Customer Reviews

Bittersweet (California Historical Series #2)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Set in 1860 California, young Laney McCain has loved her neighbor, Galen O'Sullivan for as long as she could remember, but unfortunately Galen was slow in realizing Laney had grown-up and was no longer just his best friend's kid sister.

Since the death of Galen's father the responsibility of guiding his younger brothers; caring for his ma; and trying to maintain farm and a station for the new Pony Express had been wearing him down. In spite of it all, young Galen draws his strength from his constancy and faith in the Lord. When the Grubb family arrived squatting on the O'Sullivan land, Galen extended the hand of friendship and allowed them to farm in return for the young twins Ishmael and Ivy's help on his farm, in spite of his dislike of their alcoholic and shifty father Mr. Grubb.

When Galen realized what a prize Laney would make as his wife and he was just about to propose, Ivy Grubb accused him of impregnating her and Galen in a shot-gun wedding would be forced to wed the liar in front of his whole parish including his beloved Laney.

*** In a sequel to Ms. Hake's LETTER PERFECT, where Josh McCain and Ruth found their destiny the reader is brought back to another uplifting emotional tale of love, sacrifice and betrayal in Laney and Galen's story. Beautifully and emotionally rendered the author paints young Laney as having been given mixed signals and wasn't sure at first that Galen recognized the fact that she had grown up. Coming to believe and relatively sure of Galen's love and intentions towards her Laney was devastated by the accusations against Galen. Ms. Hake does a brilliant job of portraying Laney's strength in believing Galen's innocence as she bravely extends the hand of friendship towards young Ivy while her own heart was breaking.

Galen was also rendered beautifully as being so honorable, charitable all the while knowing full well he hadn't touched Ivy but would provide for both her and the child even as his own heart was breaking for the pain it was causing his Laney. He would question his faith in the Lord wondering why this had been allowed to happen. The reader will experience joy and heartbreak, laughter and tears, as Laney and Galen come to terms with accept God's will.

Brilliantly written, you'll enjoy all of the secondary characters from the younger lovable O'Sullivan siblings to their quirky and eccentric neighbors, as well as despise the sinister and evil men who prey on the defenseless. This author has definitely impressed me with her vivid descriptions of Americana life with inspirational and heart lifting stories that encourage and delight. This is an author who is on my watch list and whom I highly recommend.

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

Bittersweet is the sequal to Letter Perfect. After reading Letter Perfect, which was so good (read it in 2 days-couldn't put it down!) I was hoping that there would be a sequal with with the character Laney McCain. Bittersweet kept me up until 1 in the morning! The characters in Ms. Hake's books are so down to earth and heartfelt, they are the kind of people we all want to be like. The storyline is easy to follow and keeps moving. The book was creative and fun, and I look forward to her next one. Lori Eulberg

Hake continues the tale of the McCains and O'Sullivans in Bittersweet. Laney McCain has had her eyes set on Galen O'Sullivan for years. Galen sees her only as a child, the little sister of his best friend. Despite Laney's prayers it seems that nothing will change Galen's heart. Then Ishmael and Ivy Grubbs enter their lives and nothing will ever be the same.

This is a strong story that will keep you guessing until the end. Hake's characters are believable and have a depth that causes the reader to truly feel for them both when they struggle and when they triumph. The story twists and turns when least expected.

Hake blends faith and fiction to shine light on Christ's love and forgiveness that are available to every person - no matter their station in life. Her characters reflect godly qualities and challenge the reader to do the same. Readers who love historical Christian fiction will love Bittersweet.

Review by:
Jill Hart, [...]

This was a tough book to get through. After stumbling through Forevermore and the irritating dialog of the main character, I decided to give Bittersweet a shot, unfortunately, it too was frustrating. The story started out relatively well with the idea of a young lady seeking the affections of her brother's friend, but then it just got annoying. Their days seemed to drag by, and then suddenly this "shot-gun" wedding is thrown in. "Okay!" I thought, mentally rubbing my hands together, ready for something good, but then I was sadly disappointed. After Galen is forced into a marriage against his wishes, everyone seemed to just sit down and say 'Okay. I guess this is how it is.(sigh)' What?! Seriously? The ending was also frustrating. After struggling to get through the book, it seemed to be thrown together and way too rushed. It would have been better to cut out some of the lengthy beginning and add more to the end, instead of the choppy one or two sentence wrap-up for each of the characters.
I would have given it one star, but to be honest, it is relatively well written (short of the awkward ending).

I have to say this book was one of the most frustrating books I ever read. It took everything in me to finish it. I had to skim through some pages just to get to the end.

I believe in christian charity, but this book took the cake. It was just so unrealistic to me. The whole ordeal between Ivy and Galen. I just didn't like the fact that no one believed him but Laney. Not even his mother or best friend believed him. No one sat down to talk or pray about the situation. Not even the pastor said a word. They just allowed it to happen and accepted things as they were(I'm trying not to give away any of the story). It just blew me away that they believed squatters over a good christian man whose character was supposed to be outstanding in the community. The only one who made any sense was the sheriff.

I didn't like any of the characters except for little dale. Everyone was too syrupy, including the squatters. It just wasn't realistic to me. It was a fairytale christian story. I'm not trying to mean, but I just didn't like this book. I read the first one and liked it. Almost everyone's life was tied in a neat little bow at the end.

I don't think I will be reading anymore books by this author because I didn't like Forevermore. I've read quite a few of her books. I realize she has a certain writing style where most of the characters seem to sugary. If you are a Cathy Marie Hake fan, then I believe you will enjoy her books. She's a good writer I just don't like her style.

I couldn't put this book down. The author kept me wanting to know what was on the next page. This author writes in a very gripping fashion. One might think that the story will happen in one way but then it gets turned on its head which makes for high interest.

This book was so stagnant, I had to force alertness to get through each agonizing page. The main characters were devout Christians & so unbelieveably "good" that it was nauseating. When Galen was accused of impregnating the squater girl, Ivy, noone questioned the accusation despite Galen's near perfect record as a stellar Christian (not even real life pastors were as flawless as Galen)demonstrated throughout this book and book #1 (Letter Perfect). Ivy was completely unlikeable, yet the book wasted countless pages following her and her brother. I think Hake was trying to draw our compassion for the girl, but did not achieve this goal. When she was married to Galen and in his home, I just don't get how she could even bear to look at this family without burning with shame for her lies after all the goodness Galen & his family had poured into her and her brother. Indeed, her lack of guilt and shame was repulsive, and I found myself skipping forward to see when the truth finally gets revealed and justice is put into play. Unfortuneately, I found that it wasn't until the very end that things get set right, and I could only sigh dispairingly at the torment of having to endure Ivy and her sham. I still have 1/4 more of the book the read, though I already read ahead and know how it ends, nevertheless, I will attempt to drudge through it just to say I finished it.

Bittersweet opens with a thin storyline and ends up killing it (and your brain) one agonizing page at a time. The story is so slow it never actually gets off the ground. But one thing I found more offensive than a sorry plot or sloppy, unrealistic character development was the author's complete ignorant treatment of Southern people. The three southerners in this book are portrayed as stupid, dirty and devoid of any social graces to the point that it begins to feel that this author had a traumatic experience in a Southern state and decided to exact revenge. The language and spelling of the southern dialogue was so ridiculous that I actually called friends and family to read it to them. Most became speechless with disbelief and disgust. It became so hard to decipher the dialogue that I quit reading half-way through vowing to pick up a good Mark Twain novel to make myself whole again. I have lived in Tennessee for a long time and never have I heard such corny, incromprehensible reteric from anyone. My advice to the author? Next time you portray a character from a particular region do your homework. Don't steal accents and sayings from the Beverly Hillbillies and call your character southern. It would also be nice to have an actual story before you begin writing the book.

Couldnt put it down. You know a book is good when you still think about it and feel for the characters while you aren't reading it.

This book was so hard to put down!! It wasn't like some of the sappy romantic books out there. It had it's fair share of romance, heartache, and suspense.
The first half of the book established the characters.. I fell in love the sweet hearted Laney and adored Galen for being respectable. I literally cried through the second half of the book! I was thinking (NO SPOILERS) "How could this happen to this sweet couple??? They don't deserve it AT ALL!!!"
The result of sin lands twins in the care of Galen... and Laney has been pushed out.
Through all of the roundabout twists and eventual wins, BITTERSWEET is a definite read. It made me examine my own life, also making me realize that I shouldn't plan my journey, but that God has a specific route and purpose for my time here on earth. Though we face hard times, he is always here. ROMANS 8:28- "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Laney was a believable character for me to follow after. She reminded me of the sweet ladies in my church, who themselves have gone through the valleys but have always looked towards the prize= God.
Laney and Galen's life were changed by one person's sin. It builds, and seemed to have wrecked their lives. But trust me, this book ended beautifully, it just took a long journey to get there. ISAIAH 55:8- "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD."
My life was changed because of this book. I absolutely love it, and will never give it away. I want my future daughters to read it.
I'm 16. I think that any age person could and should read this. It will change your outlook on your life. Great Christian, romantic, suspenseful, and life-changing book. I completely recommend it.