Chocolate on a Stick

By: Carole Bellacera

Narrated by: Angie Hickman

Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Velma and Louie are in their 70s...and in love with each other. They met at the mailboxes in a retirement home in Memphis, Tennessee. But trouble is on the horizon for our sprightly senior citizens. The nursing home is closing, and their children are bound and determined to separate them - keeping Velma in Memphis with her nervous Elvis Presley-impersonator, car salesman son, Farvis, and sending Louie to South Carolina with his daughter, Jeneeva, who works in a sex toy factory pouring plastic into "pecker molds", as Velma calls it.

But Velma and Louie ain't gonna take this kind of treatment from their nutty offspring. They're "runnin' oft" In a red Corvette.

©2004, 2011 Carole Bellacera (P)2013 Carole Bellacera

Chocolate on a Stick

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."



This book had me rooting for the protagonists from the get go. I hope in 20 years I will have the spunk of these two run aways. The adventures they experience had me laughing out loud. Never take senior citizens for granted, and don't try to tell them what to do!!!


The narration was well done. The characters were excellently portrayed.

A little romantic humor...

This is a story about love, romance, respect and humor! If you found Thelma and Louise funny, you will find this book even funnier. This love story is about 2 people in their 70s that found each other and then the families decide they are going to split them up. Velma and Louie take off for California and lead the cops and families on a cross country chase. Good story and good supporting cast with loads of laughs. I loved the character Jack Bunn, what a great guy!

The author, Carole Bellacera did a good job writing this book. I laughed many times and even shed a few tears towards the end. The narrator did a fantastic job. Great on the Australian accent along with the southern accents. Loved the voices.

Excellent fun!

This story is a rip roaring fun adventure! The characters are quirky in a very normal real way and the narration just dances. I'm going right back to chapter one for another listen.

Loved everything about this

This book was wonderful. I can honestly say that the narrator really made the characters in this book come to life. I was disappointed to see it end, but wow what a great adventure they had!

I was provided this audiobook in exchange for an honest review by audioblast dot com.

One of the Most Fun, Laugh Out Loud Books Ever

CHOCOLATE ON A STICK was such a fun, fun listen. It was laugh out loud cute and chock full of county slang and idioms. I loved it when Velma said "I swan." I can remember my grandma saying that as well as other phrases. Country folks really talk this way. The two main characters Velma and Louie are so awesome. They sort of run parallel with "Thelma and Louise' in the fact that they can only be together by running away from their busybody adult children who I might add are pretty colorful characters as well.

(I'm just going to make this interjection) If you're reading this review and considering this audiobook, get it. This is one of my favorite all time books.

I liked the way the chapters were alternating POV's from each character. It gave the story a complete fullness and insight into each person and why they were the way they were.

The whole book was super fun but a few of the places where I laughed a lot more were when Louie and Velma were with the pot smokers and Louie partook and then proceeded to moon the cop that was playing lane change with them in the 'vette they were driving. Another was when they were in the casino, and in the hot air balloon. There were so many good times in this book that I hope this awesome author, CAROLE BELLACERA writes more from this vein.

ANGIE HICKMAN- What can I say. She was superb narrating this book. She nailed each and every character and nuance. She is fantastic and took a great book over the top to complete awesomeness. She's a wonderfully skilled voice actor that I can't wait to hear more from.

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."

Hands Down the Funniest Book I've Ever Read!

Velma and Louie may be in their 70s, but they have no intention of letting their kids separate them. When the retirement home they met in goes bankrupt, their kids decide to move them to different states. Velma is going to live with her son Farvis and his bible thumping wife, and Louie is going to live with his meek daughter Jeneeva, a 45 year old virgin with an unhealthy affection for her dog. Velma and Louie run off in a red Corvette to fulfill Velma's dream of seeing the Pacific ocean, and the whole country cheers them on.

This has got to be hands down the funniest book I've ever read! I couldn't pick a favorite moment, each scene was hilarious. I've never heard half of these Southern colloquialisms, and every time one of the characters spouted a new one I'd crack up. It's been a few hours since I finished it and my face still hurts! Velma and Louie are spunky and feisty, and I so wish I could meet them in person.

The story begins from Velma and Louie's point of view, and you can't help mentally cussing out their kids for trying to separate them. But all the kids get a few chapters from their own point of view. Once you hear their side of the story you can't help liking them, and by the time the story ended I couldn't pick a favorite character. Not only that, there's a heartwarming coming of age story woven throughout that brought tears to my eyes at the end. The speech was so perfect, I had to rewind to listen again. The whole book is unbelievably well written.

I think this is one of those times that the audio version is better than the print version. Angie Hickman is perfection with her Southern drawl, and her comedic timing brings out the best in an already great story. She's the perfect narrator for this hilarious adventure.

Buy it, wonderful story, sheer entertainment!

You've read the publishers blurb, but that can't possibly convey the sheer enjoyability of this book, it's a wonderful story, sheer entertainment, I just love it that in this ageist world of the young and beautiful, old people come out on top!
I seldom laugh aloud when listening, but this book changed that, it's so darned funny. As a bonus, there are some lovely heartwarming and tender side stories going on. Oh, and those Southern Sayins'! I would recommend getting the Whispersync book as an adjunct, simply so you can look up again some of those gems.
On the slightly serious side, I believe this story can also teach us all a little, most importantly it shows how demeaning and humiliating it is to seize from someone their power of choice. Great stuff

Narrator

Think of all the superlatives you could apply to a narrator, well Angie Hickman deserves them all. I couldn't fault her in any way. This story is perfect as an audiobook and the author, Carole Bellacera chose the perfect narrator

I won this audiobook on the Narrator Spotlight and was under no obligation at all to write this review, however, this review represents my honest opinion

Elderly fun!

Would you consider the audio edition of Chocolate on a Stick to be better than the print version?

Yes I would. I thought the narration was very good which allows me to relax and really enjoy the book.

What did you like best about this story?

The elderly heroes! I love reading about really cool elderly people and am myself in training. Also liked that health issues were not glossed over. It made their adventures even more gratifying.

What does Angie Hickman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She did an excellent job of breathing life into these characters!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I have always had a soft spot for the elderly and this book did a great job of marrying fun adventures with believable characters.

Any additional comments?

I often wish there were a different rating system. 4 out of 5 stars is not as impressive as 9 out of 10. That's what I would give this book. I really, really enjoyed it."This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."

Sassy Grandma, Her Man, and a Red Corvette

What about Angie Hickman’s performance did you like?

Loved it. Like sweet and spicy molasses on a stick!

Any additional comments?

The "Hairy Christmas" hospital escape was probably my favorite scene. Later, I rallied behind Jeneeva and her self-discovery transformation, and I was happy for her. I learned so many new southern colloquialisms. Lots of fun in this audiobook.