Where to Start with Abbie Williams
Abbie Williams is best known for two distinct series that showcase her range as a romance author: The Shore Leave Cafe Romance series (contemporary small-town romance with family drama and light speculative elements) and The Dove Saga (a post-Civil War historical romance trilogy). Because these two series are completely independent of each other in terms of characters and eras, readers can start with either, depending on their preference for historical depth or small-town contemporary charm.
For readers who prefer modern small-town settings, the best starting point is Summer at the Shore Leave Cafe. If you prefer rich, gritty historical fiction, begin with the award-winning Heart of a Dove.
The Shore Leave Cafe Romance Series
This contemporary romance saga follows the Davis family women across generations in Landon, Minnesota. The heart of the series is the family-run lakeside Shore Leave Cafe. The overarching narrative begins with Joelle Gordon returning home after discovering her husband's infidelity, but it expands to follow her three teenage daughters—Camille, Tish, and Ruthann—as they grow up and seek their own paths. A central element of the series is the legendary "Davis family curse," which supposedly prevents the family's women from keeping the men they love. Over the course of the nine books, the series evolves, culminating in supernatural and time-travel elements where the sisters must break the curse that has bound them to the rival Yancy family for centuries.
The established reading order for the Shore Leave Cafe series follows the narrative progression of the family:
- Summer at the Shore Leave Cafe (2012) – Introduces Joelle Gordon, her daughters, her attraction to the younger cafe employee Blythe Tilson, and the threat of the Davis family curse.
- Second Chances (2013) – Focuses on Joelle navigating her new relationship with Blythe as her ex-husband Jackson returns to Landon to attempt a reconciliation.
- Winter at the White Oaks Lodge (2014) – Follows Camille Gordon as she discovers an old photo in her grandmother's attic, leading her to the Carter family at White Oaks Lodge.
- Wild Flower (2014) – Further explores Camille's path, single motherhood, and a love story that transcends time.
- The First Law of Love (2015) – Continues the sisters' emotional journeys, centering on themes of heartbreak, destiny, and small-town recovery.
- Until Tomorrow (2015) – Follows Tish Gordon after a suspicious fire threatens her life and relationship, while sister Ruthann is caught in a love triangle.
- A Notion of Love (2016) – Follows the ongoing romantic and personal struggles of the characters within the Landon community.
- The Way Back (2018) – Deepens the family connections and individual conflicts as the sisters confront their pasts and plan for their futures.
- Return to Yesterday (2018) – The series finale, which ramps up the supernatural elements. Camille, Tish, and Ruthann must fight Fallon Yancy to sever the ancient family curse across centuries.
The Landon Continuation
After wrapping up the main Shore Leave Cafe saga, Williams returned to the setting of Landon, Minnesota with a spin-off novel:
- A Place to Belong (2020) – While marketed as a standalone novel, this book functions as a continuation of the Shore Leave Cafe world, focusing on the romance between Millie Jo Gordon and Wyatt Rawley, who are tied by a childhood promise.
The Dove Saga
Set in the reconstruction era following the American Civil War, this historical trilogy is a gritty, emotional journey about healing and survival. It follows Lorie Blake, a Southern orphan who was sold into prostitution. After escaping her situation with the help of a group of traveling ex-Confederate soldiers heading north, Lorie faces pursuit from a vengeful brothel madam and a volatile ex-Union soldier. The trilogy should be read in strict chronological and publication order:
- Heart of a Dove (2014) – Lorie joins the group of travelers, fleeing her past and beginning a dangerous journey north. (Winner of the 2015 Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medal).
- Soul of a Crow (2016) – Continues the saga of Lorie and her companions as they attempt to establish a new life while dealing with the fallout of their secrets.
- Grace of a Hawk (2018) – Resolves the trilogy's conflicts, bringing Lorie's quest for peace, redemption, and lasting love to a dramatic conclusion.
Standalone Novels
Aside from her main series, Abbie Williams has published standalone stories that focus on her signature themes of forbidden love and emotional resilience:
- Forbidden (2012) – Her debut contemporary romance novel, centering on the intense and forbidden love between characters Matthew and Bryce.
What to Know Before You Start
Readers should be prepared for a shift in genre within the Shore Leave Cafe series. While the early books read as traditional contemporary small-town romances focused on family dynamics, single parenting, and rebuilding life after divorce, the latter books introduce supernatural elements, an ancient ancestral feud, and time-travel paths. If you prefer straight contemporary romance, the first few books will suit you perfectly; if you enjoy romantic fantasy and generational curses, you will love the way the series escalates toward the finale, Return to Yesterday.