ARC Review – But First Coffee by Sarah Darlington

but-first-coffee-cover

Published September 9th, 2018
Print Length: 323 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Inspirational

four-star

Amazon / Goodreads

My Review

Lana is a 30 years old woman, CEO of Java Beans, a successful coffee shop company with 10 locations and about to open a new one. Java Beans is her baby, she built it from the ground up and she’s very proud of it. She’s also overwhelmed and stressed because she makes all the major decision. So when she can’t stop hearing the praises for one barista named Joe Coffee, she has to meet him.

Joe is a 24 years old man, with a past that he would rather forget and a future that’s uncertain at best. He’s a good guy, open, honest, funny, charming and endearing. He’s also hiding something and his reasoning for being employed at Java Beans is sketchy at best.

The attraction when this two meet at Lana’s office is undeniable but also mature. None of them acts on impulses, Joe can’t for reasons that you have to read the book to understand and she can’t either because she’s the Boss-lady.

They try to fight the attraction but we know that won’t last. When they finally get together, later in the book, it’s sexy, sweet and impossible to stop. All at the same time.

One of the things I loved the most, besides the fact that the older character was a female, was the switch in power dynamics and the why behind the decisions they make.

The endearing quality of Joe Coffee’s character and Lana’s strong personality of the woman in charge makes this story even better. This book is full of little details that made me think, analyze and realize things that occur on a day to day basis.

I have seen some people saying this book ends on a cliffhanger. Let me clear this up for you: Lana and Joe’s romance ends with a beautiful HEA in this book.

The cliffhanger people are talking about is for a secondary character, Kitty. She’s Joe’s sister and for that fantastic ending, I’ll say: her book is next.

Personally, I believe the ending on this books was the perfect hook. It finalizes one couple’s story and leads you to want to read the next. For a début author, this is golden.

I could sit here and write a longer thorough review, telling you about each detail of this book but I feel that would defeat the purpose of reviewing it. I really recommend you to read “But first, coffee”.

Disclaimer: I’ve voluntarily reviewed an advance readers copy of this book.
Thanks, Sarah Darlington!

About the Author

Sarah Darlington grew up in a military family traveling the United States –although, she’s called Virginia home for most of her adult life.

She’s the proud mom of two very special kids. She believes in true love, soul mates, unicorns, rainbows, and that Hogwarts really does exist. Before having kids she worked as a flight attendant. And when she’s not writing, she’s busy plotting her next grand adventure.

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