Cathy Bramley transports us into rural village life describing Rosie Featherstone’s unexpected change of career when she decides to help her 75 year old Italian Grandmother run the Lemon Tree Café.

She finds her new life to be much more fulfilling than her previous city career and uses her previous PR experience to overcome setbacks and competition. The appearance of handsome widower, Greg and his son causes conflict as she finds it difficult let go of past anguish to allow them into her life. Her grandmother’s confession about her own past precipitates Rosie to confront past events.

Cathy’s writing shows the warmth and love of the Featherstone family and gives us a taste of village community at its best. Definitely puts you in the mood for a frothy drink and a piece of cake

What an absolute joy to read. Cathy Bramley is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and I was so happy to get the chance to read this book in one sitting. I don't think I would have coped if I'd had to wait and read it in instalments!
The characters are lovely. All different in their own ways and some harbouring some secrets.........like a normal family!

Nonna's story was heartbreaking and I found myself on the verge of tears but happy when there was light at the end of the tunnel in the guise of Stanley..

Rosie's story was so well written and not what I was expecting at all but it explained certain aspects of how she behaved. It was lovely to hear characters mentioned from her other books too - I always love this in a book!

I'm already looking forward to reading her next book..

The Lemon Tree is Cathy Bramley at her magnificent best. From the first page where I was gasping and giggling at what turned out to be a double entendre (and not the only one in the early chapters), to the drama of the entirety of part 3 - Tea and Sympathy, to the huge community minded village events, plus a popular returning character from the Plumberry School of Comfort Food book, and all manner of other goodies inside!

When Rosie took a stand in her social media marketing job, she goes back home to her Nonna's cafe and offers to work for a month as a favour to her grandmother, and secretly to perhaps organise the place a bit better, while trying to get a new job.

I loved The Lemon Tree Cafe with its two great waitresses and of course Rosie's Nonna, Maria. Maria is a remarkably private person and I never guessed exactly what she was hiding until it was revealed. Neither did I fully guess just why Rosie doesn't trust men, and it was surprises like these that made this book so gripping.

From about the 50% mark onwards the book was impossible to put down, as I was already engrossed with the characters, and the story just seemed to ramp up as it progressed. I was loving the warmth and vitality that the author brings to her characters, and just stepping into this novel felt like a comforting hug.

And of course you can't have a book review, about a book focusing on an Italian cafe, without mentioning food, it sounded delicious. As a word of warning if you are a huge fan of pizza you will love certain aspects of this book without a doubt, and may have your fingers itching to reach and call for your local delivery service!

The pacing of this book was just right, and conveniently for the purpose of it having been released in four parts, there were little intrigue or mini cliffhangers as you came to the end of each part, which added to the grippiness of this book, as I could just continue turning the pages to see what would happen next.

I absolutely adored every second of The Lemon Tree Cafe, from its moments to make you laugh, to the deep secrets that shocked me, and the overwhelming sense of family and community I felt from the book. This is an addictive book, that is quick to read and will leave you craving your next Cathy Bramley fix.

Thank you to Netgalley and Transworld Digital for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Another fantastic book by Cathy. I finished it in a day! Eagerly await to see what Cathy comes up with next.