In this extraordinary and beautifully written novel, Deborah Smith tells
the story of two deeply wounded people who find their way back from the
depths of despair through each other--and the healing, redemptive power of
love, family, and community. . . . . . . . .
When being chased by the paparazzi, mega-star Cathryn Deen loses control
of her Trans Am and is hideously burned in the resulting accident--while a
photographer does nothing to help her as he films her agony. Cathryn's
fortune and career--and even her marriage--is based on her beauty and
style. Once she's no longer deemed lovely, she loses her career, her
life, and her husband. Cathryn's bought into her own hype about being the
most beautiful woman alive...without her looks she has nothing, no worth--
and no reason to live.
Then a distant cousin on her late mother's side from the mountains of
North Carolina reaches out to her thanks to the efforts of a former
architect trapped in his own darkness. Thomas Mitternich was a rising
architect on the fast track in New York City on September
11, 2001. When
the plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center, his wife and
young son succumbed to a horrible death. Losing his son almost destroyed
him, especially since Thomas feels it was his fault when he insisted on
his wife taking their son with her for her breakfast meeting in the
Tower's restaurant...and Thomas has been killing himself with alcohol ever
since, contemplating suicide, keeping his gun near for when he determines
it's time. He too has no reason to live until he does a good deed to help
his friend's cousin recuperate in her California hospital. Then a very
scarred and self-conscious Cathryn Deen comes home to her grandmother's
old house in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina and slowly, the
mountains' magic begins...Cathryn Deen finds herself--her worth, the love
of her life, and home--her place in the universe.
Brava, Deborah Smith! THE CROSSROADS CAFE is magnificent! It's stunning
its insight into the human heart and soul. You'll find yourself laughing
and weeping, then laughing and weeping again and again. Ms. Smith's
writing and voice are simply superb and make reading THE CROSSROADS CAFE a
sheer pleasure. Note: Be sure to eat before reading--or you'll be craving
Delta's biscuits, and if you're still starving for them, Ms. Smith
provides several biscuit recipes in the back of the book.
Thomas Mitternich is the most wonderful and delectable wounded hero to
grace romance fiction. How Cathryn Deen responds to and rises up to what
life threw at her makes her one of the most breathtakingly beautiful and
gutsy heroines of all time. Be warned of the horrific nature of how
Thomas's wife and son died on September 11th--it will shake you. The
beauty and richness of THE CROSSROADS CAFE and it's emphasis on life,
love, and the family we create it will dissipate the darkness and give us
all hope.
Reviewed by Debora Hosey
Rating: 5
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