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The Barista: A Peyton Beckford Thriller
The Beckfords built an empire on drugs, coffee, and violence, controlling the trade from Jamaica to Boston.
Peyton Merritt escaped violence of her own. Leaving New York behind, she returned to Florida and opened the Daily Grind, trading architecture for a coffee shop on St. Pete Beach.
Then Aidan Beckford walked through her door.
Neither knew how much their pasts had in common. Or how much blood was still waiting to be spilled.
A ruthless rival is moving against the Beckfords, and Peyton’s growing connection to Aidan draws her into a conflict that reaches far beyond her café.
But Peyton brings more than a past she would rather forget. She has a sharp mind, a stubborn streak, and no intention of leaving her survival entirely in someone else’s hands. As she learns to navigate the Beckfords’ world, the former architect discovers abilities she never expected to need.
From Florida’s Gulf Coast to Jamaica and Ibiza, family wars and unfinished business bring their pasts into the present. Getting close to Aidan means facing more than his enemies. It means confronting the violence Peyton thought she had left behind.
Peyton got away once. This time, she’s learning how to fight back.
The Barista is a gritty, cinematic crime thriller with high-stakes action, dark humor, and dangerous people making increasingly questionable decisions.
Book One of the Peyton Beckford Thrillers.
Peyton Merritt escaped violence of her own. Leaving New York behind, she returned to Florida and opened the Daily Grind, trading architecture for a coffee shop on St. Pete Beach.
Then Aidan Beckford walked through her door.
Neither knew how much their pasts had in common. Or how much blood was still waiting to be spilled.
A ruthless rival is moving against the Beckfords, and Peyton’s growing connection to Aidan draws her into a conflict that reaches far beyond her café.
But Peyton brings more than a past she would rather forget. She has a sharp mind, a stubborn streak, and no intention of leaving her survival entirely in someone else’s hands. As she learns to navigate the Beckfords’ world, the former architect discovers abilities she never expected to need.
From Florida’s Gulf Coast to Jamaica and Ibiza, family wars and unfinished business bring their pasts into the present. Getting close to Aidan means facing more than his enemies. It means confronting the violence Peyton thought she had left behind.
Peyton got away once. This time, she’s learning how to fight back.
The Barista is a gritty, cinematic crime thriller with high-stakes action, dark humor, and dangerous people making increasingly questionable decisions.
Book One of the Peyton Beckford Thrillers.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2026
About the author
AJ Phillips
2 books5 followersAJ Phillips writes coastal noir thrillers about power, loyalty, obsession, and the dangerous things people do in the name of family.
His debut novel, The Barista: A Peyton Beckford Thriller, launches a world of old money, private islands, romantic suspense, organized crime, and blood buried beneath beautiful things.
AJ lives in Pennsylvania and writes under the imprint Coastal Zen Press. When he is not writing, he is usually thinking about boats, beaches, coffee, crime stories, or the next terrible decision his characters are about to make.
Visit him at ajphillipsbooks.com.
His debut novel, The Barista: A Peyton Beckford Thriller, launches a world of old money, private islands, romantic suspense, organized crime, and blood buried beneath beautiful things.
AJ lives in Pennsylvania and writes under the imprint Coastal Zen Press. When he is not writing, he is usually thinking about boats, beaches, coffee, crime stories, or the next terrible decision his characters are about to make.
Visit him at ajphillipsbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 25, 2026
I had the amazing privilege as an ARC to read this INCREDIBLE thriller by AJ Phillips.
I do not say this easily… THIS BOOK HANDS DOWN AMAZING FROM THE VERY FIRST SENTENCE!
I could NOT put it down. Page turner THE ENTIRE READ … oh my gosh if you love intensity, suspense.. love… family… loyalty… this book is for you
The way the author describes EVERY MINOR DETAIL DOWN TO HOW COFFEE IS BREWED LIKE LIFE ITSELF… honestly my mind is blown. This was THE BOOK I need more of NOW!
AJ Phillips... You’re amazing… this book is incredible and I absolutely cannot wait to consume more of Aiden and Peyton… you are a genius
I do not say this easily… THIS BOOK HANDS DOWN AMAZING FROM THE VERY FIRST SENTENCE!
I could NOT put it down. Page turner THE ENTIRE READ … oh my gosh if you love intensity, suspense.. love… family… loyalty… this book is for you
The way the author describes EVERY MINOR DETAIL DOWN TO HOW COFFEE IS BREWED LIKE LIFE ITSELF… honestly my mind is blown. This was THE BOOK I need more of NOW!
AJ Phillips... You’re amazing… this book is incredible and I absolutely cannot wait to consume more of Aiden and Peyton… you are a genius
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.25 Stars
The Barista is a dark romantic thriller that combines emotional intensity with organized-crime suspense and cinematic writing. It excels at tension, mood, and character presence, especially through Peyton and Aidan's dynamic. The story is lush and immersive, though occasionally overly dense, and some repetition in imagery and phrasing appears throughout longer sections. Still, the book has strong momentum, memorable side characters, and a sense of danger and emotional weight that fans of dark romantic suspense will likely devour.
The Barista is a dark romantic thriller that combines emotional intensity with organized-crime suspense and cinematic writing. It excels at tension, mood, and character presence, especially through Peyton and Aidan's dynamic. The story is lush and immersive, though occasionally overly dense, and some repetition in imagery and phrasing appears throughout longer sections. Still, the book has strong momentum, memorable side characters, and a sense of danger and emotional weight that fans of dark romantic suspense will likely devour.
July 12, 2026
Well, I’m ready for the next adventure of Peyton. That was full of suspense! Loved every page.
August 2, 2026
After leaving behind the chaos of New York, Peyton buys a small-town coffee shop hoping for a slower, more peaceful life. Of course, things don't exactly go as planned when one customer ends up changing everything.
I was hooked almost immediately. Peyton and Aiden's banter was one of my favorite parts of the book, and their chemistry made it so easy to keep turning the pages. There was danger, drama, suspense, and way more action than I anticipated. I honestly had a hard time putting this one down.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read that blended romance, suspense, and action in a way I wasn't expecting. If you're looking for a book with great chemistry, high stakes, and plenty of action to keep you turning the pages, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try. I'm already looking forward to reading book two when it releases in September!😊
I was hooked almost immediately. Peyton and Aiden's banter was one of my favorite parts of the book, and their chemistry made it so easy to keep turning the pages. There was danger, drama, suspense, and way more action than I anticipated. I honestly had a hard time putting this one down.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read that blended romance, suspense, and action in a way I wasn't expecting. If you're looking for a book with great chemistry, high stakes, and plenty of action to keep you turning the pages, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try. I'm already looking forward to reading book two when it releases in September!😊
Review of advance copy received from Author
As I read this book I could see the action packed book on the big screen. This is my first time reading a mafia thriller romance book and I was drawn in. Author’s description of events is beautifully laid out and has you immersed in the action as it unfolds. Looking forward to seeing how the series continues.
Review of advance copy
Even though I usually stick to mystery/thrillers and historical fiction, I don’t normally reach for coastal noir romance thrillers, so I had no idea what to expect going into this one. Honestly, I was hooked way faster than I expected—right from the prologue, before Chapter 1. One of the things I really liked about The Barista was the super vivid detail used to describe the settings, characters and atmosphere—everything was really easy to picture and really pulled me into the story. The writing style and layout seemed to create a constant tension throughout the story that kept me wanting to read “just one more chapter.” That being said, I read it in one day. I can’t wait for the next book to see what’s next! The author balanced the characters, suspense, and emotional moments really well without making any part feel over the top.
For a debut novel, this was seriously impressive. The writing felt confident, the pacing kept things moving, and the detailed descriptions and characters were two of my favorite parts. I would definitely recommend this book if you like romance, thrillers, and coastal noir books. It has it all! I don’t think you will be disappointed at all! I could definitely see this as a movie!
For a debut novel, this was seriously impressive. The writing felt confident, the pacing kept things moving, and the detailed descriptions and characters were two of my favorite parts. I would definitely recommend this book if you like romance, thrillers, and coastal noir books. It has it all! I don’t think you will be disappointed at all! I could definitely see this as a movie!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Although I typically gravitate toward lighter genres, The Barista: A Peyton Beckford Thriller completely pulled me in after just a few pages. The story is intriguing from the start, with enough suspense and momentum to keep the pages turning. One of the book’s greatest strengths is the vivid detail in the settings — they are described so well that you truly feel transported into each scene alongside the characters.
What impressed me most is how polished and confident the writing feels. It’s hard to believe this is AJ Phillips’ first novel because the writing style is remarkably consistent, engaging, and solid throughout. The pacing, atmosphere, and storytelling all come together seamlessly, making this a thriller that is difficult to put down. I would highly recommend it, even to readers who don’t normally choose thrillers.
What impressed me most is how polished and confident the writing feels. It’s hard to believe this is AJ Phillips’ first novel because the writing style is remarkably consistent, engaging, and solid throughout. The pacing, atmosphere, and storytelling all come together seamlessly, making this a thriller that is difficult to put down. I would highly recommend it, even to readers who don’t normally choose thrillers.
June 29, 2026
I really enjoyed The Barista. It pulled me in quickly and kept moving, with a great mix of action, suspense, romance, and danger. The story has a very cinematic feel, and I could picture the settings and scenes as I was reading.
Peyton and Aidan’s relationship gives the book a lot of tension and emotion, but the crime and thriller elements are what really kept me turning the pages. There are twists, high-stakes moments, and enough darkness to make the world feel dangerous without losing the heart of the story.
If you like romantic suspense, organized crime stories, strong characters, and books that feel like they could be a movie, this one is worth reading.
Peyton and Aidan’s relationship gives the book a lot of tension and emotion, but the crime and thriller elements are what really kept me turning the pages. There are twists, high-stakes moments, and enough darkness to make the world feel dangerous without losing the heart of the story.
If you like romantic suspense, organized crime stories, strong characters, and books that feel like they could be a movie, this one is worth reading.
June 15, 2026
As a new author, AJ Phillips has made a huge splash in the literary world. I am an avid reader and this book kept me wanting to turn to the next page. The story line is intense and really keeps the reader involved in what's to come. I was very impressed with the maturity of the writing itself. AJ Phillips' words paint a world of romance, crime, family honor and drama. I found myself creating visual images of the characters and even hearing their accents as I read each page. I look forward to his next book and hope this is the start of a long career for this author.
October 17, 2026
I really enjoyed this book! It was a very easy read and kept me interested from the beginning. One night I had a hard time putting it down to go to bed because I wanted to keep reading and see what happened next. The story moved along well, the characters kept my attention, and I found myself wanting to keep turning the pages.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is filled with suspense and mind blowing action! It kept me on the edge of my seat! Spine tingling, heart wrenching and action packed. Looking forward to the next chapter💕
July 29, 2026
A fun wild ride read! You won’t regret picking this one up
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews