The Kookaburra Creek Cafe

by Sandie Docker

Welcome to the Kookaburra Creek Cafe.

THE PAST

For Hattie, the cafe has been her refuge for the last fifty years – her second chance at a happy ending after her dreams of being a star were shattered. But will the ghosts of her past succeed in destroying everything she’s worked so hard to build?

THE PRESENT

For Alice, the cafe is her livelihood. After Hattie took her in as a teenager, Alice has slowly forged a quiet life as the cafe’s manager (and chief cupcake baker). But with so many tragedies behind her, is it too late for Alice’s story to have a happy ending?

THE FUTURE

For Becca, a teenager in trouble, the cafe could be the new start she yearns for. That is, if she can be persuaded to stop running from her secrets. Can Becca find a way to believe in the kindness of strangers, and accept that this small town could be the place where she finally belongs?

One small town. Three lost women. And a lifetime of secrets.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Australia, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Contemporary, Family

374 pages, Paperback

Published April 30, 2018

About the author

Australian author, Sandie Docker grew up in Coffs Harbour, and first fell in love with reading when her father introduced her to fantasy books as a teenager. Her love of Women’s Fiction began when she first read Jane Austen for the HSC, but it wasn’t until she was taking a translation course at university that her Mandarin lecturer suggested she might have a knack for writing – a seed of an idea that sat quietly in the back of her mind while she lived overseas and travelled the world.

Now back in Sydney, Sandie writes about love, loss, family and small country towns. Sandie is also the founder and director of The Northern Beaches Readers Festival.
(head shot photo credit @ainsliecophotography)

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was hard to resist that beautiful cover and fortunately the book inside the cover is good too. It was a little hard to settle into at first because there was a lot of flitting around into the past and back again. Eventually though it became totally absorbing, very emotional and a pleasure to read.

I loved all the major characters, Alice, Joey, Becca, Harriet and more. I wanted more pages for Shadow and I felt that poor Dean had a very rough deal. It was definitely a book that required tissues to be handy. There were many very sad moments and also ones which demanded happy tears.

The Australian setting was a very effective background to the story and the cafe sounded delightful. There were also some excellent recipes at the end for the cupcakes Alice baked - a different flavour every day.

This was a very enjoyable read and I will plan to seek out the author's other books as soon as possible.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took one look at the cover of this book and knew immediately I was going to enjoy this book, but I didn't enjoy it, I LOVED IT. What truly surprised me with this book that this was a debut novel for Aussie author Sandie Docker.

I'm sure readers understand what I mean when I say I get excited and a little anxious when I find a new author. I'm happy to report the feeling of both excitement and anxiousness paid off this time as this book was just the BEST. Beautiful cover and great characters make for a wonderful and very entertaining book. Looking forward to reading more amazing stories by this author. Highly recommended.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

* https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
The Kookaburra Creek Café, the first novel penned by author Sandie Docker, is a sublime testament to Australian small towns and the colourful inhabitants that populate these hidden locales. In this wonderful debut novel, we meet three different but beautiful souls, who all converge to the one very special cafe in town, The Kookaburra Creek Café. These three generations of women, learn through moments of tragedy, loss, love and self realisation, the true value and support a family based community can bring to their lives.

The Kookaburra Creek Café begins with Hattie, a woman who has supported the café since its inception and continues to oversee her beloved first business thrive. For Hattie, the café represents a very special haven and despite the tough times, the café has remained a constant presence in Hattie’s life. However, a secret from Hattie’s past comes to light which may threaten the current operations of the The Kookaburra Creek Café. Linked to Hattie is Alice. Alice is the current manager of the Kookaburra Creek Café. The café is now her livelihood and Alice has been thankful to Hattie for taking her in as a runaway many years ago. Since then, Alice has worked tirelessly for the café and is renowned for her delectable cupcakes. But Alice has suffered great heartbreak over the years. It seems like Alice is long overdue for a happier turn of events in her life. Alice’s world is soon overturned when a teenager drops into the café unexpectedly. Becca is clearly in trouble and Alice knows all too well how this feels. Alice feels drawn to Becca and gives her a roof over her head and a place to work. But Becca is keeping her cards close to her chest, she won’t reveal why she is running and who from. The Kookaburra Creek Café and the kind community that surround this meeting place, may just be the right tonic for Becca’s broken soul.

Nothing pleases me more than discovering a brand new Australian storyteller. Sandie Docker is one amazing new talent and I am over the moon that I have been gifted with the opportunity to be one of the first readers to present this glorious new novel and writer to the world! I cannot even begin to do this The Kookaburra Creek Café the justice it deserves. I will state outright that this book is my favourite debut of 2018!

The Kookaburra Creek Café is a book that ticked all the boxes for me. It contains a beautifully rendered Australian setting. It also features a hub of loveable lead and secondary characters. The storyline is packed full of secrets and it was a very special experience to uncover each secret. And the cover, well, for a person who loves tea and quaint cafés, it was a love at first sight moment when the book and I first met!

The quirky title, visually stunning cover and hooking prologue all worked in conjunction to draw me into the novel. My love for this book came fast and it wasn’t long before I found myself devoted to the unfolding storyline and the memorable characters of The Kookaburra Creek Café. I loved, I mean loved, the way in which this novel is structured. I have a weakness for multiple time frame novels and this is one novel that does it well. Contained with the pages of The Kookaburra Creek Café are the perspectives of three main characters, which alternate as the book progresses. We are also treated to a movement in the time frame of this novel, which moves from the present day, to 2003/4 and back in time to 1967. It is an ambitious move to attempt multiple time frames, but it works so well in this novel.

Sandie Docker excels in the field of recreating the locations of the novel. Although the bulk of the novel is set in Kookaburra Creek, the action also moves to another small Australian town named Lawson’s Ridge. We are also transported to the city of Sydney in some scenes of the novel. No matter the location, Docker presents the reader with a rich and descriptive encapsulation of her setting.

I relished the character set in this novel. I immediately took a liking to Alice. I felt every emotional pull Alice experienced as the book progressed. My favourite sections of the novel were the Alice based parts (the 2003/4 storyline). I consumed the Alice and Dean love story. This is one romance that visibly moved me to tears and broke my heart into tiny pieces. I suspect this haunting love story will not be leave my side for some time to come. The other setbacks and heartbreak Alice incurs during the novel solidified my connection further to this character. I had so much empathy for dear Alice. I was also hopeful that Alice would one day receive the happiness she deserved.

Supporting Alice is of course the indelible Hattie, a woman who embodies the heart and soul of The Kookaburra Creek Café. I genuinely loved uncovering Hattie’s past life and her secrets, they were a true highlight of this novel. I loved her interactions with her sister and of course Alice, their shared past history was heartwarming. I liked how Docker chose to show us just how pivotal Hattie’s place in the community of Kookaburra Creek played. Along with Hattie, comes Becca, the newcomer to the town. Becca displays she is a force to be reckoned with as the events of the novel move along. Becca is adamant that she will not reveal her secrets and it takes her a very long time to let her guard down. Becca’s character journey was a wonder to witness. I enjoyed Becca’s up and personal monologues, which Docker chose to intersperse through the narrative. I gained a great sense of fulfilment in observing Becca’s eventual trust of others and the way in which she allowed the townsfolk of Kookaburra Creek embrace her. Finally, in discussing the characters in this novel, I must mention a number of pertinent side characters, there is gentle and patient local baker Joey, who I just adored. Meanwhile, Alice’s friend Louise, from her time in Lawson’s Ridge, has a role to play, along with Alice’s daughter Tammy. Each and every character that appears in this novel, main or side, good or bad is carefully padded out by Docker.

I drew out a number of themes from The Kookaburra Creek Café. There is first love, betrayal, abuse, loss, grief, adultery, serious illness, second chance love and single parenthood to contend with during the unfolding narrative. The Kookaburra Creek Café encompasses all emotions and it contrasts deep moments of despair, with great beams of hope. Regret and lost opportunities go hand in hand with redemption and forgiveness, which is what I will take from my experience of reading this truly magnificent novel.

It was with great sadness that I ended my time at The Kookaburra Creek Café. Alice, Becca, Hattie and company were people I had grown to love immensely and I really didn’t want to say goodbye. Although my time with the folk at The Kookaburra Creek Café has ended I now have the great joy of spreading the word and my love for this book to the reading world!

The Kookaburra Creek Café by Sandie Docker is a truly magical and very special book indeed. A special thank you to the author, Sandie Docker for your persistence in getting this manuscript out into the world, now is the time to reap your rewards! This is one book I firmly believe is thoroughly deserving of a five star rating.

*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.

The Kookaburra Creek Café is book #42 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alice and Louise had been best friends from the age of eleven. Alice was happy when she was with Louise, and she went to school to get away from her home. When tragedy struck, Alice drove away in the old beat up car that was her Dad’s – just drove until she could go no further. She was tired, hungry and grieving when Hattie found her and took her under her wing; Alice was sure she wouldn’t stay. But gradually Hattie, the Kookaburra Creek Café, and the community became home to her. And Alice discovered she could bake cupcakes – the best cupcakes in town.

Hattie had had a similar experience fifty years prior and Kookaburra Creek had been her saviour. Now Hattie knew Alice needed a second chance, just as she had. Gently and with care, Alice blossomed. But could Alice retain her peace and happiness?

And when a frightened young teenager turned up on the Café’s doorstep, Alice felt the past come back. Was Becca’s arrival a coincidence? Alice could see Becca was fragile and held many secrets close to her chest. Would Kookaburra Creek and the café give Becca the chance she needed?

The Kookaburra Creek Café is the debut novel by Aussie author Sandie Docker, and wow! What an excellent first novel! Initially, I was drawn to the cover – absolutely love it. Then the story drew me in and captivated me. Hattie, Alice and Becca’s stories are told gradually, with an easy to follow back-and-forth narration which set the tone of the book. Three wonderful characters in Hattie, Alice and Becca, and many excellent side characters make The Kookaburra Creek Café everything I wanted and more. Well done on an excellent debut Ms Docker! Highly recommended.

With thanks to Penguin Random House for my ARC to read and review.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kookaburra Creek Café is the first novel by Australian author, Sandie Docker. If you’re driving through Kookaburra Creek, then the Kookaburra Creek Café serves coffee, light meals and the most heavenly cupcakes. It’s a gathering place for locals and an appreciated rest stop for travellers. What many don’t realise, however, is that it’s a refuge.

In 1967 actress Hattie Brookes fled the city with her younger sister when she found her fiance had a looser idea of fidelity that she did. Kookaburra Creek was their destination, a cottage to live in and lick her wounds, although they didn't arrive in quite one piece.

Thirty-seven years later, Alice Pond left her hometown, penniless and pregnant, and Kookaburra Creek was where the car got stuck in the mud. Alice couldn't cook but Hattie needed a manager for the café, a manager who could do it all. Alice was amazed to find within her a talent for cupcakes, and grateful for the inner peace she experienced while making them. Baker Joey Moretti was there whenever she needed a hand.

When young runaway Becca lets herself into Kookaburra Creek Cafe and steals some food, Alice sees more in those piercing blue eyes than fear and an image of herself fifteen years earlier. She decides to afford Becca the same trust that Hattie gave Alice, hoping she will eventually feel comfortable enough to share her problems.

If only that was all Alice would need to deal with. But Becca’s presence brings some sad memories to the forefront of Alice’s mind; Fiona Harris seems to be making eyes at Joey (even though Alice lays no claim there, does she?); and Hattie has just received some disturbing news about their beloved café.

Kookaburra Creek is the country town we’d all love to live in. While some of the residents can be quite annoying, when times are hard there’s a real sense of community. These are people who support a start-up business, pitch in when there’s a fire, shelter one of their own from harm and give a newcomer a fair go. There are five mouth-watering recipes included at the end of this wonderful feelgood novel with a decidedly Aussie flavour. A delight to read.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fourteen years ago teenager Alice Pond left Lawson’s Ridge and ended up in Kookaburra Creek. There she met Hattie, an elderly actress, who made the café her refuge years before when her chance of being a star was shattered. For Hattie the café became a second chance at life. Together they have built up the café business, with Alice as the café’s manager and expert cupcake baker. Life has not been easy for either of them. Too often sorrows and tragedies of the past intrude. When Becca, a young teenager in trouble, arrives at Kookaburra Creek café, Alice is drawn to help her. Remembering how she needed help and received it from Hattie years earlier. But can Alice break through the wall of secrecy Becca has built around herself? And will Hattie and Alice be able to cope when the past threatens everything they have worked to achieve?
What a beautiful book! I was immediately drawn into this story of Alice, ‘Hurricane Hattie,’ who is a force to be reckoned with, and the young troubled and on the run Becca. It is a story of grief, loss friendship, helping hands, and a small Australian community. The characters, the setting of the small town and the way the story is woven make this an absolute delight. This is a debut novel and you can bet I will be hanging out to read this author’s new book when it is published in January.
A friend told me I would like this book. She was wrong. I absolutely adored it. There are moments that had me smiling or laughing, moments when tears spilled over and moments where I had to catch my breath. The characters are so real and alive and that included some of the secondary characters. If you want a book that tells a great story and leaves you feeling good at the end of it, do yourself a favour and pick this one up. I’m so glad I did. What an involving and enjoyable read! For those interested in baking, some of the cupcake recipes are included at the end. They do sound delicious.

[Theresa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review for The Kookaburra Creek Cafe could have quite easily gone like this:

The Kookaburra Creek Cafe in two words: Utterly perfect.
What I liked about this novel: Everything
What I didn’t like about this novel: That it ended
Rating: 5 stars

But I’m not known for being brief, particularly when it comes to talking about the things that I like. The Kookaburra Creek Cafe was utterly perfect and there was not a single thing about it that I didn’t like and I could have happily remained within its pages for so much longer. But there has to be more to it than that. This novel has honestly caught me by surprise and was so much better than I had expected.

“Funny how ‘home’ could sneak up on you like that, a place where you never meant to stay, with people you never meant to love.”

This is one of those stories that sneaks up on you with its winding plot full of unexpected twists and breathtaking moments of heartache. I read the last 80 pages through a film of tears, and that’s pretty rare for me. I’ll often cry at particular scenes within a story, or sometimes at the end of an emotionally fraught book, but not usually continuously for such a big chunk of reading time. But this story had so much reach; it was just incredibly affecting and so life affirming.

The Kookaburra Creek Cafe is a story about the decisions we make when life throws out its worst. It’s such an authentic story and so very Australian in its setting and quirky incidentals. The camaraderie between the characters and the strong community spirit evident throughout the novel created a warm atmosphere that invited the reader in, hence my feeling of not wanting the story to end. There was such a strong sense of place, a feeling of belonging that was almost tangible.

Alice’s story was so sad, for so many reasons. She was a true warrior, the way she kept picking herself up and moving forward, and from such a young age too. Louise was probably one of the worst best friends I’ve come across in a story. I was so disappointed in her, and surprised, that her history with Alice meant so little to her once high school was finished. She knew what Alice’s life was like, yet she wiped her and then set out to steal the life Alice could have had. Alice might not have hated her at the end but I kind of did.

From such abandonment, on multiple fronts, Alice really did rise out of her adversity. Which made her later losses so much more profound. Yet, I don’t believe Sandie Docker has put too much tragedy onto the shoulders of her main character. She deals her a rough hand, more than once, but this is what life is like. Tragedy and heartache isn’t an evenly allocated deal. Some of us sometimes get more than others, more even than what we perceive we can actually handle. But through Alice, Sandie examines how malleable we are as humans, and the different ways we can be pulled taut, yet remain unsnapped. She shows the possibility of loving again, even though sometimes, it just takes a really long time to be brave enough to risk it. I was sad that Alice’s life veered off its intended course at a such a young age, but I believe she ended up in the right place with the right people.

I enjoyed the arrangement of this novel, the neat intertwining of back story throughout. It was set up in a way to reveal key moments in a timely fashion. Nothing was drawn out too long just as nothing was rushed to its climax. Everything fell neatly into place exactly as it was meant to. I loved how nothing was truly as I expected, it was so refreshing to have that element of predictability removed from a story. Sandie never deliberately mislead her readers, yet she artfully led us around the garden path a few times, showing great skill as a writer in the process. I’ve focused more on Alice within this review because for me, it was her story that had the most impact. Becca and Hattie each had their own backstories that were highly engaging, but Alice was the glue binding the trio together. I did love the second chance that Becca’s arrival provided for Alice, just as years before that, Alice’s arrival had provided Hattie with her second chance. There was a beautiful symmetry to this aspect of the story.

I’m looking forward to talking about this novel with my book club (it was our selection this month for the face to face one, not the online one). There’s a lot to take away from this novel, much to ponder on and to talk about. The inclusion of the cupcake recipes in the back of the book was a surprisingly nice touch. Although, they are rather gourmet, so it remains to be seen if I take a chance on recreating any of them. The cover also deserves a special mention, it’s just so quaint and gorgeous and in this case, you can safely judge a book by its cover – The Kookaburra Creek Cafe will not disappoint.


Thanks is extended to Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with a copy of The Kookaburra Creek Cafe for review.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kookaburra Creek Café is the first novel by Australian author, Sandie Docker. The audio version is read by Kathryn Hartman. If you’re driving through Kookaburra Creek, then the Kookaburra Creek Café serves coffee, light meals and the most heavenly cupcakes. It’s a gathering place for locals and an appreciated rest stop for travellers. What many don’t realise, however, is that it’s a refuge.

In 1967 actress Hattie Brookes fled the city with her younger sister when she found her fiance had a looser idea of fidelity that she did. Kookaburra Creek was their destination, a cottage to live in and lick her wounds, although they didn't arrive in quite one piece.

Thirty-seven years later, Alice Pond left her hometown, penniless and pregnant, and Kookaburra Creek was where the car got stuck in the mud. Alice couldn't cook but Hattie needed a manager for the café, a manager who could do it all. Alice was amazed to find within her a talent for cupcakes, and grateful for the inner peace she experienced while making them. Baker Joey Moretti was there whenever she needed a hand.

When young runaway Becca lets herself into Kookaburra Creek Cafe and steals some food, Alice sees more in those piercing blue eyes than fear and an image of herself fifteen years earlier. She decides to afford Becca the same trust that Hattie gave Alice, hoping she will eventually feel comfortable enough to share her problems.

If only that was all Alice would need to deal with. But Becca’s presence brings some sad memories to the forefront of Alice’s mind; Fiona Harris seems to be making eyes at Joey (even though Alice lays no claim there, does she?); and Hattie has just received some disturbing news about their beloved café.

Kookaburra Creek is the country town we’d all love to live in. While some of the residents can be quite annoying, when times are hard there’s a real sense of community. These are people who support a start-up business, pitch in when there’s a fire, shelter one of their own from harm and give a newcomer a fair go. There are five mouth-watering recipes included at the end of this wonderful feelgood novel with a decidedly Aussie flavour. A delight to read.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great beach read - an easy-to-read story that kept me interested the whole way through!

[Michelle Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a magical visit I recently took to Kookaburra Creek. Sandie Docker's debut novel is filled with wonderful characters who will tug on your heart strings and a setting I wished I could step straight into. You will fall in love with Hattie, your heart will break for Alice and you will want to wrap your arms around Becca, just as the community of Kookaburra creek did. These three incredibly strong women, who although on the surface seem so different, have a common thread of love and loss that binds them together and their stories are woven into such a beautiful narrative. As I turned the last page of The Kookaburra Creek Café I felt sad as I didn't want it to end but then again, I could always read it again:-))

[Anna Loder · Rating 5 out of 5]

It accidentally read itself again! This was my second helping of this gorgeous book and when I realised I hadn’t added it to my goodreads then I’m launching on now..I was feeling so sorry for myself on Christmas Eve (2020 😱) and this was the perfect comfort read. Love the community, love the cafe, love the idea of family being people you never meant to love and a home of second chances. Completely love everything about it. I’m a huge Sandie Docker fan, I just loved it

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book cover and a wonderful story from Australian author Sandie Docker!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I have wanted to read this book since its release and finally I have gotten to it and WOW, everything I have read about it is so right this is an awesome story from start to finish a fabulous debut and I can only see this author flying high in the future and I will be eagerly looking for more new books, because meeting Hattie, Alice and Becca was like being with family and friends I felt so close to them all, I cried, I smiled and I cheered them all on, this is one book that I highly recommend so very moving and emotional.

Hattie, what can I say strong, loving determined to do what she can firstly for her sister and then a young Alice when she lands on the doorstep of The Café alone, scared and uncertain but Hattie takes her under her wing and together they move forward with Alice learning so much and soon with a baby to care for and love, working out what she should and should not do, times can be hard but love shines through with them and the fabulous characters of the town who are always there to help as well. Tragedy brings a lot of pain to not only Hattie and Alice but the whole town, there will be tears and lots of them but out of that pain strength does come back, and when Becca arrives in similar circumstances to Alice’s arrival in the town Alice has the chance to help a young teenager in trouble and together the three woman move forward, not without more pain, but with pain comes love as well.

This book is going to stay with me for a long time to come and I do hope that I have done it justice, I won’t say too much more about the story because I don’t want to give too much away but I loved it, I loved not only Hattie, Alice and Becca but Joey and all of the people of the town, what these three woman went through was tough and they all still found their strength and could still love and care what they drew from each other was beautiful. Thank you MS Docker for an amazing story way to go, this is one that should not be missed

[Jülie ☼♄  · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this lovely book and wondering where I can get my hands on one of those irresistible cupcakes, as described within🧁🤔 …they sound delicious!
*I hope this isn’t a spoiler but, I was delighted to find the recipes included at the back of the book!

This is my third book by Sandie Docker, as I most recently read and (absolutely) loved The Wattle Island Book Club so much that I wanted more…it was just what I needed to boost me out of a reading slump…so on impulse I bought all three of her other books for my kindle!
This book did not disappoint..
The characters are so well developed that I was very quickly invested in their stories and histories…though the time travelling sometimes got me a little confused…once I got a handle on things I found it quite compelling reading and hard to put down.

This story, which centres around a quaint little cafe in a small country town, is about ordinary people navigating extraordinary life circumstances.
It’s about friendship, family, and community spirit.
It will tug at your heartstrings with an uncanny knack for tapping into the source of the emotional effects of the events playing out, transporting the reader with enough graphic detail as to paint a clear and absorbing picture.
I love a book where I can “feel” the scenery as much as the emotional impact of the events.

I would have no hesitation in recommending this author to lovers of good absorbing stories with loveable characters and credible plots…great holiday reading!

5⭐️s

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful book about the opportunity of second chances, the kindness of strangers who then become family and the love, heartache, loss and friendships made. This is a story of life and everything it throws at you.

I loved the three main characters and how their stories spread out over the pages and eventually entwined to become one story. I love the Cafe setting and the recipes at the back of the book. Each of the three women had their own stories of life, love, loss and hardships and they were all interesting. It is interesting how food can bring people together in ways beyond just eating.

This book has so many endearing characters, people you may know, people you can relate to and people you know you would like (and in some cases not like...). I think that is what makes a book so good and so real.

The Kookaburra Creek Cafe
Sandie Docker
Penguin Random House Australia

[Sherry Bice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.
I love a book set in australia and seeing Australian terms/slang in books.
The little community at Kookaburra Creek are so sweet. The oldies that get together at the cafe just make my heart swell.
Hurricane Hattie is so full of life and takes charge of the little town.
Alice has made the town her home after stumbling upon it many years ago, and now we find Becca striking a very similar resemblance to her story.
The town pulls Becca under their wing and the story is just full of highs and lows that keep you on the edge of your seat.
I've already reserved the next book in this series at my local library and I can't wait for it to open tomorrow I can get started.

This is a must read! 4 stars ⭐️

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful debut novel from yet another of our very talented Australian Authors. Moving and beautiful.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely surprise this book was. Not that I wasn't expecting it to be good, I just wasn't expecting it to be so special.
Sandie Docker has created a beautiful cast of characters, each one quirky and with their own story to tell. It's hard not to fall in love with the characters in Kookaburra Creek, by the end of the story they almost feel like family, and will long linger in your mind. Beautifully told, there are hidden secrets, laugh out lout moments, and heartbreaking moments that will bring you to tears. It's a story that will pull on your heart strings, but is full of resilience and hope. Sandie has managed to do what is the aim of all authors - to get the reader to feel, and feel deeply. I just adored this book. And I hope we get to revisit the Kookaburra Creek cafe again too.
Oh, and a lovely surprise was the cupcake recipes at the end of the book! I can't wait to try them out.

[Kim (hundredacreofbooks.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I see myself passing through the small town of Kookaburra Creek and having a strawberry and white chocolate cupcake or two...

The story has a large amount of substance which keeps the audience very involved and invested. I was pleased with the outcome for the townspeople as the author really tied the story together for me without overextending the novel.

from now on I'll be on the lookout for Sandie Docker books I've come to really enjoy her writing style and storytelling ability.

Anyone who loves Modern & contemporary fiction, General Fiction will love this read.

For full review Be sure to visit: https://hundredacreofbooks.com/review...

[Melanie Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sent to me in exchange for my honest review.

The Kookaburra Creek Café is a unique and powerful multi-generational novel.

The story follows the lives of three strong Australian women who have experienced loss, heartache, abuse, grief and tragedy. Their strength and courage is what allows them to lean on one another and learn to trust and love again. Hattie, Alice and Becca have their own stories to tell and gradually throughout the novel, pieces of their past are revealed. I loved each character and felt drawn into their world immediately. As the horrors and tragedy of the past are revealed, I was brought to tears. One minute I was laughing along with the characters, the next minute I had the tissues out. I think it says something about an author, when they can write in a way that allows the reader to have such an emotional connection to the story and characters.

The setting of the novel is lovely and by the end of the novel I wished to be a part of the small town community that support one another through the bad and good times. Kookaburra Creek is such a lovely portrayal of small town Australian life. The descriptions of the surrounding area were beautiful. I also felt this when I read Sandie Docker's The Cottage at Rosella Cove.

I could smell the fresh bread and taste the sweet cupcakes described. I love a book that describes cooking and baking in a way that makes me want to eat what the characters are eating and moreover, a book that includes the recipes at the back! I actually want to make the strawberry and white chocolate cupcakes and choc-hazelnut and Frangelico cupcakes. Yum!

As a debut novel, I could feel the heart and soul of the author within each page that I read. I can only imagine the work that authors place into writing a novel. As a reviewer, I am aware of this and although I may not enjoy every novel I read, I truly appreciate the author behind each novel.  As for The Kookaburra Creek Café, I absolutely loved it and would highly recommend it. I am so glad that Sandie Docker was able to share this story. Being multi-generational, it spoke to my past teenage self, my life now as a mother and my future self. People from all walks of life should gain something from this heartfelt story.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit - the cover and a Popsugar Reading Challenge category (book set in a restaurant) - lured me to pick up this book from the library. And I was not disappointed.

The Kookaburra Creek Cafe by Sandie Docker gripped me from the first scene and kept me hooked to the end. it's a parallel narrative with a hint of magical realism set in a small town near Sydney - alternating between 2003 and 2018 - in which we follow Alice's story from her plans to escape to University and Sydney from Lawson's Ridge until it all goes awry, and the present when the Cafe she runs with her partner Hattie is under threat. An occasional dip back to sixties, give the background behind Hattie's acquiring the Cafe and the seeds of potential disaster. From the first chapter and throughout, there are hints of a tragedy that has come between Alice and Joey, and the arrival of another lost teen fleeing her past adds another layer to the story. The story was well told, the characters are great, especially Hattie, Alice, Joey, Dean and Becca – with a few wildcards. And while the ending, I thought, was bittersweet and left me with a hint of melancholy, I absolutely loved spending time in the Kookaburra Cafe and would love to see a sequel.

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those reads that restores your faith in human nature.
Set in a small country town in New South Wales, this contemporary fiction is the tale of three women who have all faced similar problems over a period of years. There is plenty of mystery but this is not crime fiction. Its Australianness is evident in so many ways - a bushfire where lives are lost, a young man in a swimming accident in a dam, a small country town where everyone knows everything about everyone else.

The plot has multi time frames and is carefully and skillfully constructed.

I enjoyed this novel so much I have decided to read the second. (Unusual behaviour for this crime fiction addict)

[Margi · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're after a feel good, warm hearted read I recommend this book. This was a wonderful story which I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut novel by Sandie Docker is an outstanding work! A story of love and pain and loss so beautifully constructed over the years. The characters are brilliant, the pages compelling. I love this book and highly recommend it. Thank you Sandie Docker, it's a stunner!

[Fi · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Sandie Docker book and it was fantastic, I loved it. Very well written and you just can't help love all the characters. Even Betty!
Be warned though, it does bring a tear to the eye!
Was sorry to finish it, I wanted it to go on and that's a sign of a very good book. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved all the characters and the whole story line a warm hearted read.

[Maya Linnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this charming story, and always great to have recipes!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every part of this book and all the characters and the different stories all woven into one.
I want to go to the Kookaburra Creek Cafe and meet all the characters and have a Hot Chocolate and a Burger and lots of Cupcakes. Love the recipes at the end will have to try them Chocolate ones first.
I haven’t read any of Sandies books before I read an excerpt and saw lots of great reviews.
Loved the beautiful Bright blue cover and the designs on it.
I will be looking out for the next book by Sandie. I had 4 chapters to go and couldn’t sleep I stayed up to the early hours to finish it.
A fabulous read.would highly recommend this book.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice story. Kept waiting for the plot to "thicken"...sadly it just kept predictably going. Too long.

[Zombieleins-Bücherschmaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was für ein Buch.Ein hoch und runter der Gefühle.Ich liebe die Charaktere und davon kann es gerne noch mehr Teile geben.
Rezi kommt bald