Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
Kindle Price: $3.99

Save $5.00 (56%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the author

V.L. Locey
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Barkeep and the Bookseller (Campo Royale #3) Kindle Edition

by V.L. Locey (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 198 ratings
See all formats and editions
Can two men move past their shattered dreams and create a new future together?

Corduroy Lopez is a hard-working man. He has to be. There really is no alternative. He’s a single father with a beautiful, special needs daughter to support. His mother and grandmother help when they can, but he’s a proud pan man who is determined to make it on his own. When his daughter is accepted into a prestigious developmental education preschool, Cord needs cash and he needs it yesterday. One night, offhandedly, the cute owner of the new bookstore in town mentions wanting to start a drag story hour, Cord leaps at the chance. He’s done drag before. Once. Performing on stage at the Campo hadn’t really been his thing but donning a wig and dress to sing children’s songs while strumming a ukulele should be a much more enjoyable experience. Also, the bookshop owner is adorable, newly single, and spending a great deal of time sitting at Cord’s bar sipping virgin piña coladas after the bookstore closes.

Jagger Collins never meant to end up here. He’d been a happily married man with a swanky job in a Philadelphia bank just two years ago. Then the bottom fell out of his life. His marriage combusted, his job quickly followed, and he found himself with only his dog Hamish, his brother, and half the cash from the home he thought he would be starting a family in. Taking the advice of his elder sibling to heart, he left the big city and bought a small brick building in downtown Wilmington. Trading in ties for tomes, Jagger is now embracing the simpler things in life. Reading, biking, knitting, and admiring the lithe bartender at the Campo Royale. Cord is ticking all the right boxes in a big way, but Jagger’s not sure if he’s ready to put his heart on the line again.

The Barkeep and the Bookseller is a single father guy next door gay romance that features a hard-working dad, a learning-to-love again bookdealer, a precocious preschooler, high heels, a loving family, flashy floral fashions, and a ukulele rich happy-ever-after.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    180 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    August 5, 2022
  5. File size
    2080 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
Next page
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B7DWCZ7P
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (August 5, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 5, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2080 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 180 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 198 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
V.L. Locey

V.L. Locey

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

USA Today Bestselling Author V.L. Locey – Penning LGBT hockey romance that skates into sinful pleasures.

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, Torchwood and Dr. Who, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a pair of geese, far too many chickens, and two steers.

When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in one hand and a steamy romance novel in the other.

To view all my books visit my website - http://vllocey.com/

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
198 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

KC
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2024
Verified Purchase
An intriguing story that includes many unexpected variables. The location setting was a first encounter for a 150-book a year reader. The protagonists, particularly the barkeep, have contrasting heritages. Fear in the banker-turned-bookseller is a great plot element. And the bar across the street from the bookshop are excellent.
Helpful
 Report
Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars A brave but damaged divorcee and a single dad.
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2022
Verified Purchase
This story has almost everything. There's a single father, a special needs child and a sweet man who divorced his abuser. The way they all work together and tie in racial diversity and Drag Queens is amazing.
Helpful
 Report
dbbks3
5.0 out of 5 stars Love This Series!
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2023
Verified Purchase
V. L. Loved understands how to give us characters that make us smile while touching our hearts. Matter and Cord do both. I also appreciate a story that is edited and proof read before release. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Helpful
 Report
Rugby8
5.0 out of 5 stars What a Lovely Story!
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2022
Verified Purchase
V.L. Locey delivers again!!! The next installment of the Campo Royale crowd matches a handsome bartender and the reserved (shy) man who owns the bookstore across the street. They are both such great guys -- who each bring their own baggage along -- and its so enjoyable to experience their developing relationship. Add in a Great Kid, a goofy Scottish Terrier, some excellent supporting characters and you can't go wrong. BTW - V.L. is so wonderful at giving voice to child characters!!! (Read the Liam stories if you haven't)
This is a Must Read!!!
Helpful
 Report
Linda H. Andrews
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Love!
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2023
Verified Purchase
I loved this story from beginning to end! Full of love, laughter and healing. I belly laughed at parts and cried a little at others. A very joyous read!
Helpful
 Report
~Jenny Is My Name~
4.0 out of 5 stars So sweet!
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2022
Okay, first, I have to start off by saying that I haven’t read the others in this series and I’m coming in completely blind… but I saw a single dad and I’m a sucker for those, so I had to give this one a chance!

So, first, we meet Cord, his mother who is also his neighbor and babysitter and cuter than cute toddler, Paloma. Cord is a single dad, with a lot of help from his family, but he’s working every single day of his life trying to support his darlin girl because, well… we all know how expensive life is, especially now days, but Paloma also has a form of down syndrome that the state will only half provide for, so he’s working himself to death to keep her in a special school that is better equipped for her needs.
He's a good dad, you can see that right off and I’m so glad he has his family right next door.
Also, he’s the barkeep in this scenario :P

Next we meet Jagger in his bookstore, along with his besties, Wattley (his brother) and Nate, (a billionaire) who are hilarious together and Jagger’s people. Oh, and his little pupper Hamish as well.
He’s the bookseller and a handsome and sweet, semi-damaged one at that.
So, you know I’m gonna love him right away!
I did.

I hope these other boys have their own stories because I want to read all of them now! Nate, might be the one I’m most looking forward to, so fingers crossed for me on that one!
So, okay…their meeting is cute and their dynamic as the complete opposite of what I kept expecting and I really enjoyed them getting to know each other and then spending time together when Cord works so much and has a daughter to take care of full time … it wasn’t always easy, but I loved Paloma’s relationship with Jagger and the way that developed and just the whole.
It was so very very cute.

I’m honestly about to go check out the others in this series because I must know more about all of these people. I enjoyed all of them, they were all meddlesome and pushy and overbearing, but in all the best ways that your bestie-made family can be. It’s their job, right?

I loved how supportive everyone was even though there are a few references to past trauma, I just found myself wanting to hug both of these guys, the cute girl and wiley puppy too.
It was a super cute story, would definitely recommend!
Off to see who’s next!
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
D.Hart, RCIS
5.0 out of 5 stars Cute, low angst story !
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2022
A cute, mm romance...
Cord Lopez, 26, hard working single Dad to a special needs girl, Paloma. He has his Mom and Gran to help him out. He's Spanish/Samoan, is slim, black/pink tipped hair, eyeliner, gloss, and works at Campo Royale as barkeeper, plus his wife left when their girl was diagnosed with Mosaic Downs Syndrome. He's also working at the Bookstore as a "drag queen kids story time." His life is ups and downs as he tries to earn more money for a new program for Paloma.
Jagger, (cover) has lost his hubby and bank job, left reeling from the SERIOUS abuse he suffered, and still suffers mentally. He has his dog Hamish, and brother Wattley, and opened the Bookstore. He knits, is tall, pale, a Ginger, plus is seeing a therapist. He's quite shy and anxious, but handling things for now.
He meets Cord and the two just click.
Jagger loves kids and dogs, and likes to be with Cord and Paloma, plus the Mom and Grandmother.
The side characters are lively, and we see Jagger's deepest thoughts and fears. Slowly they get closer.
We get to see their hangout times, and then the slow burn of sexy times, too.
There is a scare for Jagger, but he's not alone now.
A fun tale for this series !
Enjoy !

======
Helpful
 Report
Amy21
5.0 out of 5 stars Single dad story with characters to fall in love with
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2022
The Campo Royale series is such a delight! The family bond among the queens (and their men) has a certain comfort that is so enjoyable to return to. Cord and Jagger were the perfect blend of cautious and sweet, while adding Paloma's darling input that can only come from a precocious child. Locey writes kids in a way that works for me.

The story is told in dual POV which I think is important here to get a full understanding of each man's yearnings and intricacies. There is hilariously classic Locey belligerent inner dialogue that keeps me entertained along with charming side characters in both characters' lives. I'm looking forward to getting to know Nate better.

I would recommend The Barkeep and The Bookseller to readers looking for a story with a bit of a slow-burn and very little angst, but full of loads of charm, wit, and characters to fall in love with. (4.5 stars)
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Ms. Theresa M. Derwin
5.0 out of 5 stars The Mixologist, the Bookseller, the bright kid and farty dog
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 16, 2022
Verified Purchase
I am so in love with this book.
Jagger is opening a new bookstore and a new life as a bookseller after a divorce from his abusive husband.
Cord Lopez is a single dad working as a server at drag club Campo and hustling other jobs to raise funds for his pre school daughter Paloma to attend a specialist school for Downs children. She has mosaic downs and is incredibly bright and sparky just like most four year olds.
Cord gets help from his mom and Titi but it's still a hard slog trying to raise the funds.
He takes on the drag reading hour at the bookstore Jagger owns.
Between the queen's and their partners at Campo, Jag's annoying BF Nate and brother Wattley plus Cord's matriarchs and daughter, it's a loving, funny and chaotic story with lots of sweet moments, sexy interludes, humour and also scenes showing Jag's PTSD.
A wonderful book and I can't wait for more.
Report
Kilian
3.0 out of 5 stars Nice, but lacked something
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 28, 2023
Verified Purchase
Nothing surprising, nothing new, just a predictable romance. Characterization was fine, not enough about the secondary characters, but I haven't read the other books in the series, and now I don't need to.
Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report