“Bittersweet,” a work in progress, is the first of a planned trilogy of contemporary romances inspired by Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” “Emma,” and “Persuasion.” All are set in Chicago and feature people in the food business.
“Bittersweet” centers on Aimee, a baker who’s diagnosed with gluten intolerance; her cheating ex-fiance who’s still a business partner because she can’t afford to buy him out; and Jon, a somewhat arrogant coffee maven who’s determined to buy into her business. Mr. Coffee likes the vibrant, somewhat temperamental baker. Really, really likes her. She would like him, too, if she actually could trust men, especially men who are lovers and business partners. Because that’s already worked out so well for her.
Of course she’ll only be able to resist his advances for so long. Because this is a romance and there’s no way the two don’t belong together, like, well, coffee and pastry.
“Bittersweet” won first place in the Single Title Category of the Wisconsin Romance Writers’ 2012 Fab Five Contest and placed third in the Single Title category in the 2013 Maggie Awards sponsored by the Georgia Romance Writers.