Love and Chocolate by Linda Shenton Matchett

Love and Chocolate: The Story Behind the Story

By Linda Shenton Matchett

During my high school years we lived in Montgomery County, Maryland which is about a two-hour drive to Hershey, Pennsylvania. Our church youth group visited the town’s amusement park, Hershey Park, on numerous occasions, and I still remember the smell of chocolate that clung to the air.

A couple of years ago while I was planning my upcoming writing projects, I knew I wanted to write a series of books about siblings but couldn’t decide where or went to set the stories. Lots of research later, I discovered the 1898 Columbian Exposition here in the United States and the various inventions associated with that event. Further study led me to Milton Hershey who attended that World’s Fair and was so enamored with the concept of chocolate production for the masses that he sold his caramel company to enter the chocolate business – a risky proposition at that time.

As I read more about Milton and his wife Catherine “Kitty” Sweeney-Hershey, I knew I had the beginnings of a story. At the time they met during one of his business trips in 1897, he was a confirmed 41-year-old bachelor and Kitty fourteen years younger. But he was struck by her beauty, charm, and maturity, and he visited the shop where she worked on a regular basis. They married in 1898.

Several places were considered for the chocolate factory, but Milton settled on a location thirty miles from where he was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania about two hours from Harrisburg. The area was somewhat rural, and he created a company town to attract workers. The homes he built for his workers were of good quality and employees could choose to rent or purchase their house. Schools, medical facilities and doctors, a library, movie theater, playground (which would eventually become Hershey Park), and other necessary services were constructed and provided for the employees. By all reports, Milton paid his employees very well. It’s no wonder when the vote was taken to name the town, residents chose “Hershey” by a landslide.

Philanthropy was a Milton Hershey watchword. He came from nothing and felt it was his responsibility to give back to the community so others might have a chance. He and his wife were unable to have children, and after much discussion, they opened the Hershey Industrial School in 1909.

The owner of Beck’s Chocolates in my latest release Love and Chocolate is inspired by Milton Hershey, and I enjoyed creating my own “company town,” Cocoaville in which to set the story. Taking place in 1914 prior to the beginning of World War I, the story explores the mixed feelings about German-Americans that were prevalent at the time as well as themes of second chances and forgiveness.

I’m not a big candy eater, but when I do indulge dark chocolate is my preference. What about you? Do you have a favorite candy?

About Love and Chocolate

She just needs a job. He wants a career. Is there room in their hearts for love?

Ilsa Krause and her siblings are stunned to discover their father left massive debt behind upon his death. To help pay off their creditors and save the farm, she takes a job at Beck’s Chocolates, the company her father despised and refused to supply with milk. Then she discovers her boss is Ernst Webber, her high school love who unceremoniously dumped her via letter from college. Could life get any more difficult?

A freshly-minted university diploma in his hand, Ernst Webber lands his dream job at Beck’s Chocolates. His plans to work his way up the ladder don’t include romantic entanglements, then Ilsa Krause walks back into his life resurrecting feelings he thought long dead. However, her animosity makes it clear she has no interest in giving him a second chance. Can he get her to change her mind? Does he want to?

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/mdQerZ

Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily-ever-after historical Christian fiction about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of this great state and immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.

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