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Twin Waves Sweet Romcom #1
Cooking Up My Comeback
Single mom + Silver fox contractor + Forced proximity = A recipe for happily ever after
I'm living on burnt coffee and shattered dreams when the health inspector shuts down my workplace. Thirty days to find a job or leave Twin Waves forever.
But maybe losing everything is exactly what I need to honor my grandmother by bringing her recipes to life in a seaside restaurant where families gather.
Enter Brett Walker—silver fox contractor with a business proposal that sounds too good to be true.
I came to Twin Waves to fix properties and move on—that's what I always do.
But when Amber needs a partner to renovate her dream restaurant, I can't walk away. I'm the guy everyone depends on until I disappear.
The problem?
She doesn't need rescuing, and for the first time, I'm wondering if I could actually stay.
Forced proximity. Renovation chaos. Grandmother's secret recipes.
When Amber and Brett become business partners, sparks fly hotter than her grandmother's cast-iron skillet. But can a woman afraid to depend on anyone learn to trust a man who's never stayed long enough to call anywhere home?
Perfect for fans
• Single mom romance
• Beach romance
• Business partners to lovers
• Small-town romance
• Grumpy/sunshine
• Opposites attract
• Silver fox heroes
• Food romance
• Ex-military heroes
Cooking Up My Comeback is the first book in the Twin Waves Sweet Romcom Series featuring the Twin Waves Bookaholics Anonymous book club ladies getting their happily ever afters!
Start reading today and fall in love with Twin Waves, where swoony kisses come with ocean views and happily ever afters are always on the menu!
I'm living on burnt coffee and shattered dreams when the health inspector shuts down my workplace. Thirty days to find a job or leave Twin Waves forever.
But maybe losing everything is exactly what I need to honor my grandmother by bringing her recipes to life in a seaside restaurant where families gather.
Enter Brett Walker—silver fox contractor with a business proposal that sounds too good to be true.
I came to Twin Waves to fix properties and move on—that's what I always do.
But when Amber needs a partner to renovate her dream restaurant, I can't walk away. I'm the guy everyone depends on until I disappear.
The problem?
She doesn't need rescuing, and for the first time, I'm wondering if I could actually stay.
Forced proximity. Renovation chaos. Grandmother's secret recipes.
When Amber and Brett become business partners, sparks fly hotter than her grandmother's cast-iron skillet. But can a woman afraid to depend on anyone learn to trust a man who's never stayed long enough to call anywhere home?
Perfect for fans
• Single mom romance
• Beach romance
• Business partners to lovers
• Small-town romance
• Grumpy/sunshine
• Opposites attract
• Silver fox heroes
• Food romance
• Ex-military heroes
Cooking Up My Comeback is the first book in the Twin Waves Sweet Romcom Series featuring the Twin Waves Bookaholics Anonymous book club ladies getting their happily ever afters!
Start reading today and fall in love with Twin Waves, where swoony kisses come with ocean views and happily ever afters are always on the menu!
- GenresContemporaryFiction
454 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 19, 2025
About the author
Cindy Ray Hale
63 books582 followersCindy Ray Hale loves to write romcoms set in small towns and has been writing and publishing books since 2012, all the while, laughing at her own funny stories. She is married to the sweetest guy and has a blended family with him, consisting of seven kids.
She loves nerding out on video games, creating book covers, and drinking too much caffeine. When she can find a moment, she loves to sing and play the piano and often includes acting and singing somewhere in her stories.
She was born and raised in the hills of Tennessee in a large crazy family and as an adult, has moved all over the United States. She's finally settled down in a small town in the mountains of western Virginia where she loves to go hiking, boating, and dig in her garden.
She loves nerding out on video games, creating book covers, and drinking too much caffeine. When she can find a moment, she loves to sing and play the piano and often includes acting and singing somewhere in her stories.
She was born and raised in the hills of Tennessee in a large crazy family and as an adult, has moved all over the United States. She's finally settled down in a small town in the mountains of western Virginia where she loves to go hiking, boating, and dig in her garden.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
April 30, 2026
DNF 49%
I was engaged at the start and for the first few chapters but it became a slog. Not only is this book in serious need of editing for consistency and continuity (the festival chapter is a mess) but the pacing feels very slow and disjointed. All of a sudden they're on a date? Didn't they just talk about keeping it professional? Nobody asked anybody out on a date.
I was engaged at the start and for the first few chapters but it became a slog. Not only is this book in serious need of editing for consistency and continuity (the festival chapter is a mess) but the pacing feels very slow and disjointed. All of a sudden they're on a date? Didn't they just talk about keeping it professional? Nobody asked anybody out on a date.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2025
I received an ARC copy from the author and even though I wasn’t required to write a review, I wanted to offer my honest, voluntary impression of this book.
Cindy has written a heart touching book which readers will quickly identify with. A woman who has been beat down emotionally by her abusive ex husband finally gets the chance to chase after her dream when a contractor offers her a chance and a job she can’t pass up. However, the dead beat ex does his best to sabotage her dream time and again until she finally stands up to him in a public place!
Amber has always dreamed of owning her own restaurant but her ex always belittled her into thinking she couldn’t ever be successful. However a contractor in the town sees possibilities with an old abandoned restaurant and wants to see it restored to its former glory and knows Amber can do it if he can help her believe in herself again.
They have plenty of discussions as things start up and try and mask their attraction to each other by trying to just be business partners but the pull is still there to be more than that.
As a reader you get to see two people who have been denied their dreams who want to reach for them again but hold themselves back because of their past issues. The situation is very realistic in my opinion and I forgot that this wasn’t a real life scenario because these characters in this book became very real to me! I was packing my bags to make a trip to their restaurant in North Carolina until I had to remind myself it doesn’t exist!
That is the draw of a well written book that is so believable you just know its not fiction at all! The characters become your friends and you root for them to be successful even with all the obstacles that come their way!
I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend you get this book and tell your friends and family about it! I can guarantee you will love the story as much as I did and will be so glad you read it!
Cindy has written a heart touching book which readers will quickly identify with. A woman who has been beat down emotionally by her abusive ex husband finally gets the chance to chase after her dream when a contractor offers her a chance and a job she can’t pass up. However, the dead beat ex does his best to sabotage her dream time and again until she finally stands up to him in a public place!
Amber has always dreamed of owning her own restaurant but her ex always belittled her into thinking she couldn’t ever be successful. However a contractor in the town sees possibilities with an old abandoned restaurant and wants to see it restored to its former glory and knows Amber can do it if he can help her believe in herself again.
They have plenty of discussions as things start up and try and mask their attraction to each other by trying to just be business partners but the pull is still there to be more than that.
As a reader you get to see two people who have been denied their dreams who want to reach for them again but hold themselves back because of their past issues. The situation is very realistic in my opinion and I forgot that this wasn’t a real life scenario because these characters in this book became very real to me! I was packing my bags to make a trip to their restaurant in North Carolina until I had to remind myself it doesn’t exist!
That is the draw of a well written book that is so believable you just know its not fiction at all! The characters become your friends and you root for them to be successful even with all the obstacles that come their way!
I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend you get this book and tell your friends and family about it! I can guarantee you will love the story as much as I did and will be so glad you read it!
August 26, 2025
DNF😩 managed to read it up to 75% but couldn’t deal with it afterwards.I had so much hope for this book but unfortunately it didn’t deliver them. It was like I am reading a bad soap opera😒😒😒😒😏😏😏😏
August 14, 2025
Cooking Up My Comeback is a sweet and heartwarming story that will pull you in from the beginning to the ending. Amber and Brett are both headstrong, warm, and loveable. Amber’s children are a hoot and her life is chaotic, but it’s under control. I have never read a book where the mom is so in control of her children, no matter what they get into, but loves them with every fiber of her being.
Amber runs a small café and is up to her eyeballs in things that need repairing or replaced, tourists that want special ingredients, and more. As she waits for a customer to decide what she wants, Brett Walker enters. “He’s come here three mornings a week for eighteen months now, ever since he moved to Twin Waves and became the contractor everyone actually wants to hire.” Brett actually shows up when he says he will and finishes every job. Are there actually contractors like him out there somewhere in the world?
Now, Amber is a hard worker and a single mom with four kids she’s raising without much help from her ex. Why are exes always such disappointments. (took me a few minutes to come up with an appropriate word that would describe a lot of them.) They never send child payment on time, as if you’re spending it on yourself instead of your kids. Amber is like a lot of struggling moms out there. She’s doing the best with what she’s got and doing a great job of raising her kids. The health inspector writes down everything that needs to be brought up to code, but he’s surprised with the detailed records that Amber keeps. Although he’s impressed with her, he still issues her a temporary closure until she’s up to code again. She has thirty days to get the repairs up to code. Amber has been in contact with the owners with repairs that need to be made and equipment that needs to be replaced, but they aren’t exactly interested in actually doing any improvements. They are the ones who only want the monthly rental payments on time.
Amber’s life has never been easy one. She’s spent all her savings replacing her ac unit. She lives from paycheck to paycheck. She can’t depend on her ex to pay his child support on time. One thing Amber has done better than most people is she is interested in her kids. Yes, they’re a handful and always in something, but she loves them deeply and would do anything possible for them. Tally is 17 and a great help to her mom. Crew is 9 and loves any and all things that have to do with fishing. Mason is 4 and is as wide open as they come.
How will she get through this episode with no insurance, no job, no income, and no way to funnel her energy? Her friend Hazel poses the question, “You ever consider opening your own place instead of settling for someone else’s broken dreams?” Oh, how she wishes she could, but with three kids and fourteen hundred dollars in her checking account, that just doesn’t seem possible.
Amber’s going through the boxes of clothes to find some clothes to fit her youngest when she comes across her Grandma’s recipe tin. The cards are splattered with droppings from her Grandma cooking. What wonderful memories she has of spending summers with Grandma Pearl. She taught her to cook and not just food, but how to cook with heart that not only feeds the body, but also the soul. My great Granny was the one for me, oh I loved my other grandmothers, but Granny was special to my heart. I remember standing in a chair at the stove and skimming the foam off the batch of jelly in the huge pot. She was the best and I miss her something fierce.
Amber runs a small café and is up to her eyeballs in things that need repairing or replaced, tourists that want special ingredients, and more. As she waits for a customer to decide what she wants, Brett Walker enters. “He’s come here three mornings a week for eighteen months now, ever since he moved to Twin Waves and became the contractor everyone actually wants to hire.” Brett actually shows up when he says he will and finishes every job. Are there actually contractors like him out there somewhere in the world?
Now, Amber is a hard worker and a single mom with four kids she’s raising without much help from her ex. Why are exes always such disappointments. (took me a few minutes to come up with an appropriate word that would describe a lot of them.) They never send child payment on time, as if you’re spending it on yourself instead of your kids. Amber is like a lot of struggling moms out there. She’s doing the best with what she’s got and doing a great job of raising her kids. The health inspector writes down everything that needs to be brought up to code, but he’s surprised with the detailed records that Amber keeps. Although he’s impressed with her, he still issues her a temporary closure until she’s up to code again. She has thirty days to get the repairs up to code. Amber has been in contact with the owners with repairs that need to be made and equipment that needs to be replaced, but they aren’t exactly interested in actually doing any improvements. They are the ones who only want the monthly rental payments on time.
Amber’s life has never been easy one. She’s spent all her savings replacing her ac unit. She lives from paycheck to paycheck. She can’t depend on her ex to pay his child support on time. One thing Amber has done better than most people is she is interested in her kids. Yes, they’re a handful and always in something, but she loves them deeply and would do anything possible for them. Tally is 17 and a great help to her mom. Crew is 9 and loves any and all things that have to do with fishing. Mason is 4 and is as wide open as they come.
How will she get through this episode with no insurance, no job, no income, and no way to funnel her energy? Her friend Hazel poses the question, “You ever consider opening your own place instead of settling for someone else’s broken dreams?” Oh, how she wishes she could, but with three kids and fourteen hundred dollars in her checking account, that just doesn’t seem possible.
Amber’s going through the boxes of clothes to find some clothes to fit her youngest when she comes across her Grandma’s recipe tin. The cards are splattered with droppings from her Grandma cooking. What wonderful memories she has of spending summers with Grandma Pearl. She taught her to cook and not just food, but how to cook with heart that not only feeds the body, but also the soul. My great Granny was the one for me, oh I loved my other grandmothers, but Granny was special to my heart. I remember standing in a chair at the stove and skimming the foam off the batch of jelly in the huge pot. She was the best and I miss her something fierce.
June 8, 2026
I started this series reading books 4-6 and enjoyed each of them. Then I decided to go back to the beginning and pick up the other 3. I listened to this one on audible which had virtual voice narration. It wasn't good. It was dual narrators and while the virtual ones are never great, this didn't even get a passing grade. Chapter 6 was read by one voice but should have been the other. Since it is in dual narration and first person it was confusing to listen to the wrong person keep saying I did such and such but they couldn't possibly have done so. So boo on the narration.
As far as the basic plot idea for the book it was good. It could have been a romance holiday movie or something but I had so many more problems with this one. Keep in mind that I enjoyed the last three in the series. I wrote down notes as I listened and it was all the stuff that bugged me instead of being positives along with negatives.
First I felt like there wasn't a smooth transition into the possibility of them being in a relationship. It felt like they were annoyed with each other and then suddenly talking about getting together.
There were phrases that were over used. 'Is that what we're calling it?' was used multiple times and just seemed to stick out to me. Or someone leaves the room and the character feels like the room feels different, smaller than before. Or the composition book is described as the same one she'd carried since day 1. After the first time I think I'd just assume she was still using the same without the reminder.
I felt that after they would have a resolve to the difficulties in their relationship they'd go along merrily and then suddenly one or the other is unsure again. And it happened repeatedly. I got tired of the back and forth and didn't feel like it was necessary to have so many unsure times. There was so much 'what if' anxiety. I'd think it was resolved and then it showed up again.
I also didn't feel like the issues with the ex was fully resolved. Did he just give up? Was he the stalker? Was someone else involved? It was suggested and then we never heard about it again. They went to the police but we never found out what happened with that or what happened next.
But like I said, the bones for a good story was there. This felt like an early draft that needed to be edited down and filled out both. I'd love to read a rewrite of it.
I enjoyed the kids. I loved their kid chaos and I loved that though their mom was never negative about their dad, they were able to see his flaws for themselves.
As far as the basic plot idea for the book it was good. It could have been a romance holiday movie or something but I had so many more problems with this one. Keep in mind that I enjoyed the last three in the series. I wrote down notes as I listened and it was all the stuff that bugged me instead of being positives along with negatives.
First I felt like there wasn't a smooth transition into the possibility of them being in a relationship. It felt like they were annoyed with each other and then suddenly talking about getting together.
There were phrases that were over used. 'Is that what we're calling it?' was used multiple times and just seemed to stick out to me. Or someone leaves the room and the character feels like the room feels different, smaller than before. Or the composition book is described as the same one she'd carried since day 1. After the first time I think I'd just assume she was still using the same without the reminder.
I felt that after they would have a resolve to the difficulties in their relationship they'd go along merrily and then suddenly one or the other is unsure again. And it happened repeatedly. I got tired of the back and forth and didn't feel like it was necessary to have so many unsure times. There was so much 'what if' anxiety. I'd think it was resolved and then it showed up again.
I also didn't feel like the issues with the ex was fully resolved. Did he just give up? Was he the stalker? Was someone else involved? It was suggested and then we never heard about it again. They went to the police but we never found out what happened with that or what happened next.
But like I said, the bones for a good story was there. This felt like an early draft that needed to be edited down and filled out both. I'd love to read a rewrite of it.
I enjoyed the kids. I loved their kid chaos and I loved that though their mom was never negative about their dad, they were able to see his flaws for themselves.
July 16, 2026
I really liked the premise, and some of the humor and banter was very good, but the editing—oh my. It was like someone shook my Kindle and entire chunks of text either disappeared or appeared multiple times.
For example, some background information would have been helpful, especially since this is Book 1. First, Tally seems like only half a character. Amber's children are Tally, 17; Crew, 9; and Mason, 4. Tally is rarely around and rarely mentioned. I know she's working, but where is she at meals? Where does she sleep? It's never explained. Why is there such a large age gap between the first two children? Never explained. What happened with her ex-husband? Never explained. Hazel and Jack introduced Amber to Brett, but who are Hazel and Jack?
Examples of repetition: our hero has multiple long, repetitive internal monologues about a sense of community, or what he calls "what towns used to have." (This is ironic, since this man has never lived in one place longer than 18 months. So how would he even know? He's also only 42, which seems pretty young to be getting preachy about the good old days.) Another example: our heroine notices that a woman "has a smile practiced in a mirror until it lost all contact with human emotion." This line appears on page 14, then is repeated verbatim on page 28.
There were also some errors in logic. For example, Amber is oddly torn between taking a part-time job now or waiting for a job that won't fully materialize until a new restaurant opens in 6–8 months. But it's not an either/or situation. She could do both: take the part-time job now, then move to the restaurant when it opens.
There's also some awkward phrasing and word choice. Brett repeatedly mentions that he was "a Marine officer for 6 years," but never says how long he served overall or how long he was enlisted. Since you don't start as an officer, it struck me as an odd way to summarize his military service. Then there's this gem: Amber is "letting Mason convince her that a piece of seaweed remains definitely a shark. This remains who she is when she's not stressed about money or jobs. This remains Amber in her element." What??
Did not finish.
For example, some background information would have been helpful, especially since this is Book 1. First, Tally seems like only half a character. Amber's children are Tally, 17; Crew, 9; and Mason, 4. Tally is rarely around and rarely mentioned. I know she's working, but where is she at meals? Where does she sleep? It's never explained. Why is there such a large age gap between the first two children? Never explained. What happened with her ex-husband? Never explained. Hazel and Jack introduced Amber to Brett, but who are Hazel and Jack?
Examples of repetition: our hero has multiple long, repetitive internal monologues about a sense of community, or what he calls "what towns used to have." (This is ironic, since this man has never lived in one place longer than 18 months. So how would he even know? He's also only 42, which seems pretty young to be getting preachy about the good old days.) Another example: our heroine notices that a woman "has a smile practiced in a mirror until it lost all contact with human emotion." This line appears on page 14, then is repeated verbatim on page 28.
There were also some errors in logic. For example, Amber is oddly torn between taking a part-time job now or waiting for a job that won't fully materialize until a new restaurant opens in 6–8 months. But it's not an either/or situation. She could do both: take the part-time job now, then move to the restaurant when it opens.
There's also some awkward phrasing and word choice. Brett repeatedly mentions that he was "a Marine officer for 6 years," but never says how long he served overall or how long he was enlisted. Since you don't start as an officer, it struck me as an odd way to summarize his military service. Then there's this gem: Amber is "letting Mason convince her that a piece of seaweed remains definitely a shark. This remains who she is when she's not stressed about money or jobs. This remains Amber in her element." What??
Did not finish.
September 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️
If you read any of my past reviews on books that have MCs finding love later in life, you know I am a total fan of this trope! Being in my 40s, I know that romance doesn’t die out or come to a screeching halt once that new decade begins. I love reading authors who celebrate love in all periods of life. Cindy Ray Hale is one of those authors. Her past few books have focused on MCs who are getting a second chance at love, at least in their 40s (if not older), and showing us that romance is open to any age, as long as you are open to it!
Cooking Up My Comeback was heartwarming, romantic, clean romance. I really loved how it was longer and allowed us to fully get to know the characters. Not that shorter books are not ok, but sometimes the drama is missed. Amber and Brett’s story provided the perfect escape for a weekend read. Their chemistry is instant, their shared vision is beautiful, and their overall story is wonderful!
Amber is finally taking her dream by the reins and turning it into a reality. After years of her ex-husband belittling her and making her believe she couldn’t accomplish success, she has silenced his voice and is listening to her own. Wanting to chase her dream in full force, she finds a cheerleader with the local contractor, Brett, who knows she can do it. He has a desire to bring an abandoned restaurant back to its former glory. He knows that both Amber and this location need each other. Great foundation, good bones, just needs life breathed back in.
As dreams are given new life, romance is also offered a second chance. Their story was easy to become immersed in, as Cindy always writes characters that resonate with her readers and their stories feel real. You forget you are reading and just get lost in the flow of words as the two hearts are drawn to each other.
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
💙Single Mom FMC
🦋Later in Life MCs
💙Unavoidable Proximity
🦋Found Family
💙Small Town Romance
🦋Silver Fox MMC
If you read any of my past reviews on books that have MCs finding love later in life, you know I am a total fan of this trope! Being in my 40s, I know that romance doesn’t die out or come to a screeching halt once that new decade begins. I love reading authors who celebrate love in all periods of life. Cindy Ray Hale is one of those authors. Her past few books have focused on MCs who are getting a second chance at love, at least in their 40s (if not older), and showing us that romance is open to any age, as long as you are open to it!
Cooking Up My Comeback was heartwarming, romantic, clean romance. I really loved how it was longer and allowed us to fully get to know the characters. Not that shorter books are not ok, but sometimes the drama is missed. Amber and Brett’s story provided the perfect escape for a weekend read. Their chemistry is instant, their shared vision is beautiful, and their overall story is wonderful!
Amber is finally taking her dream by the reins and turning it into a reality. After years of her ex-husband belittling her and making her believe she couldn’t accomplish success, she has silenced his voice and is listening to her own. Wanting to chase her dream in full force, she finds a cheerleader with the local contractor, Brett, who knows she can do it. He has a desire to bring an abandoned restaurant back to its former glory. He knows that both Amber and this location need each other. Great foundation, good bones, just needs life breathed back in.
As dreams are given new life, romance is also offered a second chance. Their story was easy to become immersed in, as Cindy always writes characters that resonate with her readers and their stories feel real. You forget you are reading and just get lost in the flow of words as the two hearts are drawn to each other.
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
💙Single Mom FMC
🦋Later in Life MCs
💙Unavoidable Proximity
🦋Found Family
💙Small Town Romance
🦋Silver Fox MMC
August 14, 2026
This book was a hot mess and the entire storyline with the ex pissed me all the way off.
It had a great premise, but a really poor execution. I debated not finishing it multiple times, but I wanted to find out how things played out. I made it 83% and finally DNFd, which was a first for me. I’ve never read that much of a book and not at least skimmed to the end. My gosh, it was brutal.
The kids were great, but the adults were pretty boring and the MCs were both insufferable. This should’ve easily been at least 100 pages shorter since so much of it just went in circles. The MCs question their business and personal relationships nonstop throughout the book. Rehashing the same hangups and arguments got old. Quickly.
There were also a number of inconsistencies throughout. Far too many to keep up with. 438 pages and yet backstories were missing. Kids were hit or miss in even existing. At one point, I thought Caroline was an editing error and was really one of the younger kids since her name was never really mentioned. Nope. She was a separate character. There were also a lot of characters, and I didn’t even bother trying to keep up after a while. The FMCs parents seemed great and supportive and then sometime later, we’re told that they weren’t great parents. Huh?
I hated Penelope and skipped scenes with her. The same with Chad. I get it. They were there for the conflict, but ugh. Chad needed his ass beat. Then a phone call from an unknown number shuts down their business? Not an in-person visit or letter or anything officia. Gtfoh.
And Tally’s entire storyline was caring for her younger siblings and offering opinions on her mom’s relationship. We didn’t get to learn anything about her like we did the other kids.
Mason, Crew, and the MCs being the same age for once were the best things about this book.
January 17, 2026
I enjoyed this book, especially with how it is a longer book with over 400 pages! It really gives plenty of time for you to really know the character and their depth! It is a very easy story to be completely immersed in and near impossible to put down. The kids are definitely my favorites in this story, they are so so precious🥰
This is the 1st book in the “Twin Waves Sweet Romcom” series.
Internal thoughts while reading
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Max and Crew are so precious!!
The beginning is give Luke and Lorelai vibes🥹
Opening a restaurant definitely sounds stressful but also so so much fun😍
Brett’s past breaks my heart💔
Ugh Amber and Brett kinda frustrate me because they just can’t seem to pull themselves together! Just when they are making progress in their relationship a simple, tiny thing get majorly blown out of proportion and made a huge deal🫠 I understand all the feeling and pain they each felt but also they seem just a bit dramatic about everything😂😂
I’m loving the personal growth in Brett😘
Chad is such a tool😡
Brett is just a bit clumsy, and I love it😂
“Cookies make everything better.”
“You need someone who sees your strength, not just your sunshine. Someone who doesn’t try to dim your light but isn’t blinded by it either.”
“Just because someone is nice sometimes, it doesn’t mean they’ll stay nice.”
“Love isn’t avoiding the storm…it’s learning to dance in the rain.”
“What if I’m not brave enough?” “Then I’ll be brave enough for both of us until you catch up.”
✨Single Mom
✨Grumpy/Sunshine
✨Slow Burn
✨Business Partners
✨Midlife Romance
✨Protective MMC
🌶️: Kisses Only
🤬: 2 uses of h*ll
This is the 1st book in the “Twin Waves Sweet Romcom” series.
Internal thoughts while reading
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Max and Crew are so precious!!
The beginning is give Luke and Lorelai vibes🥹
Opening a restaurant definitely sounds stressful but also so so much fun😍
Brett’s past breaks my heart💔
Ugh Amber and Brett kinda frustrate me because they just can’t seem to pull themselves together! Just when they are making progress in their relationship a simple, tiny thing get majorly blown out of proportion and made a huge deal🫠 I understand all the feeling and pain they each felt but also they seem just a bit dramatic about everything😂😂
I’m loving the personal growth in Brett😘
Chad is such a tool😡
Brett is just a bit clumsy, and I love it😂
“Cookies make everything better.”
“You need someone who sees your strength, not just your sunshine. Someone who doesn’t try to dim your light but isn’t blinded by it either.”
“Just because someone is nice sometimes, it doesn’t mean they’ll stay nice.”
“Love isn’t avoiding the storm…it’s learning to dance in the rain.”
“What if I’m not brave enough?” “Then I’ll be brave enough for both of us until you catch up.”
✨Single Mom
✨Grumpy/Sunshine
✨Slow Burn
✨Business Partners
✨Midlife Romance
✨Protective MMC
🌶️: Kisses Only
🤬: 2 uses of h*ll
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2025
Wow! Cindy Ray Hale has done it for me again. 5 stars of a brand new amazing book that I didn't want to put down but didn't want it to end. After reading Romancing My Grumpy Goalie I didn't think that I could read anything as good by the same author. Wrong!!! This book somehow was even more incredible. To say I love Cindy's writing style would be a total understatement. She grabs me from the very first word of the book and keeps me on the edge of my seat enthralled until the very last word. The only time I have to get up is when I run out of tissues. For as much as she has me laughing, her writing is extremely witty, she also has the tears running down my cheeks with the sensitivity and beauty of the words. She paints pictures for me. I could smell the ocean. I could smell the fish. I could see it all and feel it all. The conversations were truly great and the characters were wonderful. The children...all of them were little stars. I knew that I recognized Lucas and Annabelle at the wedding and now I am going to be biting my nails and waiting patiently for the next book in this series. I am grateful to have been blessed with an ARC of this book and it will stay on my Kindle for eternity!
August 18, 2025
Cooking Up My Comeback is a delightful small-town romantic comedy filled with charming characters, witty banter, and a relatable heroine. Amber Bennett, a forty-three-year-old single mom of three, finds herself unemployed after her diner job fails a health inspection. When a box of her grandmother’s recipes reignites her long-buried dream, she meets Brett Walker, a gruff ex-military contractor with a heart of gold, who is trying to restore an old restaurant without any experience.
What unfolds is a slow-burn romance filled with humor and warmth. Amber's snickerdoodles are a highlight, and Brett’s grumpy facade hides his need for connection. Set in the idyllic town of Twin Waves, the story features quirky locals, a lively book club, and a focus on rediscovering dreams, promising smiles long after the last page.
If you enjoy midlife heroines, grumpy-sunshine dynamics, and feel-good food, this book is a must-read—perfect for fans of Hallmark movies and authors like Debbie Macomber.
Favorite Recipe from the Story: Amber’s crab cakes with “Old Bay and love”—so tempting!
What unfolds is a slow-burn romance filled with humor and warmth. Amber's snickerdoodles are a highlight, and Brett’s grumpy facade hides his need for connection. Set in the idyllic town of Twin Waves, the story features quirky locals, a lively book club, and a focus on rediscovering dreams, promising smiles long after the last page.
If you enjoy midlife heroines, grumpy-sunshine dynamics, and feel-good food, this book is a must-read—perfect for fans of Hallmark movies and authors like Debbie Macomber.
Favorite Recipe from the Story: Amber’s crab cakes with “Old Bay and love”—so tempting!
August 18, 2025
This was such a beautiful, romantic story full of so many lines of wisdom and inspiration such as "...love means staying, not running." At the heart of it all was Grandma Pearl's wisdom and her tin recipe box full of love.The story made me laugh and cry as Amber wished for things she believed she did not deserve. I enjoyed grumpy Brett, a contractor, with his own dreams. When these two cross paths anything is possible since opposites attract and both Amber and Brett have built walls around their hearts. Throw in Amber's three kids, and an ex-husband and I could not put the book down. It was serious at times and light hearted at times, funny, heartfelt, and showed a family's love, a love for food and traditions, and love for the community. I enjoyed the sweet sunshine/ grumpy trope and Amber's vulnerability as a single mom. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
August 23, 2025
Is a sweet small town, sunshine/grumpy, close proximity, enemies to more, single mom, later-in-life romantic comedy with no cliffhanger.
Some of the lines I really like --- “Food is love made visible. When you cook for someone, you’re telling them they matter.” --- “Kids need more than just security. They need to see their mom believing in herself.” --- “You need someone who sees your strength, not just your sunshine. Someone who doesn’t try to dim your light but isn’t blinded by it either.” --- "And if he turns out to be trouble, you’ve got a mother with excellent aim and a mean right hook.” --- “Not spicy. Just tasty. Like fish that went to flavor school and graduated with honors.” ---
What's Hazel up to? What's Jack up to?
What's Chad up to? These and other questions will all be answered.
I loved Amber and Brett's story and I'm sure you will too. I've loved everyone of her books that I've read and I can't wait to read her next book.
Some of the lines I really like --- “Food is love made visible. When you cook for someone, you’re telling them they matter.” --- “Kids need more than just security. They need to see their mom believing in herself.” --- “You need someone who sees your strength, not just your sunshine. Someone who doesn’t try to dim your light but isn’t blinded by it either.” --- "And if he turns out to be trouble, you’ve got a mother with excellent aim and a mean right hook.” --- “Not spicy. Just tasty. Like fish that went to flavor school and graduated with honors.” ---
What's Hazel up to? What's Jack up to?
What's Chad up to? These and other questions will all be answered.
I loved Amber and Brett's story and I'm sure you will too. I've loved everyone of her books that I've read and I can't wait to read her next book.
August 20, 2025
This book definitely captured me from page one. So well written with,strong mature characters. Cindy’s writing reminds me a lot of Debbie Macombers. This one has the small town vibe, and the characters have witty banter. Definitely a page turner!
Amber Bennett is a single mom of 3 and is 43 years old! She is in a panic right now because the health inspector just closed down the restaurant that she was working in! She needs to support her children and at 43 worries about where the next job may come from.
Brett Walker has a heart of gold but nobody would know it because he’s a gruff grumpy ex-military contractor. He’s trying to restore an old restaurant, but really has no idea what he’s doing.
So that makes Brett and Amber the perfect fit.
Thanks to Cindy for this ARC in return for my honest review.
Amber Bennett is a single mom of 3 and is 43 years old! She is in a panic right now because the health inspector just closed down the restaurant that she was working in! She needs to support her children and at 43 worries about where the next job may come from.
Brett Walker has a heart of gold but nobody would know it because he’s a gruff grumpy ex-military contractor. He’s trying to restore an old restaurant, but really has no idea what he’s doing.
So that makes Brett and Amber the perfect fit.
Thanks to Cindy for this ARC in return for my honest review.
August 13, 2025
A story that caught my attention from the beginning to the end. A divorced single mother of three kids, Amber, has the restaurant shut down because of health issues the current owner wouldn’t repair. She is approached by Brett Walker to partnership with him in fixing up and starting a new restaurant, she is hesitant but decides to go ahead with it. There are twists and turns that I didn’t expect, including an awful ex who can’t seem to let go. But there is fun with her kids that are so great, Brett and Amber have a spark they didn’t want to acknowledge. All around a fun story with some humor, sweet and swoony moments and quirky town people make this a fun, can’t put down story, I hope you enjoy it also.
August 7, 2025
When one door closes, another opens... or so we're told.
Single mom Amber hopes that's true as her job evaporates when the health inspector closes down the restaurant where she's employed. Meanwhile, Brett is beginning a renovation of a building that housed a restaurant years ago. Fate? Serendipity? Luck? He asks Amber if she would go into business with him as a partner in his restaurant restoration project. It's real, messy, full of challenges, combined with family, friends, and a collection of delicious recipes from Amber's grandmother.
The author keeps the story moving forward with all the ups and downs just like real life. Engaging and refreshing, it was an amazing story!
Single mom Amber hopes that's true as her job evaporates when the health inspector closes down the restaurant where she's employed. Meanwhile, Brett is beginning a renovation of a building that housed a restaurant years ago. Fate? Serendipity? Luck? He asks Amber if she would go into business with him as a partner in his restaurant restoration project. It's real, messy, full of challenges, combined with family, friends, and a collection of delicious recipes from Amber's grandmother.
The author keeps the story moving forward with all the ups and downs just like real life. Engaging and refreshing, it was an amazing story!
August 19, 2025
Cooking Up My Comeback by Cindy Ray Hale is a book to love. It has been a long time since I have read a book that was such fun. Even when Brett and Amber kept wobbling back and forth about their relationship, making me want to shake some sense into them, I still loved them. Intertwined with sweet romance, the story tackles close up the problem of small-town decline but does so while being warm, witty, and emotionally rich. With characters wanting to take a risk on love but also afraid that it would ruin the business side of their relationship it is the best beach read of the season. Part of the Twin Waves Sweet Romcom Series, Cooking Up My Comeback is a must read.
August 20, 2025
What an unputdownable book! Amber a divorced mother of 3 loses her manager job in a diner due to it being shutdown by the health department. Brett a customer is renovating his own restaurant & convinces her to be his partner. The two of them couldn’t have more different personalities,she has a sunny disposition & he’s grumpy & an Ex military! Could they really make a go of this & make it work! Possibly,with family,friends & a metal box full of Amber’s Grandmothers recipes,the odds are in their favor. This book has great characters & is full of hope for new beginnings for the two of them,in business as well as romance ♥️
August 21, 2025
Love!
“Then you figure out how to face it together. Love isn’t avoiding the storm, honey. It’s learning to dance in the rain.”
Cooking Up My Comeback By Cindy Ray Hale is a sweet kisses romance with a fair amount of midlife angst after a few bumpy years for both Amber and Brett. What I like about Brett is that he really tries to support Amber and her children without stepping on toes. I love that Amber is strong and independent, yet able to recognize when she needs a little help. My favorite characters are Amber’s children, I absolutely love their shenanigans! Great weekend read, with a HEA!
“Then you figure out how to face it together. Love isn’t avoiding the storm, honey. It’s learning to dance in the rain.”
Cooking Up My Comeback By Cindy Ray Hale is a sweet kisses romance with a fair amount of midlife angst after a few bumpy years for both Amber and Brett. What I like about Brett is that he really tries to support Amber and her children without stepping on toes. I love that Amber is strong and independent, yet able to recognize when she needs a little help. My favorite characters are Amber’s children, I absolutely love their shenanigans! Great weekend read, with a HEA!
August 22, 2025
Cooking Up My Comeback was one of the sweetest, easiest reads to dive into right before fall. Amber, a sunny single mom trying to rebuild after setbacks, and Brett, a grumpy but protective silver fox contractor, had such a fun slow-burn dynamic.
I loved the mix of small-town charm, family warmth, and sizzling chemistry. The forced proximity + business partners to lovers setup kept me hooked, while the found family element made it extra heartwarming.
If you love grumpy/sunshine romance, single mom heroines, protective heroes, and slow-burn swoons, this book is a perfect pick-me-up. Cozy, wholesome, and swoony—I couldn’t put it down.
I loved the mix of small-town charm, family warmth, and sizzling chemistry. The forced proximity + business partners to lovers setup kept me hooked, while the found family element made it extra heartwarming.
If you love grumpy/sunshine romance, single mom heroines, protective heroes, and slow-burn swoons, this book is a perfect pick-me-up. Cozy, wholesome, and swoony—I couldn’t put it down.
February 9, 2026
Such a beautiful story. A grumpy man who thought this woman was going to be the death of him. A mom trying to survive while trying to keep her kiddos alive. When the place where Amber works gets word they might get in trouble for having equipment that needs change she has to make a life decision that will keep her going and sustain her little ones and of course Brett has a plan for her. This story was wondeful, a grumpy man who doesn't show feelings, a woman whose feelins where always taken for granted, 2 humans who needed each other but it took a while for them figure it out. I loved it so much.
March 12, 2026
I received an ARC for Blooming up my Second Chance. So i decided to go and read the series from the beginning this is Cooking up My Comeback book 1 in the Twin Waves series.
This is Amber and Brett's story...
Amber is a single mom of 3 kids when the dinner she is working is shut down. She needs a new job fast.
Brett is a grumpy contractor when a starts renovations on a new restaurant he needs help.
They have always been friendly even before they were friends they are attracted to eachother but as they work together their feelings develop. They definitely fought it every step of the way. Definitely a roller-coaster. The kids were adorable definitely will keep reading.
This is Amber and Brett's story...
Amber is a single mom of 3 kids when the dinner she is working is shut down. She needs a new job fast.
Brett is a grumpy contractor when a starts renovations on a new restaurant he needs help.
They have always been friendly even before they were friends they are attracted to eachother but as they work together their feelings develop. They definitely fought it every step of the way. Definitely a roller-coaster. The kids were adorable definitely will keep reading.
August 8, 2025
Great characters that are made up of not only family but friends and community. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and even one where I wanted to cheer. Yet this story packs quite a punch with lessons that life can throw at you and only lends inspiration to the reader. The romance is not that of superficial attraction but the kind of love that is everlasting and built on a foundation. It felt real and enduring. From beginning to end this book is page- turning entertainment at it’s best!
August 20, 2025
This is great book that really shows that love isn't about grand gestures but about being there when someone needs you the most. A grumpy/sunshine romance (a great trope) that is heartwarming and filled with emotional moments, lovable characters, and food! As Amber and Brett's relationship grows from professional to more, you can't help but root for them to find the HEA that they both so richly deserve. Grandma Pearl's recipes are central to the story and symbolize the power of love, legacy, and healing.
August 24, 2025
Single mom Amber finds herself out of a job due to a restaurant owner who ignored the restaurant’s issues. Brett is a faithful customer who decides that she would be the perfect person to help him open a new restaurant. This is a feel-good sweet romance that will leave you laughing and cheering for the underdog. There were times that I really wished Brett had decked Chad and put him in his place! I loved that Brett immediately included Amber’s kids and treated them like family from the very beginning.
September 13, 2025
COOKING UP MY COMEBACK
Twin Waves Sweet Romcom Series Book 1
by Cindy Ray Hale
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely ADORED this read! Amber and Brett have chemistry with banter, but some things keep interrupting their budding relationship. They go through obstacles before realizing they can do this restaurant partnership and personal relationship together. I love Brett’s grumpy attitude with a secret soft side to him. Amber’s strong motherly love and excellent food making skills makes her a powerhouse in this story. Love, love, love this!
#ARCreview #emotional #romance #workplacelove
Twin Waves Sweet Romcom Series Book 1
by Cindy Ray Hale
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely ADORED this read! Amber and Brett have chemistry with banter, but some things keep interrupting their budding relationship. They go through obstacles before realizing they can do this restaurant partnership and personal relationship together. I love Brett’s grumpy attitude with a secret soft side to him. Amber’s strong motherly love and excellent food making skills makes her a powerhouse in this story. Love, love, love this!
#ARCreview #emotional #romance #workplacelove
August 10, 2025
What a come back! Main characters,where opposites attract and rub each other the wrong way. Tally, Crew, and Mason, 3 kids who aren’t afraid to speak truth, a circle of loyal friends, and a small town that includes Grandma Hensley (we all need one). What more do you need? A found box of grandma’s recipes inspires hope and reminds Amber she used to know how to cook food that tastes like hugs. But does she remember how now?I fell in love with the story and every character.
August 16, 2025
This was such a great read. It wasn't splash with extreme highs and lows. It was like being on a float going down the lazy river on a beautiful summer day. It was just an awesome book to read full of real-life trials, insecurities, overcoming obstacles, laughing through the chaos, and finding the strength to love. Brett and Amber were the epitome of opposites, but they complimented each other in the best ways. Together, they made this book a journey that was a joy to experience.
August 19, 2025
I love Brett and Amber's story. I love Brett and his his attitude of trying to not care. The characters in this book are great. The author does a great job creating these characters that I wanted to beat up Amber's ex-husband. I was so frustrated with him!! I love Amber's children- what sweet children and Amber does since a great job with them! I love the book so much that I just wanted to sit down and finish the book.
Highly recommend this book and any book by Cindy Ray Hale.
Highly recommend this book and any book by Cindy Ray Hale.
August 20, 2025
My favorite book from Ms. Hale so far! The way it was written I really got to know the characters and feel a connection with them. The sweet moments of high chemistry were wonderful! The way the worked together in the story to build a business and try to navigate feelings was awesome. Some of my favorite tropes as well- later in life, single parent, grumpy/sunshine, slow burn. Excellent book!
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