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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While there are plenty of sweet moments in Brunch at Bittersweet Café, I wouldn’t be quick to peg this as a “fluff” read with no substance. In this captivating story, Ms. Laureano tackles subjects such as: following your lifelong dream, grief, and even dysfunctional relationships (with family and with God.) She tosses in an occasional literary reference which will appeal to readers who enjoy the classics. And you’ll find enough details of food and pastries to satisfy both, your hunger and your sweet tooth. With many savory moments, there is a great balance of lessons to learn from and romance to swoon about. Another great read from Carla Laureano.
Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe is a delightful read that will leave you salivating, swooning, and satisfied!
Melody Johansson is a strong-willed, fun-loving, competitive young baker who just can’t seem to find her niche in this world. After her best friend, Rachel, is forced out of her restaurant, Melody quits as a show of solidarity. She then finds herself working at job where she’s not using any of her talent or creativity. When Melody’s grandmother, who raised her, dies and leaves her the house and vintage car, she decides to rent the house and sell the car to open up a cafe/bakery with Rachel.
Pilot Justin Keller enjoys his job of flying the rich and famous to wherever their whim fancies. But his loyalty to his sister, who suffers from MS, has him hoping to move to Florida and buying a charter company with his brother-in-law to help with her health. Justin gets stranded in a snowstorm one night just outside Melody’s work door. They are instantly attracted to each other, but are unsure what the future will hold.
The characters in this story are wonderfully developed, have depth, and life-like struggles. You’ll find yourself laughing out loud at several points and feeling their pain and heartache at others. I am really looking forward to the next Supper Club story!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
‘He’d thought that God was distant, but until now, he’d never thought He was cruel.’
Melody Johansson, baker and pastry chef, has had a string of relationship disasters when a handsome stranger knocks at the door of the bakery in the wee hours of the morning and explains that his car is stuck in the snow. Melody lets him in and wonders if this is a sign from God. Justin Keller, private pilot, is definitely not looking for a relationship. His schedule is much too demanding for that. It has never been compatible with a relationship and he doubts it ever will be. Then why does he feel this pull toward Melody?
Melody and Justin are so drawn to each other that their better judgment flies right out the window. They begin to spend time together, knowing it can’t go anywhere. Very soon Melody has a chance to open her own bakery, a wonderful dream of hers, and at the same time Justin has sunk his life savings into a new business venture with his sister and brother in law seventeen hundred miles away. Impossible choices are mounting and neither Melody nor Justin can figure a way out of them and still continue in their relationship. Can Melody realize her dream or does she give up the love of her life? And Justin faces the same desperate choices.
I became a forever fan of Carla Laureano’s work with her first book (which I have read twice) and this one is completely captivating. Her style of writing is just indescribable. You just fall into the book and don’t want to come out. There is so very much to like about this book: the scrumptious food she has these characters making (I hungered after it!), the compelling characters who seem real and a swoon worthy romance that will leave you breathless.
Laureano’s writing has never been better. Her ability to absolutely bring every emotion of her characters onto the page is so perfect, to the point of simply being lost in the pages. Brunch at the Bittersweet Café is like sitting down to a fine meal spread before you with something to please every appetite. To top off the outstanding meal, a delicious romance that will allow you to get up from the table completely satisfied. Add in a powerful spiritual element and this book is a winner in every way. Bravo! Highly recommended and destined to be one of my top ten reads of the year.
*I was proved with a preview copy of this book by the publisher and author. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Favorite Quotes:
She was the one who had wiped Melody’s tears and kissed her scrapes and taught her all the things a young girl should know and quite a few things she shouldn’t. But that was her grandmother.
I would call it an enthusiastic hobby, not an obsession.
Pete negotiated the extra stop with the driver in rapid, confident Spanish. Justin only caught a handful of words—he’d naively studied German in high school and college, which so far had only come in handy for reading labels on imported beer.
“I’m actually thinking I might be too dumb to date you.” That pensive expression disappeared in a flash, and she laughed. “Don’t worry. I still waste afternoons watching cat videos on YouTube.”
I think you’ll like Florida. I think if I were going to move away from Denver, that’s where I would go. Be one of those old men driving a golf cart to the grocery store in checkered pants and a paddy hat.
My Review:
Justin and Melody met by accident during a snowstorm in Denver and started a relationship knowing there would be an expiration date as Justin had plans in the works to invest in a new business venture and move to Florida. The storylines were entertaining and laced with humorous banter and oodles of mouth water food that quickly derailed my New Year’s diet efforts. Curses, I may have gained a pound or five during my perusal with all those tantalizing mentions of crusty European breads and desserts. I learned a lot of different things reading this book, I learned a considerable amount about baking and flying (the two professions of the main characters), I had no idea people tubed in snow, and I also picked up a new word that I had never heard before, Rochambeau, which is another name used for the game of Rock Paper Scissors. I will toss out the caution that this was a genre hybrid of Women’s Fiction, Family Drama, and Christian Romance. It was tame enough for my elderly mother’s book club and didn’t get uncomfortably preachy for me until the last 10% of the book, although that is probably just me as I tend to grow restless with dogma, whereas regular church attendees would be more at ease.