This book made me feel all the feels. Lulu's cafe is such an emotional read full of raw pain, healing, and hope. It's a must read! ( )

Thank you SO very much to the author T.I. Lowe and Tyndale House publishers for allowing me to be a part of the launch team for this book and sending me a copy before it is released.

My review is in NO way influenced by my involvement, nor was I compensated for such.

Very seldom do I add trigger warnings; however this book does contain certain elements that might be disturbing to certain readers, so caution should be taken:

** Domestic Violence
** Sexual Assault
** Miscarriage
** Alcohol Abuse

“Lulu’s Café” is a Contemporary Romance by T.I Lowe. Originally self-published in 2014 through Create Space, it became an e-book phenomenon. Having already sold 100,000 copies, it is now available as a mass-market paperback for the first time.

Leah Allen is running from a violent past and ends up taking refuge in the Southern Coastal town of Rivertown, South Carolina.

When she walks into Lulu’s Café, Lulu see the mess that Leah is, and takes her in – giving her a place to stay and a job, more importantly – a friend. But, not everyone is on board with Leah. Crowley Mason has his doubts.

As the community takes to Leah, despite his doubts, Crowley does too. He wants to know where she came from, and what happened to her. But, he also wants to help her; he also wants to love her as well.

Leah slowly steps into her new life, away from the hurt and abuse of her past. As she heals, both physically and mentally, she wonders if she can allow herself to love and be loved again. And, she wonders when the past will catch up with her.

Lowe’s novel begins on a disturbing and violent pace. While some readers who have been through it might be taken back, those who haven’t might find a deeper understanding of the situation. If it is uncomfortable for the reader, it is more so for the victim. However, it is worth staying with the novel to see what happens.

Lowe compassionately (and carefully) takes us through Leah’s journey from a young and naïve woman to one who is standing on her own as a survivor, but still experiencing scars that run so deep they can’t heal. Lowe takes the reader into the brutalization and trauma of abuse, the minds of those who observe (even know what is going on) and are powerless to help, and those who see nothing at all.

Leah’s journey isn’t a fast one, and Lowe makes sure to take each step as it occurs without erasing what has happened or its impact on Leah. But, Lowe also shows us what love and the power of faith can do for us.

This is a book that I wanted to take my time with, but ended up sailing through it as it was mesmerizing, captivating, and inspiring. I wanted to keep going to see Leah’s journey and if she could find healing, peace, and love.

“Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.”

Jeremiah 17:14 ( )

Y’all, here is one of my top favorite authors ever! I discovered Ms. Lowe a few years ago when I read Lulu’s Cafe as an Indie published book. I have since read it countless times. It was one of the first contemporary Christian fiction books I had read where I felt like an author had done “real” and done it in a way that truly showed the gritty reality that life sometimes is. Her writing is some of the most grippingly real and honest I’ve read. She’s not afraid to address some of the deepest hurts we might face in this life. There’s no playing down of that pain, but she also shows a real and lasting hope with each of her books.

Just as Ms. Lowe is one of my top favorite authors, Lulu’s Cafe is one of my top favorite books. Because Ms. Lowe doesn’t hesitate to show the raw reality of life, the abominable evil that exists that many have to face, there are portions of this book that are devastatingly hard to read. They hurt. But they are some of the most real moments I think I’ve ever read in fiction. Be prepared for your heart to break. It’s a tough read at points, but there’s a beautiful peace and a hope filled joy by the end. It’s a story that will touch you in the deepest of places.

This real, raw grit of life accompanied by a quiet, but powerful beauty of healing and restoration points to something only God can do. He’s a master of redeeming the pain and the hurts this broken life on earth deals out. His power to do so, as well as His tender love as He does it, is clearly shown in this book.

Leah is a woman who is truly strong. What she survives and endures is horrifying. And yet, she does indeed survive, and God directs her steps to the place where she can finally find what home, family, and love really mean.

Crowley Mason gives heart melting new meaning. The way that he takes care of Lulu and so many others around him is quintessential southern gentleman. How he comes to care for, reach out to, and fight for Leah and their relationship is heart capturing and satisfying to the soul.

And then there’s Lulu. Lulu is discerning. And wise. And the kind of love that is both tough and gentle at the same time. She’s a true treasure.

In the midst of all the pain and the hurt, Ms. Lowe provides us with some real southern fun and humor and I love the voice that adds to the story.

While I have found other authors out there who write “real” and do it well, Ms. Lowe has a unique voice to hers that I haven’t found anywhere else. She does real without glossing it over, showing the far reaching consequences of the evil that exists in this world. But she also demonstrates the beautiful restoration that God can bring about in a life, changing devastation to hope and the ashes of this broken world to something beautiful.

PS: I do feel like I should add that some of the events in this book could be a trigger for victims of abuse, so please proceed with caution if that’s you and you choose to read this book.

**I previously purchased this an Indie published book and again as traditionally published book. But I also received a complimentary copy of Lulu’s Cafe from the publishers. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. ( )

I had an idea what the book was about but not how in depth the author would go. To say this book made me shudder is pretty accurate. It's not because I didn't like it, but rather because it brought back memories of a life I had growing up . Violence was the norm in my childhood. I felt like I had no one to talk to or to save me.

As I began Leah's story I found myself shadowing her and trying to give her encouragement. The brutal relationship she had was so emotional, I could feel every punch, kick and broken bone. The author shows us a woman who so desperately wanted to be loved, she excused the abuse with saying she must have done something wrong. What the author so eloquently does is takes a character who is lost, has low self esteem , broken and leads readers on a journey to healing. The scene in the hospital was so traumatic and realistic I applaud the author for not sugar coating it. Sometimes we have to hit rock bottom before we finally cry out to God for help.

Lulu is someone who was placed in Leah's path by God. I don't believe in coincidences only divine appointments. Lulu knows without Leah saying what she has experienced. The bruises are evident and the lost look in her eyes bring Lulu to reach out. I think of this book as a book of hope and finding your worth.

There is a special man that comes into Leah's life that has such patience I was impressed . He goes slow getting to know Leah realizing she has a deep secret that needs to be set free. We all have scars but some are visible while others are hidden deep in the heart. Those scars are what keep us in bondage and allow the enemy to taunt us. Leah felt weak and wasn't sure she could trust anyone.

I love the book and how it shares the hope of a better tomorrow and a promise that "He will never leave us nor forsake us." We have to do our part and reach out to Him. I have to thank the author for writing a story that brings hope, healing and restoration to a woman who thought she was worthless.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )

What I think you should know:
Lulu’s Cafe is about a woman’s recovery from domestic violence and an extremely tough childhood. It is a contemporary novel set in a fictional town in South Carolina. While this was a hard book from me to read emotionally I enjoyed the book, I wanted/ needed to know what happened to Leah. This is the first T. I. Lowe book I have read, but it will not be the last.

What touched me about this book:
Leah is such a strong and resilient woman, but it took a character like Lulu to help her to feel safe and to allow her to blossom into the woman that she had the potential to be .Crowley was an added bonus in the book, he was a safe harbor that Leah didn’t know was possible.

What you might want to know: SPOILER !!
The first 58 pages were very hard for me to read, I had to take breaks from reading it. It was very honest about the abuse.

I received a complimentary copy for this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own. ( )