“A sweet read in every way.”—Cynthia Ruchti, award-winning author and speakerCan grace and love be found amongst coffee grounds? Sonja Parker is about to find out.Excited to leave her stale life in the big city behind, Sonja takes the money her grandmother left her and purchases Libby’s Cuppa Joe, a thriving coffee shop in a small community in Wisconsin’s Door County. Sonja may have business … money her grandmother left her and purchases Libby’s Cuppa Joe, a thriving coffee shop in a small community in Wisconsin’s Door County. Sonja may have business sense, but is she ready to face the world on her own?
Sonja soon discovers owning a business requires more than offering a good cup of coffee. She must make major repairs to the building as well as major repairs to her heart. Do the former owners, Libby and Joe hold the answer? As Sonja seeks to make Libby’s Cuppa Joe a viable business, can she also find herself and the God she has abandoned?
Libby’s Cuppa Joe is a riveting tale of second chances, forgiveness, and not living on borrowed faith.
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Libby’s Cuppa Joe by Rebecca Waters is an interesting story that combines elements of romance and women’s fiction. Two things that I enjoy were themes in this book – small towns and coffee shops. The close-knit community of Fish Creek in Wisconsin’s Door County is vividly conveyed, and I loved how Waters alluded to other authors with stories in the same setting, such as Cynthia Ruchti.
I liked the lead character, Sonja, and thought she was realistically portrayed – from her efforts to succeed in a business of her own, to the sins and failures that are common to all. As a lover of coffee shops, I enjoyed background information – such as Sonja’s baking efforts and experience with an espresso machine. Connecting with and getting to know the previous owner, Joe, was such a sweet touch. But best of all was Sonja’s spiritual journey, from a Christian “in name only” to a much deeper faith through the receiving of God’s grace.
I thought the writing could have been a little more fleshed out, because there were time lapses and sudden jumps that had me trying to figure out what I might have missed, and some things weren’t revealed until well after the fact. But the story was one that I enjoyed overall and appreciated its spiritual themes and clear gospel message.
I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
**I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Just Read Tours and the author. All opinions expressed are my own.**
Libby’s Cuppa Joe is a clean contemporary Christian story. Sonja, the main character, uses an inheritance from her grandmother to buy a coffee shop in a small Wisconsin town. She’s looking for a change of pace, a slowing down. Having never owned a small business, Sonja is thrown for a loop with unexpected expenses, etc. She also struggles personally and makes some bad decisions that impact her life. Sonja is, essentially, becoming an adult and learning hard lessons from her business and personal life. Sonja matures and finds things she’s lost along the way. Sonja has taken a big risk with the coffee shop, and it’s failure or success rests on her capabilities. It’s satisfying to make this journey with her to the outcome. The other characters are likeable and flawed. They are engaging, entertaining and charming. The story is predictable but enjoyable, nonetheless. It’s a fast light read that’s good if you don’t have a lot of time. Overall, it’s not wholly original, but it’s cute, fun and clean. And, besides, who wouldn’t love to own a coffee shop?
Rebecca Waters is a new author for me and the cover is not the type that usually attracts me either. Nevertheless I chose to read Libby’s Cuppa Joe to review and was pleasantly surprised that I was quickly captivated by the story.
The novel features Sonja Parker who invests her inheritance from her grandmother in a once thriving coffee shop in a small Wisconsin town. She runs into several obstacles that include needed repairs to the building as well as trying to live up to the expectations of the shop’s former customers. Sonja manages to find time for romance but she doesn’t make the best choices and is taken advantage of by a deceptive boyfriend. Sonja is left to pay the price for her poor decisions. Another young man was the perfect hero who saw past Sonja’s mistakes to her caring heart.
Libby’s Cuppa Joe is a clean read despite certain circumstances that take place in the background. I enjoyed the way Sonja’s friends and family rallied around her to help with each and every problem she encountered and how the author managed to weave in a strong message of faith into the story. I was also pleased at how all the loose ends were tied together at the end, especially a surprise for the former owner of the coffee shop.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Just Read Tours. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.