The Cottage Café

by Sage Parker

She’s 70 years old and about to experience the best autumn of her life…

Monica, who just celebrated her 70th birthday is spending the fall with her daughter’s family off the coast of Maine.

Since her husband died 10 years ago, she’s given up all hope of a new happily ever after and tells herself she’s content just being grandma to two beautiful boys.

The thing is Monica’s always had a secret passion for baking and business. A passion she never got to pursue as a wife and mother. So when she sees a job opening in the local cottage cafe, she jumps at the chance. Impressed by her pastry skills, the owner offers Monica a chance to shine in the kitchen.

Over the moon with this new lease of life, Monica’s happiness is short-lived when she finds out that hotel developers are threatening to buy out the local cafe.

Then, when Monica finds a notebook left behind in the cafe one evening, she discovers inside it the story of Benjamin, a once-famous local sculptor who is grieving his late wife. The cottage cafe was her favorite place to be too. As Monica delves into the history of the town, she realizes just how pivotal the cafe has been to the people who live here through the years.

Intrigued, Monica sets out to make friends with the reclusive and crotchety Benjamin, who just so happens to be the only man who can save the cafe from its fate.

A reminder of the importance of friendship, love, neighbors, and reaching out to those around you. Spend a hopefull fall with Monica and Benjamin as they embark on an unlikely romance and band together to save the beloved local cafe from going under.

This is Book 1 of 6 in the Falling for Maine series. Scroll up and grab your copy today!

Genres: Fiction, Womens Fiction

82 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Linda Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet, contemporary women’s fiction. I liked the protagonist, and the friends she began to make.

[Katie O’Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Absolutely loved thissssss, I want more 70 year old FMCs

[Curvy Girl Book Nerd (Jen S) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cottage Cafè Book starts the Falling for Maine series. Monica is a 70 year old widow of 10 years who is visiting her daughter and family for a few months. She ends up getting a job at the local café as a waitress. She befriends the owner, Donnie, and is hired on the spot. We also meet Benjamin, a widower, who we initially think is a grumpy but is really a softie. We also learn that the café is on prime land and Donnie is being pressured to sell. We end on a cliffhanger. This was a great start to the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining relationship listening 🏘😉🎇

This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book one of six

Monica has come to the Maine coast to be with her daughter's family. She gets a job working at a cafe. But developers are approaching the owner to sell. Continued in book two.

I would recommend this series and author to readers of romantic family and friends relationships adventure novels 🎧👒 2024 🎎✨

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short read kindle unlimited

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

She’s 70 years old and about to experience the best autumn of her life…

Monica, who just celebrated her 70th birthday is spending the fall with her daughter’s family off the coast of Maine.

Since her husband died 10 years ago, she’s given up all hope of a new happily ever after and tells herself she’s content just being grandma to two beautiful boys.

The thing is Monica’s always had a secret passion for baking and business. A passion she never got to pursue as a wife and mother. So when she sees a job opening in the local cottage cafe, she jumps at the chance. Impressed by her pastry skills, the owner offers Monica a chance to shine in the kitchen.

Over the moon with this new lease of life, Monica’s happiness is short-lived when she finds out that hotel developers are threatening to buy out the local cafe.

This contemporary sweet clean starting over, second chance romance in this Christian inspirational women's fiction is page-turning with exceptional world-building in Maine with magnificent sunrise/sunsets that are vibrantly painted across the sky, and characters that are witty, independent, captivating, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with the cottage cafe, friendship, love, an easy summer, beach town, mystery, later in life, drama heartfelt emotions that will have readers needing Kleenex/Puffs to wipe the tears that are threatening to spill down their cheeks, secrets, suspense, Monica sets out to make friends with the reclusive and crotchety Benjamin, who just so happens to be the only man who can save the cafe from its fate, an unlikely romance that will save the beloved cafe from going under, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with the cottage cafe and a second chance romance that is sure to transport readers into a world that is sweet and unforgettable.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monica came to visit her daughter Lydia in Maine for a few months and Lydia thought it would be a good idea for her to work while she was there just to keep busy. Monica had not worked since before she was married and after losing her husband she never did. She didn't feel confident to go into the coffee shop and ask Donnie the owner, a friend of Lydia's if he needed some help and would hire her. Lydia finally convinces her to go in and she will pick her up in a few hours after she goes into work for a little bit. Monica had no problem convincing Donnie to hire her in fact she started right away. His daughter Tessa helps him with the coffee shop but she was volunteering that day. Monica begins her job the next day and things fall into place for her. She feels confident as time goes on. A grumpy customer comes in named Benjamin and Monica doesn't know what to think of him. She later finds out that he has lost his wife not too many years ago and he is grieving. She meets a lady at the coffee shop and she invites her to her home to check out her plants and flowers. Monica is surprised to see Benjamin working in her yard. By this time he has warmed up a little to her and jokes and isn't the grouch that he was the first day she met him in the coffee shop. Tessa texts Monica and asks if she can work in the shop alone while she has something previously planned that she has to do. Donnie the owner is off for a few days, while Tessa asks him to look after himself as he is getting run down. Monica is working at the shop and Donnie comes in and is talking to the customers while Monica is busy. She hears a bang and runs out to the front of the restaurant and sees that Donnie is lying on the floor and doesn't seem to be breathing. What will happen next? Is Donnie ok? I can't wait for the next book to see what happens next!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeannine Wickliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love Sage Parkers books, I just wish she would put them in one book instead of spreading out over 6. Her books always have something about family conflicts, a mystery of some kind, and the finding of love. This set does not fail to deliver. Monica has gone to Caloosaport Maine to spend time with her daughter and her family, who she doesnt get to see that often. Once she gets there her daughter, Lydia, get her a job at the local restaurant. Lydia knows her mom loves to interact with people and doesn't want her to be lonely while she and her husband work, and the kids are in school. That when the fun begins for Monica. She loves the work and the people she meets, but all is not going well for the little Cottage Cafe. There is a development company wanting to buy the cafe and are not above using all means to get it. Lydia, who works in human resources at City Hall knows something is going on but won't get involved for fear of losing her job. Add to the all thats going on, Donnie the Cafe owner learns that he does not own the land that the cafe sets on, so the search is on to find the owner, but will it make a difference if the city council goes thru with an eminent domain claim. Will Monica, Ben, and the rest find the answers to all these questions in time to save the cafe and other small businesses threatened?

[Stox4story · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Good Start … like any puzzle, begin with the edges

I knew right from the start I was going to like this book, this series. First, it’s about real people… Well Monica may be a fictional character but she represents a real person. It shows that life doesn’t stop just because you are older. In this case Monica is a grandmother in her 70s visiting her daughter…. or maybe I should say grandsons. Yes, she and her daughter have a good relationship but it’s easy to relate to a ‘grandma’ wanting to enjoy those grandchildren.

So she won’t be bored when they go back to school, she gets a part time job and gets to meet new friends. And here is where a bit of mystery begins to creep into the storyline. It seems like a lot of secrets are buried and of course secrets never stay secret. I’m looking forward to digging up those secrets and see how they unfold… and who they affect.

The author kept my interest and has me wanting more. After all, a normal grandma in her 70s will have a lot of ‘tools’ she’s gathered along life’s highway that can come in useful. Looking forward to seeing how she uses those learned ‘tools’ to deal with the drama and plot twists.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[June Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new series starts out definitely being a page turner. Just couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. Love that this author’s books are always like this and such quick and easy reads.
Monica is an elderly widow who has come to Maine to visit her daughter Lydia and her family. So that Monica doesn’t get lonely after her two grandsons have started back to school and Lydia and her husband are both working, Lydia has encouraged her to take a part time job at a local cafe. Monica is loving her job and meeting many new people, including several that are becoming real friends. Meanwhile, she has learned some things that can harm her boss and is unsure what exactly to do. Should she tell him? Will she even get a chance to? Will find out next week!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cottage Café is the first in the series Falling for Maine.
Monica has gone to visit her daughter Lydia on an extended vacation. She is getting restless, and this takes her to Cottage Café where she takes a job. Donnie, the owner quickly becomes a friend of Monica’s. Working there she meets Ben who at first did not seem too friendly to Monica but thigs change. Things begin to happen and the mystery revolving around not just the café, but community members drew me in and before I knew it I was on the last page!
The characters in the story all seem to have a secret and the author does a perfect job of keeping me guessing!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Megann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monica is visiting her daughter in Maine. She lives in Massachusetts and has a month that she can spend with her grandchildren and children. She is 70 years young and doesn't want to just sit around for a month while everyone else is off doing their things so she gets a job in a cafe that needs help.
She immediately starts making friends and even gets the town grump to be happier. She and Benjamin have a lot in common and a friendship begins to develop. Now they are discovering that there is a group in town that wants to buy the cafe and turn it into a hotel which will change the beauty and tranquility of the town. Can they figure out what is really going on?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vicki Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cottage Cafe is the first book in the Falling For Maine Series which focuses on Monica, a widow of ten years who travels to visit her daughter, Lydia, and her family for an extended vacation. Monica anxiously decides to take a job at the Cottage Cafe owned by Donnie who has a frequent customer,Ben, a widower of five years, who was a grump at first but has become friends with her. The beginning of this series has some mystery, drama, great characters, plot twists, and a cliffhanger. It looks like a really enjoyable series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monica is struggling with finding her next steps after the death if her husband.

New opportunities present themselves during an extended visit with her daughter.

Colud there be more?

She becomes aware that a number of folks manage marriages very different than what she lived.

Negotiating next possibilities becomes a bit of a thorny issue as she discovers developers trying to take over the small town her daughter and her growing family call home - a place where Monica starts to feel at home too.

on the cusp of more, can challenges be overcome?

suspense filled drama and action.

[Baby Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the synopsis of this series, I knew it was going to be good. What I did not expect was for it to be great! . The description of the characters and the storyline had my attention immediately. Donnie, Monica, Ben, Fred. Lydia, Tessa, and the grandkids bring family fully circle. The suspense of what will happen to the diner and if Donnie is going to be okay has me hoping that everything will be okay. I cannot wait to read what will happen in book two. Great start to this new series!.

[Carmela Dimattia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new series by Sage Parker and it has already piqued my interest. Monica is visiting her daughter and her family and she is working at a local cafe meeting lots of new and interesting people. We encounter a little bit of mystery and drama but as it is the first book in the series we know that this will only increase as the series progresses. I think this will be another enjoyable series by Ms Parker and cannot wait to read more.

I received an arc copy via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Barb Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monica is a 70 yr. old widow visiting her daughter in Maine. She gets a job at the cafe to keep her busy but finds she loves working there. The customers are friendly and Donnie, her boss is great to work for. He really needed the help When she learns of something sneaky going on at city hall, she plans to tell Donnie, but he suddenly collapses. I received an advanced reader copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion. I can't wait to see what happens next!

[Roslyn Simonin Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monica is visiting her daughter in Maine for a month, and her daughter has gone back to work and granddaughter back to school. So, her daughter suggests going to help Donnie at the Café since he really needs help and she loves to cook and bake. Win-Win.
Well she finds a web of problems. Can she help Donnie keep the restaurant????
Loving it Sage!!!!!!
Get me to book #2.


This is an ARC and my honest review.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cottage Cafe (Book 1) is book #1 in the Falling for Maine series by Sage Parker.

Monica is visiting her daughter and gets a job at a cafe. I liked how Monica adjusted and this opportunity filled a need she had. The characters are wonderful and people I’d like to spend time with. The ending has me anxious to read the next book!

I received a free copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first in a new series is a page turner and a many layered storyline. It's fun, touching and easy to read with great characters. It's going to be a joy to get to know them all. Always love Sage Parkers writing and the emotion she adds to all her stories. I had such a good time reading book one, I can't wait for book two and to spend more time with Monica at Cottage Cafe.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jodi Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monica is visiting her daughter in Maine for a few months. This is a change from her usual boring life. Then she lands a Job at the Cottage Cafe and things really start changing. She makes a new friend in grouchy Benjamin and becomes a team with Donnie at the cafe. There are some dramas unfolding. Waiting for the next book to see what happens next. Monica is so relatable and this book reads really quickly. What a great start!

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable start to a good story that I can see. Like the characters because they are very different and one of them is a recluse that nobody seems to really know anything about which makes it very interesting. There are some secrets that are going to be unfolded along the way and there are always a few bumps in the road. Can't wait to read more. Good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rose Grabowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cottage Cafe is the book 1 in the Falling For Maine Series. We follow Monica, a widow of ten years who travels to visit her daughter Lydia and her family for an extended vacation. Lydia takes a job at a local cafe to keep busy and becomes a lifesaver to the owner. Her life completely changes at 70 as she makes new friends and becomes a valuable new member to the town. It was a cliffhanger ending, and I look forward to book 2.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, this has to to be one of her best series starters yet. Monica is in Maine visiting her family for the summer. She finds a job, friends, along with drama and secrets. I didn’t see that little cliffhanger coming. Now I must go straight into book 2 to see what happened and what’s coming next. Will Donnie be ok? Do I detect some flirt between Monica and Ben? Can the town be saved from icky developers? You must read this series.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short novella, which is book 1 of 6 in the Falling for Maine series, left me wanting more. When I saw it was about a 70 yr old grandmother I could relate. I will be 70 soon, am a grandmother, and I just visited Maine this past Fall. A perfect quick read. I believe the similarities are why my interest was spiked about this series available on Kindle unlimited. I am looking forward to reading all the book in this series. This book left us hanging….

[emmalgradygmail.com · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short story and cannot wait for the continuation. There is good character development and characters are easy to relate to. There is a suspenseful ending and I can’t wait to read the next one and need to know what’s going to happen. Sage Parker did a wonderful job and I look forward to plenty more from her.

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing start to new series.

Another intriguing start to a new series that is clearly going to be another winner. Sage Parker has a gift in setting up a plot, sharing tidbits of information and ending a book on a cliff hanger. I love her books and highly recommend this one and the new series.

I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am voluntarily writing this review.

[Raylene Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monica is visiting her daughter when her Lilly get her a job at the age of 70 years old Monica not sure. Monica finds out she enjoy work there and is starting to meet people. When Donnie her boss asks her to go to the back for something she hear a crash and fins him on the floor. What is happening?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monica comes to Maine to visit her daughter, Lydia. After some coaxing, Monica gets a job at the coffee shop. She likes her boss, Donnie and his daughter, Tessa. She is finding her groove. While at the cafe, Monica hears a bang comes out to the front to find Donnie down on the floor? Who is responsible?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[PW · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! This book is an outstanding introduction to the characters, the storylines, mystery, and plot. I thoroughly enjoy that the female lead is a seventy year old woman looking to enrich her life. The cliffhanger ending made my heart jump!!! I am anxiously waiting for the next book!!

This Booksprout ARC is another fantastic nail biter by Sage Parker.