Bittersweet Surrender

by Diann Hunt

Carly spends her days at a spa (okay, so she owns the place), she’s dating a hunk, and she’s surrounded by chocolate. She’s living the dream . . . or is she?

The last few years have been tough, but now Carly Westlake’s life seems picture perfect. Business at her spa is up thanks to her famous chocolate facials. And Jake Mitchell—her dreamy, teenage crush—has moved back to Spring Creek, Vermont, with his daughter in tow. Carly’s nearly floored to learn that Jake has his sights set on winning her heart.

But when long-buried secrets threaten her business—and her friendship with her best friend and business-partner, Scott—Carly has to fight like crazy to keep her plans afloat. Can it be that her dream of marrying Jake Mitchell isn’t the plan God has for her life? What if God’s plan requires something totally unexpected . . . a bittersweet surrender that Carly must make before she can discover true love?

Genres: Christian, Christian Fiction, Romance, Ebooks

320 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

About the author

Diann Hunt wrote romantic comedy and humorous women's fiction targeted to Christian women of the Baby Boomer generation. She'd lived in Indiana forever, had been happily married forever, loved her family, chocolate, her friends, her dog, and, well, chocolate. Her book "For Better or For Worse" is being made into a Hallmark movie, with production beginning in November, 2013.

After a four-year battle with ovarian cancer, Diann went home to be with her Lord and Saviour just after Thanksgiving, 2013. She leaves behind a legacy of words of blessing, love for her Lord, her family, her close friends, and fans the world over who have come to know and love her and call her their friend.

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some really good moments in this book, and some moments that weren't as good. I will say that for the first time I was actually looking forward to two characters actually realizing they liked each other though. I found it annoying how they darted around though I could see why they would.
I can understand why Carly had such bad self-esteem issues, but I think the book focused on it way too much. You don't have to tell me every other page that she has a problem with her body. I've also met people from online and know that you do get worried about what they think of you. It's the natural thing to do, but it was just too much obsession over one thing. I found it relatable, but also very overwhelming to keep reading.
I did like the story though, and it was cute. I had no idea how Carly couldn't tell Jake would be a jerk though. I if I had met him, or even read his messages I would be able to tell something was off about his personality. As always though it's understandable why Carly continues to hope. If there was anything I liked about the story it was that. You could understand why the characters do what they do. Though the points are repeated so many times, so I'm not sure if they had anything to do with that.
If you are a fan of romantic, and light read books then you'll definitely enjoy this. At the heart of it, it is a cute story.

This book was provided by Booksneeze in exchange for a review.

[Catherine Decious]

Overdrive

[Carrie Padgett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carly Westlake owns a chocolate spa. She’s recovered from losing a breast to cancer but she’s not quite recovered from losing her husband to a younger, whole-er woman. She’s recently lost her best friend and co-worker in the spa in an accident. Her father also died and her elderly stepmother is moving in. Her life is stressful. She’s also been emailing a new man … sort of. Her brother’s best friend, Jake, whom she had a crush on when they were younger. Jake is moving back to town with his teenage daughter. Carly’s brother’s marriage is shaky due to her brother’s C.J.’s drinking and gambling. Did I mention Carly’s life is stressful? Her best friend who died, Ivy’s husband, Scott, is helping Carly figure out her finances and why a spa full of customers isn’t making money.

If that sounds like a lot, just try being Carly.

It all sounds like the perfect setup for a fun, lovely, sweet book.

I can only give it about 2 stars. If that.

I didn’t love it. Which even I find hard to believe since it’s got all the elements I love in my fiction. Chocolate. Romance. Fun. Purses. Chocolate. A spunky heroine. Chocolate.

But the elements didn’t mesh for me. Carly came off more irritated and petty instead of spunky at the beginning when her stepmother moved in and Scott volunteered to help her lose some weight by working out with her. She was resentful and childish.

The book wasn’t edited well. At one point, Carly uses a deep breathing technique that she learned in her Christian yoga class. Later, she’s at a class with her sister-in-law, but all of a sudden it’s Carly’s first time at the class. The next day she’s sore, again from that first time. If it was her first time, where did she learn all the deep breathing techniques?

Carly talks about a spa called West Baden in Indiana (the book takes place in Vermont). In the next chapter, she drives 30 minutes to the next town over to check out the West Baden Spa. Those details make it hard for me to get into the fictive story world. I kept getting pulled out to flip back and make sure that I understood the previous comment and then reading the current page again.

The “hero” that Carly is crushing on, anyone can see that he’s a self-centered jerk, but Carly is sure he’s the thinking about a future with her.

The other reviews I’ve read of this book were quite glowing, so maybe it was just me.

I was furnished a free e-copy of this book from Thomas Nelson, in return for an honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carly hasn't had it very easy the last few years. She has undergone treatment for breast cancer (without insurance), her husband walked out, her best friend died, her dad died, her brother keeps hitting her up for money, her business' financials are messed up (she runs a chocolate spa), and to top it all off, her stepmom has decided to move in with her. Wow...I'm tired and worn out just looking at that list!

Even though she could let all of this get her down, she tries hard to focus on improving things. She has hired her best friend's husband (who is an accountant) to look at the books and straighten things out; she takes advantage of her stepmom moving in as a way to eat healthier; she survived breast cancer; and she has decided to stand up to her brother.

For a few months, she has been corresponding via email with her brother's best friend from high school. She had a crush on him in high school, but he was too cool for her. Lucky for her, he is moving back with his teenage daughter. That is her other reason for getting in shape and eating better.

However, nothing goes as it should. The mystery of why Carly's business is having problems is spread through the entire book, with an ending that is a surprise. People Carly has relied upon for years turn out to be not so reliable, and things she thought she knew turn out not to be true. But what I think hurts Carly the most is how those who are closest to her have ended up letting her down over the last few years. She has to find the strength within herself to move beyond her past and her current struggles and find happiness.

This book was provided as part of the Booksneeze program, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw the cover of this book , I knew I just had to read it as it sounded and looked very appealing and it eventually proved to be correct. To me, the novel Bittersweet Surrender started off a bit slow with the introduction of main character Carly who owned a Chocolate Spa along with workers Amber and financial accounts Scott. We read the banter between Carly and Scott and learnt that Scott's wife Ivy had recently passed away and that Carly's Stepmother Magnolia who has just moved in with Carly after her dad's death was also Ivy's biological mother making Carly and Ivy step-sisters in a sense. The novel starts with Carly in a bit of financial strife , family problems and most importantly her weight and the fact that old crush Jake - who Carly has been emailing is moving back to town and Carly wants to look perfect for him.
The first half of the novel to me was very light but the second half - reader's embrace yourselves as it hits an emotional high when we discover that the people we thought we really knew and cared about aren't actually what we thought and that we may grow up with them but do we really know the truth about people behind closed doors. The whole cast of Bittersweet Surrender are about to recieve a domino effect of wake-up calls and reality checks which in the final hour , the deciding factor will be - Is God's love and Christian Love strong enough to overcome the most horrible hurts and anger towards those who you trust?
Bittersweet Surrender is a novel that definitely will not bore you and a piece that made me smile was that a wee while ago I reviewed on the site a book called "Smitten" in which 4 authors had put together and DiAnn Hunt was one of them , the town "Smitten" makes a guest appeareance.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carly Westlake has her hands full with running her day spa while keeping an eye on her eccentric stepmother who has recently moved in. Toss in a handsome childhood friend who's doing her company books, a hunky high school crush who's just moved back into town, plus a brother who's hiding a big secret, and the sparks start to fly.

Chocolate is the unique theme of Carly's day spa; it's also her vice. After struggling through breast cancer followed by a painful divorce, Carly drowns her sorrows in chocolate and has the extra twenty-five pounds to prove it. All combine to threaten her faith—-and her self-confidence—-making it difficult for her to move forward with her life.

I truly enjoyed a heroine who was flawed and unsure of herself, yet resilient. Carly was so likeable; it was impossible not to silently cheer her on as she struggled with the knowledge that the people closest to her might not be what they seemed.

Although the story began as a light romance, suspense built with the secrets that were revealed as the story developed and I found myself trying to puzzle out what was going to happen next. The messages of faith throughout were subtle but inspiring.

I would definitely recommend this book for the romance-lovers, especially for those who also happen to be chocolate-lovers. The constant references to chocolate in the book stoked my cravings and I found myself pinning lots of chocolate-inspired recipes on Pinterest. ;o)

NOTE: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review; the opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Lilibet King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carly Westlake has had a rough time recently. She learned she had breast cancer, and her husband left her. She’s recovered from a mastectomy, but her emotions are still in a whirl. Her best friend and business partner Ivy passed away, as did her father. Now she’s left to run the Mocha Day Spa alone, with limited assistance from Ivy’s husband Scott.

If life weren’t complicated enough, Carly’s step-mother Magnolia has just moved in with her, and her high school crush Jake is moving back to town. Will Jake reject Carly as her husband did? Will she be able to run the spa by herself? Will Magnolia ever leave her alone?

Note that this book is only available in e-book format. If you don't have an e-reader, you can download a free version for your computer from either Amazon (for Kindle) or Barnes & Noble (for Nook).

This book is bittersweet, as the title indicates. Diann Hunt crosses a light romance with the serious issues of breast cancer. As a cancer survivor herself, Hunt handles the issues of recovery with humor and grace, adding a depth to Carly that most romances omit. The result is like dark chocolate; a bit bittersweet, but a very satisfying read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this sounded like a fun, lighthearted, chick-lit novel to enjoy on a dreary day, and while it definitely met those expectations, it is so much more as well. Diann Hunt has written a story that touched my heart. Carly is scarred by her experiences--breast cancer, a husband's desertion, the death of her dear friend who was also Tom's wife, and the extra pounds that her love for chocolate has wrought--and she struggles with her body image and confidence as a result. Many women will identify with the authentic emotions, frustrations, and insecurities that Carly battles. The novel isn't all drama though, as there are plenty of lighter moments, such as when Carly's step-mother moves in with her temporarily -- at least Carly hopes it's temporarily! A fun bonus is the book's setting near Smitten, the delightful town/novel created by Diann and 3 of her Girls Write Out blogging author friends, which I reviewed in early December. Whether you are looking for a book with an underlying message of faith or a simply an enjoyable read, I definitely recommend this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an electronic copy of this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review
Although I love chocolate as much as the next woman, I am not sure I would be able to deal with being wrapped in it, or seeing other women wrapped in it, as in a chocolate spa. The idea is totally unique, though, and well done in that the reader is not subject to the sights of this.
Diann Hunt manages to deal with many issues in this novel. Relationships between siblings, in-laws, at work, between friends, and everything in between, obviously, but also infidelity, gambling, anger, grief are touched on here. The story flows smoothly, told mostly from Carly Westlake's point of view, but also from those her life touches. She tries to be everything everyone else needs from her brother's keeper to her old flame's daughter's friend, then feels disappointed when her needs are not met. Her husbands unfaithfulness when she was dealing with breast cancer, though it happened before the story starts, is very much a part of her, as is the death of her best friend, who was manager of her spa, and also was the wife of her accountant. Secrets threaten the relationships. Romance is in the air.
A well written novel, that I would be glad to recommend to friends.

i received this ebook free from ThomasNelson publishers through their Booksneeze program for the purpose of reviewing. i was not required to give a positive review, just an honest one.

[Molly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this book but stuck with it to the end just hoping it would get better. But it just got worse.

A lot of ideas here are old-fashioned and outdated. Like, healthy eating is bland and hardly edible, consisting of alfalfa sprouts, tofu burgers, etc., and means completely abstaining from chocolate and anything sugar. I think balance and moderation are better pegs for healthy living.

It also bothered me how everyone kept pushing Scott, who lost his wife in an accident, to date again, when he insisted he was happy being single and would date when he's ready. The narrow-mindedness of it just got tiresome.

When the romantic feelings surfaced between the two main characters, it felt so contrived. Here you have friends-for-life and all of a sudden they just flipped on the switch? It didn't seem like a natural transition, more like a way to finally finish the story with a happy-ever-after.

Towards the end, it seemed every character had a revelation or a confession, and it kept pouring out like a soap opera on its last episode. I mean, I was half-expecting some grand plot twist that would give someone amnesia already. It was just too many issues to tackle in one book, too rushed.

And the editing issues didn't help, either. A lot of inconsistencies that throw you off. Didn't expect such substandard editing from Thomas Nelson.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carley Westlake mustered up all kinds of emotions for me in this book. After reading of her of her struggles through cancer, having a mastectomy, and having her husband leave her, the compassion was just oozing out of me. I was angry on her behalf! I think every woman will be able to relate to Carley's feelings of loss and insecurity over losing her breast to cancer. Such a real struggle for so many women. I was totally rooting for Carley. I wanted her to find love and feel valued again.

I think it was the chocolate that really sealed the deal for me with this book. Please! A chocolate spa? I could just smell the goodness as I read. Okay, maybe I could taste it too as I just had to grab me a little chocolate to go along with the book! I think they should have put a bit of chocolate smell in those pages or maybe a scratch and sniff? I love chocolate. I think I bonded with Carley right away just because of that fact.

This was a very enjoyable read. I was happy and satisfied in the end. This is a Christian fiction book, but light on the Christian. A clean read all the way around. I picked this book through Book Sneeze in exchange for my honest review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last few years of Carly's life have been tough: she beat breast cancer but lost her husband in the process. She runs a successful spa, but her best friend and spa manager passed away. With a little chocolate and support from her friend Scott, her life seems to be on the upswing, especially when her high school crush Jake moves back to town. When old secrets are revealed, will Carly have the strength to trust and to love again? 

This book is more than a romance. It's about life's secrets and the ripple effects they have on others. Although the topics are hard (cancer, divorce, gambling, lies), this book is still a light read with funny characters like Magnolia and humorous incidents like mishaps with spa clients.

I also enjoyed the fact that the characters were older...in their 40s or so. Although I'm not yet at that age, I think it's a nice break from the 20-something year old heroine in most Christian romance novels.

Overall, fans of Christian fiction will enjoy this sweet novel.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kristin (Kritters Ramblings) · Rating 1 out of 5]

A chocolate spa, cancer survivor, friendships, and family should make for a great girlie read to start the Valentine's Day season, but this book fell short in many ways. The main character Carly has survived it all - father passed away, breast cancer survivor, best friend passing away and step mother moving in, with all this tragedy the book started out in a low and depressing state. The reader follows Carly as she is trying to put pieces back together, but it takes quite awhile for the chips to fall, a little too long.

Without being so glum, I just didn't enjoy this one and I was prepared to fall in love at page one. When a book is slow to start and doesn't pick it up, it is hard to keep chugging along. I kept wanting the story to get going, but I was left in the same place with her fussing about her physical appearance or stressing about life. The sweet ending helped the book, but didn't make me cross the fencing to loving this book.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carly is like a lot of us, she has good and bad things going on in her life. She has a successful business where chocolate is freely available (wouldn't we all love that?) and friends in whom she can trust. But she has insecurities as well, based on recent events in her life. She had a mastectomy as the result of breast cancer, and her husband left her in the middle of her illness. She's also overweight – due in part to the chocolate. When her 'hunk' announces he's returning to town, Carly is determined to get into shape. Thankfully, her best friend is attempting to move on after the death of his wife – Carly's step-sister – and so becomes her accountability partner. Her step-mother is also determined that Carly will eat healthily.

To read my complete review of Bittersweet Surrender, please visit Proverbial Reads

[Raya Whitehouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carly Westlake who owns her own chocolate spa, decides she wants to lose some weight, because Jake Mitchell who is someone she has had a crush on for years, is moving back into town with his teenage daughter. Her best guy friend (which was her late best friend, Ivy's, husband) Scott is asked by her to help her to out, and he takes it to a level she didn't want, he takes her hidden stashes of chocolate (that she keeps to eat for herself) and tells her to eat pistachios instead, within reason. Magnolia is now living with her and is going to make her some healthy meals.

Carly has a dog named Pinkie. She also has a brother named C.J, who seems to have issues, at least until the end.

A very great read. Very well written.

[Jennifer Wedemeyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and give it 4 out of 5 stars, it's light reading for pure enjoyment. Doesn't take a lot of thought to read it and is easy to follow all of the characters. It's well written and I love that it's based at a Chocolate Spa, this was fun to read about. The main character is lovable and seems like she could be one of my BFF's in real life. It covers gambling addiction, breast cancer, divorce and several other real problems that people deal with on a daily basis and isn't overly preachy or predictable. I would recommend it to anyone that's look for some light reading.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book quite a lot. It seemed very true-to-life. Other Goodreads reviewers pointed out some flaws, and I can give them that the book isn't perfect, but for me the book just worked on an emotional level. Carly was dealing with very real, gut-wrenching life events but comes out with some happiness in the end. (Grade: "B".)

[Mireya · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bittersweet light read.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had all of the ingredients to capture my attention, but fell flat. In fact, I almost didn't finish it. I don't think I'll try another by this author.

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Christian romance, that is as per usual a little cheesy, but it does address some pretty heavy topics (cancer, infidelity, etc.) It was ok.

[Dianne Peeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story then again all Diann's books are great.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy read but formulaic. The author tries to ad depth to the character with flaws but by the end several seem just one sided.

[Beks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too tired to review tonight will do so tomorrow.