Sweetheart by Sarah Mayberry

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Title: Sweetheart
Author: Sarah Mayberry
Series: Busy Bean #1
Published by: Heart Eyes Press
Release Date: March 1, 2021
Format: eARC
Pages: 282
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
Source: Heart Eyes Press
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2021 COYER Winter
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Google ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks
My rating:

Blurb:

The first Busy Bean novel is an achy breaky romance with gorgeous writing! - Sarina Bowen

I just wanted to get my hands on his beans

Four years ago, I had a ridiculous crush on my sister's boyfriend. But when they moved away together, I put Beck out of my mind and my heart. But now he's back, and roasting the best coffee in Vermont. I need to convince him to supply the Busy Bean. And I need more of those kisses we accidentally shared outside the coffee shop. He still makes my heart race faster than a triple shot of espresso.

She should be off limits, but instead she's pushing mine

Her sister burned my life to the ground, so Haley Elliot is the last woman I should bring into my bed. Although our business relationship is giving way to something more than a fine grind. Neither of us can help ourselves. And what’s worse, I think I’m falling for her.

But it’s a small town, and ours is a big secret. And when her sister blows back into town, suddenly the coffee isn’t the only thing brewing...

My Review:

I received a free copy through Heart Eyes Press in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

4.5 stars — Yeah.  That was just…good stuff.  I was a bit worried with the whole sister’s ex and all that shiznit, but I shouldn’t have been.  Ms. Mayberry showcased how she can offer so much depth and heart and finesse in a truly odd situation, and have me feeling perfectly satisfied when I come out on the other side.

Haley was pretty adorable.  She was modest and shy.  But she could also be bold and take charge.  I loved her kind heart.  And she was so wise in the world — she saw situations with so much clarity, and even if they were tough, she tried to maintain emotional balance.  She impressed me.  Her role in her family had truly shaped her, but she never lost the goodness that just surrounded everything she did and thought.  And I loved how talented she was in such a unique passion.

I was worried about how I would like Beck, b/c he doesn’t really start off on the right foot.  But you do get to see what’s behind it, and he just kind of needed a knock upside the head so he could focus on the right things and see *all* of what was in front of him.  He was kind, supportive, loving…just adorable.

The situation with Jess was fraught with so many nuances, and I feel like Ms. Mayberry really gave us a unique story by showing what it’s like to love a family member with a serious mental illness…especially an untreated one.  There are so many conflicting feelings.  I was worried how Haley and Beck were going to navigate it, but I felt like every step made sense for both of them.  It made it so that when we get to our HEA, I believed in it…I believed they could navigate through any future hardships.

I LOVED seeing all the Busy Bean folks.  It was truly a treat to get to see them in a different light.  And it wasn’t just the Busy Bean folks, there were other cameos for anyone who is a Sarina Bowen fan!  But it never felt campy or forced, it was just kind of delightful.

And I ADORED Larry!!  I mean who doesn’t love a story about a guy and his dog.

I actually really loved learning about the coffee roasting side of things from Beck and his brother, and the shoe making stuff from Haley.  It always makes me want to look these things up and invest in artisans when I encounter this stuff in books.

So yeah.  I’m not surprised I loved the book, I’ve been a fan of Ms. Mayberry for YEARS.  But it’s always nice when you can just sink into a book and smile and smile and smile and know that you’re in good hands.