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Coffee & Kittens
Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, age gap, small town, cinnamon roll with crusty exterior MMC
What happens when the grumpy coffee shop owner falls for one of his regular customers who's twenty years younger than him?
The man who 'doesn't care about her' goes out of his way to take her suggestions, seek her out when she stops buying coffee at his shop, and then searching for a lost kitten after a winter storm.
HEA guaranteed!
What happens when the grumpy coffee shop owner falls for one of his regular customers who's twenty years younger than him?
The man who 'doesn't care about her' goes out of his way to take her suggestions, seek her out when she stops buying coffee at his shop, and then searching for a lost kitten after a winter storm.
HEA guaranteed!
40 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2024
68 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
April 16, 2025
Jared and lela
Karen owns a coffee shop in town. Every day Lela comes in to buy her coffee. And everyday she buys the same thing. Lately she's been flirting with Jared but Jared is too wrapped up in life to notice that Lela wants him. This was a very steamy story. This is my first time reading this author.
Karen owns a coffee shop in town. Every day Lela comes in to buy her coffee. And everyday she buys the same thing. Lately she's been flirting with Jared but Jared is too wrapped up in life to notice that Lela wants him. This was a very steamy story. This is my first time reading this author.
April 25, 2024
No one can convince me this guy actually liked the fmc. He was mean to her, talked about her behind her back, made her feel small in person. Just down right unpleasant. The only reason he was even interested in her was because she moved on from him after his cruel outburst, as she should.
Then when he tried talking to her, seeing her, everything was so stunted. I think that is mostly an issue with the author. They wrote him as less emotional with no description. He was so bland other than his annoyance and subtle rage for her.
After he cruelly talked to her he also mentioned growing up with two moms and how he had deep respect for all women. WHERE? Because the first woman you saw that morning left with tears in her eyes becaise you were mean.
It's giving "nice guy" vibes when it suits him or when you have something to offer him. Now that he finds her attractive and looks past her "heavily done up eyes" He see's someone who was open to fuck him at one time.
At several times pronouns changed referring to the cat. Referring to the fmc. Referring to the mmc. The time changes within each chapter and also throughout the book didn't all add up.
This could have been a much better read if there was 2 or 3 more editing rounds, and also the author expanding on moments of lost time in this story.
The author sounds pretty young. I hope this review doesn't discourage them to write more. I really liked this idea but the execution was bad and the viewpoints of an ideal mmc are skewed. That could just be because theyre so young. But this guy is not a good mmc. This man would end up being abusive and cheating. His POV showed some major red flags in his personality and compared to hers, which was fluffy and kind, this man would end up killing the spark inside her just like her parents did with her magic.
Then when he tried talking to her, seeing her, everything was so stunted. I think that is mostly an issue with the author. They wrote him as less emotional with no description. He was so bland other than his annoyance and subtle rage for her.
After he cruelly talked to her he also mentioned growing up with two moms and how he had deep respect for all women. WHERE? Because the first woman you saw that morning left with tears in her eyes becaise you were mean.
It's giving "nice guy" vibes when it suits him or when you have something to offer him. Now that he finds her attractive and looks past her "heavily done up eyes" He see's someone who was open to fuck him at one time.
At several times pronouns changed referring to the cat. Referring to the fmc. Referring to the mmc. The time changes within each chapter and also throughout the book didn't all add up.
This could have been a much better read if there was 2 or 3 more editing rounds, and also the author expanding on moments of lost time in this story.
The author sounds pretty young. I hope this review doesn't discourage them to write more. I really liked this idea but the execution was bad and the viewpoints of an ideal mmc are skewed. That could just be because theyre so young. But this guy is not a good mmc. This man would end up being abusive and cheating. His POV showed some major red flags in his personality and compared to hers, which was fluffy and kind, this man would end up killing the spark inside her just like her parents did with her magic.
April 22, 2024
Oh boy... so I definitely need to stop buying i to tiktok book recs.
I absolutely loved the idea of this book. But it was such a disappointing honestly.
I feel like the author had the idea but not the follow threw for a while story and that has nothing to do with the length so much as the atory line itself. A few more chapters would be nice of course but i have read plently of short stories that got the job done well.
From the start it was very rushed i thought it show atleast 1 or 2 interactions they had previously before the "snubbed brush off" talked about in tiktok. But it was basically right away and then eveything else was rushed and very awkward. Idk if this was a series and I was missing information ( I know I could check but at this point I dont think I will) or a stand alone or could be read as both but either way information was missing to help you understand the world there in and the norms of that world.
There personality were great but not very consistent for him at least as the sotry went on..... and im aorry becouse im really not trying to be mean just honestly but that was one of the worst spicy senses i have ever read... it kind left me feeling awkward and like i stumbled apon a fan fic writen by a 13 year old. It also borderline stole the plot from frozen with her "fae power" and had no mention of this anywhere before or after the one ppint in the story.
I hate writing reviews like this becouse i try to see the good in evrything i rrad but i also believe there is no good without honestly .
I kind of really hope the author takes the time to maybe re-write and fenses this books becouse I see great potential there with some more time put in.
I absolutely loved the idea of this book. But it was such a disappointing honestly.
I feel like the author had the idea but not the follow threw for a while story and that has nothing to do with the length so much as the atory line itself. A few more chapters would be nice of course but i have read plently of short stories that got the job done well.
From the start it was very rushed i thought it show atleast 1 or 2 interactions they had previously before the "snubbed brush off" talked about in tiktok. But it was basically right away and then eveything else was rushed and very awkward. Idk if this was a series and I was missing information ( I know I could check but at this point I dont think I will) or a stand alone or could be read as both but either way information was missing to help you understand the world there in and the norms of that world.
There personality were great but not very consistent for him at least as the sotry went on..... and im aorry becouse im really not trying to be mean just honestly but that was one of the worst spicy senses i have ever read... it kind left me feeling awkward and like i stumbled apon a fan fic writen by a 13 year old. It also borderline stole the plot from frozen with her "fae power" and had no mention of this anywhere before or after the one ppint in the story.
I hate writing reviews like this becouse i try to see the good in evrything i rrad but i also believe there is no good without honestly .
I kind of really hope the author takes the time to maybe re-write and fenses this books becouse I see great potential there with some more time put in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2025
Cute shifter romance!
I usually avoid anything to do with shifters but I decided to give this one a shot for fun. Very possessive grumpy mmc, with innocent fmc.
Pretty comparable to the mountain man stories I've read by Lyla Hart!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I usually avoid anything to do with shifters but I decided to give this one a shot for fun. Very possessive grumpy mmc, with innocent fmc.
Pretty comparable to the mountain man stories I've read by Lyla Hart!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 17, 2025
Grumpy coffee shop owner Jared (H) is having a frustrating morning and quickly shuts down sunshiny regular Lela (h) who seems to enjoy chatting with Jared despite his cold demeanor. He dismisses her, not realizing that she's interested in him. Hurt, Lela buys her own coffee machine for her office, avoiding Jared's shop altogether. Jared starts to miss Lela's presence and when she doesn't return to his shop, he becomes increasingly frustrated, especially since he'd taken her special suggestions into account. Jared realizes he's going to have to work at it to convince Lela to give him another chance and a storm leading to a lost kitten is the perfect chance for Jared to make a grand gesture - loved his wolf's take on Legion. Sweet and spicy age gap grumpy-sunshine wolf shifter romantic quickie with a side of angst.
Narrator Anthony Williams Jr. delivers a good performance that suits the story’s tone and pacing. His narration captures Jared’s gruff exterior and growing vulnerability with subtle shifts in delivery. The audio quality is clear, with no issues, making this a satisfying listen for fans of quick, emotional romances.
Narrator Anthony Williams Jr. delivers a good performance that suits the story’s tone and pacing. His narration captures Jared’s gruff exterior and growing vulnerability with subtle shifts in delivery. The audio quality is clear, with no issues, making this a satisfying listen for fans of quick, emotional romances.
May 28, 2025
Absolutely the sweetest, grumpy-sunshine coffee shop romance that'll have you giggling and blushing with each page turn! Trying to get the attention of someone who already sees you, not knowing you have theirs as much as they have yours, will always be a favorite trope of mine and it's executed in a charming fashion here. There are some additional tropes - including but not limited to age gap and first time - and paired with the shifter undertones, this story blends the mundane and mystical together into one big slice of life. It reads like it could be part of a larger series, and there may be some overlapping characters in Christina Mattingly's other works, however this effectively stands alone.
The only reason this isn't a full five stars is because I wish there had been more established exposition about the shifter community other than the internal wolfish debate our MMC has periodically in his POV, and the brief backstory of our fae-blooded FMC which was established a bit too late in the story for me to feel like it held any weight for me to care as a reader. I wanted the tension to last longer and to be felt throughout the story in a heightened sense, and while I loved the cozy rom-com avenue we were taken down, I felt like it lacked an effective emotional gut-punch that was attempted towards the end.
The only reason this isn't a full five stars is because I wish there had been more established exposition about the shifter community other than the internal wolfish debate our MMC has periodically in his POV, and the brief backstory of our fae-blooded FMC which was established a bit too late in the story for me to feel like it held any weight for me to care as a reader. I wanted the tension to last longer and to be felt throughout the story in a heightened sense, and while I loved the cozy rom-com avenue we were taken down, I felt like it lacked an effective emotional gut-punch that was attempted towards the end.
October 19, 2024
Cute Romance
I was smitten with this short story. It had lots of things to draw me in: kittens, coffee, paranormal creatures, good characters, and a cute plot. Truly, I enjoyed this fast read.
I loved the tidbits that left story opportunities. The potential of this cast of characters and community are endless. There's so much intrigue subtly placed that you're pulled in easily and completely. I'm on the hunt to see if this leads into a series because I need it!!
I was a bit disappointed by the lack of attention to the punctuation and grammar. WORD or Grammarly should have caught most of the errors, so there's no excuse when selling a consumer product. Still, the entertainment fact was worth overlooking these flaws. I also felt the oral sex was rushed, especially when it was built up in the dedication. That really shocked me. LOL
In the end, I was left wanting more. Jared and Lela are adorable. Their community is warm and inviting. I was to know more about Lela's magic and what happened to this couple. The author did a great job of connecting me to the story and drawing me in.
I need more!!!
I was smitten with this short story. It had lots of things to draw me in: kittens, coffee, paranormal creatures, good characters, and a cute plot. Truly, I enjoyed this fast read.
I loved the tidbits that left story opportunities. The potential of this cast of characters and community are endless. There's so much intrigue subtly placed that you're pulled in easily and completely. I'm on the hunt to see if this leads into a series because I need it!!
I was a bit disappointed by the lack of attention to the punctuation and grammar. WORD or Grammarly should have caught most of the errors, so there's no excuse when selling a consumer product. Still, the entertainment fact was worth overlooking these flaws. I also felt the oral sex was rushed, especially when it was built up in the dedication. That really shocked me. LOL
In the end, I was left wanting more. Jared and Lela are adorable. Their community is warm and inviting. I was to know more about Lela's magic and what happened to this couple. The author did a great job of connecting me to the story and drawing me in.
I need more!!!
February 5, 2025
Coffee and Kittens follows Jared, a grumpy lone wolf shifter, whom owns a coffee shop. Lela, a Fae, who loves her fancy coffee orders, seems to be a thorn in his side. Jared is older than Lela, which is one thing that hinders his feelings. Until she stops coming into the shop, he realizes his grumpy soul is missing something...
This story was good. I immediately became sucked into it. However, I feel that it was too short and things progressed too quickly. For him to not want a mate, to then quickly claim her. Also, I feel like there was more story to tell regarding her past and more with main characters feelings progression. The intimate scene also felt a bit rushed. The hint of dom/sub was a bit sudden as well.
This story was good. I immediately became sucked into it. However, I feel that it was too short and things progressed too quickly. For him to not want a mate, to then quickly claim her. Also, I feel like there was more story to tell regarding her past and more with main characters feelings progression. The intimate scene also felt a bit rushed. The hint of dom/sub was a bit sudden as well.
May 5, 2025
Spice: 1
I would of DNFed if it wasn’t for the fact that it was so short .
It’s rare for me to say this but I do not recommend this book.
The story line felt really choppy didn’t really get why they liked each other.
The thing that made me want to DNF was the moment the MMC asks if the FMC knew what a safe word was before he took control and made her surrender to him and she says yes but at NO point is a safe word established. What was established was her saying Yea sir to his commands or questions of if she liked something. That is not a safe word.
The FMC is more worried about not being “good for him” that she doesn’t mention she’s a virgin which is why he takes the dominant approach to their spicy time.
There was also way to much focus on pubic hair for my liking.
I would of DNFed if it wasn’t for the fact that it was so short .
It’s rare for me to say this but I do not recommend this book.
The story line felt really choppy didn’t really get why they liked each other.
The thing that made me want to DNF was the moment the MMC asks if the FMC knew what a safe word was before he took control and made her surrender to him and she says yes but at NO point is a safe word established. What was established was her saying Yea sir to his commands or questions of if she liked something. That is not a safe word.
The FMC is more worried about not being “good for him” that she doesn’t mention she’s a virgin which is why he takes the dominant approach to their spicy time.
There was also way to much focus on pubic hair for my liking.
January 2, 2025
Giving 2 stars because the book was hilarious - just the mmc, and how he acts and what he says. The main issue is the book does have a lot of grammatical errors that ruins the book for me. I also understand that it is a novella, so it’s meant to be short, but it was so short and spotty that I was confused on what was happening at parts. It was a little all over the place. The concept of the book was great, and I feel if it was a little longer, and proofread more, it could’ve been a great book. I do hope the author continues to write, and build on what they have now, they’re in the making for great stories. :)
January 12, 2026
This is a very short and quick stand alone read/listen. It is very steamy and erotic but also cute and sweet. It is an age gap, grumpy/sunshine, small town romance about a coffee shop owner, a lady who comes up on his blind side and kitten in need of a home. The story is about Jared and Lela. She comes in everyday to order her coffee but he is grumpy and a bit of a jerk to her. So she decides to not come in. When he finds a suggestion she has left him he begins to see her differently. He is also encourage by her boss. I enjoyed the short story. I did not like it ends very abruptly though.
September 19, 2024
Ezra is rich and looking for a female that can produce an Alpha heir for him. So far he hasn't been able to do that with 6 previous women. Now Zane, his wolf inside, spots Cami aka Camila; Ezra looks at her information and sees that she ranks 98% in her blood work for producing what he wants. What does both Ezra and Zane both want; will they get what they both want?.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 2, 2025
I loved the blurb for this book, but it wasn't as good as it could have been.
Jared (mmc) couldn't seem to make up his mind if he liked Lela (fmc), he was nice one minute and then abrupt the next. After unsucessfully flirting with him, she buys her own coffee machine to avoid his coffee shop. A storm and a lost kitten bring them together in the end.
The book definitely is in need of editing. There were mistakes scattered throughout the book.
- age gap
- grumpy / sunshine
- novella
- shifter
Jared (mmc) couldn't seem to make up his mind if he liked Lela (fmc), he was nice one minute and then abrupt the next. After unsucessfully flirting with him, she buys her own coffee machine to avoid his coffee shop. A storm and a lost kitten bring them together in the end.
The book definitely is in need of editing. There were mistakes scattered throughout the book.
- age gap
- grumpy / sunshine
- novella
- shifter
December 23, 2025
This was a very short story and although i like the plot, I didn't feel the connection between the main characters. The ending was also very abrupt so maybe the story could have been fleshed out more. In the audiobook version, it seems there were some voice over corrections that didn't blend well with the original narration.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 24, 2024
A novella book where the grump is 10000% grump to the core and doesn’t see what’s right infront of him a women trying to flirt but he doesn’t understand it at first. The way this man finally gets it and when he does??? SPICE SPICE SPICE till the very end. This is one of those books you pick up and love the interactions and the moments they banter/ have together.
May 9, 2024
I really enjoyed this spicey short story.
Alpha Ezra is ready for an heir, so he visits a breeding facility, while deciding on his surrogate his wolf sees Cami. Cami is a first-time surrogate who has a very high possibility of birthing an Alpha pup.
short and spicey
insta-lust / love
alpha wolves
Breeding.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Alpha Ezra is ready for an heir, so he visits a breeding facility, while deciding on his surrogate his wolf sees Cami. Cami is a first-time surrogate who has a very high possibility of birthing an Alpha pup.
short and spicey
insta-lust / love
alpha wolves
Breeding.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 30, 2025
This is a short grumpy/sunshine story. Jared thinks he too old and scared to be with Lila and so he's pretty dismissive and mean to her when she comes into his coffee shop. He gets upset when she doesn't return and he's bought all the extra's she had asked for.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 24, 2025
An Audiobook Review
A delightful, spicy bite-sized listen!
Coffee and Kittens by Christina Mattingly is a quick and pleasing short listen that left me wanting more. It’s the perfect blend of humor and a little bit of spice. If you’re looking for a fun escape that you can finish in one sitting, this audio is definitely for you. I really hope this turns into a full series!
A delightful, spicy bite-sized listen!
Coffee and Kittens by Christina Mattingly is a quick and pleasing short listen that left me wanting more. It’s the perfect blend of humor and a little bit of spice. If you’re looking for a fun escape that you can finish in one sitting, this audio is definitely for you. I really hope this turns into a full series!
April 22, 2024
Grammatical Errors
Cute short story, not that spicy; but it has a lot of grammatical errors that ruins the read. I think the author is self published, so if she has the time I suggest doing an editing or getting an editor to correct the misspellings
Cute short story, not that spicy; but it has a lot of grammatical errors that ruins the read. I think the author is self published, so if she has the time I suggest doing an editing or getting an editor to correct the misspellings
May 17, 2024
Jared is a grumpy coffee shop owner, and a wolf shifter. Lela is magicless fae, and quite a bit younger. But with coconut whipped cream, snowflake sprinkles, and a lost kitten bring them together.
Cute quick read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Cute quick read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 1, 2024
Moonlight & Snow—>Magic!
Like a chocolate muffin and coffee with whipped cream, this is a sweet treat of a romance. Enjoy how grumpy Jared and the lovely Lela find common interests and advance beyond friendship to seal their relationship!!!
Like a chocolate muffin and coffee with whipped cream, this is a sweet treat of a romance. Enjoy how grumpy Jared and the lovely Lela find common interests and advance beyond friendship to seal their relationship!!!
March 6, 2025
A cozy and quick read, however I felt like there wasn't really a plot to the book other than guy likes girl and then they get together in the last few pages. Saying that I do think the dynamic between Jared and Lela was super cute and I did like reading about their lives
April 14, 2025
We felt something was missing from this one, the story would have been cute if there had been more character development between the couple. There were cute parts to it that we enjoyed. The book had potential.
May 19, 2025
Short and sweet!
I liked a simple novella like this one and the sweet representations of coffee here gave me a sense of comfort at a time when I'm not feeling as well as I should (tough weather, work burnout, etc.). Thank you for the shifter romance!
I liked a simple novella like this one and the sweet representations of coffee here gave me a sense of comfort at a time when I'm not feeling as well as I should (tough weather, work burnout, etc.). Thank you for the shifter romance!
June 21, 2025
Coffee & Kittens by Christina Mattingly is a great short paranormal fantasy. There were a few problems with the narration. The story is entertaining, interesting and more. It’s an age gap grumpy shifter short story.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 18, 2025
Not as many errors as the last book but not quite perfect either. Really slow and then over before it got started. Also narrated by computer which is really difficult to listen to. I'd guess the whole story was AI written.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 26, 2025
I was so lost listening to this one. The MMC was super mean to the FMC and wasn’t grumpy - he was just rude. He also came across stingy and unlikable.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 22, 2024
interesting
This novella was a cute read. I just wished it was flushed out a little bit more. Overall this was an enjoyable 30 page read.
This novella was a cute read. I just wished it was flushed out a little bit more. Overall this was an enjoyable 30 page read.
April 22, 2024
i will be taking no questions
May 18, 2024
The story ended when they had sex.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews