Valentine's Day at the Café at the End of the Pier

Café at the End of the Pier #1

by Helen Rolfe

Searching for love? You'll find it at The Café at the End of the Pier...

When Jo's beloved grandparents ask for her help in running their little café at the end of the pier in Salthaven-on-Sea she jumps at the chance.

The café is a hub for many people: the single dad who brings his little boy in on a Saturday morning; the lady who sits alone and stares out to sea; the woman who pops in after her morning run.

Jo soon realises that each of her customers is looking for love - and she knows just the way to find it for them. She goes about setting each of them up on blind dates - each date is held in the café, with a special menu she has designed for the occasion.

But Jo has never found love herself. She always held her grandparents' marriage up as her ideal and she hasn't found anything close to that. But could it be that love is right under her nose...?

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary

33 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 8, 2018

About the author

Helen Rolfe also writes as Helen J. Rolfe

Helen Rolfe writes contemporary women's fiction and enjoys weaving stories about family, friendship, secrets, and relationships. Characters often face challenges and must fight to overcome them, but above all, Helen's stories always have a happy ending.

Location is a big part of the adventure in Helen's books and she enjoys setting stories in different cities and countries around the world. So far, locations have included Melbourne, Sydney, New York, Connecticut, Bath and the Cotswolds. She also loves creating village settings or places with a small-town feel and a big sense of community.

Born and raised in the UK, Helen graduated from University with a business degree and began working in I.T. This job took her over to Australia where she eventually turned her attentions back to the career she'd dreamt of when she was fourteen. She studied writing and journalism and wrote articles for women's health and fitness magazines. Helen began writing fiction in 2011 and hasn't missed the I.T. world one little bit... in fact she may just have found her dream job!

To learn more about Helen, find her at:

www.helenjrolfe.com

https://www.facebook.com/helenjrolfew...

https://twitter.com/hjrolfe

https://www.instagram.com/helen_j_rolfe/

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to find this Valentine's short story for free on Amazon for Kindle. I was in the mood for a cute short story...and who can resist that title! 💘

About a lady who moves back to the seaside town that she grew up in to help her Grandparents run their "cafe at the end of the pier." It had all the feels but a little too corny. The writing is good though. It's a prequel to a series of books. The characters are likeable so it's promising.

[R ♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did I read this just so I could up my book count? Yes, yes I did.



I thought I might enjoy this but I didn’t. It was quite boring, though the writing style was decent, I felt there were too many descriptions and the characters were bland and devoid of any personalities. There was really no conflict in this story which I think is the main reason I didn’t like this. There was just no excitement or suspense, and I was bored out of my mind when reading this. All the characters were perfectly happy and no obstacles ever came their way.

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[Gemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the richness of the characters in this little story.
I'll certainly be reading the others in the series now.

[Shabana Mukhtar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy Valentine's Day :)

The primary reason of picking up the book was two-fold.
It is short and it is free.

Oh, yeah, I forgot. The main reason was that I was thinking of writing a story, since Feb 4. I thought I will write a sweet short story. Then, I thought I will read some and learn how others have done it.

Nine days later, I have no story written but I have a review :)

It is the story of Jo. Her grandparents ask her to join their cafe. She seems to love the place and the new phase of her life. She enjoys everything from her job, knowing the customer and witnessing her grandparents' never-dying love.

I loved the language. I am not a big fan of big words. I like simplicity. The narration was perfect. It was poetic in just the right amount and evoked emotions without giving headache.

The story doesn't end there. I was left with a sense of incompleteness. Then, I figured it is a series. I like it and recommend it, but not for those who don't like series.

It is still Feb 13, but still... Happy Valentine's Day :)

[Anthea Syrokou · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely introduction, giving the reader a glimpse of how Jo's life has changed now that she is working at the cafe; the cafe her grandparents own and love so much. I was pleasantly surprised at the end, and found this short read very endearing. I sensed the protagonist's isolation and need to change her life for the better. A quick, cosy, delightful introduction to a series.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully romantic and wonderful start to a new series by Helen Rolfe.

The characters all sound lovely and I can't wait to get to know them more and learn about Jo's story. I simply adored reading about Jo's grandparents Molly and Arthur and the whole story was romantic. I loved the Valentine's themed evening and the location of the cafe.

Overall, a fab start to the new series and I can't wait to see what happens next and to read more about this cafe.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice, short introductory story into the world of the cafe at the end of the pier. A returning home story featuring Jo who is someone I look forward to getting to know better. Lovely setting and characters and looking forward to read more.

[Zoé-Lee O'Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute introduction to the Café series and I did not realise the other four books were novellas…do not be surprised if I sneak those four in before the end of the year! I love this heartfelt introduction to Jo and her Grandparents Mary and Arthur.

We learn in this novella how Jo has left her shared home in Edinburgh to help take over the little Café in Salthaven. It sounds so heavenly there and I would love to go there. These types of books make me want to open my own café and move to the seaside…oh, wait I have done one of those things!

I loved the reaffirmation of love between Arthur and Mary after over 50 years, it was cute and something I can only dream of having.

I look forward to getting more invested in the series as Ms Rolfe has made me already care about these wonderful people.

[Pamela Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Would highly recommend this book to anyone with a little bit of romance i can not wait to read the next instalment

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5 ⭐️

A good short story.

Well written, with a small but perfectly formed cast of characters.

Although I really enjoyed reading it, I was a little disappointed that this is just a taster, so there’s actually no ending as such - to find out more you have to purchase the other books in the series.

A quick, easy read.

[Shayney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice Little Quick Read

This was a nice, quick little read. The way it ended was disappointing, but I would definitely read the next one, I would need to, in order to find out what happens. It's written so beautifully, with the descriptions of the surroundings, and for a short read you can see the love and strength from the family relationship between the grandparents and their Granddaughter. There are things that are left hanging, unanswered, that I can only hope will be answered in the next installment.

[Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet cosy read

I absolutely loved reading this book! I was hooked from the very start, the characters are so endearing especially her gran and grandad . The story runs smoothly and doesn't go off in tangents making you lose the point of the story . It is a perfect cosy romantic story , it makes you feel like you want to be the characters and be in their world. A brilliant read that I would fully recommend and a very talented author!

[Kat Mitcheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thisis a very short but beautiful read to get you into the new series by Helen Rolfe.
It's beautifully written and set by the sea.... Her grandparents have asked for her help so she quits her job and heads up to Scotland to help run the family cafe. Her grandparents don't want a stinger running the cafe so they were thrilled when she turned up... It's a fun up to the setting of Valentine's Day and the grandparents first date was 1964 on Valentine's when grandad bought the lease for the cafe and 2018 they still have it.
I'm looking for ward to the new series this spring and summer.

[K.J. Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a cute introduction into the Cafe at the End of the Pier series. There's something more than romance in this story: a warm, homely feel that rallies behind the notion of family and community.
For an introduction, it certainly made me want to get to know the characters in more depth and buy the rest of the series. (This short story is free on Amazon at the time of this review.)
I'm glad I downloaded Valentine's Day at the Cafe at the End of the Pier, and now have a new series to enjoy.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Valentine's Day at the Cafe at the End of the Pier. It is such a heart-warming read which is so easy to lose yourself in for half an hour or so. If you want a feel-good short story for your coffee break at work, or just whenever you fancy, then I definitely recommend you download this one. It's easy to see why Jo jumped at the chance to move back to the coast to help her grandparents run their cafe at the end of the pier, it sounds like such a lovely place to live and run a business. Jo is a very likeable character, as are her grandparents which makes this a very pleasant read indeed.

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[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read to introduce you to a new chick lit series. Will happily continue the series to see how the characters and the cafe progress!

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn’t a fan of this one to be honest. Too sweet for my liking!

[Emma Boultby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely little shortbread, but was a bit disappointed by how it ended.

[Anja · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

[Poon Xin Mei · Rating 5 out of 5]

a nice and heart warming introduction of the story. I am looking forward to read the next book!!!
First , Jo quite her job and went to help her grandparents at the cafe at the end of the pier. Beside that , her grandparents first date was 14 Feb 1964 and it was when her grandpa bought the lease of the cafe....

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely short story

I stumbled across this cute short story while looking for Valentine's stories.
I greatly enjoyed that this story doesn't follow normal Valentine romances, in fact Jo (the main character) has no romantic interest. This story draws its strength from the love of her grandparents who have been together for many years.
I gave this story 4 stars because it felt like the author was trying to fit too much back story into a very short space

[Frank Carver · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a difficult book to review. It’s short, certainly, but that’s not in itself a bad thing. It’s a reader magnet for a further series, true. And it is a prequel. None of these things in themselves make for a difficult review, but when combined, they do reveal a kind of tenuousness, a sense of not quite being there, and this is really why the book is hard to evaluate.

The book tells the story of how the protagonist, Jo, leaves her teaching job in Scotland to help her grandparents run their cafe in a small south coast seaside town. Along the way we get to hear about how her grandparents met and fell in love with each other and the cafe, and watch Jo prepare for her first event at the cafe, a love-filled Valentine’s Day special.

As a synopsis, that seems fine, and even maybe an enjoyable book, but the actual writing continually left me feeling disconnected from the story and the characters. At best, the story has a kind of dream-like logic. Things keep happening and we feel on the surface that they are reasonable and understandable. However, just as in dreams, as soon as we start to look at the detail, it seems to fade away.

Once she has arrived, we only ever see Jo at the cafe - we never find out about where she is living, because she never seems to go home. By the end of the story there is an almost touchable sense of isolation as a storm rages around the cafe and I began to wonder if the town, supposedly hidden by the falling rain, even exists at all; whether Jo and her grandparents are somehow trapped in a bubble of existence like an old episode of "Sapphire and Steel".

At its heart I think that all of this is because this book is overwhelmingly “tell” rather than “show”. We continually read that Jo is happy to be back in the small town where she grew up, but other than pointing out a few locations we get nothing of her memories. Nothing about her parents, her school friends or boyfriends, no wistful or embarrassed recollections. Likewise, she drops her primary school teaching job at a moment’s notice with no hint of soul searching about abandoning the children, or goodbyes to the friends and colleagues she has made while there. Teaching is not a job you just walk away from. Even when starting a new and challenging job, learning everything about how to run a small cafe, it seems that Jo just drifts through in a happy daze. Everything is lovely, she never mis-remembers an order or drops a plate, or has an argument.

I love the idea of this story, but, sadly, the writing lets it down. There is no emotional engagement or journey, and none of the small details which would help it “pop” from being just a description of some things which happen to a living tale of people and places you want to know more about. Maybe the main stories in the series will be more engaging, but based on this sample, I won’t be rushing to find out.

[Lisa Bentley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah I love the love and that is exactly what I loved about Valentine’s Day at the Café at the End of the Pier – the love.

The first part in a serialisation of books introduces us to Jo. She is a little bit lost. She has spent time in Scotland but has come to Salthaven-on-Sea to take over the café that her grandparents own. They are getting close to retirement but they want the café to continue in its grand tradition but with a new lease of life. Enter Jo.

You get the feeling that sad things have happened to Jo in the past but not much has been revealed yet. You also get the feeling that she too loves the love. We know in the series she is going to try and set people up (those who frequent the café) but there is always a hint that some good lovin’ will come her way.

Valentine’s Day at the Café at the End of the Pier by Helen Rolfe was such a cute easy read and I cannot wait for the next instalment.

Valentine’s Day at the Café at the End of the Pier by Helen Rolfe is available now.

For more information regarding Helen Rolfe (@HJRolfe) please visit www.helenjrolfe.com.

For more information regarding Orion (@orionbook) please visit www.orionbooks.co.uk.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helen Rolfe has a lovely touch to her writing that immediately engages you emotionally with her characters, and I really took to Jo straight away as she drives for home, leaving her dissatisfying life as a teacher in Scotland to help her grandparents run their cafe on the pier at Salthaven-on-Sea. There’s a great sense of place – it comes to life as Jo drives to her grandparents’ bungalow then walks to the perfectly described little cafe, and your heart lifts in the same way hers does – and I really enjoyed meeting her wonderful grandparents and reading the story of how their lasting love affair started. There’s a nice brief introduction to the diverse collection of customers who visit the cafe, the hub for the small community where everyone knows everyone else until the holiday-makers start to arrive, and I enjoyed the planning and preparation for a rather special night. Things might not turn out quite as expected, but it’s a lovely little story with real warmth that brings a smile to your face and a tear to your eye. I’m very much looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jo is given the chance to leave her job and relocate to help out in a cafe run by her grandparents, Molly and Arthur. With Valentine's Day looming on the horizon Jo learns the story of her her Grandparents' engagement.
This novella is the "perfect lunch time read". It is a beautifully told little story, it has charm and warms the heart in a lovely way. For being a novella it made an impact, enough for me to pre-order the next two books in this series.
A definite recommended read from me, it's perfectly charming and totally yummy.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short story which is a great opener to the author’s new set of novellas about the cafe at the end of the pier.

Have already warmed to the characters and looking forward to the next instalment Spring at the cafe at the end of the pier later next month.

I read one of the authors Christmas books and really enjoyed her style of writing - very easy and relaxing to read and great descriptions so you feel part of the story.

[Krystyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will she be strong enough to survive

A cute romantic story. When her Gran asks her to come home and help with Café, she has qualms. Packing up her gear is easy and she is soon on her way. Will she be able to cope with the hard work involved? Why have her grandparents asked her to come? Will her plans for St Valentine's Day be a hit or a miss? The characters have humour and a human aspect to them that is endearing.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute! Had some /really/ long sentences in it though, and especially at the beginning, a lot of information that wasn't necessary (although it might link to the next books, so who knows). Stuff like "she took two roundabouts, the first left past the fish and chip restaurant", etc. Also the occasional grammatical mistake, but other than that it was wholesome and it made me want to read the next part in the series.

[Emily G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet short story about Jo, a woman in her thirties, returning to her childhood home to help her grandparents out with their cafe on the pier.

I liked Jo, Molly and Arthur and the details of running a cafe. My criticism would be the constant repetition of Jo wanting to find a partner and have a relationship like her grandparents, because no relationship is perfect and all have their ups and downs. 3.5 stars

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet short story and is apparently the precursor to a novel length series.
When Jo is asked by her grandparents to their little village by the sea to take over their cafe she moves down and starts to learn the ropes.
With Valentine's Day looming Jo is keen to implement her new ideas for the business with a special menu for the evening, yet the weather has other ideas...
Charming, whimsical tale that is a perfect one sitting read.