 Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher Genre: Contemporary Romance Series: Cape Cod Creamery #2 Pages: 304 Release Date: May 2, 2023 Publisher: Revell 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 colossal mistake, 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?
 Reviewer: Marie Edwards This is the second book in the author’s Cape Cod Creamery series. It is best to read the first book before this one. Leo the Cowboy from The Sweet Life returns and has a bigger role in this one due to his connection with Callie and another character. Like the first book, there are “quotes” before the chapters. I loved the one from Disney’s Frozen to start it off. After that, they’re all pretty much ice cream centric – fictional and real. The story is told through multiple POVs – Dawn, Marnie, and Callie. Though the focus is mainly on Callie and her story. With the dates in the story, this reads more like a diary causing it to feel a bit sluggish despite taking place over four months. Callie’s worry over a genetic medical issue also seems to bog down the story a bit. This starts off with Callie making a colossal (and a bit severe) mistake during a food safety conference (of all places). As a result, Callie ends up with her cousin Dawn who drags her to a conference to get her back to her old self. Dawn thinks this “funk” is only about Callie losing her job. This is where the main story comes into place about the secret to happiness and how Callie is trying to find it. Of course, it will be different for everyone. It isn’t a quick fix, which is what Callie is looking for. That causes this to often read like a self-help book as well. The seminar’s message (and story) is about living in the present and not worrying about what’s in the future. There is very little romance between the characters, so this is more like contemporary fiction. It is a quick read that doesn’t stand out that much. As this is from a Christian publisher, there are themes of faith, but it isn’t too preachy. There are also references to depression, grief, anxiety, and a debilitating illness (MS). I’ll be reading the next book in the series as it’s about Brynn – Dawn’s best friend, and hoping that the Callie/Bruno story gets a proper conclusion. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.  Reviewer: Kimberlee Sams The Secret to Happiness is an excellent follow-up to Dawn's story in The Sweet Life. This novel follows Dawn's cousin Callie as she navigates a difficult work-related situation and a troubling medical problem. You could jump right in with this book without reading the first one, as the relationships between the key characters are clear from the beginning. Anything from Book One that you need to know is made clear at the start of this one. I truly enjoyed learning more about Callie, who only received a few off-page mentions in The Sweet Life. Watching her try to cope with her issues while visiting Dawn and Marnie at their ice cream shop was interesting. Her evolving relationship with both women was simultaneously realistic and heart-warming. Also, bonus points for Marnie subtly sharing her faith with Callie. As part of the plot, Callie is semi-forced to take a happiness class at the local community center. This furthers the storyline as she gets to know her new teacher and provides some genuine insight into how to find happiness. I liked that, as Callie tried to teach herself how to be happy, the reader could learn right along with her. My favorite part of the story was Callie's relationship with Leo, a 6-year-old cowboy who frequents the Creamery. Watching the threads of Callie's life come together, in the end, was lovely and provided the perfect ending for this installment of the Cape Cod Creamery series. The next book will focus on Dawn's friend Brynn, but I imagine we'll see more of Callie (and Dawn and Marnie) as well. I'm very much looking forward to my next visit to the Cape! Five stars! I received a review copy courtesy of Revell Publishers through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Jane Mouttet The Secret to Happiness is the second book in Suzanne Woods Fisher’s Cape Cod Creamery series. I have enjoyed visiting Cape Cod in this series. I especially enjoyed the “real life” example of using brain retraining to treat chronic symptoms not necessarily caused by disease. As someone who has considered brain retraining for a chronic illness, I liked seeing how it could play out in someone’s life. Having symptoms of a chronic illness can be scary and depressing. I have seldom read a book with a character who struggled with chronic symptoms as Callie did - a character some can relate to. Fisher includes some characters from book one and introduces a couple of new characters. It is always fun to see how characters’ lives develop and change/grow. As I started this book, I kept thinking I’d read this before, but I hadn’t. Either there is a little overlap between book 1 and book 2, or there was a preview chapter of book 2 at the end of book 1. Either way, remembering what I had read helped me get into the book more quickly. The Secret of Happiness is an adult novel. Because of this (and there is some social drinking in the story), librarians may want to read the book first before placing it in their K-12 Christian school libraries. I received a complimentary copy from Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest review. This is my honest review. Reviewer: Connie Porter Saunders I'd already met Marnie Dixon, her daughter Dawn, and Dawn's fiancee Kevin in the first book of the Cape Cod Creamery series. I believe that Callie Dixon and a little six-year-old boy named Leo are perfect additions to this second book. Adorable Leo the Cowboy adds sweetness and fun, and I loved the special connection that develops between Callie and him. There's also an intriguing author and instructor named Bruno Bianco to add some romantic tension to the mix! Why did I love The Secret to Happiness? The characters, the small-town setting, and the realistic family dynamics make it an enjoyable read, but the emphasis on discovering the secret to happiness is what I found so meaningful. I loved the quotes that author Susanne Woods Fisher shares at the beginning of each chapter and the wonderful nuggets of inspiration she offers as a part of Dawn's journey. They prompted me to reflect on my own ideas about happiness. This is a delightful book, and I recommend it to all who enjoy contemporary Christian fiction. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Lori Parrish I absolutely adored this story! It is full of sweet surprises. Some I loved, and some I didn't. My favorite thing was "visiting " Cape Cod and its residents again. Little Leo the Cowboy is my favorite character because of his bubbly, happy self. He has such energy that I'd dearly love to have. He's a sweetheart, to be sure. Marnie is my 2nd favorite. She has gone through so much and still bounces back, no matter what. I love her determination to do that. Marnie is someone that I feel like I've known my whole life. That's just how her personality is. I'm glad I got to know her a little more. God, love, family, and friendship mean the world to me. I was able to connect to that. This is one of the many things I loved about this book. The connection. Ms. Woods Fisher does an incredible job of bringing the characters' feelings out and making them realistic. I give this book 5 stars for a job well done. I highly recommend it! I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.  Reviewer: Rebecca Maney "She dreaded the pity on their faces and the assumptions they'd make. She dreaded how sorry they'd feel for her. But she was desperate, lonely, and scared." Callie Dixon had made a huge mistake that ended up destroying her career. Executive chefs weren't allowed to make errors. Now Callie was sleeping on an air mattress, sharing a tiny little room with her cousin above Main Street Creamery in Cape Cod, barely able to make it out of bed in the morning. Then . . . "there stood six-year-old Leo the Cowboy." Growing up, Dawn Dixon and Callie Dixon had competed against each other over just about everything . . . Callie coming out on top, most of the time. Now the tables have turned, and Callie is just a shadow of her former self, leaving Dawn determined to shove Callie out of her funk. Wait! What a perfect idea! She'll send Callie to the "Secret to Happiness" class at the local community center. That should do it! "While it's important to stop letting other people tell our story . . . it's more important to let God tell our story. " The secret to happiness is a great topic for a novel set in a charming little town where everyday people struggle with everyday problems and manage to solve them by simply . . . . It's impossible to do anything but love this story. Yes, the inspirational elements are subtle but meaningful, making the happily-ever-afters much more memorable. I received a copy of this book from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. Reviewer: Tammy Lunsford
I was completely riveted by the enchanting writing and the beautiful setting in this book. Suzanne Woods Fisher's description of Cape Cod and this little ice cream shop was delightful and made me want to buy ice cream. Callie Dixon is at the top of her game. She is an executive chef at one of the largest convention hotels in Boston. Her bank account is full, and she is at the pinnacle of her career. All of that comes crashing down around her when she makes a vile error in the kitchen. She is now unemployed and disgraced as a chef. They say everything happens for a reason, and when Callie starts working at the Penn State Ice Cream School, she does not realize just how true those words will be. She is serving ice cream to the attendees/students when she sees a blast from her past in the person of her Aunt Marnie. She learns that Aunt Marnie and her daughter, Dawn, purchased an ice cream shop in Cape Cod called Main Street Creamery. Callie's friend encourages her to visit her family and get away for a little while. Dawn Dixon is Marnie's daughter, and when she learns that Callie is coming for a visit, she is not a happy lady. Dawn and Callie were always competing for first place. Callie always won and overshadowed anything that Dawn did, even when she did her best. Callie arrives in Cape Cod with no intention of getting involved in anything and getting to know anyone. Dawn realizes that Callie is a shell of the woman she knew in her past. Dawn makes it her personal goal to bring Callie out of her depression. This was a wonderfully written story of the restoration of relationships in family, finding forgiveness, and realizing there is more to the pursuit of happiness than being the top dog. The story was charming and thought-provoking. It caused me to do some self-reflection about true happiness in my life and how I gauge my happiness meter. I dearly love all of the characters in this book. They each have distinctive personalities that resonate off of the page. I felt like I knew them personally after reading this gem. My favorite character was a little six-year-old boy named Leo. You must read the book to fully understand and appreciate what I mean. You will close this book with a smile on your face. Suzanne Woods Fisher can delight your soul with a charming story, characters, and scenery. Thank you to Revell Books for a courtesy copy of this book through Interviews and Reviews. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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