The Chocolatier's Secret

Paris, 1909. In the city’s most prestigious patisserie, forbidden love turns dangerous – and one betrayal echoes through generations…

Through the windows of Pâtisserie Clermont, golden caramel glistens, chocolate éclairs gleam and macarons shimmer. For Guillaume, a poor railway worker turned apprentice, this world of sugar and splendour feels impossibly out of reach.

But it’s not just the confectionery fashioned for Parisian high society that captivates him. He is entranced by Jeanne, the patissier’s daughter – elegant, untouchable and promised to another. Their love is forbidden. To pursue it, they risk everything.

Eighty years later, a young academic discovers a faded photograph of her grandfather beside two strangers. On the back, just two words are scrawled: forgive me.

Determined to uncover the truth, she unravels a story of star-crossed lovers and a single devastating choice – one whose consequences still linger decades later.

More sumptuous than your favourite treat, The Chocolatier’s Secret is a deliciously gripping and moving tale of love, betrayal and secrets across generations. A Parisian escape perfect for fans of Evie Woods, Eve Chase and Santa Montefiore.

About Laura Madeleine

After a childhood spent acting professionally and training at a theatre school, Laura Madeleine changed her mind, and went to study English Literature at Newnham College, Cambridge. She now writes fiction, as well as recipes, and was formerly the resident cake baker for Domestic Sluttery. She lives in Bristol, but can often be found visiting her family in Devon, eating cheese and getting up to mischief with her sister, fantasy author Lucy Hounsom.
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