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My Barista Story IRL

Espresso drink with foam art

In Falling for a Humbug Cowboy, Drake Vargas runs the dining hall and coffee shop at his family’s guest ranch & resort. The day after learning a life-changing family secret, he meets Candi Kaine and hires the cheery woman as his new barista.


The inspiration behind writing about a barista came from a part-time job I held in my mid-twenties. I worked as an Office Manager at the time and discovered a quaint local coffee shop within walking distance from my office. I became hooked on iced mochas and spent a fortune. So, one day I was talking to the owner, and he asked what I did for a living. One of my duties was bookkeeping, and as it turned out, he was looking for some help with bookkeeping. The next thing I knew, we negotiated a rate, and he agreed to give me the employee discount.


But wait, there’s more!


After a few weeks, one of their baristas quit, and they needed someone to open on Saturdays. I was single and could use the extra income, so I volunteered to learn the job and become the opening barista on Saturdays.


I loved that part-time job. Getting to know the owner, manager, other staff, and regular customers. There’s just something unique about a local coffee shop and roastery. Taylor, the manager, taught me the ins and outs of crafting perfect espresso drinks. He was the one who could create all the fancy foam art. I never quite mastered that trick.


And, like the budding romance in Falling for a Humbug Cowboy, our coffee shop had its own romance. A young college student named Mindi worked as a barista in the afternoons. She and Taylor had an instant connection and started dating while I worked there. About a decade later, I stopped by my old favorite coffee shop only to discover that Taylor and Mindi had married and had a few kids. Taylor became a master roaster and still ran the place.


Anyway, I hope you enjoy the fun details about the life of a barista in Falling for a Humbug Cowboy. It was fun to reminisce about that experience. No other fragrance in the world is as invigorating as stepping into a coffee shop in the middle of roasting coffee beans. I can still smell it twenty-five years later. And now I want a coffee!



About the Series

Discover the Vargas Ranch Series

Love is in the air at the Vargas Guest Ranch & Resort near Wickenburg, Arizona. The Vargas family lives and breathes their family motto: We do not deviate from the Lord’s plan. Five brawny brothers keep the ranch and resort running while life lassos their hearts in this epic contemporary cowboy romance series.


Release Date: November 21, 2023


She’s trying to resurrect her career. He’s sworn off women. Will this city-meets-country duo find love where they least expect it?


Release Date: December 19, 2023


She’s a single mom with a disabled son. He’s been in love with her since high school. Will this shy cowboy finally win her heart?


Release Date: March 26, 2024


She’s famous and nearing the end of her career. He’s blunt, bossy, and downright annoying. Will these two find the perfect balance between truth and love?


Release Date: June 25, 2024


She’s an orphan on a mission to change children’s lives. He’s an overwhelmed overachiever and her boss. Will these two learn to work together and find love in the process?


Release Date: November 5, 2024


She’s the happiest person he’s ever met. His world has turned upside and he is in no mood for the holidays. Will these coworkers find middle ground as they head into the holidays?


Release Date: 2025


They’ve secretly loved each other for years. He can’t get past their age gap. She can’t get him to see her as woman she’s become. Will they let go of their fears to find true love?


Release Date: 2025


She’s pregnant with someone else’s child. He’s falling for her when he shouldn’t. Can he learn to trust her with his heart?


 

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