magical leaps for a reader - and that's why with each book I add to my Ava Miles' bookshelf, I beam a bit inside. Yes, there's a shelf full of happiness in my eReader courtesy of Miles.(I received an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley for use in this review and purchased a personal copy for my permanent library.)

The Chocolate Garden is book two in the Dare River series by Ava Miles. It is just as interesting as book one and it keeps your interest. Sometimes book two of a series is not as good as the first one, however, Ava has managed to keep book two fresh and beautiful at the same time.Tammy redid Rye’s gardens as a favor to him; but it was more than that to her. She began to see herself as capable of doing something. She had been beaten down with verbal abuse and cowed by his hitting her. Now she envisions a business of her own, Visionary Gardening. She had talked to her Father about it and he agreed to help her get started. That came none too soon as at Rye’s wedding to Tory, Tammy began getting jobs. She also got jobs due to her having done the flowers for Rye’s wedding. Her first customer was to be John Parker McGuiness, lawyer, songwriter, and friend to Rye. He wants his gardens redone and wants to be her first client. What she doesn’t know at this time is that John Parker has fallen hard for Tammy.Amelia has a crush on Clayton, Rye’s friend, lawyer, and member of Rye’s management team. She makes sure he notices her at the wedding; but he refuses to dance with her. She is determined that he will be the one to take her virginity and tries again only to be rebuffed. She is carrying around a deadly secret. At least she thinks it is deadly for Tammy. She wishes she had not done something but it is too late to come clean.Tammy is determined to change herself. She doesn’t want to be like Mama and hurt everyone around her. She starts with cutting her hair and getting new clothes. She wants a house for herself and her children; but at the moment can’t afford one. She must get her business off the ground.Will she get her business off the ground? Will she ever know that John Parker has fallen for her? Will her children ever feel safe? Will she ever make up with Mama like she has with Rye? What is a chocolate garden? This fantastic book just gets better and better.

Although I haven't read the first Dare River book I don't think that really hampered this tale. There is enough information in this book that you know pretty much what happened in that book - probably enough that if you have read the first one you find it gets in the way of the story.It must be said that this is a very formulaic book and that there are little to no surprises within its pages. The characters aren't particularly interesting or even likeable. John Parker in particular comes across as a complete wet blanket who is far too in touch with his feminine side which makes the character completely one dimensional; in fact all the characters read as one dimensional.I did manage to complete the entire book but it was relegated to the bedtime slot so too a while to hack through it but I did get there - have to admit it did mean I went to sleep pretty quickly after going to bed instead of reading for far longer than I should. I am sure there are plenty of people out there who enjoy an uncomplicated romance with cardboard characters but I can definitely conclude that I am not one of them.

Having started the second book in this series I felt as if I had either miised some thing or there was a prequel to it. I took time to investigate and I found the first book in this series. Boy oh boy did I feel a real clutz., (Dare River Book 2) should have been a big enough clue.I enjoyed this family saga and look forward to reading the next instalment.I feel that most readers of continuous family story lines would appreciate same.

A lovely story, well written.Good characters, even the secondary characters have depth. Tammy is a single mum trying to regain her independence and look after her two children. Her brother is a great help to her but now it’s time for her to find her feet. A tale of letting go past hurts and being willing to love again.

This is book 2 in the series which will not disappoint.It is romantic and sweet and yet it brings into light the way many people feel after a divorce. There is a lot of truth to this book and it is well worth a read.I cannot wait to see what happens to Tammy.And will continue to read all Ava Miles books

I am enjoying reading the this series, but this shows how a heartfelt happening can be turned around, just needing courage, which if you have people prepared to do that helps. Domestic abuse is not a good thing to occur in any relationship, and when children are concerned it makes matters worse.