Summer at the Shore Leave Cafe

After catching her husband red handed with another woman, Jo takes her daughters and heads home to Landon, Minnesota for the summer. Her family, who run the Shore Leave Cafe by the lake, welcome her with open arms. A family of strong women, they take Jo under their wings to help her recover. Romance is the last thing on Jo’s mind, but she can’t help being drawn to Blythe Tilson, a cafe employee with a trouble past. Should she even attempt to get involved again? And what about the family curse, the one that says the women of the family are destined to lose the man they love? This was a funny, touching, bittersweet story, and I loved that the women in the book were capable of taking care of themselves. Part of a series, this can be read as a standalone, but will resonate more with readers if they read all the books

The perfect chick - lit read!
I'm not a fan of younger man - older woman type stories!
But there was something about this book that hooked me from the beginning. Maybe not something.... Can I say everything ? Yes! Everything!
Let's start with the place.. Landon.. A beautiful town with a closely knit community where stands the Shore Leave Cafe, the restaurant Joelle's family owns. A cafe run by generations of women who have experienced loss(in terms of their loved ones).
Then the characters you could easily fall in love with all the characters - even those three little girls.
The lead female Joelle! No, she isn't the perfect women.. she has her own flaws, wrong decisions, her regrets and that's why she's definitely lovable.
And then enters Blythe - 'Bly'! Not your perfect hero because he has a notorious past one that is a mystery.. So, Yes throughout the book you keep guessing about it! It's definitely well woven with tit-bits of the facts revealed as you progress through the story(credits to the author).
Ah! and the romance between Bly and Jo! One word for it "Real"! Yes, for not even a single moment do they make us think it's fictional! We can definitely feel all the emotions, connect with them.
Definitely a well written story especially the emotions that Joelle goes through are wonderfully described!
And the last 30 pages.....Damn! There was so much left through the story and I was definitely on edge thinking how would the author wrap - up all these things in such a few pages...
Because I had assumed it would be  A HAPPILY EVER AFTER..... But NO!
The shock incredible! No I'm not spoiling it still might be a happily ever after but I don't know....
Why ? The endings a CLIFFHANGER!
Yes, It was mighty disappointing. I just couldn't stand not knowing what was going to happen next as it leaves you at a crucial point.
I'm definitely going to add this series to my TBR. And if you're reading this review before reading the book then trust me if you read chick - lit or women's fiction then YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK! It was that good!
Abbie Williams is a very lucid writer....Nowhere during this book does she let's you feel that this is a fictional story!

A very well written book. This book has a good storyline and cast of characters. I loved the small town setting.