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The Windmill Café #1-3
The Windmill Café
Escaping the bustle and heartbreak of her old life in the city, Rosie Barnes can’t believe that her dream of setting up a café has come true. Whether it’s her chilled homemade lemonade, sticky chocolate brownies or warming mince pies, Rosie’s café draws guests in from far and wide, and the folk of Willerby can enjoy it come rain or shine.
But some mysterious events soon threaten the picturesque town she now calls home, and with the help of ruggedly handsome local Matt Wilson, she must find out what’s going on before the reputation of the town – and her beloved café – are ruined.
From the scorching summer sun through to the crisp winter frosts, Rosie is in for a year she’ll never forget…
But some mysterious events soon threaten the picturesque town she now calls home, and with the help of ruggedly handsome local Matt Wilson, she must find out what’s going on before the reputation of the town – and her beloved café – are ruined.
From the scorching summer sun through to the crisp winter frosts, Rosie is in for a year she’ll never forget…
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 30, 2019
The Windmill Cafe is the combined book of the first three books of this series, Summer Breeze, Autumn Leavea and Christmas Trees, and I must say that I thought they got better and better as the series progressed.
I didn't predict the outcome of any of the three cosy mysteries, but it was the one in Christmas Trees that shocked met he most and had me utterly hooked while I tried to work out who the culprit was before the police and our amateur detectives Rosie and Matt.
I have to admit to having a ridiculous strong feeling of deja vu throughout reading Summer Breeze, it may just be because of the nature of the crime, but I had the strangest feeling I had read the book somewhere before and that feeling didn't leave me until I started on book 2 - Autumn Leaves.
I've never had that sensation for so long ever while reading, and its still bugging me that I can't put my finger on it, but I'm going to put it down to Poppy Blake having such lovely and familiar writing style, that just drew me in, that I felt instantly at home with the book.
I loved getting to know Rosie, Mia, Matt and Freddie our four main characters, and the stars of The Windmill Cafe and the outdoor adventure centre in Willerby. Willerby sounded like a lovely place to live, and I enjoyed getting to know it, even if it is a town that seems to attract mysteries!!
All of the mysteries had really original ideas for the nature of how someone got hurt, ones that I have only rarely come across if ever before. And the seasonal elements of each book were fabulous. I especially loved the Christmas Tree decorating competition, such inventive designs.
I really enjoyed my stay at the Windmill Cafe, and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I didn't predict the outcome of any of the three cosy mysteries, but it was the one in Christmas Trees that shocked met he most and had me utterly hooked while I tried to work out who the culprit was before the police and our amateur detectives Rosie and Matt.
I have to admit to having a ridiculous strong feeling of deja vu throughout reading Summer Breeze, it may just be because of the nature of the crime, but I had the strangest feeling I had read the book somewhere before and that feeling didn't leave me until I started on book 2 - Autumn Leaves.
I've never had that sensation for so long ever while reading, and its still bugging me that I can't put my finger on it, but I'm going to put it down to Poppy Blake having such lovely and familiar writing style, that just drew me in, that I felt instantly at home with the book.
I loved getting to know Rosie, Mia, Matt and Freddie our four main characters, and the stars of The Windmill Cafe and the outdoor adventure centre in Willerby. Willerby sounded like a lovely place to live, and I enjoyed getting to know it, even if it is a town that seems to attract mysteries!!
All of the mysteries had really original ideas for the nature of how someone got hurt, ones that I have only rarely come across if ever before. And the seasonal elements of each book were fabulous. I especially loved the Christmas Tree decorating competition, such inventive designs.
I really enjoyed my stay at the Windmill Cafe, and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
January 19, 2019
This is an omnibus containing all three of the Windmill Café books published (so far), and I would not recommend reading them one after another since this is getting quite boring. It's always very near the beginning that some 'accident' happens involving one of the guests, and then Rosie, working at the Windmill Café, and Matt, owner of an outdoor activity center, team up to solve the case faster than the police. Their only means of doing that is by interviewing everyone from the circle of friends of the victim. Really, there is nothing else going on other than questioning all these people, sometimes combined with a bit of cooking and baking in the café. Only in the last part, "Christmas Trees", some additonal action is taking place.
I didn't know before that these books are rather cosy mysteries than chick-lit, but I wouldn't have minded that if the author had done a good job of it. But solving a case only by talking to different people does get boring after a while, especially if those people have not much to tell other than "oh, i hated him because of..., but I swear I didn't do it". I mean, Lilly Rush and her team are basically only interviewing people as well to solve their "Cold Cases" in the TV show, but at least there is always something interesting happening in the flashbacks. Not so in this book.
Furthermore, Rosie and Matt are crossing people off their list of suspects not because they found some evidence that prove that they are innocent. But only because of their "gut instincts" and so they are finally left with the person with the 'biggest motive'.
The absence of real clues and evidence also makes it impossible for the reader to make his own guessings about the culprit, which would have been at least one reason to keep reading this book. But as it is I nearly put it away with a 'did-not-finish' label, because only reading about how Rosie and Matt get on with their cases don't generate any interest.
The little love-story between Rosie and Matt is also taking place so agonizingly slow, that it would not have mattered if if weren't there at all and I surely didn't keep my fingers crossed for them - I simply didn't care.
I didn't know before that these books are rather cosy mysteries than chick-lit, but I wouldn't have minded that if the author had done a good job of it. But solving a case only by talking to different people does get boring after a while, especially if those people have not much to tell other than "oh, i hated him because of..., but I swear I didn't do it". I mean, Lilly Rush and her team are basically only interviewing people as well to solve their "Cold Cases" in the TV show, but at least there is always something interesting happening in the flashbacks. Not so in this book.
Furthermore, Rosie and Matt are crossing people off their list of suspects not because they found some evidence that prove that they are innocent. But only because of their "gut instincts" and so they are finally left with the person with the 'biggest motive'.
The absence of real clues and evidence also makes it impossible for the reader to make his own guessings about the culprit, which would have been at least one reason to keep reading this book. But as it is I nearly put it away with a 'did-not-finish' label, because only reading about how Rosie and Matt get on with their cases don't generate any interest.
The little love-story between Rosie and Matt is also taking place so agonizingly slow, that it would not have mattered if if weren't there at all and I surely didn't keep my fingers crossed for them - I simply didn't care.
July 11, 2022
I’ve read this book but as the three part ebook series rather than this full length novel, which is why this hasn’t been included or added towards my 2021 reading challenge as the individual three ebooks have been added to it already.
To see my review for this book, then please visit the individual books on here which are as follows:
Windmill Cafe
1. Summer Breeze (2018)
2. Autumn Leaves (2018)
3. Christmas Trees (2018)
The Windmill Cafe (2018)
To see my review for this book, then please visit the individual books on here which are as follows:
Windmill Cafe
1. Summer Breeze (2018)
2. Autumn Leaves (2018)
3. Christmas Trees (2018)
The Windmill Cafe (2018)
January 10, 2019
I have previously reviewed this series in it's component parts and I stand-by and reaffirm my previous reviews!
A lovely, fun, season spanning series :c)
A lovely, fun, season spanning series :c)
February 4, 2019
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Summer Breeze
The Windmill Café is an omnibus containing three novels all set in the same location. In the first story, Rosie Barnes has fled to the small town of Willerby to attend a garden party. This should be a great distraction to Rosie as she has experienced a bad breakup. Having caught her fiancé in the act of cheating was horrible for Rosie. Things are still not pleasant for Rosie, however, as an apparent accident occurs to one of the guests. Was it an accident that occurred, or was it actually a poisoning? How could it have happened? Now working at the Café, Rosie decides to team up with a town local, Matt, to solve the case.
The police appear to be dragging their feet. Suki, a singer at the lodge, is the woman that was poisoned. A lot of questions arise and Rosie won’t rule out any possibility as to the cause. Is the town safe? Better yet, what of the Café? This is Rosie’s chance for a new life. Yes, she must get to the bottom of things.
In this entry into the series, Rosie and Matt begin interviewing everyone that could possibly have been responsible for poisoning Suzi. all the while a gentle romance blooms between Rosie and Matt.
As I read the second book in this series six months ago, I looked forward to reading the series in order. I found the dialogue to be rather droll, but I am glad to have given this series a try.
Autumn Leaves - *Published individually on June 26, 2018.
In this second book in the series, Rosie is still quite busy at the Windmill Café, but wonders if she wants more. Presently, she agrees to help her good friend Matt Wilson on one of his outdoor expeditions. After a drudging hike and a night's sleep, the first morning brings on worries. As leader of the expedition, Matt has an early morning pre-sunrise hike planned, but he and the rest of the group oversleep. Two things are quickly realized. They must've have been poisoned, causing them all to oversleep, and one of their party is missing, and is discovered after having been shot with an arrow, and it was no accident.
Meanwhile, although having suffered recent heartbreak at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, Rosie now finds herself quite drawn to Matt, and he seems to feel the same. Over the summer, there was a poisoning at the café, and Matt and Rosie teamed up to solve it, and it appears they plan on doing the same again this time, a crime-solving duo.
This is a cute story with a budding, sweet romance. Having not read the first in the series, I still felt connected enough with the story and the characters. This was a very quick read with a great little mystery. I was surprised at the ending, which means to get the complete story, the third book in the series must be read when it is released.
Christmas Trees
When Rosie’s ex Harry turns up she is nonplussed. Why is he in Willerby? She has gotten her life back together and she’d much rather prepare for the Christmas celebration about to take place at the Windmill Café. Plans have been underway for months. There will be a Christmas tree competition and Rosie wants everything to run perfectly. Rosie hardly has time to think of the sudden business proposition that Harry makes. Not only does she have her current job to consider, there is Matt, the man she met and has worked with while at the café.
Rosie gets even more distracted by a change in events. There is a cycle race about to take place, and one of the town’s members, Theo, is injured. Another accident? Of course, Rosie doesn’t believe that, so she starts her own investigation.
This was a nice addition to the series. As in the previous two books, the mysteries are rather light, as is the romance. So, the crime, Christmas and the planned wedding of two people named Josh and Grace all tie in together to make an engaging story. This really was a nice conclusion and I am glad that I got to read the entire series in order.
Many thanks to Harper Impulse and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Please see all of my reviews on my blog at www.robinlovesreading.com.
Summer Breeze
The Windmill Café is an omnibus containing three novels all set in the same location. In the first story, Rosie Barnes has fled to the small town of Willerby to attend a garden party. This should be a great distraction to Rosie as she has experienced a bad breakup. Having caught her fiancé in the act of cheating was horrible for Rosie. Things are still not pleasant for Rosie, however, as an apparent accident occurs to one of the guests. Was it an accident that occurred, or was it actually a poisoning? How could it have happened? Now working at the Café, Rosie decides to team up with a town local, Matt, to solve the case.
The police appear to be dragging their feet. Suki, a singer at the lodge, is the woman that was poisoned. A lot of questions arise and Rosie won’t rule out any possibility as to the cause. Is the town safe? Better yet, what of the Café? This is Rosie’s chance for a new life. Yes, she must get to the bottom of things.
In this entry into the series, Rosie and Matt begin interviewing everyone that could possibly have been responsible for poisoning Suzi. all the while a gentle romance blooms between Rosie and Matt.
As I read the second book in this series six months ago, I looked forward to reading the series in order. I found the dialogue to be rather droll, but I am glad to have given this series a try.
Autumn Leaves - *Published individually on June 26, 2018.
In this second book in the series, Rosie is still quite busy at the Windmill Café, but wonders if she wants more. Presently, she agrees to help her good friend Matt Wilson on one of his outdoor expeditions. After a drudging hike and a night's sleep, the first morning brings on worries. As leader of the expedition, Matt has an early morning pre-sunrise hike planned, but he and the rest of the group oversleep. Two things are quickly realized. They must've have been poisoned, causing them all to oversleep, and one of their party is missing, and is discovered after having been shot with an arrow, and it was no accident.
Meanwhile, although having suffered recent heartbreak at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, Rosie now finds herself quite drawn to Matt, and he seems to feel the same. Over the summer, there was a poisoning at the café, and Matt and Rosie teamed up to solve it, and it appears they plan on doing the same again this time, a crime-solving duo.
This is a cute story with a budding, sweet romance. Having not read the first in the series, I still felt connected enough with the story and the characters. This was a very quick read with a great little mystery. I was surprised at the ending, which means to get the complete story, the third book in the series must be read when it is released.
Christmas Trees
When Rosie’s ex Harry turns up she is nonplussed. Why is he in Willerby? She has gotten her life back together and she’d much rather prepare for the Christmas celebration about to take place at the Windmill Café. Plans have been underway for months. There will be a Christmas tree competition and Rosie wants everything to run perfectly. Rosie hardly has time to think of the sudden business proposition that Harry makes. Not only does she have her current job to consider, there is Matt, the man she met and has worked with while at the café.
Rosie gets even more distracted by a change in events. There is a cycle race about to take place, and one of the town’s members, Theo, is injured. Another accident? Of course, Rosie doesn’t believe that, so she starts her own investigation.
This was a nice addition to the series. As in the previous two books, the mysteries are rather light, as is the romance. So, the crime, Christmas and the planned wedding of two people named Josh and Grace all tie in together to make an engaging story. This really was a nice conclusion and I am glad that I got to read the entire series in order.
Many thanks to Harper Impulse and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Please see all of my reviews on my blog at www.robinlovesreading.com.
December 26, 2018
**I received a free copy at my own request from NetGalley. The following thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced.
The Windmill Café is a three-part book, based in different seasons, each containing different mysteries that the protagonist, Rosie, and her friends work to solve in the small village of Willerby. First, let me say that the cover is beautiful and I love the idea of a windmill café. If I wasn’t so averse to customer service, I would love to own a little café. Picking up this book would have allowed me to live vicariously through the main character as she works to find herself after leaving London for Willerby. Working with her friends to solve the local mysteries, I expected the main character to build up her self-confidence and end on a cozy note. In some ways, I think the author accomplished that. However, I felt like I was dragging myself along after only 5% of the book and could only read a couple pages (on my phone) before checking the percentage bar.
I am disappointed that the beautiful windmill on the front cover didn’t give way to a story that swept me away. From the beginning, I didn’t care for the writing style. I’m sure this won’t bother all readers but it felt like the author was working to show off her extensive vocabulary like children after they’ve just entered a new section in their vocab lessons. Sprinkling in words that aren’t used in day to day conversation is fine, but this was a constant presence throughout the novel and it completely threw off the flow. The conversations feel stilted and unrealistic leaving the characters in a two-dimensional state and ultimately unlikeable. I ended up distracted, looking up word definitions and usages as the use seemed wrong or had a conversational alternative that conveys the same meaning like using indecision or wavering instead of vacillation. Before long I felt like I was reading and editing a high school English assignment when I started reading descriptions like “Butterflies were having a disco in her stomach…” or sentences like “However, this was real life – yet, weren’t the principles the same?” Even so, I think I may have suffered through my opinions on advanced vocabulary and weird idiom combinations if it weren’t for Rosie.
I found Rosie, our main character, insufferable. As I review my Kindle notes, I wrote at one point during a conversation she has with Matt, her love interest, “it’s one thing to be polite and proper but Rosie has the personality of flour and is a ninny.” My notes get increasingly more irritated as the book carries on and it almost always stems from Rosie. The mysteries felt lukewarm and while I didn’t necessarily guess the perpetrator, I also didn’t care if they were caught.
As I go to post this review, I see that a lot of people enjoyed this book and I am relieved. I don’t relish giving poor reviews and I encourage the author to keep going because there is clearly an audience for their work. I just won’t be a member of that audience.
The Windmill Café is a three-part book, based in different seasons, each containing different mysteries that the protagonist, Rosie, and her friends work to solve in the small village of Willerby. First, let me say that the cover is beautiful and I love the idea of a windmill café. If I wasn’t so averse to customer service, I would love to own a little café. Picking up this book would have allowed me to live vicariously through the main character as she works to find herself after leaving London for Willerby. Working with her friends to solve the local mysteries, I expected the main character to build up her self-confidence and end on a cozy note. In some ways, I think the author accomplished that. However, I felt like I was dragging myself along after only 5% of the book and could only read a couple pages (on my phone) before checking the percentage bar.
I am disappointed that the beautiful windmill on the front cover didn’t give way to a story that swept me away. From the beginning, I didn’t care for the writing style. I’m sure this won’t bother all readers but it felt like the author was working to show off her extensive vocabulary like children after they’ve just entered a new section in their vocab lessons. Sprinkling in words that aren’t used in day to day conversation is fine, but this was a constant presence throughout the novel and it completely threw off the flow. The conversations feel stilted and unrealistic leaving the characters in a two-dimensional state and ultimately unlikeable. I ended up distracted, looking up word definitions and usages as the use seemed wrong or had a conversational alternative that conveys the same meaning like using indecision or wavering instead of vacillation. Before long I felt like I was reading and editing a high school English assignment when I started reading descriptions like “Butterflies were having a disco in her stomach…” or sentences like “However, this was real life – yet, weren’t the principles the same?” Even so, I think I may have suffered through my opinions on advanced vocabulary and weird idiom combinations if it weren’t for Rosie.
I found Rosie, our main character, insufferable. As I review my Kindle notes, I wrote at one point during a conversation she has with Matt, her love interest, “it’s one thing to be polite and proper but Rosie has the personality of flour and is a ninny.” My notes get increasingly more irritated as the book carries on and it almost always stems from Rosie. The mysteries felt lukewarm and while I didn’t necessarily guess the perpetrator, I also didn’t care if they were caught.
As I go to post this review, I see that a lot of people enjoyed this book and I am relieved. I don’t relish giving poor reviews and I encourage the author to keep going because there is clearly an audience for their work. I just won’t be a member of that audience.
October 10, 2018
I received this book as an advanced review copy from Netgalley and HarperImpulse. Thank you for introducing me to a new British author--I'm sure I'll be purchasing some of her other titles!
It's been a long time since I've read a mystery story -- probably back in grade school! I tend to stick with historical stories, romance and biographies. But the cover of this book--with its quaint Windmill Cafe--drew me in, as did the description about a festive Christmas wedding and celebration in a picturesque small English town located near the North Sea.
Rosie fled to this town after discovering that her fiancee had cheated on her. She wanted to get away from London and the hustle bustle of crazy urban life to reassess and re-evaluate her life, so she took a part-time job as a manager of a cafe housed in a windmill.
Her cafe is hosting a Christmas tree decorating party. In addition, the town is getting ready for the wedding of the year -- the wedding of Grace and Josh. Grace is the daughter of the pastor of the town's church--St. Andrew's Parish. Grace and Josh's friends have arrived from out of town to participate in a variety of pre-wedding events, including a bike race. During the bike race, one of the wedding guests--Theo--rides into a wire trap and is severely injured. It appears that the wire trap was set on purpose, so Rosie and Matt--the owner of the nearby outdoor adventure park--play amateur sleuths to try and figure out who would have the motive to injure Theo about the wedding guests. Turns out Theo has a lot of enemies!
Rosie is also busy organizing the town's Christmas tree decorating contest. I loved reading about the clever themed Christmas trees that the town's residents created for the contest!
As Matt and Rosie search for clues, their attraction to each other builds. The romance isn't the central theme of the book, but it adds a nice little touch to the story.
Even though I'm not usually a fan of "WhoDunnits," I enjoyed reading this book. The author, Poppy Blake, did a wonderful job of describing the small English town. I'm not sure if the book's location--Willerby--is real. (I don't know a lot about British geography). I'll be doing some online research to find out, because it sounds like a wonderful place to visit!
This is the third book in a series of books set in The Windmill Cafe. The other two books, which I'll be checking out, are "The Windmill Cafe: Summer Breeze," "The Windmill Cafe: Autumn Leaves."
I recommend the book--it's a great read for a cold, rainy fall day, when we're starting to yearn for the colors and festivities of the Christmas season!
It's been a long time since I've read a mystery story -- probably back in grade school! I tend to stick with historical stories, romance and biographies. But the cover of this book--with its quaint Windmill Cafe--drew me in, as did the description about a festive Christmas wedding and celebration in a picturesque small English town located near the North Sea.
Rosie fled to this town after discovering that her fiancee had cheated on her. She wanted to get away from London and the hustle bustle of crazy urban life to reassess and re-evaluate her life, so she took a part-time job as a manager of a cafe housed in a windmill.
Her cafe is hosting a Christmas tree decorating party. In addition, the town is getting ready for the wedding of the year -- the wedding of Grace and Josh. Grace is the daughter of the pastor of the town's church--St. Andrew's Parish. Grace and Josh's friends have arrived from out of town to participate in a variety of pre-wedding events, including a bike race. During the bike race, one of the wedding guests--Theo--rides into a wire trap and is severely injured. It appears that the wire trap was set on purpose, so Rosie and Matt--the owner of the nearby outdoor adventure park--play amateur sleuths to try and figure out who would have the motive to injure Theo about the wedding guests. Turns out Theo has a lot of enemies!
Rosie is also busy organizing the town's Christmas tree decorating contest. I loved reading about the clever themed Christmas trees that the town's residents created for the contest!
As Matt and Rosie search for clues, their attraction to each other builds. The romance isn't the central theme of the book, but it adds a nice little touch to the story.
Even though I'm not usually a fan of "WhoDunnits," I enjoyed reading this book. The author, Poppy Blake, did a wonderful job of describing the small English town. I'm not sure if the book's location--Willerby--is real. (I don't know a lot about British geography). I'll be doing some online research to find out, because it sounds like a wonderful place to visit!
This is the third book in a series of books set in The Windmill Cafe. The other two books, which I'll be checking out, are "The Windmill Cafe: Summer Breeze," "The Windmill Cafe: Autumn Leaves."
I recommend the book--it's a great read for a cold, rainy fall day, when we're starting to yearn for the colors and festivities of the Christmas season!
August 24, 2018
I have made a bit of a error on choosing this book only because I haven't read the first two books in the series therefore I don't think I was able to enjoy it as much as those who have done so. The characters in the book are delightful and references a lot to events that occurred in the first two stories. There was a lot going on and I found it hard to engage with it, which was down to me entirely and no reflection on the book itself..
I'd imagine those who have read the first two would have enjoyed the ending to the series.
I received a ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
I'd imagine those who have read the first two would have enjoyed the ending to the series.
I received a ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
June 6, 2018
This book was a ok read. I found the constant introspectiveness of the characters to be slow and boring. The mystery is nice, although I didn't like the reveal of the bad guy that much. The writing is a blend of british and american words and phrasing which can be a bit confusing in places. The character development is great. The description of the area and scenery is very nice.
January 12, 2019
This was a really well told story - or rather a collection of them - I really liked the characters and the mysteries. The setting was intricate and descriptive. And overall I found it to be a very good read!
I was sent this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was sent this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2018
Fair book, but 2nd part of a series. A lot of spots where the first book would have helped.
August 13, 2018
An enjoyable, whodunit wrapped in a chicklit style. I guess reading the first book would be ideal, but it was manageable without having done so.
I like the fact the book has a surprising ending.
I like the fact the book has a surprising ending.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews