The Sweet Life (Cape Cod Creamery)

Our Review

THE SWEET LIFE is a sweet story by Suzanne Woods Fisher. She writes Amish fiction as well as contemporary romance, two genres that I enjoy.

Dawn’s life isn’t going as expected. First, she loses her beloved dad. Then her fiancé decides he doesn’t want to get married because he doesn’t love her the way he thinks he should. Never mind they’ve been dating for years and always knew they’d get married someday. Her mom is devastated by this but even more unhappy thinking that Dawn had found out that she had breast cancer, as well as the surgery and treatments already. When her fiancé tells Dawn the honeymoon on the Cape is already paid for and she should go with a friend, she invites her mom, and things take off from there.

Dawn is a planner like her father. Her mother, Marnie, loves to be spontaneous. They have a lovely time on the Cape until Marnie spontaneously buys a run-down building that housed an ice cream shop with the idea of fixing it up and reopening it. (Dawn and her dad went to ice cream school and loved to perfect their recipe for vanilla.) Dawn surprises her mom and herself when she says she’ll take a leave of absence from her CPA job, despite hoping to make partner soon. She intends to help her mom get the business up and running.

The story has a good flow with lots of obstacles thrown in their way, with help coming from the most unexpected places. Dawn and Marnie are on a journey rediscovering themselves, and they get closer than they’ve ever been. Dawn learns to refocus on something other than her job, and when she thinks about her last relationship, she begins to realize her ex probably made the right choice.

As the story progresses, the history of the town and details about ice cream are woven throughout. Linc, a resident of Chatham, seems to be there to help whenever Marnie needs him, and both Marnie and Dawn start to rely on him. Leo, a five year old, is a cute addition to the story.

The book has wonderful closure and a feel-good ending. Good thing Dawn is a planner! The cover is colorful and spot-on. Also, I loved the depth of the Questions for Discussion and the excerpt of the next book in the series.

THE SWEET LIFE is a wonderful beach read, set at the Cape, with lots of ice cream sprinkled throughout. Nothing could be better on a hot summer day!