In The Good Luck Cafe, Annie Rains brings us back to Somerset Lake for the fifth book in the series. This time, we read about Gil and Moira’s story, a heartwarming and romantic story, long in the making. I have enjoyed the characters’ development throughout the entire series, including getting to know Gil’s brother, Doug. Add in some rescue animals, and you have a heartwarming story which I recommend. You can read any of the books as a stand alone book but it is worth it to read all of them to enjoy the people of Somerset Lake.

I really enjoyed Rains writing and storytelling. Moira and Gil were quite the likeable characters, even if they had a past that kept them at odds for many years. Moira is a very independent, stand up for what she believes in, but also just an every day caring kind of woman. Gil is personable (he is the town Mayor after all), persistent and overall a kind and caring guy. His brother, Doug, is the sweetest - would love a story about him, but I digress - and who was ultimately responsible for Moira and Gil turning a corner in their distant friendship.

In order to break down walls and become the woman she's meant to be, even though she thinks she loves being a fierce single lady, Moira must publicly acknowledge her past. That's the only way she and Gil will truly have an honest and open future. If they could come together instead of just agreeing to disagree, they would make a dynamic duo within the town of Somerset Lake for they have amazing qualities and ideas that could actually make things happen!

I didn't realize this book was part of a series in the beginning as it flowed relatively well. However, now that I know this, I do feel there were some things that could use more explaining and didn't quite click. That just means I need to go back and read the rest of the series in order to catch up properly!

If you love small towns, good natured conflict and romance - this book just might be for you. Oh and there's puppies! There is a bit of politics involved, but nothing that will drag you down, just things that make you realize that change is necessary in a small town and not always a bad thing.

I appreciate being picked to read the book early through NetGalley and I'm happy to provide my honest opinion/review.

Moira is upset when the Mayor decides to tear down her mothers business to make way for a parking lot. So she decides to run for mayor to save it. Mayor Gil and Moira use to be friends and Gil has been in love with Moira most of his life. Things are about to get interesting. Sweet small town romance.

3.5 Stars!

The Good Luck Cafe is a charming, feel-good romance that is sure to leave readers with a huge smile on their faces.

When we first meet up with Moria, she’s happy with the status quo and isn’t wanting any change. But when her mom’s business is threatened by a much-needed parking lot, everything gets turned upside down. Moira will stop at nothing to save her mother’s business even if it means asking her frenemy, Gil Ryan for help…

The Good Luck Cafe is a wonderful addition to the Somerset Lake series. Gil and Moria’s story is well-written, heart-warming, and entertaining. The characters are exactly what you’d expect from a small town and are easy to relate to. I absolutely adored Gil. He was so sweet, and patient, and you could tell he really loved his community. Moira was hard-working, devoted, and had a huge heart. There was some history between Gil and Moira that added some drama to the story and I enjoyed seeing them overcome the mistakes of their past. I thought Gil and Moria made a cute couple. Their romance was sweet and definitely on the more tame side.

Overall, this book was a quick and easy read for me. It was a sweet small-town romance with a lot of heart and love for their community. And in the end, I had a fun time getting swept up in Gil and Moria’s story.

I enjoyed visiting Somerset again. Cozy and who doesn't love the little cafe? Moira is a 911 operator and her mom owns the town's cafe that is in danger of being closed. Gil has had a crush on Moira since they were young classmates but for some reason, Moira has a dislike for him. When they "run " into each other (literally), they wonder if that attraction can be rekindled until Moira finds out that Gil is the Mayor and might be siding with the counsel to close the cafe. Friendships, family love, misunderstandings , romantic moments and visiting all past characters had me quickly turning the pages to see how this story turns out. Another great story from Annie Rains.

The Good Luck Cafe
Annie Rains
March 14, 2023

In Rains 4th of her Somerset Lake series we find Moira Green very content in her life. She is working as a 911 operator from her home computer. True, many days the calls are few but that is a good thing for Somerset. No call ins, no accidents or people injured. She begins her day with a visit to her mom, Darla’s bake shop for coffee and a bagel. Many mornings she meets one of her girlfriends then it’s back home to man the service.
The town’s paper is keeping a close eye on who will be running for mayor. Of course Mayer Gil will be seeking re-election but he can’t help but ponder who will run against him. He is backing the town council to put in a large parking lot in the area surrounding Sweeties on Hannigan Street. If that happens however, the beloved cafe would be doomed to come down. Mayer Gil is trying to find a new location for it but Darla does not want to rebuild. Moria is angry about the situation but on the other hand Gil has been a friend for years, in fact the good mayor makes her heart zing.
The Good Luck Cafe will be published by Forever on March 14, 2023. I appreciate their allowing me to read and review Annie Rains latest Somerset novel via NetGalley. It is a delight to read. Moira’s journey growing into life and settling down with ideas that will provide her more freedom socially and professionally. A pleasure to read, her fans will find it an uplifting read. Annie Rains books are comforting to settle down with on a quiet evening. Don’t miss this one and do enjoy.

It was fun to revisit this series and read Moira’s story. I loved the Somerset Lake setting and getting caught up with the characters from the earlier books in the series.

Moira is a 911 operator and is satisfied with her life. Her weekly book club meeting to get together with her friends is a highlight of her week. But these friends have now all been paired up and sometimes she feels the void of not being part of a couple.

When her Mom’s beloved cafe is threatened to be destroyed to make way for a parking lot, Moira decides to take action and run for mayor in the upcoming elections. Her opponents include the current, handsome Gil who has once come to her rescue. She feels an attraction and is fairly certain Gil has too. Will the nightmare and humiliation of her past allow her to move on and find everything she’s looking for?

I enjoyed this book and particularly the author’s writing style. Her characters are well-developed and likeable. I appreciated her use of the town blogger/gossip throughout the series which gave greater insight into small-town life. The use of a character with Down’s Syndrome was written with kindness and respect.

I highly recommend this book and series to those who enjoy romance.

I received a ARC of this book from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! The storyline had me interested from the very beginning. I liked the characters and the festivals & events of Somerset Lake. I especially liked the aspects of animal welfare and adoption in the storyline. I give this book 5 stars & a BRAVO for Annie Rains on a wonderfully entertaining read!!!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read several of this author's other books, and enjoyed them, and this one was as good as the others!

Another must read book from Annie Raines. I love the how the Characters develop in this story! Moira comes full circle. I love her happily ever after. Gil is perfect for her. I would love more on Doug's story! Love his character.

This is the 5th book in the Somerset Lake series by Annie Rains. It was an absolute delight to read. The characters are great, the setting is magical. This is definitely a must read.

The Somerset Lake Series, by Annie Rains is a sweet, bright series about life in a small North Carolina town. There are great characters and the series flows well.

This one tackles Moira Green and Mayor Gil. They've known each other since they were kids and while Gil has always had a crush on Moira, Moira has been wary of having any feelings for Gil. She was nearly assaulted by his college roommate and because of that she spent a night in jail after trashing Gil and Felix's apartment.

The town is changing and Moira tries to hold onto the past and keep her mother's bakery, Sweetie's, from closing. Will she run for mayor against Gil? Will she finally give into her feelings for him after all these years? There's a few side plots but the plot moves quickly to it's inevitable HEA end.

I received this ARC from Netgalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Annie Rains is one of my go to authors for a feel good, Hallmark movie-esque, book and this delivers!

I am obsessed with the small town of Somerset Lake and all of the people in it.

It was so fun getting to know Moira, Gil, Doug, and Darla better in this story as we have gotten brief introductions of them in previous books in the series. However, you can still read this book as a stand alone!

Annie Rains does a great job handling some sensitive topics in the book and showcasing the characters overcoming their past beliefs.

I am so happy Gil and Moira found their happy ending!

I’m hoping Beth’s story is next!

PS: How stunning is this cover?!

Release Date: March 14, 2023

Thank you @annierainsbooks, @readforeverpub, and @netgalley for the advanced copy!

I absolutely loved this sweet clean romance. There is Moria who sure makes G, the small town mayor work hard for a relationship. Gil was even her hero as he rescued her from what might have been a very bad situation for Moria. She is holding a grudge against for wanting to demolish Sweetie’s, her Moms bakery and replace it with a new town park I g lot. That definitely did not set well with her. So she jumps into the mayoral race to run against hom. Alls Well That Ends Well??! Well only time will tell. You won’t want to see how this story plays out.

Thank you Annie Rains for allowing g me to read and review your book that comes out in March.

What I read: The Good Luck Cafe by Annie Rains

Why I picked it up: I started this series accidentally a few months ago with book #3, then realized I had book #2 already out from the library so I read it. Then I read book #1 before requesting book #4 from NetGalley since it’s still a few weeks from publication. I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

How I read it: One e-galley in less than 24 hours.

What it’s about: Gil and Moria finally get their story – he interest in her has been a known secret for years – and she’s finally open to giving him a chance … except now he’s part of the group closing her mother’s bakery. Will this fact and their rivalry in the mayoral election be too much for their new relationship?

What I liked: I like that Gil finally got his story – he’s a good guy who I would love to be friends with in real life. It also didn’t hurt that his friends kept calling him Gilbert, which reminded me of one of my favorites from Anne of Green Gables – and who doesn’t want to Marry a Gilbert Blythe?

What I disliked: Moria is great and has a big heart, and she’s been asking everyone to believe her when she says “she’s not interested in Gil” – but she refuses to believe her mom when she tells her she wants to retire. She keeps saying, “No, that’s not what you want – you’re too young to retire, you’re not ready, what would you do without this place.” And it was hard to read about how she wanted everyone to believe her at face value, but she was unwilling to believe others.

Genre: Closed door, assault, politics, small town.

Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and yes – while I think the others in the series work well as stand alone, this one really needs the other three to appreciate the back story of Gil and Moria – and how long he’s wanted to date her.

Mom’s coffee shop can’t be torn down to make way for a parking lot.
 
Moira works as an emergency dispatcher in the small town of Somerset Lake, and now that her mother’s coffee shop was in danger, she decided to run for mayor.
 
The only problem is her best friend from childhood, Gil, is the mayor.
 
Gil has been in love with Moria forever, and she won’t give him the time of day even though her heart does flutter around him.
 
Being his competition for mayor definitely won’t help the situation for either of them.

Who will win the election, and will they win out with love?

THE GOOD LUCK CAFE is a sweet read with an adorable, headstrong main character you will fall in love with.

Gil is the sweetest too.

Truly an enjoyable read.
 
You won’t want to stop reading or want the book to end. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher for an honest review.

I can totally understand Moira’s feelings when she thought the town was doing her mom wrong. Who wouldn’t fight for family? I also have to admire her in her efforts to, in her mind, make things right. It’s always good to have a friend like Tess to support you. The relationship between Moira and Mayor Gil is quite interesting. You will want to pull for one or the other. Things can get quite comical at times. Dispatchers have my utmost respect, even in small towns. It takes a special person to do that job. Moira really is caught in a difficult situation when she understands what would be best for the town, but thinks she knows what her mom wants and doesn’t want to see her hurt. As in life, things have a way of working out. I think you will enjoy hanging out with the good folks of Somerset Lake as much as I did. I hope I get to go back to visit with them again soon. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

I'll read anything Annie Rains writes. I was excited to read this one since I haven't read any of her books in 8 months. I liked Gil and Moira's story, but I didn't love it.

The beginning of the book did seem to drag, but it does pick up and get a lot better. Gil is a great guy and the current mayor of Somerset Lake. He's been in love with Moira since Kindergarten it seems, but she's given him the brush off and has done everything to avoid him the last few years. Moira is a 911 operator who loves her mom's decades old bakery, but now that bakery is in danger of being demolished to make way for a town parking lot.

Needless to say, Moira isn't exactly a fan of Mayor Gil since she doesn't think he's doing all he can to stop her mom's livelihood from being demolished. So she decides to run against Gil for Mayor.

I loved Moira's drive, determination, gumption, and loyalty. She speaks up when she feels something or someone is being wronged and she protects those she loves. What I didn't love was her attitude towards Gil through a lot of the book. I get she blamed him and resented him for some things that happened in the past, but really, he was her savior and he deserved better.

Gil was a kind, generous, sweet, and loving man. I adored his relationship with his brother Doug, who had down syndrome. He didn't treat him any differently just because he had a disability. And he genuinely cared about the town and what was best for his community. There wasn't a lot to not like about him. I mean he was patient and dealt with Moira's hostility in a manner that was admirable. I would not have been as tolerant of her brush offs.

The love story was okay, but not great for me. I enjoyed them together and felt they were more like friends than boyfriend/girlfriend. They only went on a few dates outside of the home and they were all very much PG (the whole book is PG with no heat). It was lacking the sappiness I expected.

Oh well, not every book can be for you and that's okay. I know I still like this author and this was just an anomaly for me.

Annie Rains does it again! This is the fourth book I have read by her and I have loved every single one. I really enjoy the friendship group the ladies of the book club have.

Moira and Gil used to be friends until a night in college. Gil still seems to care about Moira but she doesn’t not return these feelings. Moira’s mom owns Sweetie the popular town cafe. The town council has decided to use the location of the cafe for a much needed parking lot. Gil- the town mayor is supporting the decision even though he doesn’t want to see the cafe close. Moira decides to thrown her hat in the ring and run for mayor.

Over time her and Gil grow closer. They even clear up the misunderstanding from that night in college.

I loved everything about this book. This is the fourth book in the Somerset Lake series. Do yourself a favor and read this series. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Good Luck Cafe will entertain you as the characters tell their story. Misunderstanding and the towns growing will lead to paths that the characters will have to choose. This is an enjoyable read.