Bartender Beefcake: A Curvy Girl / Dad Bod Instalove Romance

by L. Moone

A virgin walks into a bar… Right into the bartender’s arms.Every time I sneak a peek at him, he’s already looking back. Or is he?

Nathan is the burly, tattooed bartender to my plain Jane. He couldn’t possibly have noticed me… right? Except he remembers my regular order. And when I lose my mind and start quoting steamy romance-novel pick up lines at him, he doesn’t just play along—he fires back.

Did I really just flirt my way into the arms of the bartender of my dreams? Or am I about to crash and burn like the awkward disaster I am? Because I’ve literally never done this before.

And just when I expect him to treat this like a bit of casual fun—he doesn’t. He slows down. He looks at me like I matter. And that's when I run.

In this emotionally charged first-time romance, two pining hearts must face their insecurities and decide whether love is worth the risk of getting hurt. Expect slow-burn tension, a confident dad-bod hero with soft alpha energy, and a sizzling pay-off that turns a flirtation at Teddington’s most beloved pub into something unforgettable.

184 pages, Paperback

Published November 21, 2025

About the author

L. Moone writes steamy romance about big, brooding and devoted men who fall fast and love hard.

Her heroes might think they’re unworthy—but that won’t stop them from losing their hearts. Whether husky, grumpy, or cinnamon roll sweet, they’ll do anything for the women they love. And the heroines? They might act fierce and independent, but they've already melted just for him.

💖 Steamy, messy instalove

💖 Damaged, self-sacrificing heroes who put her first

💖 Dad bods, curvy girls and everything in between

💖 All the drama, all the feels, and a heartfelt and healing HEA—every time.

If you love obsessed book boyfriends, sassy heroines, and romance that makes your heart ache before putting it back together again, you’re in the right place.

📩 Grab your FREE book & start reading today at lmoone dot com

If you're an avid reader & reviewer/book blogger and are interested in any of my books, please do reach out about joining my review team. :)

(P.S. If you love a little magic with your romance, check out her Paranormal & Fantasy books as Lorelei Moone!)

NOTE: She used to publish under her old pen name Hedonist Six.

Reviews

[Angi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nathan is probably the sweetest male main character I have ever read. It’s almost to the point that he is too understanding. Jane is a mess and she lets her insecurities and lack of experience rule her decisions. There were so many set backs to these two ever getting started. Nathan really went through the wringer for Jane. I really enjoyed this book and purchased three others by her as well. This is a great dad bod book.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Jane and Nathan. They have been secretly checking each other out but afraid to make a move until he is left in charge and a connection is made between them. I loved how they finally found each other and the outcome. It is a heartfelt story that had me cheering on this couple because they are so cute together.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lilian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane is inexperienced in love and fails miserably in her first attempt with Nathan. Despite that, Nathan is besotted and decides to seek her out, without pressuring her.

I loved that he was so gentle and patient with Jane, despite the many mishaps along the way. This was a breeze to read and if you love insta-love stories, you all love this!