Compelling and fun book to read during these times. I enjoyed the characters and storyline very much! What a brilliant, beautiful, feel-good, heartwarming book!

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

First book in a new series.

This was the first book I've read by this author and it was an okay read. The town is the typical charming small town, but I felt like the author tackled too much in featuring 4 main characters and their stories. There didn't seem to be a lot of character growth, and frankly the plot lines were slooow for most of the book and then way too fast for some things. All the characters falling in love in a week felt like a stretch.

It's an okay book for a series start, I guess, but not anything special.

"Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe" by Jodi Thomas

This is my first book by Jodi Thomas and I really loved it. It had everything I loved in a cozy read, a small town and an amazing cast of characters I really enjoyed reading about. There is a little bit of romance, and a little bit of mystery too, with plots and sub plots that drew my attention and added to the excitement of the read. I could not stop reading this book and devoured it in one lovely afternoon. I highly recommend this book and look forward to continuing the story with a possible start of a lovely series.

The cover is simply adorable! It really set the tone for the novel. I enjoy cozy, small town books and this was just what I was looking for!

I love a good mystery and occasionally enjoy a good romance. This Honey Creek series debut was a romance with elements of mystery, featuring a female small town Texas mayor and the state trooper who is out to protect her.

There's a memorable cast of characters in Honey Creek, Texas, and, from the excerpt of the next book, located at the end of this book, this looks to be a series, much to my delight.

This was my first Jodi Thomas book but certainly won't be my last as I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Time to check out some of her other series!!

This was my first @jodithomasauthor book and it was very enjoyable! This particular book/new series gave me all the Virgin River vibes which I am totally here for!
I loved the small town setting of Honey Creek, Texas....my first Texas setting! As with all small towns there are characters I’d love to sit and have coffee with and others to avoid. I look forward to getting to check in on Piper Mackenzie and Colby and hope to meet new characters as the series continues.

‘Breakfast at the Honey Creek Café’ begins the ‘Honey Creek’ series with a bit of mystery, definitely people who aren’t exactly who they first appear to be, all the fun of a quirky small town with romance in the air for some residents. We meet Piper, the mayor of Honey Creek with a bit of a PR problem on her hands since the friend who claimed they were engaged (they were not) has done a disappearance act and many are wondering just what the mayor has to do with that situation. Colby who has been hired by her brothers to investigate Boone’s vanishing act and the jilted, still in love wanting a second chance lover is the perfect cover for those questions he’s asking around town. Then there’s Sam, the new preacher in town who is not everything he appears to be on the surface. Finally, Pecos, a young man about to graduate high school and leave behind the sad and complicated life he’s lived right under the noses of the residents of Honey Creek.

I enjoyed myself very much in ‘Breakfast at the Honey Creek Café’. There is world-building, of course, there has to be some when it’s the beginning of a new series, but I didn’t find any of it overwhelming. I fell in love with this small town with its secrets, residents who are, for the most part, good-hearted, and characters who came alive on the pages quite easily. The writing is smooth, the plot interesting, and the people we meet are as diverse as can be found in any small town across the country. There are threads woven throughout this story that I’m guessing will be picked up on throughout the series. So, not all answers will come in this one, but it is a series so that’s not unexpected. I had a blast with this one, and I’ll definitely be watching for the next story in the series.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from Kensington Books via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe by Jodi Thomas is the first in a new series and a totally FUN book. Sam Randall Cassiday is the son of an itinerant preacher in Texas and now has decided to take a break from his real like by following in his father's footsteps with a two-week stint as a substitute pastor in Honey Creek, Texas. He had trained for it, after all. Colby McBride was at the same gas station 40 miles outside of Honey Creek at the same time Sam McBride was. Colby was a state trooper whose aim was to become a Texas Ranger. This assignment in Honey Creek was the net step. Piper Jane MacKenzie was the Mayor of Honey Creek and her "almost" fiancé was missing. He wasn't really her fiancé. It was a rumor, probably started by him. Her overprotective brother was sending her a bodyguard. She could take care of herself.

This lovely book is a romance and a mystery, also a bit of an adventure, but it stays in Honey Creek. It is well-written and very character-driven. The personalities of the main characters shine through and ring true. Colby is nothing if not a protector. Sam may have found his calling rather sooner than he expected and Mayor Piper turns out not be quite as self-sufficient as she thought. The search for the mysterious fiancé turns out to be a highlight and a pretty good dilemma to solve, but it comes together in the end. Thomas tells a good story. She always does. Looking forward to the next book in the series. I recommend it as a fun and uplifting read for tough times.

I received a free ARC of Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #breakfastatthehoneycreekcafe

Breakfast at the Honey Creek Café by Jodi Thomas
Honey Creek #1

When the news is filled with protests, political shenanigans, and the fear of catching a killer virus causing a pandemic there is nothing better than escaping into a small-town romance that has it all. In this book there are, in fact, THRE…or was if four… romances, some soul searching, a mystery, a bad guy, interesting local characters and the introduction to a series I know I will thoroughly enjoy.

What I liked:
* Meeting the two men that will star in the story…and how they were introduced
* Piper: a woman who is dedicated to her town, doing a great job as mayor and eager to end the news reports about her supposed fiancé
* Colby: a charmer working undercover to help Piper, her town, and the Texas Rangers.
* Sam: a good man who hopes that a few weeks engaging with his past will give him insight into the direction his future should take.
* Anna: The fiery redhead with a long list of things to do. She captures the attention of Sam just as he captures hers.
* The meet-cutes for both the above couples
* Pecos: a young man who will go far someday…I really felt for him but admired him as he stepped up and became knight for a damsel in distress
* Kerrie: I felt for her, too, and enjoyed the way she came through a tough time well.
* Mr. Winston: an older gentleman with a heart of gold
* The side stories…there were a few and I look forward to hearing more about some of them in future books of the series.
* That the mystery was solved, a bad guy thwarted and HEA’s were provided for the couples by the end of the book.
* The charm of the town and the way the story left me feeling good as I read the last page

What I didn’t like:
* I really can’t think of much except for the scoundrel that finally got his comeuppance

Did I enjoy this book? I surely did!
Would I read more in this series? Definitely!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books-Zebra Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe by Jodi Thomas is the 1st book in the Honey Creek romance series, and my first book by this author. This book covers three couples romance stories, along with a mystery or two. Piper the mayor and Colby the undercover detective, Sam the new preacher and Anna, and Pecos and Kerrie. I found this book to be fun with many twists and turns, that keep me reading. The plot and characters are well developed, and I enjoy the quirky characters in the book. I recommend this book, and am looking forward to the next book in the series, and more books by this author. I strongly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Excellent start to what should be a fun new series. This is a small town romance tinged with a bit of mystery that keeps things interesting. Honey Creek is a fun and intriguing small town with lots of quirky town folk that could provide interesting stories in the future. The writing of this book is excellent but the one thing that kept it from being a 5 star read for me was the sheer number of characters. At times it was frustrating and difficult to keep them straight. Overall though it was a very enjoyable read and a book I would recommend.

This was a great book filled with many characters and their stories in Honey Creek, Texas. The characters were well defined, and the storyline well thought out. These multiple characters had side stories, about what was going on in their lives during the week in the town. There was humor, romance, drama, and mystery going on with these stories. I loved reading the story and author Jodi Thomas always presents such detailed engrossing stories.

This was a totally enjoyable read. A little suspense, a fair amount of romantic connections, and interesting characters to get acquainted with hold the reader’s interest very easily.. Jodi Thomas really takes one to a small town Texas community and gets the reader immersed in the lifestyle. Looking forward to more in this series. I received an ARC copy for an honest review—and I gave this five stars,

Another great Jodi Thomas title! I really like the sweet storyline with just a hint of mystery. As always, this book was very well written and kept me reading, I didn't want to put the book down! Highly recommended.

I had a hard time trying to figure out the characters in the first couple of chapters but ended up loving the book. I've read a lot of Jodi's books and this one didn't disappoint. I liked the relationships between the characters in the book and the small town vibe. I'll be anxiously waiting for the next book in the series to come out.

A wonderful story, a mixture of multiple romances, a mystery, and others just finding a place for themselves. Rich characters and eccentricity amok makes Honey Creek, Texas a great place. Hard to put this one down. Centered around Piper, the mayor, and Colby the Texas Ranger wanna be, as well as Sam, the preacher and Anna the dynamo. Can't forget lovable Pecos, whose family situation is just sad. Highly recommend this book and author, a great read.

I loved this book. It was improbable but funny and entertaining. Piper Mackenzie is the mayor of her small hometown in Texas. Her father is the governor and her brothers are Texas Rangers. When her sometimes friend claims to be engaged to her and then disappears, the family sends an undercover lawman, Colby McBride to snoop around and find out what is going on. Piper is drawn in by Colby to pretend that she knows him and that he is someone who has always wanted to date her.

Mix into the story Sam, a preacher who comes to town to fill the pulpit at the local church for a while and all the complications of the parish.

I would love to see more stories like this. I would recommend them to my friends who love feel good fiction.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe by Jodi Thomas is a light fun read with a group of characters that just keep you moving through the story quickly. They are so well drawn - you feel like you know them.

The story revolves around a town, Honey Creek in Texas. The Cafe is one of the three eateries in town. The mayor, Piper Jane is worried about the town and keeping her job. An old acquaintance is saying they are engaged and has disappeared. Piper is worried how the town will take the investigation. This brings in Colby McBride to be undercover and figure out what happened to him. Meanwhile, there is a new preacher - who isn’t really a preacher - Sam Cassidy. Then there is a local high schooler Pecos. Together this unlikely group all end up … well you will see what they end up doing. Following the romance and the mysteries is fun. Learning about the town and their bonds, makes the book very likable.

I enjoyed the book for the characters and the interesting story line. I do like how the book changes narrators, so we are offered a variety of views of the situations. The book is listed as the first of a series and I am looking forward to the series! Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe by Jodi Thomas is a fun read.

Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe is a fun, lighthearted read with quirky characters in typical small town fashion. Honey Creek townspeople love their mayor, Piper Mckenzie, who comes from a family of politicians and law enforcement officers. Her granddad was also mayor, her dad is a senator, and two brothers are Texas Rangers. Colby McBride is a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper in town asked by one of the brothers to keep the mayor safe when her so called fiance disappears. He is incognito and playing the part of a lovesick former acquaintance. Told from four different viewpoints, this story takes place over the course of several days. We hear the action from Piper, Colby, interim minister, Sam Cassidy, and new high school graduate, Pecos Smith. Sam is like Colby in that he is not who he professes to be. He has a divinity degree but has never preached, having been in the Army and currently is a forest firefighter in Colorado. Each has a unique story.
This is an entertaining story with a great supporting cast of characters, some lovable, some not so much, but all colorful and interesting. With romance and a mystery to solve, this is a winner and a great story to watch develop and unravel.
I received a complimentary ARC from Zebra and Kensington Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

Breakfast at Honey Creek Cafe is a sweet romance with just a hint of mystery. Jodi Thomas has a way of taking small town America and making a wonderful story line with townsfolk who care and take care of one another. I have enjoyed many of her series. Her characters bring to life what it is to live in a town of quirky, caring, nosy neighbors. Her ability to weave words and phrases together in order to have the reader laughing out loud is a huge part of the story. While a first it may seem that there is way too much going on in the story, the reader finds it hard to stop turning pages. I look forward to the next story by Jodi Thomas. I received a copy through Netgalley, A review was not required.