Cover Image: A Bittersweet Surprise

A Bittersweet Surprise

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This was a very enjoyable story set in a small town, with a bit of a mystery running through it about a painting that has been on the walls of 'The Sweetery' chocolate shop for years - is it worth a lot of money... or not?!

Emma has been running 'The Sweetery' for a little while but her stepmother, Gillian, actually owns it and she has decided to sell it and Emma is initially distraught. Her Father used to own it, but when he died unexpectedly it went to his wife and not Emma as she was his next of kin and he didn't have a will. Emma and Gillian have a bit of a fraught relationship as once her Father died Gillian palmed young Emma off on her grandmother instead of bringing her up herself. The reasons for this become clear later in the story.

On the wall of 'The Sweetery' is a painting that a couple visiting suddenly decide they want to buy and offer Emma a lot of money for, arousing her suspicions about their intentions, so she starts to look into the origin of the painting. It was actually painted by someone who visited their small town when Emma was young, and became good friends with her Father. The little girl in the painting is actually Emma. The painting was given to her Father on the understanding that it would go to Emma after his death. Emma loves the painting but has always left it on the wall in the shop, not thinking it was of any value.

But after the offer to buy it things take on an unexpected turn and it turns out the painting may be by a famous painter... or not! Lots of confusion about this, but in a nice way.

Along the way we also meet up with Emma's friends, and a love interest in keep-fit/healthy eating Cody, who is always ribbing Emma about the bad effects of chocolate sold in her shop.

There is definitely lots to keep you interested in this story, Emma is always helping people and helps a homeless woman and her young son by sorting them out accommodation and even sorting her a few cleaning jobs, but she has secrets and is Emma too trusting?

Very enjoyable, small town story with interesting characters and a bit of a mystery. This is the third book in this series, but I would definitely be interested in going back and reading the rest now.

Was this review helpful?

Emma hasn’t had an easy life, her family chocolate shop and her grandmother are the only constants on which she can rely.

Her mother gave her away. Her father was going to raise her with his new wife. But he passed away when Emma was a child and she went to live with her grandmother.
Emma always thought she’d run the candy shop some day but it was left to her stepmother Gillian since her father had no will.

Present day, Emma is in her 30’s and she’s suffered more loss. Her fiancée passed away ten years ago. Emma works at the shop but doesn’t own it. Her grandmother is in a wonderful nursing home that Emma can’t quite afford.
Then Gillian tells Emma she’s selling the candy shop.

Emma feels like she could lose everything. She’s desperate to try to buy the shop.
Then, one day, a customer wanders into her shop and wants to buy the painting hanging on the wall.

Emma never considered selling the painting, she’s actually in the painting as a little girl. She also never considered it was valuable.
But when the customer offers her tens of thousands of dollars for it, Emma decides to dig into the details of the painting.
She realizes there’s a lot more to the story than she ever realized.

I thought this was an enjoyable story that was very character based. Emma is a wonderful character, totally selfless bordering on questionable in his quick she is to help the strangers in town. She’s got a very big heart and might be putting herself at risk.

I got to read an early copy from NetGalley, thank you!

Was this review helpful?

Emma works in a candy shop, The Sweetery, that her late father owned and now her step-mother wants to sell it to a conglomerate. Emma loves the store and would love to own it and stay in the little lakeside town where she lives and where the store is located.

Several things conspire to make it possible for Emma to buy the store, but standing in the way are also several things that might spoil her plan, including a painting whose worth is in question and a homeless mom and her son who turn out to be more of a blessing than a curse in the end.

This book is populated with the kinds of people you would expect to find in a small town where everyone knows everyone else. Emma has lots of friends who would like to see her succeed and take ownership of the candy shop, but are there enemies in the background, hoping to see her fail?

Emma runs into one obstacle after another and finding ways to overcome these obstacles makes up for the most interesting parts of this book. There are some twists and turns here, too. All in all, an enjoyable mystery with a feel-good ending.

I was given an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A nice read that takes place in a candy shop.
I would recommend this book.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review from Net Galley.

Was this review helpful?

This is a easy and quick read with lots of emotion and a good plot. I didn't know this was part of a series but I enjoyed this one enough that I am going to read the other ones. I definitely recommend this book. It kept my interest enough that I read it in one setting.

Thanks Net Galley for allowing to read this book for honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was a heartbreaking story. Emma is a kind hearted person who is always trying to help others. It has not always gone well but she can’t help but try to help. She finds a woman and her son sleeping in a car looking like she has been assaulted. Emma steps in to help.
Emma’s life has been difficult. She lost her fiancé over 10 yrs ago and still has not tried to get back out there. She was raised by her father and a step mother, when her father died her step mother Gillian takes her to her grandmother to raise her. Gillian has never been loving towards her and she stands in her way from taking over her fathers chocolate store.
Emma tried to get a loan but nothing is falling into place.
Will Emma ever be able to get past the lose of her fiancé? Will Emma be able to secure a loan to purchase the chocolate store? Will Emma put her self at risk by helping the woman and her son?

It was a well written story with real emotion and a surprise or two.

Was this review helpful?

I read Cynthia Ellingsen' s novel, A Bittersweet Surprise with great pleasure. I found it to be an easy and fun read not knowing it was written as part of a series. I will look forward to reading more books by this author. Its setting in a candy shop was perfect. Thanks to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A sweet book, engrossing and entertaining.
I loved the plot, the cast of characters and the setting.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Was this review helpful?

Emma has always been one to help anyone who needed anything, but she herself didn't like to ask, or wouldn't ask. Her step mother was going to sell the candy store that Emma's father had begun so many years ago. Perhaps if people would learn to say what they meant, instead of leaving innuendos unchallenged life would be simpler - but then again, there wouldn't be any point to this book. However, I Ioved the book. = please pass the chocolate!

Was this review helpful?

I didn’t realize this was part of a series when I started reading this book. It was fun, sad, a bit romantic and had a little mystery thrown in too. I really enjoyed the story and will search for more in this series. Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union publishers for the early copy!

Was this review helpful?

There is no way a book set in a candy shop could be bad....this was an easy, enjoyable read. A picture wanted so badly by a couple, they are willing to buy it for $20,000...why? Will it be sold, what secrets does this painting hold? The answers are between the pages!

My thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Emma didn’t have the easy childhood and her adulthood isn’t going much better. Her loving father, owner of the Sweetery, died suddenly of a heart attack when she was young. Her step-mother wasn’t the most loving person in the world and left Emma to be raised by her grandmother, who was a wonderful and loving person. Now her step-mother wants to sell the chocolate shop where Emma works. This causes a number of problems for Emma, with no straight-forward solutions.
This story could just be a bit of fluff. However, it is well-crafted with a variety of storylines interwoven. Emma also has some interesting personality traits, like the need to help everyone she meets. All of this is pulled together to create enough tension but with a satisfying resolution.

Was this review helpful?

A easy and cosy read,simple storyline but well presented,you can't help but fall in love with the character's,either you love them or hate them like Gillian,the stepmother.
A nice holiday read,.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a quick read. It did not have a great deal of depth; the storyline was very easy to follow. I enjoyed it.

Was this review helpful?