Amazon Cover
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON
After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time.
The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success ― not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.
If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone.
But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.
“Take a break from epic battles and saving the world. Legends & Lattes is a low-stakes fantasy that delivers exactly what’s advertised: a wholesome, cozy novel that feels like a warm hug. This is my new comfort read.”―Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch’s Heart
MY REVIEW
After years of High Fantasy, I wasn’t sure what to expect of a cozy fantasy. Could orcs and thieves, magicians and dire-cats produce the same feeling as a cozy mystery? The want to curl into a cup of tea and a blanket and read about a low stakes situation and just vibe with the characters?
Yes, you can do exactly that with Legends and Lattes, although you might want a cup of coffee instead of tea.
Instead of saving the world from an apocalypse, a country from an invading army, or the universe from an eldritch horror incursion, we have a retiring orc adventurer setting up a coffee shop, making permanent friends and business connections, aligning commodity purchases, and figuring out a menu.
For spicy rating … it is as sweet as the cinnamon rolls that the coffee shop serves with a single kiss. (Though the one-bed trope does come into play.)
Be ready for a soft kitty with danger mitts, a chess cryptic player, and a bard from a mason background.
Checked out through a local library; read for a book club.
[BONUS POINTS – Romantic interest (1) always initiated by employee; (2) didn’t kiss until AFTER becoming co-owners. This – THIS! – is how you do employer-employee romances without power disparity.]
That is a very fun title.