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When everything you've worked for is whipped away, would you have the heart to start over? Lena Hawkins has spent her every waking moment building her reputation as a top chef. When her cheating husband takes the credit and tosses her aside, she calls it quits for the sake of her son and returns to the country town where she grew up, thankful for the support of her close knit Italian family. Coerced by the local community she opens a restaurant in a disused dairy and starts over.Adam Chapman, one time Sydney lawyer now deer farmer, is more than happy to provide the premises and have an outlet for his produce. Little does he realize that they have unsavory connections.Old secrets are uncovered that rock the small town and drag them both into the world they thought they'd left behind them.

478 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 2016

23 people are currently reading
46 people want to read

About the author

Ann B. Harrison

71 books278 followers
I swear I was born with a book in my hand and that is how I spent most of my childhood. That was fine until I got older and the voices in my head demanded to be heard and I started to write.
The voices are no quieter but there are less of them.

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5 stars
161 (52%)
4 stars
94 (30%)
3 stars
33 (10%)
2 stars
12 (3%)
1 star
6 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for Jenny.
2,348 reviews73 followers
August 2, 2017
Outback Cafe is about Lena Hawkins and Adam Chapman. Adam Chapman brought the dairy farm next to Lena's parent's place and is going to start up a deer farm. Also, Adam Chapman became a good friend with Lena's son Kyle. Lena Hawkins went back home with her young son Kyle after her marriage to Cole ended. After losing her award winning restaurant to Cole, Lena decided to considerate only on Kyle. However, this is not what happened. The readers of Outback Cafe will continue to follow Lena and Adam to see what happens to them and will start to wonder if Lena will open a new restaurant.

Outback Cafe is the first book I have read by Ann B. Harrison. I enjoyed this book and loved the twist and turns that Ann B. Harrison included in the plot. I also like the way Ann B. Harrison portrayed her characters. I also like the way Ann B. Harrison adds what her characters are thinking in italics. Reading Outback Cafe, I learnt about money laundering, and what needs to happen to protect witnesses of major crimes.

Readers of Outback Cafe will learn the consequences to a restaurant when food critics give you a bad review. Outback Cafe highlights that if you have imagination and have a great chef, you can set up fantastic restaurant anywhere.

I recommend this book.
1 review
January 12, 2024
I enjoyed this book with the unexpected twist & turns in it. Only problem I had was having all the Christmas, New Year and a new baby granddaughter oh and birthdays right in the middle and this was the only reason I didn’t binge read it.
2,390 reviews13 followers
January 28, 2025
Outback Cafe

This was a good read. It involved money laundering, divorce, finding a new love. Adam had. Deer farm next door to the new restaurant. Lena was excited over her new restaurant after her husband cheated her out of her popular restaurant. In town. Excitement and a new adventure, enjoy.
300 reviews
January 1, 2020
One of my favourites by Ann.

Well written, well thought out. Great light summer read.

Excellent mix of suspense, mystery and romance. Great characters. Easy to become really invested in their lives.
Profile Image for Aimee Lombardo.
736 reviews2 followers
August 6, 2023
Outback Cafe

This is one jem of a book!!!

I loved how we get to follow Lena through her downs and her raise back up to over come some insurmountable odds.

I dove into this book and was consumed with it the entire time!!
Profile Image for Kylie.
64 reviews2 followers
June 7, 2025
It was good although again the story just ended.
What happened on the date
Did Cole and Ming-Lee get the book thrown at them etc along with everyone else who was involved.
Could Simon have a normal life again.
Epilogues are good to wrap it all up but again the author failed!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

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