Customer Reviews

The Crossroads Cafe

5 star:		(193)
4 star:		(52)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Seriously. That first line:

Before the accident, I never had to seduce a man in the dark.

was intriguing enough to keep me reading for some time.

First of all, what accident?

Who is she?

Why is she seducing someone?

Who is he?

Why does she HAVE to seduce him in the dark?

Was the accident THAT bad?

The other reviews here tell you about the plot. I'm here to tell you that the writing is wonderful.

I came across Ms. Smith's first posted excerpt on the Belle Books website (bellebooks dot com)and could not stop reading. At that time she'd only posted one or two chapters. Each month I came back looking for a little more on Cathryn and Thomas. I wanted to know the why's and when's and how's of their story. The odds of their inevitable coming together (given the first line) were gi-normous. Yet, in weaving their stories together, Smith makes you believe that these two very damaged people can not only help each other, but are the ONLY ones who can help each other heal.

Perhaps I should confess that before reading an excerpt of The Crossroads Cafe, I'd never read anything by Deborah Smith (How did I NOT know about her???) By the time this book hit the store shelves, I'd purchased and read another of her books. I liked it well-enough, but wasn't bowled over. That made me apprehensive. Could she keep my interest in TCC?

She did. Not only was the plot intriguing, but the wildly eclectic cast of characters were richly drawn and multi-faceted. This rich characterization didn't stop at Thomas and Cathryn, but extended to Delta, who runs the cafe, and her husband Pike. It extended from the sideline characters of young Cora and Ivy, to the lesbian couple Macy and Alberta and their motley collection of abused women. Each character had purpose and helped move the story along. Even the Southern setting became an integral part of the story without long passages of description and brought a deeper understanding to the characters.

If you don't like emotional reads, fascinating characters, gripping prose and books with enough southern flavor you swear you can taste the grits and sweet tea, just ignore this post. But if you do, the Crossroads Cafe may very well become one of those books you keep, re-read, and hug to your memory with an affection usually reserved for long-time, cherished friends.

Im not particularly good with writing reviews but I just had to write something. I read this book in 2 days and it has been one of he best books ive ever read. I went through many emotions reading this book, laughing on one page, crying on the next. I have recommended this book to everyone i know and i just know it will touch their heart as it did mine. If biscuits are food for the soul through your stomach...this is food for the soul through your eyes. Beautiful.

I enjoyed it. I do not like books written in the first person. But I enjoyed this one and it is written in 2 first persons. (It switches viewpoint with each chapter.) This story is about 2 people who have a hard time and how they overcome it. Crossroads characters are bunch of oddballs...reminds of the old show Northern Exposure. Yes that shows my age!! lol Get this book you will enjoy it.

I didn't think it was possible. After many years of reading, I think I have gotten a bit cynical & I usually open a book by a fav author with a bit of trepidation. Is it going to measure up to the last one? Or, if the last was was a struggle to read, is it going to disapppoint again?

Well, Deb Smith has NEVER disappointed me, ever since I first read Blue Willow many moons ago, & this one is another book that will go on my keeper shelves to be read & loaned out, (carefully!!) again & again. Only 1 teeny disappointment maybe, it could have been a hardcover as per her usual, they hold up better to repeated readings, but I guess maybe the softcover will reach those who can't afford the HC prices sooner.

I hear that Sweet Hush has been optioned for a movie, I think this one would be terrific for that too. I would wish that every young girl would read this book who might be struggling with the whole "being pretty" thing & body image issues. They will relate to young Ivy in the book I am sure. And heaven knows, we "older" women still struggle with those same issues, seeing ourselves as imperfect & therefore not as important in society as somone who is "perfect" in appearance.

Thank you so much Deborah Smith for another great book. Looking forward to the next one!

I have always disliked romance novels. Harlequin? Ack! Bodice-rippers? No way. That guy who writes the sappy novels....Nicholas Sparks? Never ever ever.

I have no recollection why I bought The Crossroads Cafe on my Kindle. At any rate, it sat on page 10 of 10 on my Kindle for quite a long time, along with Pride, Prejudice and Zombies, Brave New World, The Federalist Papers, and a dictionary. And a smattering of early-1900s obscure novels I bought for free and probably will never read.

Anyway, last week my credit card was stolen by devious souls who would never shop where I would, causing a fraud alert (Neiman-Marcus, and other upscale stores). My credit history contains book stores, yarn stores, and the occasional hiking supply store. No question of a fraud alert starting at Neiman-Marcus.

As a result, as I lay me down to sleep I realized I couldn't invest in any of the 9.5 pages of "samples" that I had downloaded onto my Kindle until my new credit card arrived. Conundrum.

So, in desperation I started The Crossroads Cafe. Hated the first few chapters. I abhor narcissistic females and weepy men. Cathryn was obnoxious to the extreme. I had no interest in reading about more insipid tidbits of her perfect world. Nauseating! New credit card didn't come. I was now approaching the weekend. A weekend with a touch of the flu, forcing me to stay inside. I had no projects to work on. The loom was empty. Knitting needles were bare. I could only read. So...I did.

I started to fall in like. First with Thomas and Banger, then the house (Craftsman!). Then reluctantly with Cathryn. Still no credit card. I was snookered by crotchless longjohns. Still no credit card. We made biscuits and gravy for breakfast. No mail.

Fine. I've found a romance I can't put down. I've been reformed, are you happy? ....I am.

Crossroads Cafe is another good book by Deborah Smith. It is not her best work. The book has a little too much explicitly described sexual activity for me. Belle Books usually does not go there in the detail this one does. I would rate it good -- not excellent.

The characters are well developed and the author does a fine job of telling each heart-warming story, all the while, keeping the underlying theme of the beauty, food and personality of the South in the background. Each character exposes his heartbreaking depths of pain but with a surprising and delightful good humor. Many emotions are revealed and explored and I found the read very enjoyable.

However, it was extremely distracting that the author deemed it necessary to insert small, off-the-wall and unrelated comments about politics, even to the point of hinting of a government cover-up for the attacks of 9/11. Perhaps the author worked a little too hard to be "x-rated" as well. These efforts just didn't fit the characters she created so expertly. If she had left these things out, I would have giving this book 5 stars.

I just finished reading one of the Mossy Creek books and was under the impression that this was one of the same. Not quite. Same genre, different content. The opening line threw out a red flag but I figured it to be the hook to ge you in the book but it turns out that what followed only got worse. Though the small town feel of the story initially attracted me,I couldn't get past the language and sexual content. So this book would not appeal to someone looking for a more wholesome story. However, from the little bit that I read, the author seems to have good talent for painting the picture of her story.

my wife read this book to me out loud and we both spent a lot of time laughing. this author, while sometimes being a bit sappy, makes up for it is her sense of humor and ability to create characters that you really want to know. at the end, there is a sad sense that you are leaving behind good friends. for books to help us feel better in the middle of an awful war and scarey climate change, this is a book to cheer you up and make you laugh and cry at the crazy turns of life and love.

Cathy has it all (or so she thinks) she is beautiful, one of the most well known Hollywood actresses and a rich gorgeous husband to boot. But, when she suffers a horrific auto accident and is suddenly scarred, will all of those things still be there for her? Or, will she learn that beauty isn't just on the outside, and sometimes you have to fight for what you really want and care for in life? Her connection with Crossroads and The Crossroad Café are rooted in her past and family history, but it is the connections of the present and future that will change her life.

Thomas is not alone in tragedy in his life. He will never forget 9/11 or the tragedy that directly affected him that day, but will he ever forgive himself for the things that were out of his control? Will he ever start living again and be the man those around him know he still is? When he arrived in Crossroads four years ago he did find one thing to hold his interest. He found Cathy's old Craftsman House and could not stand to see it in disrepair. But, what will his reaction be to the woman who the house belongs to? And will he have the same feelings when he meets her in person?

Follow the lives and growth of Thomas and Cathy as well as their friends and relatives Delta, Cora and Ivy. Added in you will meet many other characters such as Banger (the cell phone loving goat) and "The Log Splitter Girls".

Deborah Smith writes a heartfelt moving story about love, tragedy and the process of healing. I was pulled in from the first wanting to know if either character would just keep living or actually be able to heal. Ms. Smith took an honest approach about the hardships of not only PTSD but burn victims and their fears as well as pains. But, that being said The Crossroads Café is also a story about the bonds of love and true family. Don't misunderstand me this is not a depressing book but, an uplifting one. I laughed out loud about Banger and his cell phone addiction, the Crossroads Café privy and even Cathy's inclination for using a small fire extinguisher as a safety blanket. If you want a realistic and well-written story about love and the mysterious ways people heal from tragedy than you need to find The Crossroads Café by Deborah Smith.

Tanya

Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed