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Love at the Salted Caramel Cafe
Sierra Blake has returned home to Mill Hollows, Virginia. She's lost her job as a hotel marketing executive. She knew getting romantically involved with the son of the franchise owner was a bad idea. Turning down his marriage proposal left Sierra updating her resume and needing a change of scenery.
Returning to the small football-loving town located in view of the Blue Ridge Parkway is definitely a change of scenery from the sultry heat and water sport enthusiast city of Tampa Bay.
Wes Carter is new to Mill Hollows and stirring up more than sediment and rocks for geology sampling upon meeting the beautiful Sierra Blake at the Salted Caramel Caf'.
Fall in Virginia isn't the only chill in the air. The last time Sierra saw her younger sibling, Roxie, the two didn't exactly leave each other on the best of terms. Then again, they've butted heads since they were teenagers. Sierra and Roxie need each other more than either will admit.
More than sweet treats and that perfect salted caramel latte are abound in this sweet romance that will leave you craving romance and sweater weather .
Returning to the small football-loving town located in view of the Blue Ridge Parkway is definitely a change of scenery from the sultry heat and water sport enthusiast city of Tampa Bay.
Wes Carter is new to Mill Hollows and stirring up more than sediment and rocks for geology sampling upon meeting the beautiful Sierra Blake at the Salted Caramel Caf'.
Fall in Virginia isn't the only chill in the air. The last time Sierra saw her younger sibling, Roxie, the two didn't exactly leave each other on the best of terms. Then again, they've butted heads since they were teenagers. Sierra and Roxie need each other more than either will admit.
More than sweet treats and that perfect salted caramel latte are abound in this sweet romance that will leave you craving romance and sweater weather .
183 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2018
87 people are currently reading
1088 people want to read
About the author
Angie Ellington
16 books171 followersHi there! I'm Angie Ellington & I write contemporary women's fiction...a mashup of sweet romance with humor, heart, family, friendship, and love...it's all in the mixed recipe of my characters & their stories. One of my first books, Autumn at Apple Hill, was adapted into a Hallmark Channel movie in 2024 under the same name starring Erin Cahill & Wes Brown. :)
*Christmas in Fair Bend (2017) (Repubbed in 2022 as Christmas in Frost Bend)
*Autumn at Apple Hill (2017)
*Spring in Lilac Glen(2018)
*Love at the Salted Caramel Cafe' (2018)
Carlisle Bay Series
*Dancing by the Moonlight (2018)
*Dancing by the Christmas Lights (2019)
*Christmas at Mistletoe Ridge (2020)
Sweethearts of Valentine Series
*Be Mine in Valentine (2022)
*Christmas in Fair Bend (2017) (Repubbed in 2022 as Christmas in Frost Bend)
*Autumn at Apple Hill (2017)
*Spring in Lilac Glen(2018)
*Love at the Salted Caramel Cafe' (2018)
Carlisle Bay Series
*Dancing by the Moonlight (2018)
*Dancing by the Christmas Lights (2019)
*Christmas at Mistletoe Ridge (2020)
Sweethearts of Valentine Series
*Be Mine in Valentine (2022)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
April 12, 2020
A cute fall read about a girl returning to her hometown, reconnecting with her family, and falling in love. Delicious sounding descriptions of food and desserts at The Salted Caramel Cafe included.
The adorableness of the book cover and title aside, my expectations weren't fully met by this book. The potential of this book was evident from the start - it had all of the variables to become an instant favorite. Bad breakup, hometown return, swoony hero, family drama. However, every issue was addressed merely on a surface level.
The romance felt like an instalove, based more on attraction with minimal conversation; the family drama seemed like it wasn't fully realized - although this arc was one of my favorite things about the story, it felt like the conflict was jumped over instead of worked through. I also didn't connect with the narrative style of this story, which featured more "telling" than "showing." I just wish it was more balanced with the action and dialogue.
Also, I wasn't a fan of how the POV could switch at a moment's notice to another character. Although the reader primarily follows the main character's, Sierra's, thoughts and feelings, it was jarring for it to change at random to someone else and while you're still trying to adjust mentally to the character switch, it changes back.
Despite my criticisms, the story is still likable and cute. I just wish I connected with it more.
The adorableness of the book cover and title aside, my expectations weren't fully met by this book. The potential of this book was evident from the start - it had all of the variables to become an instant favorite. Bad breakup, hometown return, swoony hero, family drama. However, every issue was addressed merely on a surface level.
The romance felt like an instalove, based more on attraction with minimal conversation; the family drama seemed like it wasn't fully realized - although this arc was one of my favorite things about the story, it felt like the conflict was jumped over instead of worked through. I also didn't connect with the narrative style of this story, which featured more "telling" than "showing." I just wish it was more balanced with the action and dialogue.
Also, I wasn't a fan of how the POV could switch at a moment's notice to another character. Although the reader primarily follows the main character's, Sierra's, thoughts and feelings, it was jarring for it to change at random to someone else and while you're still trying to adjust mentally to the character switch, it changes back.
Despite my criticisms, the story is still likable and cute. I just wish I connected with it more.
November 12, 2021
I generally love a good, cheesy romance. This wasn't it for me. I agree with many of the other reviews. The romance was instalove rather than a real relationship. The family conflict was skimmed over rather than addressed. There was no depth to any of the characters. The edition I read needs some major editing. I could appreciate this as a first draft, but it needs some work first.
September 26, 2018
What a great fall love story. I loved everything from the characters, to the story line and of course, the ending was breathtaking.
I would love to "meet" these characters again in another story by Angie.
There was just enough heart ache, growing and love to really make you want to read the story from beginning to end as quickly as possible.
I would love to "meet" these characters again in another story by Angie.
There was just enough heart ache, growing and love to really make you want to read the story from beginning to end as quickly as possible.
Want to read
January 22, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/22/2020)! 🎁
October 17, 2022
Such a fun quick read to put you in the seasonal spirit!🍁🍂🎃🧡🤎😊
The perfect length to read over coffee while swinging in the backyard taking in the fall air.
The perfect length to read over coffee while swinging in the backyard taking in the fall air.
October 8, 2023
Vibe: 🏈🧁🍂🐈🎗️
Spice: 0/5
Rating: ⭐️✨/5
I really wanted to like this, the premise is a really cute story, but I was very close to DNF for almost the entire book.
The dialogue between characters is a bit much, it doesn’t sound like actual sentences a person would speak whatsoever.
The random POV switches with no notice were kind of hard to get past. I didn’t even realize it happened half the time until I was a paragraph in to the new POV.
The story has so much potential, but with the writing/dialogue style it was very hard to get in to. It had a very teen wattpad feeling to it.
Spice: 0/5
Rating: ⭐️✨/5
I really wanted to like this, the premise is a really cute story, but I was very close to DNF for almost the entire book.
The dialogue between characters is a bit much, it doesn’t sound like actual sentences a person would speak whatsoever.
The random POV switches with no notice were kind of hard to get past. I didn’t even realize it happened half the time until I was a paragraph in to the new POV.
The story has so much potential, but with the writing/dialogue style it was very hard to get in to. It had a very teen wattpad feeling to it.
September 10, 2020
I loved this cozy fall read. It’s one of my favorites by this author. Sierra returns to her hometown to start over. The descriptions of everything are mouthwatering. It’s a must read.
September 30, 2018
Ellington takes the flaws of being human and puts a positive spin on them. She proves if you lead with your heart, the rest will just fall into place. Love at The Salted Caramel Cafe is a tale of love. It doesn't limit itself to the romantic, but focuses on the rebuilding of familial bonds as well. When it comes to heartache Ellington provides a front row seat to the drama and an inspiring glimpse of how the healing unfolds. With an open heart, a box of tissues and an abundance of wisdom Caramel Cafe will leave it's mark on the heart.
March 24, 2020
Love at the Salted Caramel Cafe
Life sure can throw you through a few hoops and this happens when Sierra returns home to start over. I enjoyed watching these two meet ad grow into a friendship and then so much more. A quick, clean listen with nice narration.
Life sure can throw you through a few hoops and this happens when Sierra returns home to start over. I enjoyed watching these two meet ad grow into a friendship and then so much more. A quick, clean listen with nice narration.
May 10, 2019
Fall romance great for a couple hours escape. The story moved along quickly. It is a clean romance, I might term it a cozy romance. I recommend it for some relaxation reading.
October 8, 2022
This was a wonderful novella about sisterly bonds and love.
September 26, 2023
This book was terrible, even for a literary version of a Hallmark movie. Cheesy plot and dialogue with terrible grammar.
October 17, 2023
Okay, so here's the thing--I've been trying desperately to get into fall-themed romance books, and luckily, many are free on Kindle Unlimited right now. The issue I'm finding is that many of those books are things I wouldn't typically pick up, and for a number of reasons. This is probably one of those, but I pushed through.
Basically we have Sierra, who decides to move home after a disastrous proposal that led to her losing her job in Florida. Now she's back in the mountains with her family, and looking to mend a relationship with her sister.... And maybe possibly fall in love?
Unfortunately, this one fell a bit flat for me, though I did see what the author was going for. Since this is a short books, I'll just give the positives and negatives.
The Good:
- A cozy cafe
- Mountain town vibes
- A few geology puns that were cute
- Epilogue was nice
- No unnecessary smut that I've come to associate with KU romances
The Bad:
- Inconsistencies in the story (at one point, the dad says he's sorry they never visited Sierra in Florida, then a few chapters later the mom recounts visiting her in Florida)
- A weird shift between first and third person in a lot of chapters that kind of disrupted the flow of the story
- Info-dump quotes. This was probably my biggest issue, honestly. If the author broke these up more, I would've enjoyed the story a lot more. But there were quotes that were full of random thoughts/run-on sentences, and would have worked better if they were broken up with dialogue from another person. Or if the characters thought things instead of saying them. (Example 1: "I loved the cafe. It was my escape from the awkwardness that was my life back then. Having braces for what felt like a decade, being in the band playing the flute, and preferring to spend Saturday nights baking with mom rather than hanging out at the old mill with most everyone else from high school." - Sierra said this all TO HER FATHER. I get it was meant to provide insight into her background, but no one talks to their parents like this, especially not when it comes to shared life experiences. Example 2: "I'm not sure, Dad. I'm kind of summered out these days. The appeal changes when you live in a tropical city for several years. You start to miss the seasons. I know I'm loving the weather since my arrival. I usually make it home for Christmas and in the summer. I've made more trips home while Mom was sick, but my only focus was on her during those visits. I finally feel like I can breathe and not be on a schedule. I'm not sure how long I'm staying, but I'm going to enjoy every moment while I am here." Again, WHY RECOUNT ALL THESE SHARED EXPERIENCES TO YOUR FATHER AND IN FRONT OF SOME RANDOM STRANGER??)
- The constant mention of Virginia Tech playing a "top rival." Please just name a school. I'm begging.
- Some weird child dialogue.... ("Bwownie," "Spwinkles.") No thank you.
All of that being said, this was cute and cozy. I think with some workshopping on the quotes, I would've enjoyed this a bit more. I like the family dynamic, I liked the setting, and the story was just fun and fluffy. I would give this author another shot once she develops her writing, because I can see the vision.
1.5ish stars
Basically we have Sierra, who decides to move home after a disastrous proposal that led to her losing her job in Florida. Now she's back in the mountains with her family, and looking to mend a relationship with her sister.... And maybe possibly fall in love?
Unfortunately, this one fell a bit flat for me, though I did see what the author was going for. Since this is a short books, I'll just give the positives and negatives.
The Good:
- A cozy cafe
- Mountain town vibes
- A few geology puns that were cute
- Epilogue was nice
- No unnecessary smut that I've come to associate with KU romances
The Bad:
- Inconsistencies in the story (at one point, the dad says he's sorry they never visited Sierra in Florida, then a few chapters later the mom recounts visiting her in Florida)
- A weird shift between first and third person in a lot of chapters that kind of disrupted the flow of the story
- Info-dump quotes. This was probably my biggest issue, honestly. If the author broke these up more, I would've enjoyed the story a lot more. But there were quotes that were full of random thoughts/run-on sentences, and would have worked better if they were broken up with dialogue from another person. Or if the characters thought things instead of saying them. (Example 1: "I loved the cafe. It was my escape from the awkwardness that was my life back then. Having braces for what felt like a decade, being in the band playing the flute, and preferring to spend Saturday nights baking with mom rather than hanging out at the old mill with most everyone else from high school." - Sierra said this all TO HER FATHER. I get it was meant to provide insight into her background, but no one talks to their parents like this, especially not when it comes to shared life experiences. Example 2: "I'm not sure, Dad. I'm kind of summered out these days. The appeal changes when you live in a tropical city for several years. You start to miss the seasons. I know I'm loving the weather since my arrival. I usually make it home for Christmas and in the summer. I've made more trips home while Mom was sick, but my only focus was on her during those visits. I finally feel like I can breathe and not be on a schedule. I'm not sure how long I'm staying, but I'm going to enjoy every moment while I am here." Again, WHY RECOUNT ALL THESE SHARED EXPERIENCES TO YOUR FATHER AND IN FRONT OF SOME RANDOM STRANGER??)
- The constant mention of Virginia Tech playing a "top rival." Please just name a school. I'm begging.
- Some weird child dialogue.... ("Bwownie," "Spwinkles.") No thank you.
All of that being said, this was cute and cozy. I think with some workshopping on the quotes, I would've enjoyed this a bit more. I like the family dynamic, I liked the setting, and the story was just fun and fluffy. I would give this author another shot once she develops her writing, because I can see the vision.
1.5ish stars
November 23, 2018
Sierra is back home in small town Virginia, after living for several years in Tampa, FlL. She’s lost her boyfriend and job at a high end hotel. How will her family react to this news? At the same time that Sierra returns to her childhood room, her sister and 3yo are also moving in...seems as if the disappointments of life have hit the Blake sisters. Wes is temporarily renting the small cabin that’s owned by the Blakes. He’s in town for 3 months with the Army Corp of Engineers. Wes enjoys his job and traveling around the world...he doesn’t anticipate meeting the quiet girl from the Salted Caramel Cafe. Can a roving engineer have a relationship with a hometown girl who’s ready to settle down? This was another quick read that is chocked full of family values and finding oneself and dream. Great story! I look forward to these novellas by this author, they’re filled with heart and soul.
I accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book!
It's a delightful & emotional story.
Sierra is back home in Mills Hollow.
But, she's not ready to talk about
what's really going on in her life.
Sierra's family has had a rough couple
years. It's now time for her to mend fences, especially with her sister, Roxie.
Sierra was at Cafe when a man walked in.
Surprised be the presence of the handsome man, with green eyes,
he charms her into a coffee & muffin, even though the Cafe's closed.
To Sierra's surprise, Wes is renting the cabin near her family's home. There is just something about Wes, that makes
her heart beat fast.
It's a refreshing small town story
about the love of a family
& of a good man.
A MUST FOR EVERYONE!!
It's a delightful & emotional story.
Sierra is back home in Mills Hollow.
But, she's not ready to talk about
what's really going on in her life.
Sierra's family has had a rough couple
years. It's now time for her to mend fences, especially with her sister, Roxie.
Sierra was at Cafe when a man walked in.
Surprised be the presence of the handsome man, with green eyes,
he charms her into a coffee & muffin, even though the Cafe's closed.
To Sierra's surprise, Wes is renting the cabin near her family's home. There is just something about Wes, that makes
her heart beat fast.
It's a refreshing small town story
about the love of a family
& of a good man.
A MUST FOR EVERYONE!!
September 13, 2020
Love at the Salted Caramel Cafe is a fun book to read in the Autumn! This was my first time reading anything by Angie Ellington and I have already gone ahead and ordered another of her books. I love to read books appropriate for the season, and I am so happy I discovered this author. She has a true gift for capturing the Autumn season in this book! You will want to curl up with a pumpkin caramel muffin and a mug of hot cider while enjoying this sweet Autumnal story! Please note this is a novella/short story at just about 180 pages. The main character, Sierra, is home in Mill Hollows, which is a quaint small Virginia town surrounded by mountains and country roads. At one time Sierra couldn’t wait to escape and now home has never felt so right, especially the swirling leaves and crisp air that she never got to experience while in Tampa. Not to mention being close to her family, especially her younger sister Roxie and niece Eden. And being back at the Salted Caramel Cafe, which her family owns, and using her marketing/management talents combined with her baking talents, the world has righted itself. In the midst of rediscovering her love of home, a handsome geologist on assignment in town manages to capture her heart. But will Wes, a man who travels year round, stay in Mill Hollows? Wes is smitten with Sierra and fallen fast, and never imagined calling anywhere home more than he has since coming to stay in Sierra’s family’s cabin for his job contract in Mills Hollows. Let’s hope these two find a way to stay together and get their happily ever after right in the charming enchanting town of Mill Hollows! Happy reading!
September 27, 2018
I love the mountains of Virginia & this sweet novella had me craving a road trip. Thankfully, I can do so within a short distance. A town like Mill Hollows sounds like my hometown & the people in it. Related to the characters, the story, & even had a salted caramel latte at Starbucks after reading over my usual PSL all due to the subliminal calling of caramel!
October 27, 2018
I absolutely loved this book. My first from this author. It was a quick and fast read, full of amazing characters and I loved the storyline. I will certainly be looking for more of this authors books, and would definitely recommend this too anyone that enjoys a sweet clean love story.
September 22, 2022
Cute romance to put you in the mood for fall. I like the depth the characters had and the writing was really good. I wish the book would have been a little longer so we could have delved into the romance more. It was an instalove romance and I would have preferred a slower burn.
September 19, 2023
3.0/5
I really enjoyed the fall vibes in this book and the overall cosy atmosphere. I preferred the first half of the book as the second half only talked about a rushed love story that wasn't just done well...
I really enjoyed the fall vibes in this book and the overall cosy atmosphere. I preferred the first half of the book as the second half only talked about a rushed love story that wasn't just done well...
October 10, 2023
It’s really hard to make me dislike a cheesy seasonal rom com, but this one found a way. I’m not sure if the bizarre dialogue or the awful grammar/formatting ruined it for me more, but between the two this was hard to keep reading.
October 13, 2019
My first romance. I met the author at her lovely little local bookshop. I like to support local and independent authors and asked her to recommend one that would serve as a gentle introduction to a crusty cynical old man. She handed me this novella, smiled, and exclaimed, "Even my husband enjoyed this. And hey, the guy is a geologist!" Sold. The story is breezy and fun and indeed the love interest is a geologist. Success! A romance that charmed this particularly crusty cynical old man. You'll enjoy it too. :)
October 31, 2022
Super quick read but didn’t have a lot of fall vibes I expected from a a book marketed as a “fall read”. Cute and cozy though.
October 17, 2023
2 days and 1 book later! Overall, it was so cheesy I could not. Just all the little things that gave me the ick. I could never be with a guy like Wes, he also reminds me of a guy I know 😭 anyways, the storyline was cute and cozy. Just not in the best way. A fast little quick paced book that I needed to reach my monthly reading goals!
October 17, 2023
This was a really quick fun little fall read! Perfect for the autumn season! Bad break up, small town, returning home, family, insta love, all around a good time. I loved the descriptions of the little pastries and such for the cafe. Sierra and Wes definitely do the whole insta love/love at first sight thing which is not my favorite trope but with the cute cover I couldn't resist. It was a fun time and decided recommend for a one sit read!
October 7, 2020
Amazon recommended this one to me, so I gave it a try. I've really enjoyed short seasonal stories in the past week or two, but this one wasn't nearly as good as the others I've been tearing thru lately. (Looking at you, Pumpkin Everything and Maple Sugar Crush.) I never got a sense of the pacing of this story, so it felt like instalove to the extreme. And I never felt invested in the characters, the setting, or the plot.
Audiobook Notes: I was looking for something short to listen to while I worked in my kitchen yesterday, so I chose this. There are a number of very positive reviews on Audible, so maybe you should take what I'm saying with a grain of salt, but: I would not recommended this audio to anyone. The narrator over-pronounces nearly every word and there were a few instance where it sounded like she was shuffling papers in the background. These things really took me out of the story.
Title: Love at the Salted Caramel Cafe by Angie Ellington
Length: 2 hours, 33 minutes, Unabridged
Narrator: Marie Chandler
Publisher: Angie N. Ellington
Audiobook Notes: I was looking for something short to listen to while I worked in my kitchen yesterday, so I chose this. There are a number of very positive reviews on Audible, so maybe you should take what I'm saying with a grain of salt, but: I would not recommended this audio to anyone. The narrator over-pronounces nearly every word and there were a few instance where it sounded like she was shuffling papers in the background. These things really took me out of the story.
Title: Love at the Salted Caramel Cafe by Angie Ellington
Length: 2 hours, 33 minutes, Unabridged
Narrator: Marie Chandler
Publisher: Angie N. Ellington
November 30, 2018
Angie Ellington has taken us to the Salted Caramel Cafe, where Sierra comes home to when she needed to re-evaluate her life. Wes has come to the area for a temporary position, but when the sparks fly with Sierra, he may just have to change his mind. This is story is short, but is so well developed, it's easy to entrench yourself into Sierra's life. Meeting her sister, dealing with her parents and a possible relationship with this new man in town will keep you listening as things get moving. Her niece is adorable, and Sierra's love for the Cafe and building a new future may just keep her in town now. Delve into this romance and enjoy Marie Chandler's narration.
Being my first experience with Marie Chandler as a narrator, I didn't know what to expect. I found her voice to be very pleasant, her voices easily distinguishable and she drew me into the small town lives of this family. It's a great listen!
Being my first experience with Marie Chandler as a narrator, I didn't know what to expect. I found her voice to be very pleasant, her voices easily distinguishable and she drew me into the small town lives of this family. It's a great listen!
December 12, 2018
I listened to the audio version of this book. This was a good, short, easy-to-read story. The characters were likable and easy to relate to. I loved the bi-play between Sierra and her sister. Sisters sometimes make it hard to love them... Sierra came back to town with a secret. She broke up with her boyfriend, but hasn't told anyone. Wes is a great guy and the attraction between the two is instantaneous. He is only in town temporarily, but he may change his mind. Until he finds out Sierra's secret. Betrayal is something he might not be able to get around. Can Sierra get him to forgive her?
The narration honestly wasn't one of my favorite. That may be just me. Everybody else seemed to love it.
I was given this audio book for free. All thoughts are my own.
The narration honestly wasn't one of my favorite. That may be just me. Everybody else seemed to love it.
I was given this audio book for free. All thoughts are my own.
February 5, 2020
This might be a short story but it is packed full of goodness. We really get to know these characters. I love it! It’s sweet and a bit of fun. Oh plus Go Hokies! Who can’t love a story set around Virginia Tech?
I did listen to this on audio. Marie Chandler narrated. She did a wonderful job and her voice as Eden....spectacular!
I did listen to this on audio. Marie Chandler narrated. She did a wonderful job and her voice as Eden....spectacular!
October 7, 2020
Love at the Salted Caramel Cafe ( A deliciously sweet romance in the VAmountains
A very good story about love and family and friends and a young woman that travels and finds out there is no place like home
A very good story about love and family and friends and a young woman that travels and finds out there is no place like home
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews