Customer Reviews

A Taste of Java

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Inga Tyler and Nathaniel "Nate" Taylor have been best friends for years. Inga and Nate have always kept things on a platonic level but now it's becoming more difficult to do this. Inga is trying to keep her real feelings about Nate to herself due his recent engagement to his longtime girlfriend. Nate is convinced that his true love is Inga and is willing to dump his fiancée for her. Things get complicated when sexy Charles Smith-McAlister comes into Inga's life. Inga is intrigued by Charles but what is she going to do about her feelings for Nate? Is she willing to jeopardize her good friendship with Nate to explore a relationship with him?

A Taste of Java is a fun and entertaining debut novel from L.J. Wilson. Wilson flawlessly examines the sometimes complex dynamics of platonic male and female relationships. You will feel the uncertainty of Inga and Nate as they try to sort out their feelings about each other. You will also see how their confusing relationship takes a toll on Nate's fiancée and Inga's new love interest Charles. This story wouldn't be complete without a good dose of drama and humor. Some of the characters and scenes in this novel are so funny that readers will be laughing out loud. A Taste of Java is a light and uproariously funny story that can be enjoyed by all. A Taste of Java is a wonderful start to L.J. Wilson's writing career.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert
for Urban Reviews

"A Taste of Java" is a fun-filled, entertaining story about best friends, Inga and Nate, who take friendship to a whole new level. Uncertainty plagues the pages as their platonic relationship goes from best friends to lovers.

"A Taste Of Java" by L.J. Wilson is a great debut that will have you laughing so loud people are sure to stop and stare.

Have you ever loved somebody so bad it made you cry? Have you ever needed something so bad you can't sleep at night? Have you ever tried to find the words but they don't come out right? Have you ever, have you ever?

Meet Inga Tyler, a woman who although she doesn't want to admit it, she's been in love with her best friend Nate for as long as she can remember. As bad as she wants to reveal these feelings, she doesn't want to damage their perfect friendship or the great relationship to his new fiancée.

Nate Taylor has loved Inga since he can remember and is even willing to cut off his engagement to be with her, but before he knows it, Charles McAlister comes into her life turning his world upside down as he watches the love of his life fall for another man. Is he willing to sit around and live in misery and watch his true love fall for someone else while he marries a woman that he knows doesn't fit the final piece of his perfect puzzle or will he risk everything to reveal his love for Inga and possibly lose her forever.

A taste of Java is a novel that brings up the issues of a male/female friendship and how things can quickly turn around once feelings get involved. It is a light read and great novel and I can't wait for the sequel to find out what happens. Ms. Wilson did a great job with her debut novel and I can't wait for the next installment.

Inga favored place for lunch is A Taste of Java which featured a complicated cast of characters that will have you laughing, mad and trying to figure out what's going to happen next.

Inga puts her heart on the line with a construction guy name Charles which is the cousin of the owner of A Taste of Java which is Dwight. Inga and Nathaniel introduced themselves as best friends one day when they entered the coffee shop together, Charles read into the relationship to be more, so he gave her an inch of rope and sat back to wait for her to hang herself. She didn't realize the love for her best friend overwhelmed the love she should had for Charles. The love between Inga and Nathaniel was so heavy it blinded Inga so she didn't see the confusion from Nathaniel one night in front all their friends that left them all stumped.

Taking a chance with love is hard enough but when you take a chance by turning best friends into a relationship Inga Tyler can tell you all about it. I recommend this funny, realistic and romance book for all readers that believe in love.

"A Taste Of Java" written by L. J. Wilson is funny, appealing and heartwarming. I initially, based purely on the cover, did not think that I was going to take pleasure in reading this story, but can I say, `never judge a book by its cover,' because "A Taste Of Java" was definitely the exception.

We're introduced to Inga Tyler and Nathaniel Gates, best friends whose relationship moves beyond `I love you like a sibling' to the `for intimate lovers' section. Their transition, while undeniable, seems to wreak havoc on Nate's engagement to Rochelle and Inga's newest prospect, Charles. When best friends move into the intimate stages are there bumper rails for their hearts?

"A Taste Of Java" is a great read, filled with an interesting storyline, real characters, and steamy hot drama filled to the brim. While reading `A Taste Of Java' I couldn't help reliving my own invasion of the best friend turned lover. VERY DANGEROUS ZONE!!!!

Reviewed by: Crystal

A Taste of Java by L. J. Wilson

The story line was okay. Inga Tyler and Nathaniel Gates are coworkers and best friends for life, who spend a lot of time together and talk about everything. Can they make the transition to lovers? Only time could tell.
I found the main characters immature and high-schoolish, and so at times didn't care what happened to them. The main characters could have been developed with a little more background information so that the reader could understand their motivation and behaviors. Some of their actions just seemed to come out of the blue.
I connected more with the secondary characters because I could understand where they were coming from and therefore looked forward to seeing how they ended up in the story. The pacing was good. At times I was frustrated with Inga waiting for her to get a clue, which she did in the end.

I give this novel three stars.

Theresa S.
Literary Lovers Book Club

Having known each other for nearly a decade, Inga Tyler and Nathaniel Gates spend so much time together they're practically joined at the hip. If it weren't for Nathaniel's pending nuptials to his fiancee, Rochelle and a mistress on the side, one would assume he and Inga were more than just best friends. However, it is not until a chance at love literally knocks Inga over, that the once clear boundary between the two platonic friends becomes distorted.

During a routine trip to a local coffee shop for her daily dose of Chai tea, Inga meets construction worker Charles Smith-McAllister. Even though this meeting is less than cordial, uncanny attraction and looming curiosity cause Charles to ask her out on a date. As Inga toys with the possibility of rejuvenating her lackluster love life, Nate finds the courage to confess his undying love for her and erase the physical boundary that once held their friendship intact. Fueled by emotion and an eight year history, Inga must decide whether or not the physical attraction between she and Nate is worth the heartache and pain it could cause Rochelle, Charles, and possibly themselves.

Author L.J. Wilson thrusts the reader into the life of Inga Tyler in an attempt to answer the question "Can men and women just be friends?" However, it is done so quickly that it is slightly diffficult to gain sympathy for Inga's character as she finds herself swayed by her emotions. An understanding of her past relationship woes and some subtle flirting between she and Nate in the first few chapters of the novel would allow the reader to have more compassion for Inga as she tries to figure out what to do about the altering dynamics of a platonic relationship.

Wilson's debut novel does a good job of showing the pros and cons of taking a platonic relationship to the next level. Despite the desire for more insight into Inga's life before Nate's love confession and the introduction of Charles into her life, A TASTE OF JAVA is an entertaining romantic novel that will cause you to scream and laugh at Inga as she tries to sort out all of the drama in her life.

Reviewed by Nicole S. Gary
for THE RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

First time novel DIVA L.J. Wilson introduces us to Inga Tyler in A Taste of Java. Inga is a successful single woman who desires love, and believes she has found it with her best friend, Nathaniel Gates. True love can't be stopped...well that would depend on who you'd ask. Nathaniel's fiance Rochelle, or Charles Smith-McAlister - the man who Inga can't seem to get out of her mind, even when she is with Nathaniel.



Inga's friend Mona offers sound advice, but as with all friendships, the advice is never taken. When Mona finds love with Dwight, will Inga get IT, or continue to pursue a man who has never stopped loving another, or has he?



Whew is what I said a few times while reading A Taste of Java. There were pages that I wanted to slap Inga, and chapters that I wanted Rochelle to handle her.The fact that Ms. Wilson was able to evoke that type of emotion from me made A Taste of Java a good read. I was able to read and understand why the characters behaved and made the decisions that they did. The story flowed very well and left no loose ends for me.



A Taste of Java is filled with thought provoking conversations that will definitely make you think about your life and what you would do if faced with certain situations. A book that entertains, makes you think, and pray that it has a happy ending is a winner for me!



In all honesty, there was one thing that I didn't like about the book. When I reached the end, I felt that there should have been a gift certificate for a return visit!

L.J. Wilson introduces readers to Inga Tyler and Nathaniel Gates in A Taste of Java. Inga and Nathaniel have been best friends for eight years. They work together, hang out together and share all kinds of dark secrets. The problem - Nathaniel is engaged to Rochelle Parson and he is also dating Kimberly. One day while getting her daily cup of Chai tea, Inga bumps into a tall, dark handsome construction worker, Charles Smith-McAlister. Inga is a little uncertain of whether she is ready to start dating but she decides to take a chance. Before her first date, Nathaniel confesses that he is in love with her. Inga finally admits to herself that she also loves Nathaniel; yet she is very attracted to Charles.

A Taste of Java is a different type of story. It is a romance story that will make you laugh between all of the drama as you try to figure out who Inga will fall in love with. Wilson also gives readers very colorful and interesting side characters that encourage you to turn the page to see what will happen next. I laughed and yelled at certain parts of the story. There were other parts that I thought made the story drag. Nonetheless, I turned each page to see what would happen. Wilson's debut novel is definitely one that will be talked about and passed on to others to read.

Reviewed by: Priscilla C. Johnson
APOOO BookClub