I really enjoyed reading this book. Anna Kate has returned to the small southern Alabama town her mother ran away from. Her Grandmother still lived there and owned the Blackbird Cafe and now she has inherited it. When she arrives she uncovers a lot of town and family secrets. I really enjoyed the small town setting and the characters. The book was well written and easy to read. Enjoy

This story is a perfect example of it never being too late. That it’s never too late to find love, that it’s never too late to find your voice, to find out who you really are and what you really want in life and most importantly that it’s never too late to change. The author is able to show these things through multiple storylines that all seamlessly wove together to create the perfect plot and she was even able to add in a little bit of magic to the mix. If you are having a hard time in life and just need a break from it all, I highly recommend you read this book. It will be the perfect break that will leave you with a smile on your face.

Thanks very much to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. Many thanks, Dave

Midnight at the Blackbird Café was an unexpected joy! I got a copy of this book some time ago, but have only just settled down to read it over the past week, and I just raced through it.

It is, essentially, a family story set in the Deep South, but it comes with a charming dose of magical realism thrown in. The town of Wicklow is awash with secrets and grudges stemming back years, but could the arrival of Anna Kate Callow begin to set all of that to rest?

Despite much of the plot being a result of sad events, the book is primarily warm and uplifting, and celebrates the value of just being honest! Many of the things that hold the characters in this story back come from their refusal to be honest, but this is something they all have to learn for themselves to allow growth both in themselves, and within their community.

I just loved this book! As an avid watcher of shows like Hart of Dixie, there are typical Southern tropes here, as you would expect, but they are written with the deepest of respect for the characters and you would be disappointed to read a story about Alabama that didn’t contain at least some of them.

The characters were easy to relate to and, despite plenty of angst and tension, the book ends on a happy and hopeful note.

I would happily read more by Heather Webber…

This book moved a bit too slow for me. It was a sweet southern story that will likely appeal to and be relatable to many others, but I just felt like my attention kept drifting. The characters were a little stale for me, and at the parts I felt like I was supposed to get emotional, I just didn't. I didn't hate this book, and I truly believe it will be the right pick for others. It just wasn't for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book for review.

I needed something light, fluffy, and with a happily ever after, and this book was just right. It has pie, it has a quirky southern town with many potential slooooooow burn romances, it has just a bit of family conflict but everyone's really going to get along eventually, and it has a magic mulberry tree with magic blackbirds.

Like so many others, I fell in love with Sarah Addison Allen's "Garden Spells" when it came out and I've been looking for something like it ever since. This is the closest I've come.

Heather Webber writes a magical fairytale for adult women just like the books of Sarah Addison Allen or Alice Hoffman. Books with a modern setting and problems that contain a dash of magic.

In this novel the magic comes from the mysterious blackbirds and their trees. I won't say more because *spoilers*!
Anna Kate's grandmother has passed away. Anna Kate's mother did not want her to ever set foot in Wicklow Alabama but her mother has also passed. When she arrives in town everyone stares at her. Anna Kate thinks it is because she is new and they are curious about her. However there are some family secrets that aren't so secret and a lot of unresolved emotions.
Can Anna Kate and her family work through those emotions? Has Anna Kate finally found a home where she can put down roots or will she go back to school as she promised her mama?

A perfect summer read full of magic and love.

I do love books like this. A touch of romance and a hint of magic. It captivated me from start to finish and I loved Heather Webber's style of writing. It transported me to the town where it was set and I could close my eyes and imagine it.

Anna Kate the main character is well developed and I really liked her character and the journey that she was going on. You can see her grow throughout the book and you applaud her when she overcomes the obstacles that are in front of her.

The writing definitely draws you in and you can't help but be swept away with the story.

These characters are drawn so realistically that they live in your thoughts and insert themselves into your dreams, even without the pie!

We loved this book! I read it at work to my co-workers in what we call "adult story time." Less than 10 minutes a day to finish a chapter until we were done. They are converted fans and have recommended our new copy to many of our patrons. Loved the magic. Loved the getting-your-life-together story. Can't wait for more books by this author!

Heather Webber's Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe is a delightfully feel good novel of magical realism set in the small town of Wicklow, Alabama.

Anna Kate returns there on the death of her beloved Granny Zee. She has no intention of staying in Wicklow and no interest in meeting her father's parents who treated her mother very badly.

However, the magic imbued in the pies served at the Blackbird Café eventually changes her as it has affected so many others over the years.

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe is a thoroughly heartwarming read that lifts the spirits.

I was having a hard time getting into the book I was reading, so had to switch gears to this lovely story of a woman who inherits her grandmother's cafe and finds herself, as well as friends, family she didnt know about, and love. The quirky-characters-in-a-small-town trope is my bag, so this was the perfect light read for me right now. Great beach read for the summer!

Midnight at Blackbird Café is a delightful tale of finding home. Ana Kate has come to the small Alabama town of Wicklow to settle the estate of her grandmother who owned the local café. Natalie returns to gather the pieces following her husband’s sudden death. Together these two women face the joys and heartaches of small town life while uncovering their shared secrets of the past.

This book had me hooked from page one! It is a wonderful mix of human experience and whimsy. Webber’s easy writing style is engaging and relatable. I wholeheartedly recommend this heartwarming story!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Midnight at the Blackbird Café was my first novel by Heather Webber / Heather Blake and will definitely not be my last! Every now & then you just need that story that grabs you and doesn't let go - a quick, fast paced read with enjoyable characters. I would love to see more about Anna Kate, her family & friends, and of course the Blackbird Café!

I read this book nearly cover to cover with barely a stop. I could not, would not, put this down. The characters and magical happenings draw you in and make you want to stay there with the characters. I love that she switched the narration back and forth between Natalie and Anna Kate. I loved that the story wasn't really about the magical happenings but about the characters. They are all strong, flawed characters (with the possible exception of Ollie and Riley), but the story that flows is about love, compassion, hurt, betrayal, forgiveness, and above all family. I can't recommend this book enough!

I’m in love with Wicklow, Alabama where pies have a presence and blackbirds soar at night delivering messages that need to be heard. The phrase “the truth shall set you free” explodes in all that happens with the residents of this small town that includes Anna Kate, Natalie, Gideon, Bow, Jena, Faylene, Ollie, Seelie, Cam, Mr. Lazenby and even Mr. Cat.

This is a fantastic story with visually descriptive narrative that plays in your imagination as the characters go about their lives. Each step illustrates a thought that the author is leading us to – but it is the action portrayed by the characters that makes this a heart-entrenched drama that pulled me in and didn’t let go until the last page was read.

Great narration, engaging dialogue, pacing that was on par with how well this story was being told, and a feel-good atmosphere oozing with southern charm had me immersed in all that was happening. From Anna Kate’s struggle to honor a promise to Natalie’s grief, it is all there to play out as I watched what they put forth in their self-discovery.

A delightfully mesmerizing and mystical tale that will sweep you up in an emotional journey of grief, love, redemption, and forgiveness. Heather Webber writes a yarn that will open your heart to all that is possible.