The Secret to Happiness by Suzanne Woods Fisher: Book Review

 *Book received for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

Escape to Cape Cod--where you just might find the secret to happiness

Callie Dixon had the world by the tail . . . until it all slipped away. Fired from her dream job after making a colossalmistake, she's escaped to her aunt's home on Cape Cod for time to bounce back. Except it isn't a home, it's an ice cream shop. And time isn't going to help, because Callie's bounce has up and left. There's a reason she made that mistake at work, and she's struggling to come to terms with it.

Things go from bad to worse when Callie's cousin Dawn drags her to a community class about the secret to happiness. Happiness is the last thing Callie wants to think about right now, but instructor Bruno Bianco--a curiously gloomy fellow--is relentless. He has a way of turning Callie's thoughts upside down. Her feelings, too.

Bruno insists that hitting rock bottom is the very best place to be. But if that's true, how is it supposed to help her figure out what--or who--has been missing from her life all along?

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the award-winning, bestselling author of more than 30 books, including The Moonlight School, Anything but Plain, The Sweet Life, and The Secret to Happiness, as well as the Three Sisters Island, Nantucket Legacy, Amish Beginnings, The Bishop's Family, The Deacon's Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series. She is also the author of several nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and Amish Proverbs. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Facebook @SuzanneWoodsFisherAuthor and Twitter @suzannewfisher.

The Secret to Happiness is the second book in the Cape Cod Creamery series. While you might get some spoilers, I do think this could likely be enjoyed as a standalone as well. 

Having read and enjoyed the previous book in the series (and generally enjoying Suzanne Woods Fisher's contemporary romance reads), I was very excited to read this one. She always does a great job of creating heartfelt love stories that leave you walking away with a sense of hope, while also taking on sometimes difficult topics. When I picked this one up, I was not expecting to see myself so much in Callie's character. As someone who has dealt with both chronic unknown health issues, as well as anxiety and perfectionism... I definitely understood this character well... and I appreciated seeing that depicted in a character. The romance was certainly a slow burn, but it was sweet and unique, and I really enjoyed it. Cowboy Leo was perhaps my favorite and added such great sweetness to the story! 

Like the first book, this is one that will have you craving ice cream with all its ice cream quotes and little facts learned throughout... so be warned, and don't read while hungry. If you enjoy Christian romance, this is one not to be missed!