Whenever Annabeth Albert releases a new book, I take notice. I don’t always read them right away, but with her being the one to beat when it comes to MM Romance novels that make feel all the feels I’m of course going to want to read them.
When she released Cup of Joe as part of the Bold Brew series focusing on kink-friendly romance novels written by 10 different authors and it was free on Kindle Unlimited I of course couldn’t resist. So here we are, and I’m not sure I want to be here.
I’m going to get the bad out of the way first. Ya’ll this is the first time I’ve had to really critique Albert since I struggled a bit with her Portland Heat series. Honestly, it wasn’t even about the characters or the kink (I’ve read a few previously), which was honestly pretty light, but it was about the downhill crash that was the proofreading of this novel. It was not good, at all. There were dozens of mistakes including missing words, wrong words, extra spaces. These are just two examples:
But of course, he only chuckled more. ‘Brat. I’m charge of when and where, right?’ (64)
The surge of pleasure whenever Joe’s cock grazed my prostrate was awesome, and my body was getting more used to the stretch, but despite being super turned-on, my cock had flagged. (179)
I expect so much better from Albert whether she’s self-publishing or using a publishing house. And the WORST part is that second one was in the middle of a sex scene! That’s the WORST place to have a typo or anything awkward, it rips the reader out of the scene and ruins it. UGH SO MUCH NO! Honestly, it’s enough to maybe turn me off from the rest of the series. If one of the best, most well edited authors I truly enjoy has given me this what should I expect from the rest?!
But let’s move on from that and talk about what I did like about the novel!
Bold Brew was by far my favorite, what with the very inclusive LGBTQ vibe and regular seminars and workshops in the evenings for everything from safe sex to BDSM basics. I’d made a number of friends over the years here, but I didn’t need to get that personal with the new barista. (8)
The sad part is, there was a lot of potential in this book and series. Introducing a bunch of different kinks that aren’t necessarily mainstream. I actually enjoyed the couple of BDSM romance novels I accidentally read earlier in the year and although I think Greene did a better job of introducing and educating the reader, this series could do something similar for other kinks!
For the most part this one sticks to a daddy/son, a bit of spanking, and silky lingerie, nothing I haven’t already encountered.
Levi frowned as he let me in. He’d changed out of his barista clothes and was in another track-meet shirt and loose shorts. I was surprisingly interested in what was under the shorts. Ordinarily, underwear was underwear and was better off on the floor, but Levi’s interest in fancy stuff was novel and tantalizing, filling me with all sorts of ideas. (55)
The various scenes were believable and enjoyable with both Joe and Levi having their own little quirks inside and outside of the bedroom that gave them some depth to their character, but not up to her usual par. I wonder if this has to do with the book clocking in under 200 pages when she usually is in the 250-300+ range.
I did see a bit of Alberts trademark humor which was great and honestly made up for some to of the typos. I definitely had a bow-chicka-wow-wow type moment with the first one, because it was hilarious but also so true!
I’d cleaned up and made the bed before Joe’s arrival, but it still felt odd, leading him through the condo to the bedroom. Hot, older electrician. Bedroom repair. If it wasn’t for me and my terminal awkwardness, this could easily pass as the start of a porno. Not that Joe was into me like that, but it was still weird, having him this close to my bed. (22)
The dude was a walking thirst trap, waiting for someone to stick a candid pic of him on social media with hashtag sexy bear alert. Not that I wanted to share him, but I did want him to see that he was sexy as fuck. (117)
And the second one I got Tim to giggle hysterically when I said, “hey it’s me!” and then read it out loud to him! Worth it.
I found the minor characters interesting, but not enough to make me really want to read the next one in the series. So, if I read it, I read it; if not, no loss on my part.
Recommendation: Honestly, I was underwhelmed—I expect so much more from Annabeth Albert. In general, her character driven romances are wonderful no matter the subject or setting, but this one just fell flat. A large portion was the poor editing (typos EVERYWHERE), but I also just didn’t connect with the characters like I usually do when I read almost all of her books. This might be enough to turn me off from the rest of the series. If one of the best, most well edited authors I truly enjoy has given me this what should I expect from the rest?!
Opening Line: “‘Go easy on me.’ The cutest guy I’d seen in quite some time had a voice made for begging.”
Closing Line: “‘Levi can ask all the questions he wants when he’s ready.’ I already knew my answer. I’d make it easy on him. Always.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)
Additional Quotes from Cup of Joe
“Easy to talk with. Easy to look at. Eyes the color of faded jeans, well-trimmed scruff on his jaw, and the sort of broad build that said he could move a piano or catch a swooning heiress with ease, but still soft enough to be cuddly, without being a muscle-bound gym rat like—” (10)
“Near-virginal was not my usual fare at all, but Levi made exploring new and sexy again.” (44)
“‘Breathe,’ I ordered him, my tone sharper now. ‘It’s a kink. That’s all I was going to say. I’m sure you could have a field day with why I like domination—youngest kid, never feeling listened to, etcetera—but at the end of the day, we just like what we like. And the way I see it, I try to live my life so I’m a pretty decent guy most of the time. What consenting adults get up to in private doesn’t change that.'” (71)
“Lord save me from twenty-two-year-olds with five minutes of kink practice. I took a breath so I didn’t snap at him.” (72)
“This was a boxers-and-briefs, football on Sundays, and macho trucks neighborhood, and I bounced between loving my little secret and feeling highly out of place.” (83)
“Joe was such an adult. And sweet, the way he took care of me, didn’t want either of us of embarrassed by an unexpected interruption.” (96)
“‘Oh, I’m not turning down any filthy Daddy dirty talk, but I don’t need a scene. You’re exhausted.’ Taking my hand, he pulled me to standing then tugged me toward the bedroom. ‘And I’m going to put you to bed.’
I couldn’t deny that sounded amazing, even if I did feel guilty. There was always this undercurrent in my brain of needing to provide the kink that Levi enjoyed so much, of wanting to be the sort of Dom he craved and needed. Especially because the more we spent time together, the more I truly wanted to be everything he needed.” (134)
“I smiled because we were on a similar page there. I liked that he wasn’t all ass-obsessed like a lot of tops seemed to be. We’d fooled around a little with fingers, but ass play always felt like a bonus, sprinkles on an already awesome cookie. But I was curious, had been curious but too nervous for years, and now I simply wanted to know what fucking was like.”(175)