Thayne’s latest is a fun story that keeps you turning pages. I enjoyed all the characters, but Tori and Liam were both very judgy towards Meredith for a large portion of the book, which gives an interesting perspective since they don’t know the whole story. Definitely a good summer read.

This is a wonderful little beach read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Nothing too heavy and serious - just a fun story about a group of friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fun and light summer read. The characters were so well developed it felt like you were hanging out withe long time friends. I really enjoyed this one!

This is the sweetest book I've read in a long time! Meredith returns to Cape Sanctuary as she owns half of The Cafe with her estranged cousin, Tori. Meredith's husband was shivved in prison and died after scamming many people out of their life savings in a Ponzi scheme. Tori's husband, Javier died and she is left with daughter Emilia who is a teen longing for adventure. Enter Liam, a handsome data analyst working for the FBI, sent to investigate Meredith and let the "fun" begin! Clever and fast-paced, this book is a great summer beach read that will have you longing for a visit to this beach and cafe (and the handsome men that are there)!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

What a wonderful book! Raeanne Thayne knows how to write a book with romance, drama, and real life without being overly sappy. Tori and Meredith are both in need of renewing their friendship that went off the rails many years ago. They are also both tempted by new relationships with men but can find so many reasons to resist. A story of family, love, and friendship. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

RaeAnne Thayne never disappoints--another feel-good fun beach read! I absolutely loved the setting of this novel, and the description of it made me feel like I was right there the whole time. The pace is perfect and the characters were developed well. Of course, Meredith and Tori both spent way too much time in their own heads--but where would the drama be if they didn't?

I adored this read. The authors writing made it feel as though you weren’t even reading. The lives of the characters and the story itself felt real and authentic. I want to visit one of those cottages and eat at the diner. Every character in the story I liked except for Aspen’s nomad boyfriend. It never did explain what exactly was up with the girls (Em and Christina) but they sure were acting out. This story was a slight romance with a few kisses but nothing more. I just couldn’t put this book down. Not because it was action packed or anything, but because the world building and characters were so real.

I am not a fan of miscommunication and hiding things from people in stories. Sometimes you can understand how it came about, but still not a trope I like. Liam and Meredith both had reasons for theirs. I hated the abuse aspect but it was very believable. Carter was atrocious.

The Cafe at Beach End by RaeAnne Thayne is a well written romance that includes family stresses and a bit of mystery.

One of my most loved 2023 summer reads!
The Cafe at Beach End gave me all the feels!
I can’t recommend this book enough!
My emotions were all over the place….definitely a must read if you want to read a heartwarming story with fabulous characters.
You need this book in your life!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the wonderful opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
(IG) @shortbookthyme

Very enjoyable read told from several points of view. The characters are believable, and there are twists and turns in the plot line. It's a heartwarming and poignant story about family, second chances and romance.

The plot trope of returning home and going through a period of growth is a classic for a reason. RaeAnne Thayne executes on this trope with expertise creating a warm tale of self-growth and weaving together and enjoable community for the reader to visit. Meredith's story is complex and heart warming. I expect this to be a very popular read and know that I will be re-reading it time and time again not only for the plot but for setting.

Leave it to this prolific author to rip out a headline in the news and create a wonderful, caring story. That about sums up what RaeAnne Thayne did with THE CAFÉ AT BEACH END. Some would arguably say that anyone even remotely connected to a man who creates a Ponzi scheme is as guilty as the conniving culprit. After all how could you be married to a man and be totally unaware of what crimes he has committed. Certainly, at least, you are an accomplice. And for Meredith her entire world collapsed after her husband was found guilty and so was she by association.
Meredith enjoyed a lavish lifestyle while married to Carter Rowland. Everything they owned had been taken away. But most disturbing was how alone Meredith was left. Everyone turned their backs on her. She needed to reinvent herself and so she headed, penniless, to Cape Sanctuary in northern California where she had spent countless joyful summers with her grandmother Frances. Frances had passed and left one of three cabins along the shoreline to Meredith. One of the cabins was owned by her cousin Tori, leaving one cabin to be leased out.
To say the least Meredith’s return was not welcome by Tori. Lots of bad feelings over things that happened in the past. Tori now raising her teenage daughter having lost her husband several years ago. Tori running the Beach End café. Tori having to acknowledge that Meredith had been left almost half ownership of said café and Spindrift cabin. Tori took care of Frances as her illness progressed and carried all the financial burdens. So you can imagine how Tori felt when in walks Meredith suggesting that Tori buy out her portion of the café and was becoming her neighbor.
But all that sounds mean spirited and that is not at all what RaeAnne Thayne intended. In fact there are so many reasons why the return of Meredith could be the salve both cousins desperately need.
We are going to meet a splendid cadre of characters that surround Tori’s world and now will become Meredith’s as well. Tori’s brother-in-law, who is sheriff, holds a special place in Tori’s heart. Sam and his daughter hold a special place in the lives of Tori and her daughter. They are both dealing with teenage daughters. Says a lot.
Then there is the writer who has rented the third cabin, auspiciously for quiet and solitude to assist his penning his first book. From the start we suspect there is an ulterior meaning to that, but Liam and his dog manage to win our hearts. Pure RaeAnne Thayne.
THE CAFÉ AT BEACH END is about fighting your way through the muck and mire created by someone else. It is about picking yourself up by the proverbial bootstraps and starting over. To do that you do have to face down your enemies and when those are close to home that makes it exceptionally challenging. In the end love conquers all. So in THE CAFÉ AT BEACH END we are faced with learning how to do with less, facing down foes, accepting help, facing a new future, and opening our hearts. With the amazing pen of RaeAnne Thayne all things are possible even when it seems as if the walls are crushing.
The dynamics of the characters and their interaction is created using some of the best dialog around. Another one of this prolific authors talents. If you like happy endings then THE CAFÉ AT BEACH END will surprise and entertain you.

The Café at Beach End by RaeAnne Thayne is heartwarming story that will have you laughing, crying and warm your heart. This heartwarming, emotional story takes us on a journey into the lives of
the people who knew you when life’s possibilities seemed limitless and full of hope; family members now dealing with loss, pain, distrust, regrets, healing and love. A broken family finding their way back to each other against the odds; cousins who were like sisters, disappointments that are hard to overcome, and pain that is difficult to live with. Old insecurities, jealousies and presumptions are a few of the obstacles that could prevent the cousins from a bright new life.

Ms. Thayne wrote a story that reaches the soul; the soul of her characters as well the soul of her readers. This story had everything: close family supporting one another, heartwarming characters, heartbreaking pasts, adorable kids, second chances and friendships. Well written with a great cast of characters that draw you into the story and make you feel like a resident of Cape Sanctuary. An engrossing read about starting over, reconnecting with estranged family, finding a new purpose in a life that's not gone as expected, single parenthood, and above all, forgiveness. I highly recommend The Café at Beach End to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

The Cafe at Beach End is another emotional roller coaster from one of my favorite authors and a ride on which I happily jumped. There are so many meaty themes in this book and Thayne skillfully navigates all of them.

I'm drawn to characters with some life experience in their rear view. Meredith, Tori, Liam, and Sam all have that. It complicates their lives and their relationships, gives texture to their personalities, and a greater emotional depth to their feelings. The animosity Tori holds for Meredith is a living, breathing entity. Same for the anguish, despair, and hopelessness dogging Meredith but also the determination. Both are empathetic characters. When their stories are slowly revealed, the anger, fear, and vulnerability exposed, it makes it hard not to hurt for both of them...and also root for them.

I enjoy fractured families who find their way back together. It's a facet of many of Thayne's books and one she does well. I appreciate the fact that her characters don't quickly leap to "miracle" solutions but, instead, deal with all the messy emotions that would be encountered in real life. The pace of the relationships in this book feels authentic and real. In addition to Meredith and Tori's broken family relationship, the author also explores parent/child relationships, new romantic relationships, and, for one character, the opportunity to get to know herself and set a new direction for her life.

I also like complex stories about overcoming adversity, second chapters, and unexpected romance. We have all three in this book, as well as forgiveness, acceptance, and the possibility of new beginnings. I was with these characters every step of the way, cheering on happy endings for them all.

While this book is women's fiction, and primarily about the evolution of the two main characters, Meredith and Tori, it also includes sweet romantic threads with hopeful endings for both women. I enjoyed it and am already looking forward to whatever RaeAnne Thayne has in store for readers next.

4.5 Stars
ARC received from publisher. Fair and unbiased review.

When Meredith heads back to the town of Cape Sanctuary after her ex-husband ruins her life, she doesn't know how much is about to change. The Cafe at Beach End is told from multiple points of view and has many lovely characters, a great story line that is enhanced by past secrets that come to the surface and of course a little romance.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

The Cafe at Beach End by RaeAnne Thayne ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Perfect novel to read at the beach on a hot summer day.
Not only will you feel the sun but you will feel the heat from the characters as their chemistry builds. They try to play down their feelings when around their families but the pull is too strong. Knowing they shouldn't have feelings for each other. Can they continue to sneak behind everyone's back, breakup or let others know? What would you do?

Preorder your copy today so on June 13th release day, you can find out what happens between Tori and Sam.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

THE CAFÉ AT BEACH END
By RaeAnne Thayne
Due out June 13 2023

RaeAnne is a favorite of mine. If it has her name on it, I know it’s a story I will enjoy.

Meredith Collins comes back to Cape sanctuary to start over. She is shamed by her ex-husband, swindling investors out of millions.

So she has to the only place she can afford. Her grandmother left her a cottage and 49% interest in the café. So they going back to Cape sanctuary. She has a home and a job!

The story has a lot going on, which I love! Some romance and family healing.

I was given this ARC by NetGalley in return for my honest review.

When down on all of her absolute luck Meredith seeks peace and a sense of starting over from her horrible marriage she runs back to the one place tang she always felt comfort - Cape Sanctuary where her estranged cousin Tori lives and owns a diner that she has found out she now owns 49% of.

This story is a feel good (kinda like all the others in this genre) of starting over and finding new love while navigating a slew of past family issues that have been ignored for years.

Meredith meets Liam who has ulterior motives — is he a good guy? If I hear Meredith ask about his book one more time I was going to lose it lol.

There’s a strong family element and romance mixed in. Mother/daughter drama and some money laundering mixed in. It’s a nice palate cleanser of a read. I would recommend.

This was a great summer read book. The characters felt real and the challenges they faced gave them depth and charm. Great storylinee

THE CAFÉ AT BEACH END – RaeAnne Thayne
Canary Street Press
ISBN: 978-1-335-45816-2
June 13, 2023
Contemporary Romance

Cape Sanctuary, California – Present Day

Meredith Collins returns to Cape Sanctuary, the one place where she felt safe growing up. Her late grandmother gave her the love that Meredith’s parents would not give her. But she knows that coming back will not be met with open arms from her cousin, Tori, who runs the local café once owned by their grandmother. The café was left to both girls and now Meredith is there to work—and recover from the wounds left after her late ex-husband swindled people out of millions of dollars. As expected, Tori is openly hostile to Meredith, but since they split the café due to the terms of their grandmother’s will (Tori has fifty-one percent), she finally does agree to give her cousin a job.

Meredith was also willed one of the cottages owned by her grandmother, with Tori living in another and a third one is currently rented by a man who is there for a month while he writes his book. The man, who says his name is Liam, spends hours in the café with his laptop and soon is friendly with Meredith. When she offers to spruce up the café décor, Tori agrees, and Liam offers to help with the painting. Slowly, Meredith’s relationship with Tori begins to thaw, while her friendship with Liam turns deeper.

Tori is a widowed mother of a teenage daughter. Her late husband’s family lives in town and is a big support, especially Sam, her late husband’s brother. Sam is divorced and has custody of his teenage daughter, and the two teens hang out together, which means Tori sees Sam a lot. Soon, Tori is experiencing feelings for Sam that are much more than friendship. But how would his family feel about them as a couple? As Tori grapples with what to do, she begins to push Sam away. Meanwhile, her hatred of Meredith—and what she feels was her cousin’s fault for staying away while their grandmother lost money, then got sick and died—begins to thaw. There is more to what is going on with Meredith than Tori realizes.

As readers soon learn in THE CAFÉ AT BEACH END, nothing is as it appears. Meredith’s husband was a cheating scoundrel who abused her. Law enforcement thinks she knows where the missing funds that her ex stole are, but she doesn’t and wishes she could have stopped him. Liam, it turns out, is an FBI agent on vacation and undercover. His bosses had closed the file on the missing money, but he thinks that she can lead him to it if he gets close to her. But he soon realizes that Meredith is a victim also.

Tori doesn’t trust Meredith and that was reinforced after she bailed out on them when they were younger, and their grandmother fell for Meredith’s husband’s scams. She believes that her cousin was a willful participant in the scam and hates that she is back in Cape Sanctuary even though she is a part-owner of the café. Tori soon realizes that Meredith is barely hanging on financially. Like others, she wonders if she knows where the funds are. Meanwhile, Tori and Sam are dealing with their willful daughters who think having fun is more important than getting good grades in school. They are soon banding together to help fix their children. Will it bring them closer to being a couple?

THE CAFÉ AT BEACH END is that emotional read which will tug at your heartstrings. Meredith keeps her secrets locked deep inside to hide the pain. It is Liam and Tori who finally gets her to open up to them. Tori is struggling with her feelings for Sam. She has to get over the feeling that she is betraying her late husband by being attracted to his brother. Will the women finally come together and become close again? Will Liam see the truth in Meredith? Grab a hanky as you go on the women’s emotional journey in THE CAFÉ AT BEACH END.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today