Cafe Tropicana

LoveTravel #4

by Belinda Jones

Latte-lover Ava Langston knows exactly what she wants: her very own café in a vintage arcade in Bath and a life free of complicated relationships. But her plans go awry when her long-distance dad phones insisting she hop on the next plane to Costa Rica to meet his brand new wife.

Ava has no intention of jetting to Latin America to acquire a stepmother - until, that is, her father offers her head honcho status at a beachfront café. The lure of frothing cappuccinos in a land where the coffee beans grow proves irresistible. But she hasn't planned on Santiago, her sexy-yet-stubborn business rival, or rugged Ryan whose idea of romance is swinging through the rainforest canopy at 6am. Both men give her butterfliess but only one will capture her heart...

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Travel, Romantic Comedy, Family

480 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Belinda Jones was born in Turnbridge Wells, Kent England. At the age of 19 she moved to London, where she resided for the next ten years before moving to California. She now lives in Los Angeles.

Belinda Jones writes books for women which focus around travel and womens issues, particularly relationships. Her books tend to fall into the romance, chick lit and women's fiction categories

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice easy sunbed read, characters a bit fake and a bit too cheesy but its chick lit, and it has a good feel to it.

Three stars.

[Hayat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this light-hearted fun contemporary romance years ago and enjoyed it a lot.

[Tamara Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for the gorgeous Costa Rican back drop

This book had so much promise and while it was cute enough in the end, I found it very slow and a bit bland.
I didn’t really love any of the main characters, to the point where I actually found the female lead quite irritating. We explored daddy issues and dysfunctional families and the love story seemed like a side plot. Cute ending but took a while to get there

[Paige Puntillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coffee, romance, and Costa Rica! Super fun read while vacationing in CR

[Rea Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A holiday is never complete for me unless I have a Belinda Jones book to keep me entertained, having already read the authors recent release I decided to pick up one of her older books Cafe Tropicana.

Ava Langston has dreamed of opening her own cafe and she has finally found the perfect site. She puts her life on hold for this cafe giving up her job putting all her time and effort into her dream.
Her dream is shattered when a higher bidder comes in for the site. She then receives a call from her dad who wants her to fly out to him in Costa Rica to meet his new wife. Ava is reluctant to go especially since her father never has much to do with her but when he then offers her the chance to help him open a coffee shop there she is soon jetting off to start her adventure!

What a great beach read this was, it was so easy to visualise the gorgeous setting in this book thanks to the authors impeccable descriptive writing style. Even the preparations for the cafe were all described in such detail so I really felt like I was there watching everything coming together. There was a lot of humor in this book too along with a nice splash of romance.

Ava was a down to earth, determined main character who I loved from the first chapter. The handsome Santiago oozed sex appeal through the pages, he was a true gentleman who I wouldn't mind spending my holiday with! Kiki and Ryan both set alarm bells ringing for me from the moment we were introduced to them so I was wary of these two characters all the way through.

As with all of Belinda Jones books it is clear the author has done a lot of research for this book not only on the location but also surrounding coffee beans and blends as well as the nature side too, for me the turtle nesting really showed this and it is now something I would like to experience.

Belinda Jones has delivered another perfect enjoyable and adventurous read that I will be recommending to friends.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book Ive read of Belinda Jones and I loved this book just as much as 'Out of the blue' great story line with plenty of twists which kept me interested right up until the end. Loved the characters and story line, lovely easy read book ideal for a holiday read.

[Tahmina Khaleel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente. In one Spanish word.
Hola, Buenos Dias. Como Estas? Caught up with a little Spanish fever while outgrowing the real illness as I got teleported to Costa Rica, courtesy of Ms. Jones. She introduced me to Ava Langston, whom I hit it off from the get-go. How could I not with the childlike fascination of the world she has amidst the tragedies and mundane life that she's surrounded by. The Betty Boop pajamas under the duvet to her zest for opening up her own themed cafe with zinging quirky ideas made magic pop popping inside me without the actual candy.
Stepping onto the land of Costa Rica, SIGH!!! From the tour of coffee beans to the different aromas, I never wanted coffee more. And as we traveled more, I couldn't help but love every character for each one had their own unique characteristics. Santiago, wouldn't he be every woman's dream. Avoiding spoiler alerts if I haven't somehow given a few already, Cafe Tropicana is a not just a book, but a rich experience of people and moments amidst beautifully depicted flora and fauna. The moments are subtle yet weave intrinsic emotions that you can't ignore. The transitions were beautiful, the scenic views breathtaking, the cast embodying 'still waters run deep' philosophy and most of all, the author's silent storytelling. The energy flowed beautifully like liquid till the end.
Thank you, Ms. Jones, for the tropical chic, Cafe Tropicana. And, for the journey.
A special book that will go on my bookshelf collection. If I may quote "Ava" from the night in Tortuguero, '-sharing an experience that is destined to be forever a part of me.' That's how this precious book is to me.
P.S. If you wish to travel from the comfort of your own armchair while sipping a cup of Joe and a cool breeze hitting your skin from the window next to you, this book has your boarding pass to it.
Buen Viento y Buena mar (Good wind and good sea a.k.a have a nice trip). :)

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good beach read. Too bad I wasn´t at the beach when I read this.

Ava Langston is living and working in Bath, England. Her mother has a constant pity party over her divorce which took place 15 or so years ago. Her father is distant, both relationship-wise and geographic-wice. He´s living in Costa Rica with his new wife who happens to be the same age as her. Ava dreams of owning a coffee shop. She knows the perfect location and puts a bid on it. Unfortunately, she was out-bid. She had quit her job for this dream of hers which has collapsed. Nothing left for her to do except visit her father and his new bride, Kiki. Her friend Ollie suggests she takes sexy undies because she may find Mr Wonderful.

In Costa Rica, her father pits her against his right hand man, Santiago, in one of his new ventures - a coffee shop. They have 2 weeks to put the property in order and start the business. Whichever the two of them is the most successful becomes the manager of it. Santiago is a local and good looking although a bit competitive and moody. Kiki invites Ryan a long time friend (and former beau) to woo Ava. He is a daredevel and quite handsome.

In the ensuing 2 weeks, Ava falls for both Santiago and Ryan. Santiago shows her his Costa Rica with the turtle nesting and banana plantations. Ryan shows her his Tarzan life like ziplining through the rainforest and ATV biking. Who is the right man for her?

This is a story of relationships. Not just a romantic relationship for Ava but a father/daughter relationship too. Her father believes he has the best relationship with his daughter. Ava, on the other hand, thinks he is distant and not caring. Kiki has a bad relationship with her father too.

Good story.

[Saleha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the "both of them are unsure if the other reciprocates the feelings" more than any other trope and this book was all that. But I would've liked the guy to also have some moments showing how much he liked her and was holding himself back because he was unsure. Also would have liked some confrontational scenes between both the dudes.
And about the "maybe I don't have daddy issues maybe I'm just misunderstanding my dad" thing yeah not sure how I feel about that maybe I'm thinking too much but does the author also have daddy issues and lashed out at their father in the past and this is their way of saying sorry?
But overall nice read I don't normally go for romance in novel form but I think I should now just as a comfort read you know

[Katie Churchill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. It was a charming read and I learnt lots about coffee and Costa Rica. I liked the main character and found her relationship with Kiki and Santiago interesting. At the end of the story I liked the chapter on fathers and how we as relate to them in different ways.

However, I scored the book a 3 as the ending was very predictable and I found parts of the book slow. I think the protagonist’s relationship with Ollie at the start was nice but it would’ve been good if there was more about him in the book, as he seemed to dwindle off and not be needed or relevant as much at the end.

[Nancy Kamenyero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a few years ago. But it still holds a dear place in my heart. I remember it fondly as one of "those" books that I'll never forget. You know the kind.
The descriptions of the locations in Costa Rica where so beautiful that you felt like you where there on vacation, along side the characters. And the characters where great to get to know. The story had a great flow, and was very believable. The sights, smells and sounds of the tropics where truly their own character in this book. It will make you want to travel... so this makes it the perfect book to bring with you on your next carabe an vacation! Chick-lit and beach-read at it's best!

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite old and slightly dated but was a great holiday read. It was easy to get into and the characters were likeable. There were some quite witty and humorous moments.
There were a few bits about the ending, which felt a bit rushed which let it down a bit but overall an entertaining quick read!

[Nicolas Advani · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very slow book with too many things happen at once resulting in nothing happening at all. The characters were a bit rushed and it didn’t feel fully connected. It felt like homework to finish it and was not a well formulate story. On the other hand, it had a very beautiful Costa Rican back drop and it explore some common family issues which were relatable.

Three stars at best

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully and cleverly written. A really indulgent and enjoyable book using real locations and hotels that made me really feel like I was there. The first book by Belinda Jones that I have read and I can't wait to read another.

[freya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personally love this book! Love the vibrant writing style and twists in the love story of the main character is brilliant! Would highly recommend for a light hearted romance served with a side of exotic getaways!

[Mila · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Zoe McKain · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up to 3. A bit bland for a chic lit unfortunately.

[Ruth ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute novel to read on the beach when you travel to Costa Rica .

[Gloria E Meunier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tho I enjoyed the romance I pray for fires to restrain in the fireplace...

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dit was eigenlijk niet zo’n goed boek

[Amy Savvides · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly predictable but a good romp nonetheless. If you’re hoping to get any information about running coffee shops out of this book you’ll be sorely disappointed, but if you’re a fan of easy to read romance not sexy books then this might be for you.

Personally, I preferred the first half of the book which had really evocative descriptions of both Bath and Costa Rica. The second half which obviously wraps up all the relationships was less interesting.

Incidentally, this appears to be part of a series of books but it is completely standalone.

[Alice Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is literally my dream to go to Costa Rica now! Ava is looking to buy her very own cafe in the UK. That is, until her father calls her from Costa Rica asking her to come out and visit him and his new wife Kiki. Ava isn't keen at first - that is, until her dad tells her he's opening up a new cafe and he wants her to be the one to run it. It isn't until Ava arrives that she finds out that her father has hired someone else to run it alongside her, too. The competition is now on - whoever impresses Ava's dad the most with the running of the cafe gets to be the permanent owner.

There are plenty of oooh, who will she end up with? moments. Ryan and Santiago, the two love interests, are incredibly different. It was pretty obvious by the end though. But will she stay in Costa Rica for good? I love Belinda's books about foreign lands. They always make me want to go travelling.

[Bookworm 9087 · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this was my first Belinda Jones and it was a good read. The plot has strength and it wasn't dragged or anything. The only factor that withdrew me from loving it was that, it was more about the characters than the café. When I picked up the book, I contemplated that the characters would revolve around the café. It was more of relationships tangled up, running helter skelter and the café was a side-line. Very few events happened inside and around it. Jones did a beautiful job with Costa Rica, she mixed the raw energy and made it so sassy that I want to run down to Manuel Antonia on my first break. The book started with the main character i.e. Ava Langston doing a lot of research for the café and it was good build-up. But beyond that, it only circled around relationships which was kind of a bummer.

[Kimiko-K · Rating 5 out of 5]

To quote a fellow Goodreads reviewer by the name of Elanie, "This is the 2nd book Ive read of Belinda Jones and I loved this book just as much as 'Out of the blue' great story line with plenty of twists which kept me interested right up until the end. Loved the characters and story line, lovely easy read book ideal for a holiday read." ... Was totally what was on my mind after my immediate launch from Out of The Blue (what a coincidence!) to this awesome and s3xy and fun filled story *swoons* Or should I have said from die hard/ die for Greek man to intensely irresistible Spanish hot stuff? As I am typing this I am already half way through The Love Academy, which is great by far, nonetheless keeping me motivated enough to read it past my sleeping hours! Double thumbs up* ^.^#

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Remember way back when coastal villages like Manuel Antonio, adjacent to a nature reserve, were pristine? This book contains the characters who find it necessary to plasticize and Disneyfie it. - They complain when there is no air conditioning, take domestic flights when it is easy to drive and react hysterically to animal life in a nature reserve. An environmental impact? Never heard of it. Besides my growing astonishment and irritation about the characters, who couldn't muster my sympathy, the predictable story didn't really interest me either.
I listened to the audio version of this book, for some reason the narrator thought it's necessary to make every Costa Rican sound like a deranged gnome. In short, this was not a book for me.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's rare that I give a romance 4 stars, but for this one I made an exception! I really enjoyed it. It won't have me rushing off to Costa Rica any time soon, but I really did enjoy the characters and the story. It was my kind of romance novel - one where it takes a while for the lead characters to get together. It really enhances the story if you have a bit of build up - something that has been lacking in some of the books I have read lately.

[Frezanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book I read by Belinda Jones and I like it better than the first (Love Academy). It's entertaining and quite fun. Although I don't get the hint of intrigues when actually there was nothing dramatic existed. Rather a let down as I thought there would be a bit conspiracy (maybe my overimaginative mind). I love the coffee theme and the slow romance. Good ending anyway.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava wants to run her own coffee house. Her father lives in Costa Rica and invites her over to open a new coffee bar and compete with Santiago for the chance to run it. Santiago takes her on a turtle watch which she loves and she falls for him.
It was a nice read- I have another of her books on the tbr pile.

[Izzah Syahmina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book ages ago. While it wasn't the best book I've ever read at that time, I certainly like the idea of opening a cafe and in reading this I learned a few things about Costa Rica. A good read.