Okay, I know I am late to the party here, but I LOVED the series and pine for it to start again. I had not read the books beforehand, but I have read two since the series ended and I enjoyed them as well.
Both the series and the books paint these seemingly simplistic characters against this beautiful backdrop but you find as you go along the characters have many layers. Jill Scott and Anika Noni Rose were really amazing.
Coffee and Chocolate--A Healthy Indulgence 
