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To Catch a Latte Thick as Thieves
TO CATCH A LATTE is a mystery romantic comedy mashup full of laughs, heart, and suspense.
Stop that espresso! Annie Talbot's coffeepot has been turned upside down when her cafe is declared a front for a money laundering scheme and the FBI suspects she is the mastermind. So now her sexy new tenant, Special Agent Fisher McCoy, is sifting through her coffee grounds looking for the real culprit while trying to keep his hands off the delightful Annie. Marriage-phobic Annie is doing her best to ignore FBI hottie Fisher, but he is so distracting, her lattes are steaming over and she's thinking crazy thoughts like marriage and happily ever after.
THICK AS THIEVES is a cross country rom-com caper. Some laws are meant to be broken! If Jared McLean had known what doing a favor for his buddy would mean, he would never have agreed. Who wants to break the number one best-friend law—no falling for your friend's sister? But driving across the country with the scattered and far too tempting Cat Levery makes Jared forget all about best friends! And their steamy kisses make him forget all about the thieves who seem to be tailing them...
Stop that espresso! Annie Talbot's coffeepot has been turned upside down when her cafe is declared a front for a money laundering scheme and the FBI suspects she is the mastermind. So now her sexy new tenant, Special Agent Fisher McCoy, is sifting through her coffee grounds looking for the real culprit while trying to keep his hands off the delightful Annie. Marriage-phobic Annie is doing her best to ignore FBI hottie Fisher, but he is so distracting, her lattes are steaming over and she's thinking crazy thoughts like marriage and happily ever after.
THICK AS THIEVES is a cross country rom-com caper. Some laws are meant to be broken! If Jared McLean had known what doing a favor for his buddy would mean, he would never have agreed. Who wants to break the number one best-friend law—no falling for your friend's sister? But driving across the country with the scattered and far too tempting Cat Levery makes Jared forget all about best friends! And their steamy kisses make him forget all about the thieves who seem to be tailing them...
Audible Audio
Published November 4, 2025
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About the author
Jenn McKinlay
70 books5,256 followersJenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for best cozy mystery. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with books, pets, and her husband’s guitars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
November 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Oh boy, I did not enjoy this one. I had a hard time right off the bat because it felt very much like the stories were written by a 70-year-old about characters in their 20s or 30s. When it became too unbearable, I did some research. I wasn’t able to ascertain Jenn McKinlay’s age, but a number of GoodReads reviews informed me that these two stories were originally written just over 20 years ago and have been updated a bit for a modern audience. I will grant a modicum of forgiveness because of this.
Even though I tried to not let the aged descriptions and language impact my reading of the book, it is probably a majority of my discontent with it. I was about 15 when these stories were written and I can tell you that I never met anyone in their 20s who would say “phooey” or “Let’s get a wiggle on”. Annie, Mary, and Denise are names that are more likely to be found amongst Baby Boomers, and there’s no way anyone in their 20s/30s would know how to jitterbug or consider it “real dancing”. Most egregious of all is that any younger adult in 2002 would not know “The Macarena”. I refuse to believe it. If you were alive and had eyes in the 90s, you knew “The Macarena”.
Along the same lines, the modern touches that have clearly just recently been added felt not only like an after thought, but also very forced. I would be more charitable if they had just been left out and it was kept set in the early 2000s, or even better, set it back another decade or two and market the book as historical fiction. The first sign we were in danger was when the bride in “To Catch a Latte” pulled out a vape pen. It was so jarring I had to rewind the audiobook and listen again to make sure that’s what I had heard. Also, in “Thick as Thieves” Cat has a cell phone. It’s mentioned that she left it behind when she went on a walk to emphasize that Jared can’t reach her. Why then didn’t they use it during every other time it would have solved all their problems? Lost? Use GPS. Accident? Call a tow. Don’t bring it up at all if you’re not going to use it. Or at least make a big show of breaking it or something (unless that did happen while this book made me dissociate).
Another relic of the early 2000s is the lowkey misogyny. It’s nothing too insidious, but there is this underlying notion that women are silly idiots who need big, strong men to come solve their problems and/or protect them that pervades both stories. It is, of course, toothlessly combatted by having the female characters insist they know what they’re doing (even while actively being silly idiots) and the male characters praising them as being smart and brave (even while they are saving them from themselves). On the same (but more disgusting) note, in “To Catch a Latte”, Fisher repeatedly refers to how child-like Annie is and notes that it’s sexy. He compares her to Orphan Annie (a topical reference that all the cool 30-year-olds make) and he seems turned on by it. He says she has “seductive innocence” and, while he is thinking about how hot Annie is, says that she doesn’t look old enough to drive. Gross. My last point in this vein is that I wish that authors would do away with the notion that teachers are prim, proper, and completely naïve. As a teacher, I know my fair share of teachers, and, no offence to anyone, but teachers are some of the biggest foul-mouthed maniacs I’ve ever met. It’s a demeaning depiction since teaching is still considered a “pink collar” job. Kill this archetype now.
Lastly, I wish I could say I enjoyed Daniela Acitelli’s narration, but it actively detracted from my enjoyment. I know I just finished the world’s longest paragraph on misogyny, and this is going to come across as a bit misogynistic, but it has to be said. I don’t know how old Daniela Acitelli is, but she has the deep voice of a woman in her 50s. This is not a criticism of her voice- I find it very soothing, and I also have a deep voice- it is a criticism of her casting. The female characters are young and frivolous, and in my mind, that lends itself to a higher pitched voice, which I know is stereotypical. I was already fighting with the idea that this book was about young people written by an older author, and her narration did not help to quash that impulse. Acitelli also employs falling intonation at the ends of all the questions she read. This is not a problem on its own, but she did it across all characters’ dialogue, and for American characters it is very out of place, and honestly distracting. I looked up Daniela Acitelli and from what I can tell, she lives part-time in England, so I cannot blame her as it is a common speech marker for the British, but she also lives part-time in the USA.
Overall, “To Catch a Latte” and “Thick as Thieves” (terrible titles for the contents of the stories) should have stayed in the past. I see that Jenn McKinlay has written a ton of things since these stories were originally released, and I am sure she has refined her craft, but I don’t think I’ll be picking up another book by her.
1.5 stars rounded up (only because I'm being forgiving that 2002 was a different time)
Oh boy, I did not enjoy this one. I had a hard time right off the bat because it felt very much like the stories were written by a 70-year-old about characters in their 20s or 30s. When it became too unbearable, I did some research. I wasn’t able to ascertain Jenn McKinlay’s age, but a number of GoodReads reviews informed me that these two stories were originally written just over 20 years ago and have been updated a bit for a modern audience. I will grant a modicum of forgiveness because of this.
Even though I tried to not let the aged descriptions and language impact my reading of the book, it is probably a majority of my discontent with it. I was about 15 when these stories were written and I can tell you that I never met anyone in their 20s who would say “phooey” or “Let’s get a wiggle on”. Annie, Mary, and Denise are names that are more likely to be found amongst Baby Boomers, and there’s no way anyone in their 20s/30s would know how to jitterbug or consider it “real dancing”. Most egregious of all is that any younger adult in 2002 would not know “The Macarena”. I refuse to believe it. If you were alive and had eyes in the 90s, you knew “The Macarena”.
Along the same lines, the modern touches that have clearly just recently been added felt not only like an after thought, but also very forced. I would be more charitable if they had just been left out and it was kept set in the early 2000s, or even better, set it back another decade or two and market the book as historical fiction. The first sign we were in danger was when the bride in “To Catch a Latte” pulled out a vape pen. It was so jarring I had to rewind the audiobook and listen again to make sure that’s what I had heard. Also, in “Thick as Thieves” Cat has a cell phone. It’s mentioned that she left it behind when she went on a walk to emphasize that Jared can’t reach her. Why then didn’t they use it during every other time it would have solved all their problems? Lost? Use GPS. Accident? Call a tow. Don’t bring it up at all if you’re not going to use it. Or at least make a big show of breaking it or something (unless that did happen while this book made me dissociate).
Another relic of the early 2000s is the lowkey misogyny. It’s nothing too insidious, but there is this underlying notion that women are silly idiots who need big, strong men to come solve their problems and/or protect them that pervades both stories. It is, of course, toothlessly combatted by having the female characters insist they know what they’re doing (even while actively being silly idiots) and the male characters praising them as being smart and brave (even while they are saving them from themselves). On the same (but more disgusting) note, in “To Catch a Latte”, Fisher repeatedly refers to how child-like Annie is and notes that it’s sexy. He compares her to Orphan Annie (a topical reference that all the cool 30-year-olds make) and he seems turned on by it. He says she has “seductive innocence” and, while he is thinking about how hot Annie is, says that she doesn’t look old enough to drive. Gross. My last point in this vein is that I wish that authors would do away with the notion that teachers are prim, proper, and completely naïve. As a teacher, I know my fair share of teachers, and, no offence to anyone, but teachers are some of the biggest foul-mouthed maniacs I’ve ever met. It’s a demeaning depiction since teaching is still considered a “pink collar” job. Kill this archetype now.
Lastly, I wish I could say I enjoyed Daniela Acitelli’s narration, but it actively detracted from my enjoyment. I know I just finished the world’s longest paragraph on misogyny, and this is going to come across as a bit misogynistic, but it has to be said. I don’t know how old Daniela Acitelli is, but she has the deep voice of a woman in her 50s. This is not a criticism of her voice- I find it very soothing, and I also have a deep voice- it is a criticism of her casting. The female characters are young and frivolous, and in my mind, that lends itself to a higher pitched voice, which I know is stereotypical. I was already fighting with the idea that this book was about young people written by an older author, and her narration did not help to quash that impulse. Acitelli also employs falling intonation at the ends of all the questions she read. This is not a problem on its own, but she did it across all characters’ dialogue, and for American characters it is very out of place, and honestly distracting. I looked up Daniela Acitelli and from what I can tell, she lives part-time in England, so I cannot blame her as it is a common speech marker for the British, but she also lives part-time in the USA.
Overall, “To Catch a Latte” and “Thick as Thieves” (terrible titles for the contents of the stories) should have stayed in the past. I see that Jenn McKinlay has written a ton of things since these stories were originally released, and I am sure she has refined her craft, but I don’t think I’ll be picking up another book by her.
1.5 stars rounded up (only because I'm being forgiving that 2002 was a different time)
December 6, 2025
I give this book 3.0 3.5 stars
ARC 📚
As my first impression I didn’t know this book was two in one! The novels are short but really interesting.
To catch a Latte:
I honestly liked it but I was expecting more from the book, wanted it to be more detailed on like their age and how they looked like. I feel like I barely know anything about them. It was really fast paced. And the ending it was something I didn’t expect and also didn’t expect that the suspect was Henry. I was shocked. Also fisher is an interesting name. Fisher and Annie are really cute and you could feel the love in them and the tension. I love how they went from landlord/tenant to husband/wife.
Although I like it, I just wish it was more detailed/descriptive like the characters, the coffee shop on the little stuff too that way you can imagine it.
As in the other hand Thick as thieves:
Hmmm I don’t know how to feel about it I’m in between if I like it or I absolutely hate it. I feel like Catherine was annoying and it was not my type of character. But Jared was really cute.
Overall If you like really fast paced novels this could be for you. Just have a mind that in my own opinion you don’t get much detail about the characters or in general.
ARC 📚
As my first impression I didn’t know this book was two in one! The novels are short but really interesting.
To catch a Latte:
I honestly liked it but I was expecting more from the book, wanted it to be more detailed on like their age and how they looked like. I feel like I barely know anything about them. It was really fast paced. And the ending it was something I didn’t expect and also didn’t expect that the suspect was Henry. I was shocked. Also fisher is an interesting name. Fisher and Annie are really cute and you could feel the love in them and the tension. I love how they went from landlord/tenant to husband/wife.
Although I like it, I just wish it was more detailed/descriptive like the characters, the coffee shop on the little stuff too that way you can imagine it.
As in the other hand Thick as thieves:
Hmmm I don’t know how to feel about it I’m in between if I like it or I absolutely hate it. I feel like Catherine was annoying and it was not my type of character. But Jared was really cute.
Overall If you like really fast paced novels this could be for you. Just have a mind that in my own opinion you don’t get much detail about the characters or in general.
December 5, 2025
These were written at the very beginning of Jenn’s career. Not as good as her current writing and storytelling, but still cute, entertaining stories. A little romance, a little mystery, and lots of laughs.
December 31, 2025
Okay, I have loved Jenn McKinlay’s novels the past few years. So, naturally, I’d want to try her backlog, and I believe these much older books have been very slightly updated for modern times and rereleased. Unfortunately the gender dynamics didn’t see any updating and some of the mentalities and sentiments just hit wrong along with a writing style that just didn’t work for me.
I bailed on Thick As Thieves after the MMC referred to the FMC’s dog, in all seriousness, as a “sissy” dog with a “sissy name”. That’s major red flag energy.
And I listened to the entirety of To Catch a Latte but the FMC’s girlish naïveté, despite assertions that she was a smart business owner, was annoying. And the overall arc made daytime soap operas seem rational by comparison.
Basically, I’d let the past (books) stay in the past.
* I received a free copy from the publisher
I bailed on Thick As Thieves after the MMC referred to the FMC’s dog, in all seriousness, as a “sissy” dog with a “sissy name”. That’s major red flag energy.
And I listened to the entirety of To Catch a Latte but the FMC’s girlish naïveté, despite assertions that she was a smart business owner, was annoying. And the overall arc made daytime soap operas seem rational by comparison.
Basically, I’d let the past (books) stay in the past.
* I received a free copy from the publisher
November 19, 2025
Two sweet storylines! McKinlay’s To Catch a Latte / Thick as Thieves might not be her most polished work, but it's absolutely packed with warmth and charm. The female leads are quirky, delightful, and both stories offer perfect settings for a romantic plot. The chemistry is playful and real, and I loved how the minor suspense keeps things lively without overwhelming the romance.
Yes, it’s concise, and the relationships move fast — but that adds to the fun rather than detracting from it, in my opinion. There were moments where I wished for a little more backstory on the characters, and the writing isn’t as refined as I think the author is capable of, but I think that only adds to its charm.
If you're in the mood for two cozy, sweet, and slightly mischievous romances — with enough mystery to keep you reading — this is totally worth your time.
This is my first encounter with Jenn McKinlay’s work and I look forward to reading more.
Yes, it’s concise, and the relationships move fast — but that adds to the fun rather than detracting from it, in my opinion. There were moments where I wished for a little more backstory on the characters, and the writing isn’t as refined as I think the author is capable of, but I think that only adds to its charm.
If you're in the mood for two cozy, sweet, and slightly mischievous romances — with enough mystery to keep you reading — this is totally worth your time.
This is my first encounter with Jenn McKinlay’s work and I look forward to reading more.
August 11, 2025
Jenn Mckinlay is one of my favorite authors, and this book is a testament to how much she has improved and grown as an author through the years. The stories were cute but nowhere near the stellar writing she produces now. If you are not familiar with her current work I highly recommend reading anything from the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries series. Jenn always has me laughing because, of course she does!!
September 10, 2025
Jenn McKinlay currently writes much better than how these two stories are written. These are her first published works, written for the Harlequin Duets line.
November 12, 2025
There are books you read and go, “Wow, this changed me.” Then there are books you read and go, “This was like eating two gas station donuts on a road trip at 2am... deeply unserious, slightly chaotic, but not unenjoyable if you’re in the mood.” To Catch a Latte / Thick as Thieves lives in that second camp, where logic checks out for the night and you're left road-tripping through romantic hijinks and FBI flirtation like it’s a deleted scene from a Hallmark crime special.
First up, To Catch a Latte. And yes, the title is aggressively punny. This one gave me big “FBI agent falls in love with the woman he’s secretly investigating but also maybe gaslighting just a teensy bit” energy. Annie runs a cute little coffee shop that allegedly is laundering money (because OF COURSE it is), and Fisher McCoy, the sexiest Fed to ever fake a lease agreement, moves in upstairs and basically just... never stops looming. Is it a little morally sketchy? Sure. Did I eat it up like a Costco sample? Also yes.
But here’s the thing... the romance moves so fast it gave me emotional whiplash. Like, I blinked and suddenly they’re married, feelings are flying, and we’ve solved a federal crime in between lattes and longing glances. Was it cozy? Kinda. Was it plausible? Absolutely not. Annie’s entire “I don’t do love because trauma” backstory is introduced, microwaved, and resolved in what feels like a commercial break. But hey, the banter sparkles and the side characters are giving full sitcom energy, so I wasn’t mad. Just dizzy.
Then comes Thick as Thieves, which honestly felt like someone handed The Proposal a Red Bull and told it to make out with National Treasure. Cat (chaotic, emotionally bruised, criminally bad at lying) has decided to yeet herself across the country for a fresh start, and her brother’s best friend Jared gets drafted into escort duty. They’ve got sexual tension, trust issues, and at least two mysterious strangers tailing them like the plot demanded it.
This one had more relationship depth, thank the trope gods. Jared and Cat’s chemistry builds in that enemies-to-“accidental motel bed-sharing” kind of way that had me yelling “JUST KISS ALREADY” like a deranged sports fan. There’s an actual arc here. Emotions. Growth. A scene where someone maybe risks it all for love and or mediocre diner coffee. It still wraps up wildly fast, but compared to the rom-com speedrun of the first story, this one felt like a whole emotional banquet.
And now. The real MVP? Daniela Acitelli. Listen. These stories are vintage McKinlay... cute, chaotic, and a little underbaked... but Daniela comes in like the audiobook fairy godmother and sprinkles charisma on everything. Her voice work for Fisher had me suspiciously smiling in traffic. Her Jared? Certified crush material. Was the female voice styling a little much at times? Yeah, maybe. But she gave these characters actual texture that probably wasn’t even on the page, and I genuinely think this format made the stories way more fun than they would've been in print.
So yeah. Three stars. It’s a beach read with crime vibes, a double scoop of “suspend your disbelief,” and the kind of energy where every man has a secret and every woman might impulsively fake a marriage before breakfast.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Suspect the Entire Café Was in on It While Still Rooting for the Latte Guy
Seriously, shoutout to Dreamscape for knowing I needed an FBI fake marriage and a road trip romance with probable felonies, and to NetGalley for enabling my chaos one ARC at a time. Daniela Acitelli’s narration gave these shenanigans just the right amount of charm, smirk, and “I know this plot is unhinged, just go with it” confidence. I did go with it. I regret nothing.
First up, To Catch a Latte. And yes, the title is aggressively punny. This one gave me big “FBI agent falls in love with the woman he’s secretly investigating but also maybe gaslighting just a teensy bit” energy. Annie runs a cute little coffee shop that allegedly is laundering money (because OF COURSE it is), and Fisher McCoy, the sexiest Fed to ever fake a lease agreement, moves in upstairs and basically just... never stops looming. Is it a little morally sketchy? Sure. Did I eat it up like a Costco sample? Also yes.
But here’s the thing... the romance moves so fast it gave me emotional whiplash. Like, I blinked and suddenly they’re married, feelings are flying, and we’ve solved a federal crime in between lattes and longing glances. Was it cozy? Kinda. Was it plausible? Absolutely not. Annie’s entire “I don’t do love because trauma” backstory is introduced, microwaved, and resolved in what feels like a commercial break. But hey, the banter sparkles and the side characters are giving full sitcom energy, so I wasn’t mad. Just dizzy.
Then comes Thick as Thieves, which honestly felt like someone handed The Proposal a Red Bull and told it to make out with National Treasure. Cat (chaotic, emotionally bruised, criminally bad at lying) has decided to yeet herself across the country for a fresh start, and her brother’s best friend Jared gets drafted into escort duty. They’ve got sexual tension, trust issues, and at least two mysterious strangers tailing them like the plot demanded it.
This one had more relationship depth, thank the trope gods. Jared and Cat’s chemistry builds in that enemies-to-“accidental motel bed-sharing” kind of way that had me yelling “JUST KISS ALREADY” like a deranged sports fan. There’s an actual arc here. Emotions. Growth. A scene where someone maybe risks it all for love and or mediocre diner coffee. It still wraps up wildly fast, but compared to the rom-com speedrun of the first story, this one felt like a whole emotional banquet.
And now. The real MVP? Daniela Acitelli. Listen. These stories are vintage McKinlay... cute, chaotic, and a little underbaked... but Daniela comes in like the audiobook fairy godmother and sprinkles charisma on everything. Her voice work for Fisher had me suspiciously smiling in traffic. Her Jared? Certified crush material. Was the female voice styling a little much at times? Yeah, maybe. But she gave these characters actual texture that probably wasn’t even on the page, and I genuinely think this format made the stories way more fun than they would've been in print.
So yeah. Three stars. It’s a beach read with crime vibes, a double scoop of “suspend your disbelief,” and the kind of energy where every man has a secret and every woman might impulsively fake a marriage before breakfast.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Suspect the Entire Café Was in on It While Still Rooting for the Latte Guy
Seriously, shoutout to Dreamscape for knowing I needed an FBI fake marriage and a road trip romance with probable felonies, and to NetGalley for enabling my chaos one ARC at a time. Daniela Acitelli’s narration gave these shenanigans just the right amount of charm, smirk, and “I know this plot is unhinged, just go with it” confidence. I did go with it. I regret nothing.
November 19, 2025
☕☕☕☕To Catch a Latte
Gut rating: ⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Originally published as a short story in 2002, To Catch a Latte has been re-released as an audiobook on November 4th 2025.
Tropes:
- instalust
- forbidden FBI and suspect romance
- possessive MMC
- grumpy sunshine romance
- "good girl"
- dual POV
- marriage of convenience
Quote: Marriage must be a disease. Once a person has suffered the disorder, they aren't happy until everyone else has it too.
Synopsis: When fiery cafe owner Annie Talbot needs a wedding date to prove to her ex she can't be tied down in a marriage, Annie is delighted when her ruggedly handsome tenant Fisher McCoy readily agrees. Unbeknownst to Annie, Fisher is an undercover FBI agent tasked with infiltrating Annie's life to investigate a money laundering ring run through her cafe. As the situation (and sparks) intensify, Fisher questions if he can keep his heart out of the job, and Annie wonders what she ever had against marriage after all.
Book review: Despite the new modern cover and audiobook narration, this book should have been left in 2002. The story is heavily misogynistic, with Fisher spending most of the plot trying to convince Annie that marriage is a vital part of love. The writing and plot were rough, with so many jarring elements as well as unlikely situations and decisions such as bringing a pet bird into a sting operation that added no depth or interest to the story.
Instalust featured heavily with no real substance to the relationship. Fisher was immediately and unnecessarily possessive of Annie, plus everything the FMC and MMC did was constantly sexualised. Despite the lust, the spicy scenes were dry and written like a Mills and Boons book.
Narrator review:
The narrator wasn't the right choice for this book, as she read like it was a bedtime story, plus she didn't change her pitch or tone for the different characters so it was difficult to follow conversations.
🏜️🏜️🏜️🏜️Thick as Thieves
Gut rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Publication date: Originally published as a short story in 2003, Thick as Thieves has been re-released as an audiobook.
Tropes:
- instalust and instalove
- brother's best friend
- forced proximity
- grumpy vs sunshine romance
Quote: "I want to be steamrolled. I want to be squashed flat by you."
Synopsis: Running away from her sheltered life and the fiancee who cheated on her, 26yo Cat Levery sets off on a roadtrip to Arizona and a new teaching position there with her poodle Lucy and an unexpected roadtrip buddy - her brother's sexy friend Jared McLean who just happens to need a lift to Arizona too. With Cat's perfect timeline and Jared's spontaneous vibes, plus sparks flying between them, can they make it to Arizona in one piece? And what's with this strange couple they keep running into?
Book review: This was a much better book than the first in this collection, with less misogyny and a more balanced relationship, although still cheesy and predictable. The setup was great, with the road trip meaning forced proximity and the brother's sister/friend situation making this a will-they-won't-they romance. I liked the plot twist that made the story more dangerous and gave it a purpose other than driving and romance, although the book dragged on and on at the end missing many opportunities to wrap this plot twist up. The spice was very dated and what I imagine Mills and Boons is like.
Narrator review: One female narrator with a breathy emotional tone. She used only one voice throughout the book including for the male characters which was disappointing.
Gut rating: ⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Originally published as a short story in 2002, To Catch a Latte has been re-released as an audiobook on November 4th 2025.
Tropes:
- instalust
- forbidden FBI and suspect romance
- possessive MMC
- grumpy sunshine romance
- "good girl"
- dual POV
- marriage of convenience
Quote: Marriage must be a disease. Once a person has suffered the disorder, they aren't happy until everyone else has it too.
Synopsis: When fiery cafe owner Annie Talbot needs a wedding date to prove to her ex she can't be tied down in a marriage, Annie is delighted when her ruggedly handsome tenant Fisher McCoy readily agrees. Unbeknownst to Annie, Fisher is an undercover FBI agent tasked with infiltrating Annie's life to investigate a money laundering ring run through her cafe. As the situation (and sparks) intensify, Fisher questions if he can keep his heart out of the job, and Annie wonders what she ever had against marriage after all.
Book review: Despite the new modern cover and audiobook narration, this book should have been left in 2002. The story is heavily misogynistic, with Fisher spending most of the plot trying to convince Annie that marriage is a vital part of love. The writing and plot were rough, with so many jarring elements as well as unlikely situations and decisions such as bringing a pet bird into a sting operation that added no depth or interest to the story.
Instalust featured heavily with no real substance to the relationship. Fisher was immediately and unnecessarily possessive of Annie, plus everything the FMC and MMC did was constantly sexualised. Despite the lust, the spicy scenes were dry and written like a Mills and Boons book.
Narrator review:
The narrator wasn't the right choice for this book, as she read like it was a bedtime story, plus she didn't change her pitch or tone for the different characters so it was difficult to follow conversations.
🏜️🏜️🏜️🏜️Thick as Thieves
Gut rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Publication date: Originally published as a short story in 2003, Thick as Thieves has been re-released as an audiobook.
Tropes:
- instalust and instalove
- brother's best friend
- forced proximity
- grumpy vs sunshine romance
Quote: "I want to be steamrolled. I want to be squashed flat by you."
Synopsis: Running away from her sheltered life and the fiancee who cheated on her, 26yo Cat Levery sets off on a roadtrip to Arizona and a new teaching position there with her poodle Lucy and an unexpected roadtrip buddy - her brother's sexy friend Jared McLean who just happens to need a lift to Arizona too. With Cat's perfect timeline and Jared's spontaneous vibes, plus sparks flying between them, can they make it to Arizona in one piece? And what's with this strange couple they keep running into?
Book review: This was a much better book than the first in this collection, with less misogyny and a more balanced relationship, although still cheesy and predictable. The setup was great, with the road trip meaning forced proximity and the brother's sister/friend situation making this a will-they-won't-they romance. I liked the plot twist that made the story more dangerous and gave it a purpose other than driving and romance, although the book dragged on and on at the end missing many opportunities to wrap this plot twist up. The spice was very dated and what I imagine Mills and Boons is like.
Narrator review: One female narrator with a breathy emotional tone. She used only one voice throughout the book including for the male characters which was disappointing.
November 19, 2025
Two Spicy Romance Novellas With Crime Subplots That Leave You Wanting
This audiobook contains two of Jenn McKinlay's novellas: To Catch a Latte and Thick as Thieves. It clocks in at about 11 hours and is narrated by Daniella Acitelli.
To Catch a Latte
Annie Talbot, owner of an independent café in Phoenix, Arizona, is happy to sublet an apartment above the premises to Fisher McCoy and his pet bird. What she doesn't know, however, is that handsome Fisher hasn't chosen his landlady by accident. He is an FBI agent investigating her for money laundering..
I went for this audiobook because this plot sounded cool. Sadly it really failed to deliver. The language is cringey and occasionally homophobic, Fisher's behaviour is so unprofessional and the plot so so contrived it made me want to stop listening several times. The title isn't great, and the plot points are very haphazardly cobbled together. It feels like the author just took some staple tropes and did not even blend them before lining them up for this novella. I do not kid - there is even a fake marriage plot, stress sex and an investigation that objectively makes zero sense.. Of course there's HEA, even for marriage-phobic Annie, but for me, the only thing saving this novella was Daniella Acitelli's narration. She really made the best of the material (though I am not a fan of the accent). Trigger warning: gambling.
Thick as Thieves
Cat, single, 26, decides to make a cross-country roadtrip from New England to Arizona before starting as an exchange teacher for a year. Having broken up with her fiancé Matthew for cheating on her with his accountant, some time alone on the road with her puppy sounds just about perfect. Her brother Cameron, however, has other plans and makes sure his buddy Jared joins her on the long journey southwest. On the way, they encounter an eccentric couple on their way to Florida. Weird that they seem to be following them to Phoenix..
This was not my thing from the start. The men make all the decisions, there is a good amount of homophobic language and behaviour, women are only as worthy as their wifeliness and honestly.. the crime plot was so much better and deserved so much more space on the page. I think both novellas could have used some beta reading or second edits before republication, since there was a lot that the modern reader is alienated by and a lot on a line level that could have been improved upon. The romance plot is not good enough to be the main plot, especially since despite the characters protestations, everything is clear from the outset. Here, too, Daniella Acitelli gives it her all and her narration made the thing bearable.
Overall, I have to say that this borders on traditional misogynistic romance - the sex scenes exempt - and if you are looking for a romantic mystery or thriller, Jenn McKinlay's later works might be more your cup of tea.
Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC.
This audiobook contains two of Jenn McKinlay's novellas: To Catch a Latte and Thick as Thieves. It clocks in at about 11 hours and is narrated by Daniella Acitelli.
To Catch a Latte
Annie Talbot, owner of an independent café in Phoenix, Arizona, is happy to sublet an apartment above the premises to Fisher McCoy and his pet bird. What she doesn't know, however, is that handsome Fisher hasn't chosen his landlady by accident. He is an FBI agent investigating her for money laundering..
I went for this audiobook because this plot sounded cool. Sadly it really failed to deliver. The language is cringey and occasionally homophobic, Fisher's behaviour is so unprofessional and the plot so so contrived it made me want to stop listening several times. The title isn't great, and the plot points are very haphazardly cobbled together. It feels like the author just took some staple tropes and did not even blend them before lining them up for this novella. I do not kid - there is even a fake marriage plot, stress sex and an investigation that objectively makes zero sense.. Of course there's HEA, even for marriage-phobic Annie, but for me, the only thing saving this novella was Daniella Acitelli's narration. She really made the best of the material (though I am not a fan of the accent). Trigger warning: gambling.
Thick as Thieves
Cat, single, 26, decides to make a cross-country roadtrip from New England to Arizona before starting as an exchange teacher for a year. Having broken up with her fiancé Matthew for cheating on her with his accountant, some time alone on the road with her puppy sounds just about perfect. Her brother Cameron, however, has other plans and makes sure his buddy Jared joins her on the long journey southwest. On the way, they encounter an eccentric couple on their way to Florida. Weird that they seem to be following them to Phoenix..
This was not my thing from the start. The men make all the decisions, there is a good amount of homophobic language and behaviour, women are only as worthy as their wifeliness and honestly.. the crime plot was so much better and deserved so much more space on the page. I think both novellas could have used some beta reading or second edits before republication, since there was a lot that the modern reader is alienated by and a lot on a line level that could have been improved upon. The romance plot is not good enough to be the main plot, especially since despite the characters protestations, everything is clear from the outset. Here, too, Daniella Acitelli gives it her all and her narration made the thing bearable.
Overall, I have to say that this borders on traditional misogynistic romance - the sex scenes exempt - and if you are looking for a romantic mystery or thriller, Jenn McKinlay's later works might be more your cup of tea.
Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC.
November 23, 2025
In all fairness, when I requested Jenn McKinlay’s dual book from NetGalley, my reasoning for doing so was because Thick as Thieves sounded right up my alley, not because I had any real or genuine interest in To Catch a Latte. And it seems, unfortunately, that the book itself was not good enough to really engage me in caring about any of the characters in this book. Honestly, it was pretty dull from the start and it just sort of got worse as it went along.
The characters felt flat, I didn’t buy the love for a second, and then there’s the absolute unrealistic nature not only to the investigation itself, but to how they resolved the whole mystery of who was using her cafe as a front for a money laundering scheme. And oh my fucking word, if I have to ever hear the “endearment” of “Annie-girl” and how much Annie reminds him of a child one more damn time, I will quite literally vomit.
As for Thick as Thieves, the book was marginally better. Unfortunately, I’ve come to the ultimate conclusion that I don’t care too much for Jenn McKinlay’s characters. On the bright side, however, at least I didn’t have to sit through absolutely ridiculous and unrealistic schemes for how to catch the bad guy in this one, since it was road trip fall in love with off limits sister of best friend and some sketchy people who decide to follow them. So, the plot, at least, was marginally better?
The characters, though, had many similar problems. Cat is treated as wholly incompetent for the horrific crime of simply being a woman, her entire arc involves struggling to not be distracted by beautiful abs, and though the tropes that pulled me into wanting to read this are very much present and, at times, fun...it doesn't change how misogynistic the writing is. I mean, this asshole keeps saying her dog is a “sissy dog” and has a “sissy name," as if a poodle named Lucy is the worst dog to ever dog.
I just...as much as I wanted to enjoy these stories, I'm well past the point in my life where I can forgive overt misogyny in lead characters.
The narration wasn't bad, but it didn't do the work any favors, either.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The characters felt flat, I didn’t buy the love for a second, and then there’s the absolute unrealistic nature not only to the investigation itself, but to how they resolved the whole mystery of who was using her cafe as a front for a money laundering scheme. And oh my fucking word, if I have to ever hear the “endearment” of “Annie-girl” and how much Annie reminds him of a child one more damn time, I will quite literally vomit.
As for Thick as Thieves, the book was marginally better. Unfortunately, I’ve come to the ultimate conclusion that I don’t care too much for Jenn McKinlay’s characters. On the bright side, however, at least I didn’t have to sit through absolutely ridiculous and unrealistic schemes for how to catch the bad guy in this one, since it was road trip fall in love with off limits sister of best friend and some sketchy people who decide to follow them. So, the plot, at least, was marginally better?
The characters, though, had many similar problems. Cat is treated as wholly incompetent for the horrific crime of simply being a woman, her entire arc involves struggling to not be distracted by beautiful abs, and though the tropes that pulled me into wanting to read this are very much present and, at times, fun...it doesn't change how misogynistic the writing is. I mean, this asshole keeps saying her dog is a “sissy dog” and has a “sissy name," as if a poodle named Lucy is the worst dog to ever dog.
I just...as much as I wanted to enjoy these stories, I'm well past the point in my life where I can forgive overt misogyny in lead characters.
The narration wasn't bad, but it didn't do the work any favors, either.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2025
Confession: I went in for the caffeine-and-kisses formula—small town charm, silly banter, two mysteries promised with baked goods and blind dates. But somewhere between Annie’s “endless swooning” and Cat’s “deer-in-headlights” moments, the magic fizzled out. For every chuckle at a ridiculous one-liner, there was a groan when Annie couldn’t seem to solve her own problems without waiting for her FBI hottie to flex a muscle. The romance isn’t shy, but the characters fall into tropes a little too easily: the capable man, the helpless woman, the steam building with every latte but not enough spark to keep me pouring another cup.
The humor and suspense promised in the blurbs never quite landed for me. While McKinlay’s writing is breezy and easy to follow, I struggled to stay invested in the romantic dynamics or the mystery plots. The characters didn’t feel capable or relatable enough to carry the story on their own, which made the experience feel shallow.
The comedy setups were cute on paper. But when every plot twist hinges on a heroine fanning herself instead of firing up her brain, the cute curdles. Daniela Acitelli’s narration is smooth and perky; she’s not the problem. The problem is the 1950s gender playbook masquerading as modern rom-com. I bailed at the four-hour mark still waiting for a single latte that didn’t come with a side of damsel.
Would I recommend it?
Only if you adore heroines who measure independence in how long they can stare at abs before needing rescue. For readers craving cozy mystery with actual agency, keep scrolling.
My Two Cents (DNF Thoughts)
Sometimes a book isn’t a match, and that’s okay! These titles are charming in concept but fell flat for my personal taste. What do you do when the premise is fun but the execution just doesn’t click?
The humor and suspense promised in the blurbs never quite landed for me. While McKinlay’s writing is breezy and easy to follow, I struggled to stay invested in the romantic dynamics or the mystery plots. The characters didn’t feel capable or relatable enough to carry the story on their own, which made the experience feel shallow.
The comedy setups were cute on paper. But when every plot twist hinges on a heroine fanning herself instead of firing up her brain, the cute curdles. Daniela Acitelli’s narration is smooth and perky; she’s not the problem. The problem is the 1950s gender playbook masquerading as modern rom-com. I bailed at the four-hour mark still waiting for a single latte that didn’t come with a side of damsel.
Would I recommend it?
Only if you adore heroines who measure independence in how long they can stare at abs before needing rescue. For readers craving cozy mystery with actual agency, keep scrolling.
My Two Cents (DNF Thoughts)
Sometimes a book isn’t a match, and that’s okay! These titles are charming in concept but fell flat for my personal taste. What do you do when the premise is fun but the execution just doesn’t click?
November 17, 2025
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing the audiobook of „To Catch a Latte Thick as Thieves“ in exchange for an honest review!
I want to start off by saying, that the premise of the book was very interesting! The author combined romance with a little bit of mystery and suspense and put two novellas in one book, so it is a two in one. One of the MMCs is an FBI agent and the other story involves involuntary participation in a heist!
However, it sadly did not entirely work for me. I simply did not vibe with the insta-love. In both stories, the characters fall deeply in love within 1-2 weeks which simply is too fast for my taste, especially considering they marry each other too (at which point they have known each other less than a month!!). I understand that it is difficult to create a deep connection between two characters in around 175 pages per story but I think this issue could have been avoided if the stories would have been friends to lovers instead of strangers to lovers.
Regarding the narration: When I started the audiobook I found the narration a little monotonous. However, I listen to most audiobooks of 2x speed and after speeding up this audio, I noticed the monotony less and it did not bother me all too much. I reckon the monotony is owed to the fact that narrators are supposed to read slowly.
I want to finish by saying that this was not a bad book and I did find the storyline and characters amusing. The audience for this book is people who don’t mind insta-love and simply look for entertaining, light-hearted romance stories with a little bit of mystery. I would recommend listening to a sample to figure out if the narration works for you!
2.5 stars rounded up to 3
However, it sadly did not entirely work for me. I simply did not vibe with the insta-love. In both stories, the characters fall deeply in love within 1-2 weeks which simply is too fast for my taste, especially considering they marry each other too (at which point they have known each other less than a month!!). I understand that it is difficult to create a deep connection between two characters in around 175 pages per story but I think this issue could have been avoided if the stories would have been friends to lovers instead of strangers to lovers.
Regarding the narration: When I started the audiobook I found the narration a little monotonous. However, I listen to most audiobooks of 2x speed and after speeding up this audio, I noticed the monotony less and it did not bother me all too much. I reckon the monotony is owed to the fact that narrators are supposed to read slowly.
I want to finish by saying that this was not a bad book and I did find the storyline and characters amusing. The audience for this book is people who don’t mind insta-love and simply look for entertaining, light-hearted romance stories with a little bit of mystery. I would recommend listening to a sample to figure out if the narration works for you!
2.5 stars rounded up to 3
November 25, 2025
In To Catch a Latte FBI agent Fisher McCoy is investigating Annie Talbot for a money laundering scheme, but Annie has no idea what is going on with the money. To help Fisher catch the true mastermind, they pair up, but when that leads to a fake marriage Annie isn’t sure she can go through with it. She’s marriage-phobic and even though she’s quickly falling for Fisher the thought of marriage still scares her. Will she be able to do what needs to be done to help catch the criminal?
This story was quick and well paced, but I couldn’t get into it. I didn’t really like either of the characters and there was too much chauvinism for me. The mystery was interesting and the plot moved fast. It was an okay read that wasn’t really for me.
In Thick as Thieves Cat is moving across the country for her job and her brother insists that Jared go with her because he has the same destination. Reluctantly Cat agrees, and it isn’t long before she’s falling for her brother’s friend. Along the way they end up mixed up in a mystery, but as sparks fly they forget all about the thieves who might be tailing them.
I enjoyed this book better than the first, but there was still a lot of chauvinism for me. The chemistry between Cat and Jared was nice and I did like seeing their stories unfold. This was another quick story and easy to get through. Overall these stories were just okay and didn’t connect for me like I hoped. I’ve read a lot of Jenn McKinlay mysteries and really enjoy the series but both of these books don’t land for me.
This story was quick and well paced, but I couldn’t get into it. I didn’t really like either of the characters and there was too much chauvinism for me. The mystery was interesting and the plot moved fast. It was an okay read that wasn’t really for me.
In Thick as Thieves Cat is moving across the country for her job and her brother insists that Jared go with her because he has the same destination. Reluctantly Cat agrees, and it isn’t long before she’s falling for her brother’s friend. Along the way they end up mixed up in a mystery, but as sparks fly they forget all about the thieves who might be tailing them.
I enjoyed this book better than the first, but there was still a lot of chauvinism for me. The chemistry between Cat and Jared was nice and I did like seeing their stories unfold. This was another quick story and easy to get through. Overall these stories were just okay and didn’t connect for me like I hoped. I’ve read a lot of Jenn McKinlay mysteries and really enjoy the series but both of these books don’t land for me.
November 27, 2025
This dual-novella collection is pure comfort reading, delivering two perfect doses of Jenn McKinlay's signature charm. The first story, To Catch a Latte, is a delightful romp that serves up a perfect "meet-cute" amidst the cozy, chaotic backdrop of a coffee shop. It's witty, warm, and hits all the right notes for a quick, satisfying romantic comedy. The second, Thick as Thieves, pivots to a heartwarming second-chance or friends-to-lovers trope, focusing on the chaos of moving and the deep comfort of long-standing connection. The Lit Whisperer's analysis confirms that the genius of this collection lies in its pacing—it offers two distinct and equally charming perspectives on finding love when you least expect it. It's light, bingeable, and leaves you feeling completely cheerful.
The Audio Experience 🎧
The narrator handles the shift in tone between the two novellas beautifully. The voices perfectly capture the slightly nervous, witty energy of the coffee shop setting in To Catch a Latte and the relaxed, cozy familiarity of the couple in Thick as Thieves. The pacing is excellent, making this the ideal companion for a long commute or a cozy afternoon of chores. The audio version successfully elevates the humor and emotion, making the dialogue pop. If you're a fan of audiobooks that feel like a warm hug, this is the format to choose.
Thanks Netgalley for this eArc! Check out all my reviews @TheLitWhisperer
This is a review of the audiobook.
The Audio Experience 🎧
The narrator handles the shift in tone between the two novellas beautifully. The voices perfectly capture the slightly nervous, witty energy of the coffee shop setting in To Catch a Latte and the relaxed, cozy familiarity of the couple in Thick as Thieves. The pacing is excellent, making this the ideal companion for a long commute or a cozy afternoon of chores. The audio version successfully elevates the humor and emotion, making the dialogue pop. If you're a fan of audiobooks that feel like a warm hug, this is the format to choose.
Thanks Netgalley for this eArc! Check out all my reviews @TheLitWhisperer
This is a review of the audiobook.
December 9, 2025
I listened to these 2 novellas expecting 2 cute litlle romances. We got romances, but not ones I liked unfortunately.
Both stories had something happen I didn't like and were overall cringe in my opinion.
To Catch a Latte started of cute and funny, but turned into cringe towards the middle and completely insane towards the. He forced her to do something she didn't want to do just for the sake of saving her shop. I get that, But what she had to do was completely insane and could be fabricated so she didn't have to do it for real. And he saw it made her uncomfortable and did absolutely nothing. Nope sorry, I was out for that romance after that.
Thick as Thieves was a bit cringe from the beginning and so predictable. I liked it less than the first one. But after a few days in a car they love each other? That was so insta love that it wasn't even believable. And she was a grown woman behaving like a 13 year old.
Sorry, I did not like these. Thick as thieves has a trope I don't like, but I was supposed to like the first one and just didn't.
3⭐️ audio
The narrator did a good job. It was entertaining to listen to. Sometimes it was hard to hear from what perspective she was reading and we had to listen to the context know. It could have been better with dual narration.
Thank you to Neygalley and Dreamscape media for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook early in return for an honest review.
My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Both stories had something happen I didn't like and were overall cringe in my opinion.
To Catch a Latte started of cute and funny, but turned into cringe towards the middle and completely insane towards the. He forced her to do something she didn't want to do just for the sake of saving her shop. I get that, But what she had to do was completely insane and could be fabricated so she didn't have to do it for real. And he saw it made her uncomfortable and did absolutely nothing. Nope sorry, I was out for that romance after that.
Thick as Thieves was a bit cringe from the beginning and so predictable. I liked it less than the first one. But after a few days in a car they love each other? That was so insta love that it wasn't even believable. And she was a grown woman behaving like a 13 year old.
Sorry, I did not like these. Thick as thieves has a trope I don't like, but I was supposed to like the first one and just didn't.
3⭐️ audio
The narrator did a good job. It was entertaining to listen to. Sometimes it was hard to hear from what perspective she was reading and we had to listen to the context know. It could have been better with dual narration.
Thank you to Neygalley and Dreamscape media for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook early in return for an honest review.
My thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 14, 2025
I was provided an audio book version free for librarian review.
The characters in the two books were well developed in their physical descriptions and rich surroundings which drew me into the stories, however their personalities and an explanation of their drive/perspectives was lacking. The speed and pacing felt appropriate to the work and kept me engaged. I finished the books over two days and enjoyed the romance. My critiques surround the character development for the female characters. Both women in the two novels felt to me under-developed and came across as ill-equipped to handle life. I am familiar with the damsel in distress narrative but in these works I feel the women were one-dimensional and served a singular purpose of garnering male attention and protection. At times their thoughts and actions were adverse to one another which felt inauthentic in my opinion. In To Catch A Latte Annie may be the worst business owner, she leaves her financial information available for literally anyone to access?! I enjoyed these books as a fun listen and I would recommend them to others with the caution to avoid taking the female characters seriously. The stories were rushed when it came to relationship development and the timeline for "falling deeply in love" felt awkward and mismatched with the female characters internal dialogue. These books are fun easy listens.
The characters in the two books were well developed in their physical descriptions and rich surroundings which drew me into the stories, however their personalities and an explanation of their drive/perspectives was lacking. The speed and pacing felt appropriate to the work and kept me engaged. I finished the books over two days and enjoyed the romance. My critiques surround the character development for the female characters. Both women in the two novels felt to me under-developed and came across as ill-equipped to handle life. I am familiar with the damsel in distress narrative but in these works I feel the women were one-dimensional and served a singular purpose of garnering male attention and protection. At times their thoughts and actions were adverse to one another which felt inauthentic in my opinion. In To Catch A Latte Annie may be the worst business owner, she leaves her financial information available for literally anyone to access?! I enjoyed these books as a fun listen and I would recommend them to others with the caution to avoid taking the female characters seriously. The stories were rushed when it came to relationship development and the timeline for "falling deeply in love" felt awkward and mismatched with the female characters internal dialogue. These books are fun easy listens.
November 19, 2025
To Catch a Latte
by Jenn McKinlay
narrated by Daniela Acitelli
***Five Stars***
A Romantic Comedy Mystery and I loved it! Poor Annie is so naive and doesn't even know she is being taken advantage of. That is until Special Agent Fisher McCoy enters her life. Only she doesn't even know he is a Special Agent, just that he works for the government and is looking for an apartment to rent.
Annie and Fisher are so cute and Daniela does a great job at narration.
#ToCatchALatte #JennMcKinlayAuthor
#DanielaAcitelliNarrator #HeFallsFirst
#MarriageOfConvenience #CozyMystery
#CozyRomanticMystery #LasVegasWedding
Thick as Thieves
by Jenn McKinlay
narrated by Dainela Acitelli
***Five Stars***
You can definitely fall in love on a cross country trip, and maybe even pick up the attention of a couple thieves along the way. Cat's brother thinks she's a walking target and so he tricks her into giving his "poor broke" friend a ride back to his place. A place that just so happens to be on the other side of the country where she is headed. Their road trip is everything you'd want an adventure to be!
Daniela nailed this narration too!
#ThickAsThieves #JennMcKinlayAuthor
#DanielaAcitelliNarrator #HeFallsFirst
#CrossCountryRoadTrip #CozyMystery
#CozyRomanticMystery
by Jenn McKinlay
narrated by Daniela Acitelli
***Five Stars***
A Romantic Comedy Mystery and I loved it! Poor Annie is so naive and doesn't even know she is being taken advantage of. That is until Special Agent Fisher McCoy enters her life. Only she doesn't even know he is a Special Agent, just that he works for the government and is looking for an apartment to rent.
Annie and Fisher are so cute and Daniela does a great job at narration.
#ToCatchALatte #JennMcKinlayAuthor
#DanielaAcitelliNarrator #HeFallsFirst
#MarriageOfConvenience #CozyMystery
#CozyRomanticMystery #LasVegasWedding
Thick as Thieves
by Jenn McKinlay
narrated by Dainela Acitelli
***Five Stars***
You can definitely fall in love on a cross country trip, and maybe even pick up the attention of a couple thieves along the way. Cat's brother thinks she's a walking target and so he tricks her into giving his "poor broke" friend a ride back to his place. A place that just so happens to be on the other side of the country where she is headed. Their road trip is everything you'd want an adventure to be!
Daniela nailed this narration too!
#ThickAsThieves #JennMcKinlayAuthor
#DanielaAcitelliNarrator #HeFallsFirst
#CrossCountryRoadTrip #CozyMystery
#CozyRomanticMystery
November 21, 2025
I really wanted To Catch a Latte / Thick as Thieves to sweep me off my feet with frothy charm and rom-com chaos, but instead it felt like being served two half-finished lattes when I was hoping for one perfectly blended drink.
This two-in-one setup could have been delightful. Two novellas! Two romances! Two chances for sparks! But both stories felt more like brief sketches than actual love stories. To Catch a Latte tries for quirky café hijinks meets FBI drama, but the plot wobbles around like a foam heart drawn by a barista in a hurry. I never found my footing in the story or its stakes.
Thick as Thieves starts with a promising road-trip premise and a friends-to-lovers setup that could have been adorable, but it rushes from scene to scene without letting the chemistry simmer. Just when things start to get interesting—poof, the story wraps up like someone hit “skip to ending.”
I listened to the audiobook, and while Daniela Acitelli has a pleasant voice, the performance didn’t quite match the lighthearted tone the stories were reaching for. Moments meant to be swoony or snappy often ended up feeling slightly off-beat.
In the end, both novellas left me wishing for more depth, more connection, and more time for the romances to grow into themselves. A whimsical concept that never fully brewed.
This two-in-one setup could have been delightful. Two novellas! Two romances! Two chances for sparks! But both stories felt more like brief sketches than actual love stories. To Catch a Latte tries for quirky café hijinks meets FBI drama, but the plot wobbles around like a foam heart drawn by a barista in a hurry. I never found my footing in the story or its stakes.
Thick as Thieves starts with a promising road-trip premise and a friends-to-lovers setup that could have been adorable, but it rushes from scene to scene without letting the chemistry simmer. Just when things start to get interesting—poof, the story wraps up like someone hit “skip to ending.”
I listened to the audiobook, and while Daniela Acitelli has a pleasant voice, the performance didn’t quite match the lighthearted tone the stories were reaching for. Moments meant to be swoony or snappy often ended up feeling slightly off-beat.
In the end, both novellas left me wishing for more depth, more connection, and more time for the romances to grow into themselves. A whimsical concept that never fully brewed.
November 24, 2025
I absolutely adore this author. Was very excited to listen to two new short stories. Both stories seem very dated. Verbiage, references and antiquated views, especially in Thick as Thieves.
To Catch a Latte is about Annie, who never ever wants to get married and makes it abundantly clear to any and everyone in her orbit. When she’s in need of a date for a wedding where doesn’t want to deal with one more “poor Annie” comment, she asks her new, incredibly attractive tenant to be her fake date. Little does she know he is an FBI agent sent to investigate her. As he continues to investigate, he becomes more and more attracted to her and its exactly what is not supposed to happen with a suspect. Of course things work out and they wind up with their own HEA. Def not my favorite by this author.
Thick as Thieves. I didn’t particularly enjoy this listen. Cat is moving across the country. She is an adult who is being infantilized and it's just ugh. Her brother lies to her and has his BFF pretend he needs a cross country ride to watch over her. What year are we in? Of course after some back and forth, some internal mental gymnastics, they get out of their own ways and find their HEA, but by then, I was just glad I was done. Feels like this was written many years ago or by a different author.
To Catch a Latte is about Annie, who never ever wants to get married and makes it abundantly clear to any and everyone in her orbit. When she’s in need of a date for a wedding where doesn’t want to deal with one more “poor Annie” comment, she asks her new, incredibly attractive tenant to be her fake date. Little does she know he is an FBI agent sent to investigate her. As he continues to investigate, he becomes more and more attracted to her and its exactly what is not supposed to happen with a suspect. Of course things work out and they wind up with their own HEA. Def not my favorite by this author.
Thick as Thieves. I didn’t particularly enjoy this listen. Cat is moving across the country. She is an adult who is being infantilized and it's just ugh. Her brother lies to her and has his BFF pretend he needs a cross country ride to watch over her. What year are we in? Of course after some back and forth, some internal mental gymnastics, they get out of their own ways and find their HEA, but by then, I was just glad I was done. Feels like this was written many years ago or by a different author.
November 11, 2025
If you like a little mystery with your romance, this 2 for 1 book is for you. Two independent stories, which both give the romantic feel goods while venture through a little thrill of crime solving.
I enjoyed To Catch a Latte with undercover Fisher on assignment in Annie's cafe. They both have family history which has molded their thoughts on relationships. It had quirky humor and spark of attraction, and the side characters round out the story well. A fake marriage with real feelings while following a money laundering scheme. Once the crime is solved, it leads to a sweet HEA.
Thick as Thieves is a cute cross county heist. Cat is moving away from the city her family and ex live in to make a go on her own. Cat's brother enlists his best friend, Jared, to accompany her on her cross country journey. As their forced proximity works to bring feelings to light, they have a sense a couple they keep running into is a little eerie.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an advanced read of this e-book. Thank you to the narrator as audio can really transform for readers. I personally thought the narrator was good for the male lead, but I wasn't a fan of the female voice.
I enjoyed To Catch a Latte with undercover Fisher on assignment in Annie's cafe. They both have family history which has molded their thoughts on relationships. It had quirky humor and spark of attraction, and the side characters round out the story well. A fake marriage with real feelings while following a money laundering scheme. Once the crime is solved, it leads to a sweet HEA.
Thick as Thieves is a cute cross county heist. Cat is moving away from the city her family and ex live in to make a go on her own. Cat's brother enlists his best friend, Jared, to accompany her on her cross country journey. As their forced proximity works to bring feelings to light, they have a sense a couple they keep running into is a little eerie.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an advanced read of this e-book. Thank you to the narrator as audio can really transform for readers. I personally thought the narrator was good for the male lead, but I wasn't a fan of the female voice.
November 19, 2025
These rom coms from Jenn McKinlay were cute but not my favorite works of hers. Two different troupes came together well.
TO CATCH A LATTE is a mystery romantic comedy mashup full of laughs, heart, and suspense. Stop that espresso! Annie Talbot's coffeepot has been turned upside down when her cafe is declared a front for a money laundering scheme and the FBI suspects she is the mastermind. So now her sexy new tenant, Special Agent Fisher McCoy, is sifting through her coffee grounds looking for the real culprit while trying to keep his hands off the delightful Annie. Marriage-phobic Annie is doing her best to ignore FBI hottie Fisher, but he is so distracting, her lattes are steaming over and she's thinking crazy thoughts like marriage and happily ever after.
THICK AS THIEVES is a cross country rom-com caper. Some laws are meant to be broken! If Jared McLean had known what doing a favor for his buddy would mean, he would never have agreed. Who wants to break the number one best-friend law--no falling for your friend's sister? But driving across the country with the scattered and far too tempting Cat Levery makes Jared forget all about best friends! And their steamy kisses make him forget all about the thieves who seem to be tailing them...
TO CATCH A LATTE is a mystery romantic comedy mashup full of laughs, heart, and suspense. Stop that espresso! Annie Talbot's coffeepot has been turned upside down when her cafe is declared a front for a money laundering scheme and the FBI suspects she is the mastermind. So now her sexy new tenant, Special Agent Fisher McCoy, is sifting through her coffee grounds looking for the real culprit while trying to keep his hands off the delightful Annie. Marriage-phobic Annie is doing her best to ignore FBI hottie Fisher, but he is so distracting, her lattes are steaming over and she's thinking crazy thoughts like marriage and happily ever after.
THICK AS THIEVES is a cross country rom-com caper. Some laws are meant to be broken! If Jared McLean had known what doing a favor for his buddy would mean, he would never have agreed. Who wants to break the number one best-friend law--no falling for your friend's sister? But driving across the country with the scattered and far too tempting Cat Levery makes Jared forget all about best friends! And their steamy kisses make him forget all about the thieves who seem to be tailing them...
November 21, 2025
3.5⭐️ 🎧ARC
I wanna start by mentioning this is 2 books in 1 in case it wasn’t clear.
I wanna start by acknowledging the narration. I’m just gonna be very honest it was not for me. The overall narration was not bad but the female voice was giving grown man attempting a female voice if you get what I’m saying. This in itself threw me for a loop. Aside from that it was okay.
To Catch a Latte - this was interesting, i think this story could’ve been really good had been longer and over a much longer period of time. It felt extremely rushed and too insta lovely.
Thick As Thieves - once again this could’ve been way better, the idea was good. The FMC was just giving “I’m just a girl who wants to be independent but is too dumb to be”. Being clumsy and bad at directions is one thing but getting lost in this day and age is crazy, specially having a smart phone. Anyway she was just unlikable overall.
Anyway i enjoyed parts of these books, but i think for the lost part it wasn’t what i was expecting. I apologize if my review feels harsh, but i just wanted to be honest.
Huge thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and the author Jenn Mckinlay for the free 🎧 in exchange for an honest review.
I wanna start by mentioning this is 2 books in 1 in case it wasn’t clear.
I wanna start by acknowledging the narration. I’m just gonna be very honest it was not for me. The overall narration was not bad but the female voice was giving grown man attempting a female voice if you get what I’m saying. This in itself threw me for a loop. Aside from that it was okay.
To Catch a Latte - this was interesting, i think this story could’ve been really good had been longer and over a much longer period of time. It felt extremely rushed and too insta lovely.
Thick As Thieves - once again this could’ve been way better, the idea was good. The FMC was just giving “I’m just a girl who wants to be independent but is too dumb to be”. Being clumsy and bad at directions is one thing but getting lost in this day and age is crazy, specially having a smart phone. Anyway she was just unlikable overall.
Anyway i enjoyed parts of these books, but i think for the lost part it wasn’t what i was expecting. I apologize if my review feels harsh, but i just wanted to be honest.
Huge thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and the author Jenn Mckinlay for the free 🎧 in exchange for an honest review.
November 26, 2025
2.75/5
I did NOT like the audiobook narration for this book, at all. It was done really awkwardly. The pacing was awkward and the inflection in the voice was awkward too, felt like she was trying a bit too hard and it just came across as so fake. I know that I am very picky about narration, so that may not have bothered some listeners the way it bothered me. But it was really taking me out of the story.
In this book of technically two books, I was especially excited for To Catch a Latte. That story sounded like it would be the most exciting and interesting (investigating the possible crimes of a coffee shop sounds fun to me). But I was kind of disappointed with both stories. I wanted more of a wow factor, a bit more intrigue.
These stories felt a bit flat and rushed. A little Wattpad-y.
There is a chance I would've liked this more if I had read it and not listened to it. I do believe that. But they have that quick and easy to get through thing about them, so I think plenty of people can enjoy this. It's just not the book(s) for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I did NOT like the audiobook narration for this book, at all. It was done really awkwardly. The pacing was awkward and the inflection in the voice was awkward too, felt like she was trying a bit too hard and it just came across as so fake. I know that I am very picky about narration, so that may not have bothered some listeners the way it bothered me. But it was really taking me out of the story.
In this book of technically two books, I was especially excited for To Catch a Latte. That story sounded like it would be the most exciting and interesting (investigating the possible crimes of a coffee shop sounds fun to me). But I was kind of disappointed with both stories. I wanted more of a wow factor, a bit more intrigue.
These stories felt a bit flat and rushed. A little Wattpad-y.
There is a chance I would've liked this more if I had read it and not listened to it. I do believe that. But they have that quick and easy to get through thing about them, so I think plenty of people can enjoy this. It's just not the book(s) for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
December 11, 2025
3.5 out of 5 stars
TO CATCH A LATTE / THICK AS THIEVES are two short rom-com novels by Jenn McKinlay. I generally love all of this author’s works, from her cozy mysteries to her romance novels. However, these stories felt off to me. Don’t get me wrong, they provided some lighthearted, cutesy with some spice, entertainment, but I didn’t ever feel engrossed in either story or invested in the characters. After doing some background reading, I found that these had been written a couple of decades ago and updated some for current-day trends... but in my opinion they weren’t updated enough and I found some of the attitudes off-putting. Of the two stories, I enjoyed Thick As Thieves the best since it contains an element of mystery, giving it more of a plot instead of insta-attraction and almost insta-marriage like To Catch a Latte.
Narrator Daniela Acitelli did a marvelous job with the characters and portrayed the voices effectively. I found it easy to follow along, and not once did I get confused about which character was speaking. Many thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy.
TO CATCH A LATTE / THICK AS THIEVES are two short rom-com novels by Jenn McKinlay. I generally love all of this author’s works, from her cozy mysteries to her romance novels. However, these stories felt off to me. Don’t get me wrong, they provided some lighthearted, cutesy with some spice, entertainment, but I didn’t ever feel engrossed in either story or invested in the characters. After doing some background reading, I found that these had been written a couple of decades ago and updated some for current-day trends... but in my opinion they weren’t updated enough and I found some of the attitudes off-putting. Of the two stories, I enjoyed Thick As Thieves the best since it contains an element of mystery, giving it more of a plot instead of insta-attraction and almost insta-marriage like To Catch a Latte.
Narrator Daniela Acitelli did a marvelous job with the characters and portrayed the voices effectively. I found it easy to follow along, and not once did I get confused about which character was speaking. Many thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy.
November 24, 2025
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ALC.
A double dose of romance is waiting in this book by Jenn McKinlay. Story one is about Annie, a coffee shop owner and a money laundering suspect who meets her hansome new tenant Fisher. He just so happens to be a special agent who is investigating her while trying not to fall for her. Story two is about Cat who is going on a roadtrip when her brother makes her take his friend Jared along.
Hijinks, thieves, and a bit of spice add up to the perfect mini rom-com.
I got this book as an ALC and I thought it was good. If you are looking for mini stories, this book is a good way to go. I love some mystery, and when stories have something you need to figure out and this delivered. The plot was well done, a bit slow at times, and somewhat predictable, but sometimes you need a story like this for comfort. This book made me feel happy and emotionally satisfied during a stressful week. The narrator did a good job as well and was easy to listen to. I liked this book and it is a great mini read/listen.
A double dose of romance is waiting in this book by Jenn McKinlay. Story one is about Annie, a coffee shop owner and a money laundering suspect who meets her hansome new tenant Fisher. He just so happens to be a special agent who is investigating her while trying not to fall for her. Story two is about Cat who is going on a roadtrip when her brother makes her take his friend Jared along.
Hijinks, thieves, and a bit of spice add up to the perfect mini rom-com.
I got this book as an ALC and I thought it was good. If you are looking for mini stories, this book is a good way to go. I love some mystery, and when stories have something you need to figure out and this delivered. The plot was well done, a bit slow at times, and somewhat predictable, but sometimes you need a story like this for comfort. This book made me feel happy and emotionally satisfied during a stressful week. The narrator did a good job as well and was easy to listen to. I liked this book and it is a great mini read/listen.
December 1, 2025
This audiobook contains 2 stories in 1!
Story 1: To Catch A Latte
This story centers on an FBI agent investigating money laundering from a cafe owned by our heroine. Our hero and heroine must join forces to find out who is responsible. What ensues is a a cute short story about a grumpy sunshine of an agent and the cafe owner who doesn’t like marriage. This story was fun and cute and had some really funny moments. It started slow but picked up about halfway through. At that point I was invested in their journey. Characters were well created. I would say this one is a frenemies to lovers trope.
Story 2: Thick as thieves
A woman and her brother’s best friend go on a cross country trip. This one is cute and endearing where you have the best friend pining after the girl and the girl is pining after him and they don’t want to cross any boundaries. The story was a bit slow in pacing.
All in all, I’d say I enjoyed story 1 the best. This is a cute collection if you are in the mood for a fast romcom read. Audiobook narration was great!
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape
Story 1: To Catch A Latte
This story centers on an FBI agent investigating money laundering from a cafe owned by our heroine. Our hero and heroine must join forces to find out who is responsible. What ensues is a a cute short story about a grumpy sunshine of an agent and the cafe owner who doesn’t like marriage. This story was fun and cute and had some really funny moments. It started slow but picked up about halfway through. At that point I was invested in their journey. Characters were well created. I would say this one is a frenemies to lovers trope.
Story 2: Thick as thieves
A woman and her brother’s best friend go on a cross country trip. This one is cute and endearing where you have the best friend pining after the girl and the girl is pining after him and they don’t want to cross any boundaries. The story was a bit slow in pacing.
All in all, I’d say I enjoyed story 1 the best. This is a cute collection if you are in the mood for a fast romcom read. Audiobook narration was great!
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape
December 23, 2025
This was interesting, and not necessarily in a good way. First of all, there are 2 unrelated stories in one volume, or in my case, in one audiobook. It might have made sense if they were a duology, but I'm pretty sure they aren't. Secondly, the narrator was not the right person for these books. She put me to sleep and her lack of different voices made it hard to picture who was talking. I also think her mature voice made the characters seem older than they were. Thirdly, the plot and characterizations and writing in general just lacked depth and substance. The characters were shallow and the females were weak. The writing definitely felt old fashioned (does anyone say negligee these days?), but then weird how sometimes there was a random comment about something modern (a vape pen comment totally came out of nowhere). I will say that the first book felt more polished and I tolerated that one more than the second one. In my opinion, authors should not try to re-release their early works.
November 14, 2025
This combo read is action and rom com. To Catch a Latte.This one gave me big “FBI agent falls in love with the woman he’s secretly investigating but also maybe gaslighting just a teensy bit” energy. Annie runs a cute little coffee shop that allegedly is laundering money, and Fisher McCoy, the sexiest Fed to ever fake a lease agreement, moves in upstairs and basically helps find the path to solve which was a bit surprise. Thick as Thieves, which honestly felt like someone handed The Proposal a Red Bull and told it to make out with National Treasure. Cat has decided to relocate herself across the country for a fresh start, and her brother’s best friend Jared gets drafted into escort duty. They’ve got sexual tension, trust issues, and at least two mysterious strangers tailing them like the plot demanded it and it goes from here. The speed and pacing felt appropriate to the work and kept me engaged. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity.
November 14, 2025
To Catch a Latte
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: To catch the unexpected.
Annie is a hardworking woman who knows what she wants or doesn’t want to be, exactly. That’s to get married. Fisher drops into her life on a case, and Annie is the suspect. This brings a mixture of cozy mystery and romance. It was done so well and so easily to enjoy.
Thick as Thieves
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Review: Okay, so here we go. I didn’t like Cat. She was annoying. She was very pushy and whiny. Jared kinda wasn’t that great either. He was high-handed. The brother was also very intruding. I understand an overprotective brother, but wow. Maybe I don’t understand it to this extent, but then she acts like a child, so maybe I do. I did like the mysterious couple following them. Even if I figured that out at the very beginning.
So I’m in the middle for this set and this author. I would absolutely try something else they’ve written. There were some positives.
Come read with me @booksy.tx.ana
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: To catch the unexpected.
Annie is a hardworking woman who knows what she wants or doesn’t want to be, exactly. That’s to get married. Fisher drops into her life on a case, and Annie is the suspect. This brings a mixture of cozy mystery and romance. It was done so well and so easily to enjoy.
Thick as Thieves
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Review: Okay, so here we go. I didn’t like Cat. She was annoying. She was very pushy and whiny. Jared kinda wasn’t that great either. He was high-handed. The brother was also very intruding. I understand an overprotective brother, but wow. Maybe I don’t understand it to this extent, but then she acts like a child, so maybe I do. I did like the mysterious couple following them. Even if I figured that out at the very beginning.
So I’m in the middle for this set and this author. I would absolutely try something else they’ve written. There were some positives.
Come read with me @booksy.tx.ana
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