Second Chances at the Riverbend Cafe

by Cassandra Doon

When Bella Lee returns to the small town of Tumut to help her grandmother save their beloved Riverbend Café, she expects a quick fix before heading back to her fast-paced city life. What she doesn’t expect is to run into Justin Woodman, the steady, dependable boy she left behind. With the café in need of more than just a fresh coat of paint, Bella must navigate old memories, a stubborn heart, and the undeniable charm of her hometown. As she works to bring the café back to life, Bella begins to wonder if the life she left behind still holds the key to her future.

A heartwarming story of love, family, and the magic of second chances in a small town that feels like home.


By Australian Author Comes a sweet and cosy love story nestled in the very town she grew up.

168 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2025

About the author

Cassandra hates writing about herself in the third person, but here we are. With over 38 novels penned and no signs of stopping, she writes across multiple genres. Unable to be pinned down by just one, you'll find Fantasy, Dark Romance, Young Adult, and even a Detective series in the mix.
Having grown up in a small country town and later lived in the city, Cassandra found a perfect spot she likes to call an 'in-between place'—complete with rolling hills and just a stone's throw from the Gold Coast in Queensland Australia.
While she may have had social media in the past, Cassandra has since declared it's not for her. Her website is now the best place to find out what's happening in her world and to see what upcoming books are on the horizon.

Reviews

[Sarah Karp]

I loveddd this book! I saw someone say it was like a hug in a cup and it’s so true. It’s predictable in the best of ways and is a book full of reminiscing and nostalgia. Absolutely loved it!

[Shend]

5 Stars - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Second Chances at the Riverbend Café by C.L. Doon was everything I hoped for—heartfelt, comforting, and full of small-town charm. This story wrapped around me like a cozy blanket on a quiet, rainy day.

I loved the cast of characters—each one felt so real, like familiar faces you’d see when you live in a small town. The town of Tumut was the perfect setting for a tender, second-chance romance. It had that warm, close-knit community feel where everyone knows your story.

Bella and Justin’s journey was the emotional core of this book. Their story was full of quiet moments, unspoken history, and a deep connection that never really faded. I loved how their bond was built on friendship, trust, and healing. You could feel the weight of their past and the hope of their future in every interaction.

Some of my favorite quotes:
💬 “I’ll always protect you, Bella Lee. No matter what it takes, I’ll help you find your smile again.” – Justin
💬 “This, right here, is where I’m meant to be. With Justin. My best friend. My soulmate. My forever.” – Bella
💬 “This easy banter, the way we move around each other like no time has passed—it’s both comforting and unsettling.” – Justin
💬 “And I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that this is where I’m meant to be. With Bella by my side, ready to take on whatever life throws our way. Together.” – Justin

This was such a beautiful, soul-soothing read. Full of love, warmth, and second chances, it’s the kind of book that stays with you long after the last page. I sincerely hope there’s more to come from the characters in this book.

If you love cozy romances, emotional depth, and the magic of finding your way back to where you truly belong, this one’s for you. 💛

Tropes:
✔️ Second-chance romance
✔️ Friends to lovers
✔️ Small-town setting
✔️ Found family
✔️ Emotional healing

[Marissa]

Second Chances at the Riverbend Café is a beautifully gentle, heartfelt read, perfect for curling up on a cold winter’s day with your favourite warm drink and blanket, letting yourself settle into something tender and hopeful.

Set in a real small Aussie town, this story brings together the themes of love, family, and community in a way that feels genuine and comforting. The vibes I got were Gilmore Girls meets early Home & Away, Bella and Justin are childhood friends turned high school sweethearts, with big dreams and a shared history that’s both sweet and aching.

Their journey unfolds with moments of longing, tough choices, and unexpected turns. Just when you think you know where things are headed, Bella’s grandma, Maggie, steps in and gently changes the course, sending Bella and Justin in a different direction, yet perhaps towards where they were always meant to be.

I laughed, I cried, and by the final pages, I was smiling like a fool, completely wrapped up in the warmth and hope this story brings. It’s indulgent in the best way, with just the right amount of tension and emotional pull to keep you turning pages.

I honestly loved this book. It made me wonder, if I took a drive, would I find this café tucked away somewhere, waiting with a cup of coffee and a second chance?

I received an ARC of this story, but this review is voluntary and reflects my true thoughts. Thank you, Cassandra, for trusting me with such a lovely, heart-warming read.

[booklover.mall]

This is my first book from Cassandra Doon (C.L. Doon) And to tell you this book here sad, happy, broken heart. in the beginning for my man Justin for what Bella did to him ! I was hurting for Bella and everything that happened and I couldn’t imagine her pain, but Bella made a decision for what she needed to but still hurting my sweet Justin like that! So Bella up and left and didn’t show her face for 10 YEARS !!! 10 I say !!! Crazy how not once did she go back and then she got a call about helping grams out at the cafe for renovations. So Bella comes and helps but not expecting to meet the “boy” that turned into a man you walked away from and you still have them same ol”feelings you did when you were younger. AND YOU CASSANDRA !!! You had me crying and throwing my kindle lucky it was on the bed. How can you throw me a bomb like that!? How can you do that to me about sweet ol’grams like that I was truly not expecting that and I couldn’t stop balling my eyes out! Luckily she got to see Justin and Bella find their way back together. Loved the bonus chapter.

Second Chance At The Riverbend Cafe was sweet, refreshing from what I generally read but this was wonderful and like I said refreshing to read. It has the emotions, feeling, and small town, high school sweethearts.

[Tanya]

Thanks to the author for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

I loved that a book, set in a super small town Tumut, NSW, was also voiced by Aussie voice actors. Good touch! :)

We had relatives who lived in Tumut for a spell so this hit home. I'm Canadian but spent more than my fair share of time in small town Canada, so I get this setting and the pull of a small town.

This was a super sweet story of Justin and Bella and 10 years (10 YEARS! 10 YERAS! 10! YEEEAAAARRRSSSS! iykyk) of distance and longing that they never knew still existed (but let's be real, they totally knew).

This is a cozy Hallmark novel set in a small AF town in New South Wales, Australia and it is well worth a read or listen.

The ending annoyed me as it's stereotypical of Hallmark-esque books but we can stop turning smart women into mere incubators.

[Ash 🫶🏻]

Thank you so much Cassandra for the ARC!

This was a 3.5 star read for me. Overall it’s a cute, hallmark type heartwarming story that I really enjoyed!

My only critique is it felt like there was one piece of information missing that made the story a little disjointed for me, this distracted me a bit while reading but otherwise didn’t detract from the overall experience.

If you’re looking for a quick little comfort read this may just be the one for you! 🥰

[Sam]

🎧 Imagine my surprise (because I don’t read blurbs) when the audio started and both narrators are actually Aussie 👀😍🤣 it’s not often, as an Aussie reader, I get to read about places in romance books that I’ve actually been to irl. Tumut really is a tiny, tiny town, blink at you miss it type town. Cass has managed to capture yearning, small town/big city fomo, grief and second chance chances all into an equally tiny package. This was super fun and really sweet 🥹

[Amy]

I was so lucky to read this early and to spread the love.

Such a sweet book, written skilfully to transport you back to the times of being an inexperienced teen. A gentle page turner leading you through a number of life's lessons and reminding us what really counts.

[Stacey]

Very cute little story. Well written.