The Kookaburra Creek Café is the first novel by Australian author, Sandie Docker. If you’re driving through Kookaburra Creek, then the Kookaburra Creek Café serves coffee, light meals and the most heavenly cupcakes. It’s a gathering place for locals and an appreciated rest stop for travellers. What many don’t realise, however, is that it’s a refuge.

In 1967 actress Hattie Brookes fled the city with her younger sister when she found her fiance had a looser idea of fidelity that she did. Kookaburra Creek was their destination, a cottage to live in and lick her wounds, although they didn't arrive in quite one piece.

Thirty-seven years later, Alice Pond left her hometown, penniless and pregnant, and Kookaburra Creek was where the car got stuck in the mud. Alice couldn't cook but Hattie needed a manager for the café, a manager who could do it all. Alice was amazed to find within her a talent for cupcakes, and grateful for the inner peace she experienced while making them. Baker Joey Moretti was there whenever she needed a hand.

When young runaway Becca lets herself into Kookaburra Creek Cafe and steals some food, Alice sees more in those piercing blue eyes than fear and an image of herself fifteen years earlier. She decides to afford Becca the same trust that Hattie gave Alice, hoping she will eventually feel comfortable enough to share her problems.

If only that was all Alice would need to deal with. But Becca’s presence brings some sad memories to the forefront of Alice’s mind; Fiona Harris seems to be making eyes at Joey (even though Alice lays no claim there, does she?); and Hattie has just received some disturbing news about their beloved café.

Kookaburra Creek is the country town we’d all love to live in. While some of the residents can be quite annoying, when times are hard there’s a real sense of community. These are people who support a start-up business, pitch in when there’s a fire, shelter one of their own from harm and give a newcomer a fair go. There are five mouth-watering recipes included at the end of this wonderful feelgood novel with a decidedly Aussie flavour. A delight to read.