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Lakeview #8
Romance at The Heartbreak Cafe: Three Sweet Romance Novels
Three heartwarming contemporary novels from Melissa Hill's USA Today bestselling Heartbreak Cafe series in a single collection. Curl up and escape at the Heartbreak Cafe...
'Doesn't get much better than this sweet and romantic page-turner' (Closer)
'Fans of Netflix Virgin River will love Hill's series'. (Woman)
THE HEARTBREAK CAFE
When a baby is found on the steps of the Heartbreak Café in the small tourist town of Lakeview, everyone rallies round to help figure out the mystery. Hollywood actress Ruth is back in her home town for the summer following an ill-advised fling with a handsome co-star. Jess feels increasingly left out as the only non-mum amongst her friends. Terrified she might lose them altogether, she embarks on a cunning plan. Or is it? Nina has come to Lakeview to live with her estranged father, Patrick after a bad break-up. But will she ever dare tell him about the secret she is concealing? One thing's for someone knows more than they're telling. And in this town, the truth won't stay hidden forever...
CHRISTMAS AT THE HEARTBREAK CAFE
The Heartbreak Cafe, situated in picturesque Lakeview is a local institution, and owner Ella has run a thriving business since it first opened its doors thirty years before. To honour all those happy years, she plans to host a huge Christmas party to thank the community for its support, and to bring all her loyal customers and staff together for a major celebration. She has spent weeks preparing; baking the cafe’s all time-favourite treats, Christmas favourites like mince pies and mulled wine, and decorating the cafe’s interior in the finest festive garb. Everything is set for it to be an amazing celebration of not just the cafe, but of life in Lakeview. But Christmas week, only days before the party, Ella receives a devastating letter. Her landlord won’t be renewing her lease in the New Year, and her beloved cafe will have to close. What will she tell her loyal customers? Will she have to start anew? Or is there any way she can save the business by harnessing support and convincing her landlord by Christmas that her cafe has a special place in Lakeview hearts and minds.
SUMMER AT THE HEARTBREAK CAFE
It's summer in Lakeview, and the community is getting ready for its busiest time of the year. The weather is warm, the days sunny and bright, and cafe owner Ella is looking forward to tidying up the patio area, dusting off the outdoor seating and welcoming the first of the summer tourists, whose arrival always manages to create some drama… Author Sam is in Lakeview for the summer to finish his long-awaited novel. But he can't help getting distracted by the town's many charms, and in particular, pretty waitress Nina. Marianne hopes that two weeks spent in the quaint tourist town might help husband Donal forget about the pressures of work. While Grace likes the idea of spending two weeks in a pretty summer cottage in Lakeview, she’s not so enamoured of being there with boisterous four-year-old twin boys in tow. Her husband is much better at managing them, but he needs to stay behind for work. Can she cope on her own?
' A jewel, sparkling with warm yet delightfully flawed characters' (Romantic Times)
'The kind of book that you can't put down' (Sunday Independent)
'Doesn't get much better than this sweet and romantic page-turner' (Closer)
'Fans of Netflix Virgin River will love Hill's series'. (Woman)
THE HEARTBREAK CAFE
When a baby is found on the steps of the Heartbreak Café in the small tourist town of Lakeview, everyone rallies round to help figure out the mystery. Hollywood actress Ruth is back in her home town for the summer following an ill-advised fling with a handsome co-star. Jess feels increasingly left out as the only non-mum amongst her friends. Terrified she might lose them altogether, she embarks on a cunning plan. Or is it? Nina has come to Lakeview to live with her estranged father, Patrick after a bad break-up. But will she ever dare tell him about the secret she is concealing? One thing's for someone knows more than they're telling. And in this town, the truth won't stay hidden forever...
CHRISTMAS AT THE HEARTBREAK CAFE
The Heartbreak Cafe, situated in picturesque Lakeview is a local institution, and owner Ella has run a thriving business since it first opened its doors thirty years before. To honour all those happy years, she plans to host a huge Christmas party to thank the community for its support, and to bring all her loyal customers and staff together for a major celebration. She has spent weeks preparing; baking the cafe’s all time-favourite treats, Christmas favourites like mince pies and mulled wine, and decorating the cafe’s interior in the finest festive garb. Everything is set for it to be an amazing celebration of not just the cafe, but of life in Lakeview. But Christmas week, only days before the party, Ella receives a devastating letter. Her landlord won’t be renewing her lease in the New Year, and her beloved cafe will have to close. What will she tell her loyal customers? Will she have to start anew? Or is there any way she can save the business by harnessing support and convincing her landlord by Christmas that her cafe has a special place in Lakeview hearts and minds.
SUMMER AT THE HEARTBREAK CAFE
It's summer in Lakeview, and the community is getting ready for its busiest time of the year. The weather is warm, the days sunny and bright, and cafe owner Ella is looking forward to tidying up the patio area, dusting off the outdoor seating and welcoming the first of the summer tourists, whose arrival always manages to create some drama… Author Sam is in Lakeview for the summer to finish his long-awaited novel. But he can't help getting distracted by the town's many charms, and in particular, pretty waitress Nina. Marianne hopes that two weeks spent in the quaint tourist town might help husband Donal forget about the pressures of work. While Grace likes the idea of spending two weeks in a pretty summer cottage in Lakeview, she’s not so enamoured of being there with boisterous four-year-old twin boys in tow. Her husband is much better at managing them, but he needs to stay behind for work. Can she cope on her own?
' A jewel, sparkling with warm yet delightfully flawed characters' (Romantic Times)
'The kind of book that you can't put down' (Sunday Independent)
670 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2014
387 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Hill
130 books1,279 followersMelissa Hill is a USA Today bestselling author living in Ireland’s beautiful County Wicklow. Her page-turning contemporary novels of family, friendship and romance are published worldwide and have been translated into twenty-six languages.
A Hollywood adaptation of her international bestseller Something from Tiffany's, by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine and Amazon Studios, was released worldwide in Dec 2022.
Other novels including A Gift to Remember and The Charm Bracelet have been adapted for screen by Hallmark Channel USA, with multiple other titles currently also in development for film and TV.
For more info, visit her website at www.melissahill.info
Facebook: facebook.com/melissahillbooks
Instagram: @melissahillbooks
Melissa also co-writes forensic thrillers with her husband under the pseudonym Casey Hill. http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
A Hollywood adaptation of her international bestseller Something from Tiffany's, by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine and Amazon Studios, was released worldwide in Dec 2022.
Other novels including A Gift to Remember and The Charm Bracelet have been adapted for screen by Hallmark Channel USA, with multiple other titles currently also in development for film and TV.
For more info, visit her website at www.melissahill.info
Facebook: facebook.com/melissahillbooks
Instagram: @melissahillbooks
Melissa also co-writes forensic thrillers with her husband under the pseudonym Casey Hill. http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 22, 2022
If you like VERY light reading, this is for you. While I enjoyed the books well enough, there’s nothing deep about the storylines or characters. In fact, the characters in the books are pretty one-dimensional, practically caricatures. This is fairytale stuff where the characters have beautiful epiphanies and transform into better people in a few weeks time and all ends well for everyone.
The author was so artless in her writing that the first pages of each book were literally nearly identical, word for word as she sets the stage of the town and cafe. I’ve never seen anything like it. Skilled authors know how to write each book in a series so they can stand alone while threading the storylines together. They don’t just copy-paste. I was embarrassed for the author when I read the exact same introduction three times.
The first book in particular is baby OBSESSED. Pretty much everyone is pregnant under less than ideal circumstances. There is glancing mention of the range of options (abortion, adoption) these women have about their pregnancies, but not really any meaningful exploration of that. I get it. The author has a point of view on this, which is totally fine. It’s just part of what made the stories pretty shallow.
It’s obvious from the first description of Nina’s father why he acts the way he does. This book was written in 2010 and it is ridiculous to believe any adult who doesn’t live in a cave wouldn’t understand that for what it is. That just didn’t ring true at all.
Finally, the proofreading and editing of this book is absolutely HORRENDOUS. The books are riddled with grammar, punctuation, and editing errors that are simply not explained by the disclaimer at the beginning of the book that spellings may differ from American English. It was just really sloppy work. I’ve never read a book with so many errors. I think I spent $1.99 for this book series. I’m glad I didn’t pay more.
The author was so artless in her writing that the first pages of each book were literally nearly identical, word for word as she sets the stage of the town and cafe. I’ve never seen anything like it. Skilled authors know how to write each book in a series so they can stand alone while threading the storylines together. They don’t just copy-paste. I was embarrassed for the author when I read the exact same introduction three times.
The first book in particular is baby OBSESSED. Pretty much everyone is pregnant under less than ideal circumstances. There is glancing mention of the range of options (abortion, adoption) these women have about their pregnancies, but not really any meaningful exploration of that. I get it. The author has a point of view on this, which is totally fine. It’s just part of what made the stories pretty shallow.
It’s obvious from the first description of Nina’s father why he acts the way he does. This book was written in 2010 and it is ridiculous to believe any adult who doesn’t live in a cave wouldn’t understand that for what it is. That just didn’t ring true at all.
Finally, the proofreading and editing of this book is absolutely HORRENDOUS. The books are riddled with grammar, punctuation, and editing errors that are simply not explained by the disclaimer at the beginning of the book that spellings may differ from American English. It was just really sloppy work. I’ve never read a book with so many errors. I think I spent $1.99 for this book series. I’m glad I didn’t pay more.
August 17, 2018
Wonderful Series
I absolutely love this series and look forward to reading all the books ! I definitely recommend you read This series.
I absolutely love this series and look forward to reading all the books ! I definitely recommend you read This series.
November 7, 2023
I just couldn’t care enough..
October 10, 2014
This is only a review of the first book in the set - The Heartbreak Cafe. I got it from Amazon as a single book.
I enjoyed the book a lot, but actually - thinking it over - it was all about pregnancy! The characters and their stories were good, but it would have been better with some other subjects.
I enjoyed the book a lot, but actually - thinking it over - it was all about pregnancy! The characters and their stories were good, but it would have been better with some other subjects.
March 21, 2016
Great
I just finished reading The Heartbreak Cafe by Melissa Cafe and I can say I really enjoyed it. This is these are first books I read by her and I can say I look forward to reading other books by her
I just finished reading The Heartbreak Cafe by Melissa Cafe and I can say I really enjoyed it. This is these are first books I read by her and I can say I look forward to reading other books by her
April 6, 2017
Was a good read, this is the first book and I will be reading the rest. I must say if this is the thinking of of our next generation we're in deep trouble. I have to say try to keep up with your friends it's nothing but trouble.
July 10, 2014
really good series - kept me interested for 4 books!
October 11, 2014
All four books were exceptional. Amazing author!
September 19, 2014
Pretty good story, but very predictable with many grammatical errors. Just OK.
January 6, 2015
Light quick easy enjoyable read. Didn't like the beginning of the last book so moved on to another book. Really enjoyed this set up to then.
January 29, 2016
This is only book #1 in this series. Very enjoyable.
January 26, 2021
Entertaining set of stories
June 5, 2021
Truly enjoyable. I love romance with mystery and drama thrown in!
April 29, 2017
Heartbreak cafe books 1-3
Started off slow but by chapter 4, I was hooked. Interesting characters who were intertwined and the Cafe and owner were what held them together. Interesting stories with just enough twists and turns. Definitely a feel good series. No sex no violence, just good reading. Am getting the restrictive series
Started off slow but by chapter 4, I was hooked. Interesting characters who were intertwined and the Cafe and owner were what held them together. Interesting stories with just enough twists and turns. Definitely a feel good series. No sex no violence, just good reading. Am getting the restrictive series
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews