Don't You Forget About Tea

The Coffee Loft: Fall Collection

by Ellie Hall

My sister says all girls want bad boys. Not this good girl. Except for that one time.

I was the small-town princess cliche in high school. I left to hit it big in Hollywood, only to return home without a shiny golden award. Instead, all I have is an oversized plate of humble pie. No glitz. Zero glam.

Just about everything is the same as when I left Hogwash. Nosy neighbors. Gossip galore. The no stop-light vibe. The only job available is at the Coffee Loft. On the upside, it’s a family affair. Thanks, sis.

The downside, the police deputy is none other than our local juvenile delinquent. Seems he’s grown up and reformed his life. But I don’t expect him to protect me from a cascade of unfortunate events involving my ex, a missing dog, and other, um, things.

Until he does. Now I’m in his debt.

Maybe things have changed, especially how handsome he is in uniform, how polite he is when he stops in for tea, and how I can’t seem to forget about him. Then the past comes back to haunt him, er, us.

Looks like he’s leaving. Meanwhile, I’m stuck here. He says we’ll stay in touch. But I can’t help think he’ll forget about me.

This is a clean, sweet, closed door small town, second chance slow burn romcom with lots of sweet kisses and a happily ever after.
________________________________

Welcome back to The Coffee Loft, where a new round of stories has been brewed especially for you.

Those of you stopping by to visit again, we’ve missed you. The feeling of home is the same that you loved before. If it’s your first time, prepare to be swept off your feet.

While our menu hasn’t changed, we think you’ll be pleased with the fall favorites we’ve added. Fans of pumpkin spiced lattes, peppermint mochas, and rich, chocolaty cocoas will not be disappointed. This multi-author collection of stand-alone sweet romcoms is filled to the brim with the swoons you love and adore.

From sweet kisses to grand gestures and matchmaking surprises, each mug and story will be filled with everything you crave. So come on in and let us serve you with that happy ever after you’ve come to expect.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Mystery, Second Chance

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2024

About the author

Ellie Hall is a USA Today bestselling author. If only that meant she could wear a tiara and get away with it. ;) She loves puppies, books, and the ocean. Writing sweet romance with lots of firsts and fizzy feels gives her joy. Oh, and chocolate chip cookies are her fave. Ellie believes in dreaming big, working hard, and lazy Sunday afternoons spent with her family and dog in gratitude for God’s grace.

♥

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/EllieHallNL
Website: http://www.elliehallauthor.com
Facebook: http://www/facebook.com/elliehallauthor
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/elliehallauthor

♥

Series and suggested reading order:

The Only Us Sweet Billionaire Series
•these billionaires have everything, but will they find love...?•

1. Only a Date with a Billionaire
2. Only a Kiss with a Billionaire
3. Only a Night with a Billionaire
4. Only Forever with a Billionaire
5. Only Love with a Billionaire
6. Only Christmas with the Billionaire
7. Only New Year with the Billionaire

♥

The Hawkins Family Clean Romance Series

•five brothers, torn apart and the women who help put them back together...•

1. Second Chance in Hawk Ridge Hollow

2. Finding Forever in Hawk Ridge Hollow

3. Resort Getaway with a Bodyguard

4. Going Home to Hawk Ridge Hollow

5. Christmas in Hawk Ridge Hollow

♥

The Blue Bay Beach Reads Romance Series

•a small-town restaurant, a dating dare, and happily ever afters...•

1. Summer with the Marine

2. Summer with the Rock Star

3. Summer with the Billionaire

4. Summer with the Cowboy

5. Summer with the Carpenter

6. Summer with the Doctor

♥

Ritchie Ranch Clean Cowboy Romance Series

•Cowboy hats & kisses with small-town charm•

1. Rustling the Cowboy’s Heart

2. Lassoing the Cowboy’s Heart

3. Trusting the Cowboy’s Heart

4. Kissing the Christmas Cowboy

5. Loving the Cowboy’s Heart

6. Charming the Cowboy’s Heart

7. Saving the Cowboy’s Heart

8. Wrangling the Cowboy’s Heart

♥

Falling into Happily Ever After Rom Com

• Sweet, heartwarming & uplifting romantic comedy

1. An Unwanted Love Story

2. An Unexpected Love Story

3. An Unlikely Love Story

4. An Accidental Love Story

5. An Impossible Love Story

6. An Unconventional Christmas Love Story

♥

Forever Marriage Match

• Five friends have to find true love or else...romcom

1. Dare to Love My Grumpy Boss

2. Dare to Love the Guy Next Door

3. Dare to Love My Fake Husband

4. Dare to Love the Guy I Hate

5. Dare to Love My Best Friend

♥

Home Sweet Home Small Town Romantic Comedy Series

Mr. & Mrs. Fix-It Find Love

Designing Happily Ever After

The DIY Kissing Project

The True Romance Renovation

Extreme Heart Makeover

Building What's Meant to Be

♥

The Costa Brothers Cozy Christmas Comfort Romance Series

Tommy & Merry and the 12 Days of Christmas

Bruno & Gloria and the 5 Golden Rings

Luca & Ivy and the 4 Calling Birds

Gio & Joy and the 3 French Hens

Paulo & Noella and the 2 Turtle Doves

Nico & Hope and the Partridge in the Pear Tree

♥

The Love List Series

The Swoon List

The Not Love List

The Crush List

The Kiss List

The Naughty or Nice List

♥

Love, Laughs, and Mystery in Coco Key

The Romance Situation

The Romance Fiasco

The Romance Game

The Romance Gambit

The Christmas Romance Wish

♥

On the Hunt for Love

The Grump and the Girl Next Door

The Bitter Heir and the Beauty

The Secret Son and the Sweetheart

The Ex Best Friend and the Fake Fiancé

The Best Friend’s Brother and the Brain

Select titles are available in audiobook, paperback, hardcover, and large print formats. Happy reading!♥

Reviews

[Lissa Ruck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Jesse & Tallula's redemptive, sweet, caring, funny, loving, swoony story!!

[Randi Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't You Forget About Tea is part of The Coffee Loft: Fall Collection. This is a multi-author series with each book featuring a Coffee Loft shop... but all can be enjoyed as standalones or in any order.

This was such a fun read! Admittedly, when I first started reading, I wasn't sure I was going to like Tallula. She was definitely giving off some spoiled Hollywood starlet vibes at first... but the more I read on, the more I realized that there was a lot more to her and by the end as we see her growth, I found myself really liking her. Jesse on the other hand drew me in right away... who doesn't love the reformed bad boy!? This had a bit of a second chance feel--- though they didn't really have more than one moment in the past. Either way, I absolutely adored the chemistry between these two. Hogwash is such a quirky town and really hard not to fall in love with... I found myself laughing out loud and smiling throughout the story. Throw in some wonderful fall vibes and a fun mystery and there really was a lot to enjoy in this story! There was a lot going on, but it all blended together perfectly for this quick and enjoyable read. Oh, and that epilogue!? I absolutely adored it!

Don't You Forget About Tea is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.

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

[McKenna Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Blurb: “My sister says all girls want bad boys. Not this good girl. Except for that one time.”

The Coffee Loft’s latest release, Don't You Forget About Tea, is available from @elliehallauthor !! This was a cute and fun little read with lots of quirky characters and enjoyment. I love The Coffee Loft series and each book is so fun and unique. I enjoyed the second chance romance here and seeing how these characters have grown from when they were kids.

Oh the puns…
"Hasta barista”

🩵 Reformed bad boys
🧋 Hot mess FMCs
🩵 Spilling all the tea
🧋 Coffee shop & baking fun
🩵 He falls first
🧋Second chances
🩵Forced proximity

No Spice- Closed door romance

Quotes:
"When I hear you laugh, I feel a kind of happiness I didn't know was possible. It fills me in a way I cannot explain. It's like a balm I didn't know I needed for a wound I didn't realize I had."

“I was the perfect little princess.”
“I was the rebel without a cause.”

Thank you to the author Ellie Hall for the advanced electronic copy of the book!

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course I adore the title of this, and can’t stop singing the song as I’m writing this review, lol. This is my first book by this author, although I have a few others I got as freebies on Amazon I think, and now after this I know that I would like to read them soon! I loved the Louisiana setting, even if they were from a small town and not actually NOLA. But it was an adorable small town. It had your crazy neighbors, gossipers, old legends, and quirky little stores and other locations.

Of course the little dog on the cover was adorable and definitely made me want to pet and squeeze her in the story! The romance between Tallula and Jesse was sweet. There wasn’t any steaminess, as this is a series of clean/sweet romance. But that’s okay, there was still a lot of awwww! moments. I liked Tallula’s sister, and her parents not at first, but they did get a bit of a makeover later in the story when they were given some honesty. I was a little confused at first about some of Jesse’s family, but it was mostly figured out by the end. There was a bit of a third act break up, or at least them not knowing if one or both might be leaving. That took it down a little for me as it seemed a little like they should just talk, a complaint I often have. While I give this a 3.5 on my blog, I rounded up to 4 stars everywhere else, because it was definitely a quick and fun read!

Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.

[Shauna Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bad boy, a good girl, two rings, and secrets. Fun
An engaging story of secrets, past deeds, and changes that will pull you in from the first. Tallula Swan, better known as the actress Llula Lilly is returning to her hometown in disgrace after an incident in Hollywood. She had sworn to never return but with nowhere else to go she’s back helping her sister open a coffee shop. One of her first interactions in town is with Jesse Lawson, the high school’s bad boy, the only person who knew of Tallula’s one act of defiance as a teenager. An act that included a kiss she has never forgotten. Now they are forced to interact as Deputy Sheriff Lawson sets out to stop the thefts of the Bling Ring and solve a family mystery involving a ring, his family, and the Swan family. But as Tallula and Jesse work together, they begin to wonder what they really want the future to look like. I received an early copy and this is my honest review.

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute book in The Coffee Loft series for you to enjoy! You can read them all or just pick and choose. They are all standalone reads.

This was a cute book about Tallula and Jesse. The girl who is going to make it big, who ends up back in her hometown of Hogwash, not making quite the splash she'd hoped to. Poor Tallula! She's had quite the experience and now gets to hopefully take some time to figure it all out and heal. She's staying with her sister's family and helping her sister get her Coffee Loft shop up and running. I loved her sister's family! They had me giggling over their antics and smiling at the love they have for Tallula! She's in good hands.

There's a fun little mystery twist throughout the story that plays into Tallula's family history as well as Deputy Jesse's family's history! It'll take you on quite the ride, show you some family drama, bring into play some thievery, a buried secret and much more! Buckle up!

And don't you worry, the sweet love story will have you smiling and loving these two characters so much! I loved their cuteness!!!

Content: Clean. A few sweet kisses, mild non-graphic suspense.

I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entretenido

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute romantic comedy! Loved it.. Fun and heartwarming. This former bad boy is a total sweetie! These characters are so huggable and lovable.

[Patricia Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!! These characters are witty and lovable. It’s a great small town feeling with a girl that comes back to town and falls for a bad boy turned good. Great romance comedy of course get your tea and cozy up to this stand alone sweet happy ever after.

[Sweety · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Goodness. I devoured Don't You Forget About Tea in a single day, and I’m still grinning from ear to ear! Seriously, this book had me hooked from page one, and I couldn’t put it down until I got to that perfect epilogue. Five stars all the way!

First off, the chemistry between Tallula and Jesse? Absolute fire. I mean, talk about a bad boy turned good! Jesse was the kind of swoon-worthy that makes you want to move to a small town, find yourself a reformed troublemaker, and never look back. And Tallula? She was such a relatable main character. Trying to figure out life after the limelight, dealing with quirky townspeople, all while managing a tea shop? It’s safe to say I was rooting for her from the start.

Can we talk about Hogwash for a second? What a name, right? But despite the interesting choice, it’s now my dream small town. The charm, the gossip, the hilarious side characters… I was laughing out loud at some of the quirky situations and banter. Ellie Hall really captured that cozy, small-town vibe, and I found myself wanting to pack a bag and head straight there for a cup of tea and some fall vibes.

But the story had more layers than I expected! There’s this fun mystery element woven in, with family secrets, a missing ring, and even a someone who steals shiny things (yes, it’s as fun as it sounds). It all just clicked together perfectly. Every twist and turn kept me intrigued, but it never felt overwhelming.

And I absolutely LOVED Jesse’s dedication to making things right, not only for himself but also for his family’s past. That depth made him more than just a hot guy in a uniform (though, let’s be honest, that didn’t hurt either).

Their relationship was a perfect slow burn. I loved how they kept circling around each other, like fate was just giving them little nudges. The sweet, tender moments between them were everything — and don’t even get me started on the frosting vs. glaze debate. I was giggling like crazy!

By the end, my heart was just melting. That epilogue? Pure perfection. I’m not one to beg for sequels, but I need more from Hogwash and these two adorable characters.

So, yeah, if you’re looking for a cozy, sweet, fall-vibe-filled romance with a dash of mystery, witty banter, and a love story that’ll leave you smiling like an idiot, this is the one. Five stars and ALL the heart eyes for Don't You Forget About Tea!

**Disclaimer:** All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own. I did not receive a copy of the book from the author or publisher, nor was I compensated in any way for this review. I read and loved the book purely for my own enjoyment!

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this book occurs in the same town as Ellie Hall’s On the Hunt for Love series, but it doesn’t need to be read to enjoy this book

– this is told from Tallula & Jesse’s points of view

– Tallula’s ex lied to & cheated on her (prior to the start of the book); we do meet him towards the end & he gets forceful with her (trying to bring her back home, but he’s drunk & angry)

Review:

This was a fun read! I liked seeing Tallula navigating her new life outside of the actress limelight back home. It was interesting to see how the different townspeople interacted with her based on the acting she did get to do and how she grew up there in town. I loved that Jesse wanted to make amends for not only the issues he caused, but also the issues his family caused people and did everything in his power to do so. I liked that Tallula & Jesse had a moment together before she left and that neither of them forgot about it. I loved that they were constantly in each other’s orbit for one thing or another throughout the whole story and I loved that some of the other characters kept pushing them to be together alone.

Summary:

Tallula was living her life in the spotlight until everything crumbled around her. Now she’s returned to Hogwash Holler to lick her wounds and figure out what’s next for her. It helps that nothing’s really changed in the small town… except for one thing. When Tallula left, Jesse was the town’s widely known bad boy who was always making trouble. But now he’s a police deputy and Tallula is finding herself falling for him. With their family’s history and their shared past, that’d be a very bad thing. But oh what fun it could be to embrace it…

Jesse is doing his best to make up for everything he did as a kid. Everyone had laughed when he said he’d become an officer to do it, and he’s been proving them wrong ever since. But with the Bling Ring taking any little (or big) shiny thing in town, Jesse has his work cut out for him. There’s no real clues yet and nothing has turned up. Well, except for a blast from the past. But Jesse doesn’t think that Tallula remembers him, nor the moment they shared before she left town…

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tallula is back in Hogwash Holler, Louisiana . She is there to escape from her sham of a marriage . Now Peter has followed her and out to cause grief because of her rampage and destruction , but when his tries of seduction fall flat and he’s in need of a brief! If she was expecting a fan fare in town she’d have a wait for that …but at least Moink her Frug looks the part and is so cute wearing her sunnies each lens shaped as a heart , looking like Marilyn , she will go far and is the funniest pet. Jesse wishes he could do more but just for the now…. He’s a safe bet and he’ll do no less than she is worth because there’s not a nicer man on this earth. He thinks she’s hot , a veritable dream “That massage felt good.” “You’re not a one-woman team. You’re not alone and you won’t languish. Not if I have anything to do with it.” With a fella like he , there is no anguish…Phwoar! The best! Well he’s a nice fella and such a dish! Perfect Ellie Hall , just our cup of tea your writing is , it really is the biz! There’s a way to go before their story is done but just so you know …it’s a good one! Those characters , yummy, Frug so funny , cuteness overload and oh my goodness how sweet and cosy is Hogwash Holler ? And now Tallula has a new fella! With beignet buns and plenty of laughter . That’s more like the best happy ever after. Back where she belongs with her nephews and nieces, she should never have left but at least she’s no longer feeling bereft and she loves her family to pieces….Brilliant read indeed . Awesome storyline. The writing is sublime and with your storytelling Ellie, we always have a good time.

[Hilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t You Forget About Tea by Ellie Hall is a book in the cozy Coffee Loft (Fall Collection) series. From the very first book in this series I am a big fan. Each book is a standalone, so you can start wherever you want. And I just love how all the authors came up with these great titles. This one is (I think) based on a song, which also was a song in the movie The Breakfast Club and it is a great find, because the deputy likes his tea and also likes T(allulla).

In this book Tallula comes home after her relationship stranded badly. It’s a sleepy town, not like the big city where she starred in TV series. When she meets the police deputy with whom she has a very short history, there is an attraction. But as there are also a missing ring and the Bling Ring gang, Jesse has his hands full.

I loved reading this book from the very first page. You can see the sleepy town before your eyes and Ellie Hall captured the atmosphere perfectly. Tallulla is a lovely character, and she tries to help her sister running the new Coffee Loft Shop in town and finds that her baking is superb. Jesse, the police deputy, is a bad boy who became good and their interactions and building relationship are just great to read about. The mystery surrounding the missing ring and the family feud, along with whoever steals all the shiny things all over town, made that this was a sweet romance story I could not stop reading.

Don’t You Forget About Tea is a sweet small southern town romance story, with likable characters, a lovely and flowing writing style with a dual POV, some mystery and a great addition to an already great series, which series I can highly recommend.

[Dana Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I must say how much I love the name of the main female character – Tallula. It just tells you that she has origins in the South, doesn't it?
And her southern home is Hogwash Holler, Louisiana to be precise, a home that she's reluctantly returning to after her life in Hollywood imploded. Once home, her plan is to help her sister with her new Coffee Loft shop and kids, avoid her parents, and get back out of town as soon as she can.
Then, she runs into Jesse Lawson, tempting bad boy of her youth and current deputy sheriff in Hogwash Holler. Jesse has worked hard to turn his life around from his bad boy ways, but he remembers Tallula and the time they had together in high school. Now that they're both back in town, maybe the time is right for them to reconnect?
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing of this story! Tallula doesn't just live for social media likes, she has internalized the concept and pictures her emotions as a “cascade of hearts” or a thumbs down when she doesn't like what's happening. Jesse and Tallula engage in delightful banter such as the conversation about the definition of glaze versus frosting and how much frosting a roll should have.
Then, the author hits me in the feels with lines like, “If you don't mind me wading into your mess, as you called it, or if you want to get it cleaned up a bit and find some room for a guy who likes tea, you know where to find me. I'm not going anywhere.” Swoon!
So, if you're looking for a sweet romance set in a small southern town, this book is for you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Asheley T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

This is a second-chance romantic comedy where Hollywood actress Tallula has retreated home after the humiliation of a scandal. She reacquaints with Jesse, a reformed bad boy-now-cop who she shared a kiss with many years ago. There’s a very cute dog and a couple of quirky townsfolk friends. It’s a case where I’m wondering if I’m reading the same story everyone else is. I found it fine for reading a chapter or two in the evening before bed, but I never wanted to inhale the whole thing in one sitting like I usually do with holiday novellas. It should not have taken me 6 days to finish it because it was only about 215 pages in length.

For me, there was just too much going on to feel like a well-rounded story or novella. Jesse’s pursuit of the Bling Ring bad guys, the mystery of Tallula’s grandma’s stolen ring, Tallula’s sister opening her coffee shop, the vandalism at Tallula’s parents house, the whole thing with Tallula’s ex-husband and their wedding scandal-it’s just a lot. Each plot point felt surface-level. There was plenty here to work with to make a more full reading experience, but because there was too much crammed into it, I never really connected any of the characters nor Tallula and Jesse as a couple. I would recommend it for readers looking for “sweet & clean” seasonal reading that doesn’t require too much out of them. It isn’t lost on me that most readers loved this one and found it very swoony.

[Koren | the_blue_eyed_bluestocking · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome back to The Coffee Loft! ☕️

Don't You Forget About Tea is book #3 in the fall season of The Coffee Loft series, and this time, it takes us to Hogwash Holler, Louisiana where disgraced actress Llula Lilly has returned home after she finds out her marriage to another Hollywood celebrity was a sham. Rediscovering herself as Tallulah, she becomes a barista in her sister's new Coffee Loft franchise. It turns out that she is somewhat of a fabulous baker, and her beignet buns become the talk of the town...as does her relationship with reformed bad boy turned police officer, Jesse.

The gossip mill, both old and new, follow this good girl and bad boy as they work to solve a childhood mystery and also bust a ring of petty criminals. Shenanigans abound as they both work to clear their names and fall a little in love in the process. It can't be that simple, though!

I enjoyed this lighthearted tale, especially as Tallulah and Jesse started resisting memory lane... including a rematch of a teenage kiss. 💋 Their relationship is a fun whirlwind and just what a sweet romantic comedy should be.

Don't hold it against Jesse that he only drinks Tea. 😉

I received a complimentary copy of the author's story to read and review as part of the Coffee Loft Scream Team. All thoughts contained here are my own.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun book in the multi author -The Coffee Loft Series. It works as a stand alone story and I love that the setting is in Hogwash Holler, Louisiana. This author has already introduced that small town in another book, The Grump and the Girl Next Door. This small town is starting to come back to life as new stores are opening up. Tallula Swan has returned to help her sister open a new coffee shop in town.

Tallula was always the good girl until that one time back in HS she ended up in detention. She was always trying to gain her wealthy parents attention so she kept all of the rules. She left Hogwash to become an actress and never let any one know where she had grown up. Now after an embarrassing situation finding out she had a fake marriage, she came back to Hogwash to pick up the pieces of her life. She never expected to see the town bad boy Jesse Lawson also back in Hogwash.

Jesse Lawson was always the bad boy getting into trouble in school. His family was also always on the wrong side of the law. He spent a lot of time in detention and never expected to see the school's good girl in there. After detention they spent an afternoon together on a dare riding on his motorcycle. Now Jesse is back in Hogwash and he's turned his life around to the right side of the law becoming a police officer.

What will Tallula do when Jesse offers to take her on another motorcycle ride?

I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.

[Reading Brew | Shayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ℋ𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒.”

I adored The Pest Digest at the beginning of the book. It was a cute immersive way to begin Tallulah and Jesse’s story. Also, I used to be obsessed with London Fogs, and haven’t had one in a good while. Thanks to Don’t You Forget About Tea, I’m craving one!

This was a quirky, gossipy small-town, with a little bit of a mystery read. I loved the reconnections, growth, and redemption. Jesse…reformed bad boy in a uniform? SOLD. 💓 Tallulah is a hot mess express and I wasn’t sure I was going to vibe with her character. She comes off bratty, but she has layers, and I really enjoyed her once I got through those layers.

There are plenty of sweet, swoony, and laugh out loud moments to enjoy.

💍 slow burn
🐾 small town
💍 no third act breakup
🐾 opposites attract
💍 second chance
🐾 protector

“𝒪𝓊𝓇 𝓀𝒾𝓈𝓈 𝒾𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓈𝓊𝓃𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑒 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒶 𝒹𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓎 𝒹𝒶𝓎. ℐ𝓉’𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶 𝓈𝓌𝑒𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝓃 𝒶 𝒸𝒽𝒾𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓃𝑜𝑜𝓃. ℒ𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶 𝓌𝒶𝓇𝓂 𝒸𝓊𝓅 𝑜𝒻 𝒸𝑜𝒻𝒻𝑒𝑒 𝒾𝓃 𝓂𝓎 𝒻𝒶𝓋𝑜𝓇𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝓂𝓊𝑔. ℒ𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝒸𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝒸𝒾𝓃𝓃𝒶𝓂𝑜𝓃. 𝒩𝑜, 𝒾𝓉’𝓈 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝒷𝒾𝓃𝑒𝒹.”

This was my first read by Ellie Hall. I really enjoyed her writing, so I look forward to reading more by her!


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

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

Tallula escaped her hometown to strike it big in Hollywood. Now she is back in Hogwash in all her designer glory without anything to show for her time in Hollywood. When she was strutting down the street in her high heels, I could not help but envision Elle Woods from Legally Blonde. I had a little chuckle.

She is in town to help her her sister launch her new coffee shop, The Coffee Loft. When the local deputy drops in, Tallula is shocked to learn that it is Jesse. Most of his family are always on the wrong side of the law, and Jesse was headed in that direction the last time Tallulah saw him. However, Jesse now resides on the right side of the law.

Tallula and Jesse connect in a way that she would never have believed possible. This book had it all with some witty scenes, drama, romance and a little side of mystery. Don't let this quaint town with the unfortunate name of Hogwash fool you into thinking it is less than it is. This small town is where it is happening. The fall vibes add an extra layer of fun to this sweet book.

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

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I always felt like I was playing a role.”

The one thing I love best about the Coffee Loft series books is how unique and different they are, not only in location, but in story lines. Tallulah is back home after a failed relationship to help her sister get a Coffee Loft store up and running. Hogwash, Louisiana isn’t anyone’s claim to fame, but it was genuine of Tallulah to recognize that maybe it’s all her.

Although Tallulah comes across as a diva and constantly displays her wealth and accolades, she’s pretty good at hiding and pretending that things are perfect. Jesse acknowledges his bad boy past, but as the town cop, works hard to move past his past.

This author does a great job of spinning a quirky, almost whimsical tale, full of reconnections, growth, and a slow-burn romance, while making my mouth water with talk of delectable beignets and gourmet tea, specifically a London Fog latte. Don’t forget the dollop of mystery that drizzles over these interesting characters and the frug named Moink.

Content: mild romance

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*

[Esther Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so fun! Lula (Tallula) left her tiny hometown to prove that she could make it in Hollywood. After some significant drama in her personal life happens, she ends up coming home with moderate success in Hollywood, but her tail is still tucked between her legs. Almost immediately, she is the victim of the Bling Ring, and her sparkly license plate frame is stolen right off her car.
This brings her into contact with the local county police officer who happens to be the bad boy she had a secret moment with back in high school.
Jesse is a reformed bad boy who is doing his best to prove to his childhood community that his family is not actually only ruffians and scoundrels. He is set on solving the mystery around the Bling Ring: a suspect group of individuals that keep stealing shiny or sparkly things from the community.
Put these two in close contact (living in the same boarding house in a small town) and sparks fly.
I enjoyed following along as these two work together to solve the mystery and help their local community, all while falling in love.
This book has plenty of sweet and swoony moments, redemption, and steamy kisses free of spice. Go get your copy today!

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Coffee Loft brings us another entertaining story of small-town gossip, bling ring thefts, runaway Hollywood starlets and even a few funny mishaps. But in a town with the name Hogwash Holler, what else could you expect. After leaving her hometown Tallula never expected to return. But then again she never expected to find out her marriage wasn't real or that her supposedly husband would cheat on her. Now back with her head held down, this is her worst dream come true. Jesse couldn't believe who he thought he'd just seen while he was in pursuit of the illusive gang stealing bling again. Ok so he was the local bad boy back in school, but he's worked hard to improve himself and now he's working for the local Police Department. He was either seeing a ghost from his past or had she finally returned home. This is a story of family fueds, sibling rivalry and living your life how you want and not how others think you should. The London fog is something I'll have to try, although nothing beats a good builders brew ❤️📖☕️❤️

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book released in the fall season of the Coffee Loft series. They are all stand-alone stories & can be read in any order.

I enjoyed this cute story about Tallula Swan, a former Hollywood "princess" who moves back to her small hometown after a very public divorce to find herself. She goes to work for her sister to help her open the new Coffee Loft business in town. She soon realizes that the new sheriff's deputy is none other than the town's former bad boy, Jesse Lawson, that she went to high school with years ago.

There's not only a sweet budding romance to follow, but also the addition of a little ancestral mystery, moments of laughter & swoons, an adorable dog by the name of Moinks, punny coffee sayings & just plain small town fun & antics. Just another all-around cute addition to the series!

So pick this one up if you like:

🫖 Small town mischief
🫖 Reformed bad boys
🫖 Hot mess FMCs
🫖 Spilling all the tea
🫖 Coffee shop & baking fun
🫖 He falls first
🫖 Second chances
🫖 Forced proximity
🫖 Closed door romance

This was my first book by this author & it won't be my last!

*HONEST ARC REVIEW*

[Tanvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good girls like bad boys!

But life is not black and white, but always grey and so the good girl can turn bad and the bad boy can reform.

I spent the first 20% of the book disliking the FMC, well because she "acted" like a "princess" but as I read further into the story, I started getting insight into her life and rooting for her to finally accept that she can grow up and that she is worthy.

But the bad boy turned law officer I liked since the first page. As you delve deeper you find that people can change and are most likely still haunted by the things that happened years ago.

The book is nicely written and I found myself turning the pages very easily. The book brings up a lot of issues, subtle enough not to ruin the cozy fall feel, but prominent enough for you to feel deeply for the characters.

Everything in the book just clicks into place automatically and you find yourself smiling and your internal heart "like" icon lights up.

I received an advance copy of the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tallula was living her life in the spotlight until everything crumbled around her. Now she’s returned to Hogwash Holler to lick her wounds and figure out what’s next for her. It helps that nothing’s really changed in the small town… except for one thing. When Tallula left, Jesse was the town’s widely known bad boy who was always making trouble. But now he’s a police deputy and Tallula is finding herself falling for him. With their family’s history and their shared past, that’d be a very bad thing. But oh what fun it could be to embrace it…

Jesse is doing his best to make up for everything he did as a kid. Everyone had laughed when he said he’d become an officer to do it, and he’s been proving them wrong ever since. But with the Bling Ring taking any little (or big) shiny thing in town, Jesse has his work cut out for him. There’s no real clues yet and nothing has turned up. Well, except for a blast from the past. But Jesse doesn’t think that Tallula remembers him, nor the moment they shared before she left town.

[Meg (thyme.for.books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When actress Tallula “Llula Lilly” Swan returns to her hometown, she is surprised to see that her bad boy, former flame is now Deputy Sheriff.

Don’t You Forget About Tea is part of The Coffee Loft - Fall Collection. Each of these books can be read as stand-alones. This small town romance is closed-door.

The little bit of a mystery element that Ellie Hall has been adding to her most recent romances is becoming one of my parts of her books. The mix of secrets and swoon keep this story well rounded even at its shorter length. Although this is a second chance romance, the MCs have been apart long enough that they are basically starting over but readers still get all the juicy backstory.

This is the first book that I have read from this new collaborative series but I hope to have a chance to get to all of them before the end of the season. I’m also excited to see what Ellie Hall is working on next.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Manda| Little Bitty Delights · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to Hogwash Holler where time has stood still and the town screams wanna be Hallmark movie material. Tallula never planned to return home, least not without a shiny golden award. Instead she’s coming back with humble pie. Working at her sister’s Coffee Loft shop, Tallula bumps into reformed bad boy Jesse, who is looking mighty fine in his police uniform. Maybe there is a little romance brewing?
⭐️ ☕️ ⭐️ ☕️ ⭐️ ☕️ ⭐️
I enjoy a story with a hot mess FMC trying to figure out her life and bumping into hot blast from the past. This dual POV story has quirky characters, small town charm, lots of laughs, an adorable dog, Moink, who steals the show, and a little family history/mystery to make this a fun read. With swoony kisses this clean romance is another fun addition to the Coffee Loft Series!

I received a copy of this book from the author to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't You Forget About Tea by Ellie Hall is the third book in the standalone multi author Coffee Loft Series. This book was so cute. It was short and sweet and full of fall vibes. It is told from a dual POV, following Tallula & Jesse. Tallula was the small town princess cliche in high school & leaves Hogwash to make it big in Hollywood. After finding out her marriage is a sham, she heads back home to help her sister open her new coffee shop, Coffee Loft. Jesse was the bad boy who is now the police deputy. They had a moment in high school after detention and forgot all about it, or did they?

🧡 Closed Door Romance
🧡 Second Chance
🧡 Slow Burn
🧡 Schitt's Creek Vibes
🧡 Good Girl Bad Boy
🧡 Only Kisses

“That’s not necessary. I don’t drink tea.” I gawk. Does she really think I was giving her my number because I was going to suggest we meet up for morning beverages? She’s as full of herself as ever. “It’s regarding the investigation of your stolen property. Should you have anything else to share or if there are further developments, you can let the station know, Princess.” I flick the card to her.

“Best to let it adjust to room temperature.” “You really have this down to a science.” “More like a love language.” Those little red hearts inside flicker. “I’ll try it just this once.” “That’s all you’ll need to be hooked.”

I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

[Crystalclearwpg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tallula left Hogwash after high school to make it big in Hollywood to only return after some trouble came about after her marriage ended. She plans on getting back on her feet by helping her sister who has just opened up her own coffee shop. Jesse, the new deputy, sees Tallula and memories coming rushing back from their high school days. These 2 are your typical holiday hallmark couple while trying to solve a mystery which is plaquing the small town.
Tallula in the beginning was a too much into herself but you do warm up to her pretty quickly. Her sister seems like the strong head type which you want as a older sibling who has softened since becoming a mom and Jesse was hard to read. He tried to be funny right off the bat which came off as corny but hey like I said....hallmark type of couple. I like the characters in the town and do look forward to reading more (this is my first) stories revolving around it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

First impression? I wasn't too keen on Tallulah and her over-the-top Hollywood ways. Second impression? Hmmm maybe I was too hasty at first, because before long she was pitching in helping her sister, and seemed very down to earth. Ok now I was hooked, and wild horses couldn't drag me away from this story. So many little oddities, a "bad boy" reformed deputy, a hidden talent (with a secret recipe) to help her sister's success, mysterious happenings around town, and a funny little dog who wore outfits with accessories!
Spoiler alert, I ended up finishing the book with minimal breaks. It was swoony, intriguing, included several little mysteries, and had great characters! It also got me reacquainted with London Fog Tea-perfect for sipping as I read! As always, Ellie Hall came through with another delightful book with great characters and interesting locations. What a captivating story!