Cup of Joe (Bold Brew)

Cup of Joe
by Annabeth Albert
Release Date: February 25, 2021
Publisher:  Independent/Self Published
Book #1 in the Bold Brew series
Number of pages:  194
Kindle Edition
Source: Amazon Pre-Order
Contemporary Romance M/M
Rating: XXX
Read 3/11/21 to 3/12/21

Sometimes an ordinary Joe is all you need…

Newbie barista Levi Miles is having a bad day in the middle of a bad month. He’s trying to figure out post-graduation life, and a recent breakup hasn’t helped. The one bright spot? The charming blue-collar customer with the simple order and reassuring voice.

Electrician Joe Simmons can make anything light up—except his love life. As he gets older, he remains unsure about what he wants from a relationship. But an innocent flirtation with the fresh-faced barista is exactly what his ego needs.
Levi doesn’t need a boyfriend. Or a Daddy. But bantering with Joe feels so good, and when their tentative friendship takes a turn for the sexy, a summer fling seems fun. Exploring long-held desires brings them closer with each steamy night, and the idea of parting gets harder.

But Levi’s only in town temporarily, and the end of summer is approaching. Both are reluctant to disclose their feelings, but pushing past their fears may be the only way to keep this special thing going. Can they order up a happy ending before time runs out?

One of the things I adore about this author is how much emotion she packs into her stories. Since this book is quite a bit shorter than the other stories I have read by her, I wasn’t sure if she’d be able to give me as many warm-fuzzies as usual. Not to worry, they were definitely there! This is an amazingly sweet and sexy story that gave me all the feels.

The attraction between Levi and Joe is instant. Due to their life circumstances, age difference, and other outside factors, neither believes there can be anything to their attraction. Of course, once they are thrust together in an environment other than the coffee shop, where one is a customer and the other a barista, their connection cannot be denied.

Watching these two muddle through is endearing as well as off-the-charts hot. Although Joe is older by more than a decade, he’s learning just as much about himself as Levi seems to be learning. I especially respect the fact that Joe never makes Levi feel inept or inexperienced, and is more than willing to show that he doesn’t know all.

This series has stories written by different authors with this story, by Annabeth Albert, kicking the whole thing off. I don’t know if I got to know any other character enough to feel compelled to read their stories, but if Ms. Albert trusts the other authors enough to want to do this project with them I feel they’ll be worth checking out.

5 stars