Is happiness a myth? Sophie Jones thinks so. But when she whips up a batch of bittersweet Misfortune Cookies in her chocolate shop, the rave reviews catch her off-guard---and so does her ex-fiance, who asks her out. Does she dare trust him again? Will she discover that joy isn't always fleeting? 288 pages, hardcover from Center Street.

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-fiancée 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.

Kevin Alan Milne is the author of The Paper Bag Christmas and The Nine Lessons. 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.

Milne (The Nine Lessons) slightly dials down his trademark oversentimentality in this serviceable novel of uplift. Chocolatier Sophie Jones carries around much guilt about her parents' accidental death when she was nine, so when her fiancé, Garrett Black, dumps her, she gets to feeling very, very sad. But in a lemons/lemonade moment, she channels her disappointment into a signature cookie: the Misfortune Cookie, which becomes a hit with her customers. She's eventually somewhat content, but then Garrett begs her to take him back, and she presents him with a challenge: prove that true happiness exists. The challenge, while silly, predictably leads them down a path they never expected. While this packs all the warm fuzzies Milne's readers would expect, a flood of too-serendipitous developments strain credibility, even for a cute, disposable confection. For readers willing to do some serious suspending of disbelief, there'll be some smiles. (June) Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.

"I love this story...."

"...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."

"...fun to read....fans will relish this fine character study."

"Fans of Nicholas Sparks will enjoy this uplifting novel about second chances, circumstance, coincidence, and, of course, happiness."

"Charming. Funny. Redemptive. All wrapped up in a bittersweet and undeniably delicious flavor. SWEET MISFORTUNE is Milne's best effort yet."

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