Pumpkin Spice Spice Baby

The Coffee Loft: Fall Collection

by Kerry Evelyn

She's a cheerleading coach and part-time barista. When her ultimate rival and co-coach needs a temporary place to stay, will she take him in? And will these two continue to tear each other apart or discover they have more in common than not? And what's pumpkin spice got to do with it?

I'd rather break my leg again than live with my arch enemy, Montgomery Biddington.

But Monty's got something I want—connections. Connections my sister and cousin won't give me. And when he suddenly needs a place to stay, I know exactly how we can help each other.

I can live with his arrogance and unrelenting passive-aggressive digs. I can fire them right back just as well. I've been doing it since we were kids. To us, the term "punchbacks" always meant more than than a reverse flip on the mat.

But I never expected his compassionate side - the way he dotes on his Nana Booboo and secretly surveils her sweets consumption, or how he nursed me through an unexpected flare-up of a disease I thought I'd finally gained control of. He even offered to fill in at my other coaching job when I couldn't leave our apartment due to another of the aforementioned flareups.

I never wanted him to see this side of me. A side that makes me look weak. But living together has given me a peek into his life. And I've seen the weak side of him, too.

A side that makes him almost...lovable.

All these years, I've underestimated Monty's inner strength and boundless courage in the face of adversity. Grown-up Monty is well, grown up. And now that I've noticed, I want to call a truce.

I want more than a truce, actually. But I can never risk admitting my true feelings, even when I catch him sending compassionate looks my way. We've perfected our Good Coach/Bad Coach schtick to the point where we've got everything to lose if our coaching dynamic changes.

I'm losing my heart and I don't know how to stop it. I can't compromise the team's chances of winning or risk losing Monty to silly emotions that will no doubt punch back harder than any of his tumbling passes.

It's going to take an awful latte of willpower to keep myself closed off. But is this a challenge I want to win?

***

Pumpkin Spice Spice Baby is a childhood rivals and frenemies-to-more forced proximity sports romance with #justkisses and no swearing.

Welcome to the Coffee Loft's Fall Collection! So much more, coming soon!

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Contemporary, Sports, Enemies To Lovers

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2024

About the author

Get exclusive series-related bonuses and freebies by signing up for my Newsletter: http://www.kerryevelyn.com/links

Kerry's sweet romance novels feature small towns, a touch of the supernatural, and unforgettable charming characters pursuing happily-ever-afters. Fueled on faith, Dunkin’ iced coffee, and a love for people, including her amazing family, Kerry loves (in ever-changing order) books, boy bands, cats, hockey, sweet drinks, taking selfies, traveling, and the madness of getting the stories in her head onto the page. Find out more and sign up for her newsletter at KerryEvelyn.com/links.

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Reviews

[TheBookPlatypus · Rating 4 out of 5]

☕️Frenemies-to-More
☕️Cheerleading/Tumbling Coaches
☕️A Meddling Nana
☕️Emotional Support Cat
☕️Forced Proximity/Roomates
☕️Slow Burn
☕️Childhood Besties
☕️Suspicious Love Letters
☕️Autoimmune / Celiac Rep
☕️Small-Town Shenanigans
☕️No 3rd Act Breakup
☕️"I've always loved you."

Tasha and Monty met as young children at cheer/tumbling camp and instantly vowed to become partners forever and be the best.
Years later, Monty chose a different partner and it crushed Tasha starting the domino effect getting hurt and ending her career. She lost her best friend and the will to tumble again.

Fast Forward, these two are pushed together after years of not talking and behold, Monty with his cat, ends up being roommates with Tasha and coaching together.
This is a sweet slowburn. From Frenemies to Friends again to something more.
We see a bit into the life of someone with Celiac disease and the consequences of eating the wrong thing. Tasha loves her slow cooker and trying new recipes.. with Monty ends up loving as well!
Nana Booboo has the magic to force these two to see what everyone sees, that these two are meant forever and have always loved each other since kids.

With all the banter and laugh out loud moments, we got another adorable romance in The Coffee Loft Series!

[Shayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝒞𝒶𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁 𝓂𝓎 𝓈𝑜𝓊𝓁 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒸𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊? ℐ𝓉 𝒸𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶 𝒹𝑒𝓈𝑒𝓇𝓉 𝒻𝓁𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇 𝒸𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒹.”

Kerry’s writing is so immersive and she has such great characters. You feel like you’re experiencing the story firsthand rather than being a reader.

This was such a fun, slow burn! Without realizing it (at first), they are mending a longtime friendship turned betrayal. The tension, the banter, and the chemistry is easy to get lost in. Once the romance enters, it’s such a tug at your heartstrings when getting the full picture of their history.
Monty has such a gentle, big heart - he loves full force, and will sacrifice his own happiness for his loved ones. Tasha’s biggest quality is loyalty. It’s amazing to know she held this grudge against Monty for a promise made at FOUR years old. It goes to show how serious she takes her promises, trust, and loyalty. The conversation between Tasha and Monty revealing the truth behind the hurt was raw and sweet.

🐻 frenemies-to-more
📣 forced proximity
🐻 slow burn
📣 lots of banter!
🐻 he falls first, she falls harder
📣 no third-act breakup

“ℳ𝓎 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓋𝓎 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓊𝓃𝒸𝓁𝒶𝒾𝓂𝑒𝒹, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 ℐ 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝓈𝓊𝓈𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃𝑒𝒹 𝒷𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝑔𝒶𝓋𝑒.”


Notes: The Coffee Loft series is a multi-author series. Each book features a Coffee Loft shop. These books can be read as standalones.

[Tanvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My God! I loved it so much that I stayed up till 5 am to finish it. I loved Monty so much, he is so so so nice. And the dietary restrictions were something I never read anywhere before but was so glad to find it here.

I have been in a similar situation I spent half a day in the washroom and I could relate to Tasha so much there.

And I cried so much, not just one or two tears, proper thick tears when Monty was recounting their childhood to Mindy.

I feel this was an interconnected book and though you can enjoy it as a standalone there are a lot of characters from previous book/books, which make an appearance.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tasha and Monty were simply adorable. I really good small town, fall vibes, rivals to friends to lovers novel.

Pumpkin Spice Spice Baby was my first book by Kerry Evelyn and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it.

I highly recommend if you’re looking for a cozy fall read.

☕️ frenemies to lovers
☕️ forced proximity
☕️ cheer partners/ co coaches
☕️ emotional support cat
☕️ meddling Nana
☕️ IBS/Celiac rep
☕️ protective MMC
☕️ dual POV
☕️ childhood friends

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars really!

Earlier this year I read another story in this series by this author, That Thing You Brew, and enjoyed it enough I was looking forward to reading another book set in this world by this author. Once again I enjoyed this author’s characters and the small town setting, along with the hockey team and the fact that our main characters were athletes, but they were cheerleaders! As with the other book I read, all the family and friends that I know were from other stories, Penny and Xavier from the last one by this author in the series. It was so much fun with all of them around.

This story had a LOT going on. Yes, it was a romance between Monty and Tasha. But it was friends to enemies to friends/lovers, also a little Cyrano de Bergerac with Monty helping Vlad write letters to win Tasha, and throw in the billionaire aspect of Monty’s family, oh and the forced proximity with having to be roommates while Monty’s house was under renovation. It was also interesting to follow Tasha’s health issues, and I know I would love to maybe try some of her recipes, even though I normally am not a fan of gluten-free since I don’t have that issue and it is hard to find good food. But I’m guessing these recipes might actually be good!

I loved when the two of them were living together. The routine they got into with the cooking and helping out with Monty’s Nana Booboo. Such a hilarious name, and such a fun story behind it! There was so much going on with the back stories as well. Monty’s younger sister and parents. Tasha’s sister and her friend. Then there was Vlad, the hockey player that Tasha went on dates with for a bit. It seemed he might really just want to get US citizenship and to get her to marry him for that. Not that he was a bad guy, he was nice enough, but there just didn’t ever seem to be a spark between the two. And Tasha in a way just wanted to find her own hockey player like her friends and sister had, partly to help with the bills she had for her health issues, and maybe so she didn’t have to work three jobs anymore.

As I said, there was so much going on this story. It was a clean/sweet romance once again, as all in this series are. But I liked the kissing, and it didn’t feel too out of reality for me the way the whole story went. Another great story by this author in this series and I hope there will be more!

Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.

[Gwen Shafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another amazing addition to the Coffee Loft series. Tasha and Monty once upon a time were team mates. The absolute best at the sport until Monty decided to walk away. From that moment on Tasha cant trust him. But then the two of them are thrown back together when Monty comes in to help her coach and needs a place to stay while the house him and his Grandmother lives in gets fixed.
Both of them attempt the best they can at living together. But slowly but surely sparks fly. Monty is helping someone with writing letters for Tasha. But little does anyone know that the words are actually coming from his heart. Will these two get happy ever after?
I absolutely loved this one. It was cute, lovable and who could resist the chemistry between Tasha and Monty. Kerry did one amazing job writing their story. Highly recommend reading this one.

[Dana Boersma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just absolutely loved this book. It was so sweet and heartwarming. The writing is exceptional and the story flows so nicely. I definitely recommend!

[Courtney✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

If you’re looking for a book that has no spice but is the cutest autumnal romance… this is for you.

I feel one of the main tropes in this has started to become my favourite because I just felt all giggly and cutesy reading this.

For my first book club pick as well I’m beyond happy

[Lissa Ruck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Monty & Tasha's fiery, sweet, caring, loving, swoony story!!

[Tabatha Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and highly entertaining story! Part of The Coffee Loft Series. A++++ Recommended!!

[Heather Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet!!!

Absolutely LOVED this book (so much so that I stayed up until 3:30am reading it!) Monty is so sweet and protective of Tasha, even when she is proud and stubborn. I really enjoyed how good Monty is with his words. 😍🥰 And this scene is just the swoon-worthiest:

“Unequivocally. If you were my girl”—his voice turned hoarse, husky and ragged—“I’d kiss you like you’re the only source of oxygen in a burning building. Like the air in your lungs was the air I needed to live, and I wouldn’t stop until I stole all but your last breath from you. Until our shared breath became our lifelines and our souls were filled.” He cleared his throat. “Hypothetically, of course.”

You want to read it now, don't you?😉

[Jo|Ruth Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not going to lie, some tears were shed on this one. It was a deeply moving, and yet such a fun a wild ride going on this journey with Tasha and Monty. Monty is AMAZING and Tasha is quite fabulous herself. They are sort of friends to lovers, second chance romance, forced proximity story... and he falls first. But truthfully how can anyone deny Montys awesomeness for so many years?!

Tasha and Monty were best friends and partners. But years ago Monty chose a partner over her, and it severed that connection. But now they are back together, technically forced proximity as he's stepping in to help with the team. And if that's not enough, he also needs to live with her for a little while so his Grans house can be renovated. They were friends once, and she doesn't want to leave him hanging, so she agrees. But all that time together can muster up some feelings that were hidden, and it's only a matter of time until they need to discuss the past. But how can they? If there are true feelings whats to even come of them? Risk a friendship that's just been mended? And what about Tasha's new boyfriend?

There is a lot going on in this story. They are friends on the mend starting out, so the romance takes a bit of time to heat up. But when they are on, they are on... meaning when the feelings do start showing themselves, you will love it. And gosh, Montys words sometimes are something else. Swoonworthy to say the least.

Check out this story and don't miss the Epilogue there are even goodies for the readers in it!!! ❤️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[judith l marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book…so much so, I read it twice! I don’t want to give any spoilers,but Tasha and Monty are the best! So cool, so down to earth and lovable! So is Ridgie!.I hope I spelled that correctly! I recommend this story to everyone!

[Kaity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tasha and Monty stole my heart immediately. Their story of friends to enemies to friends to more is heart felt and gives you all of the emotions! One of my favorites of Kerry's books! Nana Booboo is the best side character! I loved getting to see the characters from her other books as they progressed through their lives and stories.

[Kaci Bonar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kerry Evelyn is author who has more than one book on my TBR, sorry!  However, I’m happy to say that I’m beyond happy that I chose this to be my first book by her!  While I’m not the biggest fan of the PSL, it didn’t prevent me from loving this!

Tasha is a no-nonsense barista by day and cheer coach by night!  The girl constantly mentions her 3 jobs and the daggers that surge through her eyes when dealing with Monty are nothing short of amazing!  Sometimes you feel bad for the person with all the tension, but considering most of it is completely unfounded in my mind, girlfriend needs to get over herself!  I feel like she’s stressed herself out more times than not and needs to remember to calm down!  I love her though; we all have our moments, and her determination is second to none in my mind! 

Monty is one of those guys you can’t help but cheer for, pun totally intended!  Monty doesn’t have to work, but he does as “Ridgie” the Bear for the Edge hockey team and recently stepped up as assistant cheer coach to Tasha!  This man is fiercely loyal to his Nana (and to Tasha)!  That man has skills upon skills, and he shows them off proudly, whether it’s at a wedding reception or being a mascot or coaching!  Humility may not be his strongest character trait, but the selflessness he possesses melts my heart every time!

These lifelong frenemies are so fun to read!  They have had their highs and lows, both on and off the page, and I for one and here for them all!  Nana Booboo is definitely a scene stealer, but let’s be honest she deserves it!  While this book didn’t focus on the hockey team like so many of my latest reads, I have no complaints!  Mark my words, this will not be the last time I read Kerry’s writing!  Bravo!
 

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another perfect edition to Kerry's books. Tasha and Monty had been cheer partners for sixteen years when he suddenly switched partners for her cousin and broke her heart. Now he needs a temporary home while Nana Booboo's house is renovated. They renew their partnership by coaching and repairing their relationship falling in love with each other.This is such an emotional romcom with all the ups and a few downs that it e hard to put down.

[Priscila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the friends to enemies to friends to lovers read I didn't know I needed!! Don't worry, if you're like me, it starts at the enemies part of the equation... and maybe that's why I loved it so much 😁 Kerry Evelyn has written another winner in the hockey romance world as well as a spectacular addition to the Coffee Loft series!! After finishing That Thing You Brew I knew I wanted to know more about Tasha and Monty's story, and the waiting paid off!!

These characters have my heart and this book totally deserves to be made into a movie!! 😍 Why? Because it's got hockey and cheer for starters!! But if that's not enough, the descriptions are on point to immerse the reader in the story while not bogging them down with too many details. There's a wonderful community of past characters that fans of the author will love to get updates on, while new readers (like me) will enjoy learning about. They totally bring this town to life! However, as far as the side characters are concerned, the ones who steal the show are Nana BooBoo and Parfait Le Chat. Talk about an interesting pair!! I loved the role they played in the story and how caring Monty is of his Nana. You can feel the love and devotion he has for her (even getting her Pumpkin Spice Blah-tes—love that phrase!), and how much she means to him to this day, thanks to her constant presence in his life. But she's also a hoot with all her quips and sprinkled mischief going on. And the cat? Oh boy, he's the best! Parfy is adorable, and I loved both his obsession with hair ties as well as his emotional support role (that scene was so sweet!! 🥹)

But if we talk about the MCs, I wanna be friends and hang out with Tasha because I think she's so cool! She's been through a lot yet is who she is due to all the hardships she's conquered, and continues to conquer, in life. She has a vulnerable, sensitive side that she protects fiercely, but it all pays off when the right man steps up to protect it and all of her. And what a hero Monty proved to be!! Perfect for Tasha, her cheer partner since they were kids, FireVolts co-coach, has a soft spot for kids, with his own heartbreaking past, champion and supporter of oncology kids' units, cat dad to one Parfait Le Chat, has a Bear-y cool gig as a mascot, and has lots of small gestures towards Tasha, always looking out for her. 🥰 Seriously, he had me swooning almost every other page (don't even get me started on the letters), and I could keep reading about their chemistry 🔥 and antics for a hundred more pages! 😍 If you're still reading this, just go ahead and grab yourself a copy (you know you want to 😉). I completely recommend this one and can't wait to see what else this author comes up with next! ~ 5+ stars!!

I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be warned this book is completely addictive. The characters are so much fun to get to know. You have competitive cheerleading and hockey in this installment of The Coffee Loft, along with the specialty coffee beverages.

Tasha and Montgomery (Monty) became best buddies when they were four years of age and started a tumbling class together. They were partners in every competition. Then one day Monty decided he wanted to change partners. This felt like a betrayal to Tasha, and she never got over it, for more than one reason. Fast forward to the future. Tasha is one busy lady. She is a cheer coach, barista and co-coaches with Monty with their competition squad. She can tolerate Monty, but she has never fully forgiven him.

Monty needs a place to stay while they get his Nana BooBoo's home handicapped ready for her return home. I just loved Nana. She was quite the character and was queen of the home where she was rehabbing. Sasha wants to say no, but she knows she cannot do it to him. The living conditions force them to spend even more time together. This means they see another side of each other.

Monty wormed his way into my heart as I learned more about him. He was a good grandson, and he took such good care of Tasha when she was so sick. He is also the mascot for the Denver Edge hockey team, and he delights in making people laugh and seeing the smiles on children's faces. The sizzling chemistry between Monty and Sasha was so evident.

Sasha was such a hard worker. She was so afraid to ask for help. She had built walls around her heart and her life, but you would never know it by the way she lived her life. She had incredible strength and tenacity as she fought a disease that made eating less pleasurable. But instead of wallowing in self-pity, she started making up her own recipes. She was an admirable character with one major character flaw. Everyone around her knew she loved Monty, but she was too stubborn to admit it.

I laughed so hard several times especially when they had a dishwasher malfunction. There were some tender moments as well. This is another absolute gem in the crown of The Coffee Loft series that had me grinning, chuckling and swooning.

Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chad Barrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book and this series by Kerry! It is warm, and heartbreaking and the same time as the history of two 4 year olds form a strong bond for 16 years until things change. The readers may know but Tasha doesn’t and for 5 years thereafter she holds a bitter grudge against her former best friend. Then a couple of things happen and the two of them become roommates with the added complication that a handsome hockey player enters into Tasha’s life and Monty becomes the one to write his love letters ( which are his own feelings towards Tasha) making her think they are from this player who doesn’t understand or speak English very well.

However being roommates and their close proximity causes Tasha to see the good qualities Monty possesses and when his final letter to Tasha delivered by the hockey player as his own is read his secret comes out because it’s what he’s told her before the guy shows up a few days later with the letter for her.

There is so much to love about this book and how Monty is able to get back into Tasha’s good graces especially when Monty FINALLY tells her why he asked for a new partner after 16 years!

I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend this book and it’s companion story previously, That Thing You Brew, as books you really should get and read! They are clean, no spice books which tug at your heartstrings and make you feel good all over as you read them!

Do yourself a big favor and get these two books (and the rest of the series) because I KNOW you’ll love them just as much as I have!

These feel good stories are what reading is all about!
You’ll want to let family and friends know they need to read these books as well and Kerry will become your new favorite author!

I can guarantee you’ll not be disappointed you made the choice to read these books!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t judge a book by its cover, or title for that matter. I can’t stand pumpkin anything, but I absolutely loved this sweet story. In fact, I think it’s Kerry Evelyn’s best book yet, and I’ve read and loved most of them. Kerry does a fantastic job of painting a clear picture of the characters’ lives, the town they live in, where they work and play, and their community. Tasha and Monty, despite having totally different lifestyles, are relatable and likable. Having several friends and family members with Celiacs and other autoimmune conditions, I could empathize with Tasha and her health struggles and insecurities. Even though most of us probably don’t have a millionaire friend, Monty still has very realistic traits that make him both strong and vulnerable and equally lovable. His relationship with Nana Booboo reminds me so much of the relationship I had with my grandmother. I adore the friendship they share. Their struggles in the aftermath of the stroke were difficult to read, but Kerry writes it so well. While this is a clean romance book, it gets just the right amount of steamy when Monty and Tasha are brought to the very edge of their feelings, leaving them both questioning what might really be between them. Kerry effortlessly writes using language that appeals to a wide range of readers, including teens. If you love romantic comedies with happy endings that aren’t too Hallmarky, you’ll enjoy this book, but be warned, it will leave you wanting to read more about the Palmer City crew, so definitely check out Kerry Evelyn’s Ice series.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book and have voluntarily given my honest opinion in this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Randi Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pumpkin Spice Spice Baby is part of The Coffee Loft: Fall Collection. This is a multi-author series with all books featuring a Coffee Loft shop and being able to be read in any order or as standalones. In this one, we DO see characters from the author's previous Coffee Loft book make an appearance, but you don't have to have read that one to understand and enjoy this one.

This was such a fun read...right down to the title! At the start of the story, Monty and Tasha are enemies (at least on her side) but had been best friends and cheer partners for many years before they'd had a falling out. As such, we get the best of all the worlds--- the banter and tension of enemies to more, with all the history and foundation that comes with friends to more too. It made for such a wonderful slow burn that paid off well in the end! I loved how the full details of what happened between them (and more importantly, the whys) are revealed slowly throughout the story, keeping me curious throughout and wanting to read on. They had a really fun chemistry and just were such unique and well-written characters who I couldn't help but enjoy. I loved the chronic illness rep in Tasha (who has Celiac disease) and how very sweet and understanding Monty was with her. Truly, the way he took care of the people he loved in general was just absolutely perfect! This was such a wonderful addition to The Coffee Loft and definitely has me wanting to read even more from the author!

Pumpkin Spice Spice Baby is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Lori Wilen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Kerry Evelyn for blessing me with an ARC of this book and all opinions in this review are completely my own. Kerry happens to be one of my favorite authors and I feel friend. I have been with her teams for a while now and truly enjoy each and every book I have been lucky to receive. This story touched my heart in so many different ways. To tell you some of them in this review would be to spoil the book and I want y'all to read it so you will see what I am talking about. I absolutely adore how Kerry focuses on one couple but brings back friends from other books we have read and also crosses series'. We also meet new characters, or, characters we heard about but really never paid much attention too. Kerry's words flow so beautifully that I can close my eyes and see the picture she is writing with her narrative. Her conversations are so brilliantly written that I feel like I am in listening in to something that's not my business. Her characters are wonderful. They are not all totally perfect. She allows them to mess up and to make things right. I loved all the characters in this book especially the main three. If you have read Kerry's books you are probably nodding along as you know exactly what I am speaking of. If you are new, please take time to read this book which I devoured really in a day but had to sleep and eat :). I hope you will love it as much as I did and it will make you want to go back and read others by Kerry, Personally, I cannot wait to see where Kerry takes me and who she takes with me as I await her next book patiently.

[Hilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pumpkin Spice Spice Baby by Kerry Evelyn is a book in the Coffee Loft (Fall edition) series, a cozy romance series with standalone books, but with a common plot: romance in a Coffee Loft Shop environment.

This book was such a joy to read! I loved the plot about Tasha and Monty, whose friendship was broken when Monty did not uphold his promise to be partners and teammates forever. Both were great athletes performing cheer-leading stunts during hockey games. When he broke the promise, Tasha never forgave him. After all these years they now have to work together to coach a team.
Monty is the now the team mascot and he does a great job. He has also a sad family history and therefore visit children in hospital. Tasha is also a part-time barista and is always busy and has to take care what food she eats. When Monty needs a place to stay, they become roommates and that is when Monty becomes the most charming and caring person. Both are getting more easy with each other and their building relationship is lovely to read about. But when he gets like Cyrano, things are getting out of hand. And what is also great about this novel, is that you get to see other characters who made an appearance is earlier Coffee Loft books.

Pumpkin Spice Spice Baby is a great and cute friends to lovers story, with very likable characters, a flowing and addictive writing style, a sweet plot and story-line, but with also a message, a book I had a hard time putting down. If you do not know this series, you are really missing out on a great addictive cozy romance series.

[Coffeenbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Friends to enemies to friends to lovers

- Rivalry

- Workplace romance

- Roommates to lovers

- Matchmaking Nana

What an absolutely lovely book! I enjoyed That Thing You Brew, where we first meet Tasha and Monty and I was looking forward to their story!

This is a very sweet story about hardworking Tasha, who has 3 jobs to pay off her medical bills and millionaire Monty, a former friend and cheer partner who wants to make things right. When Tasha's current cheer co-coach gets a job that doesn't allow him the time for his cheer commitments, Monty steps in. Tasha is not pleased as she is still unhappy that Monty chose her cousin as a cheer partner over her years ago.

Monty is a overall nice guy. He takes care of his Nana, who was the unofficial cheer parent while they were in high school. Tasha also has a soft spot for Nana, so when renovations displace Monty while Nana is recovering from a stroke, Tasha invites Monty to stay with her.

Monty is a true romantic and has been pining for Tasha for years, but doesn't want to risk ruining their newly restored friendship. So when a hockey player asks Monty for help writing love notes to woo Tasha, Monty takes this opportunity to pen his true thoughts. Because there is no way that could backfire, right?

I adored this story and this series so much! I am looking forward to reading more from this multi-author series, Coffee Loft.

[Esther Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

so fun

Words cannot express how much I enjoyed this book. But I’ll try. When I turned the last page, I was grinning from ear to ear and my eyes were full of hearts.
Kerry Evelyn has outdone herself yet again. This sweet romcom is part of a fabulous Coffee Loft collaboration, and is connected to her other Coffee Loft books but is entirely standalone. Instead of a hockey player romance, you get to enjoy a hockey mascot romance. With cheer coaches and competition woven well into the story.
Monty and Tasha were best friends and cheer stunt partners since they were four years old. After 16 years of pushing each other to be better and stronger, Monty requested a new partner, betraying Tasha’s trust and severing their deep connection. Years later, Monty steps in as Tasha’s partner coach for their nationally ranked cheer squad. Tasha is not pleased.
Then Monty needs a place to stay while he renovates his Nana’s home, and Tasha begrudgingly allows him to use her spare room. The forced proximity softens the years of animosity and over time, Tasha and Monty become close again. This one is a slow burn, but there are no brakes once the fire ignites!
This closed door sweet romcom will end with you smiling, while adding recipes to your collection that are adjusted and tested to be delicious even for people with food allergies.
I loved this book and quite enjoyed the bonus epilogue provided by signing up for Kerry Evelyn’s newsletter.

[HEATHER · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!!! I absolutely LOVED this book. I fell in love with Kerry's writing when she wrote That Thing You Brew for The Coffee Loft Series. Then when I heard she was coming back with another book for that series I knew it was going to be a MUST read. Kerry will pull you in from the beginning and will keep you entertaining until the end. Monty and Tasha's story was so much fun. Monty could be best described as being a brat but at the same time he's such a charmer. The love he has for his Nana BooBoo will have you falling in love with him. I also loved his banter with Tasha and watching their story unfold. Tasha is a hard working woman that's just trying to make it in this world one day at a time. She loves her sister Penny (If you read the first book you know Penny❤️) and just wants to help everyone. These characters were so well written that they were relatable and enjoyable! I had so many laugh out loud moments in this book. This book will have you swooning, getting a little emotional and will have you smiling like crazy! Kerry will definitely have your heart melting a latte with this well written story. I absolutely loved the epilogue!!! This is the perfect fall read! Grab a cup of your favorite fall beverage and sit down with this AMAZING book. I HIGHLY recommend it.

Thank you Kerry Evelyn for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

[Angie (mushmysteriesandmore) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of a boy and a girl, who made a spit-on-the-hand promise to be partners forever. And then the boy breaks said promise and we all know those promises are sacred, right? No wonder his girl is mad at him.

Monty and Tasha were best friends since they were in gym class together at the age of four and were both the top in the class. They promised to always be partners forever but as they got older, Monty betrayed Tasha and partnered with her cousin Gabby and Tasha never forgave him for it. Now he’s back and her co-coach for the cheerleading squad and she is determined to hate him. However when she hears his beloved Nana Booboo has had a stroke and needs her home completely renovated to make it more accessible and Monty has nowhere to live, she finds herself offering her spare room on a very temporary basis. Yes, the longer Monty stays (along with his adorable cat Parfait Le Chat), the more Tasha finds herself letting him back into her life and her heart.

Monty was such a sweetheart. His love for his Nana and compassion for those around him made him irresistable. Once he started to break down Tasha’s walls, he found a way to fight for her love and make up for his betrayal all those years ago. Tasha was a fighter and resiliant. She wasn’t taking any nonsense from Monty but eventually her anger was replaced by the good memories and seeing the man, rather than the boy he was.

Nana Booboo stole the show though, she was such a fiesty old lady, not letting a little thing like a stroke defeat her. She ruled the roost at the care home while her own house was being altered and she was determined to matchmake Tasha and Monty. She was awesome.

[Dana Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tasha and Monty met as four year olds and began a partnership they thought would last forever. But betrayal destroyed their relationship and led to Tasha's vow to never forgive Monty. Now, they are not only forced to work together, but Tasha offers him a place to stay only because it benefits his grandmother, a woman lovingly nicknamed Nana Booboo. But will their forced time together be enough to heal their broken relationship?
I found myself so lost in this story that I felt like I was in Palmer City, and that only happens with the really good stories. I loved these characters. Tasha and Monty each had a vulnerability they only showed to a select one or two people. Monty uses humor while Tasha keeps walls up to keep people at a distance. But they're both surrounded by a group of friends and family that provide advice and comedy to the story. Nana Booboo is the loving, spunky grandmother it would be fun to have.
I loved this story! I hate to tell Nana Booboo, Monty, Tasha, and the other characters goodbye. I recommend that you visit Palmer City and stop by the Coffee Loft shop to meet them for yourself.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like enjoying your favorite fall beverage —warm, a little spicy, and impossible to put down. The rivals-to-lovers dynamic between the cheer coach/barista and Montgomery Biddington is sharp, funny, andis sure to give you all the feels. Their banter had me smiling constantly, but it’s the unexpected tenderness that completely stole my heart.

Watching these two snarky sparring partners slowly lower their walls was such a joy. Monty, with his secret soft side and Nana Booboo devotion, is the ultimate grumpy heartthrob in disguise. And the heroine? Fierce, funny, and so real in her struggles. Their moments of care for each other are swoon-worthy without ever feeling too heavy.

If you love enemies-to-roommates-to-maybe-something-more stories with cheer squads, chronic illness representation, and just the right amount of pumpkin spice, then this is sure to be a must-read. It’s sweet, flirty, and full of heart and will leave you with a smile and a warm, fuzzy feeling long after turning the last page.

I received a complimentary copy from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story follows on from That Thing You Brew, with characters from previous book making a reappearance in this book. We meet Tasha and Monty and Nanna Booboo. Tasha has her job at the coffee loft and also helping choreograph the the cheer squad, but dealing with her medical condition as a Celiac has its added problems. She is constantly worried about paying her college bills and medical bills without relying on her parents. When Monty has to step in as her assistant and then needing to live with her while alterations are made on his Nannas house, she finds this totally out of her control. Can Monty repair the problems they have or will it all prove to much. I love how going to the Coffee Loft books is like going to visit friends. Kerry has a way of writing that just makes you feel part of the story. It's also lovely to reconnect with characters from the previous story. I can't recommend this book enough. Get yourself a lovely Latte or Mocha and sit back and be entertained by the Coffee Loft series ❤️☕️📖❤️