Red Hot Roaster

Tales from the Chocolate Lab Café Book 1

What happens when an over-protective coffee roaster rubs up against an uber-independent café owner?

Watch the sparks fly in this strangers to friends to lovers romantic comedy.

Red Hot Roaster is a sweet and spicy small town romance featuring meddling fur babies and besties, a blind chocolate-truffle-tasting—clothing optional, holiday hijinks, and all the slow burn to roasting hot feels.

Rose is struggling to keep her café afloat while sad about her mom’s passing and her son leaving for college. Sure, Pirate, her lummox of a Chocolate Lab, keeps her company. Plus, she couldn’t ask for a better found family in her cozy neighborhood of Dogwood. So why is she so drawn to Rafe, her mysterious, muscly—and temporary—coffee roaster?

With her café on the line, Rose doesn’t have time for love. And she’s been burned once too often—she doesn’t trust men to stick around. Will she settle for a no-strings-attached fling or fight for forever love?

Rafe prefers his life as a roaming coffee roaster, going from gig to gig. That way, he’s only responsible for himself and for being a good girl-dad to his dainty rescue dog, Princess. So why can’t he resist trying to help Rose, his gorgeous and sad-eyed new boss, solve all her problems?

After his tough years in the army and his rough youth, Rafe fears he’s not worthy of love. Besides, he’s always been a loner with no home—and no woman—to call his own. Will he leave town with his secrets or stay to claim his true love?

Grab a table at the Chocolate Lab Café, where Dogwood denizens, canine and otherwise, help Rose and Rafe chase their happily-ever-after. And where, even later in life, love can find a way to rescue your heart.

Oh boy, I have to admit I laughed a lot as I read this one. Between the crazy banter, the dogs shenanigans and lots of post-it notes, I smiled a lot too. Yet sadly everything isn’t all peaches and cream. Rose is a single mother, whose son had just left for college and her mother had recently passed. To top it off, her cafe/coffee house is struggling, a fact she has kept to herself. She is placing all her hopes on the temp coffee roaster who’s coming to town to help her land a couple big coffee bean contracts. But she isn’t prepared for the sexy grumpy roaster who shows up and turns her insides to mush. Nor is he prepared for the zany woman who is his temporary boss.

Rafe and Rose both have painful pasts and trust issues. Yet their pull to one another is strong but is it enough to overcome all the obstacles in their path? But then again who knows what might happen with the help of meddling friends and besotted dogs.

—Barbara for Sexy Sirens & Cajun Heat Book Blogs, 5-2-25

This one had me at Chocolate Lab Cafe and it being a rom com. Based off the blurb I knew this is a book I needed to read and the beginning of an awesome series….The sense of humor was one of my favorite parts of the book. If you are a dog lover this book will be right up your alley with all the dog references and all the great dogs. There is also plenty of heart and feels in this one too.

Rose is an awesome heroine. I would so work for her and/or be her friend. I know that the Chocolate Lab Cafe would become a hangout for me. I just gobbled this book right up. To my delight part of this book happens around the holidays. For this Christmas lover that made me so happy. This is a must read. I can’t wait for more from this series!

—Nicole’s Book Musings, 5-2-25

The story has secrets, sweet love, and unexpected twists and turns. Rose’s son has just left for college. She is working hard and struggling to stay about afloat. She didn’t want anyone to know so she is struggling alone. She is hoping Rafe can save her business. Rafe is in town for a very short time to help her out. He is a roamer and does not put down roots. But being close to Rose is changing all that and making him feel things he has not really looking for. Can they figure out if this is just a passing thing or a forever thing? Laugh out loud funny moments steal the show with this story.

—Renee Entress’s Blog, 5-3-25

Guaranteed HEA, dual POV, 18+ only