I haven't read anything like this for a while, so it was a nice, sweet change of pace. There was really nothing challenging about it, unless you count the internal struggle I had in coming to terms with the main character's name, Christmas. If I wasn't concentrating hard enough, my brain would sometimes take me off on a Christian-Christmas tangent, before realising I was reading about character-Christmas. I enjoyed the Tasmanian setting, and of course, the chocolate.Chocolate helps in all situations and forms the backdrop of this tale. Christmas lives by a set of rules she hereafter heartbreak and began a successful new life helping people and running a chocolate shop. But rules were going to be broken when she met Lincoln. It just took them a long time to realise that new rules could apply. The characters are all very real and the setting in Tasmania very well drawn. I found this story as satisfying as sucking a piece of chocolate right to the last drop.I been eating chocolate while I read this book wonderful read. the tea chest was very nice also. Josephine Mood writes about living and loving and having a good life with all the wonderful things the world has to share, family, friends, pets, tea, and chocolate! Going to find another one of her booksA lovely lighthearted storyGentle nice story with very interesting information about the benefits of chocolateReally good. Enjoyed it so much I purchased others by this author too and was not disappointed. Would be terrific for a holiday read for anyoneIt was a cute storyA nice story. Very predictableI picked this book up simply because the title, 'The Chocolate Apothecary', was too delightful to resist. It spoke of a winning combination of Joanne Harris' Chocolat and Hester Browne's The Little Lady Agency, both books I loved enough to read more than once.The main character was, for me, hard to get to know. She was warm, generous (to a fault - how can anyone do that much for other people and still have time to shower, much less stay solvent?) and dealing with her depression very badly (view spoiler) Her name was delightful, although occasionally confused me when I read it first as 'Christmas' the celebration and not as a name.The descriptions of chocolate, the cosy village life in Tasmania and the scenes in France were all beautifully evocative and appealing to the senses. The side stories, of other character's in the village and Elsa in the nursing home particularly were the strongest emotionally, for me.A fun story, a brief snapshot into the lives of a few interestingly flawed characters.Lovely book! Once I had got used to the main character's name! It flowed really well with just a tiny part which I lost the flow with but I was so hooked on the main story that I determined to finish it and I'm so pleased that I did. I'll be buying more of Josephine Moon's books very soon.Definitely one to escape the daily routine with!What a wonderful story, loved this from the beggining and didn't want to put it down.The combination of chocolate and medicine with the stories going on in the background is superb!!!Will definitely read more of this author!!I took awhile to get into this story, but when it became clear that there could be medicinal properties in certain types of choc beans, then it became very interesting and as I am still reading this I await with bated breath the outcome .I've only read the 1st 10% so it's probably unfair to leave a review but I can't see me continuing with it as, so far, it's almost a carbon copy of Chocolat by Joanne Harris which was a wonderful book. Reading a lesser version is just annoying.