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Southern Roots Sweet RomCom #5
Just His Barista
She's just his barista...until she buys into Legacy Brew as a co-owner. Then she's Coy's business partner and the source of his five-year-long crush. But after they share a kiss one night, Macie's seriously considering mixing business and pleasure.
Coy Cochran and I have never gotten along all that well. His daddy hired me a decade ago at their family coffee shop, and I've grown to love the place. Now that Coy's dad is gone, he's more than determined than ever to carry on the family owned and operated café.
I'm the brains and beauty at the shop, but Coy won't listen to me—until I have money in the game too. Now that we're business partners, we get along slightly better.
Slightly.
He's still surly and full of bark, and while I like animals, I tend to stay away from the human ones that demand to see me in their office over a little spilled sugar.
I can handle working with Coy. It's the "not working" that's been plaguing me. See, we had this...well, I call it The Kissing Incident—a single kiss, months ago, in a moment of extreme distress.
Too bad I told him it was a mistake and couldn't happen again.
Double-too-bad that it was the best kiss of my life and triple-too-bad that I can't stop thinking about it. Him. I can't stop thinking about him .
And now my best friend's wedding is coming up, and I don't have a date. So I post on my social media, asking if anyone in Charleston would be willing to spend a few hours with me, drinking, dining, and dancing the night away. No strings attached. No boyfriend status required.
When Coy texts me, saying he'll be my date, I'm torn. I definitely want to go out with him, but the wedding isn't for seven more weeks. And I want that boyfriend status with him, so I tell him we should give a relationship a test drive.
The problem is, if the test drive turns out to be a complete wreck, I'm back in the same situation as before my social media dateless and comparing every future kiss I'll ever have to the man who still thinks I'm just his barista.
Oh, and I'll have to continue working with him day in and day out too.
Get ready to laugh out loud in this hilarious, sweet workplace romantic comedy! The romance is clean, the jokes witty, and the coffee-shop-grump swoon-worthy. Read today!
Coy Cochran and I have never gotten along all that well. His daddy hired me a decade ago at their family coffee shop, and I've grown to love the place. Now that Coy's dad is gone, he's more than determined than ever to carry on the family owned and operated café.
I'm the brains and beauty at the shop, but Coy won't listen to me—until I have money in the game too. Now that we're business partners, we get along slightly better.
Slightly.
He's still surly and full of bark, and while I like animals, I tend to stay away from the human ones that demand to see me in their office over a little spilled sugar.
I can handle working with Coy. It's the "not working" that's been plaguing me. See, we had this...well, I call it The Kissing Incident—a single kiss, months ago, in a moment of extreme distress.
Too bad I told him it was a mistake and couldn't happen again.
Double-too-bad that it was the best kiss of my life and triple-too-bad that I can't stop thinking about it. Him. I can't stop thinking about him .
And now my best friend's wedding is coming up, and I don't have a date. So I post on my social media, asking if anyone in Charleston would be willing to spend a few hours with me, drinking, dining, and dancing the night away. No strings attached. No boyfriend status required.
When Coy texts me, saying he'll be my date, I'm torn. I definitely want to go out with him, but the wedding isn't for seven more weeks. And I want that boyfriend status with him, so I tell him we should give a relationship a test drive.
The problem is, if the test drive turns out to be a complete wreck, I'm back in the same situation as before my social media dateless and comparing every future kiss I'll ever have to the man who still thinks I'm just his barista.
Oh, and I'll have to continue working with him day in and day out too.
Get ready to laugh out loud in this hilarious, sweet workplace romantic comedy! The romance is clean, the jokes witty, and the coffee-shop-grump swoon-worthy. Read today!
422 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2023
281 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
About the author
Donna Jeffries
10 books116 followersAuthor Donna Jeffries loves everything about the South, from the big ships to the food. Oh, and the office grumps in her Southern Roots Sweet Romantic Comedy series. Get ready to laugh out loud, sigh at the sweet, tender moments, and swoon over the office grumps in her sweet office romcom series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
July 10, 2024
2.75 ⭐
I have so many mixed feelings for this entire series, it's honestly bland, and kinda boring but it has it's up sides, the multitude of POVs we get gets kinda annoying and the time skips are confusing, and the third act breakups gets on my nerves, they just seem so over dramatic and idiotic if you'd ask me tbh
I have so many mixed feelings for this entire series, it's honestly bland, and kinda boring but it has it's up sides, the multitude of POVs we get gets kinda annoying and the time skips are confusing, and the third act breakups gets on my nerves, they just seem so over dramatic and idiotic if you'd ask me tbh
April 19, 2023
I liked how the romance in this book was kind of like coffee… sweet and bitter mixed together to create the perfect combination. I don’t often read clean romances, so this was a nice change of pace. I liked that the book had multiple points of view, but it was jarring when halfway through the book the chapters changed from just being the points of view of the main characters to other side characters as well. While it was nice seeing the differing perspectives, but it took away from the main story between Coy and Macie. I would have much preferred the story to stay focused on the main characters, and then each couple in the friend group maybe having their own stories. Also, while I know ARCs are generally I corrected proofs, meaning they haven’t been proofread, there were consistency errors with names that confused me a bit and took away from some of my enjoyment of the story as well as spelling/grammar issues. Overall, though, this was a sweet romance and I recommend it to people looking for a quick, easy read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 7, 2023
Lots of humor but also had good life lessons
I really enjoyed this book. I felt like the main story with Coy and Macie had so many “storms” (as they called it) that you felt like some conflict from an everyday situation would go from calm to Nor’easter in 2.6 seconds. Little things were causing so much hurt and big reactions. Finally I get to the turning point in the story, words of motherly advice that Macie needed to see her situation from new eyes, and suddenly I’m crying. I’m sitting on an airplane crying, because I didn’t even realize how much I needed to hear that same advice. The book totally moved me and made me just sit back and reevaluate. I know I’m going to be thinking of this book for a long time to come.
I’ve been reading all these books in the Southern Roots Romantic Comedies series. It was great to see where they are at now in their HEA relationships. All of them got their own POV chapters. I loved that part and there was so much to catch up on.
Rating: PG, clean, sweet romance
I really enjoyed this book. I felt like the main story with Coy and Macie had so many “storms” (as they called it) that you felt like some conflict from an everyday situation would go from calm to Nor’easter in 2.6 seconds. Little things were causing so much hurt and big reactions. Finally I get to the turning point in the story, words of motherly advice that Macie needed to see her situation from new eyes, and suddenly I’m crying. I’m sitting on an airplane crying, because I didn’t even realize how much I needed to hear that same advice. The book totally moved me and made me just sit back and reevaluate. I know I’m going to be thinking of this book for a long time to come.
I’ve been reading all these books in the Southern Roots Romantic Comedies series. It was great to see where they are at now in their HEA relationships. All of them got their own POV chapters. I loved that part and there was so much to catch up on.
Rating: PG, clean, sweet romance
May 1, 2023
Just His Barista is book 5 of Donna Jeffries Southern Roots Sweet RomCom series! It is the first book that I have read by her and it can easily be read as a standalone. Macie and Coy are the stars of this book.
Macie has worked for Legendary Brew for years as a barista but more recently became co-owner when Coy was at risk of losing the family business. Although they have known each other for some time, their feelings don’t come out until Macie posts on social media looking for a date to her best friend's wedding. Coy immediately jumps at the chance to be closer to Macie since he has had a secret crush on her for the past five years. Macie decides that it would be best to get some practice dates in before the wedding so that they can get to know each other on a more personal level. While there were some bumps along the way, they realize that they have a lot more than “business partner” feelings. They may be complete opposites but they seem to be perfect for each other!
The coffee shop setting is great! I especially love when their friends come to hang out to catch up with each other - definite FRIENDS vibes there! They are both so passionate for the business…even with blow-ups between them, they can come back and do what's best for Legendary. Their love for each other is quite evident AND their chemistry is off the charts!
I typically prefer dual POVs and I was a little confused once the side characters POVs were brought into the mix. I went back several times to see who was telling the story. I feel like the main focus should have been on Macie and Coy since the other characters already had their stories. I do love this group of friends! They are all so close and supportive of each other and I cannot wait to go back to read their stories too!
Goodness, did that letter from Macie’s mother have me in tears! This book had me feeling all the feels! It was such a sweet romance and was a quick read!
This book has….
Enemies to Lovers
Opposites Attract
Workplace Romance
Lots of Banter
FRIENDS Vibes
Thank you to Donna Jeffries for the Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my honest review!
Macie has worked for Legendary Brew for years as a barista but more recently became co-owner when Coy was at risk of losing the family business. Although they have known each other for some time, their feelings don’t come out until Macie posts on social media looking for a date to her best friend's wedding. Coy immediately jumps at the chance to be closer to Macie since he has had a secret crush on her for the past five years. Macie decides that it would be best to get some practice dates in before the wedding so that they can get to know each other on a more personal level. While there were some bumps along the way, they realize that they have a lot more than “business partner” feelings. They may be complete opposites but they seem to be perfect for each other!
The coffee shop setting is great! I especially love when their friends come to hang out to catch up with each other - definite FRIENDS vibes there! They are both so passionate for the business…even with blow-ups between them, they can come back and do what's best for Legendary. Their love for each other is quite evident AND their chemistry is off the charts!
I typically prefer dual POVs and I was a little confused once the side characters POVs were brought into the mix. I went back several times to see who was telling the story. I feel like the main focus should have been on Macie and Coy since the other characters already had their stories. I do love this group of friends! They are all so close and supportive of each other and I cannot wait to go back to read their stories too!
Goodness, did that letter from Macie’s mother have me in tears! This book had me feeling all the feels! It was such a sweet romance and was a quick read!
This book has….
Enemies to Lovers
Opposites Attract
Workplace Romance
Lots of Banter
FRIENDS Vibes
Thank you to Donna Jeffries for the Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my honest review!
April 21, 2023
Given that this was my first Donna Read, I absolutely loved the end to the series! Now I have to go back and catch up on the other 4 couples.
Coy and Macie are such a sweet/ complicated couple that have amazing chemistry. A nice balance of enemies to lovers and office romance, but in this case it's in a cafe.
Macie was just a barista until she buys into Legacy Brews and becomes co-owner with Coy. Coy is continuing the family legacy with the cafe. Together they bring the cafe into the 21st century.
Coy is beyond shy and has held onto a secret crush on Macie for over 5 years, that is until Macie posts a video on social media asking for a date to her best friends wedding. Coy makes the first move and we get multiple dates, awkward encounters and plenty of wonderful sarcastic remarks.
There is also recaps of the past 4 couples and their new adventures they will be entering. So many puns and sarcasm I devoured it in one sitting. I appreciate being able to get an ARC and I am glad it is already out for many to enjoy it!
Coy and Macie are such a sweet/ complicated couple that have amazing chemistry. A nice balance of enemies to lovers and office romance, but in this case it's in a cafe.
Macie was just a barista until she buys into Legacy Brews and becomes co-owner with Coy. Coy is continuing the family legacy with the cafe. Together they bring the cafe into the 21st century.
Coy is beyond shy and has held onto a secret crush on Macie for over 5 years, that is until Macie posts a video on social media asking for a date to her best friends wedding. Coy makes the first move and we get multiple dates, awkward encounters and plenty of wonderful sarcastic remarks.
There is also recaps of the past 4 couples and their new adventures they will be entering. So many puns and sarcasm I devoured it in one sitting. I appreciate being able to get an ARC and I am glad it is already out for many to enjoy it!
December 2, 2024
This was a real feel good story, tying up the stories of the couple from the prior books as well. This was really nice. All the stories in this series felt like I was reading about real people, with all their insecurities and how they used their friends and lives to help them grow.
If you decide to read this book, I would recommend you not do so until you have read the others in this series, and in order, as there is a lit if integration between them. This one certainly wouldn’t make as much sense without having already read the prior stories.
If you decide to read this book, I would recommend you not do so until you have read the others in this series, and in order, as there is a lit if integration between them. This one certainly wouldn’t make as much sense without having already read the prior stories.
April 10, 2023
I liked it, but not as much as the other books in the series. I felt like I was driving right into a story that was already going when the book started. It's been a while since I read the previous books, so I would have liked a little more background on characters and story development from the start. The book felt a little heavy to me and made me feel crabby. I was glad to get nice conclusions for all the characters in the series.
May 5, 2024
Coy and Maddie
This relationship is very volatile but can also be sweet. She's just got such a stormy personality! Coy offered to be her date to Jason and Bri's wedding and then they decided they wanted to date for real! But the storms are getting stronger! Can they work thru this and find their HEA?
This relationship is very volatile but can also be sweet. She's just got such a stormy personality! Coy offered to be her date to Jason and Bri's wedding and then they decided they wanted to date for real! But the storms are getting stronger! Can they work thru this and find their HEA?
April 7, 2023
As a newer romcom reader, the title of this book hooked me, perhaps because my coffee cup is never very far away or something about Macie’s outfit of was leggings and a simple top, either way I was intrigued.
I haven’t read more than a chapter or two in another book in this series, so I was grateful that most of the story stayed true to Coy and Macie’s POV. It was fun to see these characters banter back and forth like a well seasoned couple as opposed to a couple, who was just getting to explore their new status together. A few bumps along the way, but that is nothing new to relationships and trying to tame the storms that were brewing.
Ultimately, this was a wonderful read and can be a stand alone for the most, but would be helpful having some background knowledge on the supporting characters (from the previous books). Coy and Macie are a couple to be cheered for and celebrated because anyone who can fight for love after all they went through deserves to live “happily ever after!” Sometimes you “accidentally” fall in love in the most unexpected ways and sometimes it all starts with a “Kissing Incident” on an orange couch in the middle of the night.
*This review is voluntary as I received a complimentary copy as part of an ARC team.*
I haven’t read more than a chapter or two in another book in this series, so I was grateful that most of the story stayed true to Coy and Macie’s POV. It was fun to see these characters banter back and forth like a well seasoned couple as opposed to a couple, who was just getting to explore their new status together. A few bumps along the way, but that is nothing new to relationships and trying to tame the storms that were brewing.
Ultimately, this was a wonderful read and can be a stand alone for the most, but would be helpful having some background knowledge on the supporting characters (from the previous books). Coy and Macie are a couple to be cheered for and celebrated because anyone who can fight for love after all they went through deserves to live “happily ever after!” Sometimes you “accidentally” fall in love in the most unexpected ways and sometimes it all starts with a “Kissing Incident” on an orange couch in the middle of the night.
*This review is voluntary as I received a complimentary copy as part of an ARC team.*
April 3, 2024
My least favorite of this series , the main female character is impossible to like . I tired but a thirty years old woman who acts like a toddler with a responsible , understanding man was a hard read . In a real life situation everyone in his family and friends would dislike her .
April 14, 2023
Rate: 4/5
Genre: Clean Romance/ Sweet Romance
Read it if you like
🌸 Co-owners to Lovers
🌸 Friendship
🌸 Happily Ever After
🌸 Southern Food swears
🌸 Coffee House
🌸 Multi-Character POV
Favourite Moments
🌸 Ice-cream parlour scene
🌸 Their adorable pets.
🌸 Jess helped Macie to dress up
🌸 Siblings being siblings
🌸 Bri and Jason’s wedding scene
🌸 In his house scene (read to find out)
(lots more)
Swoony Moments
🌸 He cares for her
🌸 He bought her favourite pastry and gave it to her.
🌸 Despite of her storms of emotion that she struggles with and he still loves her.
Synopsis:
Macie
A barista who co-owns the coffee house with Coy. She is hardworking and good at her job just but one thing is that she had storms of emotions which made people couldn’t stand her at times.
Coy
Continues on with his father’s coffee house along with Macie. He does paperwork and make sure the coffee house has what they need to continue running and also, he has a passion for drawing.
Bri and Jason’s wedding is coming up and Macie doesn’t have a date so she decided to make a video to ask who would like to be her date to the wedding. Coy saw it and messaged her. But because of the ‘Kissing Incident’ that they shared months ago she is contemplating. Will she accept him? Read Just His Barista to find out!
Review:
This is my 1st book of Donna Jeffries however this is not the 1st book of the Southern Roots’ series it is the last book of the series. Love the bantering and the Southern food swearing it is so cute. And also Macie and Coy love each other and love how Macie stood up for Coy when she feels that he doesn’t like something he should speak out. And they open up to each other and they found out that they are similar in some ways. And Coy try his best to figure out Macie’s storms because he love her so much. This book made me laugh, cry and also swoon. And their friends are just so encouraging. Love that Donna slots in some of their friend’s POVs.
Thank you, Donna Jeffries for the ARC! Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series. Would love to read Jessie, Tara, Callie and Sabrina’s love stories.
P.S Though it can be read stand alone but I still feel that it is better to read the series in order.
You can purchase Donna Jeffries’ books from Amazon and it is available in KU
Genre: Clean Romance/ Sweet Romance
Read it if you like
🌸 Co-owners to Lovers
🌸 Friendship
🌸 Happily Ever After
🌸 Southern Food swears
🌸 Coffee House
🌸 Multi-Character POV
Favourite Moments
🌸 Ice-cream parlour scene
🌸 Their adorable pets.
🌸 Jess helped Macie to dress up
🌸 Siblings being siblings
🌸 Bri and Jason’s wedding scene
🌸 In his house scene (read to find out)
(lots more)
Swoony Moments
🌸 He cares for her
🌸 He bought her favourite pastry and gave it to her.
🌸 Despite of her storms of emotion that she struggles with and he still loves her.
Synopsis:
Macie
A barista who co-owns the coffee house with Coy. She is hardworking and good at her job just but one thing is that she had storms of emotions which made people couldn’t stand her at times.
Coy
Continues on with his father’s coffee house along with Macie. He does paperwork and make sure the coffee house has what they need to continue running and also, he has a passion for drawing.
Bri and Jason’s wedding is coming up and Macie doesn’t have a date so she decided to make a video to ask who would like to be her date to the wedding. Coy saw it and messaged her. But because of the ‘Kissing Incident’ that they shared months ago she is contemplating. Will she accept him? Read Just His Barista to find out!
Review:
This is my 1st book of Donna Jeffries however this is not the 1st book of the Southern Roots’ series it is the last book of the series. Love the bantering and the Southern food swearing it is so cute. And also Macie and Coy love each other and love how Macie stood up for Coy when she feels that he doesn’t like something he should speak out. And they open up to each other and they found out that they are similar in some ways. And Coy try his best to figure out Macie’s storms because he love her so much. This book made me laugh, cry and also swoon. And their friends are just so encouraging. Love that Donna slots in some of their friend’s POVs.
Thank you, Donna Jeffries for the ARC! Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series. Would love to read Jessie, Tara, Callie and Sabrina’s love stories.
P.S Though it can be read stand alone but I still feel that it is better to read the series in order.
You can purchase Donna Jeffries’ books from Amazon and it is available in KU
April 28, 2023
3.5⭐
Romance level: kissing.
This book was good. I like the co-worker vibes, the plot & how he fell first. I really encourage you to read the series & get to know each & every one of the characters.
For me, these two were sweet, but sometimes confusing with all had the things to figure out. I think that's what made this story work. It shows how life's messy & to enjoy the journey while figuring things out.
I just couldn't w/everything that was going on for Valentine's day. It was cute but I don't think I could haha But the detail & thoughtfulness put into the date was cute😍. My biologist brain couldn't let me enjoy it as much though😅 but it was sweet of him.
I loved reading Tara & Alec's pov too. I missed those two! They are definitely my favorite couple in the entire series.
Coy was a really sweet man with lots of patience. I liked how he stood his ground though. This man was not shy on going all in for showing how much he wanted her. He wanted to make everything right for Macie, but he needed to realized there were things he couldn't fix & it needed to be done by herself.
I was pretty surprised with Macie's development. At first it took me some time warm up to her. She is a complex character. I sometimes couldn't wrap my head around her attitude or how she reacted... But later on you get a glimpse into the several issues she needed to deal with.
This couple definitely had their own unique way to work through stuff & make up. I liked the povs of the other characters. I do think it would be best if the other books are read first, so you get to enjoy the different views.
I liked the plot... There were some small details that didn't work out FOR ME, like how she acted or the building of the problem. I think it was led to believe it was something bigger, but some details were missing (in my opinion) & then it got solved. But it was a nice story, overall.
Go give this one a try! It might be just the perfect book for you.
⚠️TW: death of a loved one
☕
* I was kindly gifted an ARC from the author. This doesn't influence in any form my review/opinion of the book*
Romance level: kissing.
This book was good. I like the co-worker vibes, the plot & how he fell first. I really encourage you to read the series & get to know each & every one of the characters.
For me, these two were sweet, but sometimes confusing with all had the things to figure out. I think that's what made this story work. It shows how life's messy & to enjoy the journey while figuring things out.
I just couldn't w/everything that was going on for Valentine's day. It was cute but I don't think I could haha But the detail & thoughtfulness put into the date was cute😍. My biologist brain couldn't let me enjoy it as much though😅 but it was sweet of him.
I loved reading Tara & Alec's pov too. I missed those two! They are definitely my favorite couple in the entire series.
Coy was a really sweet man with lots of patience. I liked how he stood his ground though. This man was not shy on going all in for showing how much he wanted her. He wanted to make everything right for Macie, but he needed to realized there were things he couldn't fix & it needed to be done by herself.
I was pretty surprised with Macie's development. At first it took me some time warm up to her. She is a complex character. I sometimes couldn't wrap my head around her attitude or how she reacted... But later on you get a glimpse into the several issues she needed to deal with.
This couple definitely had their own unique way to work through stuff & make up. I liked the povs of the other characters. I do think it would be best if the other books are read first, so you get to enjoy the different views.
I liked the plot... There were some small details that didn't work out FOR ME, like how she acted or the building of the problem. I think it was led to believe it was something bigger, but some details were missing (in my opinion) & then it got solved. But it was a nice story, overall.
Go give this one a try! It might be just the perfect book for you.
⚠️TW: death of a loved one
☕
* I was kindly gifted an ARC from the author. This doesn't influence in any form my review/opinion of the book*
June 28, 2025
Plot: Macie needs a date to her best friend’s wedding. Coy can’t keep his business afloat by himself. When he offers to go with her to the wedding, she accepts. She offers to buy half the business and help him run it. He accepts as well. The only problem, they hate each other. When she suggests they go out a few times before then to see if they want to spend a day at a wedding together, their feelings grow quickly. How can they keep their business running smoothly with personal relations? How will this affect their dating? Will things work out, or will they crash and burn?
What I liked: I liked that Coy treated Macie so well, for the most part. I also liked that she had a good relationship with her dad. The part about her mom and the gift was cute too.
What I didn’t like: honestly, this book was hard for me to get through. I almost DNF’d it multiple times. The first was because of his pet name of “pudding.” For her. It drove me nuts, but I kept going. I’m not from the south, so maybe that’s my problem? Is this a common pet name? Idk. I also hated that the dolphin was named Pookie. Man. That was a tough one for me. But I also kept going, since it was just a chapter or two I had to deal with it. Another thing, Coy’s sister. She was so rude. Every interaction with her made me roll my eyes. Especially when she was a whiney baby about Macie standing up for Coy. She didn’t actually care about his feelings and what he wanted. She was just mad that Macie was interfering with her telling Coy what to do and hated that she couldn’t boss him around anymore. Ugh. I hated Anna Lee. Lastly, I kept getting so confused with the other character chapters. Yes, I’ve read the other four books. Yes, recently (so I remember them all). And yes, they also had other character chapters in them. However, this one had the most and I felt like it didn’t super add to the story at times. I feel that a catch up at the end of the book would have been just fine for some of the chapters that were inserted.
Swearing: none
Physical intimacy level: closed door, swoony kisses
Star rating: 3 stars
Trope: workplace Romance, he fell first, small town romance, interconnected series
What I liked: I liked that Coy treated Macie so well, for the most part. I also liked that she had a good relationship with her dad. The part about her mom and the gift was cute too.
What I didn’t like: honestly, this book was hard for me to get through. I almost DNF’d it multiple times. The first was because of his pet name of “pudding.” For her. It drove me nuts, but I kept going. I’m not from the south, so maybe that’s my problem? Is this a common pet name? Idk. I also hated that the dolphin was named Pookie. Man. That was a tough one for me. But I also kept going, since it was just a chapter or two I had to deal with it. Another thing, Coy’s sister. She was so rude. Every interaction with her made me roll my eyes. Especially when she was a whiney baby about Macie standing up for Coy. She didn’t actually care about his feelings and what he wanted. She was just mad that Macie was interfering with her telling Coy what to do and hated that she couldn’t boss him around anymore. Ugh. I hated Anna Lee. Lastly, I kept getting so confused with the other character chapters. Yes, I’ve read the other four books. Yes, recently (so I remember them all). And yes, they also had other character chapters in them. However, this one had the most and I felt like it didn’t super add to the story at times. I feel that a catch up at the end of the book would have been just fine for some of the chapters that were inserted.
Swearing: none
Physical intimacy level: closed door, swoony kisses
Star rating: 3 stars
Trope: workplace Romance, he fell first, small town romance, interconnected series
April 11, 2023
Another great book! I knew Macie and Coy were my people when so many things went wrong for them. All. The. Time. When one of the main characters says, “I don’t think we’ll ever have a date without blood”, well, that sounds like life. It’s just how Macie and Coy roll. And just a taste of how much they have to deal with as they navigate the changes between them. Trying to figure out being partners in business and in life. It’s a lot.
This story was more about how they could make their relationship work than it was about moving towards a relationship. That groundwork had already happened. They certainly had some ups and downs and the story delved into some emotional issues that were preventing Macie from letting it work. Self-sabotage at its finest. “I’m too loud. I’m too bossy. I’m too opinionated. I’m too much bad and not enough good.” And poor Coy falls faster and harder, while trying to survive the storm of Macie. He wasn’t perfect either, and had his own growth to go through. It was impossible not to like both of them. In spite of their mishaps, they had great chemistry, good times and some excellent swoony moments.
I believe this is the last book in the series. This book has many glimpses into the lives of the previous couples. I have really enjoyed this series and I loved seeing so much of all their lives moving forward. I’m sad to see it end. The friends are all so involved with each other, I think it’s best to read the whole series in order. (But you can read this just to enjoy Macie and Coy’s story if you really want to.) All the books are so good, it’s no hardship.
This story was more about how they could make their relationship work than it was about moving towards a relationship. That groundwork had already happened. They certainly had some ups and downs and the story delved into some emotional issues that were preventing Macie from letting it work. Self-sabotage at its finest. “I’m too loud. I’m too bossy. I’m too opinionated. I’m too much bad and not enough good.” And poor Coy falls faster and harder, while trying to survive the storm of Macie. He wasn’t perfect either, and had his own growth to go through. It was impossible not to like both of them. In spite of their mishaps, they had great chemistry, good times and some excellent swoony moments.
I believe this is the last book in the series. This book has many glimpses into the lives of the previous couples. I have really enjoyed this series and I loved seeing so much of all their lives moving forward. I’m sad to see it end. The friends are all so involved with each other, I think it’s best to read the whole series in order. (But you can read this just to enjoy Macie and Coy’s story if you really want to.) All the books are so good, it’s no hardship.
April 5, 2023
Just His Barista is the fifth book in the Southern Roots Sweet RomCom. For the most part, this reads just fine as a standalone. However, while the story is primarily told from the alternating POVs of the male and female main characters in the story- Coy and Macie- there are a few times throughout where it cuts to a POV from one of the characters from the previous books and helps to just wrap up their stories in that way. Not having read all of the previous books in the series, this took me out of the primary story just a bit... but I do think that readers who have read all of the previous books already are really going to appreciate that little wrap-up much more. It certainly had me wanting to go back and catch up on the books I'd missed myself.
When this book first began, I wasn't really quite sure what to make of Macie's character, and how she reacted to certain things. As the story goes on, this is actually addressed, and I found myself coming around to her more by the end of it. I enjoyed seeing her grow as the story went on, and found myself rooting for them to work out their differences. The chemistry between the two was certainly unique, and I loved all of their dating mishaps that had me literally laughing out loud. This one was definitely living up to the comedy part of RomCom, that's for certain.
Overall, this was a really fun read. If you enjoy a good, clean RomCom, this is definitely one to check out!
**I received a complimentary ARC for consideration. All thoughts are my own.
When this book first began, I wasn't really quite sure what to make of Macie's character, and how she reacted to certain things. As the story goes on, this is actually addressed, and I found myself coming around to her more by the end of it. I enjoyed seeing her grow as the story went on, and found myself rooting for them to work out their differences. The chemistry between the two was certainly unique, and I loved all of their dating mishaps that had me literally laughing out loud. This one was definitely living up to the comedy part of RomCom, that's for certain.
Overall, this was a really fun read. If you enjoy a good, clean RomCom, this is definitely one to check out!
**I received a complimentary ARC for consideration. All thoughts are my own.
April 22, 2023
Synopsis: Macie and Coy are co-owners of the coffee shop that has been in his family for years. The odd thing is, they don't exactly get along with each other. A few months ago they shared the most amazing kiss but that was a mistake and something Macie refuses to talk about. Now Macie is looking for a date to her friend's wedding Coy offers to go with her. Instead of saying yes right away, Macie convinces Coy to try out dating to see if a relationship would even work between them.
Review: I went into this book completely blind. I didn't read the description and I have not read any of the other books in this series. It can be read as a standalone but I am wondering if I would have enjoyed it and rated it higher if I had read the others. I was on the fence when I started it and the further I read, the more turned off I became. Macie's behavior and attitude were a real sour spot for me. I tolerated it at first but then it began to annoy me and leave me frustrated. I rolled my eyes at her so many times, and I truly found it hard to believe Coy would be in love with someone like her for so many years. She acted like a petulant child.
There was one point in this book when a couple of chapters were told from the perspective of various characters from the previous books. While the idea of it was cute, it was quite disruptive to the flow of the story. The story also felt fragmented. Perhaps this was because I didn't read the previous books but a lot of background information seemed to be missing.
Things I enjoyed: I loved the overall plot of this book. Coy was a great character and I found his personality to be enjoyable. There were also a lot of funny moments in the book that made me laugh out loud.
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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Review: I went into this book completely blind. I didn't read the description and I have not read any of the other books in this series. It can be read as a standalone but I am wondering if I would have enjoyed it and rated it higher if I had read the others. I was on the fence when I started it and the further I read, the more turned off I became. Macie's behavior and attitude were a real sour spot for me. I tolerated it at first but then it began to annoy me and leave me frustrated. I rolled my eyes at her so many times, and I truly found it hard to believe Coy would be in love with someone like her for so many years. She acted like a petulant child.
There was one point in this book when a couple of chapters were told from the perspective of various characters from the previous books. While the idea of it was cute, it was quite disruptive to the flow of the story. The story also felt fragmented. Perhaps this was because I didn't read the previous books but a lot of background information seemed to be missing.
Things I enjoyed: I loved the overall plot of this book. Coy was a great character and I found his personality to be enjoyable. There were also a lot of funny moments in the book that made me laugh out loud.
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Find more reviews and book recommendations on my blog.
Find me on Bookstagram and Facebook
April 19, 2023
Just His Barista by Donna Jeffries is a lovely book that finishes out her Southern Roots Sweet RomCom series. This book was the first one I read in the series, but I feel it can be read as a standalone book. The book does reference characters from the previous books, but the references did not confuse me, instead they just made me want to read the other books in the series.
This book focuses on Macie and Coy, who own a coffee shop together, as they decide to try dating in preparation for a wedding Macie needs a date for. The story that follows is full of banter, humor, acceptance, kissing, forgiveness, and love.
I thought Macie was a great heroine. She is passionate and kind, but she also has some mental/emotional struggles. I loved seeing how Coy accepted Macie for who she was. It was so sweet.
Coy was a wonderful hero. He is strong, loyal, and patient. He is so caring and giving to everyone, especially Macie. He is so good. I loved all the dates he planned for Macie.
This book was a wonderful read. I loved the development of Macie and Coy’s relationship and how open and honest they were in their conversations. I will be checking out the other books in the series.
Thank you to the author for the ARC. All opinions expressed in this voluntary review are my own.
This book focuses on Macie and Coy, who own a coffee shop together, as they decide to try dating in preparation for a wedding Macie needs a date for. The story that follows is full of banter, humor, acceptance, kissing, forgiveness, and love.
I thought Macie was a great heroine. She is passionate and kind, but she also has some mental/emotional struggles. I loved seeing how Coy accepted Macie for who she was. It was so sweet.
Coy was a wonderful hero. He is strong, loyal, and patient. He is so caring and giving to everyone, especially Macie. He is so good. I loved all the dates he planned for Macie.
This book was a wonderful read. I loved the development of Macie and Coy’s relationship and how open and honest they were in their conversations. I will be checking out the other books in the series.
Thank you to the author for the ARC. All opinions expressed in this voluntary review are my own.
May 18, 2023
I could not read this book without donuts, so I couldn't take a photo to post without them too. 😂
This book took me a little bit longer to review because of the craziness of my move, but I am doing it now.
I really did like this book. I especially loved that I was a sweet romance, which seems to be of mixed opinions.
(I look at other reviews when I go to post to make sure I don't say the same thing. For some reason people disliked it because it was clean? Not sure why, but okay 😂)
I love Coy and Macie and their love story. I love how it wasn't perfect, and that they had problems and bumps, or "storms" as the characters called it, along the way. It made it more enjoyable for me and realistic.
Life is messy sometimes.
Also, this cover! I just love it! (The dog is probably my favorite part. 😍)
I think this book goes great with the rest of the Southern Roots Romantic Comedies Series.
.
.
To sum it up:
- Loved it!
- Donna Jefferies is a great author and I love her writing.
- Highly recommend
- 5 Star read.
.
.
.
I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All thoughts, views, and opinions are my own.
This book took me a little bit longer to review because of the craziness of my move, but I am doing it now.
I really did like this book. I especially loved that I was a sweet romance, which seems to be of mixed opinions.
(I look at other reviews when I go to post to make sure I don't say the same thing. For some reason people disliked it because it was clean? Not sure why, but okay 😂)
I love Coy and Macie and their love story. I love how it wasn't perfect, and that they had problems and bumps, or "storms" as the characters called it, along the way. It made it more enjoyable for me and realistic.
Life is messy sometimes.
Also, this cover! I just love it! (The dog is probably my favorite part. 😍)
I think this book goes great with the rest of the Southern Roots Romantic Comedies Series.
.
.
To sum it up:
- Loved it!
- Donna Jefferies is a great author and I love her writing.
- Highly recommend
- 5 Star read.
.
.
.
I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All thoughts, views, and opinions are my own.
April 6, 2023
I have loved each and every one of the books in this series. I love the way the author writes her characters. They are all so great. I love the humor of the series. And the setting. This book just made me smile.
Macie was one of my favorite things about this book. I loved that she isn't the type of girl who lets people walk all over her. She is tempestuous, mostly in a good way. But that also leads to her fighting a lot with her co-owner, Coy. And that's not always a good thing.
I loved Coy. The way he noticed little things about Macie just made me happy. He's the kind of guy who notices things. The kind who will go out of his way to buy her favorite treat. And the kind of guy who can love her storms.
One thing I really enjoyed about this one is that there are chapters through a few of Macie's friends points of view. I loved the depth that that brought to the story. And I loved seeing well loved characters still happy.
This book is so great! You need to read the whole series!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Macie was one of my favorite things about this book. I loved that she isn't the type of girl who lets people walk all over her. She is tempestuous, mostly in a good way. But that also leads to her fighting a lot with her co-owner, Coy. And that's not always a good thing.
I loved Coy. The way he noticed little things about Macie just made me happy. He's the kind of guy who notices things. The kind who will go out of his way to buy her favorite treat. And the kind of guy who can love her storms.
One thing I really enjoyed about this one is that there are chapters through a few of Macie's friends points of view. I loved the depth that that brought to the story. And I loved seeing well loved characters still happy.
This book is so great! You need to read the whole series!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 16, 2023
This was an angsty workplace romantic comedy.
I enjoyed the story and was glad to see these characters finally get their own book. Would recommend.
Macie Marsden has worked as a barista at Legacy Brew coffeehouse for many years. She finally is allowed to buy into the business when it is on the brink of bankruptcy. She runs the front of the house operations.
Coy Cochran owns the largest percentage of the coffeehouse which has been in his family for many years. He runs the administrative side of the house. He has also been in love with Macie for 5 years.
Marie's best friend Sabrina is getting married in a few months and she needs a date for the wedding. She posts a video online asking for a date, Coy volunteers. She wants to date before the wedding to make sure they get on. They have some hilarious mishaps while dating. They sort of break up, reconcile at the wedding and eventually get their own HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed the story and was glad to see these characters finally get their own book. Would recommend.
Macie Marsden has worked as a barista at Legacy Brew coffeehouse for many years. She finally is allowed to buy into the business when it is on the brink of bankruptcy. She runs the front of the house operations.
Coy Cochran owns the largest percentage of the coffeehouse which has been in his family for many years. He runs the administrative side of the house. He has also been in love with Macie for 5 years.
Marie's best friend Sabrina is getting married in a few months and she needs a date for the wedding. She posts a video online asking for a date, Coy volunteers. She wants to date before the wedding to make sure they get on. They have some hilarious mishaps while dating. They sort of break up, reconcile at the wedding and eventually get their own HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 15, 2023
This is a super sweet closed door romance. It is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone but you will get more enjoyment from it if you read the book prior to this one.
This is Coy and Macie's story.
Coy has been in love with Macie for 5 years but he hasn't told her yet. Macie thinks she hates Coy, sure he is handsome and he sparks a fire in her no one else can but they butt heads and argue. Yes there was that one really hot kiss, and maybe she can't stop thinking about it but she definitely doesn't want to date him... Until she does.
This is a cute story, it follows Coy and Macie through connecting on a romantic level, the dates, business relationship, all while they are both working on and trying to deal with personal things. It is well written, engaging and leaves you feeling joyful.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is Coy and Macie's story.
Coy has been in love with Macie for 5 years but he hasn't told her yet. Macie thinks she hates Coy, sure he is handsome and he sparks a fire in her no one else can but they butt heads and argue. Yes there was that one really hot kiss, and maybe she can't stop thinking about it but she definitely doesn't want to date him... Until she does.
This is a cute story, it follows Coy and Macie through connecting on a romantic level, the dates, business relationship, all while they are both working on and trying to deal with personal things. It is well written, engaging and leaves you feeling joyful.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 12, 2024
I enjoyed this story as an audiobook. Teri did another fantastic job narrating this story. She has been the narrator for all the previous books in the series which made you feel like you were sucked into the stories because their voices remained the same throughout the series.
Coy and Macy are something else. They run really hot and cold there is so much tension. I enjoyed seeing their story take shape and I enjoyed that it wasn’t rushed. They slowly get out the relationship and then dove into it. I thought seeing behind the scenes of legacy brew was nice and that the book wasn’t solely focused on their relationship because it makes it more authentic. This is a dual pov, closed door romance. It is part of a series and I highly suggest reading (or listening) to the others first because you get some of the previous stories popping up in this one and I thought it made the story more enjoyable. That being said, if you don’t read the others first, you may get confused but I loved it because it was like small bonus epilogues of the previous stories.
Coy and Macy are something else. They run really hot and cold there is so much tension. I enjoyed seeing their story take shape and I enjoyed that it wasn’t rushed. They slowly get out the relationship and then dove into it. I thought seeing behind the scenes of legacy brew was nice and that the book wasn’t solely focused on their relationship because it makes it more authentic. This is a dual pov, closed door romance. It is part of a series and I highly suggest reading (or listening) to the others first because you get some of the previous stories popping up in this one and I thought it made the story more enjoyable. That being said, if you don’t read the others first, you may get confused but I loved it because it was like small bonus epilogues of the previous stories.
April 9, 2023
{3.5 stars}
I went into this book totally blind, not even reading the description so I could form my own opinions as I read. I really enjoyed the beginning, but then rapidly began to get turned off. It just didn’t vibe the way I was hoping it would.
I loved the plot-line of the story and found it vastly entertaining. But there were simply one too many things that made me lose interest and I was glad to see the end of the book.
Coy (a VERY unique name) was a fun character. He loved Macie first, which I found a fun twist to the story.
I loved Macie and her enjoyment of all things wild and colorful. Her hair color made me happy☺️
This was my first book by Donna Jeffries, and I’m not sure if I’ll be reading any more. It was kinda a hit or miss situation, and sadly, this was a miss for me😕
(I was given a paperback ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review)
I went into this book totally blind, not even reading the description so I could form my own opinions as I read. I really enjoyed the beginning, but then rapidly began to get turned off. It just didn’t vibe the way I was hoping it would.
I loved the plot-line of the story and found it vastly entertaining. But there were simply one too many things that made me lose interest and I was glad to see the end of the book.
Coy (a VERY unique name) was a fun character. He loved Macie first, which I found a fun twist to the story.
I loved Macie and her enjoyment of all things wild and colorful. Her hair color made me happy☺️
This was my first book by Donna Jeffries, and I’m not sure if I’ll be reading any more. It was kinda a hit or miss situation, and sadly, this was a miss for me😕
(I was given a paperback ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review)
April 15, 2023
I loved this book so much! It was funny, sweet, and heartwarming. Macie and Coy are such a cute couple, and I enjoyed their banter and chemistry. They both have strong personalities and opinions, but they also have a lot of respect and care for each other. I liked how they worked together at the coffee shop and how they supported each other’s dreams and goals. The kiss they shared was so romantic and swoon-worthy, and I was rooting for them to overcome their fears and doubts. I loved the secondary characters too. This book made me smile and laugh out loud many times. It was a perfect escape from reality. If you’re looking for a clean and wholesome romantic comedy with a charming southern setting, you should definitely read this book! It’s the fifth book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone too. I can’t wait to read more books by Donna Jeffries!
May 9, 2023
Even in the face of true love, it’s not always smooth sailing. Macie and Coy have been dancing around their feelings for one another the entirety of this series, so it’s about time they finally do something about that situation. I loved Coy. He charmed me from the moment he stepped onto the page. Macie wasn’t quite what I thought she was going to be from what I had seen in the earlier books. She’s bigger, bolder, louder; proving out the old adage that you may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but you will be the drink of choice for that one special person. I also had so much fun as we caught up with the whole friend group to see all the changes and new events for all the couples of the series. I kind of wish this wasn’t the last book in the series, because I’m not ready to let any of the characters go.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
April 5, 2023
Really good clean romance. Macie and Coy own a coffee shop together. She was hired by his father about 10 years ago. She runs the front end and Coy runs the back end. It has been in Coy's family for several generations. He almost ran it into bankruptcy until Macie bought into the business. She wants him to share more of the decision making with her. At one point, he reveals that he has been in love with her for 5 years. They start dating and everything goes pretty well at work. Macie has a stormy personality which she manages to tame, most of the time. Once, Coy called her stormy and that was the end of the relationship. Or was it? I received an ARC of this book and am giving it an honest review.
April 8, 2023
This rom-com hit all the right notes and had me giggling into my pillow (my husband was trying to sleep and I couldn’t put the book down.) Macie was a force of nature and Coy, who had been raised by a difficult mother and had a challenging-but-loving sister, was more even-tempered and had learned the art of staying calm in the face of a stormy personality. As co-owners of Coy’s family’s coffee shop, they had a bumpy relationship when they disagreed—which they often did. I was fascinated to see how the author brought these two different personalties together into a loving and understanding relationship. I enjoyed it! I received an ARC from the author and this voluntary review contains my honest opinions.
April 8, 2023
what do 2 dragon lizards, 3 rescue dogs and 2cats have in common? Coy & Macie.
Ahh-long sigh! Macey is a storm that’s always threatening to explode over you and the only man able to handle and control it a little is Coy. They co-own Legacy Brew together and often look more like opponents than even friends let alone anything more. Macey is the last of these 5 strong women and best friends to find her HEA and this book is a little longer because it wraps up the individual stories along with seeing Coy calm the tempest even as he adores it. This has been a fun ride as we see this group of women, each talented on their own, pair up with strong men and find fulfilling relationships together and as a large friend group. Clean.
Ahh-long sigh! Macey is a storm that’s always threatening to explode over you and the only man able to handle and control it a little is Coy. They co-own Legacy Brew together and often look more like opponents than even friends let alone anything more. Macey is the last of these 5 strong women and best friends to find her HEA and this book is a little longer because it wraps up the individual stories along with seeing Coy calm the tempest even as he adores it. This has been a fun ride as we see this group of women, each talented on their own, pair up with strong men and find fulfilling relationships together and as a large friend group. Clean.
April 15, 2023
Macie and Coy . . .
Macie and Coy have become business partners in the co-ownership of “Legacy Brew” which had been his family business. They argue much of the time, but they each have an interest in the business, so it works out. Unfortunately, they share a kiss and neither can get that kiss out of their thoughts.
When Macie’s best friend is getting married, Macie finds she needs a date. Hoping that social media will stir up a proper date, she is surprised when Coy texts and volunteers for the event. She wants to date him more than just at the wedding, however, so she suggests they should do a trial relationship to see how it works. The bad part is that, if it doesn’t work, then she is back to her original dilemma of no date for the wedding! What will she decide to do?
Macie and Coy have become business partners in the co-ownership of “Legacy Brew” which had been his family business. They argue much of the time, but they each have an interest in the business, so it works out. Unfortunately, they share a kiss and neither can get that kiss out of their thoughts.
When Macie’s best friend is getting married, Macie finds she needs a date. Hoping that social media will stir up a proper date, she is surprised when Coy texts and volunteers for the event. She wants to date him more than just at the wedding, however, so she suggests they should do a trial relationship to see how it works. The bad part is that, if it doesn’t work, then she is back to her original dilemma of no date for the wedding! What will she decide to do?
April 22, 2023
Partners not only in business! This is about Coy and Macie. Macie is storm to be reckoned with but when her mother would tell her this it was always out of love, but now that Coy said it to her once, it was like he cursed at her. The story starts off with her making a video as she needs a date for the upcoming wedding of one of her best friends, but when he sees the video, he immediately texts her to tell he that he will be her date. This sets off the whole story. I love that the author gave each of the friends a chapter in the book and how the story although primarily about Coy and Macie – it also involved the others!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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