From the RITA Award-winning author of Five Days in Skye comes a sweet, romantic treat that will leave you hungry for more.Baker and pastry chef Melody Johansson has always believed in finding the positive in every situation, but seven years after she moved to Denver, she can’t deny that she’s stuck in a rut. One relationship after another has ended in disaster, and her classical French training … training is being wasted on her night job in a mediocre chain bakery. Then the charming and handsome private pilot Justin Keller lands on the doorstep of her workplace in a snowstorm, and Melody feels like it’s a sign that her luck is finally turning around.Justin is intrigued by the lively bohemian baker, but the last thing he’s looking for is a relationship. His own romantic failures have proven that the demands of his job are incompatible with meaningful connections, and he’s already pledged his life savings to a new business venture across the country–an island air charter in Florida with his sister and brother-in-law.Against their better judgment, Melody and Justin find themselves drawn together by their unconventional career choices and shared love of adventure. But when an unexpected windfall provides Melody with the chance to open her dream bakery-café in Denver with her best friend, chef Rachel Bishop, she’s faced with an impossible choice: stay and put down roots with the people and place she’s come to call home . . . or give it all up for the man she loves.
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Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe is filled with bookish culinary delight! From the first line to the very end, Carla Laureano swept me away to Denver, Colorado. Ms. Laureano has such a gift with words. She put me in the dead of winter. Let me experience the smell and feel of baking bread. (Seriously, is that not the best smell ever?!) She helped me experience that tingle of attraction when you meet a guy that has the looks (and an awesome job to boot!). Ms. Laureano doesn’t just write a story, she brings it to life.
Book 2 is my absolute favorite in the Supper Club series and I have a feeling book 3 will leave a bigger impact!
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. The review was not required nor influenced.
Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe is another hit with me for Carla Laureano. I love her characters and how they interact with each other. I already can’t wait for the next Supper Club book.
I am a newbie when it comes to Carla Laureano’s novels. Prior to Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe, I had only read Starstruck. I really enjoyed Starstruck, so when Celebrate Lit sent out sign-ups for Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe, I knew I had to jump on the offer. And I was not disappointed. Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe is a great story that kept me reading past my bedtime. The characters are well written and highly endearing. The romance is super sweet with the perfect amount of tension between the hero and heroine. And, the food! Oh my, I was not prepared for the delicious descriptions of food. I may have figuratively gained a pound or two while reading this book.
Melody is my favorite character in this story. I absolutely love her attitude, her creativity, and her love for books and baked goods. I often felt for Melody throughout the reading of this book because of her childhood. It clearly impacted her in some negative ways. Having a high profile mother who often left her in the shadows was NOT a fun way to grow up, and it left Melody chasing love in all the wrong places. All she desperately wants is someone to love her first, to cherish her, and to sacrifice himself for her needs. Is that too much to ask?! Because of this strong need for true love, Melody has entered into past relationships with men that were damaging, that left her feeling weak and worthless. Melody sold pieces of herself at very high cost gaining nothing in return. She has claimed belief and faith in God, but is frustrated that life continually throws curve balls her way. Why is God allowing all this bad to happen to her? She cannot understand why men don’t choose her, why they don’t love her unconditionally. But honestly, her claimed faith is surface-level at best. She is her own boss making choices for herself. She never turns to God to see what He wants, and becomes frustrated with Him for not giving her what she thinks she needs. My favorite moment in this story is when Melody realizes that she can’t be her own boss AND say God is the boss at the same time. No one can have both. We either acknowledge that God is our Boss, or we try to control our lives on our own terms. When Melody lets Jesus take the wheel, so to speak, and makes the conscious choice to break her bad love habits, she ends up realizing that life and love work better with God in the lead.
Another theme I appreciated in this novel is the discussion on what I call baby faith versus mature faith. People with baby faith in God raise fists in anger every time something bad happens. Often, because their faith is so small, they believe the lie that God really doesn’t exist, or if He does He doesn’t care about them. People with mature faith, however, ride out storms with God knowing that He is going to bring them to places on their paths that make them stronger and better. Mature faithers may get frustrated during the roughest parts of the storm, but their relationship with God remains intact. Both Melody and Justin come to a place in this story where they have to evaluate their faith levels. Where they once believed they were certain in who God is, they quickly realize that they were staunch baby faithers. Because of this, they were trying to be the bosses of their lives, and things were not going well. I really love this theme, and I appreciate the opportunity to evaluate my faith in God. Am I a baby faither? Do I shake my fist at God in anger when things go wrong or when bad things happen? Or am I mature in my faith, leaning into God when life gets chaotic and devastating? I think these are really excellent questions we should all contemplate from time to time to make sure we are on the right track — God’s track!
Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe is a really good read. I enjoyed the engaging plot, and very much loved Justin and Melody. I am sad to see my time with these characters is over, but I do look forward to book 3 in this series. If you are looking for a fast-paced, sweet contemporary Christian romance with timely themes, then I highly recommend Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe.
I received a review copy of this novel in paperback (ARC) form from the author via Celebrate Lit. I also purchased this book in eBook form from Amazon on February 13, 2019 to read and review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I’m going to warn you, if you’re hungry don’t read this. Eat first because author Carla Laureano does a great job of describing foods. Then prepare to enjoy a good read.
Written realistically, the characters, whom I really liked, dealt with real issues such as physical temptation. Along their faith journey they are dealing with their view of God due to hurts in their lives. Much happens along the way to help them to realize that God loves them and wants what’s best for them.
I was surprised by the many times that drinking wine was brought into the story but there was never any drunkenness or even over drinking. I simply have a different viewpoint than the author but still enjoyed the story.
This is the second book in the Supper Club series. I haven’t read the first one but had no problem with Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe as it really works as a stand alone. If you enjoy contemporary romance then you’ll enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Brunch At Bittersweet Cafe` is the second book is the Supper Club Series. Even though this was book two, I found that it was easy to read as a standalone. The story had enough background and world building, that it was easy to follow along with the current story.
Melody is a baker. A baker who’s dream is one day to own a bakery of her own, but she keeps putting those dreams on hold. Working for the man in dead end job after dead end job. One night it all changes course with the knock on the bakery door.
Justin is a pilot. A pilot who dreams of bankers hours and his own charter business. He can never find a girlfriend with his crazy hours. Any woman he has dated has turned out bad. They don’t mind the schedule at first, till the relationship gets serious. Then they try to change him and his schedule.
One night he is stranded in the storm when his vintage mustang gets stuck. With only a bakery in sight he seeks out help. When the gorgeous woman answers the door, he can’t help but want to get to know her. He shouldn’t but he can’t help himself.
As the pair goes their separate ways that fateful evening, little do they know that God has a plan for them. One that sets things in motion that night when Justin met Melody. As these two embark on separate journeys in life, they each question their faith and what God’s plan is.
This book was a sweet Christian romance with amazing characters. I fell in love immediately with the characters. Who doesn’t like it when Prince Charming shows up at your doorstep? Right?! A steady paced read full of challenges and hard decisions, this story will make you stop and think about things. A story about achieving your dreams and what you are willing to give up to do that. I do love a book that has a good challenge in it.
Overall this book is a inspiring read. It has a sweet and beautiful romance as well as a story on testing your faith. The characters are beautiful and lovable. Each with their own challenges and obstacles to overcome. You will fall in love immediately in the first chapter. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance and has a love of God.
I really enjoyed this story about Melody. A friend of Rachel (from The Saturday Night Supper Club, Book #1). I was happy to be able to catch up on Rachel and Alex’s relationship progression also. I liked the first story and I loved this story. I relate to the aspects of working in the food service industry. These stories also have LOTS of problems between couples and families and lots of making up and working on said problems going on. Then they end with a HEA ending which makes them a go-to read for those who enjoy sweet romance reads.
You know how when you take that first bite of a delicious desert your eyes kind of roll back into your head and you sigh and savor and get all giddy? Yeah, the first few chapters of BABC was like that. I don’t normally like instant attraction storiess but the author did SUCH a good job with it here. I savored every page of this story, loving the friendship between Melody, Rachel, and Ana as much as the romance between Melody and Justin. It’s not often you get to see the ends and outs, highs and lows of relationships in romance books…usually the story is the lead up to the get together, so I thought this twist was an interesting new(ish) view. Basically, a perfect recipe for a fulfilling novel.
“Judging from the little quivers she felt in his presence, a mere twenty minutes after their first meeting, this one was a heartbreaker.”
Such a delightful world of delectable desserts and aviation! I don’t know a lot about either one of these worlds, but Carla Laureano combines them vividly and beautifully in this heartbreaking, soul-searching contemporary romance. The dialogue is fun, incredible, and witty especially between Justin and Melody. The plot is well-paced and well-crafted, as is the writing. And the characters! Melody is down-to-earth and lovable and Justin is a swoony hero. And we also get a continuation on Rachel and Alex’s story (Saturday Night Supper Club, book 1 in the series) in this book, which is just the icing on the cake. This is book 2 in the series but can definitely be read as a stand-alone.
Melody is a pastry chef with a ton of emotional baggage from her childhood that she acknowledges. She’s artsy, creative, impulsive, free-spirited, but optimistic and tries to bring that ray of sunshine wherever she goes. Justin is a charter pilot who is loyal, devoted to family, fun, charismatic, and a type A planner. He unfortunately also has a ton of emotional baggage from his parents’ divorce, his sister’s medical diagnosis, and his martyr-like attitude toward his beloved profession. Throw in some snowy days in Denver, CO and there is magic that stirs in the air. Even as they grow close, they each must figure out what they really want out of life and what God really means to them.
Such a heartfelt story of love and dreams. If you enjoy contemporary romance that grabs at your heartstrings and tear ducts, you will not want to miss this one. I was given a copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers and via Celebrate Lit Tours. I was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
I liked the friendship these woman have with each other. They are each interesting and independent people written beyond one dimensional. I accidently read this one first but I will definitly go back to book #1. I thought the h & H had great chemistry and they complimented each other well. Her relationship with her mother was shaky. The author wrote the story well that I felt right along with her those emotions. A great twist with that aspect of the story I didn’t see coming and very excellent food for thought to go with it. I also enjoyed the author if you happen to listen in audio format. I’m excited to read the rest in the series. I thought the h & H had positive growth and the story had a natural flow to it.
I really loved this book! Though it was technically #2, I had no trouble following without reading #1. Each of the books follows a different friend of the trio, but each is its own story and doesn’t depend on the others.
I absolutely loved getting to know the flawed, realistic, and relatable characters – even the hero, though at the beginning, he seemed too good to be true. He was. I loved watching the unraveling of their interests, their motivations, and their spiritual struggles.
The world-building was beautiful. From watching baking shows, I know that all the food descriptions were spot on – and made my mouth water. 😉
I loved the complicated family dynamics that skewed both Melody’s and Justin’s thinking.
I loved the playful banter, plays on words, and excellent editing. (Though there was one word that wasn’t even in the US dictionary on my Kindle. lol)
The only two things I didn’t like were 1) the faith thread that seemed still not tied at the end. Melody’s faith seemed to strengthen, but we really didn’t see Justin’s redemption. 2) Melody’s casual response to her sexual past. She was supposed to be the strong Christian, but she didn’t seem to care too much about sexual boundaries. Justin was actually the one to set them.
Other than those two things, I highly recommend it!
Favorite quotes:
p. 12: “’Haven’t you ever wondered why the Bible says Jesus is the bread of life? Bread was once worthy of that metaphor. Somehow I don’t think He would like to be compared to Wonder Bread.’”
p. 17: “Anyone who confessed her deepest dreams after thirty minutes of acquaintance surely didn’t do casual.”
p. 32: “It wasn’t boredom exactly. It was just that for every opportunity she chose, she was all too aware of the ones she rejected.”
p. 35: “’But how do you plan to meet someone if you rule out anyone you’re attracted to?’ ‘I figured he’d sit down next to me at church or something and I’d hear a voice from heaven.’”
p. 66: “Something to honor Grandma Bev’s memory and the way she’d blessed her only grandchild even through her death. Which meant baking, of course. Preferably something complicated, even tedious. A dessert Grandma Bev loved. Macarons.” I love how this line was reflected in the cover!
p. 109: “…finally, she’d be getting the thing she’d always wanted. Not just the chance to be her own boss, but the opportunity to remedy the lack that had been hovering at the edge of her consciousness her entire adult life. Roots.”
p. 132: “When he teased apart her lips, she somehow lost her balance, melting into him until nothing remained but that moment.”
p. 156: “’…change feels terrible at the time but can be really good in the end.’”
p. 156: “’So I’ll bring a little Paris to Denver and we’ll be feeding the souls of all those other people who dream of Europe and can’t get there. That sounds like a worthy endeavor to me.’”
p. 172: “Her dream was coming true. Not the romantic, Pinterest-worthy fantasy she’d toyed with for years, but the real blood-sweat-and-tears, hard-work sort of dream.”
p. 187: “’Don’t get your hopes up. Don’t have any hopes in the first place. And whatever you do, do not go change your clothes for him.’ She was totally going to change her clothes for him.”
p. 197: “Thomas’s expression turned approving. ‘Forget diamonds. Books are this girl’s best friend.’”
p. 213: “And so it had taken on the quality of a well-worn meme, something spoken so often it started to lose its meaning.”
p. 374: “She was taking what might be her first real step of faith in years. Not my will but Yours be done.”
p. 384: “Instead of learning to trust Him, to let God guide him, he’d placed his confidence in his own ability to navigate his life.”
Oh, my goodness, I have never wanted to bake something and eat it while reading a book, but this book had me drooling all over the pages.
Not only from the wonderfully delicious-sounding pastries but also from the fun moments of romance between Melody and Justin.
Carla Laureano has written a sweet story with wonderful imagines of:
* delicious food (which will leave your mouth watering for a long time),
* conversations (which are so cute, sassy, fun, but also heart-touching), and
* endearing romance (which you will swoon over time and time again).
Within this story, the author has also placed some tough lessons each of the characters have to learn. These lessons many of us can apply to our lives. Faith and trust are hard to do when trying to control everything.
There are several wonderful quotes within this book. Here is one that touched me:
“Things happen in this world – sometimes accidents, sometimes a result of our own actions – but that doesn’t mean God’s abandoned us. It just means we live in a messed-up world. It’s when we trust Him completely that He begins to bring good out of bad situations.”
Thank you, Carla Laureano, for sharing this story with us. I truly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend you grab one for yourself because it is so delicious!
This is more than just a contemporary foodie romance. It blends the best elements of women’s fiction and romantic fiction and folds them gently together so you almost don’t notice the separate and distinct flavors and textures. Yes, there’s a guy meets girl and a happily-ever-after. Technically, that’s romance. But there is also that woman’s journey… learning who she is and what makes her tick.Here, Laureano shines because each character (mostly women) both learns how the others tick as well as themselves.
Brunch at Bittersweet Café was a delightful story! I felt completely immersed in the lives of Melody and Justin as I read through this book. Their relationship and the struggles that they faced right from the beginning kept me turning the pages and hoping for a happily ever after for these two.
The peek into the lives of a baker/pastry chef and a private pilot were fascinating. Seeing through Melody’s eyes as she experienced flying with Justin made me feel as if I was experiencing the sensations right along with her!
There was a deep faith message in this story, with many heartfelt questions that both Melody and Justin struggled to find the answers to. These two characters felt very realistic to me and their story had a natural flow to it. I’m looking forward to reading book three in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
There’s so much to love about Brunch at Bittersweet Café and I enjoyed this book so very much! Those who love food themes will find this story everything they dream about because it is such a vividly conveyed and intricately woven part of this book – and while I did find the theme interesting, it was the excellent writing and character depth of Carla Laureano that drew me to the story.
Melody, a secondary character from the previous “supper club” book, quickly becomes established as a strong and endearing leading lady. Justin is a fascinating leading man – good, kind, and charismatic. Their first meeting at the café Melody works for when his car breaks down is one of my favorite parts – packed with great dialogue, feelings, and early attraction.
The talented and creative Melody is restless and longing for something more in her career, for she “could churn out someone else’s mediocre recipes for only so long before she felt like she’d sold out.” I loved the way she paired culinary delights with classic books, posting them in her “Books in the Bakery” blog. I was also drawn to Justin’s sister, struggling with her MS diagnosis.
Faith is a subtle thread throughout, with their faith journey realistically portrayed. Brunch at Bittersweet Café is a wonderful story in every way, with a universal appeal because of its character depth. Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I love this book. The fact that the characters are the same from Saturday Night Supper Club was wonderful. You got to see how their lives turned out from each character. I hope that you continue to make more books about these wonderful characters.
This is a wonderful romance. This is the second book in The Saturday Night Supper Club series. I love the characters that are in both books so it would be best to read these in order. You could read this one without reading the first one but it won’t be as enjoyable. Melody and Justin must overcome some baggage before they can get together. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
Brunch at bittersweet cafe
I loved the way Melody and Justin meet. Melody is a aspiring baker and Justin is a pilot. Both just making plans in their life but you never know what is going to cross your path to change things.
They both live in Denver but Justin is making plans on a venture that will take him to Florida. Melody and her friend Rachel is working on opening a cafe. They both have a lot to work out with the past and current family issues.
This book was a fast read. I really enjoyed all the characters. Loved all the fun scenes in the book.
I received an advanced copy of the book from publisher through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review. This is my own opinion.
Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe’ is a wonderful story that features a group of friends who have become family to each other. They are there for each other through thick and thin – encouraging when encouragement is needed, exhorting and offering wisdom when the circumstances require it, and above all loving each other without reserve. As the second book in Laureano’s Supper Club series, this one can easily stand on its own but the reading experience will be deeper and more enjoyable if the series is read in order.
I loved getting to know each of the women in this series and with each book I feel that I get to know the featured woman even better. The relationship dynamics are superb and each person added to their growing circle adds another layer of strength to the group. It was so edifying to see how Melody and Rachel worked together to pursue their dreams as well as how the Lord worked in their lives despite numerous complications. The same could be said for the growing relationship between Melody and Justin that seemed to have no hope of succeeding due to the directions their individual careers were leading them.
And then there was the food! I could literally almost smell the bread baking and taste the various other foods mentioned throughout the course of the book. What torment to a diabetic who loves to bake but has had to give up sugar and carbs forever.
Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe’ is a delightful read that kept me content until the last page. Although there was not a great deal of action and no mystery to solve, there were a few surprises along the way in this absolutely satisfying novel. I recommend it to all but do suggest reading The Saturday Night Supper Club first to get the full experience.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Carla Laureano gives readers so much to savor in this book. Yes, there’s a fabulous romance. But readers are also immersed in the fascinating worlds of baking, bread, restaurants, and airplanes. And if that’s not enough, there’s also plenty of friendship, families, and faith.
As Melody and Justin navigate the uncertain territory of a romance they know has an end date, other aspects of their lives intrude and fight for their attention. There’s Melody’s well-intentioned but judgmental friends, her strained relationship with her mother, Justin’s promise to his sister and brother-in-law, a restaurant opening, and more.
Brunch at Bittersweet Café has it all from the sweetness of falling in love, the bitterness of disappointment, the savory of deep relationships, and the joy of a well-balanced read.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
This was the first book I read from Carla Laureano . Brunch at the Bittersweet Café is the second book in The Saturday Night Supper Club series. I wish I read the first book, but this book can be read as a stand-alone.
Melody, the main character is relatable. We read her insecurities and struggles, but we also see her confidence too. We are taken into her life journey of making her dream of opening up her own restaurant in Denver come true. I love seeing how close she is with her friends. Her chemistry with Justin Keller, the private pilot, is amazing but their careers complicate their relationship. While reading this book I couldn’t help finding myself yelling out loud saying, “Screw the careers be together. You can do both!!”. Will these two end up together and work things out? Or will their careers get into the way?
Every character in Brunch at the Bittersweet Café is relatable. I found myself connecting with each of the characters in the story in one way or another. Throughout the story, Laureano puts in many spiritual truths.
She doesn’t overdo the spiritual beliefs and makes it sound preachy. I love how Laurano’s put some hard topics in the book. For instance, there is an open conversation about sex in their past relationship outside of marriage, drinking and cursing. Christians aren’t perfect they all deal with temptations. We all have flaws and textures. We all strive to be someone. Food helps grow relationships. We learn a lot about a person during meals, as well as cooking/baking. I would advise not reading this book on an empty stomach because Laureano has amazing descriptions on the baked goods.
I don’t know much about running a restaurant, bakery and flying but see Laureano went above and beyond with research on these topics (How bake, aviation and the business side of opening a bakery). I felt this book to be inspirational and powerful especially for women. It shows how important it is to make a priority list by determining what is most important to you. I learn it is really important to find time for yourself, family, career, friendships, and relationship. I would recommend this series.