Guest Review: Shaken Not Stirred – Alyssa Rose Ivy

Finding the perfect guy is like mixing the perfect drink. It’s all about the taste and presentation.

Maddy’s gone off the deep end, at least that’s what her family thinks when she handles her med school rejections by moving to the Outer Banks. It doesn’t help that she’s paying her bills by bartending and is sharing walls with two guys, even if one of them is her childhood best friend.

Her choice of men seems more balanced on the surface—Colin is driven, sexy, and gainfully employed, but she can’t help spending her Thursday nights searching for the perfect drink for Lyle, whose music captivates her with its haunting lyrics. Maddy believes everyone has a perfect drink—and finding Lyle’s isn’t a challenge she’s willing to lose.

Series: Mixology
Release Date: January 7th 2014
Publisher: Alyssa Rose Ivy
Source: Inkslinger PR
Reviewer: Kristyn
Rating:

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Reviewer’s Thoughts

Shaken Not Stirred is about Maddy a woman struggling to find herself amidst the expectations of her parents and herself. She spends her summer working at a bar and living with two other guys. She meets Colin first. He asks her out and gets shot down for a while before she gives in. She has this fantasy in her head attached to this guy Lyle who plays music in her bar every Thursday night. They never talk but she loves his lyrics and she let’s herself dream of him but not get close. I enjoyed the theme of this book. That we sometimes hold on to a fantasy in order to avoid being let down byour reality. There was a bit of emotional disconnect for me though. I didn’t feel really invested in Colin and Maddy once they got together. I spent so much time being suspicious of him that when he turned out to be a good guy I was almost disappointed. The ending was very abrupt. I got a bit of whiplash. But over all I enjoyed the book. There was just something that needed a little smoothing out. Maybe not so much suspense and secrets from Colin so the reader knows he can be trusted.