Outback Cafe

Southern Cowboys #7

by Ann B. Harrison

Lena Hawkins has spent her every waking moment building her reputation as a top chef and when her money grubbing 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.
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 that have nothing to do with the restaurant business. Old secrets are uncovered that rock the small town and drag them both into the world they thought they’d left behind them.

When Lena discovers Adam was involved in her cousin’s court case, she sees red and tries to back out of the lease but her father convinces her to follow through. It wasn’t Adams fault - his father did a deal to keep him out of trouble. Now Adam feels responsible for Simon’s jail term and joins forces with the local police to set a trap for the people who were ultimately responsible for the money laundering. For it to work though, Simon has to die.
Lena is rocked to the core when she discovers her ex-husband used her and love never was a part of their all too brief marriage. She was in the right place at the right time, nothing more.
Can Lena be convinced to start again and conquer her demons?

Genres: Romance, Australia

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2016

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jennie lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Dorothey Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Angela Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Aimee Lombardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book thanks from terry

[Cindy Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it.

[Heather Robb]

Kindle