T.I. LoweLulu's Café

An exceptional book - sweet, suspenseful, beautiful. A rough beginning, but a lovely ending. Well written. I loved the ending. Sweetness, love and justice, all wrapped up in a satisfying package.

I fell in love with the hope and promise that rose up from the first few pages of this story. incredibly well written with a powerful set of characters that you can’t help but become attached to right from the very beginning.

I very nearly stopped reading this book in the first few pages because of all of the violence and abuse. But then I read some of the reviews and decided to keep going. I'm glad I did. The story did not rush and had a very good conclusion; I even shed a few tears. I loved all of it. The way the story developed, the way the author described everyone's emotions. The only problem I seem to have is that I am disappointed at the end because this is not real life. Not all the girls are beautiful and not all the men are tall and strong and handsome. Very few men pay attention to details the way Cowley did in the story. Most men Don't even notice, let alone take the time to be that kind of a man. At least not in my world. It gives me the warm fuzzies to be a part of this make-believe world for a time, but I am just disappointed when I come back to reality.

Loved this sweet, simple story. Cried sad and happy tears!! God heals the broken hearted if you let him and you believe.

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.

Written boldly with such sensitivity that I had to stop and weep several times.This book spoke to me in every way.Addresses topics that every woman should learn about if they haven't experienced themselves. I wish God would send a Lulu to me.

I gave this book a five because it is a book of healing, forgiveness, and redemption. It is a book that anyone who knows and walks with the Lord can read and see the truths about our Father. It is also a book for those who don’t know God, but are in need of hope and healing. Here, they will find the path to both! This is one of the best books I have had the pleasure to read. It is a beautiful, heartwarming story. When I had to put it down, I couldn’t wait to pick it up again.

This book is outstanding. I was drawn in by the first few sentences. It just arrived today and I’m almost finished with it 🤗🫣🫶 SO good!

(NARRATION COMMENTS: I own the paperback-fabulous cover-but I saw it listed as an audio book. I decided to listen to it. The vocal artist is fantastic, especially the creepy husband’s voice. The only voice that I didn’t care for was Crowley’s. He sounds like a older gentleman. She did an excellent job.)The story is heartbreaking & moving, joyous & wonderful—all at the same time. I want to move to that town! It’s not an easy read because of the abuse component, but it is something that is real and prevalent in society, unfortunately. We can’t hide from it but we can learn and be more aware. This is a reminder how important it is to be watchful and to reach out when someone needs help. Action, not apathy.I will look for other books by this author. Her character development is really good and her style appeals to me very much. This is a book that will stick with me and always be a favourite. I only choose five stars for books that strongly impact and resonate with me.MY BOOK RATINGS:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟The book was PHENOMENAL! It caused me to be impacted, challenged, and made me think. The book resonated with me and I didn’t want to leave the characters. It blew me out of the water so much that I told everyone and their 🦮 to read it!🌟🌟🌟🌟I loved the book! Excellent work! I will read more of their books, without a doubt, and recommend the author to others.🌟🌟🌟 I liked the book but I wasn’t as immersed as much as I wanted to be. I will likely try other books by this author to see if different books resonate with me more. Sometimes it’s simply personal taste, subject matter, or other circumstances.🌟 🌟 I struggled to read the book and I didn’t enjoy one (or more) of the following: the storyline, the quality or style of writing, or the characters didn’t resonate with me. I likely wouldn’t ever read the author again.🌟 I didn’t care for it at all but managed to skim through it, or finish, but barely. Definitely not for me.

Loved it..

I loved it and read it from cover to cover in just one day. The book quickly draws you in, then you find yourself putting everything else to one side in order to find out what happens next. The DV scenes were written with particular care, and I cried several times at the level of cruelty and violence being described. The fury I felt at the haters was real, as was the overwhelming rush of relief when Leah finally met someone kind and prepared to listen.My only criticism, if you must call it that, was that I felt the final chapter (epilogue) was a bit superfluous. I could have left it quite satisfactorily at the penultimate chapter, and therefore would not have found myself stumbling over so many new names and characters. I got what it was trying to tell me - that our character had found her happily ever after - but it wasn't really necessary. Highly recommended.

A powerful story of a woman recovering from severe domestic abuse and the belief that she had killed her husband, who finds the love of a Christian man. The story is not overly religious but contains characters with strong Christian values. The abuse is graphic at times but central to the story , however making it suitable for mature readers only.

Beautifully written...so beautifully written that it was heartwrenching to read at times...the articulation of the pain and heartache that Leah endured had me weeping often. The gentle healing love of Lulu and Crowley was breathtakingly beautiful to watch unfold. I'm glad I read this book. I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's works.