Deborah Cooke: Author

A 4.5 Star Review at the Reading Cafe for Just for Tonight!

August 31, 2026

—

Carpe Diem Café, Coming Soon, Contemporary Romance, My Books, New Release

There’s a new 4.5-star review posted for Jake and Mackenzie’s story, this time at The Reading Cafe:

4.5 star review for Just for Tonight, book three of the Carpe Diem Café series of small town contemporary romances by Deborah Cooke

Here’s all of Sandy’s review:

“JUST FOR TONIGHT is the third instalment in Deborah Cooke’s contemporary, adult THE CARPE DIEM CAFE romance series focusing on the Cavendish siblings. This is eldest brother and financial advisor Jake Cavendish, and Mackenzie Rhodes, heir to Rhodes Winery story line. JUST FOR TONIGHT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Mackenzie and Jake) JUST FOR TONIGHT follows in the aftermath of the death of the Cavendish family patriarch, a man whose progeny struggle with a father who was demanding and secretive. Jake Cavendish, having left his home town of Empire years before, returns as the executor of his father’s estate but his one night stand weeks earlier reveals a familiar name and an ongoing feud between winery families. To his surprise, Jake will discover that the Cavendish empire is crumbling, and the extended family is hovering like flies, and without his help, the spiral continues to focus downward. Meanwhile, Jake’s attraction to Mackenzie is tempered when he discovers Mackenzie has one rule about dating, and that rule begins to resonate with our story line hero. Jake doesn’t do relationships or happily ever afters, and Mackenzie’s proclamation threatens any chance for a future.

The world building focuses on work and family. Jake lives in Toronto, and rarely comes home to Empire, Ontario, working long hours for a financial company. Having left home, and his siblings behind, Jake’s return is unwelcome but necessary, and retaliation is met with accusations and hateful words. Mackenzie has always lived and worked for the family wine business in Empire, frequenting the local shops and cafes but her attraction to Jake may be threatened by the families’ feud, her mother’s need to match make and a past that Jake refuses to let go.The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is another large ensemble cast of colorful and often questionable secondary and supporting characters including Jake’s’ siblings and half siblings, each struggling differently with the death of their father, a man whose actions and attitude left much to be desired. We are reintroduced to Sylvia and Mike Cavendish, and their daughter Sierra (Just LIke Starting Over 2) ,half brother and musician Luke Jones, and his girlfriend Daphne Bradshaw (JUST TROUBLE 1) , their sister Abbie, brother Ethan, and Step-mother Candace, and half sister Madison Cavendish; Sylvia’s business partner Merrie, and the introduction of Mackenzie’s uncles and grandfather.

JUST FOR TONIGHT is a story of secrets and lies, family and relationships, forgiveness and love. The character driven premise engaging, entertaining and edgy; the romance is impassioned; the characters are desperate, determined and charismatic.”

Just for Tonight at The Reading Cafe

Just for Tonight, book three of the Carpe Diem Café series of contemporary romances by Deborah Cooke

I barely knew Jake Cavendish in high school. He was two years ahead of me—the golden boy everyone knew was destined to leave our small town of Empire behind. And he did.

So when we cross paths years later at a glamorous black-tie gala in Toronto, I’m not surprised he doesn’t recognize me. What does catch me off guard is the undeniable spark between us. One unforgettable night feels like the perfect escape. After all, our families have been feuding for generations, and there’s no future for us. Better to leave it as one perfect memory than risk getting hurt.

Then Jake returns to Empire to settle his father’s estate.

Suddenly, staying away from each other is impossible. Every stolen moment makes the attraction harder to resist, and our secret affair only raises the stakes. I’m committed to preserving my family’s vineyard, while Jake is chasing a partnership at one of Toronto’s top firms. Our lives are pulling us in opposite directions, and neither of us is looking for forever.

But somewhere between the laughter, the late-night conversations, and the stolen kisses, this stopped being just a fling. Falling for the enemy was never part of the plan. Yet the more I get to know Jake, the more I wonder if everything I believed about our families—and about him—has been wrong. The only question is whether we’re willing to risk everything for a love neither of us saw coming.