The plot was excellent but the style of writing didn't match it - I read about these horrible things that had happened to the main characters but I didn't feel anything for them. This is the first book by Roper I've read and judging from this one, I won't seek out anymore.

I didn't like the fact that the author used her characters to speak disparagingly about social network sites, especially Twitter. I couldn't find her on Twitter, so if she is not using the site, how can she pass judgement on it like that?

I think Christian authors can get lazy in their writing - as long as they have a plot that includes crazy cults, they will continue to have readers that share their point of view. I wish they would work harder to write something that's emotionally satisfying.

**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for writing this review. ( )

This was an entertaing book.

The story starts off with the protagonist Carrie, teasing a waitress in the cafe about having a fight with her boyfriend. It soon comes to light that her boyfriend has been murdered, and the story goes on from there. I really quite enjoyed this book. It is a light read, and I read it fairly quickly.

I haven't read the other books in the series but I am interested to know how they written as compared to this one. It is a light read, but has entertaining dialogue. ( )

This was a story that took me by surprise. There was romance, intrigue, danger, suspense and a town full of "twitter" people that made me laugh. It started up as a story of a cafe owner, Carrie, who sees Greg Barnes every day in her cafe, but who never gives her the time of day, even though Carrie would love to be the object of his affection. Then the author takes the story to another level I wasn't expecting. You meet so many characters in this cafe and they all seem to have a story to tell and it is somehow all intertwined together throughout this story. You learn the backgrounds of these people and it makes you appreciate them all the more having seen what they have come through and that they are survivors. This story made me laugh, it made me sad and mad at times. It was very well written with a tender love story taking place in the midst of alot of mystery and danger. ( )

This book started out a 4 and ended a 5 so I rounded it to a 4 1/2. There is a lot going on in this book!
-A love story.
-Two different runaways - one years later now grown up, the other just 16, both ran for their lives. Now their lives have intersected, can one help the other?
-A murder mystery
-Long lost family reconnection
-Sadness, love, suspense, mystery, and coffee!
You would think that with all this going on it would get confusing, but it doesn't at all! The story flows very nicely, weaving in and out of each aspect of the story line, connecting each one to each other. Every bit of this story is just as interesting as the other. I wouldn't take anything out or add anything to it.
The character development is excellent. There are a lot of characters but again, it is very to keep everyone straight. I rally felt very connected and attached to each of the misfits that have come together at Carrie's diner. Each one has his place and each personality is executed perfectly.
And... this is all happening around a diner. Which you all know by now I love! It is all about the owners, the employees, and the customers. Whatever happens it all comes back to the diner. I love it because this is always the constant in the book. It becomes a comfort zone.

This is my first Gayle Roper book. I really enjoyed her style and ease of writing. I do think I will be reading more from her.
Thank you "Blogging for Books" for sending me this book to review. ( )

As someone who doesn’t usually read mystery stories, I’ve got to say, I enjoyed this thoroughly! It has just the right mix of mystery, romance, tragedy and recovery. The Christian characteristics are powerful, yet meld into the story very nicely. I’ve no doubt non-Christians could enjoy this book as much as I did.

I enjoyed getting to know the primary characters, and the secondary characters were introduced just enough to keep things rolling smoothly. I cared about what happened and was satisfied with how the story closed.

At a very young age, Carrie Carter had seen enough abuse, neglect, and ugliness in the world to last a lifetime. She finally gains the courage (and means) to escape, taking her little sister, Lindsay, in tow. They start a new life in Seaside, New Jersey, working at, and eventually owning, a successful café.

The regular café patrons are both charming and flawed, many of them reminding me of people I know. Whether willing participants or not – their lives become entangled by mystery, murder, loss, and love.

I can’t really say if the romance or the mystery played the biggest part of this story, but they were both equally developed and kept me interested to the very last page. If there was a sequel to this book I’d certainly read it. I’d label this book as an easy read, a compelling storyline, and a satisfying end! ( )