Title: Served Hot
Series: Portland Heat, Book 1
Author: Annabeth Albert
Genre: Contemporary Romance, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy provided via NetGalley
Published: March 3, 2015 by Kensington
In Portland, Oregon, the only thing hotter than the coffee shops, restaurants, and bakeries are the hard-working men who serve it up—hot, fresh, and ready to go—with no reservations…
Robby is a self-employed barista with a busy coffee cart, a warm smile, and a major crush on one of his customers. David is a handsome finance director who works nearby, eats lunch by himself, and expects nothing but "the usual"—small vanilla latte—from the cute guy in the cart. But when David shows up for his first Portland Pride festival, Robby works up the nerve to take their slow-brewing relationship to the next level. David, however, is newly out and single, still grieving the loss of his longtime lover, and unsure if he’s ready to date again. Yet with every fresh latte, sweet exchange—and near hook-up—David and Robby go from simmering to steaming to piping hot. The question is: Will someone get burned?
Reviewed by: J9
In a Nutshell: Really enjoyed the narrator of this sexy romance. Still, the first person narrator made me feel like I was only getting one side of the romance.
Why I Read This Book: I liked the idea of an “everyday” hero and you don’t get more everyday than a barista!
What I Liked: Robby is a wonderful character and narrator. He’s charming, witty and earnest. As a reader, I shared in his confusion when David would give mixed signals and in Robby’s pain when David couldn’t give Robby the relationship he needed. Robby’s narration made me feel what he did and that’s lovely in a story that focuses on just the romance.
The romance between David and Robby paced well, from first time readers see David ordering his latte, all the way through the Pride Parade meet-up, brunches and lustful nights. Even the ending provided the relationship closure I need as a romance reader.
What I Didn’t Like: As much as I liked the romance, a big part of it was missing: David. Sure, we get David’s big reveal when Robby does but I feel like I missed out on getting David’s feelings about his past and his developing relationship with Robby. I think I would have really loved this romance if I got to see both Robby and David’s introspections about the relationship development.
IMO: Though a bit lopsided in narration, I still enjoyed this quick read and think other gay romance readers will too.
J9’s Rating:
Maybe the second book, if it continues with the same couple, will be from David's point of view.
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