REVIEW: The Good Luck Cafe by Annie Rains

In The Good Luck Cafe by Annie Rains, 911 dispatcher Moira Green’s world gets turned upside down when the town council makes plans to demolish her mother’s bakery to make room for a much-needed parking lot. This pits her against mayor Gil Ryan.

Gil has always had a thing for Moira, but she avoids him like the plague. That is, until the town decides to build a parking lot. Up for re-election, Gil suddenly finds himself with a new and unexpected opponent: Moira. For the first time, Gil doesn’t care if he wins and finds himself actually helping her with her campaign. What started out as a fight to save her mother’s bakery soon turns into something more, until Moira’s past comes back to haunt her. Will Moira be able to put her past behind her and put her trust in Gil?

While this is the fourth book in the Somerset Lake series, I feel this can be read as a standalone. Both Gil and Moira had been introduced in the previous books, as were some of the other characters, but readers new to the series won’t feel like they’re missing anything if they jump into the series here.

Gil is a likeable character from the get-go. It takes a little bit longer to warm up to Moira as she comes across as a bit standoffish, especially with Gil, but it’s understandable once her past is revealed. Gil is incredibly patient with her, and it was enjoyable to watch their journey as their relationship progressed. I also appreciated how the author portrayed Doug, who is Gil’s brother and has Down’s Syndrome. I thought she does a good job of showing how people can believe someone with Down’s Syndrome aren’t capable of taking care of themselves but proving these people wrong.

With characters willing to fight for what they believe in, supportive family and friends, and a little bit of drama thrown in, Annie Rains has created a story that will charm fans of small-town romances.

Book Info:

Publication: March 14, 2023 | Forever | Somerset Lake #4

Moira Green is perfectly content with her life. She has a rewarding career and plenty of wonderful friends, including the members of her weekly book club. Then everything in her life goes topsy-turvy when the town council plans to demolish the site of her mother’s beloved café to make room for much-needed parking. Moira is determined to save her mother’s business, so she swallows her pride and asks Gil Ryan for help.

Moira and Somerset Lake’s mayor were good friends once, the kind who could laugh at everything and nothing at all. Until one night changed everything between them. And now, with Gil supporting the council’s plans, Moira is forced to find another way to save Sweetie’s—and it involves campaigning against Gil. Going head-to-head in a battle of wills reveals more than either of them are ready for, and as the election heats up, so does their attraction. But without a compromise in sight, can these two be headed for anything but disaster?