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Book Review of The Sweet Life (Cape Cod Creamery, Bk 1)

The Sweet Life (Cape Cod Creamery, Bk 1)
VolunteerVal avatar reviewed on + 601 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher was such a wonderful surprise! Although the author is prolific, I hadn't read her novels since most feature Amish characters, a subgenre of Christian fiction I don't enjoy. However, this plot and its characters are fully integrated into contemporary society.

The plot begins on a unique note - Dawn's fiance breaks their engagement and encourages her to take their non-refundable honeymoon trip to Cape Cod. Reeling from this shock, Dawn invites Marnie, her impetuous mother to accompany her. Marnie is dealing with her own grief - a cancer diagnosis and treatment as well as the death of her husband/Dawn's father. The contrast in their personalities shows up in the way they spend their time at Cape Cod - Dawn sits on the beach planning her next chapter of life without marriage while Marnie tours around the area, chatting with everyone, and falls in love with an historic building that was previously an ice cream parlor.

Despite serious doubts, Dawn agrees to help her mother take on the huge task of reopening the ice cream shop. And that's when they begin meeting their neighbors - people who want to help them be successful as well as the president of the local historical preservation association who thwarts every step of progress they make. The creation of the ice cream flavors was very interesting to me ... and had me craving a big dish of ice cream!

Since this is a romance, it has a happy ending - but I loved that it wasn't as predictable as I anticipated. I also enjoyed the mother - daughter relationship dynamic and the details about renovating the building while protecting its heritage. Overall I really enjoyed this cast of characters and am happy this is book 1 in a series.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of the novel by the publisher and voluntarily wrote this review; all opinions are my own.