Walking Walrus Café

by Leigh Macfarlane

Walking Walrus Café follows three generation of women who own and work at the Walking Walrus, a beachside café. Years ago, cancer took Monya's husband and left her alone to raise their daughter, Nina. Now fourty-five, Monya has built the Walrus into a first-class diner with an excellent reputation.

Monya's daughter, Nina, and granddaughter, Louisa, have both grown up with the restaurant as central to their lives. Nina works part-time for her mother while raising Louisa and going to school, and Lou is grandma's "helper," and adored by Monya's clientele.

When art dealer, Brett Grayson, shows up in town for an estate auction and stumbles into the Walrus looking for caffeine, Monya is shocked by her intense instant attraction to the Paul Newman look-alike. On a rainy morning, Monya takes pity on a dripping, thirsty man, and lets Brett into the Walrus even before the store is open. He soon learns that this kind of hospitality and care is par for the course with Monya, and Brett is intrigued.

When he buys her flowers, takes her to dinner and kisses her goodnight to thank her for her kindness, Monya realizes that emotions she thought she'd buried with her husband are coming back to life -- a complication, since Monya knows Brett isn't in town to stay.

279 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2021

Reviews

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book through Voracious Readers. I absolutely enjoyed the heck out of this book! The location was very well described—makes you wish you lived beside a lake like that. The main characters are middle-aged (mid-40s, I believe), and they were portrayed realistically. Conversations between them seemed natural and were pretty humorous at times. The supporting characters added to the story. My only complaint is the ending—I wanted to see the ceremony!

[Andrea McCormack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book through voraciousreaders. What a charming romance novel with a little mystery thrown in. I thoroughly enjoyed the romance between the two main characters, as well as getting a wee peek of what might come in future books in this series.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it was a great read, would definitely recommend it

[Ann Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant love it

[Megan Smyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a comfort read, there are no surprises but the characters are genuine and I felt some connection to them from the get go.

A great light, summer read.

NOTE: I received a free review copy of this book from voracious readers only.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read and did it one night.

[Kat Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very sweet love story between a cafe owner and a customer who catches her eye. So sweet how their love evolves. Great read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rach3l · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet, heartwarming story. I feel like there wasn’t much conflict/drama in the story and it possibly could have used a bit more but overall I still lIked it. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I’m interested to see what’s in store for Nina, Cassidy, and Alicia.

Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book set in a small Canadian town similar to the ones I grew up in. A walk down nostalgia lane but different enough that I could see myself going there for a visit and being disappointed that the cafe wasn’t really called The Walking Walrus…and it’s owner isn’t called Monya.

Thanks to the author and Voracious Readers Only for allowing me to read this book for review. I will definitely be checking out the rest of this series and anything else written by this author.

[Eve · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must not be as interested in Romance novels as I thought I was because this, to me, was unbearable to read.

Monya is the owner of the Walking Walrus Cafe. At 45, she a mother and grandmother whose husband passed years ago from cancer. She is well loved by the people in the town she serves. Her daughter Nina is a single mother to a 4-year old.

Into her life walks an art broker named Brett. He is in town to attend an auction so he can secure some pieces for his wealthy clientele. But when he meets Monya, his plans to only stay until the auction is over are changed.

Throw in the town mayor who is by all accounts an abomination but unnecessary, Brett's daughter whose partner leaves him more than pleased (also unnecessary), the death of a homeless man that really doesn't have anything to do with anything, steamy sex scenes, and you have the most disjointed storyline you could imagine.

By the end, I was just relieved it was over.

*I received a copy of this book from Voracious Readers in exchange for a review.

[Mc Chanster · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, charming read!

Walking Walrus Café was a delightful novel. I loved all the characters, but of course, my favorite was Monya. She was just such an incredibly likeable character - warm, but not a pushover, confident, but not arrogant. The interactions between the characters felt honest and realistic and I loved the sweet, small town romance between Monya and Brett (I think I fell a little in love with him too!). I just wished there was a bit more to it to tie a few loose ends. Otherwise, a sweet and heartwarming read!

Thank you Voracious Readers and Leigh Macfarlane for my copy! All thoughts an opinions are my own.