Summer at Shore Leave Cafe

by Abbie Williams

"Abbie Williams is an author who excels at the romance genre. Her Shore Leave Cafe Romance series is a showcase for her ability to weave a contemporary tapestry, complete with rich characters, vivid settings and seductive moods."—Dean Mayes, Author of: The Hambledown Dream, Gifts of the Peramangk, The Recipient, The Artisan Heart

Joelle Gordon is leaving Chicago and her cheating husband to head for her hometown of Landon, Minnesota. There, she returns to the Shore Leave Cafe, the lakeside diner the Davis women have run for decades. Joelle's family, including her three teenaged daughters, Camille, Tish, and Ruthann, is made up of strong women who have long believed in a curse upon them - a curse that robs them of the men they love.

This summer has plenty in store for Joelle. Finding herself confronted with the reality of single motherhood, the last thing she expects is gorgeous, passionate Blythe Tilson, a summer employee at Shore Leave, with an uncertain past. Can Joelle resist the temptation of a younger man, and does she dare to consider loving someone again, or will the Davis family curse prove all too true?

A story about heartbreak, blame, family, destiny, and the difficulties of returning home, Summer at the Shore Leave Cafe is the first book in A Shore Leave Cafe Romance series.

A Shore Leave Cafe Romance series:
1. Summer at the Shore Leave Cafe
2. Second Chances
3. A Notion of Love
4. Winter at the White Oaks Lodge
5. Wild Flower
6. The First Law of Love
7. Until Tomorrow
8. The Way Back
9. Return to Yesterday

The story continues in her most recent novel, A Place to Belong.

Also from Abbie Williams, The Dove Saga
1. Heart of a Dove
2. Soul of a Crow
3. Grace of a Hawk

• ISBN10: 1771681055
• ISBN13: 9781771681056
• Publish Date: 1 November 2016 (first published 25 May 2015)
• Publish Status: Inactive
• Out of Print: 13 May 2024
• Publish Country: CA
• Imprint: Central Avenue Publishing
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 224
• Language: English

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

3.5
Summer at the Shore Leave Café shares second chances, new beginnings and shore life. It is the first book in the Shore Leave Café series by Abbie Williams. Small town life, interesting characters and a heated forbidden romance made this an enjoyable summer read.

Joelle Gordon is traveling back to her hometown of Landon, Minnesota with her daughters in tow. While she is seeking the comfort of home and family, it also stirs up memories of the past and her courtship with Landon her soon to be ex-husband. This summer Joelle must face being a single motherhood and deciding her future. She finds herself attracted to a mysterious, drop dead gorgeous younger man. She must decide whether to find happy or return to her cheating spouse for the sake of her children. The tale that unfolds has small-town charm, a heated forbidden romance and character growth.

Williams brings the small-town lake community of Landon Minnesota to life and Joelle’s family owned restaurant the Shore Leave Café is at the heart of it. From Margarita Saturdays to midnight rows on the lake complete with sparklers, we are caught up in the joys of summer. Joelle was an interesting character, and we see her struggle as she faces a new chapter in her life and fights a growing attraction and feelings towards a man twelve years her senior. Blythe Tilson, is mysterious,sweet and has a checkered past. While their romance is sweet and heated, we do not get much page time with them. The tale addresses all aspects of Joelle’s life. It was fun watching them dance around the sparks that practically ignited whenever they were in the same room. Secondary characters and little side stories added to the small-town atmosphere and gave hints of future stories in the series.

Forbidden romance and change of life tropes are ones I often enjoy. Williams did a wonderful job of highlighting Joelle’s struggles as she weighs her family against her heart. I struggled a bit accepting the romance between Joelle and Blythe. I never doubted their feelings but to me it felt more like a summer fling than a serious relationship. In truth, I think the age difference played a factor along with my feelings about motherhood being the first concern. Williams weaved in twists, turns and family drama keeping me engaged. While Joelle and Blythe’s romance left me with mixed emotions, the town and characters left me wanting to return to the Shore Leave Café.

The ending to Summer at the Shore Leave Cafe did not wrap up our HEA and instead left us with a cliffhanger. There is a secret yet to be revealed and things were left unresolved for Blythe and Joelle. Other threads regarding her daughter and sister have not been wrapped up. This will be a series that must be read in order. I am hoping my questions are answered in Second Chances the next book in the Shore Leave Café series.

Copy received from publisher in exchange for unbiased review that originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Cocktails and Books]

When Joelle Gordon discovers her husband has been cheating, she packs up her three girls and heads back home to Landon, Minnesota and her family's restaurant. There, with the support of her mother, aunt and sister, she hopes to figure out what she is going to do with her life now that what she had in Chicago is gone.

I really liked Joelle. She was a woman who had followed her high school sweetheart to the big city and put his needs first while she stayed at home raising their girls. But even though her marriage feel apart, mostly because of Jackson's betrayal, she also knew that she played a big role in why he started looking outside the marriage for satisfaction. It didn't make the betrayal any easier, but she could see why he did it.

She was a great mom. She wanted her daughters to be happy and not find themselves in the same spot she's in. Even when she discovered her oldest daughter starting down a path that was not going to end well, she didn't scream and order her around, but instead listened with a sympathetic ear making sure her daughter knew everything was going to be OK.

And Joelle was a woman who just wanted to be loved for who she was. A single mom with three teenage daughters and a high school education. She found that with handsome, younger Blythe. But even though she found happiness in the stolen moments with Blythe, like most of us she questioned whether what she felt for a man thirteen years younger than he was right. She really struggled with her feelings and as a reader you were right there with her, hoping she would make the choice that would keep Blythe right by her side.

I really enjoy the story and the characters in SUMMER AT THE SHORE LEAVE CAFE, but I hated the ending. Why? Because it was a total cliffhanger and I didn't like the way things were left with Blythe and Joelle. For that matter, what was going to happen with Camille and would Jackson finally get off his high horse. I'm hoping (my fingers are really crossed here) that there will be a sequel soon and I Joelle and Blythe can get their HEA.

Definitely a great book to pick up, especially if you are longing for something that will remind you of summer.