The Goodbye Café

Stewart (The Sugarhouse Blues) makes a charming return to tiny Hidden Falls, Pa., in this breezy contemporary, which is loaded with appealing down-home characters and tantalizing hints of mystery that will hook readers immediately. Sisters Allie, Des, and Cara—who are scattered around the U.S.—received a major surprise after their father, Franklin “Fritz” Hudson, died. His will stated they would get their inheritances only after living together in the Hudson family home and restoring the town’s theater. Des and Cara have lost their hearts to local men, and now it’s Allie’s turn: soon after she relocates with her daughter, Nikki, she falls for the chief of police, Ben Haldeman, who’s recovering from the deaths of his wife and son. When the sisters’ aunt Barney impulsively buys the titular café, the social hub of the town, everyone’s pressed into service, from Allie waiting tables to Nikki baking brownies. Nikki’s frenemy, Allie’s ex, and Ben’s grief are bumps in the road to a heartwarming finale. Stewart expertly combines the inevitable angst of a trio of sisters, a family secret, and a search for an heirloom necklace; it’s an irresistible mix that will delight readers. Masterful characterizations and well-timed plot are sure to pull in fans of romantic small-town stories. Agent: Nick Mullendore, Vertical Ink. (Apr.)