Wind Chime Café by Sophie Moss

February 13th, 2014 Kimberly Review 76 Comments

13th Feb
Wind Chime Café by Sophie Moss
Wind Chime Cafe
by Sophie Moss
Series: Wind Chime, #1
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

When single mother, Annie Malone, purchases a quirky Main Street café on Heron Island, she thinks she's finally turned her dream of opening her own restaurant into a reality. Hearing rumors that a developer is about to build a five-star resort on the sleepy Chesapeake Bay island, she plans to transform the café into a premier upscale bistro. But Navy SEAL, Will Dozier, has no intention of selling his grandparents' property to a developer. Back on Heron Island for the first time in ten years and secretly struggling with PTSD, Will decides that a fling with the new girl is the perfect way to help him "get his head straight." The last thing Will expects is to fall in love...with his hometown and with Annie. But Will's life and career are in San Diego with the SEALs. Can Annie's love and the healing magic of the island be enough to convince him to stay?

Wind Chime Café is the first in the Wind Chime series by Sophie Moss. From the setting to the characters I slid right into this feel-good tale. Moss delivered an engaging tale with few twists and characters that wrapped around my heart. Mini-review: Small-town charm, sweet romance with a Navy Seal hero and a little girl who will steal your heart.

Annie Malone is a single mom who purchases a charming Main Street Café on Heron Island, a sleepy little town on Chesapeake Bay Island. Her plan is to help her daughter mend and open an upscale bistro. Her plans revolve around the rumors that an upscale five-star resort will soon be built in the area. Navy Seal Will Dozier is back in town to settle the estate of his grandparents, but when he discovers a resort company has bid on his land he refused to sell to them. So he begins to make repairs and dreams of finding the right purchasers. When Will and Annie meet you could immediately feel the chemistry between them. He thinks he is looking for a fling to straighten out his head…but the magic of the island has other ideas.

I love small-town romances and getting to know the townsfolk. Not only did Moss give us a yummy, troubled Navy Seal for a hero but she also introduced lovable secondary characters that stole my heart. Annie is a woman you cannot help but admire, from her humble begins to here fierce love of her daughter.  Taylor will completely steal your heart from the very first pages. I laughed and cried for her. Will is strong, noble, and dealing with some serious issues and just like a Navy Seal he isn’t sharing or crying about it. I loved how Moss peeled back his layers sharing the man and his childhood on Heron Island. We meet members of this small community and they added depth, humor, friendship, and charm. I am looking forward to their stories. Will’s Aunt is a hoot and someone I’d like to have in my corner.

Wind Chime Café is more than just romance, and I love how Moss wrapped in such topics as the environment, school violence, PTSD, wounded war-heroes and more. I easily slipped into the story and found myself immediately drawn to the café and town. The romance developed quickly, but Moss made me believe as she slowly added depth. I so wanted Will and Annie to find their happy. Moss weaved in some twists, like an old ex-boyfriend that kept me completely engaged. The tale reminded me of some other beloved series; the Virgin River series by Robyn Carr and the Sullivan’s by Bella Andre. The tale wrapped up nicely, but not before Moss had me shedding a few tears. It appears that each of these books will work as a standalone and feature a character from the small-town. I for one cannot wait to return.

Fans of small-town contemporary romances and realistic characters will adore the Wind Chime Café. Sophie Moss delivered an engaging tale and I look forward to reading more of her work.

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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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76 Responses to “Wind Chime Café by Sophie Moss”

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Ooo I want somewhere warm, with sand and a colorful drink with a wedge of pineapple and an umbrella.

  3. Dani

    Thanks for the review and for the giveaway!! I would love to go back to Hawaii and spend some quiet time with my Hubby! 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Hawaii would be lovely, good luck and I hope you get a chance to read this!

  4. Linda Bradshaw

    I would rather just lock myself into my bedroom with my laptop and my TV and do sweeping! I do not like to get out.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I am a homebody too Linda but once I get there I am usually glad 🙂 Good luck!

  5. Lindy

    This sounds like a great start to a new series. I love charming, small town romances. This one sounds really enjoyable with humor, wonderful secondary characters, and the way the author peeled back the layers to the dreamy Navy Seal, Will! Wonderful Review, Kim 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      This was delightful, and the thing that appeals to me in small town romances is that we get all of these interesting side stories in addition to the romance

  7. Bea

    I would go to Hawaii or the Carribean. I’m so ready to be warm again!

    I think I’d like story, I’ll have to see if my library has it.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      This was nice and all of the threads were interesting. My bags are packed lets go on a cruise!

  8. Candace

    If I were to go to an island I think I would pick a Greek Island. That water just looks so beautiful!
    This book sounds pretty good. I like the idea of the cafe in a small town. That sounds like the kind of place I want to own!
    I like that this is more than just a romance too and brings in some more serious issues.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Oh me too, I would have a small reading area and bookshelves where people could drink coffee and read. The island has a whimsical feel to it.

  10. Kim

    Any island… Would have to be Necker Island.

    Thanks Kimberly for bringing this book to my attention. I’m adding it to my long TBR list.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Well I am glad I piqued your interest beyond those then, this was warm and snugly.

  12. Debra Kay Neiman

    My daughter did a medical mission to Jamaica and had another visit there. She loved it…and it is certainly warmer than here in Oklahoma. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Jamaica would be nice and yes I think any where is warmer than most parts of the US right now..LOL Good luck Debra!

  14. Terrie Lynn

    The Caribbean. There is something about white sand, crystal turquoise blue water, warm tropical breezes and a book that pulls at me.

  15. Giselle

    Small-town romances are so much fun to read and dude this totally reminds me to ask if you have watched Hart of Dixie? You would so love it! I love how well rounded this book seems though with the PTSD and other serious topics it introduces!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I have watched a few episodes but my oldest daughter totally loves it and never misses an episode. I love Sherlock Holmes, Lost Girl, Supernatural and The Following. I also enjoy Criminal Minds and NCIS.

  16. Lily B

    oh my goodness, doesn’t this sound like a sweet and charming romance. I love small towns 😀 especially books that take their community and develop a story around it. Plus it has a navy seal in it, sign me up!

  17. Christy

    I like the small town settings too. Sounds like this is a promising series.

    And I’d go to Bora Bora, baby!

  18. Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf

    I’ve had my eye on this one…well shoot…what don’t I have my eye on. Sounds like one I’d love though…small island town, a slightly damaged hero (who also happens to be a seal (yummy!))

    And right about now any warm place sounds good…I am buried in snow…I think I’d love to see Hawaii and a live volcano and lava in person!

  21. A Voracious Reader

    I don’t read many contemporaries anymore, but every once in awhile one catches my eye. This is one of them. I’m a sucker for a ‘slightly damaged’ hero and great secondary characters. *gingerly adds book to shelf and listens to it groan*

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Funny story..I have a computer desk in a guest bedroom with a book shelf above it. The desk is covered with books as it the shelf on it and then it is stacked half-way up the ceiling. It is a mix of read/and to read books. Hubby brought home a new bookshelf for family room because he is worried the desk is going to cave in. So I fill it with books I have read and loved along with a few I plan to read in the next month. Since it is in the family room, I added some bric-a-brac. He comes home and is like is that all you are going to add, can’t you double fill the books. *rolls eyes* Men. I told him I need about ten more just like it..hehehe

  22. Pamela D

    I would really like to go to Hawaii right now. As I type this, I am looking out the window and watching the snow come down!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Yes I want some on to greet me with, Aloha and we hope you enjoy your stay..*sigh*

  23. ShootingStarsMag

    I like small-town books too. It makes you feel part of the world and like you can really understand the characters. I like that the book mixed in some “tougher” topics well.

    -Lauren

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I liked the tougher topics introduced too and felt she handled them well. thanks Lauren 🙂

  24. Darlene

    We’ve had the coldest December/January in about 85 years here, with temps down to the MINUS 40s Celsius!! Anything tropical sounds lovely. I’ve always wanted to go to Maldives in the Indian Ocean, or Bora Bora or Tahiti. Just thinking of basking in that sunshine and being in barefeet sounds amazing!!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Oh Darlene that sounds like a wonderful itinerary..I am all in!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Ah the little girl adds to the tale and yep I lost my heart to her.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      No we all have preferences and some peeps don’t like single Mom romances, maybe the next book in the series will appeal more to you Carol 🙂

  27. Diane Sallans

    If I could teleport I’d pick Hawaii, but since it’s such a long flight from the east coast I’ll go with Aruba

  30. sherry fundin

    As soon as you said island, I had to read on. Anything to do with water catches my attention. Then – Navy Seal, I am very interested.

    An island I would love to visit? My favorite area is the Caribbean, so any island there would do, but preferably one I haven’t been to before. One cruise I went on, we were supposed to go to the Caymans, but it was so rough they wouldn’t come get us. Thus, all I could do is gaze at the island and think of the postcards from Hell that I wanted to send to all my family and friends. No swimming with the rays or snorkeling. Oh well, maybe next time.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      My sister and her hubby lived on the Cayman islands for a while and say it is beautiful. They both are scuba divers.

  31. Victoria (aka Zemfirka)

    Right now, I’ll settle for anywhere where it’s not snowing or so cold! I’m so over winter at this point, especially with another snow storm in progress. But… I would love to go back to Cyprus – or any of the Greek islands. 🙂

    This book sounds very cute. I can totally picture it as a movie too. 😀

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I have my bags backed too..I cannot wait for Spring and warmer weather Victoria.

  32. Jenny

    All you needed to say about this one was Navy SEAL and I was sold. I’m such a sucker for military heroes, so add in a small town romance on top of it and it’s on my list for sure! I always find the best books on your blog, thanks Kim!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Yet, that was heart wrenching but sadly realistic. I should note..we are not subject to any kind of graphic descriptions, we are given the facts and its heartbreaking. It is why they moved to the island.

  34. Mary

    I do love the small-town romances. They’re usually sweet and fun and make me want to find that small town and move there. Will, Annie and Taylor sound like fantastic characters that I need to get to know.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I think you would enjoying taking this on a date Mary 🙂 stay warm!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      It is funny I read all three small-town reads at different times last month and they are all scheduled for this week..lol but yes they are all wonderful.

  36. Melliane

    This one is new to me but I like the sound of it. I don’t even think I’ve ever heard about the author so thank you for the discovery. And you’re right I’m curious to try her romane now. It sounds nice.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Moss was a new to me author to and I am glad I read Wind Chime Cafe 🙂

  37. kindlemom1

    Any island destination? Hmm right now I would say anywhere warm in the Caribbean, I am so tired of being cold!

    This really sounds like one of those feel good reads that I need to buy and read.