Gwen: I was stripped of all my own desires and wants when I was married to my ex-husband. I now carry a list with me–a list that will help me choose a man that will put me first in life. Then the storm cloud of an entitled millionaire appears in my life and knocks me off my axis. This man sends so many mixed signals, my body either quakes with anger or passion when I’m around him.I’m his son’s … around him.I’m his son’s teacher and his tenant, but I find myself wanting more.
Leo:
My life is run with precision with little regard for others until a woman in crazy clothes challenges me to be a better father. She’s one of the few people that puts me in my place and maybe for this very reason–I want her more than I can articulate. With her failed marriage and list of requests she needs from her next partner, I know she’s my future. My life is less than perfect, and with it–baggage that follows me everywhere. Does she want my kind of crazy in her life?I’m her landlord and an a**hole, but I find myself wanting more.Where to begin? For starters, you must love coffee…After all, 425 Madison Avenue is the perfect place to fall in love.Each story is a complete standalone.
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Leo and Gwen had incredible chemistry, which the author beautifully illustrated in her descriptions and dialogue. Whether they were bickering, being friendly, or falling hard for one another – I loved them together. Even better was the love and attention given to all three of their children (Luna, Olive, and Teague) as things begin to develop. There weren’t constant babysitters or crazy weekends away, but they were realistic and parents first. But my favorite part was their sense of humor. This couple was smart, responsible, and so on, but had a fantastic sense of humor that made each of them that much adorable! I’m a bit partial to Leo with his crazy amount of sexiness, his huge heart, and hilarious comments, but this is one book where I can say the main characters are about as good as it gets.
I highly recommend this book to contemporary romance lovers, but really to anyone that wants a quick, funny, romantic read that will just leave you feeling good. Great start to this series and I cannot wait to read the next one!
GAH!! I loved this story so much! Leo and Gwen are so amazing! I love a good enemies to lovers, and this is one of the best! Sweet and Sexy this book deserves more than FIVE STARS!!! I cannot wait for more from this series!!
Must Love Coffee — Book 1– 425 Madison Avenue by Leigh Lennon
5 ++++ Stars
MARVELOUS!! PHENOMENAL!! Leigh has another hit on her hands! AMAZING!! Captivated my interest from the cover to the very end! This story made me laugh and cry.
Gwen and Leo~ chemistry is amazing
These two deal had bad experiences with spouses.
Leo is a single father of two. Gwen is a single mother to a girl. Gwen attends a meeting regarding her daughter. The guy, Leo, is not nice to her at all. Over time, they have a friendship. Gwen has is this ten things list.
“Where to begin? For starters, you must love coffee…”
LOVED THIS! CAN NOT WAIT FOR BOOK 2!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
1.5 stars
The bones of a good story are present – two single parents who experienced painful divorces finding love again with each other. I even liked the concept of Gwen telling Leo the things she is looking for in a partner, like they must love coffee.
However, I found the writing to be stilted and awkward and at times difficult to follow. The dialogue didn’t flow very well either.
It was wonderful how much Gwen and Leo cared for their kids, but outside that I didn’t like them much unfortunately. They felt inconsistent and the changes they made somewhat rushed.
While I am looking forward to the other books in the 425 Madison series, this one was just not for me.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
I loved this book so much! It made me sad, angry but mainly happy!
Gwen is a divorced school teacher raising her daughter in a small one bedroom apartment, she loves her little girl more than anything else.
Leo is a divorced father of two, he has withdrawn from his kids and when he comes face to face with his We son’s teacher and head teacher over concerns for his son’s education he demands that the teacher is dismissed from her job!
The teacher is Gwen, and when she tells Leo exactly what she thinks he is shocked and stunned that she dared speak to him like she did!
What follows is a truly lovely story of love and forgiveness, when two people have to overcome heartache and disappointment from their previous partners to finally find the way forward to a life both they and their children deserve
This story grabbed me from the opening page and continued to build on my emotions as it went along.
The characters are relatable, just like in real life. There are people we love and people we love to despise. This book has them all. Plus we have a story that brings the smiles, laughs, heartache and heat. The author weaved a terrific tale, with a few surprises along the way.
If you read the blurb you get the gist of the story so there’s no need to go further into that because I don’t do spoilers. I feel it’s unfair to the author and to the reader. I will tell you, it’s well worth the read. With that being said, I’ll also tell you a favorite quote from the book. For some reason this particular line really touched me.
“He’s given me back my self worth with these spoils. It’s something my body has missed without knowing it. All of this is like a vitamin and boost for my soul”.
For some reason that quote touched something deep inside me, especially the last part. Don’t we all need and want that energized feeling in our life in all aspects, to be valued, spoiled and touched to our deepest core, to feel important and worthwhile in every way. We should be ready to get up again and feel like we can tackle anything while feeling good about ourselves?
As you can see I got a lot out of the quote. I felt it was fresh and not a retread line. I couldn’t wait to highlight it so I wouldn’t forget.
Gwen is the mother we all want to be and Leo is the guy we all want to meet. The kids are too adorable and unique. What I really admire is that there is so much more to this story than just a love story. There’s everyday problems, along with intrigue, happiness, sorrow, insecurities and some secrets. What I like best though (besides love) is there’s hope.
We also get to meet some very interesting secondary characters which I’m hoping are main characters in subsequent books.
As you can tell by now I really liked this book. I’ve read other works by this author and let me tell you this is one of my favorites. I felt it was real. If the other books in this series are as good as this then we are in for a treat. I read this in one sitting and the time flew. Kudos to the author. Can’t wait to meet more of the neighbors at 425 Madison.
WOW this was definate the book I needed to read after my last one. I was pretty much hooked from the beginning and who could not love the title as I hole heartedly agree MUST LOVE COFFEE!
Leo and Gwen started off on the wrong side but quickly changed when she stood her ground as she was able to after getting out of a bad marriage. She was done with men telling her how things should go. At least Leo finally realized that money doesn’t always buy you happiness and make things right. It may make it easier but if there is no love then what is the use of it.
I think we should all have a list of Must Love or things we like in our life. If you find someone who goes the extra mile to make sure that you can be who you want to be and not caged to keep your dreams from being fulfilled.
I can’t wait to read the other stories in this series from the other authors involved.
Ahhh this is the cutest book with all the feels. This single parent romance deals with heart breaks, hope, fear, unreliable exes and a love story that will have you swooning from #1! I loved these characters and the way they completed each other lives. I can not recommend this book enough.
Gwen is such a strong woman who spent years being beat down (emotionally) by her ex husband. Her sole focus in life is taking care of her daughter and being able to give her the best life possible. She loves her job as a teacher but is nervous when she is called down for teacher conference with the principal. This super hot dad attacks from the minute she walks in the room and she swore to never let another man walk all over her again, so she gives it right back to him.
Leo is a (super sweet) cut throat business man that is still adjusting to his life as a single dad. His focus is building a business that will set his kids up for life. So when a bohemian styled woman give him the reality check that he desperately needed, he should hate her; but oddly he can’t stop thinking about her.
These two never had any intentions of finding someone forever but neither can stay away. Will they be able to set everything aside and give Love a second chance or will they stay jaded and live life alone?
I Really enjoyed this one. One thing that annoyed me a little was how sweet Leo was, lol. Yes I know you just can’t please me at all.
The book started where Leo was a grumpy as##ole that nobody liked. And started when Gwen was called in because of his son not performing in school. But then he very soon realized that he actually liked the teacher and his whole personality changed from grumpy guy to sweet as sugar, romantic can do no wrong male.
Gwen came with some baggage of a douchebag ex who was only out for status and money and using his little girl to further his social status. But she had Leo who was there for her through everything. This was a very sweet, slow burn single parent romance that will have you believing in happily ever after.
Story line is great and I loved the characters. I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it! Unexpected twists and turns had me reading this book in one sitting. Great storyline and character development made this book a hot and enjoyable read!
“I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.”
I couldn’t wait to start this series! I love when authors come together with a common thread but tell stories in their traditional genre. It makes each authors’ voice stand out so much more.
Gwen is just needing a good man. Her ex is quite a ‘fun’ man who Gwen truly didn’t deserve. Which Leo is the perfect man for her. Well once Gwen gets in his face and gives him a taste of his own medicine.
I loved how into Gwen that Leo was. Although just how quickly Leo went from annoyed to in love with Gwen, made me lose a little of the love for this story. I loved the premise of the story but I felt like Leo saw the light too quickly. He went from basically yelling at Gwen to bringing her coffee to proving that she is worth love. Maybe I personally read this too fast but it just seemed that Leo changed his stance so quickly.
I can’t wait to continue this series and read the next 425 Madison story!
A beautiful story, the characters are well written and their journey to their HEA will have you glued to your Kindle from beginning to end. I received a complimentary copy of the book and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
Gwen is finally free from the hands of her overbearing ex-husband and for the first time in a long time she is really enjoying the place where her life is at. Her and her young daughter have found a great apartment they enjoy, she has a teaching job she loves, and they are living life on their own terms. But her new happy little world takes a hit when she meets a disgruntled parent of one of her students, he is claiming she isn’t doing her job right, and he wants her fired. Instead of responding to his accusations in a calm manner, she lets him have it, and points out a few misgivings on his end and Leo doesn’t know what hit him!
From there these two find themselves embroiled in a heated little disaster of sorts, that leads to a few more arguments and a whole lot of fireworks!
Must Love Coffee was delightful read, the pages were brimming with humor, feeling, and some serious steam! This first time read left my heart happy, brought a few smiles, and has me anxious for more from stories from this new series! Highly recommend you get your hands on this one, you will not be disappointed with what you discover, it’s characters are sure to take you on a memorable journey!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
I loved this book so much!
Gwen is finally divorced from her controlling, manipulative ex husband. She used her settlement from the judge (who is one of my favorite characters, for real) to purchase a small apartment for herself and her daughter Luna at 425 Madison. She is a teacher at a nearby private school where 10 year old Luna attends. She has a run in with Leo, the father of Teague, one of her first graders. The confrontation opens Leo’s eyes to what he is doing to his children by working so hard all the time. What good is the money if his kids hate him?
After discovering Luna and Leo’s 10 year old Olive are best friends, the families start spending time together, and Leo and Gwen fall in love. However, her ex husband wants his revenge and will drag up the past to try to hurt them. When it comes down to Leo or Luna, what can Gwen do?
This book was amazing. First the obvious: redhead √ Harry Potter love √ Marvel love √ Sundays spent in PJs with a good book √√
It’s like Gwen is me! Except I could never be a teacher.
I love that Gwen has a list of “musts” for the next person who will win her heart. She suffered for years with her ex husband and deserves to be treated well. Leo is a great father and an amazing partner to Gwen. He is simply perfect for her.
There was one tiny thing I didn’t like in the book: Hedwig is a SHE, not a he!
In short, get this book! It is fantastic and you will love it. If you are also a Potterhead, you will love it even more. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series and get to know the other residents more.
Must Love Coffee is my first Leigh Lennon story and it certainly will not be the last. Great character development and an interesting plot drew me in right from the start. I loved watching Gwen grow into a strong independent woman after her disastrous marriage.
Initially I was a bit leery of Leo and how this story would unfold but apparently, all it took was for Gwen to hand his rear-end to him, which woke him up not only for being the dad his children deserved but the man who could find help Gwen find herself and her happily ever after.
In all honesty, the Harry Potter fetish Gwen had was a bit weird but hey whatever floats her boat I guess. Overall, this was a great start to the 425 Madison series and I can’t wait to see what is in store for us next.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
Holy cuteness! Have you ever read a story that made your heart flutter? Did it also make you want to punch someone? What about get you all hot and bothered??? And then make you feel like a teenager in heat when they don’t follow through right away??? This book did all those things to me and it wasn’t a long, drawn out read! Leo Eastman totally made me smile like a lovesick fool! And Gwen was this awesome, kick ass woman who KNEW what she wanted and, after one crap marriage, was wasting no time trying to get it! . These 2 made my heart sing! EVERYTHING about this book had me feeling good!!! Even the parts when I wanted to junk punch someone…. I was still feeling quite giddy over the budding romance!!! Totally worth all 5
I Love, Love, Loved, Must Love Coffee! The playlist Leigh curated was perfect; it set the mood and tempo for the book and I loved it.
I cannot tell you how much I loved Gwen; Leigh did a fabulous job creating the characters for this book. Gwen is a teacher, a great mom, strong, funny, quirky, and doesn’t take anyone’s crap. She designs her own clothes, loves Harry Potter, and she’s a Hufflepuff! I seriously want to be Gwen when I grow up. Leo on the other hand didn’t make a great first impression with me, but he did redeem himself. Leo is a bit of a dick, he’s used to getting his way without anyone fighting him, and an absent father; other people dealt with his kids. But when Gwen challenges him during a teacher parent meeting, Leo realizes he hasn’t been there for his kids and resolves to change the issue immediately.
Gwen is the first person to challenge Leo, and he becomes smitten with her. As it turns out, Gwen’s daughter Luna() and Leo’s daughter Olive are BFFs, which is a surprise to both parents, and when Leo calls to schedule a playdate for the girls, the romance begins.
Gwen discloses her past relationship with her ex-husband, and tells Leo she has a “Must Love” list of 10 thing he must love with her, in order to move forward with their relationship. The first on her list is “Must Love Coffee”. As their romance grows, Gwen slips Leo notes with more of her Must Loves. Leo soon comes to realize her list isn’t anything crazy or outlandish, just normal things one would expect to love about their spouse, partner or even friend. Their romance and love grows, with some bumbs in the road, and the family gets the HEA they deserve.
This is the first book of Leigh Lennon’s that I have read, and was an ARC I recieved in exchange for an honest review. I am now a huge fan and will definitely be reading more of Leigh’s books.
I have been extremely excited about the 425 Madison Romance Series! This is an amazing project and Must Love Coffee was a great book to kick it off with! Let me tell you a little bit about Leigh Lennon’s Must Love Coffee.
Gwen is a hoot. She’s broken out of a HORRIBLE marriage and is on her way to figuring out who Gwen is again. She is a red-headed spit fire who has started teaching at the private school where her daughter attends. Gwen is as quirky as her clothing and if you can’t appreciate that, then you can hit the door even if you are “a lollipop of beautifulness”.
Leo is your typical New York businessman. Business is first and family is a distant second until he gets knocked down a couple of rungs by his son’s brash teacher. Leo’s son is struggling in school and the harsh reality is that Leo has not been doing his part and “that sexy little bohemian teacher hit the nail on the head.”
That is all that I am going to tell you about the story. Everything else, you need to read on your own. I promise you a few things: 1 – you will want to live at 425 Madison; 2 – you will laugh; 3 – you will cry; 4 – you will get hot and bothered; 5 – you will fall in love with Leo; 6 – you will HATE Dwayne; and 7 – you will not be able to put it down. I give the first book in the 425 Madison Romance Series – Must Love Coffee by Leigh Lennon – 5 out of 5 propellers!
I loved this sweet but steamy story with great characters, romance and intrigue. Her ex is a millionaire and treated her terribly and tried to control her with money. She and their young daughter moved into a tiny apartment she bought with most of the alimony the judge forced her to take. She had wanted to be a fashion designer but gave it up.to support her ex. She became a school teacher at an exclusive school Nd her daughter got to attend it. She had a meeting with a father that all the teachers hated because he was so rude and was in the board. He was being rude to her, but she put him in h his place. He had two young children at the school and his daughter was bff to her daughter and his son was in her class. They started seeing each other, but both had unresolved issues from their marriage. There were complications, but the ending was great. I loved how sweet and considerant Leo.was. I look forward to reading more books from this author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy.
Can I just say Leo made me swoon! He was perfect! This was one of Leigh’s lighter story lines and I absolutely adored it. I fell in love with Gwen and her daughter Luna. This was such a great read