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MIDNIGHT AT THE BLACKBIRD CAFE
BY
HEATHER WEBBER
REVIEWED BY LINDA WICKLUND
 When
deciding which book to review this month, I
thought about a mystery or an historical novel
by one of the authors I usually write about.
Then, I remembered a novel I read recently with
a completely different theme. Plus, it's nice
to introduce a new author. Ms. Webber has
written a number of novels, but this is the
first one that is considered women's fiction.
Another thing that I hope you'll enjoy is as the
USA Today put it, "a captivating blend of
magical realism, heartwarming romance and
small-town Southern charm." Something it seems
to me is very appealing in today's world.
The story begins
with Anna Kate being abruptly awakened very early
one beautiful morning in the sleepy town of
Wicklow, Alabama. She had just arrived in town
because her beloved Grandmother Zee had
unexpectedly passed away. It had been an intense
week not only planning her Grandmother's funeral,
but coming up-to-speed on how to reopen the
Blackbird Café which had been willed to her.
Especially because she had never set foot in the
Blackbird Cafe. You see, her deceased mom, Eden,
had left Wicklow at eighteen years old, "vowing
that we would never return." Eden was six weeks'
pregnant with Anna Kate at the time.
It had only been
through visits to see Anna Kate that her
Grandmother had shared the legend of the blackbird
pie Zee told her that as guardians, women of
Celtic decent were supposed to bake the pies "to
serve those who mourn, those left behind." And
now that Zee was gone, making the pies fell on
Anna Kate.
Natalie is the
next character who had just moved back to Wicklow
out of necessity. Natalie had needed to come home
with her daughter Ollie, since her husband had
died in a tragic boating accident. Natalie is
headed to the Blackbird Cafe for a piece of pie.
She was hopeful that the pie would give her the
answers she needed to find peace and healing for
her troubled heart. Just so her Mom, Seelie,
didn't catch her since there was a decades long
feud between Seelie and Anna Kate's family
As always, there
is so much more to tell. Both Natalie and Anna
Kate have life changing decisions to make. Anna
Kate is enrolled in medical school in the Fall, so
she is determined to fulfill her two month
obligation to the cafe and go back to her former
life. While Natalie has to reinvent herself for
the good of her infant daughter. There are lots of
interesting characters in this novel which are
beautifully described and brought to life. This is
a heartwarming story of life, love, loss and
forgiveness and a small Southern town that won't
let you go.
Happy reading!
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