This is the first book in this series. I loved it. I loved the characters and the small town of Honey Creek. I hate that we have to wait a year for the next book in this series

The first Jodi Thomas novel I read was in 1988 (Beneath the Texas Sky) and I continued to read her historical romances as each one was released. Then Ms. Thomas decided to abandon the historical line in favor of contemporary romance and I lost interest very quickly. Reading this book was my way of trying to recapture the warmth and depth of feeling I was accustomed to having with the historical novel line. It didn't happen for me. The plot summary is well done on the book jacket and in descriptions on line so I won't be repeating that information. Fans of the contemporary romance line will find this one much to their liking. Sometimes, in some circumstances, new is not better so I will content myself with reading the older books again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books, Zebra for an e-galley of this novel.

Welcome to Honey Creek. Great start to new series.
Introduced to a small town of colorful characters.
Looking forward to reading more about them.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is a cozy tale of romance and mystery. Told from the perspective of multiple residents in this sleepy town each person’s story mingles together until one story emerges.

The mayor, Piper, finds herself in trouble when her sort-of-fiancé goes missing and the media goes wild tying her to the mystery. Her brother sends Colby, an off duty trooper who aspires to be a ranger, to protect her. A temporary preacher comes to town and finds everything he thought he’d never have again. Two high school students graduate and build a friendship neither of them expect.

The mystery feels like an after thought to the love stories but it was an enjoyable read! A nice distraction from the darker things going on in the world.

This first book in the Honey Creek series is a very heart warming book about life in a small town in Texas. This story was told through the eyes of four characters: Piper, the town’s mayor; Colby and Sam, outsiders each on their own mission in Honey Creek; and Pecos, a newly graduated high school senior. There are other secondary characters, like Mr Winston and Dailey, who I also came to love. I did not want this book to end because I felt like I was just one of the residents and all the characters were my friends. I’m hoping that some of the other characters in this book will get their own story. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. Unfortunately it will be a long wait since the book isn’t scheduled to be released until spring, 2021😢. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Kensington Books. All opinions expressed are my own.

I want to move to Honey Creek Texas and be friends with these people. Several characters made me laugh out loud. It’s been years since I’ve read anything by Jody Thomas but I won’t waiting again I can’t wait to pick up her next book. During this coronavirus pandemic it’s nice to have something to escape into We could all take a little lesson from these characters

Summary

Breakfast at the Honey Creek Café is another example of why Jody is an amazing author and is at the top of her game with this page-turning light romance with mystery. We actually have three couples and a town of secondary characters that you are hoping get their own stories.
Piper is the Mayor and has some trouble. Her Texas Ranger brother sends someone in to help. Colby is on the fast track to be a Ranger and thinks if he can solve this mystery around Piper it will help. His cover story was hilarious and created wonderful scenes between him and Piper and the townspeople.

We also have Sam and Anna. Sam is trying to find himself and answers the letter (meant for his father) to be the local pastor. The town is running them off pretty quickly. Anna is a spunky redhead that is a firecracker. Sam is able to see through her façade to the heart of the issue.

And a precious teen romance with Pecos and Kerrie. This story definitely went in a different direction than I was expecting so I really hope we get to see more of them in future books. Well really I want to see everyone in future books.
You hear people say they did not want a book to end. That is exactly how I felt for this one.
Jodi truly has a gift to great scenes that you see in your head and you are in the story with them. They are real people to you. For example the scene she created at the rest stop. It just fit so perfectly and created that connection with the characters for later in the book.
Sexual content - two of the couples have sex but it is behind closed doors. they also sleep together and nothing happens.
Violence - two people are missing, people almost die in a fire
Language - the preacher might have let an expletive slip once or twice haha
Alcohol - Daily has a drinking problem (hoping he gets his own story), Colby drinks at the bar, once he has a little too much and climbs the trellis. 🙂

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe, has everything a reader like myself loves. There are basically three different story lines going on at the same time. The characters inner weaves with all the different stories and a mystery to be solved! Actually two mysteries! I love the way Jodi Thomas characters seem so realistic and a little goofy at times. The only drawback is the next book is Spring 2021.

I'd not come across this author before and didn't know what to expect. A mixture of romance and mystery that covers a range of different couples. It was great that the romance elements covered different aspects of love and I particularly loved the Pecos/Kerrie story. He was such a nice man and, although not your traditional romance, he got his version of happiness. I really hope Jodi Thomas revisits this story in the next in the Honey Creek book as I really want to see how it works out. Also I'm hoping Daily is revisited as his new set-up is intriguing for the future. I loved that i was fully engaged with all of the focus couples as well as being interested in all the characters introduced alone the way. Honey Creek seems to be a quirky place and I look forward to reading more in the future.

Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe by Jodi Thomas was light romance with a touch of mystery that I devoured in one afternoon. Ms. Thomas is a "new to me" author but this book has convinced me to read more of her books. I confess that I am not a big romance reader but a mystery will always attract my attention.

I loved the setting of Honey Creek, TX. The town is full of lovable and quirky characters. Ms. Thomas has included the stories of four characters in this book, Piper Jane McKenzie, Colby McBride, Sam Cassidy and Pecos Smith. Each character tells their own story as their lives unfold in this small town. The secondary characters were an integral part of the story, too. I adored Mr. Winston who is a town fixture but yet little is known about him in the town. The plot is smooth, the characters become well developed as the story progresses, the mystery is easily resolved and each of the characters arrive at their own "happily ever after".

I love books by Jodi Thomas. Piper Mackenzie is the mayor of Honey Creek and her “boyfriend” goes missing and his car is found in the river. Her brother hires Colby McBride to investigate the mystery. He goes undercover as an old boyfriend. Besides Colby new to the town a new preacher Sam Cassidy also comes to town. This is new novel from Honey Creek and I hope that Jodi Thomas continues this as a series. I enjoyed the book. Thank you NetGalley and Kensington/Zebra books. This is my own opinion.

Thomas begins new series about Honey Creek, TX. I love this writer! Reading her books is one of life's pleasures. No one writes about abit a Texas town like Thomas. Her characters are so quirky. There were several scenes that made me laugh out loud. One sentence was hilarious, " by the time the woman quit singing, Colby wished he was drunk. My favorite was Pecos. He had big dreams and no expectations. I adored him. Thomas writing is so engaging and inviting that a reader never wants the story to end. Here was preview to the next book in the series and it promises to be even better than this one.

Jodi Thomas can be relied upon for a layered masterfully woven story. Her characters are engaging and memorable. The dialogue is full of wit and down home, small town authenticity. Great news that this is the beginning of a series, I want to visit again and learn more about these people.

Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe by Jodi Thomas is a nice, relaxing romance in small town Texas with a dash of mystery tossed in.

I enjoyed meeting everyone in Honey Creek, Texas and enjoyed the nice vacation from the current-day stresses and troubles. I enjoyed Piper and Colby and also enjoyed reading through the eyes of alternating characters. The descriptions of the town landmarks and landscapes were depicted in such a way that it really felt as if I was there. I also enjoyed the ending.

A nice start to what looks like a new series.

4/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Zebra/Kensington Books for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.