Synopses & Reviews
When their beloved father died suddenly, authors Frances and Ginger Park (To Swim Across the World) comforted themselves with chocolates and mused on opening a confectionery shop with their small inheritance. The idea felt right to them--"a shop our late father would've loved just by virtue of its contents: chocolates and daughters"--and despite their inexperience, they decide to go for it, with their mother as silent partner. In 1984, on the day f their Washington, D.C., store, named Chocolate Chocolate, opened, they already were beset with difficulties, from crumbling walls and cracking floors installed by a shoddy, shady contractor to trying to conjure strategies to gain attention and sales. Bit by bit, their clientele grows; the sisters write fondly and often humorously of the recurring characters in their new, chocolate-centric lives, from favorite customers to the kooky sales rep who becomes an employee and dear friend. They easily move between musings on friendship and family, all the while offering inspiration and valuable lessons for budding entrepreneurs. The recipe for their house truffle rounds out this appealing, engaging memoir that's sure to appeal to a range of readers, chocoholics or not. --Publishers Weekly
Review
"Could there possibly be a sweeter book written by two adorably joyful sisters? Their struggle to keep their now-successful store alive since its opening in 1984 is detailed in lively prose. Best of all, the fragrance of chocolate and sugar seems to waft from the pages of this heartfelt memoir." --Carol Memmott, USA Today
"Forget the economy, the disaster in Japan, the Middle East revolutions, even the oil crisis. Read this story of the American dream coming true." --Booklist
"Smooth, soft-centered confection that goes down with a smile." --Kirkus
“Heartwarming and fun, this inspirational story of how two young women created a fabulous chocolate boutique s will have desperate chocoholics mainlining chocolate syrup and snorting cocoa until they can get hold of the real thing.” --JoAnna Carl, author of The Chocoholic Mystery Series
“A charming tale of two sisters who turn their passion for chocolate into an entrepreneurs dream by opening a luxurious chocolate boutique in Washington D.C. With a fiercely loyal stream of quirky customers, a strong commitment to family and an unflappable sisterly bond to inspire them, the Park sisters confront lifes ups, downs and in-betweens with all the grace and elegance of a perfectly formed chocolate truffle.” --Tish Boyle, author of The Cake Book
“The ultimate cautionary confectionary tale, replete with all the romance, ups and downs of any great food drama. This is a book to curl up with, along with the delicious, toothsome comfort of all the Godiva, Lindt, Baci and Bouchons, and (mood-altering) Half-Moon Buttercream Dreams you could wish for.” -- Marcy Goldman, Author, Master Baker, A Passion for Baking, The Baker's Four Seasons, founder of www.BetterBaking.com
“Chocolate Chocolate is a tale of sheer determination, overcoming evil villians, and ultimately, hard-won success. The divine descriptions of mouth-watering chocolates, the bursts of wisdom, lush detail and sisterly bond make this a very sweet read.”--Helen Tse, author of Sweet Mandarin
Synopsis
A delightful memoir from two sisters who have embraced the immigrant experience to live the American dream share how success is much sweeter when you take the time to enjoy lifes little pleasures When Francie and Ginger Park stumbled across a small inheritance, they knew exactly how to spend it; it was time to fulfill their dream of opening a chocolate store. But the road to success wasnt always sweeton opening day the walls of their shop literally crumbled around them. But with a lot of hard work and little bit of luck, their Washington, D.C. shop Chocolate Chocolate went from a no name independent to a nationally celebrated boutique. Along the way, Francie and Ginger befriended a charming entourage of customers whose storiescombined with the girlsare just as delicious as the delicacies which kept them coming back for more.
Synopsis
A real life ‘Chocolat’ set in the nation’s capital
Frances and Ginger were carefree young women when the sudden death of their father turned their world upside down. Reeling from their loss, they turned to one another-- and the comfort of good chocolate --to numb their pain as they figured out way to create a shared future. The answer turned out to be as simple as their childhood dream: open a chocolate shop.
In January 1984, Chocolate Chocolate opened its doors in downtown Washington, D.C. But it was a rocky road to success; thanks to a crooked contractor, the walls of their shop literally crumbled around them and building a clientele wasn’t easy; many days the sisters consumed more chocolate than they actually sold. Thankfully, over time, with much hard work and perhaps even a divine dose of chocolate magic, their no name shop was transformed into a nationally celebrated boutique. Along the way the sisters found love, penned books, and befriended a charming entourage of customers whose own stories were as luscious as the bonbons that had them coming back for more.
About the Author
Sisters FRANCES AND GINGER PARK have been nibbling on bonbons and making friends at Chocolate Chocolate since 1984. Award-winning authors, the sisters love to write books for readers of all ages and have been interviewed on National Public Radio, 'Good Morning America', CNN and the Diane Rehm Show. Currently at work on separate novels, they still find time to collaborate. Their cookbook for children with food allergies is forthcoming from Thomas Dunne Books.