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Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe by Carla Laureano Review

Hello Everyone :)


I hope you're all doing well, and I want to thank you for joining me for another book review here on The Preppy Book Princess.


I had recently read, and really enjoyed, The Saturday Night Supper Club, so I was beyond excited to finally get to read the second book in the series, Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe.


Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe by Carla Laureano:





Source: Library

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Date: February 5th, 2019

Genre: Christian Fiction/Women's Fiction

Synopsis:


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-caf� 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.


(synopsis from goodreads)


My Review:

As much as I'd enjoyed The Saturday Night Supper Club, I knew to expect great things from Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe. Melody was one of my favorite characters in the first book, and I was looking forward to reading her story, and getting to understand her character a bit better. However, even with expecting to enjoy this one, I still think I was ill prepared for just how much I was going to adore this amazing story, and it ended up being so much more than I was even hoping for.

There are so many elements throughout this entire story that make it stand out as a new favorite, and it's honestly hard to know where to even begin. First and foremost, I adored the romance. I loved how Melody and Justin meet when he gets stranded in a snowstorm, and despite how many obstacles seem to keep working against them, they keep feeling drawn to one another. While romance plays a big part in the story however, it's definitely not the only element that kept me glued to the page. Familial ties run strong throughout the course of the entire story, and both Melody and Justin struggle to deal with being true to their families, while still finding a way to stay together. In the first novel of the series, the friendship between Melody, Rachel, and Ana was a huge component, and I was happy to say that continues with this one. There's often hurt feelings that emerge between the three, but the reader can still see that these hurt feelings emerge because of a protective persona the three have towards each other, rather than it coming from a place of jealousy or insecurity.

From reading The Saturday Night Supper Club, I had a feeling that food was going to play another integral role in Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe, and I was happy to find out I was right. Baking has been one of Melody's lifelines for as long as she can remember, and I loved the descriptive sections of both the delectable treats she was making, and the process that went into her making each and every one. 

One thing that really makes a Christian fiction novel stand out to me, is when the faith element is front and center, and not just neatly tucked into the background just to have it fit into the genre. I loved how strong the faith element runs throughout this entire story, and the fact that both Melody and Justin have to learn how to let go, and let God before their relationship can truly become what they both want it too.

All in all, I couldn't have enjoyed this one more, and it gets a perfect five star rating from me. As an added bonus, I loved all the details that are given about Justin's occupation as a pilot for a private time share company, and the details behind him and his father building their own small plane. My father actually owned three small planes that he sold before I was born, and to this day I love hearing his stories about flying, and the maintenance that went into keeping them all flight safe. Justin's passages about his love of flying reminded me of this, and that gave it an extra special place in my heart.

I highly recommend checking this one out guys! Carla Laureano has a fantastic gift for storytelling, and I can't wait to read more from her in the future.

This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photo was taken by me and belongs to me.

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