Synopses & Reviews
Sophie Jones has had more than her share of misfortune. Orphaned at a young age by a fatal car accident, her life has been the definition of tragedy, and every time she tries to move forward, her past drags her back. Her one consolation is discovering she's not alone when she whips up a batch of Misfortune Cookies that become a surprise hit with customers at her chocolate shop. Dipped in bitter chocolate, people delight in Sophie's unique handwritten fortunes far more than the unpalatable taste, even if reading,
"Is it love or pity? Try not to dwell on it." isn't exactly the kind of thing to lift one's spirits.
It's not that Sophie is depressed, she's just a realist, and her luck seems true to rotten form when Garrett Black walks into her shop as a birthday surprise. He broke off their engagement with no explanation and disappeared. Now he wants to explain, but Sophie's far too wise to open herself up to him again. When he reacts with surprise and dismay to her Misfortune Cookies, Sophie sees the perfect opportunity to dodge the conversation.
She proposes Garrett take out a want ad in the local paper seeking sustainable happiness. When he gets a hundred responses she deems acceptable, she'll go out on one last date and hear him out. Sophie knows he has no chance of winning, but fate may have other ideas.
Review
"I love this story...."--Diana Page Jordan, host of Open Book with Diana Page Jordan
Review
"Charming. Funny. Redemptive. All wrapped in a bittersweet and undeniably delicious flavor. Sweet Misfortune is Milne's best effort yet."--Jason Wright, New York Times bestselling author of Christmas Jars and The Wednesday Letters
Review
"[An] affable yuletide yarn...The story is unexpectedly heartwarming, and Milne mostly avoids sap while delivering his warm fuzzies and dashes of Christmas hope and magic."--Publishers Weekly on The Paper Bag Christmas
Review
"...the story is ultimately heartwarming, and readers will be cheering for Sophie the whole time. This short book might not contain long-lasting happiness for us all, but it's certainly a good place to start."--San Francisco Book Review, April 11, 2010
Review
"Fans of Nicholas Sparks will enjoy this uplifting novel about second chances, circumstance, coincidence, and, of course, happiness."--Booklist, on Sweet Misfortune
Synopsis
Sophie owns a chocolate shop where she sells Misfortune Cookies-dipped in bitter chocolate they contain messages she handwrites each day such as Your car seems fine now, but just wait...it will eventually be a source of frustration and unexpected delay.What starts as a gimmick, turns into a surprise hit with customers. But when her ex-fiancee moves back to their small Washington town, he is surprised at how bitter and unhappy Sophie has become. He proposes a bet--she must place an ad in the paper that simply states Wanted: Happiness. If at least 100 people respond, proving happiness isn't a myth, she agrees to a date with him. If not, he'll leave her alone forever. Sophie is convinced she'll win, but fate has other ideas when a reporter at the paper is intrigued by the ad as a story and posts it in newspapers across the country.
Synopsis
Sophie's former fianc proposes a bet: she must place an ad in the paper that simply states "Wanted: Happiness." If at least 100 people respond, she agrees to a date with him. If not, he'll leave her alone forever. Sophie is convinced she'll win, but fate has other ideas.
About the Author
Kevin Alan Milne is the author of The Paper Bag Christmas, The Nine Lessons, Sweet Misfortune, and The Final Note. He earned an MBA at Pennsylvania State University. Born in Portland, Oregon, Milne grew up in the nearby quiet country town of Sherwood, Oregon, where he currently resides with his wife and five children.