“Some scars are too deep to ever heal,” Leah Gabriella Allen whispered in hushed anguish.
The orphaned young woman knows all too well about scars — exposed as well as hidden deep within.
Gabriella naively falls in the thorny arms of the abusive Brent Sadler. The constant bruise of cruelty is ever present in their ten years of marriage.
One last momentous beating ends with two deaths and changes … deaths and changes Gabriella’s life forever. She stumbles away within an inch of her own life and begins a journey to an unexpected southern home which is none other than Lulu’s Café, where she tries to mend her severed spirit. Lulu is the petite charismatic southern belle, who wisely takes on the challenge of helping the young woman heal. She enlists the support of the enchanting southern gentleman, Crowley J. Mason IV, whose ocean blue eyes seem to hypnotize Leah (as they know her) from the start.
Leah is an unwanted stranger in Crowley’s quaint southern town of Rivertown, South Carolina. He holds her at arm’s length as he tries to decipher the mystery of her recent past, but before the young lawyer realizes it, he finds Leah tucked protectively in his arms. He wants nothing more than to help her heal… if she would just trust enough to let him in.
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Some stories are all sugar, spice, and everything nice, this story is more… more reality, more authenticity, more grit, more truth, more love, and more hope. Sometimes we need to be reminded, there’s always hope, even in the midst of crushing heartbreak and pain.
Leah’s experiences are a fictional representation of the real lives of many who face these same critical issues. May her story open our eyes and hearts and motivate our hands and feet to serve these individuals. Crowley is a perfectly flawed hero and I love that the author didn’t create a knight in highly polished shining armor for this story.
I highly recommend Lulu’s Cafe by T.I. Lowe and I’m eagerly anticipating her next release!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
I had an idea what the book was about but not how in depth the author would go. To say this book made me shudder is pretty accurate. It’s not because I didn’t like it, but rather because it brought back memories of a life I had growing up . Violence was the norm in my childhood. I felt like I had no one to talk to or to save me.
As I began Leah’s story I found myself shadowing her and trying to give her encouragement. The brutal relationship she had was so emotional, I could feel every punch, kick and broken bone. The author shows us a woman who so desperately wanted to be loved, she excused the abuse with saying she must have done something wrong. What the author so eloquently does is takes a character who is lost, has low self esteem , broken and leads readers on a journey to healing. The scene in the hospital was so traumatic and realistic I applaud the author for not sugar coating it. Sometimes we have to hit rock bottom before we finally cry out to God for help.
Lulu is someone who was placed in Leah’s path by God. I don’t believe in coincidences only divine appointments. Lulu knows without Leah saying what she has experienced. The bruises are evident and the lost look in her eyes bring Lulu to reach out. I think of this book as a book of hope and finding your worth.
There is a special man that comes into Leah’s life that has such patience I was impressed . He goes slow getting to know Leah realizing she has a deep secret that needs to be set free. We all have scars but some are visible while others are hidden deep in the heart. Those scars are what keep us in bondage and allow the enemy to taunt us. Leah felt weak and wasn’t sure she could trust anyone.
I love the book and how it shares the hope of a better tomorrow and a promise that “He will never leave us nor forsake us.” We have to do our part and reach out to Him. I have to thank the author for writing a story that brings hope, healing and restoration to a woman who thought she was worthless.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
What I think you should know:
Lulu’s Cafe is about a woman’s recovery from domestic violence and an extremely tough childhood. It is a contemporary novel set in a fictional town in South Carolina. While this was a hard book from me to read emotionally I enjoyed the book, I wanted/ needed to know what happened to Leah. This is the first T. I. Lowe book I have read, but it will not be the last.
What touched me about this book:
Leah is such a strong and resilient woman, but it took a character like Lulu to help her to feel safe and to allow her to blossom into the woman that she had the potential to be .Crowley was an added bonus in the book, he was a safe harbor that Leah didn’t know was possible.
What you might want to know: SPOILER !!
The first 58 pages were very hard for me to read, I had to take breaks from reading it. It was very honest about the abuse.
I received a complimentary copy for this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.
Right from the first page you wonder if this young woman will survive to the end, I can’t even imagine such abuse, and yet it happened.
We walk with this young woman and her journey to find God, and on the way, we experience what her life was growing up in foster homes and then in a marriage from Hell.
Would you ever be able to trust again? The author has written a wonderful story of her journey, and the people that are placed in her path.
There is heart ache, love, compassion, a few chuckles, and a compelling page turner, you cannot leave this one!
I received this book through the Celebrate Lit, and was not required to give a positive review.
Lulu’s Café is an emotional roller coaster but is worth the ride.
This is not my first time reading Lulu’s Café. I just didn’t understand the importance of a review at the time. So when I saw it on the tour schedule, I was quick to sign up.
This was worth reading a second time.
All I could recall from reading this book the first time was the wealth of emotions I felt. Anger, grief, heartache – and an overwhelming hate for one of the characters. I was also refreshed to see a Christian author who unapologetically touched on subjects that were considered a no-no.
I, however, forgot about the tender, loving care poured on young Leah. By the townspeople, Lulu, and Crowley. She needed so much love to heal from the pain left behind by her past.
I also forgot about how swoon worthy Crowley was. Though the actor Josh Lucas (Jake from Sweet Home Alabama) was the face I pictured, Crowley’s gentle attentiveness is what makes him completely adorable and swoon-worthy.
The more important piece to this story is hidden but shouted out at me this time. “God can heal those broken place that a rooted so deep that human love can not touch it.” (No more needs to be said there.)
I will give one word of caution – Though this book is a simple read, you will suffer a wealth of emotions as you read Leah’s story. It is definitely a roller coaster ride worth taking.
***Lulu’s Café was provided by the publisher through CelebrateLit so that I could offer and honest review.T.I. Lowe
This novel begins with a glimpse at what Leah’s life was like with her husband Brent. She’d spent years just trying to survive from his abuse. I would warn that some of this could be a bit graphic for some readers. Her life in the beginning was horrifying.
Fast forward to her search for freedom, Leah finds herself at home in a town she was surprise to be welcomed into. I enjoyed most of the storyline, but as I saw another review mentioning, the emphasis on food, weight, and physical appearance was too overpowering from what should have been the focus of the story. It stunted my ability to appreciate certain characters that were otherwise likable. Her value and healing should have never been measured against her diet and pant size. There needed to be more focus on the emotional healing than telling her not to drink soda or have a donut. She was painted as a healthy and fit girl before her marriage and had multiple reasons for her weight gain including injuries and a husband that beat her and refused to let her return to a gym after a man looked at her. I felt defensive of her as a character when I didn’t feel that I should need to when she was in the company she was with.
That piece aside though, I did really enjoy this story and appreciated how each of the supporting characters had a role in helping Leah come out of her shell and eventually find her way towards a path of healing and freedom from her past. I loved seeing a community come together to help a perfect stranger when she had no one to support her and no where to go. It really was heartwarming to see her come to realize she was safe and no longer a prisoner. It also was encouraging to see her heart soften towards God as she saw the people caring for her pointing her to Him. Even though I didn’t love everything about it, I still really enjoyed this book and would still give it a solid recommendation.
*I received a copy of this book through CelebrateLit. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
My goodness, I honestly do not know where to start with my review. Let’s go with ~ MUST READ.
T.I. Lowe writes amazing, heartfelt, Christ filled books about the hard things in life with such grace. Her characters are so well written and the scenes come alive with her ability to bring you right into the middle ~ including all the feelings as if you are there with the characters.
Lulu’s Cafe is truly a beauty from ashes book filled with so many emotions… one you will not regret readings.
Lulu’s Cafe was written by T.I. Lowe, a home-town girl, who grew up in the same places as me. The small-town gossip about her amazingly written book left me wanting to read it for myself and I was definitely not disappointed.
T.I. Lowe and I have walked the same streets over time, the same well-beaten paths of beauty by the river and the beautiful Atlantic Coast that make up our coastal SC home. I knew every true, picturesque place she described in the made up town of Rivertown, SC. Much as Rivertown became “Home” to Leah Allen, the main character in Lulu’s Cafe, Rivertown is indeed “Home” to me.
Leah’s life was not always sweet southern peaches and cream. She’d been through Darkness in her lifetime – a Darkness that few of us can even begin to imagine. Growing up as an orphan was only the faint beginning of this life she led.
To everyone else, it seemed Leah, who was then known as Gabriella Sadler, lead a dream life. She was the wife of the handsome Brent Sadler who gave her everything she could ever want. If only the world would take a closer look, they’d see that Gabby’s life was not all roses and champagne. Only a few cared to look for the truth and those few couldn’t help Gabby.
There comes a time when the abuse becomes too much and you fight back. I know because I have been there and though I wasn’t nearly as badly abused as sweet Gabby was, it wasn’t easy just to walk away. Still Gabby managed to break free and she started on a path to begin her life again. She headed South.
In the South, Gabby began to grow and blossom, thanks to the great support she found in Lulu and others in Rivertown. She was known as Leah now, her name all along. She hid her past but began to look forward to her future. Lulu’s Cafe helped Leah find who she really is and that fine piece of man, Crowley Mason also played a hand in that.
Coastal South Carolina leaves with you a lasting impression. The sweet little towns, the southern sass, the smell of wetlands and marsh grass are incomparable. I personally couldn’t imagine a better life than here and Lulu’s Cafe, T.I. Lowe’s debut novel, brings forth every bit of that beauty through Leah’s story. T.I. Lowe provides an experience you won’t soon forget and a connection to a place time has not changed. I truly look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
I tend to gravitate toward Christian romance, because I like the romance without the smut. T.I. Lowe has created more than a romance. She addresses difficult subjects straight on with grace and sensitivity. Her use of music throughout her book indicates the thought and detail she has put into it. Her characters are well developed and relatable. Her descriptive prose allows you to enter into the world she has created. Looking forward to more sleepless nights with books I can’t put down! On my favorite authors list for sure!
Loved this book and the writing was phenomenal! What a great story line and plot. I love how T.I. was able to take such a tragic situation and turn Leah’s life completely around to make sure she gets her happy ever after. Crowley is such a great guy and perfect for helping Leah to over come such pain and sorrow. Lulu added so much to this story and to Leah’s healing and I love how these characters all came together as one community and always looked out for each other. This book is an extremely moving story about turning your life around and learning to love again and move on from your past. If you’re looking for a feel good story with great morals and a touching story about life and love, this is the book for you. I can’t wait to read more by this author as her writing style really makes a story come to life.
Thank you SO very much to the author T.I. Lowe and Tyndale House publishers for allowing me to be a part of the launch team for this book and sending me a copy before it is released.
My review is in NO way influenced by my involvement, nor was I compensated for such.
Very seldom do I add trigger warnings; however this book does contain certain elements that might be disturbing to certain readers, so caution should be taken:
** Domestic Violence
** Sexual Assault
** Miscarriage
** Alcohol Abuse
“Lulu’s Café” is a Contemporary Romance by T.I Lowe. Originally self-published in 2014 through Create Space, it became an e-book phenomenon. Having already sold 100,000+ copies, it is now available as a mass-market paperback for the first time.
Leah Allen is running from a violent past and ends up taking refuge in the Southern Coastal town of Rivertown, South Carolina.
When she walks into Lulu’s Café, Lulu see the mess that Leah is, and takes her in – giving her a place to stay and a job, more importantly – a friend. But, not everyone is on board with Leah. Crowley Mason has his doubts.
As the community takes to Leah, despite his doubts, Crowley does too. He wants to know where she came from, and what happened to her. But, he also wants to help her; he also wants to love her as well.
Leah slowly steps into her new life, away from the hurt and abuse of her past. As she heals, both physically and mentally, she wonders if she can allow herself to love and be loved again. And, she wonders when the past will catch up with her.
Lowe’s novel begins on a disturbing and violent pace. While some readers who have been through it might be taken back, those who haven’t might find a deeper understanding of the situation. If it is uncomfortable for the reader, it is more so for the victim. However, it is worth staying with the novel to see what happens.
Lowe compassionately (and carefully) takes us through Leah’s journey from a young and naïve woman to one who is standing on her own as a survivor, but still experiencing scars that run so deep they can’t heal. Lowe takes the reader into the brutalization and trauma of abuse, the minds of those who observe (even know what is going on) and are powerless to help, and those who see nothing at all.
Leah’s journey isn’t a fast one, and Lowe makes sure to take each step as it occurs without erasing what has happened or its impact on Leah. But, Lowe also shows us what love and the power of faith can do for us.
This is a book that I wanted to take my time with, but ended up sailing through it as it was mesmerizing, captivating, and inspiring. I wanted to keep going to see Leah’s journey and if she could find healing, peace, and love.
“Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.”
Jeremiah 17:14
Disclosure: This is a goodreads giveaway book. My opinion is my own.
I have mixed emotions about this book. The writing is good, in some places brilliant (first sentence of Chapter 6, for example), but overall, just good. It’s a Cinderella story, of sorts, about a young woman who grew up in the foster system. She marries an evil abusive man, develops an eating disorder, eventually escapes her tormentor, but also suffers another great loss. While she’s on the run she lands in a small Southern town that belongs in a Hallmark movie, meets some great women friends and a handsome millionaire who keeps his wealth a secret (because he’s so good?), loses a ton of weight, falls in love with Mr. Secret Millionaire and eventually lives happily ever after. I’m leaving a bunch of stuff out, of course, but it’s almost too cliché in some respects.
Part of the reason I have such mixed emotions about this book is that given the amount of abuse the main character suffers, to deal with it in this fashion makes domestic violence trite. The first five chapters should come with a trigger warning for someone who still suffers PTSD from domestic violence. To swing from that level of violence to an idyllic haven (Lulu’s Cafe, and the aforementioned secret millionaire) of unconditional Christian love and support requires some amount of suspension of reality.
Lulu is a great character, a very wise Christian lady. I would have loved to have read more of her story—because knowing how she acquired that wisdom is a story in itself.
I think this story would’ve been even better if it had focused less on romance and more on the main character’s struggle to trust. Romance can’t cure that.
One thing I definitely did not like: Mr. Secret Millionaire discloses at one point that he violates the main character’s privacy via the security cameras in his home that are connected to his laptop. Ladies: this is voyeurism. This is a Red Flag. I don’t care how good-looking, wealthy, smart, Christian, or kind-hearted he is. It’s unethical. Don’t brush it aside as the main character did. Quite frankly, I was shocked that the author included it in what was, for the most part, a clean Christian read. I knocked a star off of my rating for that small scene alone.