Dangerously Dark

I received some wonderful news today.  I was picked to be a member of Kate Carlise's review crew called Kate's Raters!  When I saw she had an opening, I applied.  I was really hoping I would get picked, but I did not want to get my hopes up.  I just love her cozy mysteries.  You can find out more information about Kate Carlise and her books on her website. 

Dangerously Dark by Colette London is the second book in A Chocolate Whisperer Mystery series.  Hayden Mundy Moore is a freelance chocolate expert.  She helps companies improve their products.  Thanks to an inheritance, Hayden can pick only jobs that appeal to her.  Hayden is heading to Portland, Oregon for an engagement party weekend for an old, college friend, Carissa.  Hayden arrives in Portland and goes to Cartorama where Carissa has a cart called Churn PDX.  Every food cart specializes in chocolate.  Carissa opens her food cart and they find the dead body of her fiancé, Declan Murphy. 

The police declare Declan’s death an accident.  Hayden does not believe it is an accident and decides to poke around a little.  She is still running on a high from solving the mystery at her last assignment.  Carissa (who does not seem very upset over her fiancé’s death) also asks Hayden to take over Declan’s Chocolate After Dark tour.  It is already been scheduled and publicized (I think Carissa has an ulterior motive).  Hayden agrees to run the tour since it will give her more time to poke around.  Her friend and security expert, Danny Jamieson shows up to help out (and try and convince Hayden to leave Portland).  Will Hayden find out that Declan was killed?  Who would want to kill him and why?

I found Dangerously Dark to be a silly novel with a very simple mystery (I'm sorry).  I was really hoping the second book in the series would be significantly better than the first (it is actually worse).  Hayden does not really solve the mystery.  They seem to solve themselves and Hayden just happens to be there at the time.  Hayden is more focused on guys (especially Travis, her finance manager) than the mystery.  I have no idea why she is friends with Carissa who was more concerned over making connections than the death of her fiancé.  I give Dangerously Dark 2.75 out of 5 stars (I really wanted to like this book).  I do not think I will be reading any more books in this series (and you know I just love cozy mysteries).  I just cannot take the foolishness. The first book in the series is Criminal Confections.  Dangerously Dark can be read without having read the first book in the series. Please remember that this is just one person's opinion. 

I received a complimentary copy of Dangerously Dark from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading House Trained by Jackie Bouchard.  I hope everyone has a lovely and relaxing evening.  Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader