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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This book has been such a joy to read. I loved reading about how breads were made. The author described the technique so well, I could smell delicious aromas of bread as it browned in the oven. Melody is very unhappy in her mundane job of baker. She has long hours and the same routine is getting to her. She has always dreamed of being a pastry chef and owning her own place. She has not been happy in awhile and her dating life hasn’t exactly been anything to talk about. It was interesting to read about the different desserts Melody made at home and then posted on line. I thought that was such a clever idea.
Justin is quite an intriguing character. His job as a pilot fascinated me. I do not like flying at all, but he makes it sound fun and adventurous. When he and Melody first meet it was kinda comical. Here is this very confidant person who knows about motors, cars, planes etc and ends up stuck in the snow.
The story takes us on a journey with two people discovering what they want to do with their lives and being content where God has them until He changes things. Both have issues from their past that will hamper their relationship until they find a way to overcome it. I loved reading how the character’s were vulnerable at times and opened up to each other. Justin seems to be a bit more smitten than Melody but I think she is still having trust issues. There is a tug of war going on within these two characters.
The story is very hard to put down and I loved how easy it flowed. The characters from the first book in the series play an intricate part in this story. I love when a series can continue without a hitch and you quickly can pick up where the series ended without being lost. The author has a beautiful way of describing even the smallest detail which puts you right there in the middle of the story. I wanted to watch Melody as she made her desserts and get to taste each one just as she finished them.
There is a conflict between Melody and one of her friends that really questions if Melody is committed to the plan with her friend. Will Justin and Melody find a way to be together or will their careers get in the way? They each have hard decisions to make and at this point I started tearing up. I know what it’s like to be scared of making the wrong decision. I loved what Melody’s mom says to her, “Which regret can you live with? And which one would tear you apart?” The story is an emotional roller coaster and one I found very invested in. I am anxiously awaiting the next in this beautifully written series.
” When we let ourselves cry over things that weren’t ours in the first place, its like telling God that we don’t appreciate what He’s actually given us.”
I received an advanced readers copy from the publisher and Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
I really enjoyed getting to know Justin and Melody and all of the other characters in Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe. I didn’t expect to like this series so well, but the stories are different than what I’ve ever read and it was a sure delight reading this story, as well as the first in this series. Melody’s love for baking soon found her with her own restaurant. But without the guy she was in love with. Justin was fulfilling a duty to his sister and brother in law.
I’ve only read a few books by Carla Laureano, and I’ve found she’s an excellent writer. I enjoyed the way this story flows, keeping my interest until the last page. I grew to love the realistic characters, especially with Melody and Justin. And the strong sense of making the right decisions, and letting God guide your life was woven within the lives of the characters. This isn’t a fantastic read folks, check this one out!
A copy of this book was provided by Celebration Lit Tours and the author for me to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are mine only.
What a fascinating book! As one who is married to an executive chef, and a baker myself, I found myself totally immersed in the story. Melody sounds like a person that would be so much fun to get to know. Her belief that God has everything in control seems so very wrong to her friend Justin. In order to follow your dream, or passion, you had to set a course and then stick to it, or so they both thought. Was it possible to deviate from that path and still have everything your heart desired? Could they learn to accept that ‘all things work together for good’, even as they looked back into the past?
A lovely story with such wonderful detail, I found myself getting hungry as I read.
I received this ARC from Tyndale Publishers and CelebrateLit. All impressions and opinions are my own.
Hope is not practical because hope feels.
It is honest, so it will cry, it will ask questions, and it will hang on.
This is probably the biggest lesson Justin Keller needs to learn. His rational and pragmatic self may have helped him become a successful young pilot, and his tendency to be a planner helped him avoid any serious commitment, but, when it comes to the heart, can reason prevail?
Justin stubbornly refuses to deny the possibility. Even when he meets Melody Johansson, with whom he has fun flirting, and who shows a delicious mixture of humor, intelligence and vulnerability. Their chemistry is undeniable, but, more so, he finds himself drawn to her because of her depth, not good looks. And so lays the danger to his heart: when the time comes, and both know it will, can they leave without scars?
But this is Melody’s book. Optimistic, intense, dreamer Melody. The thing is, despite their instant attraction, their energetic pull towards one another, Melody and Justin are different. And what Justin needs to find out is what Melody already knows, even though she might not have wrapped her mind around it completely: matters of the heart are not just romantic ideas, but they are deep, revealing virtue and character. When all is said and done, if everything is lost or fails, will the glimmer of hope that brings redemption be there? As I said, hope doesn’t come with practicality, but many times with swimming against the tide.
Also, one more note about Melody, she makes REAL bread!! A girl after my own heart <3
Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe portrays exactly that, the bittersweet side of life. And with enough cooking references to have you craving amazing dishes, it delights and makes you long for Ana's story.
Justin is a well-written sweet and considerate male protagonist but he avoids long term relationships! Melody, a baker and pastry chef, is ready for every relationship to be “the one”. If you like gourmet cooking and delectable pastries, you may find yourself drooling as you read! I enjoyed reading Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe as Justin and Melody learn that you need to trust God to work out your situation. I received a complimentary e-book from the author. This is my honest opinion.
Carla Laureano has a way of drawing me into a story and keeping me there until I’ve finished the last page of the book. I was eagerly waiting for this sequel to “The Saturday Night Supper Club” and I was not disappointed. (Note: You do not have had to read the previous book to enjoy this one, but there’s added depth to the characters if you do. Read both!) The three main characters—Melody, Ana, and Rachel—are strong, talented women who have formed deep friendships through the years. They have all made their share of mistakes in life, but they are loyal, devoted friends who have turned to God for guidance and strength. In this sequel, Melody and Rachel are considering opening their own bakery/restaurant. There are several challenges on the way to accomplishing this, and the three friends must stay in unity if this is to happen. Melody is the main focus of this book, and her story will touch your heart.
As you would suspect from the title, there’s quite a bit of talk about food in this book. The character of Rachel is both a chef and a “foodie”, and there were some cooking terms that I didn’t recognize. However, every dessert that Melody baked made me hungry! Be aware that you may have a strong craving for cake as you read.
There are several themes in this story: Family conflicts; broken relationships; finding forgiveness and forgiving others; learning to trust again. I love it that the author makes these women seem “real”. The areas in which they struggle are true to life.
And mentioning that: I always have a sensitivity of the appropriate maturity level of a book. I’d give this book a “mature audience” rating. All mentions of sex are handled quite appropriately and with the right Biblical perspective. But this is not a book for a high schooler. Some of the characters in this book have made mistakes in their past, and there’s references to that, but they have turned their lives over to God. That’s refreshing in today’s book world, but I still think young adults and up is the right audience for this book. There’s also some mention of drinking wine with a meal, but no drunkenness. Just mentioning that in case you don’t like those kinds of references. This is a clean story with good morals.
I’m now ready to read Ana’s story. It’s a mark of a good storyteller when you finish one book and are already wishing the next one was ready to read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
When a book inspires you to create, bake and get together with friends, I call that a well written book. Bittersweet Cafe did that for me. It inspired me to want to get in the kitchen. It also inspired me in other ways, but I’ll let you grab a copy and see how it I spires you! I definitely recommend this book. And I was so sad when I got to the end and couldn’t turn the page and read more. I wanted the story to keep going. It gives me something to look forward to in the next book in the series. The fact that there was a baker, something I love, definitely just an amateur, aviation terms in the book was something I could connect with. It wasn’t your typical everyday hero and heroine. And they certainly faced some unique challenges, yet we all have this within us. Such a relatable book for anyone who can’t boil water to the most accomplished of bakers. I received a copy of this book from the author. All views stated here are my own.
(I have voluntarily read and reviewed this book for my own honest opinion.)
Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe by Carla Laureano
This was my first book to read by Carla Laureano and I was not disappointed!! I really enjoyed all of the characters in the story and loved following along as Melody and Rachel followed their dream to open up their restaurant together! Justin and Melody meeting by chance and their developing relationship was also really fun to follow. As they sifted through their emotions, their personal faith beliefs, heartache, and following their dream and plans for their life. It was fun to see them discover how much they loved each other. And I was heartbroken and felt like I was right there with Melody when he they broke up and he left. Also, her strained relationship with her mother broke my heart at as well. But I love that towards they end they reconcile! And the ending to the story was perfect!
I really enjoyed this book!
Flight, food and faith
My rating is 4.5 stars
I loved the way Melody used baking as a coping mechanism. Having dealt with feelings of abandonment most of her life, she became very skilled at baking. . .
Justin appeared to be a stereotypical pilot – handsome and self-assured and yet Melody discovered he had many layers and all wasn’t as it appeared. I loved that even though he never sought deep relationships, he was not shallow and refused to lead any woman on or treat her with less than respect. And he certainly knew how to make a grand gesture!
Both Melody and Justin had to learn to understand faith. To be able to see that God caring didn’t necessarily mean that bad things wouldn’t happen. I felt that the author did a great job in making their faith journey a natural part of the narrative. I also liked the way they both had to come to realize that not everything was as they thought – they both had significant misconceptions that colored their world.
The writing is so great! Not only are there millions of quotable lines, the descriptions of the food were amazing. And I don’t even like many of the foods they talked about. Well, except the non-bread and dessert foods. The desserts and breads sounded yummy!
I enjoyed learning more about flying through this story. I had some misconceptions that were cleared up. It was also fun to learn more about commercial baking. The author shared a great many details without dragging the story down at all.
Though Brunch at Bittersweet Café couldn’t be mistaken for a Cinderella re-telling, there was a fun thread about the fairy tale throughout. Though subtle, it was there nonetheless and added a fun element as I watched for more hints of it as I read.
Read with a Preview at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
I loved it!!
When I opened this book I was intrigued by Melody. She’s a French trained baker and works in a chain bakery to prepare baked goods for the following day. She has no chance to use her own recipes or talent to bring a little bit of Paris to Denver. A cold, snowy night and a chance meeting Justin, a pilot, and the next thing you know her life is no longer the predicable life she knew.
Melody is a character that feels deeply and acts on her feelings. She was basically raised by her grandmother who was a professor and introduced her to works of literature that she loved. In fact she spent her college years persuing an education in literature, but while working at a bakery in school she found her one true love: baking. At present Melody is not anywhere close to where she thought she would be in her life. I think we all have had these same feeling at one time or another. I think her doubts and disappointments is what makes this character feel real to life for me. She has a vulnerability that most can relate to, but she is also a strong character. Melody would love to open her own place and when the opportunity comes available she talks to her friend, Rachel, who’s a chef about a partnership that would make both their dreams come true.
This book has elements of romance, grief, disappointments, adventure of falling in love, heartbreak and most of all faith. Oh, I don’t want to forget to mention the delicious food. I am a big fan of the British Baking Show and it was almost like watching another episode with Paul and Mary.lol This is the second book in The Saturday Night Supper Club series from Laureano, but for me it was a stand alone as I had not read the previous book in the series.
This captivating and heartwarming story is one I would recommend to anyone.
** I received this book from the publisher via the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Having read THE SATURDAY NIGHT SUPPER CLUB, it was fun to become reacquainted with Rachel, Melody, and Ana. Melody’s talent as a pastry chef isn’t being utilized in her job at a bakery. She had a series of failed relationships, leaving her feeling like something is wrong with her. When she meets a handsome pilot and receives an inheritance, her life begins to change. Melody has to work through issues with her mother, her friends, and Justin. Justin has to face issues of his own, including his fear of commitment. Both Melody and Justin have to figure out if they can trust God to be in charge of their lives or follow their own plans. I enjoyed this contemporary romance and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
It’s Melody’s turn! Rachel Bishop’s Supper Club pastry magician pal finds herself choosing one dream over another. A classically trained baker, Melody has been working the night shift at a chain bakery store when her grandmother’s legacy gives her the funding to chase her dream—her own patisserie. She meets pilot Justin Keller during a snowstorm, and they hit it off. But he’s got dreams too—to open an air charter business in Florida, part of his plan to help his sister heal from her long-term illness. Melody, who has been collaborating with Rachel, is faced with giving up her dream (and letting down her friend) or giving up Justin (and letting herself down). Laureano, as usual, includes mouth-watering foodie scenes that both break up and increase the tension. Melody and Justin both wrestle with their faith, creating an extra dose of reality. Because spiritual issues are common to almost everyone, and ignoring those keeps the stakes less weighty. I always appreciate characters with emotional and spiritual depth. Supper Club fans will love this second installment in the trilogy and await the third with excitement.
Unexpected events cause Melody to reconsider the path her life is taking. Should she try something new in business and in love? Can she trust God when she has been disappointed so many times in her life? I would love to visit Bittersweet Cafe and meet everyone, if only this were a true story. This is a sweet story filled with forgiveness, trust, love and faith. Great read. I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required.
If you salivated over the amazing dishes in the first book in this series, you’re in for a treat. All the delicious breads and pastries your heart desires appear between the pages, and I’m left wondering how much of this passion for food is directly attributed to the author or just something she’s heavily researched.
As a massive fan of baking – I have my tried and true favourites, but I have a love of recipe books too, and love to browse through the many things I’ll never make! Each year the women of my family (my sisters and in laws) follow the Great British Bake-Off (which is retitled as the Baking Show for the US audience). Each week we all have to choose something from the show and make it exactly as directed. We post on social media our results, sometimes they are winners and most the time hilarious epic fails. But it’s fun, and entertaining for our friends.
Food lends itself to creativity. We all need to eat, but how much more enjoyment do we get when it’s a passion? The Saturday Night Supper Club was a great opener for this series revolving around 3 friends. I loved the direction that Bittersweet took. Melody is a likeable character with a lot going on emotionally and spiritually. We can find ourselves surviving but not really living. This is the case for Melody. Justin is a character I wouldn’t have imagined would have worked well for her, but surprisingly we get to know his true heart, where his spirit is – the direction he wants to go also. With both of them headed in different directions we have quite simply an unpredictable but engaging plot.
So well written, so much food to drool over – and three friends who continue to face life’s biggest challenges together.
I can’t wait to discover Ana’s story. She’s somewhat of a mystery to me.
I received a complimentary copy. This is my honest review.
There are some authors who are absolutely stunning. Their delivery, characters, ability to weave truth within the depths of a riveting plot… I don’t know if I have the words to accurately describe how beautiful this book is. Let’s just say, you need to read this book. I loved it from front to finish. Prepare to lose yourself within its pages and remain spellbound until the end! Seriously, get this book!
I received a copy of the book from the author and am giving my honest review.
If you remember (I don’t necessarily expect you to) it’s been just days over 11 months ago when I first gushed over this author. ‘The Saturday Night Supper Club’ was my first Carla Laureano book. I vowed then it wouldn’t be my last. And here we are! And guess what? I absolutely loved this book as well. Melody is a train wreck, not necessarily in a disaster way, but definitely a train wreck. A slew of failed, intense yet failed, relationships. A stream of abandoned jobs, mostly due to failed relationships, that keeps her from following her true passion. And two ‘drop everything and meet’ best friends who have the ability to make things better. Not that they always do but the power is there.
Melody, more so than Rachel, is so very relatable. Not that Rachel wasn’t but Laureano created something in Melody that goes beyond just understanding. She managed to weave a perfectly flawed, minorly broken, person who has lived her life with all the good and bad. She’s not shamed for having lived with her former boyfriends. She’s not shamed from having a touch and go relationship with God. She’s just a person, living her life, building her dreams, and just trying to find her next right thing. We need more Christian fiction like this. More that focuses more on the person than the sins, so to speak. More that is a reminder that what we have done is not who we are. I think if there was more fiction like this then there would be more Christians like this. We are so busy judging each other and judging ourselves for our (their) sins that we forget we are all just human beings trying to do the next right thing. We forget that we all, even Job, struggle with our faith at times. Melody is such an example of truly just trying to do the next right thing.
There were a few little hiccups for me with this book though, more so than the first one. I did got bogged down in the food descriptions. Sometimes I felt like it was talking over me, if that makes sense. I would have appreciated this if there had been more description for understanding it would have made a difference between kinda annoying and totally OK by adding to the story. I saw the judgemental side of Rachel and Ana that I didn’t see in the last book. Judgemental toward Justin and his career and his faith. I didn’t see that so much from Ana and Melody toward Alex ya know? I mean, if I did I don’t remember. I’m sticking with that version of events. This book is all finding your niche in the world, whether it be wasting talents at a chain bakery or buying your own charter flight business. It’s about building the career of your dreams of finding your dreams aren’t necessarily tied up in your career. It’s about more than just first impressions and second thoughts. I didn’t get bogged down in the romance (thank you!). Overall, this is the perfect book to spend a cozy weekend.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
Plans and perspectives play an important role in this delightful culinary romance and it is a good thing literary indulgences are calorie-free! The delectable desserts in Melody’s repertoire are enough to send my sweet tooth into witness protection.
Melody reminds me of a hummingbird, artistic and free-spirited with a firecracker personality and she never stays in one place too long. Melody’s insecurities and rocky relationships sparked my protective instincts and I wanted to take her under my wing like she was my own sister or friend.
Justin is an aviation rockstar or at least he deserves to be with his uber-overachievements. The author presented the piloting portions of the story with such vivid detail. Justin’s loyalty and sacrificial love make him a top-notch hero while his flaws keep him relatable and genuine.
This story, these friends, and all that delicious food took my senses and emotions on an unexpectedly turbulent ride and I loved every minute. I highly recommend not only this story but the previous book in this series as well. I am eagerly anticipating future stories from this author!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
I just finished reading Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe, and I absolutely adored it. This second novel in The Saturday Night Supper Club series focuses on pastry chef, Melody Johansson and pilot, Justin Keller. I enjoyed getting to know the spunky character of Melody who was friends with Rachel, the protagonist in the first novel in the series. Though Melody appears on the outside to be a risk taker, the reader is able to see the depths of her hurt from childhood due to an absent famous mother. These hurts have dictated her failed choices in men. However, don’t let that description make her sound like a meek woman. On the contrary, she can be bold and gutsy. I was moved by her faith in God before and after it is tested, as well as the steps she takes to start her own restaurant with her friend, Rachel. Her love interest, Justin Keller, though extremely handsome, is dealing with hurts from his past also that have kept him from seeking a serious relationship with a woman and have caused him to lose his faith in God. Will circumstances keep them apart? The story takes you on a fun and at times emotional ride until the beautiful conclusion. Be prepared along the way for some serious cravings as you read about all the delectable deserts and breads Melody makes throughout the story. I am seriously wishing I could visit The Bittersweet Cafe today! Bravo to Carla Laureano for another amazing read!
Carla Laureano has done it again! The story of Melody, a supporting character in her novel, “The Saturday Night Supper Club,” and her new potential pilot beau, Justin, is one that will hook you from the first smell of freshly baked bread.
Melody is a multi layered character, and Justin has a unique story of his own that develops as you sift through the story. What begins as a chance meeting after a car breakdown turns into a life altering series of events, wrapping up in a way I didn’t expect.
Food is a character within this series, and the descriptors Laureano uses are enough to make you long for high end pastries, carefully crafted dinners and fresh baked croissants. She always does a great job of immersing the reader in the world within a restaurant, or in this case, a bakery/café. (Don’t read this if you’re hungry. 🙂 )
I enjoyed the way Laureano places the value of faith within the ensemble of characters’ lives and does not always neatly wrap things up. Everything is not what we assume it is, and that leads to challenges of belief, friendships that can be both helpful and supportive or concerned and dismissive, family issues that horn in on what otherwise might be a fairy tale story, and the very real relational issues found in groups of peers.
I don’t often read contemporary romantic fiction, but Carla Laureano is a voice I have really come to enjoy. I like the way she weaves stories and food together, allowing the reader to see from the inside out what it’s like to jump into a Food Network show or dine in a high end restaurant. It takes a lot to keep me interested in a series, but her stories are well written and researched. I am already looking forward to the next book, which shares another supporting character’s personal story, this time centered around coffee.
I was honored and excited to be an early reader. All opinions are my own and I appreciate the chance to fall in love with the next story in the Supper Club series.
Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe by Carla Laureano is such a fun read. Foodies will love the baking techniques discussed and everyone will enjoy the mouthwatering treats described in this book. Be prepared to crave freshly baked loaves of bread and sweets of all kinds. This book will test your diet! Readers who loved The Saturday Night Supper Club will love this book. It revisits the characters from that book and has a similar feel to that book, but the plot is completely different. It can be read as a standalone novel, but why wouldn’t you want to read the other book first? Both books are an absolute delight to read and I highly recommend them. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.