Brown Sugar Espresso Martini

by Aubrey Taylor

The Reaper; Brown Sugar Espresso Martini made with top shelf vodka, a house made BS syrup and freshly brewed espresso.

Rhea Drake, art teacher and centre for Harbor Hillcats rugby team is undeniably strong in every sense of the word. Standing at six-one she’s the tallest on the team, and puts the average person to shame. But even the strongest women have cracks in their armor and her life starts spiraling out of control when she’s evicted from her condo. With nowhere to go, in desperate need for a part time job she turns to her best friend's brother.

Brighton Black, owner of the Hollow, with a chip on his shoulder after returning from war. He's a retired combat medic with a dark look on life and not much to say unless it’s about his thirteen year old daughter, Daisy. His life is upended when Rhea barrels into it with the proposition of being roommates. His first instinct is to say no, and he does, more than once but eventually she wears him down and the most unlikely of relationships form.

Will they kiss or will they kill each other? Place your bets now.

Brown Sugar Espresso Martini is a story of unlikely pairings and fighting for the love you deserve even when the world seems to be against you.

Genres: Sports Romance

432 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 27, 2026

About the author

Aubrey Taylor is a 32-year-old mom living in chilly Canada with her two kids and wonderful husband. Raised by Dean Winchester, Percy Jackson, and horror movies. She's a loud, nerdy, sarcastic lover of stories. Her favourites always including chosen families and adventure. She has been writing and creating stories from her dreams ever since she could remember. With massive emotions of her own, she puts her entire heart into her characters and stories. Aubrey's favorite genres are fantasy, reverse harem romance, and contemporary romance!

Reviews

[Cyenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beta read, RTC🖤

[han ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

arc read! review to come 🖤

[Tai · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS!!!

I am… once again… completely OBSESSED.

I don’t even know how Aubrey Taylor does this every single time, but her books are the kind that make you feel everything... and then somehow leave you wanting more...

What I love most about her writing (and what keeps me coming back) is how deeply she understands her characters. These aren’t surface-level romances. Every person in this story feels real, messy, and human in the most relatable ways. Their backstories matter. Their trauma matters. Their growth matters. And I completely felt ALL of it.

And the way she continues to expand this universe.... connecting this new series back to her Hornets Nest Series is honestly one of my favorite things. Baseball is my favorite sports romance genre, but now I want to learn everything about Rugby!

Rhea & Brighton (aka I am unwell)
Rhea is exactly the kind of FMC I will always ride for. She’s strong but not in a forced way. It’s in how she shows up for people, how she processes things, and how deeply she understands the emotional weight of every situation. She FEELS so much. I love her.

“If it were me, having you, losing you, and watching you find your way back… that would hurt.”

And Brighton… listen. LISTEN.
This man is layered in a way that just wrecked me. He’s protective, complicated, carrying guilt, trying to do better.... especially as a father.

“I’m Daisy’s Dad, and I should be able to figure out what’s going on in her head…”

The way he shows up for his daughter AND still allows himself to be vulnerable? Yeah. Done for.

The chemistry???? The tension. The banter. The energy between them??? I mean....

“Do you like being watched, Rhea?”
“Only by you.”

“Do you want to touch me, Brighton?”
“More than anything.”

Why I'm So Obsessed:
- characters feel real and relatable
- relationships come together naturally, not forced
- so much representation throughout the story
- every side character feels like they matter (and will matter later 👀)
- connection to the larger universe <3

Final thoughts
I am fully, completely, unapologetically obsessed with this author and everything she writes.
This book reminded me exactly why.
If you love character-driven romance with emotional depth, strong connections, and a world that keeps expanding in the best way… you need to be reading her books.

Immediately.

Tropes I LOVE:
-Rugby Romance
- Roommates to Lovers
- Single Dad (Teen Daughter)
- Hair Braiding
- PTSD representation
- Sisters Best Friend
- Slow burn
- Girlhood Chaos

Cannot thank Luna Literary and Aubrey Taylor enough for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[mkm_bookloverarchivistreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready to laugh and swoon with Brown Sugar Espresso Martini, a hilarious and heartwarming romance about forced proximity and the 'grumpy/sunshine' trope. Meet Rhea Drake, a rugby player with a penchant for getting into sticky situations, and Brighton Black, a war veteran with a heart of gold and a penchant for grumpiness. With Aubrey Taylor's writing, you get a healthy dose of conflict and vibes, expertly mixed together. Rhea's world is turned upside down when she loses her home and has to find a new place to call her own - fast. When Rhea proposes a roommate arrangement to Brighton, her best friend's brother, he's less than thrilled. However, as they settle into life together, the sparks flying between Brighton's grumpy demeanor and Rhea's sunny disposition provide endless entertainment, especially with Brighton's 13-year-old daughter, Daisy, thrown into the mix. Get ready to heal, let go of the emotional burden, and find love in the unlikeliest of places with this inspiring pop . As the story unfolds, it sheds light on the vulnerabilities of Rhea and Brighton, exposing the cracks in their seemingly impenetrable facades. Rhea's strong exterior hides her inner struggles, while Brighton's return from war has left him with emotional scars. Their slow-burn romance is a beautiful portrayal of how tension, forced proximity, and mutual support can bring two people together. Aubrey Taylor is back with a new series , and while it's different from 'Hornet's Nest', it still explores some familiar themes like age gaps and sports. Aubrey Taylor is a talented author, and her new book, Brown Sugar Espresso Martini, is a great addition to her portfolio. It's the first in a series connected to sports in Hillcats Hollow, and I highly recommend it.

[Shawna Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️

🍸Single Dad
🏉 Best Friends Brother
🍸MFC Rugby Player
🏉 Roommates to Lovers
🍸Slow Burn
🏉 Submissive MMC
🍸PTSD Rep

Welcome to the world of hot female rugby players and equally just as hot bartenders. I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy of Brown Sugar Espresso Martini by Aubrey Taylor, and man did I devour it.

This book grabbed me from the first chapter. I’ve never read a rugby romance before and especially when it’s the MFC that’s the rugby player. The story between Rhea and Brighton, but the story between the MFC, MMC and the supporting characters was so well done. I honestly can’t pick a favourite character…ok fine…it’s Brighton. We love a gentle demanding king who is built like a bear…and just as growly.

This book deals with self image issues, PTSD, trauma, empowerment, love, family and friendships. Rhea and Brighton are unlikely to form any sort of bond. She’s a 6’ female rugby player, he’s a broody former military bartender. They end up as roommates and boss/employee when Rhea’s condo floods and is in need of some place to live and extra cash. She moves into his apartment above the bar where is lives part time with his teenage daughter Daisy.

If you’ve read the Hornets series, you’ll see some familiar faces. This book broaches on heavy topics so please check the trigger warnings.

Thank you Aubrey Taylor for the advanced reader copy. This review is my opinion and thoughts.

[bookish_alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'll stick glow in the dark stars to every surface in the apartment, eat all your tomatoes, learn all the wrestling moves, never make you eat pasta ever again."

Where do I even begin with this book? I absolutely loved this book! I laughed, giggled and kicked my feet, and swooned, but also cried and broke my heart in the best of ways. We have Rhea, our raccoon FMC who is strong, resilient, suffers from being the eldest daughter, and a 6'1" rugby player. And then we have Brighton, our grumpy (but submissive) MMC suffering from PTSD, owner and bartender, who has a heart of gold for his family and people he cares about.

When Rhea's condo floods and she has the bright idea to ask to be roommates with Brighton, who by the way is her best friend's brother, he is less than thrilled. What started out as a roommate/boss relationship slowly turned into friends, and then friends who kiss (iykyk). As the story grew, their friendship grew and evolved. As it turns out, Rhea was exactly what Brighton was missing in his life.

This was my first introduction to Aubrey Taylor and it is safe to say I am a huge fan of her work (and her FMC and MMC's hehe). I just found out too that this is a four book series, count me in!!

Thank you so much Aubrey Taylor for the advanced reader copy. I cannot wait to read the rest of The Hillcats Hollow Series!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc Review
Infinity ⭐
First off I would like to thank Luna & Aubrey for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Rhea Drake & Brighton Black
Y'all I am absolutely OBSESSED with this book. She ranks right up there with Honeysuckle for me & Honeysuckle is my favorite book by Aubrey. I ate this one up and left no crumbs while secretly wanting her to be longer.  I just love how resilient, loud, outgoing and messy Rhea is and I love how she is soft and vulnerable underneath her tougher outter exterior. I love how strong, silent & rough around the edges Brighton is and has a soft spot for his people & is willing to do whatever it takes to keep them safe and happy. I love how these two are totally opposite in all the ways but are perfectly matched in the ways that matter the most.

5/5 Recommend this book. Y'all Aubrey absolutely did it again, she had me kicking my feet and giggling while also slowly breaking my heart in the best of ways. She writes real raw complex characters with grit and heart and not afraid to fight for what's right. I adore Aubrey's work and can't recommend her enough.

[Beth (bethsbookshelfx) · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯? 𝘐 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘣𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘱, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯.
———————————————————————
Bright and Rhea are just the best thing ever. One thing about Aubrey is she is always gonna make me become a simp for a new man no matter what she writes. The way she writes her men is exactly the reason I read romance. The bond between the girls is a girl group I aspire to have and what everyone deserves. Just friends? Famous last words guys. This is a beautiful start to what is already an amazing series. The growth in writing shows and you can read this was a book of passion. I’m ready for the rest of my girlies.
———————————————————————
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳— 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘨𝘰.
———————————————————————
🏉 Sports Romance : Rugby
🍸 Bar Owner
🏉 Women In Sports
🍸 Roommates to Lovers
🏉 Single Dad
🍸 Sisters Best Friend/Best Friends Brother
🏉 Oldest Daughter
🍸 Slow Burn
🏉 Peak Girlhood
🍸 Neat x Messy
🏉 Playlist Sharing
🍸 Submissive MMC

[Sarah Neumeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I begin with how awesome this book was. It was a 'can't stop reading' kind of story. The kind where you have met new friends in Rhea and Brighton, and you want to go hang out with the whole crew. You'll feel seen as you read about Rhea's insecurities, you'll laugh at how she interacts with Bright, and you'll wish she had been your teacher in school.

Aubrey has an absolute gift of writing real characters. You know there are tropes, but they aren't checklisted, they're believable and so subtle they're enjoyable. Bright is the perfect man, but also believably written with flaws, growth, and strength. Aubrey's dialogue makes you fall into the story and conversations.

This wonderfully written rugby romance is a must read for every sports romance reader, and for every romance reader in general.

I judge books on how quickly I read them. Average romance takes me about a week. I devoured Brown Sugar Espresso Martini in less than two days, with apologies to my toddler and my sleep schedule. It's guaranteed to give you a book hangover.

[lex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved entering this world. this story got me hooked in the first chapter because Rhea and Brighton are just such complex and amazing characters and I loved reading about them. Brighton is so perfect but also has flaws, growth, and strength that is shown throughout this book. Rhea is a beautiful person who tries to hide her sadness but is so strong. My heart was hurting reading about both of their struggles and I just wanted to give them both a big hug. I’m so glad that they were able to find a way to grow and be together in the end.💞 I would say at some parts I wish I got a little more detail and information which I can’t say when because of spoiler reasons but I still think it was a really good book! I love them and Aubrey’s writing. Learning more about rugby was so fun and the empowerment I felt was so good. With this book you will laugh, cry, scream, giggle, and fall in love. please go read it on March 27th!

thank you to luna literary and Aubrey for gifting me this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

“He wants you to believe that so you don’t go through the trouble, So keep making a mess.”

Thank you Aubrey Taylor and Luna Literary Management for this ARC opportunity.

This was my first rugby romance, and having it surround a female team was icing on the cake for me. Rhea and Brighton were complicated and as messy as Rhea herself is.
This was a slowwwww burn, maybe a little too slow for me but it fit the plot. As an avid WWE watcher and fellow CM Punk lover; the wrestling mentions were great for me! I loved it so much, a niche little plot line that made me smile! I felt conflicted on a couple plot points and left me with questions (Rhea’s Parents, the big family dinner at the Hollow), but I loved how the mental health aspects of the plot were written. I feel like it was accurate in how it was portrayed and watching the characters put in the work to better themselves despite massive hurdles and concerns was a big part of my enjoyment of the story as it depicts real life.

[Poorvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aubrey’s books never disappoint. I love how she writes every character with such depth and intention. All the characters feel so raw, flawed, and real. The relationships build naturally with time, emotion, and genuine connection. Every character goes through such meaningful growth during the story, and you can’t help but fall in love with their journey.
Bright and Rhea are just that. They are such a complex and amazing characters. You can’t help but love them.
Rhea is a strong character. She keep going when things aren’t easy and care so much about the people around her.
Brighton is quiet and guarded but there is so much he carrying with himself. I love when he let his walls down and allows himself to be vulnerable. His growth is my favourite.
I love the bond between all the Hellcats. They are always there for each other no matter what. Friendship is such a big and amazing part of Aubrey book.
I am se excited for this series. This book already has me so attached to this world and If this is just the start, I can’t wait to see how the story goes out for the other characters.

[Leta Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad girls unite!

I resonate with Rhea so much. Being tall and just built more masculine than petite feminine brings it’s own challenges in life. I’m also a super empathetic person. Hard on the exterior but melt for the ones closest to me. Got that Taurus energy for real! So while reading this story I saw a lot of myself. Down to working in a bar. It was a bit surreal. Just not as hot as she is, not even close. Being connected to the FMC just brought me so much closer to the story.

Brighton, oh big tuff/sad guy, Brighton….our grumpy ex military bar owner. Not to mention he is Rheas best friend’s brother. After an incident that left Rhea “homeless” leads her to the yellow brick road that is Brighton.

Rhea is a savage on and off the field. Brighton gives her a job and quickly realizes maybe that wasn’t the best move or maybe it was the best move.

The women’s rugby team, I’d love to be apart of their sisterhood. I am so excited to get to read more from this series!!!

[Kylynn Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, where do I find Boone? I think I just have a thing for hilarious side characters. This book was unlike any other book I’ve read. This one hit on military PTSD pretty hard- from Rhea’s dad to Brighton’s experience it opened my eyes to things that veterans go through.

Rhea is a badass woman who should be worshipped (actually every woman in that book should be placed on a pedestal). She’s a rugby player, teacher, eldest daughter, and protector of the people she loves most.

Brighton is a closed off, oldest twin brother, single dad, former military medic. Seeing the trauma he went through and how he was afraid to acknowledge his mess to accepting his trauma made me tear up (multiple times).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Manda · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC reader here! I’m not really a sports person, so I was kind of iffy about reading a rugby romance. I rather enjoy sports romances though! Who’d of guessed? I know absolutely nothing about rugby, but that didn’t matter. I loved how simultaneously simple and complex the story was and how the characters grew. Seeing behind Rhea and Brighton’s masks hurt my heart. They were both dealing with so much and just pushing through. I just want to wrap them up and never let them go! They both deserve all the love and protection. I’m happy that they were able to make each other see that they didn’t have to be strong all the time. Can’t wait to read more by Aubrey Taylor!

[Kaffeine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Luna Literary & Aubrey Taylor for the amazing opportunity to be an ARC Reader!

BSEM is everything. Aubrey perfectly captures a girl who is messy, unafraid to love big, has questionable music taste and would bail her people out of jail if they needed her. Aubrey has given us wonderfully complex characters (as she does in all of her books) that put my emotions through the wringer. I cried and also laughed like a maniac, this book is so special to me!

Detailed/Spoiler Review to come after release day on March 27th

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. BSEM is phenomenal. There is so much heart and emotion packed into this book. I laughed and cried. Rhea is so relatable and a wonderful FMC. Brighton is complex and a good contrast to Rhea. These two are truly meant for each other. I absolutely loved the girlhood that was written throughout the book, bc ultimately this book is about the rugby team who are family and are there for each other no matter what. I am excited to see where everyone’s story goes. This book will live with me for quite a while.

[mk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alpha/Beta read RTC 🖤

[Jasmin (jas.nicole_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beta read
RTC

[Lauren (laurenreads_7) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review coming!!

[Jasmin ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC 🤍

[AislinSian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beta Read, RTC

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beta read RTC