{"id":24024,"date":"2019-02-21T01:00:51","date_gmt":"2019-02-21T06:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=24024"},"modified":"2019-02-20T16:55:45","modified_gmt":"2019-02-20T21:55:45","slug":"brunch-at-bittersweet-cafe-by-carla-laureano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=24024","title":{"rendered":"Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe by Carla Laureano"},"content":{"rendered":"

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MY REVIEW:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe’<\/strong><\/em> 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe’ <\/strong><\/em>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<\/strong> <\/em>first to get the full experience.<\/p>\n

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I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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ABOUT THE BOOK:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Title: <\/strong>Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe<\/p>\n

Author: <\/strong>Carla Laureano<\/p>\n

Genre: <\/strong>Christian Romance
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Release date: <\/strong>February 5, 2019
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Publisher: <\/strong>Tyndale<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to purchase your copy.<\/pre>\n<\/td>\n
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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\u2019t deny that she\u2019s 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\u2019s a sign that her luck is finally turning around.<\/p>\n

Justin is intrigued by the lively bohemian baker, but the last thing he\u2019s looking for is a relationship. His own romantic failures have proven that the demands of his job are incompatible with meaningful connections, and he\u2019s already pledged his life savings to a new business venture across the country\u2014an island air charter in Florida with his sister and brother-in-law.<\/p>\n

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\u00e9 in Denver with her best friend, chef Rachel Bishop, she\u2019s faced with an impossible choice: stay and put down roots with the people and place she\u2019s come to call home . . . or give it all up for the man she loves.<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Carla Laureano<\/strong> is the RITA\u00ae Award-winning author of contemporary inspirational romance and Celtic fantasy (as C.E. Laureano). A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked as a sales and marketing executive for nearly a decade before leaving corporate life behind to write fiction full-time. She currently lives in Denver with her husband and two sons, where she writes during the day and cooks things at night.<\/p>\n

GUEST POST FROM CARLA:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cConfessions of An Erstwhile Baker\u201d<\/p>\n

Like most females, baking is encoded somewhere deep down in my DNA. Call it nature or call it nurture, but at the earliest age, I figured out that the cute boy in my English class would talk to me if it involved chocolate chip cookies. Got my heart broken or had a friend betray me? I grabbed the mixing bowl and went for the brownies (even better if they\u2019re served \u00e0 la mode.) My friend was having a birthday? I made a cake drowned in pounds of buttercream.<\/p>\n

I quickly graduated from the boxed mixes to the real thing when I got married and had a kitchen large enough to roll out dough. I would comb magazines for the best recipes and spend my weekends trying them out. I quickly became known for bringing beautifully iced Christmas cookies and delicious homemade cakes to work.<\/p>\n

Then my husband and I moved our young family from Los Angeles to Denver, a relocation that was about 1000 miles northeast and 5000 feet up. Suddenly, every recipe I\u2019d perfected in the previous eight years failed. Cookies burned to crisps, cakes fell, and don\u2019t get me started on candy making. Gradually, I adapted my recipes (my beloved never-fail Toll House recipe took eight tries to get right) and even became an avid artisan bread-baker.<\/p>\n

Then disaster. Or at least, what a baker would consider a disaster. After developing chronic health problems, I discovered that among other things, I was sensitive to gluten. The horror! In order to heal, I turned to the paleo diet, which eliminates all grains (there goes most gluten free recipes) and all processed sugars (there goes everything else). I\u2019ve tried baking paleo-style, and while I can now make cakes that even my gluten-fiend family enjoy, it\u2019s just not the same.<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s a once-obsessive baker do when she can\u2019t eat her creations? She bakes for other people and goes on faith that they actually taste good\u2026 considering she can\u2019t taste them herself.<\/p>\n

It struck me that there was a spiritual lesson in that, and an obvious tie to Brunch at Bittersweet Caf\u00e9<\/em>, which deals in large part with Melody\u2019s faith journey. There are times when we have no idea if things are working out the way they\u2019re supposed to, in which case we just have to trust the \u201crecipe\u201d and the input of friends and family who love us. Sometimes our instincts tell us when we\u2019re off track, and sometimes we need that outside nudge from our \u201ctaste-testers\u201d to put us back on course.<\/p>\n

In any case, what Melody and I have in common is that we both bake to show our love for the people around us. And the process of baking my favorites, even knowing that I can\u2019t enjoy them myself, can still be a selfless way to show people they\u2019re important to me.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, macarons<\/em>, which happen to be made with almond flour, are still on the menu.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

BLOG STOPS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quiet Quilter<\/a>, February 12<\/p>\n

Among the Reads<\/a>, February 12<\/p>\n

Lighthouse Academy<\/a>, February 12<\/p>\n

By The Book<\/a>, February 12<\/p>\n

The Power of Words<\/a>, February 13<\/p>\n

As He Leads is Joy<\/a>, February 13<\/p>\n

Cultivating Us<\/a>, February 13<\/p>\n

Blossoms and Blessings<\/a>, February 13<\/p>\n

Fiction Aficionado<\/a>, February 14<\/p>\n

The Lit Addict<\/a>, February 14<\/p>\n

Christian Chick\u2019s Thoughts<\/a>, February 14<\/p>\n

This Chattanooga Mommy Saves<\/a>, February 14<\/p>\n

All-of-a-kind Mom<\/a>, February 15<\/p>\n

Just the Write Escape, <\/a>February 15<\/p>\n

100 Pages per Hour<\/a>, February 15<\/p>\n

Splashes of Joy<\/a>, February 15<\/p>\n

Bibliophile Reviews<\/a>, February 16<\/p>\n

Texas Book-aholic,<\/a> February 16<\/p>\n

Debbie\u2019s Dusty Deliberations<\/a>, February 16<\/p>\n

C Jane Read<\/a>, February 17<\/p>\n

Abba\u2019s Prayer Warrior Princess<\/a>, February 17<\/p>\n

Moments<\/a>, February 17<\/p>\n

Back Porch Reads<\/a>, February 17<\/p>\n

Cordially Barbara<\/a>, February 18<\/p>\n

Genesis 5020<\/a>, February 18<\/p>\n

Simple Harvest Reads<\/a>, February 18 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)<\/p>\n

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy<\/a>, February 18<\/td>\n

Livin\u2019 Lit<\/a>, February 19<\/p>\n

Kat\u2019s Corner Books<\/a>, February 19<\/p>\n

Life with the Tribe<\/a>, February 19<\/p>\n

Stephanie\u2019s Life of Determination<\/a>, February 19<\/p>\n

Through the Fire Blogs<\/a>, February 20<\/p>\n

Remembrancy<\/a>, February 20<\/p>\n

Vicky Sluiter<\/a>, February 20<\/p>\n

Living Life Free in Christ<\/a>, February 20<\/p>\n

2014 and Beyond!<\/a>, February 21<\/p>\n

Daysong Reflections<\/a>, February 21<\/p>\n

Inklings and Notions<\/a>, February 21<\/p>\n

Pause for Tales<\/a>, February 21<\/p>\n

Cafinated Reads<\/a>, February 22<\/p>\n

Tell Tale Book Reviews<\/a>, February 22<\/p>\n

two points of interest<\/a>, February 22<\/p>\n

Ashley\u2019s Bookshelf<\/a>, February 22<\/p>\n

My Devotional Thoughts<\/a>, February 23<\/p>\n

Two Girls and a Book<\/a>, February 23<\/p>\n

The Christian Fiction Girl<\/a>, February 23<\/p>\n

For the love of books<\/a>, February 23<\/p>\n

God is Love<\/a>, February 24<\/p>\n

Book by Book<\/a>, February 24<\/p>\n

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses<\/a>, February 24<\/p>\n

Janices book reviews,<\/a> February 24<\/p>\n

Lukewarm Tea<\/a>, February 25<\/p>\n

Carpe Diem<\/a>, February 25<\/p>\n

A Baker\u2019s Perspective<\/a>, February 25<\/p>\n

Bigreadersite<\/a>, February 25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

GIVEAWAY:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

To celebrate her tour, Carla is giving away a grand prize package of a macaron baking mat, a macaron book, and a paperback copy of Brunch at Bittersweet Caf\u00e9!!<\/p>\n

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/promosimple.com\/ps\/db0f\/brunch-at-bittersweet-cafe-celebration-tour-giveaway<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MY REVIEW: 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,60,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-contemporary-fiction","category-romance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24024"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24024\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24033,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24024\/revisions\/24033"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}