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Brew Ha Ha #5
Things That Shine (A Double Blind Crossover)
Brew Ha Ha barista, Emily Tavest, hasn’t had it easy. But that doesn’t stop her from believing the best about everything—except guys. Guys should just stay over there… in that corner …away from her relationship-free zone. Everything will be fine if Love does not come to town. Guitar tech, Sage McNabb, has spent the last year on the road with Double Blind Study. Now, learning how to live in the same place every day, Sage has gotten addicted to more than just the coffee at The Brew. Emily’s walls are more electric than stage pyrotechnics, but Sage is a guy who knows a battle worth fighting. THINGS THAT SHINE is a standalone crossover novel based on the worlds of The Brew Ha Ha (Bria Quinlan) and Double Blind Study (Heidi Hutchinson).
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2016
36 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Bria Quinlan
28 books432 followersBria Quinlan is an award-nominated bestselling author of eight Romantic Comedies and YA Issue Books (that she swears are funny...really. They are.) Her books make you snort Diet Coke out your nose or tear up and curse her name.
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/ybgdq33r
Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/krvpqjr
BN: https://tinyurl.com/ydf9det6
iBooks: https://tinyurl.com/jrblzqr
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y9bcw7za
Twitter: https://tinyurl.com/zsxehx8
Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/yd8nv8tj
BookBub: https://tinyurl.com/y8edzs5d
BREW HA HA SERIES
#1 The Last Single Girl
#2 Worth the Fall
#3 The Catching Kind
#4 The Proposing Kind
#5 Things That Shine
#6 *In Progress*!
STARLIGHT HARBOR
#1 The Sweetest Things
#2 Back to You (summer 2022!!!)
RVHS SECRETS
#1 Secret Girlfriend
#2 Secret Life
YA Standalones
Wreckless
It didn’t surprise anyone when Bria Quinlan started writing YA Rom Coms… after all, her life is a walking sitcom (minus the commercials). Plus, secretly she’s still 16 (although her license says something different). Finally putting those English Literature and Creative Writing degrees and Copy Editing cert to work, Bria’s excited to get her quirky stories on the page to share with the world (or at least a segment of it).
She’s represented by the awesomely amazing Lauren Macleod of the Clan…. Oh, wait. Of Strothman Agency.
Bria writes Romantic Comedies for teens that take hard topics and make you laugh through your tears. You can contact her at briaquinlan.com OR twitter @briaquinlan
She also writes sweet & sassy Contemporary Romances as Caitie Quinn.
A proud Golden Heart Finalist, she’s focusing on writing stories that make you laugh, make you cry and remind you that life is an adventure not to be ignored.
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/ybgdq33r
Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/krvpqjr
BN: https://tinyurl.com/ydf9det6
iBooks: https://tinyurl.com/jrblzqr
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y9bcw7za
Twitter: https://tinyurl.com/zsxehx8
Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/yd8nv8tj
BookBub: https://tinyurl.com/y8edzs5d
BREW HA HA SERIES
#1 The Last Single Girl
#2 Worth the Fall
#3 The Catching Kind
#4 The Proposing Kind
#5 Things That Shine
#6 *In Progress*!
STARLIGHT HARBOR
#1 The Sweetest Things
#2 Back to You (summer 2022!!!)
RVHS SECRETS
#1 Secret Girlfriend
#2 Secret Life
YA Standalones
Wreckless
It didn’t surprise anyone when Bria Quinlan started writing YA Rom Coms… after all, her life is a walking sitcom (minus the commercials). Plus, secretly she’s still 16 (although her license says something different). Finally putting those English Literature and Creative Writing degrees and Copy Editing cert to work, Bria’s excited to get her quirky stories on the page to share with the world (or at least a segment of it).
She’s represented by the awesomely amazing Lauren Macleod of the Clan…. Oh, wait. Of Strothman Agency.
Bria writes Romantic Comedies for teens that take hard topics and make you laugh through your tears. You can contact her at briaquinlan.com OR twitter @briaquinlan
She also writes sweet & sassy Contemporary Romances as Caitie Quinn.
A proud Golden Heart Finalist, she’s focusing on writing stories that make you laugh, make you cry and remind you that life is an adventure not to be ignored.
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February 2, 2017I'm thrilled to share a bit more than normal so both Heidi's readers & mine get a liiiiiiiittttle peek into Emily & Sage. If you missed it, in the Brew Crew I read (yes, on facebook live!) where we meet Emily in a scene from the next Brew Book that isn't out yet. Um, time warp!
So, without further ado, THINGS THAT SHINE, Chapters 1 & 2.
ONE - Emily
Over the last three hours, it had become disgustingly clear not only why this job was available, but also why it paid so well.
And when I say disgusting, I mean that literally.
There was nothing like being trapped inside a ginormous burrito to make you want to be sick—except being stuck inside a ginormous burrito that smelled like body odor.
Yup. I was living the dream.
As my shift as the Dancing Burrito came to an end, I struggled to reach behind me to get the prison of a suit off. I had exactly twenty minutes to make it across town to the Brew Ha Ha, and I was cutting it pretty darn close.
“Hello?” I called out as I pushed the door to the garage open. “Can someone get me out of this thing?”
The only sound was my muffled voice echoing back at me.
Well, that wasn’t good.
I wobbled into the center of the empty warehouse-turned-garage and glanced around.
Every single food truck was gone.
Even Mama’s Pork-Fried Bananas, which had seemed oddly specific and gastronomically questionable at best.
“Hello?”
This could not be happening.
My job was to get the people coming down the street to buy early-morning coffee, donuts, and breakfast burritos from the trucks before they could legally be on the street.
Apparently it was no one’s job to get me out of the suit before they hit the road.
Which left me with two options.
Option One: Get across town to the Village while dressed as an insane burrito, then live through however long Abby’s mocking would be…if she even helped me out of the suit.
Option Two: Lose my place at The Brew.
The sad thing was, I didn’t even have the luxury of that really being a decision.
I grabbed my backpack, tried to pull it up my faux-salsa-covered arm, and trudged down the alley to catch the green line. This downtown stop luckily had an escalator, since bending my knees wasn’t an option.
I managed to make it across the street without getting hit…which was great, because I could just imagine the headlines. Things were going as smooth as salsa. I was pretty sure everything would right itself in the world fairly soon, when I reached the turnstile.
Luckily I was a pro at this city girl thing, so my T-pass was in the mesh pocket I could just sweep over the scanner…annnnnndddddd.
Yeah. I was dressed as a burrito. A human-size one.
No matter which way I turned, I couldn’t get through the turnstile.
I glanced at the clock in the attendant’s glass booth and knew something had to change. I went over and pounded on the glass, trying to get the girl’s attention.
Now that was a job I wish I had: sitting and reading while ignoring people all day. I wondered what it paid.
“Hey!”
She finally glanced up, and I had a deep feeling that if I were dressed as a human and not a high-calorie food product, she would have just glanced away.
“Can you let me through the gate?”
She just kept staring, and I wondered if she could hear me.
I leaned sideways, since I couldn’t really bend, to shout through my mesh mouthpiece into the booth mic. “Can you let me in through the gate?”
Hopefully she got the main points, at least.
A static sound buzzed before she said, “The gate is for people in wheelchairs.”
“I don’t fit through the stile.”
“But you’re not in a wheelchair.”
This was true. I was pretty rule-abiding, but this seemed special-case worthy.
“What if I were just too heavy to fit?” I shouted back.
She looked really confused by this. With the obesity level of today’s society, I found it likely there were people who came in who were too large to fit through…but maybe all of them had a disability, so they used a special pass.
“Listen, I already paid.” I glanced toward the track as I heard a train coming and saw everyone on my platform start to push forward. “Please? My train is coming.”
The girl just kept looking at me.
I get that a walking, talking, oversized burrito is weird, but not so weird that you can’t help a girl out.
I did not need Abby harassing me for being dressed like food and being late.
The high-pitched screech of metal-on-metal braking sounded and a dim light broke the darkness of the tunnel’s mouth.
As the front of the train came into view, I gave the girl one last look before I did the most desperate of deeds: I jumped the stile.
Okay. I totally didn’t jump it. I more like ran at it, then flipped over it, head over feet, watching the ground go by, and landed on my—luckily—padded rear end.
“Hey!” the booth girl shouted, throwing the door open. “You can’t do that!”
I gave her an are you kidding me look, until I remembered she couldn’t see it, and sprinted for the train, diving between the doors as they closed.
Yes! Happy dance time.
It took me a couple bars of self-sung music and happy dancing to realize the entire train was looking at me. Darn commuters.
“Do you have coupons?” The voice came from my right, a little old woman clutching a purse that had to be older than me.
“No. I’m sorry. I’m not actually working.”
“You just walk around like this?”
Fair question.
“Not by choice.”
The woman stared at me as if what I said didn’t make sense, before stating, “This generation makes even less sense every time I leave the house.”
We rode in silence, the stares as obvious as the guacamole on my head. Once the train was aboveground, I had to ignore everyone sneaking pics for Twitter or Facebook or whatever, until my stop.
Without the indoor platform, I had to hop down the stairs to the street amid applause and laughter. It was nice that this outfit was good for something. Laughter is often in short supply, and I bet even the grumpiest people had a better start to their day after that commute.
I hurried down the sidewalk, ignoring the atypical hoots and hollers, took a deep breath, and pushed through The Brew’s front door. The last of the morning crowd was just heading out. All the regulars still in line turned when they noted the glare Abby sent my way.
Most of them were used to her by now, but even the uncaffeinated morning brewer could tell there was something different about the look she was sending over their shoulders.
“I’m sorry, we don’t serve burritos here.” Abby’s voice was as full of snark as usual.
“Abby, it’s me.” I waved my hand…well, I waved what I could of it since I couldn’t bend my elbow. “Emily.”
The whole café had turned now to look at me. Oddly, no one was laughing. They were just kind of staring, as if I were a vision of mass hysteria.
I don’t know what I anticipated, but I guess I should have expected her to remain her ever-pragmatic self.
“You can’t work like that.” She crossed her arms across her chest, glaring her typical welcoming morning glare. “We don’t even serve burritos here.”
“I know.” Like I was going to argue with her on that point. “I’m stuck.”
“You’re stuck?”
“Yup.”
And then, a miracle happened.
Abby laughed. Just leaned against the counter and laughed until her face turned pink.
“You’re stuck,” she repeated. “In a burrito.”
“Yes.” If only she could see that I was glaring at her this time.
Talk about role reversals.
“There you are. In a burrito.”
“We’ve covered that.”
“Stuck.”
“Yes.”
“In a burrito.”
“You’re repeating yourself.”
“It’s worth repeating.”
“Or you could get me out.”
“Out of the burrito you’re in?”
“That was the plan.”
“The burrito plan?”
“If that helps you get through the day.”
I tapped my foot, but since I was wearing huge, oversized “shoes” over my sneakers, it just made a faint thud instead of the tap-tap-tap I’d expected.
The woman at the end of the line started giggling.
I don’t know why I thought this would go better. I’d assumed Abby would make some quick, biting remark and then complain the entire time about me causing more work while she liberated me from the felt and wool hell I was in.
Laughter had not really played into the scheme of things.
“Abby.” I all but begged with that one word.
“Well, Emily. You see, we have a problem.” She pushed away from the counter and wiped her hands on the little apron around her waist. And now we’d get to the mocking. “I have all these customers waiting for their coffee. Usually this is when the new girl comes in to help our rush time…but apparently she was eaten by a burrito. I’m kind of disappointed in her…”
I was about to apologize when she finished.
“…because everyone knows you’re supposed to eat the burrito—not the other way around.”
We had a stare down—or what would have been a stare down, if Abby could’ve seen my face—before she finally came around the counter and twirled her finger in the universal sign for turn around.
I felt a hard tug on the zipper, but no give. After three tries—and ripping a chunk of my hair from the monster of a uniform—Abby finally got me free and pulled the smelly guacamole hat off my head.
“Oh. Wow. This thing is heavy.” She sniffed it. “And, seriously, how are you not dead from being trapped inside this smell?”
I was too busy pushing the costume off me to answer, just glad to be free. I felt like raising my arms over my head and shouting “It will never take my FRRRREEEEEEDOOOOMMMM!” but figured I’d caused enough of a scene for one day.
“Please tell me you don’t smell like this thing?” Abby put the guacamole head down and stepped back.
I tried to casually sniff myself, but was afraid I’d built up a tolerance to the inside of the suit in a bid to live through the experience.
“Don’t worry.” I put my hands up to ward off any further snark. “I have a change of clothes. Give me three minutes to get clean, and I’ll be right back.”
I rushed through getting cleaned up and changed, before stowing the costume at the far end of the kitchen where we had a little table and chairs by the back door, then headed out front to a smattering of applause.
I glanced at the clock as I rounded the counter—only four minutes late. And, to be honest, I think we could blame that on Abby and her Burrito Plan chatter.
“Good morning, Emily.” Mr. Watson stood there, his umbrella under his arm just like every morning, no matter the weather.
“Hey there, Mr. Watson. Nice day to be out and about.” I gave him my best smile.
Mr. Watson was a retired widower who came in every morning for his coffee and paper, to get out of the house. He didn’t stay. It was as if he still needed a routine to start his day.
“Saw you there in that big wrap thing. Got another job, huh?”
“Yup. But, I think this was a one-day gig. I’m not sure they could pay me enough to get back in that thing.”
“What’s that make it, six?”
“Five. Well, back down to four since I won’t be going back to the Dancing Burrito gig.”
Nothing could get me to risk my personal sanity in that suit...well, short of a full ride with room and board.
I handed Mr. Watson his regular coffee and waved him out the door.
The morning rush was starting to wear thin, the last of the commuters rushing off late to work. Time to restock, then reassess.
I was just thinking I should go make myself more presentable—maybe bathe in the sink or something—when the door pushed open again. I glanced over my shoulder, halfway up from a crouch where’d I’d gone to reach a bunch of cups to restock, when…
Oh no.
He’s here. Mr. Floppy Hair and Gorgeous Hands.
Gorgeous hands.
He’d come in a couple times, starting about two weeks ago, and every time I was just…dumb. I mean, a complete idiot.
Which was the last thing I needed. Boys were off the table for now. Honestly, it wasn’t even about the fact that I had five—no, four—jobs, or that I couldn’t pay my rent or that I was saving to take another course this summer at UMass.
It was more that guys had never been a positive in my life.
Understatement.
No. Guys were…not safe. They derailed and controlled and threatened and needed to be avoided until they were all old enough to have molted and grown into men.
Which, at my ripe age of twenty-three, I knew was not right now.
“This one’s all yours.” Abby the Obvious gave me a smirk. “I’ll be in the kitchen doing…stuff.”
Mr. Floppy Hair wove through the café to the table he always grabbed in the window, pulled out whatever was in that sketchbook of his, and pocketed his phone.
I took a deep breath. He’s just a guy. Just a guy. I had no interest in guys. No matter how scruffily hot they were.
I reached back, grabbing for Abby, hoping we could switch places, when the door opened again and two cops strode right up to the counter, cutting off He of the Gorgeous Hands.
“Hello, Officer. What can I get you?” We had a couple cops come in each day. Mostly with Max—Officer of Cuteness—on their shifts.
“Are you Emily Tavest?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Miss, you’re going to have to come with us.”
“I am?” I wiped my hands on my apron, my stomach turning over with fear.
Cops weren’t high on my To Be Trusted list. Poor Max had worked hard to win me over. I’ll admit, the viral picture of him rescuing a kitten hadn’t hurt.
“We have a report that you stole a two-hundred dollar character costume.”
“Stole?” I echoed. “No. No.”
Abby stepped up behind me, looked at the two cops, and shook her head.
“I really thought we weren’t going to go through any more frivolous arrests with you people. But, I was wrong.” She shrugged. “It happens.”
And, without a word of help, she wandered off, pulling out her cell phone and turning her back on me.
I tried not to panic, but my history with the police wasn’t exactly a panic-free zone.
“I didn’t steal anything,” I assured them. “I called them. Told them they left me there trapped in the suit and I’d return it tonight when they got back after their dinner shift.”
“Miss, he reported you left the premises with it without permission.”
“I couldn’t get out of it. They left me there, and…” Wait a second. “How did you know where to find me?”
The cop pulled out his little notebook and flipped through some pages. “A Mr. Burgess gave us this address.”
“He only had it because I called him to tell him I had the suit, I was here, and I’d return it after my shift.”
The cop looked at me with a Law & Order squint that said, “Sure, that’s what happened.”
“I have the suit.” I pointed toward the kitchen as if they could see through the wall. “I’ll just give it to you now.”
They glanced at one another, doing some type of covert communication thing I can only imagine they teach you in Advance Copness Class.
“We’ll have to check if that’s acceptable with Mr. Burgess.”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” I couldn’t help but wonder what the point of not getting his suit back would be.
The cop cleared his throat and gave me A Look. “Clarification: We’ll have to make sure Mr. Burgess doesn’t wish to press charges anymore.”
“What?”
The officer who seemed to be in charge of this train wreck pulled out his little notebook again and dialed a number he had written there.
“Mr. Burgess? This is Officer McIntyre. We have the girl and your suit.”
I couldn’t make out the words, but I heard them—loud and fast—mumbling out of the receiver of the phone.
Officer McIntyre nodded as he listened. When there was finally a slight pause, he jumped in. “I understand, sir.”
Unfortunately for us, that didn’t slow Mr. Burgess down. He just kept ranting. I stood there, waiting, while out of the corner of my eye I watched Mr. Floppy Hair and Gorgeous Hands head back to his table and sit, watching the show but not getting in the way to get his coffee.
Great.
“Mr. Burgess,” Officer McIntyre finally broke in. “I have some questions for you as well… Yes, sir. I understand you’re a busy man… No, sir. The city has absolutely nothing against small business men. That’s kind of what we’re built on, actually…uh-huh. Yes. I hear you.”
I watched Officer McIntyre get more and more annoyed and frustrated with Mr. Burgess and prayed that didn’t get transferred to me.
“Mr. Burgess.” Officer McIntyre was obviously cutting him off. “We can have a quick discussion over the phone, or you can answer my questions when you come down to the station to pick up the suit… No, I won’t be bringing it to you. I’m not a courier.”
There was silence on both ends of the phone. A stalemate.
Behind me, the door opened. A wave of outside heat rushed in with the figure who stood there, shadowed by the sun. As the door fell shut, I made out the broad shoulders and little cop hat.
Officer of Cuteness!
“Max!” I rushed over and threw my arms around him. “They want to arrest me for being swallowed by a giant burrito!”
“Emily.” He patted me on the back. “You smell horrible. Go sit over there.”
Max pointed to the overstuffed couches by the empty fireplace. I dutifully headed there and sat, Abby coming to join me.
“You called Max?” I asked.
“Of course.” She looked at me as if not having my back wasn’t an option.
“Thanks.”
“Whatever.”
We watched Max work things out with the other cops, feeling oddly as if we were under the protection of a local lord.
Once everything was sorted—and I’d agreed I’d drop the suit back off that evening—the extra police left and The Brew fell silent.
Max just stood there for a moment, doing his Man of Silence thing before asking, “Are you sure you’re not related to Kasey?”
“Fairly, but anything’s possible, I guess.”
He just snorted and left before I could thank him again.
Just as I was getting my feet back under me, Prince of Gorgeous Hands was in front of me at the counter.
“Wow, that was crazy, huh?” He gave me a little what-can-you-do smile.
“Um, yeah.”
He just kept grinning at me until he finally said, “So…coffee?”
Oh. Coffee. Yeah.
“Um…ah…” I really couldn’t deal.
I did what any not-quite-sane woman would do after surviving burritos, commuter obstacle courses, the fuzz, and his Royalty of Hotness.
I turned, walked right through the door to the kitchen, and hid in the walk-in.
TWO - SAGE
Sage sighed as the sliding door to the back closed behind Emily.
Well, a part of him sighed. Sort of a wistful, reluctant, disappointed, and relieved sigh all at once. It was a smorgasbord of a sigh.
It was all he could do not to declare “Foiled again!” Though that would probably draw the kind of attention he didn't want from Emily.
He chewed on the inside of his cheek, wondering if she’d come back or if maybe he should help himself to the coffee.
He braced himself, pressing his hands flat on the counter. He could hop right over; it seemed sturdy enough. He’d have to mind the register; it was a smallish fit. Though, if Abby caught him, he was a dead man.
Maybe not dead, but probably banned. A banned man. Which wouldn’t help him at all in finishing Mrs. Callahan’s new dining room or in getting to talk to Emily.
Sage wasn’t willing to risk it. He’d wait.
As if summoned by his caffeine addiction, Abby came through the doors and glowered. “Were you mean to her?”
Sage gave his best Han Solo Who, me? look—lifted eyebrows and undeniable innocence.
Abby narrowed her eyes. “Yes, you. Why else would my happy burrito be hiding in the walk-in?”
Sage’s lips twitched, remembering the cop's accusation and Emily’s adamant denial. Because, obviously Emily was the poster child for food-costume theft.
“What's the flavor today, Abs?” he asked instead of answering her question. Because he really didn't want to know if he was the reason Emily hid in the walk-in.
Abby blinked.
It was her version of pausing before saying something she wasn’t supposed to say.
“They’re called roasts, not flavors,” she corrected patiently.
Before he had a chance at a rejoinder, she turned, pointing to the board behind her.
“Just like yesterday, and the day before, the roasts of the day are always listed right here.”
DARN GOODREADS - They limited the words!
So, without further ado, THINGS THAT SHINE, Chapters 1 & 2.
ONE - Emily
Over the last three hours, it had become disgustingly clear not only why this job was available, but also why it paid so well.
And when I say disgusting, I mean that literally.
There was nothing like being trapped inside a ginormous burrito to make you want to be sick—except being stuck inside a ginormous burrito that smelled like body odor.
Yup. I was living the dream.
As my shift as the Dancing Burrito came to an end, I struggled to reach behind me to get the prison of a suit off. I had exactly twenty minutes to make it across town to the Brew Ha Ha, and I was cutting it pretty darn close.
“Hello?” I called out as I pushed the door to the garage open. “Can someone get me out of this thing?”
The only sound was my muffled voice echoing back at me.
Well, that wasn’t good.
I wobbled into the center of the empty warehouse-turned-garage and glanced around.
Every single food truck was gone.
Even Mama’s Pork-Fried Bananas, which had seemed oddly specific and gastronomically questionable at best.
“Hello?”
This could not be happening.
My job was to get the people coming down the street to buy early-morning coffee, donuts, and breakfast burritos from the trucks before they could legally be on the street.
Apparently it was no one’s job to get me out of the suit before they hit the road.
Which left me with two options.
Option One: Get across town to the Village while dressed as an insane burrito, then live through however long Abby’s mocking would be…if she even helped me out of the suit.
Option Two: Lose my place at The Brew.
The sad thing was, I didn’t even have the luxury of that really being a decision.
I grabbed my backpack, tried to pull it up my faux-salsa-covered arm, and trudged down the alley to catch the green line. This downtown stop luckily had an escalator, since bending my knees wasn’t an option.
I managed to make it across the street without getting hit…which was great, because I could just imagine the headlines. Things were going as smooth as salsa. I was pretty sure everything would right itself in the world fairly soon, when I reached the turnstile.
Luckily I was a pro at this city girl thing, so my T-pass was in the mesh pocket I could just sweep over the scanner…annnnnndddddd.
Yeah. I was dressed as a burrito. A human-size one.
No matter which way I turned, I couldn’t get through the turnstile.
I glanced at the clock in the attendant’s glass booth and knew something had to change. I went over and pounded on the glass, trying to get the girl’s attention.
Now that was a job I wish I had: sitting and reading while ignoring people all day. I wondered what it paid.
“Hey!”
She finally glanced up, and I had a deep feeling that if I were dressed as a human and not a high-calorie food product, she would have just glanced away.
“Can you let me through the gate?”
She just kept staring, and I wondered if she could hear me.
I leaned sideways, since I couldn’t really bend, to shout through my mesh mouthpiece into the booth mic. “Can you let me in through the gate?”
Hopefully she got the main points, at least.
A static sound buzzed before she said, “The gate is for people in wheelchairs.”
“I don’t fit through the stile.”
“But you’re not in a wheelchair.”
This was true. I was pretty rule-abiding, but this seemed special-case worthy.
“What if I were just too heavy to fit?” I shouted back.
She looked really confused by this. With the obesity level of today’s society, I found it likely there were people who came in who were too large to fit through…but maybe all of them had a disability, so they used a special pass.
“Listen, I already paid.” I glanced toward the track as I heard a train coming and saw everyone on my platform start to push forward. “Please? My train is coming.”
The girl just kept looking at me.
I get that a walking, talking, oversized burrito is weird, but not so weird that you can’t help a girl out.
I did not need Abby harassing me for being dressed like food and being late.
The high-pitched screech of metal-on-metal braking sounded and a dim light broke the darkness of the tunnel’s mouth.
As the front of the train came into view, I gave the girl one last look before I did the most desperate of deeds: I jumped the stile.
Okay. I totally didn’t jump it. I more like ran at it, then flipped over it, head over feet, watching the ground go by, and landed on my—luckily—padded rear end.
“Hey!” the booth girl shouted, throwing the door open. “You can’t do that!”
I gave her an are you kidding me look, until I remembered she couldn’t see it, and sprinted for the train, diving between the doors as they closed.
Yes! Happy dance time.
It took me a couple bars of self-sung music and happy dancing to realize the entire train was looking at me. Darn commuters.
“Do you have coupons?” The voice came from my right, a little old woman clutching a purse that had to be older than me.
“No. I’m sorry. I’m not actually working.”
“You just walk around like this?”
Fair question.
“Not by choice.”
The woman stared at me as if what I said didn’t make sense, before stating, “This generation makes even less sense every time I leave the house.”
We rode in silence, the stares as obvious as the guacamole on my head. Once the train was aboveground, I had to ignore everyone sneaking pics for Twitter or Facebook or whatever, until my stop.
Without the indoor platform, I had to hop down the stairs to the street amid applause and laughter. It was nice that this outfit was good for something. Laughter is often in short supply, and I bet even the grumpiest people had a better start to their day after that commute.
I hurried down the sidewalk, ignoring the atypical hoots and hollers, took a deep breath, and pushed through The Brew’s front door. The last of the morning crowd was just heading out. All the regulars still in line turned when they noted the glare Abby sent my way.
Most of them were used to her by now, but even the uncaffeinated morning brewer could tell there was something different about the look she was sending over their shoulders.
“I’m sorry, we don’t serve burritos here.” Abby’s voice was as full of snark as usual.
“Abby, it’s me.” I waved my hand…well, I waved what I could of it since I couldn’t bend my elbow. “Emily.”
The whole café had turned now to look at me. Oddly, no one was laughing. They were just kind of staring, as if I were a vision of mass hysteria.
I don’t know what I anticipated, but I guess I should have expected her to remain her ever-pragmatic self.
“You can’t work like that.” She crossed her arms across her chest, glaring her typical welcoming morning glare. “We don’t even serve burritos here.”
“I know.” Like I was going to argue with her on that point. “I’m stuck.”
“You’re stuck?”
“Yup.”
And then, a miracle happened.
Abby laughed. Just leaned against the counter and laughed until her face turned pink.
“You’re stuck,” she repeated. “In a burrito.”
“Yes.” If only she could see that I was glaring at her this time.
Talk about role reversals.
“There you are. In a burrito.”
“We’ve covered that.”
“Stuck.”
“Yes.”
“In a burrito.”
“You’re repeating yourself.”
“It’s worth repeating.”
“Or you could get me out.”
“Out of the burrito you’re in?”
“That was the plan.”
“The burrito plan?”
“If that helps you get through the day.”
I tapped my foot, but since I was wearing huge, oversized “shoes” over my sneakers, it just made a faint thud instead of the tap-tap-tap I’d expected.
The woman at the end of the line started giggling.
I don’t know why I thought this would go better. I’d assumed Abby would make some quick, biting remark and then complain the entire time about me causing more work while she liberated me from the felt and wool hell I was in.
Laughter had not really played into the scheme of things.
“Abby.” I all but begged with that one word.
“Well, Emily. You see, we have a problem.” She pushed away from the counter and wiped her hands on the little apron around her waist. And now we’d get to the mocking. “I have all these customers waiting for their coffee. Usually this is when the new girl comes in to help our rush time…but apparently she was eaten by a burrito. I’m kind of disappointed in her…”
I was about to apologize when she finished.
“…because everyone knows you’re supposed to eat the burrito—not the other way around.”
We had a stare down—or what would have been a stare down, if Abby could’ve seen my face—before she finally came around the counter and twirled her finger in the universal sign for turn around.
I felt a hard tug on the zipper, but no give. After three tries—and ripping a chunk of my hair from the monster of a uniform—Abby finally got me free and pulled the smelly guacamole hat off my head.
“Oh. Wow. This thing is heavy.” She sniffed it. “And, seriously, how are you not dead from being trapped inside this smell?”
I was too busy pushing the costume off me to answer, just glad to be free. I felt like raising my arms over my head and shouting “It will never take my FRRRREEEEEEDOOOOMMMM!” but figured I’d caused enough of a scene for one day.
“Please tell me you don’t smell like this thing?” Abby put the guacamole head down and stepped back.
I tried to casually sniff myself, but was afraid I’d built up a tolerance to the inside of the suit in a bid to live through the experience.
“Don’t worry.” I put my hands up to ward off any further snark. “I have a change of clothes. Give me three minutes to get clean, and I’ll be right back.”
I rushed through getting cleaned up and changed, before stowing the costume at the far end of the kitchen where we had a little table and chairs by the back door, then headed out front to a smattering of applause.
I glanced at the clock as I rounded the counter—only four minutes late. And, to be honest, I think we could blame that on Abby and her Burrito Plan chatter.
“Good morning, Emily.” Mr. Watson stood there, his umbrella under his arm just like every morning, no matter the weather.
“Hey there, Mr. Watson. Nice day to be out and about.” I gave him my best smile.
Mr. Watson was a retired widower who came in every morning for his coffee and paper, to get out of the house. He didn’t stay. It was as if he still needed a routine to start his day.
“Saw you there in that big wrap thing. Got another job, huh?”
“Yup. But, I think this was a one-day gig. I’m not sure they could pay me enough to get back in that thing.”
“What’s that make it, six?”
“Five. Well, back down to four since I won’t be going back to the Dancing Burrito gig.”
Nothing could get me to risk my personal sanity in that suit...well, short of a full ride with room and board.
I handed Mr. Watson his regular coffee and waved him out the door.
The morning rush was starting to wear thin, the last of the commuters rushing off late to work. Time to restock, then reassess.
I was just thinking I should go make myself more presentable—maybe bathe in the sink or something—when the door pushed open again. I glanced over my shoulder, halfway up from a crouch where’d I’d gone to reach a bunch of cups to restock, when…
Oh no.
He’s here. Mr. Floppy Hair and Gorgeous Hands.
Gorgeous hands.
He’d come in a couple times, starting about two weeks ago, and every time I was just…dumb. I mean, a complete idiot.
Which was the last thing I needed. Boys were off the table for now. Honestly, it wasn’t even about the fact that I had five—no, four—jobs, or that I couldn’t pay my rent or that I was saving to take another course this summer at UMass.
It was more that guys had never been a positive in my life.
Understatement.
No. Guys were…not safe. They derailed and controlled and threatened and needed to be avoided until they were all old enough to have molted and grown into men.
Which, at my ripe age of twenty-three, I knew was not right now.
“This one’s all yours.” Abby the Obvious gave me a smirk. “I’ll be in the kitchen doing…stuff.”
Mr. Floppy Hair wove through the café to the table he always grabbed in the window, pulled out whatever was in that sketchbook of his, and pocketed his phone.
I took a deep breath. He’s just a guy. Just a guy. I had no interest in guys. No matter how scruffily hot they were.
I reached back, grabbing for Abby, hoping we could switch places, when the door opened again and two cops strode right up to the counter, cutting off He of the Gorgeous Hands.
“Hello, Officer. What can I get you?” We had a couple cops come in each day. Mostly with Max—Officer of Cuteness—on their shifts.
“Are you Emily Tavest?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Miss, you’re going to have to come with us.”
“I am?” I wiped my hands on my apron, my stomach turning over with fear.
Cops weren’t high on my To Be Trusted list. Poor Max had worked hard to win me over. I’ll admit, the viral picture of him rescuing a kitten hadn’t hurt.
“We have a report that you stole a two-hundred dollar character costume.”
“Stole?” I echoed. “No. No.”
Abby stepped up behind me, looked at the two cops, and shook her head.
“I really thought we weren’t going to go through any more frivolous arrests with you people. But, I was wrong.” She shrugged. “It happens.”
And, without a word of help, she wandered off, pulling out her cell phone and turning her back on me.
I tried not to panic, but my history with the police wasn’t exactly a panic-free zone.
“I didn’t steal anything,” I assured them. “I called them. Told them they left me there trapped in the suit and I’d return it tonight when they got back after their dinner shift.”
“Miss, he reported you left the premises with it without permission.”
“I couldn’t get out of it. They left me there, and…” Wait a second. “How did you know where to find me?”
The cop pulled out his little notebook and flipped through some pages. “A Mr. Burgess gave us this address.”
“He only had it because I called him to tell him I had the suit, I was here, and I’d return it after my shift.”
The cop looked at me with a Law & Order squint that said, “Sure, that’s what happened.”
“I have the suit.” I pointed toward the kitchen as if they could see through the wall. “I’ll just give it to you now.”
They glanced at one another, doing some type of covert communication thing I can only imagine they teach you in Advance Copness Class.
“We’ll have to check if that’s acceptable with Mr. Burgess.”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” I couldn’t help but wonder what the point of not getting his suit back would be.
The cop cleared his throat and gave me A Look. “Clarification: We’ll have to make sure Mr. Burgess doesn’t wish to press charges anymore.”
“What?”
The officer who seemed to be in charge of this train wreck pulled out his little notebook again and dialed a number he had written there.
“Mr. Burgess? This is Officer McIntyre. We have the girl and your suit.”
I couldn’t make out the words, but I heard them—loud and fast—mumbling out of the receiver of the phone.
Officer McIntyre nodded as he listened. When there was finally a slight pause, he jumped in. “I understand, sir.”
Unfortunately for us, that didn’t slow Mr. Burgess down. He just kept ranting. I stood there, waiting, while out of the corner of my eye I watched Mr. Floppy Hair and Gorgeous Hands head back to his table and sit, watching the show but not getting in the way to get his coffee.
Great.
“Mr. Burgess,” Officer McIntyre finally broke in. “I have some questions for you as well… Yes, sir. I understand you’re a busy man… No, sir. The city has absolutely nothing against small business men. That’s kind of what we’re built on, actually…uh-huh. Yes. I hear you.”
I watched Officer McIntyre get more and more annoyed and frustrated with Mr. Burgess and prayed that didn’t get transferred to me.
“Mr. Burgess.” Officer McIntyre was obviously cutting him off. “We can have a quick discussion over the phone, or you can answer my questions when you come down to the station to pick up the suit… No, I won’t be bringing it to you. I’m not a courier.”
There was silence on both ends of the phone. A stalemate.
Behind me, the door opened. A wave of outside heat rushed in with the figure who stood there, shadowed by the sun. As the door fell shut, I made out the broad shoulders and little cop hat.
Officer of Cuteness!
“Max!” I rushed over and threw my arms around him. “They want to arrest me for being swallowed by a giant burrito!”
“Emily.” He patted me on the back. “You smell horrible. Go sit over there.”
Max pointed to the overstuffed couches by the empty fireplace. I dutifully headed there and sat, Abby coming to join me.
“You called Max?” I asked.
“Of course.” She looked at me as if not having my back wasn’t an option.
“Thanks.”
“Whatever.”
We watched Max work things out with the other cops, feeling oddly as if we were under the protection of a local lord.
Once everything was sorted—and I’d agreed I’d drop the suit back off that evening—the extra police left and The Brew fell silent.
Max just stood there for a moment, doing his Man of Silence thing before asking, “Are you sure you’re not related to Kasey?”
“Fairly, but anything’s possible, I guess.”
He just snorted and left before I could thank him again.
Just as I was getting my feet back under me, Prince of Gorgeous Hands was in front of me at the counter.
“Wow, that was crazy, huh?” He gave me a little what-can-you-do smile.
“Um, yeah.”
He just kept grinning at me until he finally said, “So…coffee?”
Oh. Coffee. Yeah.
“Um…ah…” I really couldn’t deal.
I did what any not-quite-sane woman would do after surviving burritos, commuter obstacle courses, the fuzz, and his Royalty of Hotness.
I turned, walked right through the door to the kitchen, and hid in the walk-in.
TWO - SAGE
Sage sighed as the sliding door to the back closed behind Emily.
Well, a part of him sighed. Sort of a wistful, reluctant, disappointed, and relieved sigh all at once. It was a smorgasbord of a sigh.
It was all he could do not to declare “Foiled again!” Though that would probably draw the kind of attention he didn't want from Emily.
He chewed on the inside of his cheek, wondering if she’d come back or if maybe he should help himself to the coffee.
He braced himself, pressing his hands flat on the counter. He could hop right over; it seemed sturdy enough. He’d have to mind the register; it was a smallish fit. Though, if Abby caught him, he was a dead man.
Maybe not dead, but probably banned. A banned man. Which wouldn’t help him at all in finishing Mrs. Callahan’s new dining room or in getting to talk to Emily.
Sage wasn’t willing to risk it. He’d wait.
As if summoned by his caffeine addiction, Abby came through the doors and glowered. “Were you mean to her?”
Sage gave his best Han Solo Who, me? look—lifted eyebrows and undeniable innocence.
Abby narrowed her eyes. “Yes, you. Why else would my happy burrito be hiding in the walk-in?”
Sage’s lips twitched, remembering the cop's accusation and Emily’s adamant denial. Because, obviously Emily was the poster child for food-costume theft.
“What's the flavor today, Abs?” he asked instead of answering her question. Because he really didn't want to know if he was the reason Emily hid in the walk-in.
Abby blinked.
It was her version of pausing before saying something she wasn’t supposed to say.
“They’re called roasts, not flavors,” she corrected patiently.
Before he had a chance at a rejoinder, she turned, pointing to the board behind her.
“Just like yesterday, and the day before, the roasts of the day are always listed right here.”
DARN GOODREADS - They limited the words!
October 5, 2016
I'm trying to formulate coherent thoughts regarding Things That Shine since I stayed up way to late to read through it. But when you get the chance to read a story pre-release and review it you stay up late. I seriously had flutters of excitement just holding the book in my hand. When else are you going to get a spin off of two amazing series?!
At first I thought "hmmmm" Emily is cool, and then there's Sage...."floppy hair and gorgeous hands". The story begins at the Brew. And well Abby. She is one of my favorite parts of this story. Her voice of reason with a side of slap you up side the head is so very endearing. Which I'm sure Bria and Heidi didn't intend for that to happen but their characters are complimentary of each other. They just fit together so perfectly. It meant for a smooth read where one voice came through as opposed to two separate authors' voices.
Emily has had a rough life where trust is not easily won. The girl seriously has four jobs and lives in a non-existent room. So not exactly an easy life. She meets Sage and decides to give him a chance. Which is saying a lot...Well stuff happens and you get to meet DBS. Sage the incredible carpenter loves to build and fix things. And he's incredibly gifted with music as well. His gifts lend to his connection with DBS. Although his life hasn't been cake either. You find moments like this:
"Kind souls were unbelievably attractive to Sage. It was so normal to be negative these days. It took honest bravery to be sweet. It wasn't only her kindness. Not by itself. Emily had depth...."
It spoke to me in a sweet way, because it's so true. At times I wondered why Sage responded the way he did. I couldn't quite grasp his or Emily's response to each other. At the perfect moment Zelda was introduced and I just love her. She's the perfect little spit fire with Harrison at her side. It made me smile and it was the big dopey kind. Where you could be sitting anywhere looking like you're a psycho but no one knows why (because your head is buried in a book.). They give Emily a gift that only kind people can.
I loved this book! I loved Sage and Emily, and DBS, and Abby, and last but not least Zelda and Harrison. And I loved the kindness that shined through Emily and Sage.
At first I thought "hmmmm" Emily is cool, and then there's Sage...."floppy hair and gorgeous hands". The story begins at the Brew. And well Abby. She is one of my favorite parts of this story. Her voice of reason with a side of slap you up side the head is so very endearing. Which I'm sure Bria and Heidi didn't intend for that to happen but their characters are complimentary of each other. They just fit together so perfectly. It meant for a smooth read where one voice came through as opposed to two separate authors' voices.
Emily has had a rough life where trust is not easily won. The girl seriously has four jobs and lives in a non-existent room. So not exactly an easy life. She meets Sage and decides to give him a chance. Which is saying a lot...Well stuff happens and you get to meet DBS. Sage the incredible carpenter loves to build and fix things. And he's incredibly gifted with music as well. His gifts lend to his connection with DBS. Although his life hasn't been cake either. You find moments like this:
"Kind souls were unbelievably attractive to Sage. It was so normal to be negative these days. It took honest bravery to be sweet. It wasn't only her kindness. Not by itself. Emily had depth...."
It spoke to me in a sweet way, because it's so true. At times I wondered why Sage responded the way he did. I couldn't quite grasp his or Emily's response to each other. At the perfect moment Zelda was introduced and I just love her. She's the perfect little spit fire with Harrison at her side. It made me smile and it was the big dopey kind. Where you could be sitting anywhere looking like you're a psycho but no one knows why (because your head is buried in a book.). They give Emily a gift that only kind people can.
I loved this book! I loved Sage and Emily, and DBS, and Abby, and last but not least Zelda and Harrison. And I loved the kindness that shined through Emily and Sage.
October 7, 2016
The day I heard that two of my favourite authors were collaborating on a story together was a good day. A very good day. But then I fretted. Would the characters be as strong, or would the mash up dilute them somehow?
Let me start by saying that there is a lot to love about this book. From the cover, to the new characters and some familiar faces, in a lot of ways this book is like coming home. The established characters are like family. Abby with her sarcasm; Zelda with her fandoms and don't get me started with the DBS boys.
Set against that background of awesome are Emily and Sage. Each has a very distinct voice, as you would expect. I particularly liked the switch between first and third person narrative. It highlighted the change from one point of view to the other and also underlined the differing author styles.
The authors' respective styles complemented each other well - and their chapters wove a story around each other like a wonderful ballet of words.
However. I do have one niggle. I understand that a pressure point is needed. I expected it. On this occasion however, I found it jarring and inconsistent with the behaviour I had become accustomed to from this particular character. And, if I'm completely and brutally honest, it detracted from my enjoyment of the overall story.
But the way in which Emily and Sage navigate the rest of their saga is written with heartfelt and achingly lovely emotion, and it restored some of my love for the story.
So, not withstanding my issue with their relationship, if you are a fan of either author (or both of them), then this is a must read.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start by saying that there is a lot to love about this book. From the cover, to the new characters and some familiar faces, in a lot of ways this book is like coming home. The established characters are like family. Abby with her sarcasm; Zelda with her fandoms and don't get me started with the DBS boys.
Set against that background of awesome are Emily and Sage. Each has a very distinct voice, as you would expect. I particularly liked the switch between first and third person narrative. It highlighted the change from one point of view to the other and also underlined the differing author styles.
The authors' respective styles complemented each other well - and their chapters wove a story around each other like a wonderful ballet of words.
However. I do have one niggle. I understand that a pressure point is needed. I expected it. On this occasion however, I found it jarring and inconsistent with the behaviour I had become accustomed to from this particular character. And, if I'm completely and brutally honest, it detracted from my enjoyment of the overall story.
But the way in which Emily and Sage navigate the rest of their saga is written with heartfelt and achingly lovely emotion, and it restored some of my love for the story.
So, not withstanding my issue with their relationship, if you are a fan of either author (or both of them), then this is a must read.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2016
This book...wow! What an amazing story. I fell in love with Sage and Emily, they are such charming characters. I especially loved that they each had a passion and dream for their lives and worked hard to make that happen and found something unexpected along the way. I loved being back and the Brew and seeing Abby in all her "Abbiness". I LOVED having DBS back and I think I fell in love with Zelda all over again. Plus, Doctor Who references, could it get any better?? Heidi and Bria PLEASE write another book together again, it was FANTASTIC!!!
July 16, 2020
I really liked this whole series. This was such a fun , sweet read. It was deep and flirty and light and emotional all rolled up together. It had some great complex characters and some good movement. I loved how these two fell in love. There is some swearing and some good kisses but overall a teen could read this.
October 5, 2016
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book and man am I glad. I've been waiting to read this one for what feels like an eternity and it was totally worth it. Emily and Sage was adorable! I laughed out loud during parts, felt like crying during others and basically could not read this fast enough. Please please please write another mash up again soon!
October 24, 2016
*arc provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review*
I've read all Heidi's work. so when she had a new release and it was co-written with another author I hadn't heard of, I was nervous. I mean these are my DBS boys and Heidi, I was nervous it wasn't going to be the same. I mean hello, DBS. I know, no further explanation needed. and Heidi has always been one of those authors I can sit down, pick up her book and just disappear for awhile, or you know, until the book is finished. she has this amazing ability to wrote a story that just sucks me in and I don't want to leave. I was afraid adding a person to our little lovely relationship would throw it off kilter. it wouldn't jive the same. could this love triangle really work with these two authors and me? yes, my friends , it can. it can, it does, it did. the writing was seemless. there was no feel that one person wrote one section, then someone else wrote another. it was seemless and blends so very well.
now dont get me wrong, there were times when a character was mentioned and I felt like I Should know this person. I need to look into this. and it's possible it's from the other series. it didn't deter me from reading it, it actually makes me want to pick it up.
I'm still kind of mad at Sage. I'm not going to lie. I don't care what he said, or what he gave up, he still broke my heart for Emily. I'm a hard person to win back buddy. get to groveling.
I loved the build up between them. the non-date date. wait, does that make this a non-review, review? our little Em and her non-dating status. you gotta love that little sprite. I found I immediately connected with her in the beginning, so it hurt me when he hurt her. intentions don't count. he does well to make it up to her... I will say that. her walls do go up after that, but... she does make the right decision to let him back in. btw...DBS checks in, who wouldn't love that.
i think this was another fabulous book, by not only one, but two great authors. I highly recommend this book, and the DBs series.
I've read all Heidi's work. so when she had a new release and it was co-written with another author I hadn't heard of, I was nervous. I mean these are my DBS boys and Heidi, I was nervous it wasn't going to be the same. I mean hello, DBS. I know, no further explanation needed. and Heidi has always been one of those authors I can sit down, pick up her book and just disappear for awhile, or you know, until the book is finished. she has this amazing ability to wrote a story that just sucks me in and I don't want to leave. I was afraid adding a person to our little lovely relationship would throw it off kilter. it wouldn't jive the same. could this love triangle really work with these two authors and me? yes, my friends , it can. it can, it does, it did. the writing was seemless. there was no feel that one person wrote one section, then someone else wrote another. it was seemless and blends so very well.
now dont get me wrong, there were times when a character was mentioned and I felt like I Should know this person. I need to look into this. and it's possible it's from the other series. it didn't deter me from reading it, it actually makes me want to pick it up.
I'm still kind of mad at Sage. I'm not going to lie. I don't care what he said, or what he gave up, he still broke my heart for Emily. I'm a hard person to win back buddy. get to groveling.
I loved the build up between them. the non-date date. wait, does that make this a non-review, review? our little Em and her non-dating status. you gotta love that little sprite. I found I immediately connected with her in the beginning, so it hurt me when he hurt her. intentions don't count. he does well to make it up to her... I will say that. her walls do go up after that, but... she does make the right decision to let him back in. btw...DBS checks in, who wouldn't love that.
i think this was another fabulous book, by not only one, but two great authors. I highly recommend this book, and the DBs series.
October 30, 2016
Cute, but Real
I normally like my romances fluffy. Things that shine had substance. Characters who felt real, and had real problems. Emily has been through the foster care system, and never had anyone that she can rely on. Sage works for his favorite band as a guitar tech and sound guy. When he meets Emily at The Brew coffee shop, he is smitten. She has a lot of walls that he'll need to break down before she would consider dating him.
This book had great characters, funny/embarrassing situations, that had me laughing out loud, and a host of snarky characters.
Content: clean (some kissing, a bit of language-about 10 instances in the whole book)
I normally like my romances fluffy. Things that shine had substance. Characters who felt real, and had real problems. Emily has been through the foster care system, and never had anyone that she can rely on. Sage works for his favorite band as a guitar tech and sound guy. When he meets Emily at The Brew coffee shop, he is smitten. She has a lot of walls that he'll need to break down before she would consider dating him.
This book had great characters, funny/embarrassing situations, that had me laughing out loud, and a host of snarky characters.
Content: clean (some kissing, a bit of language-about 10 instances in the whole book)
October 6, 2016
Things That Shine is perfect to cuddle up to on a cool autumn day and snuggle with!! Such a delightful Double Blind Study/Brew Ha Ha smashup. I love DBS and really appreciated the reappearance of Zelda (one of my fave heroines) and her own special brand of nerdy fan girl. OMG! puppies!!!! Laughed so hard I nearly cried!
April 2, 2018
Heidi & Bria are like Chocolate and Peanut Butter - the best of both worlds coming together for good-loving humor.
January 11, 2019
Wow no written reviews yet. I am not sure what I have to say is really worth reading. So, I went to my Kindle to pull Learn to Fly (Double Blind Study #1) out of the Cloud. Somehow this book also came up. Having read DBS books 1-7 I was intrigued that this crossover was #9. Did I miss book 8? (Heidi says it will be Carl and Miranda’s story.)
Back to my review. I have never read any of Brew Ha Ha books. That being said I gave the book a chance.
I would say the book is about two artists working and struggling to live their dream. Sage is almost there as he has been working behind the scenes with DBS. For me that was the hook seeing the band and their “ones” again. Then you have Emily who is world weary. She is working 4 jobs. But her attitude is sunny. Since this is going to be a spoiler free review I’ll just say let the hilarity and heartbreak ensue.
I liked the book. I think it could be read as a stand alone. I would have liked to see more of the “rest of the story” after the “talk”, but I am selfish like that, and more Luke...yeah that could have been awesome.
Back to my review. I have never read any of Brew Ha Ha books. That being said I gave the book a chance.
I would say the book is about two artists working and struggling to live their dream. Sage is almost there as he has been working behind the scenes with DBS. For me that was the hook seeing the band and their “ones” again. Then you have Emily who is world weary. She is working 4 jobs. But her attitude is sunny. Since this is going to be a spoiler free review I’ll just say let the hilarity and heartbreak ensue.
I liked the book. I think it could be read as a stand alone. I would have liked to see more of the “rest of the story” after the “talk”, but I am selfish like that, and more Luke...yeah that could have been awesome.
July 14, 2021
2.5 STARS
I've read all the books in the Brew Ha Ha series and I loved them. Witty and charming and just plain fun. I don't know if it's the combining of two series, but I was disappointed in this one.
I haven't read any of the books that feature the band Double Blind Study, and that part of the book felt a little tedious to me. There's a lot of info about sound systems and custom guitars, and frankly I found Sage's carpentry skills more interesting.
Sage is completely enamored with Emily, completely thinks the sun rises and sets with her. That's why when the inevitable conflict comes it felt so out of character, and therefore not believable.
The scenes in the Brew were the highlight of the book for me, especially the ones with Abby. She's continued to evolve over the series and I love her!
I've read all the books in the Brew Ha Ha series and I loved them. Witty and charming and just plain fun. I don't know if it's the combining of two series, but I was disappointed in this one.
I haven't read any of the books that feature the band Double Blind Study, and that part of the book felt a little tedious to me. There's a lot of info about sound systems and custom guitars, and frankly I found Sage's carpentry skills more interesting.
Sage is completely enamored with Emily, completely thinks the sun rises and sets with her. That's why when the inevitable conflict comes it felt so out of character, and therefore not believable.
The scenes in the Brew were the highlight of the book for me, especially the ones with Abby. She's continued to evolve over the series and I love her!
January 4, 2018
Wonderful story with lovely and likeable characters, beautifully written.
Except for the - from my point of view - somewhat out-of-the-blue drama. While I understand that it's necessary for the story - and it made for some spectacular drama, too - for me, it felt like it was out of character. Looking at other reviews, I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt this way.
Aside from that, it meshed beautifully with the other Brew Ha Ha books, and makes me want to read more books by Heidi Hutchinson - now the whole DBS series is on my want-to-read shelf. :)
Except for the - from my point of view - somewhat out-of-the-blue drama. While I understand that it's necessary for the story - and it made for some spectacular drama, too - for me, it felt like it was out of character. Looking at other reviews, I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt this way.
Aside from that, it meshed beautifully with the other Brew Ha Ha books, and makes me want to read more books by Heidi Hutchinson - now the whole DBS series is on my want-to-read shelf. :)
January 17, 2018
First off, I really want to give this book 4.5 stars. I cannot get enough of the Double Blind Series boys; and the introduction of Sage in this book was just another creative addition to their group. The authors make it easy to fall in love with both Sage and Emily. Their personalities and compassion are addictive. However after getting to know Sage - it was hard to believe he would doubt Emily in the moment he did. Luckily - due to the fabulous writing by the authors - it was easy to get behind him and cheer for them. I loved loved loved Zelda’s role in this book! Give me more DBS please! 🙏
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2020
I have to say, I picked out the wrong series from this author. Aside from that, I'm not into YA. Which is why I couldn't connect to this series overall. You could say; "It's me, not the book."
The plot was good, but admittedly, I skimmed half of it coz' I'm trying to adapt (or tolerate) YA.
But failed.
I like Rumplefluffkins, though. Might name my next dog that.
The plot was good, but admittedly, I skimmed half of it coz' I'm trying to adapt (or tolerate) YA.
But failed.
I like Rumplefluffkins, though. Might name my next dog that.
February 7, 2017
Two wonderful series connected by the Brew Ha Ha and Abby's sassy come backs. Not having read the DBS series I thought maybe I'd be confused, but it was smooth reading. As soon big fan of the Brew Ha Ha series I truly enjoyed Abby and some repeat characters. Sage is a true romantic and Emily knows nothing of love. Together they learn, grow, fail and start all over just like any normal relationship. This was a great read for young adults at any age.
April 11, 2017
Where worlds collide
I've loved every book Bria Quinlan has written. I swear they just keep getting better. Now I have a new author and series to track down and catch up on! The Double Blind Study family is just as close and supportive as the one at the Brew and I can't wait to get to know them better! Also loved the #OfficerMAX cameo ;)
I've loved every book Bria Quinlan has written. I swear they just keep getting better. Now I have a new author and series to track down and catch up on! The Double Blind Study family is just as close and supportive as the one at the Brew and I can't wait to get to know them better! Also loved the #OfficerMAX cameo ;)
February 2, 2017
I love this book. I really enjoy the chapters changing character. It give you the ability to see things from each perspective. It was a wonderful fall in love story with heartbreak too. And I love the ending, I really like books that give you an after story like a year later. I always want to know what happened to characters.
November 2, 2023
An awesome series crossover
What an amazing series! Books that show the struggles of young women as they "make their way" in the world. Sometimes funny, sometimes heart breaking but all with the common goal of finding "their person".
What an amazing series! Books that show the struggles of young women as they "make their way" in the world. Sometimes funny, sometimes heart breaking but all with the common goal of finding "their person".
February 8, 2018
What a fun book! I haven't read a DBS or Brew Ha Ha book of either series, but this stand-alone crossover made me want to read both! Great read with beautifully thought out characters.
July 10, 2024
Cute read and fits very well with the rest of the series. A little bit more language than I expected but nothing too bad. Clean romance and some great messages about sacrifice for others but also taking care of yourself .
January 23, 2018
3.5/5
This was really a great mix of funny and sweet! And I enjoyed every second reading it!
I'm a long run fan of Heidi Hutchinson and I happen to meet another author to be a fan of!
The only thing that annoyed me a tiny little bit, is that Sage's chapters were by "HEs" and Emily's were by "Is"!!
The vague difference with the narration annoyed me a bit!
This was really a great mix of funny and sweet! And I enjoyed every second reading it!
I'm a long run fan of Heidi Hutchinson and I happen to meet another author to be a fan of!
The only thing that annoyed me a tiny little bit, is that Sage's chapters were by "HEs" and Emily's were by "Is"!!
The vague difference with the narration annoyed me a bit!
November 11, 2018
I adored the colliding of these two worlds! It was such a treat! The only thing that kept it from being 5 stars is that the conflict did not feel quite right. The “moment” (no spoilers so I’ll keep it vague) seemed like it was kinda just thrown in there because it had to be, but it didn’t really flow with the character development.
February 1, 2023
Another cute one in this series. Cute guy comes into the coffee shop multiple times a week. Emily is the barista and has like 4 other jobs, is an orphan and is a stone's throw away from giving up on school. We learn that cute guy is a contractor and a new producer for Double Blind Study. However, he really f's this relationship up.
July 9, 2018
I love Bria's stories!
They're heartwarming. I haven't read anything else from Heidi, but she's definitely on my list. This is a clean romance; it's sweet. The characters have real flaws and real heart. I can't wait to read Abby's story. She's shown growth and deserves love.
They're heartwarming. I haven't read anything else from Heidi, but she's definitely on my list. This is a clean romance; it's sweet. The characters have real flaws and real heart. I can't wait to read Abby's story. She's shown growth and deserves love.
November 23, 2018
I think I missed out on quite a bit because I hadn't read the Double Blind Study series. But this story was still sweet and fun.
December 2, 2019
Love Bria's humor mixed with a sweet romance. The connection between Sage and Emily is perfect match on many levels.
July 20, 2020
Oh, I've missed this series! I really liked this one, but felt the ending wrapped up a little too quickly.
August 22, 2022
This is a fun, clean book with great characters. Sage really digs himself into a big hole. Emily also has some learning to do. It book is a good read.
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