I have somehow ended up with 2 copies of this book on my shelf. It is a really good read. A lovely book to curl up with. Would definitely recommend it.

Here we journey into the world of Willow and learn why her hair is dyed pink, and why she keeps a journal.

This is a poignant story, sympathetically written with an empathetic look at how life is with someone with Alzheimer's or indeed any form of dementia.

Willow is the owner of the most desirable dog in the village - at least according to all other dogs - and lives in a cottage on Frank's farm with her mother.

Her 3 older siblings are scattered but she stayed home and now finds she can't really leave her delightful, free-spirited mother due to her dementia. And so we learn about the constraints and emotional heartache that come with such circumstances.

Willow's life is hectic. Not only is she working several jobs but she is also the carer for her mum suffers from dementia and life is not easy. Willow's social life has been put on the back burner while she deals with each day - never knowing what to expect, however when she spots a mysterious stranger bathing in the pool near the abandoned house she has been asked to clean she does not realise just how much her life is going to change.

A lovely, comforting romance. Perfect to read on a cosy afternoon while dreaming of summers by the beach in Cornwall.

I love the Comfort Food Café. I've completely fallen in love with this series, its characters and of course, the cosy setting. I am so glad that Willow, who has been a secondary character in all other stories, gets the spotlight in this one. Like the other three, this book can be perfectly read as a stand-alone as it has its own independent story, but I would highly recommend reading all the books, as each one of them is a real treat.

Willow works part-time at the café but also runs her own cleaning business, although this gives her enough flexibility to care for her mother, who suffers from Alzheimers, she doesn't have time to have any kind of social live. A new arrival though makes her question if she really is coping with everything going on as well as she thought.

The relationship between Willow and her mother is portrayed in a very special way. Debbie Johnson paints a very clear picture of what it entails to care for a loved one that more often than not forgets who you are, with all its ups and downs. And as you get to know Willow better, you soon realise what a strong woman she is.

But she is not alone at all, once again, the tight knitted community of Budbury is always there, ready to help and comfort with tones of delicious food. This means we get to catch up with some old favourites and see how they are doing, which I enjoyed immensely.

I think that Debbie Johnson gets even better with every new book she releases and Sunshine at the Comfort Food Café might be my new favourite of hers. A beautiful and touching story that will steal many hearts, perfect escapism.

I just love this series! I cannot recommend it enough. If you need a pick me up and an antidote to all the horrible things going on in the real world, this is it. The characters at the Comfort Food Café will reaffirm your faith in the human race and make you laugh and cry along the way. This is Willow’s story and deals with her struggles with her Mum and her Alzheimer’s, but also how hard it can be to accept help, especially when it's from siblings who made your life hell during your childhood. What is undeniably hard subject matter is dealt with sensitively and leaves you with a feeling of hope rather than sadness. Couple it with Willow finally letting herself experience a bit of romance and you have a wonderful read that kept me up far later than I should have been! I can’t wait for the next instalment.

Ok so yet again I read a book in a series without having read the previous novels in the series.  I even have Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe, yet still I read this one first!  I am pleased to confirm though that it really didn't matter that I hadn't read the rest of the series first, and I will be going back to read it shortly!

So this novel is centred around Willow Longville, a young woman who lives in the village of Budbury with her mother.  Her siblings are long gone, encouraged by their slightly (ok more than slightly) hippy mother to experience the world and the adventures within it.  However leaving home is just not an option for Willow, as her mother Lynnie has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  Instead she works at the Comfort Food Cafe, runs her own cleaning business and is supported by her many friends within the village as she has to watch her mother decline due to this truly terrible disease.

Alzheimers features heavily in this novel, and whilst I don't know a great deal about this illness, I know enough to realise that it doesn't just ravage the sufferer: the impact it has on loved ones is profound as the person you've grown up with slowly forgets things, including you.  I was really impressed with the way that Johnson portrays this in this novel.  It is sympathetic whilst also being realistic: Willow is supported by her friends but she is ultimately alone in caring for a mother who sometimes doesn't even know who she is.

Enter Tom Mulligan, the Edward Cullen type figure, full of mystery, found bathing in a pond (except he was less sparkly, obviously).  Tom has bought Briarwood, also know as the House on the Hill.  It is a dark, gothic building that in a former life was a childrens home.  Willow is hired to clean the house, and as a result meets Tom, a socially awkward but very attractive man, providing us with a lovely romance!

I enjoyed this novel far more than I was expecting.  It explores a debilitating illness and its effects on the sufferer and their loved ones.  It also looks at the complexities of family, and finally, we get a good old-fashioned romance thrown in.  I will definitely be going back to read Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe so that I can learn more about Willow's fellow villagers, and shall be picking up copies of Coming Home to the Comfort Food Cafe and Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe soon.

A fantastic instalment of the ‘Comfort Food Cafe’ books that could be read as a stand-alone book.

I loved escaping to Budbury and reading how all the characters were and what they had been up to. Also it was great to be introduced to a new character, Budbury population is really growing.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Impulse for this great read.

I hadn't initially realised that this was part of a series, but that didn't matter. It was a friendly, warm-hearted tale which was set around Willow, a likeable young female whose style was to be a little different but who had some major responsibilities resting on her young shoulders. Alzheimer's disease touches many people and it was interesting to see this delicate situation dealt with in a sensitive way. Other more light hearted topics were woven into the story too and it was an enjoyable read, perfect for a holiday or lazy afternoon.

4.5 - "Second chances and fresh starts…" Stars!

The fourth book in Debbie Johnson’s hugely enjoyable Comfort Food Café series finally gives the reader Willow Longville’s story.

The siren call of Budbury has resulted in yet another weird-but-well-built male responding to its pagan appeal…

I was hooked from the beginning on this one, Willow has played a large part as a secondary character in the previous books I have read, a scene with her mother and an impromptu yoga session in Book one still makes me chuckle just thinking about it. And it is those familial issues that also added to my interest in her finally getting having her story told, because the author has not been shy in highlighting the difficulties and emotional turmoils a child (no matter the age) experiences when looking after an ailing parent whether it be in body or in this instance in mind.

My life isn’t the stuff of fairy tales. The curse can’t be broken with a kiss from a handsome prince, and I’m not going to wake up one day and find that my mother has miraculously been healed…

The prologue set everything up pretty well for Willow and Tom, and I really liked his quirkiness, Debbie has a way of giving you an attractive male that is always slightly different from the preconceived hotness norms. And this time it was a lonely, nerdy geek, with a highly strung dog that ticked all my boxes. Together they found a fulfillment as a couple that both had been lacking as individuals, and I liked that the relationship was given equal footing with Willows situation with her mother, as well as the inclusion from all the characters that you have come to know and love through the previous books.

"Feelings are sometimes pretty messed up things aren’t they..?"

My one and only niggle was that Willow turned into a bit of a martyr in the latter stages of the book, and although it didn’t massively impact my enjoyment of the story being told in general, it did lessen my like for her specifically. The author however is also good at the grand gesture in relation to a character redeeming themselves and this was handled really well on this occasion as well.

"Meeting you… Being here, in this place… it’s like I’ve suddenly woken up in a whole new world."

I am hoping with the return of several of her siblings that the author now has scope to carry on with the series, as I love returning to Dorset, and the rich tapestry of characters that have been developed with each and every book published.

This was a truly heart-warming story that touched me deeply. It follows the story of a family facing loss and how they manage to find reasons for living again. It was well written and I felt I related to the characters who were described with such charm and personality. It made me cry and it’s been a long time since a book made me cry! Wonderfully written, I couldn’t put it down as I wanted so badly to know what was going to happen next. A lovely story that makes you appreciate the people around you.

I absolutely love this series and reading them always makes me smile. I very much enjoyed reading about pink haired Willow’s family and life and I was so pleased that she did get a happier ending too. A very good portrayal of living with a family member who has Alzheimer’s too, but the thing that shone through the problems described was Willow’s love for her mum.

Willow is working as a waitress at the Comfort Food Cafe as well as a part time job as a cleaner to support her mother who has Alzheimers. She doesn't have much of a life until Tom appears and they strike up a funny quirky friendship.... can things finally work out for Willow she certainly deserves it!

Absolutely great to be back at the Comfort Food Cafe with all the old friends I have read all of the series and loved them all, the characters are so warm that you just want to move there and be part of it. Lovely light hearted feel good books.

This is the first book I have read in the series, I didn’t realise there were others. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to get to know the characters in the Comfort Food Cafe. This story is mainly about Willow and her commitment to taking care of her mother who has Altzimers.
It’s an easy reading heartwarming book, ideal for taking on holiday.

This is the fourth novel in a series, however I read it as a stand-alone. This is an emotional and engaging read with well-developed characters who draw you in to a well written story.
I fully intend seeking out the first three books in the series and look forward to reading them.
My thanks to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another great book in the Comfort Food Cafe series.
Great to catch up with some ‘old friends’ and new.
The main character in this book is Willow and you will be sucked into her life with the ups and downs, in particular the subject matter of Alzheimer’s.
Have a read you will not be disappointed.

By the time I reached this book, I have become familiar with the characters and their quirks. I would think it highly appropriate to have some kind of prior understanding of the people and their bonds before venturing into this one for the most effect. I did not cry for this book as I did for the other two I have read. Mostly because this was more funny. The issue in this book is slightly of a different tone than the ones in the previous two. The loss is not exactly of a person physically but mentally. In some ways, it might even be a harder situation to come to grips with.

This book is about pink haired Willow who has made fleeting appearances in the previous books. She is a person with a lot of love to give and is carrying the heavy burden of watching her mother's Alzheimer's sap away her essence. This is about how she gets a chance for a slight betterment of the situation (It is not a spoiler since the comfort food cafe exists to facilitate such minor miracles). The dialogues are more wacky and random in this book, and a working knowledge of popular books(and their cultures) would help understand the random conversations.

I have not mentioned that all books in the series come with a hero to match the ladies who are not exactly damsels in distress. That I would think goes without saying!

The second book I have read by the author in the series. Thoroughly enjoyed it again, and would recommend to anyone. Would be another perfect book to take on holiday!

Loved the story and look forward to reading more books by this author. Definitely recommended if you like this type of book.

Another fantastic book from Debbie Johnson - she never fails to disappoint.

We are back in the midst of Dorset with all our lovely ‘friends’ from previous books in the Comfort Food Cafe series ... Edie, Laura and Matt, Frank and Cherie, Becca and Sam, Zoe and Cal, Katie and Saul and not forgetting Willow and her Mum, Lynne.

This book features mainly on Willow and her struggles as she tries to balance work with looking after her mother who has Alzheimer’s. She has no time for a life of her own and while she never complains, the arrival of Tom knocks her somewhat off kilter.

Like the other books in this series - I laughed, I cried, I sympathised with the characters and then I cried some more.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book.

A wonderful way to escape from the humdrum with this poignant tale of a recently bereaved mother and her two children. . The author’s deep knowledge of bereavement..... its highs and very low lows.... I feel would be a reassuring comfort for those going through similar pain. In fact, had I not retired from counselling, I would be purchasing shelf loads of this book to give to my clients. I confess I’ve already bought one for a friend!
The strory is balanced by a , sometimes hilarious, tale of a working holiday by the coast. I found myself with tears of laughter running down my face as I read of Laura’s life with her delightful children, their dog and the neighbouring vet. Again, what a depth of understanding of teenage moods and ways!
A very enjoyable read and one I shall recommend to all who will listen.