A Bittersweet Surprise

A Starlight Cove Novel

By: Cynthia Ellingsen

Narrated by: Kate Rudd

A mysterious, heartwarming tale of small-town intrigue, family secrets, and the possibility of new love from the Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Lighthouse Keeper.

Emma Laurent has always preferred helping others to asking for help. But now, she’s the one in need. Her stepmother is selling her late father’s candy shop, her grandmother’s assisted-living facility has become a financial burden, and the anniversary of her fiancé’s death is quickly approaching.

Rather than face her problems, Emma does what she does best - finds someone else to help by offering a mother and son with nowhere to go somewhere to stay. So when a couple visiting Starlight Cove suddenly offers to pay $20,000 for the old painting that has hung on the candy shop’s wall since Emma was a child, it seems like fate has stepped in to help Emma in return - but the more she thinks about it, the more suspicious the offer seems.

Determined to uncover why the couple is so interested in the painting, Emma begins to investigate, unknowingly wading into a sea of old family secrets. At the same time, a new flirtation has her feeling guilty and confused. As Emma uncovers more about the past, can she find the courage she needs to save the candy shop and give herself permission to open her heart to love again?

©2019 Cynthia Ellingsen (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“A Bittersweet Surprise is one of those gentle, uplifting stories you lose yourself in, and just keep turning pages. A beautifully drawn world of small-town secrets and misunderstandings, art, and chocolate. I loved it.” —Carol Mason, bestselling author of After You Left

“Ellingsen crafts a heartwarming story filled with charming characters, relatable yet original family dynamics, a hint of mystery, and a lovely dash of romance.” —Tracy Brogan, Amazon Charts and USA Today bestselling author

Enchanting with a bit of mystery

Love Cynthia Ellingsen’s Starlight Cove books! Anxiously awaiting a fourth one, hopefully? As a native Michigander, I know of the charm and beauty some of our towns along our Great Lake shores have. I love the characters and the fact that she brings them in from previous books. This is a great summer book to read on the beach or just when you wish you were there!

The is something sweet about this book!

I’ve just finished the Starlight Cove series. Wonderful memorable characters, relatable heroines. I highly recommend this series.

Enjoyable clean book with a mystery

The mystery in this book is stronger than the romance and is filled with unexpected twists. It has a nice setting with the town and the chocolate shop. It's a very clean book that can be read as a stand alone.

A Sweet Surprise

This is the third book in the Starlight Cove and all three are most superb. 9

Place it took place

I loved all three books. The storyline was great. I loved where they took place.