A case of mistaken identity (or actually identity theft!) and lies are definitely not the way to start a friendship or a relationship, but stranger things have happened. After what was supposed to be a face to face meeting with the guy she'd been emailing for months, Alex discovers she's been led on and betrayed. That should've been the end of it, but fate steps in. They continue the friendship theystarted through their emails and spend a lot of time trying to convince each other that there's no attraction. Some of their conversations are just laugh out loud funny. I know in reviews for other books I've commented about how witty the dialogue is, but nothing compares to the way Kylie Scott writes...she does witty and sarcastic like none other! Just when I thought I knew the path this story was taking, an unexpected twist sends it in a whole new direction.

Alex and Joe's story. Wasn't sure what to expect, but I really ended up enjoying this story. Alex has been emailing on an online dating service, and she shows up to surprise him on his birthday. The surprise was on her though, as his brother Joe is the one who has been writing to her online. Lots of hurt feelings and misunderstandings, but when Alex gets sick and cannot fly home, Joe ends up taking care of her and the sparks fly. Highly recommend this story and author.

I have always, ALWAYS enjoyed Kylie Scott's books. Her writing is such that you have a good time reading any of her novels. Her wit is top notch and makes her books that much more fun to read.

What I am really enjoying about the Dive Bar series is they are about everyday people. No millionaires, no sports figures, celebrities, etc.

In <i>Twist</i>, graphic designer Alex from Seattle has met Eric from Coeur d'Alene. They have been talking online and have developed a relationship that sparks with chemistry and connection. She decides to fly to Seattle and surprise Eric at his birthday party. I'll not give away more about the party because you should just read this book.

This book is funny, touching, has an awesome heroine and a sweet (though at times frustrating) hero. What Alex goes through with this man at times really struck a chord with me, especially having gone through the very same kinds of feelings and interactions with someone in the past. Alex is my new favorite Kylie Scott heroine. I loved how she stood up for herself and said what she wanted while being patient when necessary (I lack this skill).

Great, awesome, wonderful read!

I love Kylie Scott writing, her storylines are full of romance, hot males, sexy times and overall fun to read. This is a love-hate romance that I love, when Joe and Alex meet in a sort of misunderstanding situation, it makes the story alive and I couldn’t let it go until the last page.

Joe is a hot bartender, who wanted to shut down an online dating account of his young brother. Alex is a girl living in the other side of the country that started to write with Joe, then she decides to pay him a visit and the rest is for you to find out in this mesmerizing story. Another five star for the wonderful Kylie Scott.

Amazon review will post when book goes live.

TWIST is book 2 in Kylie Scott's Dive Bar series. The first meeting between Joe Collins and Alex Parks is like a scene out of the TV show CATFISH. Alex believes she's visiting her out-of-state hottie pen pal Eric, when in reality she's been talking with Eric's brother, Joe. Over the course of TWIST, Alex comes to realize how lucky she is to have formed a relationship with the more mature brother. Knowing Alex changes Joe, and loving Joe profoundly changes Alex.

As with other books by Kylie Scott, TWIST is told strictly from the female protagonist's point of view. Although I normally enjoy stories told from alternating perspectives, Kylie Scott utilizes this style of telling a story effectively. Without getting Joe's perspective, the reader is very much able to completely empathize with Alex as she navigates an unfamiliar location, people, and situations. She can never know 100% what Joe is thinking and neither can the readers. While Joe apologizes for having innocently deceived Alex, it's up to her to trust him again and take a leap of faith. TWIST made me laugh at Alex's first reactions to Joe's appearance because she, like me, is not a fan of big burly dudes with tons of face fur like Joe.

As much as we don't get to hear what's in Joe's mind, Kylie Scott does a good job of making him a sympathetically flawed hero. Even though Alex's agoraphobia is a more obvious issue than any of Joe's, I like how meeting Alex has made Joe aware of some of the ways he needs to alter how he interacts with friends and family. This is a story with complex characters who grow over the course of the book. Because I related so strongly to Alex, I was deeply moved by her effort to get out of her comfort zone and fight for happiness.

TWIST is a book about the euphoria of new love, as well as the learning curves that come with it. I like the way Alex's friend Valerie swoops in to be the cheerleader when she most needs one, as well as the things we learn about Alex through her friendship with Valerie. Kylie Scott revisits the Nell-Pat-Eric drama that started in the previous book with interesting results. I look forward to seeing what's next in store for the Dive Bar crew.

I finished reading Dirty, and had to immediately pick up my arc of Twist because I needed more Dive Bar right this second. And I think I might actually like Twist better? It's a very hard choice, people. I love Joe. I want to marry Joe. He's perfect. I mean, he can be a grump sometimes, but he's so sweet and perfect and I just want to have him as my very own.

This was a one-sitting read for me. Once I got past the embarrassing moment at the very beginning (embarrassing stuff is always hard for me to read), I was absolutely engrossed. I felt for these characters. I understood where Alex was coming from, just like I understood why Joe had the issues he did. I hearted the heck out of this book, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series, Chaser, coming in November!

The Good, The Bad, and Everything In Between
-An interesting beginning. When we first meet Alex Parks, she’s taking the biggest chance in her romantic life. She’s traveled from Seattle to Coeur D’Alene, Idaho to meet tall, dark and handsome Eric Collins, her online friend and hopefully something more. Then she finds out that Eric has no idea who the hell she is, and it’s actually Joe Collins, Thor look-alike and brother to Eric who was corresponding with her. Yes, there are ALOT of bumps along the way and eventually romance happens.

-A quirky yet intriguing middle. With that kind of a bumpy start, I wasn’t sure what to think, but what I got was a very flawed but likeable heroine, a sweet and slightly screwed up hero and some good developments in the overarching storyline that Ms. Scott has written with this Dive Bar crew. I was moving right along, enjoying the fact that Alex wasn’t your traditional heroine. She admits to random hookups and is terrified of change and emotional intimacy, but she’s trying. She’s the type of heroine who can be prickly and defensive, but I really liked her. Joe starts off as a great, understanding hero who is always there for everyone else and spreads himself thin. I like him too. Perhaps I liked them as individuals more than as a couple, because...

-A bit of a clusterfuck to wrap it all up. Without going into deep spoilers, the last third or so of the book kind of goes skidding into high drama. There’s a life changing event that really made the overarching storyline veer into soap territory in a way that didn’t quite work for me, and the impact on the romance for Joe and Alex was significant enough that it lost its shine for me. I felt this event was predictable because of the way it changed other characters on the canvas, and the way Alex and Joe's personal drama was resolved kind of fell flat. I loved the first two thirds of the book alot, and there is a sweet little cameo by my favorite hero ever, so there is plenty here to enjoy as far as the Dive Bar crew, it just Joe and Alex as a couple that didn’t quite do it for me.


The Bottom Line 3 stars
Overall, I enjoyed this entry in the series, though I’m still waiting for that one book that truly hooks me in and won’t let me go. However, if you like flawed characters and some amped up drama in your romance, you may love this more than I did.

It pains me to give this book three stars. I loved the Stage Dive series, and I liked Dirty, but I just couldn't connect to this one. I just didn't like either Alex or Joe. Actually, the name Joe pretty much sums up the character for me. Boring, Dull. Ordinary. And Alex was so closed off, and I felt like her past trauma wasn't even really her own, so I just wanted her to pull up her big girl panties, I was more interested in Pat and Nell's relationship to be honest. Now, this isn't to say the book was bad. It wasn't. But I wanted to be,sucked into that world, and I just wasn't.

This was perfection providing a fun, easy to read and engaging experience. I'm rating it high for pure entertainment and enjoyment. Twist took two people who wouldn't normally be attracted to one another and threw them together against their will. I loved the clashes, sarcasm, reluctance, chemistry, pull and friendship that emerged. This was an utterly fun read until it all got serious and then the emotions were just packed in; the feels were huge.

Joe is an amiable, genuine lumberjack blondie with beard and hair. I totally dug his type, unfortunately, Alex didn't, not for a while. Alex wasn't immediately likeable, she lacked courage, self confidence and ease but she was putting herself out there for change and so I grew to like her.

"Wise or not, my ovaries had seized control and they wanted to make big strong babies with the man, pronto. Common sense never stood a chance."

The storyline and writing was packed with humour, a dose of sarcasm and just an ease of words that got me hooked and devouring it. I didn't know where the storyline was going and I enjoyed that uncertainty. The great Dive Bar family made the story rich and tangible. This was a feel-good read and I highly recommmend.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through netgalley in return for a honest review.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

5 - "Worst internet friend ever..." Stars!

All back to the Dive Bar for the second book from the series of the same name. Twist gives us a deeper look into bartender Joe Collins, and wowza did Kylie Scott deliver a great story for him.

IMAGE.

I absolutely adored Joe, and I loved this book. Alexandra Parks turning up at the bar for his brothers Birthday party, the brother she thought she had been emailing online for the last six months, throws all sorts of unexpected spanners in the works for him. But rather than act like an absolute tool with being caught out pretending to be someone else, in front of all his friends Joe does everything in his power to make it up to her.

The bearded one was a true gentleman, despite all the hair, tats, and savage looks…

Having her stuck in town when she is struck down with a monumental case of the flu helps, and he proceeds to play nursemaid to her in her hotel room until she is better. By the time Alex has started to feel relatively normal again, she has also started to see past Joe’s duplicity to the man he actually is.

Alone was safe and oh so comfortable…

I always like to see an author turn things around and make the female character the commitment-phobe in the budding relationship you are reading about, and Alex was the epitome of that. Anything other than a quick in-out-and-off-you-go leaves her feeling out of sorts and all of a jitter, so when Joe pushes those boundaries each and every time they get together, you see her struggles with the newfound feelings and emotions his attentiveness and overall sweetness bring out in her. This is a guy who doesn’t give up though, and I absolutely adored the bearded one.

"All the way… I’m going all the way with you."

You go through the emotional wringer through the telling of this story with laughs a-plenty as well as a few tears just to even up the proceedings, and I think that the secondary characters take up just as much page space in the second half of the book as our main H/h, but it worked. The drama that played out with them, gave our couple the answers that they needed for their own internal battles, and I really, really would have like to have seen Joe's POV in this one too see what was going on in his head at certain pivotal points in the story.

I loved Alex’s BFF Val, and Eric Collins; Joe’s brother came off as an absolute tool for most of the book, so I am interested in seeing exactly how Kylie is planning to redeem him in the next book from the series Chaser, which is due for release in November.

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was an absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.

FINAL DECISION: A wonderful quirky romance between two flawed humans. Kylie Scott never disappoints in making her characters feel real and honest and TWIST is no exception. Loved the characters!

THE STORY: Joe Collins has always been the good brother. When his younger brother Eric wants to sign up for an online dating service, Joe helps him but ends up connecting with one of his brother's matches. Under the identity of his brother, Joe corresponds with Alex Parks for months until Alex decides to surprise Eric on his birthday.

OPINION: Twist features such wonderful characters that I loved every moment of the book. Joe is a genuine good guy who makes the "mistake" of adopting his brother's persona to email a woman who catches his interest. I liked how Joe falls into doing something that is completely against his nature -- but the truth is that it might have been the right thing to do ultimately.

Joe is so wonderful a man. A bartender, a builder, someone who has done his best even when taken advantage of by those he cares for. He cares for Alex even when she is angry with him and takes on so much onto himself for everyone around him. I liked how considerate he is and how he is able to accept all of Alex's neuroses with equanimity.

Alex is a woman of incredible contradictions -- as are we all. Talented as a graphic artist, she has trouble with social interactions. Her fears make her veer away from the possibility of being hurt. She has meaningless sexual relationships as a way of placing distance between herself and others. Joe challenges her at every turn.

I especially liked in this book how Joe and Alex have a funny and sweet relationship that becomes incredibly hot and intense. How can you not love a guy who takes care of a woman who is at her absolute worst. Joe works to help Alex become the best she can be which means challenging herself. Joe needs help as well. These two nicely balance one another.

This book was almost a 5 star book, but the end of the book has a crisis which disrupts Joe to an incredible extent. Both Alex and Joe relapse into their comfort zones a bit. That causes a problem in their relationship which is resolved too quickly and easily for my tastes. Too much of a serious situation is resolved off stage for me. Even with that caveat, I loved this book and recommend it.

WORTH MENTIONING: Mal!

CONNECTED BOOKS: TWIST is the second book in the Dive Bar series. The book can be read as a standalone although a lot of characters appear in the prior book so you might enjoy it more knowing more about the interrelationships.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

I'm not sure what it is about this book that got on my nerves almost from the start. I was a bit turned off by the heroine, I suppose, due to her lackadaisical approach to sex. I prefer a heroine who cares a bit more about who she lets in her body. But I loved her wit and sarcasm, and so I moved on. When we meet Joe, I immediately like him. Think he's a pretty cool dude. Then they get to the sex and...how Alex responds annoys me. Here she has this seemingly great guy and she wants to stay friends with benefits? Nope, no, nuh uh. And THEN in waltzes the slutty ex who hangs all over Joe and he LETS her? And then gets mad at Alex when she isn't jumping for joy at his ex LIVING in his HOUSE? I'm done. No thank you. Joe really could not, and did not, redeem himself after that. What. An. Asshole.

I loved this book! The characters felt real and the author knows how to write a complete world for her characters to inhabit. The inner (and outer) dialog of the main female character Alex is sassy and witty, and will have you rooting for her from the beginning. Alex also knows how to give as good as she gets in the initial encounters with Joe when she confronts him about his online deception. Also new supporting characters Val and Marty, the squirrel, add some great humor to the story.

I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved every word of this book. This story was funny, sad, heartbreaking, funny again and I cant wait for the world to read it. I am hugging my Kindle right now

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Twist by Kylie Scott
I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.
I think this book is kinda told is 2 distinct parts. The first part is total comedy and the 2nd part is total emotion. I think I loved the way the story is written because we get to see Joe and Alex getting to know each other. Both of their flaws are totally perfect for the other and sets the other right the heck off which is why it’s so funny at times.
Imagine walking into a bar and expecting to be carried off by the man of your dreams only to discover that he has ZERO clue who you are. Well welcome to Alex’s world. Then to add insult to injury, it seems your dream guy’s lumberjack brother has been the one playing you for the fool. Soooo to say Joe and Alex had an easy time would be a lie. Thankfully Alex gets the flu and Joe says to care for her which gives them a lot of 1 on 1 time which then gives a lot of comedy.
When the couple begin to explore a “friends” storyline we can see the emotions changing on both sides. They are both scared but want but are both nervous to try. There will be a time limit on what they might have so why should they start anything but how can they not start something.
The 2nd part of the story was my favorite for the simple fact of the emotion we are feeling. We can see Joe and Alex are both scared. We can feel that Joe and Alex both want more. We also can see and feel their fear. The emotions of our characters are very well written and easily absorbed by us the reader. I really wanted to see Joe stop pushing. I wanted to see Alex stop running! I want to see them open up.
Along with our main couple, we have a lot of emotions between Nell and Eric plus Pat. Then we see Lydia and Vaughan plus then we meet a long-lost ex that causes lots of issues for the couple. A quick visit from some of our Stage Dive Guys and their families were fun as well. But I think I loved the banter and quick wit from Joe and Alex the best.

Kylie Scott can write!!! This story was the perfect mixture of funny, sad, sexy, angsty, romantic and happy. The first book in this new series by her – “Dirty” – was already a huge winner for me last year and “Twist” was just as good, if not even better.

"Twist" will definitely be in my ‘favorites’ book list of 2017, it was that good! Finally a book that made me laugh as much as it made me cry, that's really scarce. I simply love that series, Kylie Scott's writing is amazing. It makes me want to be her new BFF :-) After I literally flew through the book and my only issue was that I didn't want it to end, I can only rate it with

5+ stars

And of course, recommend to everyone to order it!

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Review to be posted on the release day

4 fun stars

I really enjoyed Twist, Kylie came with another brilliant and clever story.I love that she always manages to bring her characters to life and make me feel like I'm a part of her stories.

This is a fun story with the perfect amount or romance,angst,funny and steamy moments. I love the relationship between Joe and Alex. They had a great banter, teasing each other and be friendly. And the sexual tension..wow.

Another great book from Kylie Scott!If you are looking for a fun read with a hot guy and a funny heroine this is perfect!!

The Dive Bar in Coeur D’Alene strikes again. This time it’s the perfect love between Alexandra Parks and Eric Collins. They both know it’s a great match, at least online. What’s more? Alex digs deep in her cauldron of courage and flies from Seattle to Coeur D’Alene to surprise Eric on his birthday. Only, Eric isn’t actually Eric, but Joe. Surprise!

Thus, our perfect match actually has a very dismal beginning, laden with lies and deceit. At least that’s what we think. Though the more we read into the backstory of Joe and Alex’s online affair, we realize how much of Joe really does surface. Sure, it started out as innocent, where Joe went online for Eric, helping to find someone during Eric's stay in Seattle. A dating profile Joe was going to delete until he realizes Alex wasn’t perfect for his brother, but for him. Only by the time he recognizes this, he's already too many email exchanges deep into his ruse. So he did what any male falling in love might do, he lied. Sort of. Well, he lied about his name. But not in his character, which shines true with their electronic exchanges.

Alex, however, is the queen of the one-night stands. She’s not someone wanting to take that next step in a relationship. Not until she connects with Eric/Joe online does she get the nerve to fly out and meet him in person. But is she meeting him only because he lives so far away? Because the distance makes him safe?

SEE ALSO: Fantasy Casting Kylie Scott’s Dive Bar Series

After Joe’s identity is revealed, illness forces Alex to remain in Coeur d’Alene. Only when she’s forced to stay in Coeur D’Alene does she begin to forgive Joe. And the more time they spend together, the more Alex is forced to face her fears of being in a committed relationship. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that our Joe is quite the looker. (Yep, I imagine a bearded Chirs Hemsworth...I mean, how could you not be attracted to a man like that?)

“You couldn’t use your own shower?” I asked, voice sounding only a little rusty. And oh, good God. Now that he was full-on facing me, it was the bulge below his waist that was really the issue.

Not my type. The man was not my type, no matter how fascinating I apparently found his body. Once I got back to Seattle, I really needed to get laid.

Once Alex is on the mend, too many emotions cloud her brain. I don’t blame her. She was definitely duped. Yet, in Joe’s deception, he basically bared his soul. How can you be angry at a man who opens up like that? Yet, still lies about who he is?

...I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I’d enjoyed myself so much. Not to mention the curious little side glances he kept giving me. All of the spending time together had changed things. Again. God, it was confusing.

I’d crushed on him hard.

Then I’d hated him with the fire of a thousand suns.

Now I liked him and his body far more than I should.

In my mind, Twist is even better than Dirty. I loved the mistaken identity. I love how sweet and good Joe is despite his deception. I love the banter Ms. Scott is the master at delivering. I love the connection our leads have despite the dishonesty at the beginning. I love all the twists and turns—sorry, no pun intended—throughout the book, and there are many. And I love how we get a glimpse of Vaughan and Lydia, as well as more facetime with the returning cast from Dirty. If you’re a fan of Kylie Scott, you won’t be disappointed. I’m loving this Dive Bar series thus far, and can’t wait to see what comes next in the series. Will it be Eric’s story? Nell’s?

This one was cute. I really liked Alex and everyone should love Val. Her sass was so entertaining.