Mimosas and Mixers (Love and Libations #0.5) by Raquel Riley

Maple syrup sweet. Mimosas and Mixers was a short intro novella into Raquel Riley’s new Love and Libations series. It also bridges the characters from her Hearts for Hire series. 

From the blurb:

Are you ever too old to fall in love? What are the odds you’ll end up with the first boy you ever crushed on?

Nate

Running into Charlie at our high school reunion was kismet. I can’t imagine myself with anyone else. Is it too late for a second chance at love?

Charlie

Nate is everything I dreamt of finding in a partner. Except, he’s my son’s therapist. Will their professional relationship come between our personal one? Or does fate have other plans for us?

Mimosas and Mixers is the prequel to the Love and Libations series. This sweet heat gay romance novella includes cameos from the Hearts For Hire Series and features tropes such as second chances, a mature couple, childhood friends, and found family.

Nicole's Review:

If you adored Reid and Riley, you’ll be happy to see them a few times in this story. While Nate and Charlie have some intense chemistry, that is all this story is. An immediate attraction and falling into love. 

Don’t expect any angst or hurdles to the relationship. This was a nice Sunday morning feel good read with no complications. I can’t wait to finally get some stories about the Limmericks staff!!!

Rating: 5 Stars

Lori C's Review:

Nate is a psychologist. Charlie is a caseworker for the Department of Children and Family Services witnesses abuse and neglect on a daily basis. Both of these men have a heart for helping people and when they meet again at their high school reunion, their hearts spark for each other. This novella is a slow ride with lots of romance and a little heat with a cute ending. 

I am and always will be a fan of sweet, romance, low angst love stories. Mimosas and Mixers lived up to those labels. It was everything I wanted at that moment. I think the author built a neat little world around Limericks Lounge and I’m looking forward to seeing who meets their match there. This was my first Raquel Riley book/novella and I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the Love and Libations series. 🍸

Rating: 4 Stars

Tatted Book Freak's Review:

I never thought Raquel would be able to top Reid and Riley’s story, but she definitely has proven me wrong! Charlie and Nate were so much fun to read, and those cameos with Reid and Riley just added to the awesomeness of this book! 

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡, 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮. 𝙐𝙣𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚.

Nate and Charlie were more than deserving of finding their soulmate. Their connection was instantaneous, totally swoon worthy and should be sold as how dating in your thirties should be! And their chemistry was sizzling and scorching hot!! 

“𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲—𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘆!”

I cannot recommend this sweet second chance love story enough! There was absolutely no hesitation, no angst, nothing but love and intimate adventures! Cannot wait for Raquel’s next release, she’s setting the romance world ablaze!! 

Rating: 5 Stars

Heather's Review:

Mimosas and Mixers is the perfect bridge between the Lucky Match series and the new Love and Libations series!  Featuring characters who are important to Reid and Riley finding love and meeting up in Limericks gives us the right blend of sweet and steamy to whet our appetite for more from this next series, while still revisiting one of my favourite books from her last one!

This is a quick and lovely romance between mature men and a wonderful way to open up the new series!

Rating: 5 Stars

 

Sarah C's Review:

 

Raquel Riley gave us a short and sweet novella that hit all of my buttons and was a perfect intro to her Love and Libations series. It takes place in the same universe as Hearts for Hire, so expect to see some familiar faces and places.

Charlie and Nate are a second chance romance, but not due to heartbreak or anything like that. No, their first chance was a chance that was missed. They had mutual crushes on each other twenty years ago, back in high school, but it was never something that was acted upon. Nate was closeted (unsure if Charlie was as well) and admired his friend in silence. This changes when they meet again at their twenty year reunion and have an instant connection. As they're both out and confident, flirtations ensue.

They have a very sweet romance where they communicate about potential hurdles - including a potential hurdle where Charlie's 'son' is one of Nate's clients. They have an amazing mutual respect for one another, palpable chemistry, and such an easy connection that I felt myself grinning from ear to ear. They were both very mature men - not just because they were in their late thirties, but just personality wise, and this romance benefitted from it. They both knew what they wanted and what they were looking for and pursued it.

If you enjoyed Hearts for Hire, you will definitely enjoy this book. If you just want a light and easy read with no angst and good steam, you will enjoy this book. As a Raquel Riley fan, I greatly enjoyed this book and am now DESPERATE to dive into the Love and Libations world. 

 

Rating: 5 Stars 

Mimosas and Mixers is available to buy as an ebook or to read with Kindle Unlimited subscription.