This is book #3 of the Comfort Food Cafe series. Whilst it is part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone book. I'm slowly working my way through the series (I can't understand why I've never picked them up before!), but I have to admit I am reading them all out of order! In this book we meet Zoe and her god-daughter Martha. Martha's mother (and Zoe's best friend) Kate has recently died. Zoe is now looking after Martha, but Martha is very quickly going off the rails. Thinking a fresh start is in order, Zoe decides they should move to Bunbury, where they find the residents of the little seaside village rally round to help them both settle in.

This was a delightful read! I'm only two books into the series, and I'm yet to remember the residents of Bunbury, but I do know from this book that they are such a lovely bunch! I really like Zoe and Martha's character, and can feel for both of them. I loved the idea of moving to the seaside village and despite the majority of the book being set during the colder winter months, it still sounded such a pretty place to be. It also sounded magical with the other residents of the village working their magic on Zoe and Martha and welcoming them with open arms. We also get to meet an unexpected visitor who certainly gets tongue wagging with his cowboy hat and Australian accent.

The book was just full of heart-warming scenes that tug at your heart strings. The characters are wonderful and I loved getting to know them all a little bit more. I can't wait to start another book in the series and find out what happen the other villagers stories are. Would recommend!

I absolutely adored this instalment in the Comfort Food Cafe series! The story of Zoe and Martha is sad, sweet, and funny. The way they fit in at the cafe and in Budbury made me feel so warm and fuzzy. It was also great catching up with the rest of the gang and seeing what they've been up to. I so love this series! The Comfort Food Cafe is my favourite place to visit in books! It's so cosy and warm and it feels like home! I am loving these books!

This was my first time reading a book by this author and I'm really glad I was able to read an e-arc of this book to get aquainted with this author and her writing. This was such a beautiful story, that has a really great in depth development on many fronts, throughout the entire book.

I thought it was great to not only see a romance being present, but there being a lot of focus on the character development as well as other relationships like the one between Zoe and her best friend's daughter whom she's now a guardian of after her best friend died of cancer.

I think the author has a fantastic writing style and had me already feeling all the feels right at the beginning of the book, wow. I love it when an author is able to having me hooked so soon into a book.

Reading this book and getting to know not only the MC's but also other minor characters, has me really wanting to go back into this world and read book 1 and 2 in the series as well. This is a perfect book to pick up when you just want to lose yourself in a great romance story that has some beautiful in depth developed elements outside of the romance as well. This fantastic set of characters, these settings and the authors writing was the perfect mix that results in this book being a beautiful read that I highly recommend!

This book was absolutely amazing!! I laughed & I cried & I became totally immersed in the Budbury world. I can't wait to read more in this series

I enjoyed revisiting the Comfort Food Cafe and its characters, as well as getting to know some knew ones. The awkward relationship between Zoe and Martha was well depicted, and made you think about what you would do in such a situation.

I’ve read and enjoyed every book in this series so far, so it comes as no surprise that I was keen to read Coming Home to the Comfort Food Café, the third instalment by Debbie Johnson.

Opening with a heartfelt letter from her best friend, Kate, the tone is melancholic as we learn that protagonist Zoe has been entrusted with caring for Kate’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Martha. This is the result of Kate passing away from cancer a few months ago, starting Martha off on a trail of self destruction. She is out drinking and smoking with her friends, sneaking out and leaving Zoe to frantically search the town for her in a desperate bid to save her from herself.

Zoe loves Martha like her own, but she was never ready for children of her own, let alone any other type of commitment. She is trying her best at guardianship, but feels like they are moving in circles and never moving forward, forcing her to consider a drastic change. After a spot of internet searching, Zoe discovers Budbury and rents a holiday cottage, thinking time away from town and the bars will help to stop Martha’s wayward behaviour – cue a teenage tantrum of epic proportions.

Sticking to her guns on this one, Zoe packs their life into the car and keeps her fingers crossed that Budbury will answer all her prayers. It is here that they discover the Comfort Food Café, and meet the other residents who have each found solace in this seaside community. Martha may be reluctant at first, but Zoe feels sure she’s made the right choice. However, how will she feel when Martha’s Australian dad, Cal, makes an appearance in her life for the very first time?

As with the previous instalments to this series, there is a feeling of coming home or pulling on a warm blanket, as all the characters and settings instantly feel familiar. Zoe seems to fit right in, finding that the other residents have had problems at least as bad as hers if not worse, offering her valuable guidance on how to deal with Martha. It is the added introduction of Cal that threatens to disrupt everything, as Zoe knows blood is thicker than water and fears that he might take Martha away from her care.

I found that Zoe was very easy to like, and the effect of losing her best friend has been pushed to the back of her mind while she tries to be the best she can for Martha. There is the sense that she hasn’t had time to process all she has lost, and that she no longer feels as though she can put herself first. She is very understanding, having been a wayward teen in her own youth, but still harbours insecurities about her own worth and how others perceive her. Cal’s arrival makes her head spin, as she is unsure whether his presence is good for Martha’s emotions, and she is struggling to admit that she is also attracted to him.

This romance is a slow burner, with Cal initially seeking Zoe’s advice on Martha’s likes and dislikes, then finding that he enjoys both of their company. His interactions with Zoe are easy-going and he is less fearful of what could happen between them. All he and Kate shared was a one night stand, so there is never a risk of lingering feelings getting in the way and he is keen to explore their connection. However, I liked that he never tries to push Zoe into anything, willing to take things at her pace or not at all if she doesn’t feel the same.

To conclude, I loved my return to the Comfort Food Café just as much as the times before, with the familiar faces adding to the overall cosy feel of the book. The prose is easy to read and quick to devour, as you become keen to know what the future holds for Zoe and Martha, and whether their time by the beach can alleviate their grief and help them to move forwards.

Great book, lovingvthe comfort food cafe series. Full review on my blog

It was easy to connect with the characters in this story. The setting was great & I look forward to reading other books in thus series.

Although nothing spectacular, this was a great easy read which I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved the characters, but found it a little predictable.

I absolutely love reading about the Comfort Food Cafe and the village of Budbury. I've read all of this series and love them all, I couldn't put this one down. Whoever visits this village seems to end up staying and falling in love, I need to find this village!! I love all of the characters and was glad they all featured again and also have some newcomers like Zoe and Martha. It's under very sad circumstances, I can't imagine what it's like loosing you best friend and for Martha her Mum. You can laugh and cry at this book. Then Cal comes along but doesn't force his dad status around. I nearly cried for Zoe when she overheard them talking about going to Australia and thought they were leaving her, I would have reacted the same way but glad they were going to come back. I was even more thrilled to see there is another installment this time focusing on Willow who works in the cafe. I cannot wait to read the next book. Thank you for letting me read and review this book, I don't have any criticism to give it :)

This was a heartwarming story filled with compassion and understanding when other's would have just given up. I love the author's descriptions and a very emotional book . A must read for lovers of cosy chic-lit romances.
Pub Date 08 Oct 2017
Thank you to netGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperImpulse for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first book by this author so I was sceptical about reading it. However i took the plunge and read it and I am mad for taking this long. I've even included her in my next authors to read for this coming year.
You begin with a letter but it's late will rather than a letter for her best friend to care for her daughter martha. In time, kate dies of cancer and Martha's taking it badly like any teenager would. Zoe sees her going down the wrong road with drinking taking drugs hanging with the wrong ppl hanging out in the dump where she and her mum hung out years ago.. Zoe needs to change Martha and decides to leave the city life of Bristol for Bidbury in the sleepy quaint village of Dorset... I've been to Dorset so I can imagine this and fully immerse myself by this captivating story. Zoe is very sad, Martha is very sad due to their loss of Kate and don't know how to move forward but the move is what they needed. The whole village become the biggest friends and help them towards their goal and then Martha's dad turns up from Australia and 16 years late.
Then in time Martha is dipping and they help each other configure out how and why.... and they find the reason and why's but in reality she's just like her mother.... no harm done.
Cal and Zoe get friendly more than most ppl would like and it's the run up to Xmas and there's a party.... and there a big village get together for family and friends. Just amazing.
I was given this by netgalley for a review and I loved it. I would love to read her future books and I will buy them of I see her on the shelves in the future.
Brilliant writing, very immersing and I couldn't put it down.

A very good and heart-warming book. The characters are really likeable, the book is well written and the plot is at the same time entertaining and moving.
Cannot wait to read the next instalment.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperImpulse and Netgalley

Thank you to HarperImpulse for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I am a huge fan of Debbie's writing and I loved the previous books in this series so this book was a must for me. If you haven't read the other books this one can be read as a standalone.

This book is about Zoe and Martha. Zoe has recently lost her best friend, Kate, to breast cancer. Martha is Kate's 16 year old daughter. Both are grieving at the beginning of this book which was extremely emotional to read so, make sure you have a pack of tissues ready. Martha isn't coping with her grief at all and is pushing Zoe, her now guardian, to her limits. Zoe decides that fresh surroundings will do them both some good.

It was great to be back in Sudbury and the Cafe again. I really love that place and wish I had something nearby. While there are many emotional scenes in this book there are also some big laughs. Debbie knows just how much of each emotion to inject into the story at just the right time.

It was great to catch up with all the characters from the previous books and see how they are doing. I adored every page of this book. It's one of those stories that will leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling.  I know there's another book coming next year and I can't wait to go back and join the gang.

I really enjoyed returning to the characters and setting in this book. The story moves on well, a good mix of emotion and drama and it's a really nice cosy read for this time of year. Overall a lovely addition to the series and I look forward to even more.

I am a big fan of this author so when I was given this book to review I was super excited.

I was not disappointed. If you are a fan of this author then you get exactly what you signed up for. a really fun story with a few ups and downs.

The usual characters in this series are just how you last left them, with a few new ones to keep it interesting.

What I love most about this author is that she is able to write about real life events with such emotion that although its fiction.... feel very real.

Thumbs up!!

When Zoe's best friend Kate dies of breast cancer Zoe takes in her teenage daughter Martha. Martha has been badly affected by her mother's death and starts to go off the rails a bit and so Zoe decides that the best thing to do is to move away and make a fresh start

The new start is in Budbury in Dorset, the home of the Comfort Food Cafe, and what better place to heal wounds. The locals soon rally round and help out the newcomers in any way they can.... and of course cake plays a big part of that! Then out of the blue Cal, Martha's estranged father, turns up....... and what will he added to the mix!

Another lovely book about the Comfort Food Cafe....I hope they keep coming because I have loved all of these books they are all so cosy and heart warming especially good for Christmas

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I love everything this author writes and this is a real feel good, happy book.

I seem at the moment to be reading a lot of psychological thrillers whilst are for the majority a good read it is nice every now and again to enjoy a book like this.
I have read a previous booking this series so knew what I was letting myself in for and I have to say it was nice to see previous characters included in this fab book. The book had from the first page which is a letter from Kate who in a moment of madness/matureness writes a note to leave at her solicitors for her best friend, Zoe, it outlines that basically if anything should happen to her she wants her to look after her daughter, Martha.
This book takes you from laughter to tears and back again and is a rollercoaster of emotions as you follow the story of how Zoe and Martha cope with Kates death and the path of destruction Martha takes before Zoe gets a grip on it and takes her away from it all. I loved all the characters as they were life like and Debbies writing style is great as it makes you think your actually there and know all these characters personally!!
I would like to thank netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review

Zoe has lost her best friend Kate to breast cancer and is now sole guardian to Kate’s teenage daughter Martha. Neither are coping well with the loss of Kate and so Zoe decides to move them both to the seaside village of Budbury in Dorset.
This is where this book really comes into to its own. I have to say I read this book at a time when needed to escape too and found myself longing for the sea breeze, beach walks and the glorious little café where Zoe found comfort among friends.
When Martha’s Dad shows up expectantly, though, at just the right moment, instead of the turmoil one would expect from the situation, it lifted Martha’s spirits and provided Zoe with yet another ally.
Tinged with much sadness, but full of hope and high spirits, littered with love and friendship and cake in abundance. I thoroughly enjoyed this gem from Debbie Johnson and will be reading her other books in this series for sure.