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Coffee Shop #1
Coffee Shop Girl
Bethany:
This coffee shop is going to kill me.
Sure, it's my dad's dream. If he hadn't died eight months ago, I wouldn't be here, a college drop out, trying not to drown in debt.
Nor would I be staring into the muddy eyes of a viking-sized man that's telling me everything I'm doing wrong-as if he knows so much about business in a small mountain town.
Except he does.
And when the biggest, most unexpected surprise of all falls in my lap, I'll have no choice but to ask for his help.
Time for some power lipstick.
Maverick:
This girl is drowning.
She might have eyes like glacier pools and hair so black it's glossy, but that doesn't mean she knows how to run a coffee shop. She's drowning in more than debt, interest, and credit card payments.
She'll never make it.
But I kind of want her to.
Because underneath that bright lipstick and those sun dresses is a woman that I have an uncomfortable feeling is about to rock. my. world.
This is a clean, standalone (first in series) contemporary romance with sizzle and spice-but no sex scenes. Guaranteed bantering and happily ever after.
This coffee shop is going to kill me.
Sure, it's my dad's dream. If he hadn't died eight months ago, I wouldn't be here, a college drop out, trying not to drown in debt.
Nor would I be staring into the muddy eyes of a viking-sized man that's telling me everything I'm doing wrong-as if he knows so much about business in a small mountain town.
Except he does.
And when the biggest, most unexpected surprise of all falls in my lap, I'll have no choice but to ask for his help.
Time for some power lipstick.
Maverick:
This girl is drowning.
She might have eyes like glacier pools and hair so black it's glossy, but that doesn't mean she knows how to run a coffee shop. She's drowning in more than debt, interest, and credit card payments.
She'll never make it.
But I kind of want her to.
Because underneath that bright lipstick and those sun dresses is a woman that I have an uncomfortable feeling is about to rock. my. world.
This is a clean, standalone (first in series) contemporary romance with sizzle and spice-but no sex scenes. Guaranteed bantering and happily ever after.
294 pages, ebook
First published October 4, 2020
588 people are currently reading
1834 people want to read
About the author
Katie Cross
120 books779 followersMy world revolves around my husband (who is a major hottie), my precious kids, my Vizsla’s who act like children, and the mountains.
I wear hiking boots instead of heels when I need to feel powerful, and on a bad day, I love a weightlifting workout. Actually, I love it on a good day.
I don’t eat bread because my thyroid doesn’t like it, although there are days I miss it. Especially ciabatta. Sweet potatoes are kind of my thing. Cookies too.
I write because I never stopped.
Author of The Network Series, The Dragonmaster Trilogy, and The Coffee Shop Series.
Email me at kcrosswriting@gmail.com
I wear hiking boots instead of heels when I need to feel powerful, and on a bad day, I love a weightlifting workout. Actually, I love it on a good day.
I don’t eat bread because my thyroid doesn’t like it, although there are days I miss it. Especially ciabatta. Sweet potatoes are kind of my thing. Cookies too.
I write because I never stopped.
Author of The Network Series, The Dragonmaster Trilogy, and The Coffee Shop Series.
Email me at kcrosswriting@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
January 18, 2021
Confession. I have been suffering from a book hangover for over a week now. I've lost count of how many books I have tried but they just couldn't keep my attention. On a whim, and without reading the synopsis, I grabbed this one and crossed my fingers that I found a winner. Good news is... I found a winner! Bad news is... I have an even bigger book hangover now. Good news is... I. Do. Not. Care!
Y'all! I have been sitting here for hours trying to type up my review but all I can think of is... Ummmm... what in the world just happened?! Literally. What in the world just happened?! This book did not go in the direction I thought it would. Granted, that was probably because I didn't read the synopsis and, for some unknown reason, I assumed this book was a RomCom. Ummm. Yeah. It's not. BUT it was SO good!
Ms. Cross did a phenomenal job of captivating me from the very beginning. I hadn't even finished the first chapter before I found myself cheering Bethany on and being intrigued by the mystery of all things Maverick. I couldn't read fast enough to discover all the things about these two! Oh how I adored them!
I also adored Lizbeth and Ellie. I don't want to give anything away but, just know, these two are pivotal in this story.
Gah! You guys! The feels in this book! All. The. Feels! My heart shattered into a million pieces. I had tears rolling down my face on more than one occasion. I ached for Bethany, Maverick, Lizbeth and Ellie. Their journey is so heartachingly beautiful! There's just something about getting lost in it all with them. The learning, the growing, the healing, the loving.. it was all just SO real! This is one book that I will be thinking about for a long time to come!
This is my first book by Ms. Cross and it definitely will not be my last! I cannot WAIT for the next book in this series to come out! It has been preordered and I will be sitting on the edge of my seat for release day!
As for my casting. Y'all. She had me at tattoos. I cannot tell you how long I have waited to use this exact picture! He seriously just fits for me. I am in love with these two! What do you think?!
Content: Mild language. Brief moments of peril. Talk of abuse and suicide with no details. Swoony kisses! Clean!
Y'all! I have been sitting here for hours trying to type up my review but all I can think of is... Ummmm... what in the world just happened?! Literally. What in the world just happened?! This book did not go in the direction I thought it would. Granted, that was probably because I didn't read the synopsis and, for some unknown reason, I assumed this book was a RomCom. Ummm. Yeah. It's not. BUT it was SO good!
Ms. Cross did a phenomenal job of captivating me from the very beginning. I hadn't even finished the first chapter before I found myself cheering Bethany on and being intrigued by the mystery of all things Maverick. I couldn't read fast enough to discover all the things about these two! Oh how I adored them!
I also adored Lizbeth and Ellie. I don't want to give anything away but, just know, these two are pivotal in this story.
Gah! You guys! The feels in this book! All. The. Feels! My heart shattered into a million pieces. I had tears rolling down my face on more than one occasion. I ached for Bethany, Maverick, Lizbeth and Ellie. Their journey is so heartachingly beautiful! There's just something about getting lost in it all with them. The learning, the growing, the healing, the loving.. it was all just SO real! This is one book that I will be thinking about for a long time to come!
This is my first book by Ms. Cross and it definitely will not be my last! I cannot WAIT for the next book in this series to come out! It has been preordered and I will be sitting on the edge of my seat for release day!
As for my casting. Y'all. She had me at tattoos. I cannot tell you how long I have waited to use this exact picture! He seriously just fits for me. I am in love with these two! What do you think?!
Content: Mild language. Brief moments of peril. Talk of abuse and suicide with no details. Swoony kisses! Clean!
January 26, 2021
So Emotional!
4.5 stars. This book! It sure did tug on my heart all the way through. Bethany has gone through so much in her life and just when you think you know it all, more comes out. Her circumstances are dire and more than stressful. I don't think I could have managed as well as she did. Thank goodness for Mav who provided hope and help for so many things Bethany needed. There were so many emotions swirling around, sometimes it was a bit overwhelming because I was so invested in all the characters. This is definitely not light and fluffy, but it is so good. I really loved it and I'm looking forward to the next book!
4.5 stars. This book! It sure did tug on my heart all the way through. Bethany has gone through so much in her life and just when you think you know it all, more comes out. Her circumstances are dire and more than stressful. I don't think I could have managed as well as she did. Thank goodness for Mav who provided hope and help for so many things Bethany needed. There were so many emotions swirling around, sometimes it was a bit overwhelming because I was so invested in all the characters. This is definitely not light and fluffy, but it is so good. I really loved it and I'm looking forward to the next book!
December 12, 2020
Coffee Shop Girl
“Just another day in the life of the owner of an almost-decrepit coffee shop in the middle of the mountains. One that had just missed her golden opportunity to pursue her ideal life.”
If you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls with a pinch of This Is Us, then you’ll like this book.
After the death of her father, Bethany inherits her father’s coffee shop, Frolicking Moose. From the beginning, Frolicking Moose is a struggling business, and Bethany has no desire
to run the business herself.
Even with a struggling business, Bethany’s responsibilities force her to consider putting to save her father’s coffee shop. With the help of the stranger Maverick, Bethany begins to put in the effort to keep her father’s coffee shop alive.
The pros of the book:
The main character is indeed the strong point of this book. With Bethany dealing with the death of her father along with coming to terms with her mother’s faults. Along with her trying to figure out her next step. The way she builds on the relationships around her is intriguing and heartwarming.
The cons of the book:
Maverick. Maverick is a psychopath. Suppose you disregard his creepy borderline stalker ways. When Bethany sells her father’s bike to save the coffee shop, this psycho watches as she sells one of her and her father’s beloved motorcycle. Then he talks about his regret of not buying it and giving it back to her after her business gets back up and running since he did a similar thing with a previous client. And the reasoning behind him not buying the bike is because he believes that she wouldn’t take the bike back. Like, what? Then this psycho has the audacity to sit there as she’s heartbroken, saying it’s as if she’s losing her father all over again, and then proceeds to hug her. Like, what is going on? The only conclusion, for me, about this character is he’s a psychopath. He’s a wealthy guy who just watches as Bethany struggles and is like, actually, I’m here to help you because I like helping failing businesses. But at moments, he appears professional, and at other times he’s just trying to keep from making out with her. It’s so bizarre, but it’s so hard to like Maverick as he watched Bethany sell her father’s bike, especially after telling him how much she loved that bike as well.
In the end, Bethany deserves a better love interest. There were moments that Maverick almost seems to be a professional wanting to help Bethany, but there are times, for me, that Maverick is taking advantage of her. When Maverick realizes this, he’s the first one to tell her that he doesn’t want to take advantage of her, only for her to brush it off, and he just goes along with it. Both of them know that Bethany is still struggling with losing her father and dealing with the financial burden, but they both just ignore her fragile state of mind and just start sort of dating.
The whole thing was weird from the beginning and out of the blue. In the end, the great thing about this book is Bethany’s journey to becoming a responsible adult and her reconnection with her family.
“Just another day in the life of the owner of an almost-decrepit coffee shop in the middle of the mountains. One that had just missed her golden opportunity to pursue her ideal life.”
If you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls with a pinch of This Is Us, then you’ll like this book.
After the death of her father, Bethany inherits her father’s coffee shop, Frolicking Moose. From the beginning, Frolicking Moose is a struggling business, and Bethany has no desire
to run the business herself.
Even with a struggling business, Bethany’s responsibilities force her to consider putting to save her father’s coffee shop. With the help of the stranger Maverick, Bethany begins to put in the effort to keep her father’s coffee shop alive.
The pros of the book:
The main character is indeed the strong point of this book. With Bethany dealing with the death of her father along with coming to terms with her mother’s faults. Along with her trying to figure out her next step. The way she builds on the relationships around her is intriguing and heartwarming.
The cons of the book:
Maverick. Maverick is a psychopath. Suppose you disregard his creepy borderline stalker ways. When Bethany sells her father’s bike to save the coffee shop, this psycho watches as she sells one of her and her father’s beloved motorcycle. Then he talks about his regret of not buying it and giving it back to her after her business gets back up and running since he did a similar thing with a previous client. And the reasoning behind him not buying the bike is because he believes that she wouldn’t take the bike back. Like, what? Then this psycho has the audacity to sit there as she’s heartbroken, saying it’s as if she’s losing her father all over again, and then proceeds to hug her. Like, what is going on? The only conclusion, for me, about this character is he’s a psychopath. He’s a wealthy guy who just watches as Bethany struggles and is like, actually, I’m here to help you because I like helping failing businesses. But at moments, he appears professional, and at other times he’s just trying to keep from making out with her. It’s so bizarre, but it’s so hard to like Maverick as he watched Bethany sell her father’s bike, especially after telling him how much she loved that bike as well.
In the end, Bethany deserves a better love interest. There were moments that Maverick almost seems to be a professional wanting to help Bethany, but there are times, for me, that Maverick is taking advantage of her. When Maverick realizes this, he’s the first one to tell her that he doesn’t want to take advantage of her, only for her to brush it off, and he just goes along with it. Both of them know that Bethany is still struggling with losing her father and dealing with the financial burden, but they both just ignore her fragile state of mind and just start sort of dating.
The whole thing was weird from the beginning and out of the blue. In the end, the great thing about this book is Bethany’s journey to becoming a responsible adult and her reconnection with her family.
February 16, 2022
4.5 Stars! I like to keep some Ebooks on my phone so I can read at work LOL! This book was so good! I will definitely be reading more by Katie Cross. I loved the characters, the passion and all the hope this book had in it. Love!
February 23, 2021
Oh my gosh! This book was incredible.
I just got it a few days ago after reading the info on it and I’m in love with these characters.
Mav is a retired soldier and is in the middle of escaping his family for a few weeks. With the stress of doing something he doesn’t love he needs to take a break and gather his thoughts whilst grieving the loss of his father. That escape brings him to a town that’s about to change his life.
Bethany is grieving hard for her father, after losing her mom and her papa, her dad was the final part of her team that left her. She’s in a rut, after inheriting a business that going downwards. She has no idea just how much things are about to change once a stranger walks into her coffee shop.
From the get go, their first meeting I just KNEW I’d love these two, that I’d root for these two, that they were end game for me but things aren’t always simple in relationships and these two have their fair share of troubles. They both have devastating things that have happened to them, both grieving, both sad with aching hearts.
Although this book was an absolute joy to read being able to read them overcome certain obstacles put in their way it was also devastating, it clutches at your heart and has you feeling all kinds of feelings.
I’ve read a book from this author before and loved her writing just like I did this one and will most definitely be reading more from her in the future.
Coffee Shop Girl is an adorable romance with a dash of sadness and heartache but full of happiness. An absolute joy to read.
I just got it a few days ago after reading the info on it and I’m in love with these characters.
Mav is a retired soldier and is in the middle of escaping his family for a few weeks. With the stress of doing something he doesn’t love he needs to take a break and gather his thoughts whilst grieving the loss of his father. That escape brings him to a town that’s about to change his life.
Bethany is grieving hard for her father, after losing her mom and her papa, her dad was the final part of her team that left her. She’s in a rut, after inheriting a business that going downwards. She has no idea just how much things are about to change once a stranger walks into her coffee shop.
From the get go, their first meeting I just KNEW I’d love these two, that I’d root for these two, that they were end game for me but things aren’t always simple in relationships and these two have their fair share of troubles. They both have devastating things that have happened to them, both grieving, both sad with aching hearts.
Although this book was an absolute joy to read being able to read them overcome certain obstacles put in their way it was also devastating, it clutches at your heart and has you feeling all kinds of feelings.
I’ve read a book from this author before and loved her writing just like I did this one and will most definitely be reading more from her in the future.
Coffee Shop Girl is an adorable romance with a dash of sadness and heartache but full of happiness. An absolute joy to read.
August 28, 2021
3.75 star.
So I will say I'm more of a fantasy reader but am trying to venture out into other things. Still I enjoyed this story. This is my second book from Katie Cross and I can, with 100%, say that her stories are refreshing. In my experience a cute cover coupled with romance will most likely lead to no story, no character depth, and corny dialog. So to my surprise with the two books I read, the romance was not dominant.
The characters had depth and subtle quirks that made them feel real and relatable. Honestly the plot was so real it gave me a little anxiety over Beth's bills. This author focused on real life problems and I think that's what sold it for me. So why not the 5 stars. I dunno I felt like it need a little more of something maybe delving deeper into the characters lives, more emotion. I can't really put my finger on it. The story just didn't wow me.
I did enjoy the main character Beth and her boldness. The girls brought out my protective side. They really needed support even though they had done so much on their own. Still they are just children and deserved a better life. But Mav was strange to me. Throughout the whole book he was borderline stalking Beth. I understand she has to totally overlook this because she is desperate for change. Honestly though it just gave the wrong vibe to me. Probably because he didn't state his intentions while doing so. For Chapter after chapter he is giving off subtle hints as to why he is scoping out her business. It was a bit weird.
So I will say I'm more of a fantasy reader but am trying to venture out into other things. Still I enjoyed this story. This is my second book from Katie Cross and I can, with 100%, say that her stories are refreshing. In my experience a cute cover coupled with romance will most likely lead to no story, no character depth, and corny dialog. So to my surprise with the two books I read, the romance was not dominant.
The characters had depth and subtle quirks that made them feel real and relatable. Honestly the plot was so real it gave me a little anxiety over Beth's bills. This author focused on real life problems and I think that's what sold it for me. So why not the 5 stars. I dunno I felt like it need a little more of something maybe delving deeper into the characters lives, more emotion. I can't really put my finger on it. The story just didn't wow me.
I did enjoy the main character Beth and her boldness. The girls brought out my protective side. They really needed support even though they had done so much on their own. Still they are just children and deserved a better life. But Mav was strange to me. Throughout the whole book he was borderline stalking Beth. I understand she has to totally overlook this because she is desperate for change. Honestly though it just gave the wrong vibe to me. Probably because he didn't state his intentions while doing so. For Chapter after chapter he is giving off subtle hints as to why he is scoping out her business. It was a bit weird.
May 2, 2021
It has been so long since I've read a great classic romance novel, and this was just the lit candy I needed! I devoured all of the Health and Happiness Society books, so I knew I would totally dig this book, and it is my favorite Katie Cross novel to date. Yes, it's a clean, romance (I like both types of romance), and utterly delightful to boot. It felt like reading a warm and cozy Hallmark movie and I loved every second of it. The characters are fleshed out beautifully and so relatable. The details provide so much visual depth, from the decor at the Frolicking Moose to which color lipstick Bethany is wearing for each occasion. I loved the love story, but I also enjoyed the relationship between Bethany and her sisters. Overall, this was a fabulous and charming book, and I can't wait for the next one in the series to come out!
January 27, 2022
2.5 ⭐
I'm so happy I've finished this because I was bored. There was pretty much no exciting part throughout this. Ellie was suppose to be 11 yet she was acting grown?? Didn't quite understand that.
Wasn't a bit of me.
I'm so happy I've finished this because I was bored. There was pretty much no exciting part throughout this. Ellie was suppose to be 11 yet she was acting grown?? Didn't quite understand that.
Wasn't a bit of me.
November 19, 2020
(4.5 stars) - checked baggage
This was my first book by this author, but it definitely won't be my last. It was recommended by another author whose favorite reads are very similar to mine, so I decided to take a chance & I'm glad I did.
From the plot description, I was expecting something more lighthearted & kind of fluffy; however, even though it wasn't what I was anticipating, it wasn't at all disappointing.
Bethany's grief over her father's unexpected death is compounded by finding herself bearing the weight of his nearly failed business venture & seeing her own plans for the future moving ever further out of reach.
Maverick shows up at the coffee shop like some kind of hot & slightly annoying business whisperer.
The two are definitely attracted to each other, but Bethany's baggage is still in the process of loading & Maverick's got some that's never really been unpacked.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot as I think this is one of those stories that's better for having a little bit of curiosity & mystery around it. (And that's coming from a reader who frequently looks ahead & checks out endings beforehand)
It has some unlikely elements, but is told so believably & engagingly, that you don't really notice - you just get wrapped up in it all & enjoy!
*Romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic
*Language: very minimal; a half dozen uses of d-mn & h-ll
This was my first book by this author, but it definitely won't be my last. It was recommended by another author whose favorite reads are very similar to mine, so I decided to take a chance & I'm glad I did.
From the plot description, I was expecting something more lighthearted & kind of fluffy; however, even though it wasn't what I was anticipating, it wasn't at all disappointing.
Bethany's grief over her father's unexpected death is compounded by finding herself bearing the weight of his nearly failed business venture & seeing her own plans for the future moving ever further out of reach.
Maverick shows up at the coffee shop like some kind of hot & slightly annoying business whisperer.
The two are definitely attracted to each other, but Bethany's baggage is still in the process of loading & Maverick's got some that's never really been unpacked.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot as I think this is one of those stories that's better for having a little bit of curiosity & mystery around it. (And that's coming from a reader who frequently looks ahead & checks out endings beforehand)
It has some unlikely elements, but is told so believably & engagingly, that you don't really notice - you just get wrapped up in it all & enjoy!
*Romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic
*Language: very minimal; a half dozen uses of d-mn & h-ll
September 10, 2025
Don’t let this cute cover fool you in to thinking this is just a cotton candy sweet romance. This beauty has depth. Bethany has so much going on thanks to her parents mistakes. But she is a powerhouse of a woman and with a little bit of help and the love of her sisters she will save the day. Maverick has a lot of crap to work through but with the love of Bethany he will find himself again. They make each other stronger and better. I can’t wait to read more from this series.
November 12, 2021
I am very torn, this one had such great aspects and such sappy aspects. I loved the smart plot but the main character was a little too emotional for me. Her behavior was all over the place and it was off putting for me. Glad I read it, I would read more by this author but I hope that future female leads are a little more "stable"
December 9, 2023
My team is coming. I thought. My team is coming.
They came.
What you'll get:
Small town romance
Single guardian
Closed door romance
Amputee rep
CW/TW: Off page domestic violence
Setting: Unspecified
Girl, if your coffee shop is falling apart and a man that looks like a Viking comes in and offers to help, do not look a gift horse in the mouth. Just say yes.
I love books where siblings end up as guardians of their younger siblings and fight like hell to keep them. When her two half sisters show up unexpectedly with bruises on their faces, that's all she wrote. They're hers now.
They came.
What you'll get:
Small town romance
Single guardian
Closed door romance
Amputee rep
CW/TW: Off page domestic violence
Setting: Unspecified
Girl, if your coffee shop is falling apart and a man that looks like a Viking comes in and offers to help, do not look a gift horse in the mouth. Just say yes.
I love books where siblings end up as guardians of their younger siblings and fight like hell to keep them. When her two half sisters show up unexpectedly with bruises on their faces, that's all she wrote. They're hers now.
January 6, 2024
I wanted a basic read whilst recuperating from the flu, and this was perfect.
Bethany has inherited a failing, fishy coffee shop from her Dad. In walks a 'viking' of a man to save the day. Of course, they fall for each other under an agreement that viking man is going to leave, and yoga pants wearing Bethany can not have a problem with it. Yeah, that sounds reasonable . . . .
(Side note - if someone you are romantically interested in tells you, they will go along with it, but whatever happens, they are leaving in a week, please know that it is NOT OK. IRL, they are not going to come back and save you! Say bye, show them to the nearest exit, close the door behind them, lock it, and move on.)
The author has a bizarre obsession with lipstick. All the characters seem obsessed with the stuff! Also, the failing business seems to rest on the creation of an 'operarions manual', I'm no entrepreneur, but I'm pretty sure that's not the crux of saving a failing business. The fact that they make $25 profit and spend it on a nice rug should perhaps be addressed as a poor financial decision.
All that being said, it was an easy read, finished in a day, and did make me laugh out loud multiple times (although probably not as intended).
Bethany has inherited a failing, fishy coffee shop from her Dad. In walks a 'viking' of a man to save the day. Of course, they fall for each other under an agreement that viking man is going to leave, and yoga pants wearing Bethany can not have a problem with it. Yeah, that sounds reasonable . . . .
(Side note - if someone you are romantically interested in tells you, they will go along with it, but whatever happens, they are leaving in a week, please know that it is NOT OK. IRL, they are not going to come back and save you! Say bye, show them to the nearest exit, close the door behind them, lock it, and move on.)
The author has a bizarre obsession with lipstick. All the characters seem obsessed with the stuff! Also, the failing business seems to rest on the creation of an 'operarions manual', I'm no entrepreneur, but I'm pretty sure that's not the crux of saving a failing business. The fact that they make $25 profit and spend it on a nice rug should perhaps be addressed as a poor financial decision.
All that being said, it was an easy read, finished in a day, and did make me laugh out loud multiple times (although probably not as intended).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2021
This book needs a trigger warning on it. It includes child abuse and other general violence towards women.
July 24, 2024
This is Book 1 in the Coffee Shop Series and I read this in one sitting. If you are a fan of Gilmore Girls and small town romance, then this book is probably one for you.
Bethany inherits her father’s coffee shop ‘Frolicking Moose’, along with his mountain of growing debt. Struggling to run a business that she doesn’t want to run and dealing with her father’s recent death, Bethany is close to admitting defeat and selling her father’s dream.
But when she meets Maverick (Mav) who specialises in saving small businesses, together they devise a plan to save the coffee shop.
I liked the main character of Bethany. Despite dealing with her father’s recent death, her mother’s death and her failing business, she still comes across as a strong female character. I like the way in which we see her character develop, especially when she is reunited with her half-sisters.
What I wasn’t so keen on was the character of Mav. The character of Mav was a tall, well-built, blond haired man. But with the name Mav, there was nothing I could do to erase the exact opposite image of Tom Cruise’s character of Maverick in Top Gun 😂 Obviously this is not the author’s fault. Despite this, he always came across as a little creepy and a little ‘heartless’ at times. For example, Bethany decides that in order to save her business, she needs to sell her dad’s beloved motorbike. Pouring her heart out to Mav and saying that it feels like she’s losing her dad all over again, Mav proceeds to let her sell it (despite him being wealthy). His character then says that he feels guilty for letting Bethany sell it rather than him buying it and giving it back to her once she was back on her feet. It just didn’t the sort of thing that someone who is supposedly in love would do?
Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to reading Book 2 in the series.
Bethany inherits her father’s coffee shop ‘Frolicking Moose’, along with his mountain of growing debt. Struggling to run a business that she doesn’t want to run and dealing with her father’s recent death, Bethany is close to admitting defeat and selling her father’s dream.
But when she meets Maverick (Mav) who specialises in saving small businesses, together they devise a plan to save the coffee shop.
I liked the main character of Bethany. Despite dealing with her father’s recent death, her mother’s death and her failing business, she still comes across as a strong female character. I like the way in which we see her character develop, especially when she is reunited with her half-sisters.
What I wasn’t so keen on was the character of Mav. The character of Mav was a tall, well-built, blond haired man. But with the name Mav, there was nothing I could do to erase the exact opposite image of Tom Cruise’s character of Maverick in Top Gun 😂 Obviously this is not the author’s fault. Despite this, he always came across as a little creepy and a little ‘heartless’ at times. For example, Bethany decides that in order to save her business, she needs to sell her dad’s beloved motorbike. Pouring her heart out to Mav and saying that it feels like she’s losing her dad all over again, Mav proceeds to let her sell it (despite him being wealthy). His character then says that he feels guilty for letting Bethany sell it rather than him buying it and giving it back to her once she was back on her feet. It just didn’t the sort of thing that someone who is supposedly in love would do?
Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to reading Book 2 in the series.
January 17, 2024
This was such a cute book, small town setting, coffee shop and mysterious, attractive man, what could possibly go wrong? There was some deeper elements which I really enjoyed. I was rooting for Bethany ☺️ will definitely be reading the second instalment!
August 11, 2021
Light reading but enjoyable. Read it in one sitting.
February 18, 2025
Lovely little story of love, loss and family.
August 27, 2025
So good!
This was such a happy surprise! Sure I expected a "cute" book, but this was more and I can't wait to read the next book. I really enjoyed how real Bethany was and the balance between heavy topics and being a sweet romance as well.
This was such a happy surprise! Sure I expected a "cute" book, but this was more and I can't wait to read the next book. I really enjoyed how real Bethany was and the balance between heavy topics and being a sweet romance as well.
February 1, 2021
What a great read. So many moments made me hold my breath, tear up, or swoon. Can't wait for the next book.
March 3, 2021
3.5 stars
March 21, 2022
4.5 stars
Read it in one day and loved it. Bethany had my heart from the first second and I loved how protective she was of her half sisters in the face of such danger.
Strength in the midst of grief and loss is amazing, she was resilient but she still needed people.
I love that she realises she has always had a 'team' even if they weren't family.
This story broke my heart and then fixed it right up.
Read it in one day and loved it. Bethany had my heart from the first second and I loved how protective she was of her half sisters in the face of such danger.
Strength in the midst of grief and loss is amazing, she was resilient but she still needed people.
I love that she realises she has always had a 'team' even if they weren't family.
This story broke my heart and then fixed it right up.
Read
November 1, 2021FREE today (October 28, 2021) on Amazon.
August 12, 2025
cutest little read, definitely left me with a warm heart.
August 20, 2021
Bethany (←figures) is a girl who hates coffee owns a coffee shop.
A guy who's (naturally) a corporate wizard shows up and offers to help her NOT lose the shop, no strings, no fees. (yeah, right.) He does this through paperwork (um?), and by way of an unnamed 'assistant' on-line. ((?!!))
Maverick (←homigosh, SERIOUSLY?!) is an Army vet with a prosthetic leg (that is never described, and factors in NOT AT ALL, so...) who has chronic wanderlust and is all-in committed to redoing/selling his grandfather's house (doing all the work himself), while being all-in committed to salvaging a drowning business that isn't even his (in what time?!). He likes Bethany, but has no intention of being in a committed relationship with any person, place, or thing. Because a lot of family baggage too deep to mention here.
Bethany has not only a dying business she hates, but two half-sisters (Ellie, short for Elizabeth, and Lizbeth, short for Elizabeth. To go with Bethany, which is a derivative of Elizabeth. Soo... !!??!)
and the sisters come with more emotional baggage and family baggage than Bethany has... which by the way rivals Maverick's baggage. Add all of this shit together, and you have a book that was grasping since page one.
I wanted it to be sweet, schmaltzy, and happy.
It wasn't that. At all. ((sigh.))
It was feelings. It was depth. But it was knots to get through to get to it, and a lot of things that bothered me, like Mav having time to build bookshelves for the shop WHILST renovating an entire house (complete with 3-stall garage). THOSE kinds of things. Too many for me to give this more stars, unfortunately.
A guy who's (naturally) a corporate wizard shows up and offers to help her NOT lose the shop, no strings, no fees. (yeah, right.) He does this through paperwork (um?), and by way of an unnamed 'assistant' on-line. ((?!!))
Maverick (←homigosh, SERIOUSLY?!) is an Army vet with a prosthetic leg (that is never described, and factors in NOT AT ALL, so...) who has chronic wanderlust and is all-in committed to redoing/selling his grandfather's house (doing all the work himself), while being all-in committed to salvaging a drowning business that isn't even his (in what time?!). He likes Bethany, but has no intention of being in a committed relationship with any person, place, or thing. Because a lot of family baggage too deep to mention here.
Bethany has not only a dying business she hates, but two half-sisters (Ellie, short for Elizabeth, and Lizbeth, short for Elizabeth. To go with Bethany, which is a derivative of Elizabeth. Soo... !!??!)
and the sisters come with more emotional baggage and family baggage than Bethany has... which by the way rivals Maverick's baggage. Add all of this shit together, and you have a book that was grasping since page one.
I wanted it to be sweet, schmaltzy, and happy.
It wasn't that. At all. ((sigh.))
It was feelings. It was depth. But it was knots to get through to get to it, and a lot of things that bothered me, like Mav having time to build bookshelves for the shop WHILST renovating an entire house (complete with 3-stall garage). THOSE kinds of things. Too many for me to give this more stars, unfortunately.
October 4, 2020
Coffee Shop Girl, by Katie Cross, is the story of Bethany, a young woman trying to make the best of a bad situation. She’s trying to keep her father’s coffee shop in business and pursue her dream of getting into real estate. But the world seems bent on conspiring against her. On top of that, her tragic past is suddenly at her door threatening to pull her under. It is also the story of Maverick, who walks into a coffee shop in a small town one morning. He has his own difficult past he is trying to out run. Will he be Bethany’s savior or her undoing?
This book pulled me in immediately and I could hardly put it down. The only reason I didn’t read it all at once is that I wanted it to last longer (I still only managed to savor it for a few days). The characters are people you feel like you already know. They are beautifully flawed and feel utterly real. I found myself wishing I could drive to Pineville and walk into the Frolicking Moose and soak it all in. When I reached the end, it left me wanting more.
This book pulled me in immediately and I could hardly put it down. The only reason I didn’t read it all at once is that I wanted it to last longer (I still only managed to savor it for a few days). The characters are people you feel like you already know. They are beautifully flawed and feel utterly real. I found myself wishing I could drive to Pineville and walk into the Frolicking Moose and soak it all in. When I reached the end, it left me wanting more.
October 4, 2020
I mean really who wouldn't love a coffee shop called the Frolicking Moose...
I loved this story and the characters so much, I preordered the next in the straight away. That said, it is a stand alone story too.
Katie Cross weaves her magic writing style into this contemporary romance. It's the perfect blend of sweet tortured romance, suspense, discovery and the blossoming of all involved.
Each sister won my heart for the unique creatures they are and the strength of their girl power.
Maverick is a beautiful, masculine guy, that challenges them all, including himself.
So, worth reading...
I loved this story and the characters so much, I preordered the next in the straight away. That said, it is a stand alone story too.
Katie Cross weaves her magic writing style into this contemporary romance. It's the perfect blend of sweet tortured romance, suspense, discovery and the blossoming of all involved.
Each sister won my heart for the unique creatures they are and the strength of their girl power.
Maverick is a beautiful, masculine guy, that challenges them all, including himself.
So, worth reading...
August 29, 2021
This was a sweet story with some twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. A quick read, if that's what you're looking for. I would have given it 5 stars, but the chemistry between Bethie and Maverick was a little lacking for me. Until the end, the back and forth between them left something to be desired for me. All-in-all, it was still an enjoyable read. I am considering reading the next book in the series as it is about Lizbeth, and she was by far my favorite character of the book.
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