Brunch at Bittersweet Café
-
-
4.5 • 12 Ratings
-
-
- $10.99
-
- $10.99
Publisher Description
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 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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Laureano (The Saturday Night Supper Club) resumes her Supper Club series with the sumptuous tale of a pastry chef who dreams of starting her own patisserie. Classically trained baker Melody Johannson works the night shift at a franchise of a no-frills Denver bakery chain that cares little for the quality of their pastries or breads. However, Melody has been plotting to open her own bakery with friend Rachel Bishop, an award-winning chef (and the heroine of the previous novel). Melody's plans are complicated when pilot Justin Keller ends up taking cover in her bakery during a snowstorm. Justin returns frequently, but as their relationship develops, he reveals his plans to move to Florida to help his ailing sister. With her and Rachel's bakery plans nearly realized, Melody must decide if she can give up her dream for the chance at love. Justin's sister and brother-in-law, who are starting an air charter business in Florida, add zest to the otherwise straightforward story. Melody also realistically wrestles with her faith as she considers her decision, creating an extra level of tension in the resolution. With fun food scenes and organic spiritual elements, Laureano's book will be relished by sweet-toothed inspirational readers.
Customer Reviews
DELECTABLE TREAT!!
BRUNCH AT BITTERSWEET CAFÉ (Supper Club #2) by Carla Laureano is a Delectable Treat! It may be read as a stand-alone. However, in order to truly appreciate the passion of the characters in this plot, they need to be read in sequential order. You will miss out on what drives these characters to be the way they are in you skip THE SATURDAY NIGHT SUPPER CLUB (it is a fantastic novel, too!).
This plot is a roller coaster ride of relationships, family dynamics, emotions, a business startup, marketing strategies, learning about real love and dependence on God and not on yourself. In the midst of that ride, Laureano will have your taste buds on High Alert as she sprinkles in ingredients and Recipes throughout her novel.
This is a novel that illustrates how FAMILY - whether it’s the one you’re born in or you create for yourself is so fundamentally important, FOOD - tried and true Recipes and new ones that explode all your taste buds truly does nurture you, FAITH - that God has the best plan and it’s best to not take matters into your own hands and SACRIFICE - for the ones that you love because that’s what God teaches us to do.
I was provided an ARC of this novel by the author. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence. I have preordered a copy for my own personal collection.
Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe
My first read for this author but definitely not my last!
In Colorado, Melody Johansson, is working in a commercial bakery. Already 30, she thinks it may be time to leave the job she’s had for six months, the longest time she’d been in one place. She’s been wanting to travel and go back to Europe. A knock at the bakery door at 4 am is unsettling. After seeing the man and hearing his reason, seeing his id and his stranded car, she lets Justin Keller in to use the bakery phone. He stays in the bakery awaiting a tow truck. He is a pilot Why do most pilots seem to be handsome? Melody’s shift is over and still no tow truck. She offers to give Justin a ride home and he takes her up on it. After she drops him at his home, she finds herself wishing she had given him her number.
The next day is the Saturday Night Supper Club. Melody always makes dessert. For some time she has taken pictures of her dessert creations and posted to Instagram. Over 10,000 followers is pretty good. At dinner her friends Ana and Rachel encourage her to find a way to use her Instagram following to her advantage. Melody tells them about Justin. Ana asks for her cell phone and proceeds to find Justin on Facebook and sends a friend request to him from Melody. Checking out his Facebook pictures sees one of Justin and his niece at church. Wow Christian and a good uncle. Melody and her friends comment it’s been awhile since they’ve been to church.
Melody’s mother shows up to tell Melody her grandmother has died. Melody inherits her grandmothers house and investments. A letter from her grandmother encourages her to sell things and if Paris is her desire to use the funds for that dream. She could do that. Or she could open a restaurant/bakery with her friends
Meanwhile Justin is thinking about Melody and that she seemed to have some religious faith while he was currently ambivalent towards God. Justin’s sister Jessica has MS. A warmer client will help. Justin and Jessica’s husband Pete are looking into a charter business in the Ft Lauderdale area.
Melody yearns for Europe, or does she? Will she sell her grandmothers house and go to Paris? Justin yearns for South Florida. Or is that just what he wants for his sister? Will he move there? Melody believes in and trusts in God. Justin believes in but doesn’t have trust in God.
Will they work it out?. Will they let go and let God, and both trust in him?
Enjoyed
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 complimentaray copy of this book. No review was required.