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Love Like Coffee #1
Caffe Latte
Ben has been crushing on Francisco ever since the gorgeous man transferred into his university, but he's convinced himself that the Spanish Adonis wouldn't be interested him at all. When they run into each other at the cafe Ben works at, it turns out that maybe Francisco is interested in him. But it seems Francisco's still in the closet...
Caffe Latte is the first in the Love Like Coffee series, and is a contemporary, new adult romance featuring a cute gamer geek, a hot mechanic with dimples of doom and a quirky little café.
Caffe Latte is the first in the Love Like Coffee series, and is a contemporary, new adult romance featuring a cute gamer geek, a hot mechanic with dimples of doom and a quirky little café.
ebook
First published October 13, 2015
1 person is currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Dee Aditya
6 books48 followersDee Aditya is an Aquarius, and like other Aquarians, she’s a little strange and a little random. When she’s not trying to get her hands and words to co-operate, she often contemplates the mysteries of the universe (Why is Yellow Yellow? Why are all professors so cruel? Why is saving money so difficult?) and sings along to mushy songs while cleaning her room. Dee is currently a grad student, and like most grad students, she is constantly stressed and always broke, and will never turn down free food.
She likes M/M, and loves romance, so that's what she writes. Her stories tend to be funny, sweet, angsty, cheesy, fluffy, or some combination of those.
She likes M/M, and loves romance, so that's what she writes. Her stories tend to be funny, sweet, angsty, cheesy, fluffy, or some combination of those.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 26, 2015
Francisco, you prick.
Ugh.
This isn't Dee's fault. Francisco was supposed to be an asshole, but that didn't make him easier to take.
Ben was a sweetie and far too forgiving.
I could have used more steam, but overall this is a fun, cute story with a great coffee shop setting.
Can't wait for Ele's prompt story!
Ugh.
This isn't Dee's fault. Francisco was supposed to be an asshole, but that didn't make him easier to take.
Ben was a sweetie and far too forgiving.
I could have used more steam, but overall this is a fun, cute story with a great coffee shop setting.
Can't wait for Ele's prompt story!
October 17, 2015
This author has a lovely writing style which is almost sing song with vibrancy. Thank you and I look forward to more :D
October 14, 2015
Well.... The prompt requested that the love interest be a dick.
And the author delivered.
Ben is about as adorable as can be. He spends his lunches secretly watching his crush, Francisco, and playing Pokemon on his DS. He just knows that Francisco could be an amazing boyfriend, but he thinks he'll never get the opportunity to find out.
Francisco is so handsome it could be classified as a distraction. Breakable items just aren't safe when he walks into a room. Frankly, his looks are about the only thing he's got going for him. See, he's one of those people; the kind who looks the other way when someone gets bullied.
A little something like that won't deter Ben when Francisco asks him out for a date. Neither will the fact that he's apparently "not out". (Francisco is a hottie, who cares?!) And he's over the moon happy when one date leads to the next.
Then
Ben is far too forgiving. Far more than I could ever be. And this is where the story takes a turn for the reader. The reader loses any or all positive feelings for Francisco. He's persona non grata around these parts, and even after his grovelling and explanations, (which he did a good job of, btw) the reader will have a hard time liking him again, or rooting for the connection he and Ben have.
Which is a shame, because Ben is a pretty tough cookie, and he deserves his happiness.
I think we needed more of those sweet, special moments between the two to offset the nastiness that is Francisco's behavior. It also felt more like a high school setting, rather than a college aged romance, but it was still a quick and easy read.
Overall, it's a cute jock-geek romance, with some kick ass best friends, and a cafe owner in need of a book of his own.
My thanks to the author for their participation in the Love is an Open Road event.
And the author delivered.
Ben is about as adorable as can be. He spends his lunches secretly watching his crush, Francisco, and playing Pokemon on his DS. He just knows that Francisco could be an amazing boyfriend, but he thinks he'll never get the opportunity to find out.
Francisco is so handsome it could be classified as a distraction. Breakable items just aren't safe when he walks into a room. Frankly, his looks are about the only thing he's got going for him. See, he's one of those people; the kind who looks the other way when someone gets bullied.
A little something like that won't deter Ben when Francisco asks him out for a date. Neither will the fact that he's apparently "not out". (Francisco is a hottie, who cares?!) And he's over the moon happy when one date leads to the next.
Then
Ben is far too forgiving. Far more than I could ever be. And this is where the story takes a turn for the reader. The reader loses any or all positive feelings for Francisco. He's persona non grata around these parts, and even after his grovelling and explanations, (which he did a good job of, btw) the reader will have a hard time liking him again, or rooting for the connection he and Ben have.
Which is a shame, because Ben is a pretty tough cookie, and he deserves his happiness.
I think we needed more of those sweet, special moments between the two to offset the nastiness that is Francisco's behavior. It also felt more like a high school setting, rather than a college aged romance, but it was still a quick and easy read.
Overall, it's a cute jock-geek romance, with some kick ass best friends, and a cafe owner in need of a book of his own.
My thanks to the author for their participation in the Love is an Open Road event.
October 17, 2015
*3.5 stars*
Remember: The prompter asked that the gorgeous guy with dimples of doom, be an asshole. This is important. Because Francisco is a big one.
I love assholes and bad boys. Really I do...All this mess and the broken hearts they leave in their wake...*sigh* Haven't we all had one at some point?? And frankly, when MCs are that young I'm very forgiving. They 're allowed up to a certain point.
All this, as long as they redeem themselves. And there has to be a lot of groveling involved! I feel that Fransisco did redeem himself , but I wanted to see the bastard on his knees, which I didn't. And you, Ben, you were way too forgiving! I would have been more content if the MCs spent more on page time with each other instead with friends.
I admit that I wanted to punch a bitch when Francisco's assholiness reached a new level. Screw you and your dimples, douchebag!
I loved geeky Ben and his inner voice (and different hair colours). I liked the secondary characters, especially Octavian.
And I absolutely loved the cafe. What a lovely place, where all sorts of things can happen and new love stories take place (<-----hint hint hint hint hint hint hint).
ETA: Smoking hot sex scene in the end!
Remember: The prompter asked that the gorgeous guy with dimples of doom, be an asshole. This is important. Because Francisco is a big one.
I love assholes and bad boys. Really I do...All this mess and the broken hearts they leave in their wake...*sigh* Haven't we all had one at some point?? And frankly, when MCs are that young I'm very forgiving. They 're allowed up to a certain point.
All this, as long as they redeem themselves. And there has to be a lot of groveling involved! I feel that Fransisco did redeem himself , but I wanted to see the bastard on his knees, which I didn't. And you, Ben, you were way too forgiving! I would have been more content if the MCs spent more on page time with each other instead with friends.
I admit that I wanted to punch a bitch when Francisco's assholiness reached a new level. Screw you and your dimples, douchebag!
I loved geeky Ben and his inner voice (and different hair colours). I liked the secondary characters, especially Octavian.
And I absolutely loved the cafe. What a lovely place, where all sorts of things can happen and new love stories take place (<-----hint hint hint hint hint hint hint).
ETA: Smoking hot sex scene in the end!
June 10, 2017
This has all the makings of a fluff success!
-coffee shop setting
-manga obsessed nerd who's clumsy and rambles
-"dimples of doom" jock who looks great in a leather jacket and scruff
-unrequited crushing until it's no longer unrequited
Very sweet and easy, and I'm happy to say, the start to a new series!
-coffee shop setting
-manga obsessed nerd who's clumsy and rambles
-"dimples of doom" jock who looks great in a leather jacket and scruff
-unrequited crushing until it's no longer unrequited
Very sweet and easy, and I'm happy to say, the start to a new series!
October 14, 2015
I spent a great deal of time wanting to bash Frankie in the face, wondering how Ben got to be such a patient person, and then sighing when it came together.
October 28, 2015
What a lovely story! The main character is beautifully written and easy to empathise with. I love the setting, and the secondary characters are wonderful.
And...I don't think Francisco was that much of a douche. Yeah, I know I'm a distinct minority - I read the reviews before I read the story, and even as I was reading I was expecting much more extreme douchebaggery . I felt a lot of sympathy for him. The author offers a powerful yet subtle exploration of the constraints of masculinity, because ultimately it is those that obstruct the path of 'true love' in this story.
Thank you to the author and the Love is an Open Road team for another wonderful free story.
And...I don't think Francisco was that much of a douche. Yeah, I know I'm a distinct minority - I read the reviews before I read the story, and even as I was reading I was expecting much more extreme douchebaggery . I felt a lot of sympathy for him. The author offers a powerful yet subtle exploration of the constraints of masculinity, because ultimately it is those that obstruct the path of 'true love' in this story.
Thank you to the author and the Love is an Open Road team for another wonderful free story.
Read
October 4, 2016First book in the Love Like Coffee series. Amazon and Smashwords editions will be up soon :)
November 2, 2015
Wonderful story, written well to the author's prompt. We were made to hate Francisco, and really feel Ben lust, hate, desire, anger, love.
Author is using as jump off for series. Looking forward to the next one.
Author’s Note:
“Caffe Latte” is the first book in the Love Like Coffee series. “Kaapi,” the second book, is based on Eleftheria’s prompt for the LOR 2015 event, and will be available sometime in early 2016.
Author is using as jump off for series. Looking forward to the next one.
Author’s Note:
“Caffe Latte” is the first book in the Love Like Coffee series. “Kaapi,” the second book, is based on Eleftheria’s prompt for the LOR 2015 event, and will be available sometime in early 2016.
October 23, 2015
Francisco is supposed to come off as a dickwad-- it's what the prompter asked for. He sweet talks and then disses Ben. But Ben is a sweet nerd who knows how to stick up for himself. And Francisco has his reasons for behaving so badly. Luckily, he charms the reader just as much as Ben. This is a well-done response to the prompt, a fun read.
October 14, 2015
This was a good story about dating a closeted man. There were good friends and some good sex. It didn't seem very deep at first but then it did go into a few heavy emotional issues. The cafeteria scenes reminded me more of high school than college.
Read
October 1, 2023T'was fine. T'was free.
To be honest, I would not have finished this if the main character had not referenced his "outrageously (dyed) purple hair" on page 2 hence qualifying it for a Fall Bingo square.
I already knew reading the prompt that I would not really enjoy this story, as I don't like MCs being ignored in public by the person who is supposedly in love with them and the ending sex scene was so rushed like - oops still got to write one. Well, it did the job.
On 95 pages the MC has
- "outrageously (dyed) purple hair" (p. 8)
- "longer, dyed, black bangs" (p. 15)
- "red, and dark yellow streaks-with the rest remaining an ashy, dirty blond from the black dye job that was almost washed out-a tribute to Blaziken, one of my favorite fire type Pokémon." (p. 19)
- "neon orange and red" (p. 30)
- "deep blue" (p. 41)
- "pink" (p. 55)
So it definitely succeeded on the bingo square front of "an MC who has a [or several] unique hair color[s]."
It also had some grrr towards twinks and effiminate men, some homophobia, f-slurs, and not enough coffee making. So, I don't really recommend this.
To be honest, I would not have finished this if the main character had not referenced his "outrageously (dyed) purple hair" on page 2 hence qualifying it for a Fall Bingo square.
I already knew reading the prompt that I would not really enjoy this story, as I don't like MCs being ignored in public by the person who is supposedly in love with them and the ending sex scene was so rushed like - oops still got to write one. Well, it did the job.
On 95 pages the MC has
- "outrageously (dyed) purple hair" (p. 8)
- "longer, dyed, black bangs" (p. 15)
- "red, and dark yellow streaks-with the rest remaining an ashy, dirty blond from the black dye job that was almost washed out-a tribute to Blaziken, one of my favorite fire type Pokémon." (p. 19)
- "neon orange and red" (p. 30)
- "deep blue" (p. 41)
- "pink" (p. 55)
So it definitely succeeded on the bingo square front of "an MC who has a [or several] unique hair color[s]."
It also had some grrr towards twinks and effiminate men, some homophobia, f-slurs, and not enough coffee making. So, I don't really recommend this.
October 13, 2015
What a book of contrasts.
I loved Ben, with his ever changing hair colour. He was adorable and feisty (and I'm partial to feisty men in m/m). Francisco? Well, I didn't quite warm to him. As much as Ben was supposed to be the nerd, and Francisco the jock, to me, they behaved like it was the other way round. Right until the last sentence, Ben stole the limelight. For a moment, I even wished he hooked up with Octavian!
Why? Because I found Francisco bland and a little pathetic. He deserved a good wake-up kick in the guts, and to take it like a man. Why didn't Ben give him one? I'd have liked to see that.
So because I only liked one half of this couple, and despite the solid writing, I gave it three stars.
I loved Ben, with his ever changing hair colour. He was adorable and feisty (and I'm partial to feisty men in m/m). Francisco? Well, I didn't quite warm to him. As much as Ben was supposed to be the nerd, and Francisco the jock, to me, they behaved like it was the other way round. Right until the last sentence, Ben stole the limelight. For a moment, I even wished he hooked up with Octavian!
Why? Because I found Francisco bland and a little pathetic. He deserved a good wake-up kick in the guts, and to take it like a man. Why didn't Ben give him one? I'd have liked to see that.
So because I only liked one half of this couple, and despite the solid writing, I gave it three stars.
December 17, 2017
3 Stars
It read very young and the MC quite immature...so when we got to the sex scene I was cringing a bit. Not because it was bad (in fact it was quite hot) but because I thought it wouldn't be so graphic. Felt incongruous to the rest of the story.
But YAY! for breaking stereotypes a little with a feisty, slightly femme MC so prolific in Karate...and that it proved him to be anything BUT a weakling, no matter how he dressed or acted. Would have loved to see/read about the uncle's reaction to learning that!
Does Timmy get a story, now? Or the Librarian? (He sounded hot!)
It read very young and the MC quite immature...so when we got to the sex scene I was cringing a bit. Not because it was bad (in fact it was quite hot) but because I thought it wouldn't be so graphic. Felt incongruous to the rest of the story.
But YAY! for breaking stereotypes a little with a feisty, slightly femme MC so prolific in Karate...and that it proved him to be anything BUT a weakling, no matter how he dressed or acted. Would have loved to see/read about the uncle's reaction to learning that!
Does Timmy get a story, now? Or the Librarian? (He sounded hot!)
November 8, 2015
With a title like Caffe Latte..who can resist?
this is a pretty good book that stuck to the prompt really well.
I will give it 3.5 stars. And recommend it to anyone who likes bad boys or those asshole types...
this is a pretty good book that stuck to the prompt really well.
I will give it 3.5 stars. And recommend it to anyone who likes bad boys or those asshole types...
October 13, 2015
This was a nice story, but I'm just not as forgiving as Ben. I had a hard time with Ben letting Frankie ignore him like that and them just saying its okay.
October 25, 2015
Ben is crushing but Francisco seems to be responding until he doesn't. But Francisco needs to find his own strength to be true to himself so that he can be true to Ben.
May 30, 2018
This was ridiculous and overdramatic and I wasn't into the romance at all.
October 26, 2015
Nice fluffy story with a cute nerd (Ben) who dates a basketball jock (Frankie) who he's lusted after from afar. Frankie is an utter arse during a date and then has to seek forgiveness for being a lying twat. Ben may have forgiven a little too easily, but then Frankie had the "dimples of doom", so probably didn't stand a change.
Overall, finishes on a HFN, enjoyable novella read.
Overall, finishes on a HFN, enjoyable novella read.
February 4, 2017
3.5 rounded up because I loved Ben and I laughed quite a lot through this. Just what I needed. My only problem is that I thought Ben shouldn't have been so quick to forgive and I wanted to see Uncle eat crow.
September 2, 2016
A fun short read. Nerd falls in love with asshat jock with dimples of doom. Parts were silly funny, but it still made me laugh. Loved all the Pokemon references. And there were some, literally, very colorful characters.
May 26, 2016
So frigging awesome, I'm just going to say DAMN!
If you are into sweet, you won't need to add anything to this delicious dessert of a story.
Highly recommend it!
If you are into sweet, you won't need to add anything to this delicious dessert of a story.
Highly recommend it!
March 2, 2017
It could have been so much better. A bit disappointed with the lack of depth, seemingly these two fall in love with each other just on a superficial manner. Personalities played so little in them falling in love that it put me off from this fun story.
Ben is a cutie gamer geek with a hidden badass side, which I really, really enjoyed. It was a cliched ending though. Black belt as a 'deux ex machina' device anyone?
Francisco was kind of an asshole most of the book, and hot or not, apologetic or not, he got the happy ending undeservedly. Ben forgave everything too easily, there should have been plenty more groveling. Probably a spanking or two, and dog collars on Frankie of course. Oh dear, there is the influence of reading D/s stories recently.
Ben is a cutie gamer geek with a hidden badass side, which I really, really enjoyed. It was a cliched ending though. Black belt as a 'deux ex machina' device anyone?
Francisco was kind of an asshole most of the book, and hot or not, apologetic or not, he got the happy ending undeservedly. Ben forgave everything too easily, there should have been plenty more groveling. Probably a spanking or two, and dog collars on Frankie of course. Oh dear, there is the influence of reading D/s stories recently.
Read
September 19, 2019I’m not going to rate this one because I’m not going to give a proper review. Suffice to say I was disappointed by a number of problematic ideas presented. Elements of the story were cute and I really liked some of the characters but overall, this was a miss for me. If pressed for a rating, I’d say 1-2 stars.
November 27, 2018
I liked this shortie: character Ben was so well described and cute and okay with himself. Maybe the other one could have been a bit deeper, for example I don’t know for sure why he fell in love, and so on. Anyway, the story was good and in balance and left a happy smile on my face.
January 29, 2018
The prologue was good. There were comfortable secondary characters. I didn't like Francisco and wanted Ben to move beyond his crush.
January 10, 2019
Holy Mewtwo! The comedy was brilliant. I think I loved the Supreme Overlord of Pokémon part too much.
August 29, 2024
Beautifully written.
November 6, 2020
Idk. I lost the interesting this morningso.
Its a meh. Couldg be 2. Could be 3. Idk
The reason behind the "Twisted" act was so stupid to me??
Idk
Its a meh. Couldg be 2. Could be 3. Idk
The reason behind the "Twisted" act was so stupid to me??
Idk
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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