The Good Luck Cafe was my first Annie Rains book, and I'm glad to have had the opportunity to read it. This is such a sweet romance, and the town is adorable. I especially enjoyed the set-up with the parking lot / bakery conflict and the past between Moira and Gil adds an additional layer of interest to their relationship.

The author does a good job at not letting easily resolved misunderstandings linger for too long. Instead, Gil and Moira actually do talk and that seems like a realistic and relatable way to develop a relationship.

The pacing is good for this type of book -- nothing earth shattering, but it moves along to keep you turning the pages. The side characters add entertainment and depth.

I thought Moria was a little dense in terms of not understanding that her mother didn't feel as strongly about keeping the bakery going. That was a "duh" moment when she finally grasped her mother's position.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this clean romance full of cozy small town charm, and I look forward to more from this author.

The Good Luck Cafe is the 4th book, all of them stand alone, in Annie Rains’ Somerset Lake series. While there are overarching characters, each book has a primary focus which is the storyline.

Moira Green is a dispatcher for her community. The police force is small and Moira actually does her job from home rather than a call center. Each morning she meets her best friend Tess at her mother’s sweet shop and cafe, Sweeties, for coffee and pastries before work. When news comes of the closing of Sweeties when the lease expires to provide the town with a much needed parking lot, Moira and her friends are incensed.

When Moira is awarded a citizen hero award for coming to the aid of Doug Ryan, the younger brother of Mayor Gil Ryan, she takes everyone by surprise when she announces she is running for major in the fall election against the current mayor. In a most unusual development, Gil, once a good friend then close to ghosted after an occurrence Moira had with his college roommate, becomes much more after a fundraiser that puts them together in a jail cell to raise funds to refurbish the jail.

This is another delightful story in this series! Wonderful characters, a great setting, and a wealth of understandable emotions, Ms. Rains has brought forth another special story. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

Moira is happy with her life exactly where it is, however when the mayor, Gil, announces that the town will be demolishing her mother’s cafe to build a parking lot her life is thrown into chaos. Moira spontaneously announces that she will be running against Gil for mayor. Things are made even more complicated by a budding relationship between Gil and Moira.

This is a straightforward, sweet, small town romance. I read the first third, put it down for a few weeks before coming back and picking it back up without having to reread anything or constantly remind myself of what was going on. The town has a very fun set of characters and while I know that this is the fourth book in the series (though the first I’ve read), it never felt like the couples from the previous books were being paraded through this one. There were several inconsistencies that drove me crazy and things that were told rather than shown which I always find frustrating, but overall I enjoyed the book.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Moira and Gil, the town mayor, were good friends once—until one night changed everything. Now, the town council is threatening to tear down her mother's business to make way for a parking lot. With Gil doing nothing to stop them, Moira decides to run for mayor herself. Can she and Gil untangle all the hurts between them, and find their way to love?

This is a well-plotted book with likable characters and a ton of heart. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

3.75 stars- THE GOOD LUCK CAFÉ is the fourth full-length instalment in Annie Rains’ contemporary, adult SOMERSET LAKE sweet romance series. This is Somerset Mayor Gil Ryan, and 911 Operator Moira Green’s story line THE GOOD LUCK CAFÉ can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Moira and Gil) THE GOOD LUCK CAFÉ follows in the wake of the announcement that the coffee and sweet shop owned by Moira’s mother Darla, will be closed and demolished for a much needed parking lot. Moira blames Somerset Mayor Gil Ryan for the upcoming demise of her mother’s business, so in retaliation, Moira enters a three way race for mayor in an effort to save her mother’s much beloved coffee shop but things aren’t always as they appear to be, and Moira finds herself facing off against her mother when Darla acknowledges it is time to move on. Gil Ryan has lusted after Moira Green for as long as he can remember but ten years earlier his roommate jumped at the chance to ask Moira out, a chance that ended in disaster for everyone concerned. An attorney by education, Gil Ryan is the current and hopefully Somerset’s ongoing Mayor but Gil never expected to come up against the woman with whom he has fallen in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Gil and Moira, and the potential fall-out as Moira’s past is revealed, forcing our heroine to confront a dark time in her life.

The relationship between Moira and Gil is one of frenemies; Moira struggles to be anything but rude to our story line hero, something that did not sit well in the early stages of the story line premise. Gil fell in love with Moira years before but our heroine is oblivious to Gil’s attraction, and continues to push Gil out of her life. There are no $ex scenes.

The secondary and supporting characters includes the return of : attorney Jake Fletcher, and Trish Langley (The Summer Cottage 1); Sheriff Miles Bruno, and midwife/nurse Lucy Hannigan (The Christmas Village 2): Della Rose (A Forever Home) 2.5); Tess Lane and River Harrison (the True Love Bookshop 3). We are introduced to Gil’s brother Doug, a young man with Down’s Syndrome, a young man who is running our hero’s mayoral campaign, as well Moira’s mom Darla Green, local gossip and blogger Reva Dawson, and several local who come in and out of everyone’s life.

THE GOOD LUCK CAFÉ is a sweet story of romance and struggle, and unrequited love. The premise is cute and captivating; the characters are charismatic and determined; the romance is subtle.



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The Good Luck Cafe is book #4 in the Somerset Lake Series. It is a charming rom -com that keeps you entertained until the very end. It makes you want to visit the cute little town for yourself.

I've really been wondering what was up with these two. It really seemed that Moira had something against Gil that only she knew about. Which it turns out to be true. No one new why she was upset with him other than herself. Even Gil was in the dark.

So why? I'll let you find that out by reading the story. I will say that I can understand a bit about why she felt the way she did, but she really needed to share her story to really be whole.

I really loved Gil. He is the sweetest, most caring person who really loves his job working to help improve the town Somerset Lake. He's also the best brother. I love the relationship between himself and his brother.

I also enjoyed Moira. At times she really made me wonder why she does the thing does but after a while I kind of understood. I was so happy that she finally listened to her mother and really heard her. Sometimes we have trouble getting out of our own ways.

As a pair they really work. Moira needs someone who is thoughtful and caring and knows when to step back and give her a second to figure out what needs to be done. For their romance I didn't find the hot passion of other couples but the dance they did was no less romantic.

Moira and Gil fit in a way that makes you wonder why they waited so long. Of course, you quickly find out why. You'll love how they thought they were hiding their relationship from the town yet almost the whole town knew how they felt.

As a whole this story worked for them. My only wish is that you felt more heat between them. Their friendship and love for each other shines through but you don't get any really sexy deep feelings from them. With saying that you will still really enjoy their story and the time you get to visit with the people of Somerset Lake.

Things in Moira Greens life are going well, she enjoys her career, has great friends and is part of a wonderful book club. Then her life is shaken.up a bit.when she learns that the cafe her mom has put her into is set to be demolished for a parking lot. Moira becomes steadfast in her journey to save her moms business and hopes talking to Gil Ryan, the mayor, will help her shut things down. The two were once great friends but then that one night long ago changed things between them. Go actually supports the parking so Moira has to go about things in a different way. The two butt heads but also realize that there is something between them. Follow along as the two drive each other mad in good ways as well as bad. This was a wonderfully emotional read that had me hoping for a happy ending.

A book about two people who used to be friends finding their way back together, while dealing with real life circumstances. Gil is the mayor and has had a crush on Moira for years. He gets tongue tied or puts his foot in his mouth every time he sees her. Moira constantly ignores or shuts him down. When the city decides to close her mother’s bakery in order to build a much needed parking lot, Moira decides to take matters in her own hands, by running against Gil.
I enjoyed the friendly banter and the truce they eventually make. Her reasoning for pushing him away is realistic (and could be a trigger for some). She has never talked about what happened to her when she was younger and doesn’t want to start now. Gil just wants a chance to show her that he is the right man for her. When they finally talk about what happens walls that were built fall down and they really start getting to know each other.
It was also interesting to see how what happened to her affects her life and job now, especially when she risked it all by seeking out a caller to check on her. I would also love to read more about Gil’s brother, Doug. He was probably one of my favorite characters in the book. Gil and Moira had great chemistry.
I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

Moira Green has a big heart but in her personal life has been going through the motions. She is a 911 operator that she works from home. One day, all the first responders were tied up so she left the go help a person in trouble. That puts her in the good graces of the mayor Gil Ryan. These two were friends for a long time but that all changed when they went to college. Now Moira runs the other way each time she sees him. As the town is going through a transition, Sweetie's is on the chopping block. They need parking for downtown. This puts them on opposite sides. In between, they finally figure out where their friendship went wrong. Gil has never fallen out of love with her and is hoping to get a second chance. It isn't until she faces her past can she get the future she deserves. There might even be a cute puppy involved.

Reading an Annie Rains novel is a good time. It was a sunshine day and reading this newest novel about Somerset Lake was the icing on the cake.
Moira and Gil run against each other for mayor but are also dating. I thought that was an interesting component.
I did think Moira was unkind to Gil for the first part of the story and I thought Gil was very stalwart by carrying the torch for her as long as he had.
I love the town of Somerset Lake and all the people, even nasty Denise because she adds the villain angle.
I like busybody Reva but wouldn’t want to be in her blog.
I can’t wait for the next book!

I enjoy this series. There have been mentions of Gil and Moira in previous books but we never were given their history. You can read this story without reading the others in the series, as it is standalone. I really liked both Moira and Gil. Both were realistic characters that I liked the pace of the book. I like the style of the author's writing. I definitely will read other books by this author. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Reading an Annie Rains book is like a warm hug. Gil has been in love with Moira pretty much their whole lives. Sadly for Gil, this has been a truly unrequited crush. Moira likes to keep to herself. She enjoys her job as a 911 operator. She loves her Thursday night book clubs. And she loves her mom's small-town café, Sweeties. When she learns that the town has decided to tear down the café to put in a parking lot, Moira decides to go head-to-head with the town mayor, Gil.

I have loved this small-town series and seeing the interactions between Gil and Moira before this point. While this book can be read on its own, seeing the tension build throughout the previous 3 books made this one that much more enjoyable. I appreciated that Moira's story of slowly feeling like she wants to make some changes in her life is one that many can relate to. Change is hard and Moira struggles with how to handle all the new things that have come into her life lately. Gil is steady and solid. He never wavers from his love, adoration, and support for Moira. Even when she runs for mayor against him, he is encouraging and acts as a cheerleader for her. Gil's brother Doug is a delightful addition to the book and, as always, it was great to revisit this charming small town and all its residents.

If you are a fan of Jeannie Chin or Susan Mallery, you should read this delightful series. I truly think you will love any time spent with Gil, Moira, and this sweet town.

The Good Luck Cafe is a charming and heartwarming novel that gives readers a glimpse into the lives of two very different people, Moira and Gil. The story follows Moira as she desperately tries to save her mother’s beloved cafe, Sweetie’s, from being demolished by the town council. The main obstacle standing in her way is none other than Gil, the mayor and her former best friend. Gil’s loyalty lies with the town council, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t sympathetic to Moira’s cause. The novel’s drama builds as the pair clash, both professionally and romantically, on their path to either success or disaster.

Annie Rains is a master of romance, seamlessly blending themes of heartache, struggle and redemption into her story. Moira and Gil’s characters have complexity, but also possess an innocence and sweetness that many readers will relate to. Fans of romance and fiction alike will love this beautiful story, and it’s sure to put a smile on your face by the time you reach the end. The Good Luck Cafe is an inspiring and uplifting novel that’s sure to be an unforgettable experience.

I'm not sure if this will be the concluding book in the series but The Good Luck Cafe by Annie Rains is book four of her Somerset Lake series. If you haven't read the series, you must go back and read. Ideally, they could be read as a standalone but I wouldn't recommend it. I would read the book in order for continuity because there are little tidbits here and there that blend well together from the preceding books. Depending on where you are with this book, this centers around Moira and Gil.

In case you aren't familiar with Moira Green, she is one tough cookie. She is independent, loves her job, has an amazing group of supportive girlfriends that get together once a week to chat at their book club. Her life gets thrown upside when a proposed plan to improve one of the town's biggest problems is solved but at the expense of demolishing her mother's beloved bakery. With fierce determination and humility, she goes straight to the person that potentially has the power to fix all this, Gil Ryan hoping he can help save the building.

Moira and Gil aren't the friends they used to be. Their budding friendship changed one night when a series of events affected their longtime friendship. After realizing that the decision is to be done and nothing will alter the inevitable, Moira decides to take matters into her own hands and decides to run against him.

As the temperature gets turned up for the election, a shift in temperature happens between the two that shifts their friendship. What had been just one side admiration from Gil, begins to evolve a warmer temperament building an attraction that becomes hard to deny.

With all of her girlfriends getting their second chance at love and being all happy and bliss, will she complete them by finally letting love in?

If this concludes the series then I'm glad it ends with these two. I love the type of characters that come together the way they did. It makes their journey all the much sweeter to their hea. I will admit that Moira has sort of irked me a little bit because of her cold temperature to Gil. She's lucky he didn't get snatched up by someone else but I doubt that would've happened because it seemed like he would've subconsciously waited forever for her. We waited long enough for her to open her eyes and see what was in front of her. Their storyline had some sad moments that were unveiled but it redefined their friendship/relationship that allowed her move forward but finally open her eyes.

Besides, their journey to each other, one of my favorite moments in the book is the character Doug. If people took the time to get to know or gave people like Doug a chance, they would thrive. Just because he had down syndrome, doesn't mean that he doesn't have the same hopes and dreams that everyone has. I loved his relationship with Gil and how he respected him and treated him as a person in spite of his physical challenge. He just made my heart smile.

As usual, my favorite girls were back. It was nice getting to see everyone again. Even though Reva and her blog drove me crazy throughout this series, it was nice her little tidbits of wisdom that each one got. If this is goodbye, then Somerset Lake was such a wonderful little town to visit and I'll miss the people. If you haven't checked out the series, go back and add this to the reading list.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

I've read the three books before this one in the series and they all made me feeling a bit fuzzy. The fourth one wasn't an exception but I have to say I found Moira a bit irritating with being so rude all the time to Gil (if I count in the other three books). All of a sudden she's nice to him and feel electricity between them...hmm, I'm not convinced.

Overall it's a nice romance and a group of great friends in their little town :)

Immersing myself in an Annie Rains book always feels like a warm hug. Her stories are like a balm to the soul and just cosy small town romance feel that you need sometimes.

The Good Luck Café delivered the comfort read. I needed this weekend. Solo hosting a sleepover birthday party for 12-year-olds and then my in-laws the next day, I needed this cozy escape.

This was one of those books. The fans of the series has been waiting for, but anyone can jump in and enjoy! Moira Green is happy being single and is definitely not interested in their small town Mayor, Gil Ryan’s advances. Hurt feelings from her past has clouded her view with him until a revelation shines a new light on their relationship, and Moira finally lets those sparks ignite!

These two have been a love-hate relationship since we were introduced to the Somerset lake crew. I couldn’t have been happier to get Moira‘s backstory and learn more about Gil and his family. The side characters really brightened up the story and many of them we’ve seen throughout the series that’s far but we are introduced to a new character, Gil’s brother Doug. Doug is Gil’s younger brother who is his campaign manager and just happens to have Down syndrome. I loved how he was a well developed character, whom had his own story arc and was able to find fulfilment just like Moira and Gil.

Just like the rest of the Somerset Lake series, this book left me feeling warm and fuzzy inside - perfect for this cold snap we’re having right now!

If you’re in the mood for a sweet and cozy, small-town romance Annie Rains has you covered!

The Good Luck Café by Annie Rains is available today!

Big thanks to Forever Publishing for my gift a copy.

The Good Luck Cafe by Annie Rains is a gentle love story featuring Moira who is a 911 dispatcher in a small town where her mother owns a bakery and coffee shop and her best friend, Tess, owns the bookstore. There is a charming downtown area hampered only by traffic and a lack of parking. The book opens with Moira leaving her post (in her own home) to go help a young man in distress, to whom the authorities can’t render help because of an accident downtown and the resulting traffic jam. I turns out he had sprained his ankle and had low blood sugar, having recently been diagnosed with diabetes. It was not difficult except she had to enter through the doggie door. He was Gil’s brother. Gil was the mayor as well as a life-long “friend.” He had helped her out of a jam years earlier and she had kind of avoided him ever since. She was embarrassed about what had happened and she didn’t want to talk about it. After just a couple of days she realized that she was angry with him: the city council had decided to ask her mother’s bakery, Sweetie’s, to vacate so they could tear the building down and make it a parking lot. A parking lot that was desperately needed.

This was a very cute, clean romance, full of small town characters: Reva who wrote the community blog, which turned out to be mostly gossip; Doug, Gil’s brother who had Downs’ Syndrome but was very high functioning and was Gil’s campaign manager in his re-election bid; Denise, who was the grown-up version of the mean girl she’d been in high school, and on and on. It was a fairly thin plot filled in with these personalities and other depictions of small-town life. It’s not quite Mayberry, but close. And fun. Well-written and entertaining.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Good Luck Cafe by Forever (Grand Central Publishing), through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Forever #AnnieRains #TheGoodLuckCafe

The Good Luck Cafe is the 4th book in the Somerset Lake romance series by Annie Rains. This is a sweet, feel-good story featuring Gil, the likable town mayor, and Moira, the sometimes sharp-tongued dispatcher. As everyone knows, Gil has carried an unrequited love for Moira for years. When he is forced to shut down her mother’s bakery and cafe for long-needed parking for the town, sparks fly, and not in a good way.

Moira’s solution? If the mayor of Somerset won’t look out for small businesses, then she will take matters into her own hands and run for mayor herself. Surprising everyone, and no one, Gil supports her in her efforts, but when her past is made public, the stakes may be too high.

While this novel is sweet, its also a bit slow and repetitive at times. Some sections seem to be lacking in plot and have some unbelievable elements as well. I also wasn’t always a fan of Moira’s character or her treatment of Gil. That said, The Good Luck Cafe is a wholesome love story in a lovely town, with gracious, supportive friends, a satisfying conclusion, and is ultimately an easy, enjoyable read.

It was nice to return to Somerset Lake for this new book by Annie Rains. This was a story of family, friends, and businesses, all set in the wonderful town of Somerset Lake. I enjoyed learning more about Moira Green. She seemed to grow before my eyes as I read. She blossomed, she faced her past, and she opened her heart to the possibility of love. I liked that she confronted her past and finally did not let it own her anymore. She was a brave, independent woman that the town of Somerset could look up to.

I liked the other characters as well. Mayor Gill was a remarkable man, friend, and brother. I liked his relationship with his brother, Doug and how he helped him let their parents allow Doug to move out on his own. Doug has Downs syndrome. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.