“With a Twist” is the final book in the Swizzle Stick series by Georgia Beers.

Amelia Martini is going through a lot of changes and isn’t too happy about most of them. She’s 49 and recently divorced, going through perimenopause, and has just started a new dog-sitting business after retiring early. Kirby Dupree is just the opposite. She’s 35 and happy with her life. She’s running her family’s painting business and stays busy with sports and other activities with her friends.

Amelia takes a job house and dog sitting for a client that is going out of the country for a month. Kirby happens to be painting the house that Amelia is staying at. They’ve seen each other around town but this is the first time they’ve had one on one time and they get lots of time together.

When I first heard about this series Amelia’s story was my most anticipated. Unfortunately, I think I liked this one the least. Amelia spends much of her time being bitter and snapping at everyone that I didn’t understand how/why Kirby ever became attracted to her to begin with. Kirby was a delightful character. She was sweet and luckily had a lot of patience. While the romance did get better towards the end, it was hard for me to ever get to a place to root for them.

They’re also both dealing with loss and to a degree, grief. I liked how that brought them together and was something that they were able to share and bond over.

I enjoyed getting back into the lives of couples Julia and Savannah and Vanessa and Grace from the previous two books. This is a big extended family and everyone makes an appearance here. There’s a lot of time spent at the Bar Back in Julia’s bar…even with Amelia snapping at everyone.

Also, kudos to Beers for going without the third act break up. I kept expecting it and was surprised when it didn’t happen. There is some drama but it brings them closer rather than tearing them apart first.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great finale to the 'Swizzle Stick' series. I had been feeling sorry for Amelia through the first two books, interested in her story, and anxious for her to find some happiness. Beers delivers the satisfying ending.

This is book number three in Georgia’s Swizzle Stick Romance series focusing on the Martini cousins. .With a Twist by Georgia Beers is an age-gap romance but the first I have read. It really did not affect the story in any way, it only made me eager to read the others.

WITH A TWIST is the final installment of the SWIZZLE STICK ROMANCE. The story follows the forty-nine-year-old Amelia Martini house-sitting for an older gentleman while his house is undergoing a new paint job. And the painter? Thirty-five-year-old Kirby Dupree, with whom Amelia had had brief encounter when her cousin Julia was renovating Martini’s. Personality-wise, they are opposites: Amelia being more uptight and cynical and Kirby being freer and livelier. But will their traits and age-gap stop them from falling for each other?

What I appreciate the most about this story is the focus on Amelia’s menopause. She has been hurt in love and physically experiencing hot flashes, etc., and Kirby being understanding makes their relationship work. But I also understand that some readers might not enjoy this book for this reason; it is much heavier and certainly not your typical light-hearted Georgia Beers book.

When reading a series, it’s always great to be able to revisit characters from previous books, and in WITH A TWIST, we get to see Julia, Savannah, Vanessa, and Grace, too. Another thing worth noting is that this book contains dogs. Amelia is not only house-sitting but also dog-sitting and dog-walking, so watch out for a few cute dogs throughout the book.

There are a few very minor but questionable choices in sentences that made me pause my reading though, including outing of one achillean character and stereotyping queen men.

WITH A TWIST is a good ending to the SWIZZLE STICK ROMANCE series, and I think I would miss the Martini’s (both the cousins and the bar).

[content warnings: outing of side character, divorce, death of parent(s), graphic sex]

I have read many books by Georgia Beers and I have to admit this is my favorite one. The characters are so authentic and I could identify with their insecurities and relationship so well. I went back and read the whole series. I plan to reread this one many more times to come.

Um, not my favorite out of the 3 books. Amelia just worked my nerves and as a woman in my 40’s, I get where she was coming from but she was a buzz kill. Loved Kirby but Amelia killed it for me.

With a Twist by Georgia Beers is an age-gap romance with a hot painter and cute dogs. What more does one need in a good story? Full disclosure – This is book number three in Georgia’s Swizzle Stick Romance series, but the first I have read. It really did not affect the story in any way, it only made me eager to read about Amelia’s cousins and how they met their partners.
Amelia is middle-aged, recently divorced, retired, and going through changes none of her cousins seem to understand. Too often she finds herself snarky, moody and breaking out in tears at the drop of a hat. Her new business is the only thing holding her together and the joy she finds in the dogs she spends her days with help to add a spark to the life she so desperately needs.
Kirby, thirty-something, has her own business as a painter, spending her days doing the job she loves and her spare time playing any sport she can get to. Her newest job is in the house Amelia is staying at, and Kirby is both excited and terrified. She has been attracted to Amelia since she first saw her, but they have had very few positive interactions. This doesn’t stop Kirby from extending her kindness and trying to break down Amelia’s walls.
With A Twist is written well, and the characters develop throughout, growing and learning from each other. There is chemistry between the MCs and the cousins in the background add to the depth of the story. A cute romance about finding the one person who will truly make an impact on your life.

This was a very fun read. While I didn't finish it with the "Oh my god, this goes in the favorite books shelf!" vibe, it was enjoyable and presents some important topics, like grief and older queer characters. Many queer books are young adult or new adult, and Beers dives right into the exception with this work (and others of hers): with a lesbian main character going through divorce, menopause, retirement and the loss of her mother simultaneously, the reader gets to see her struggle with her mental health throughout the book, and it's such a special experience. It's heartwarming to think of the older sapphics who paved the way for me, an 18 year-old lesbian, and the fact that they now have the opportunity to see themselves represented in such a sensible and tender way. Other topics related to that are explored, such as feeling too old to enjoy life and how women in their 40s are not elderly, even if the media tries to convince us of that. It was also very cool to have most of the characters being queer, exactly how it is in real life (there's no such a thing as the token queer friend, we come in packs!). A personal thing I'd like to point out is that I think the topic of therapy should've been introduced at some point. We see both characters struggling with mental health issues such as grief, body image, a LOT of internalised fatphobia etc. and a romance book can always benefit from showing that love alone cannot cure a mental illness, as the message Alice Oseman introduced in their hit graphic novel, Heartstopper (that part of the story was life changing to me and I'm pretty sure I talk about it in every review of romance books that tackle mental health issues).

A sweet, sizzling and romantic novel, With a Twist by Georgia Beers has the great characters typical of her books in an interesting setting. Love this series! Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book

Despite being unfamilair with the previous books in this series, I really enjoyed this book!

It was really refreshing to see a story revolving around an older lesbian, as I feel as though that isn't something commonly written about. However, Amelia was complex, flawed, and just so real. Seeing her struggle through her body and mind changing read really authentically. I loved her's and Kirby's development - it didn't feel rushed or too fanfiction-y. Instead, it was an easy, enjoyable read that had me engaged throughout.

Seeing Amelia transform herself and take her power back, with the help of Kirby and her cousins was so heartwarming. I appreciated how her journey was never sugar coated - she was messy, and she took accountability whenever she knew she'd acted out of pocket. The book felt relaxed whilst simultaneously being engaging - I followed the characters easily, despite being unfamiliar with the series.

Overall, a really good read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Georgia Beers and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m sad this series is over, I’ve loved these characters across the 3 books. I love the character development and the overall sense of community and friendship between them all. Most importantly they portray healthy wlw relationships which I think a lot of books are lacking.

This book was so special to me! I read so many age gaps and I'm always wanting something different to set them all apart and Georgia Beers did that for me. I have never read a book that deals with the issues women face as they we age. Authors tend to keep women perfect in a sense and that's just not a woman's reality. Amelia was so human, I felt her struggles with her body and her emotions being out of wack because of her menopause, the divorce, and people just not understanding or trying to understand what she was going through. Until Kirby came along with her vibrant attitude and was patient, kind, and actually took the time to actually hear Amelia; even when Amelia let insecurities get in the way. I would definitely read With A Twist again it tugged at my heart and was really sexy but that is to be expected when Georgia Beers pens any book!

oof. I wanted to like this- and the story itsself wasn't bad at all, and I liked that both MC were older and there was no shock value in them being gay. However, the writing is very ameteur and a little cringe.

Kirby and Amelia, in With a Twist, are a nice couple and bring to the scene an age-gap romance.
I really liked Amelia and the fact that Beers made her as a mature woman, divorced, full of baggage, and going through the ordeals of menopause. You do not read a lot about women aging around there and for this, alone, I love this book.

The main characters in this book are Amelia and Kirby. This is the third installation in this series. However, it is not imperative that you read the previous two books.
Amelia is still recovering from her breakup and has no plans on finding anyone new anytime soon. She is focused on her new dog sitting and walking business. She has a new dog & house sitting job that is a month long at a huge house with a pool. She is in heaven. There is a house painter, Kirby, that will be in and out during that month that she will have to contend with. At first, Amelia is not at all friendly with Kirby and Kirby picks up on that and keeps to herself. Amelia is dealing with peri menopause and is having problems dealing with stress and any kind of problems. She realizes she has been prickly with Kirby and vows to be better.
This helps the situation between the women and they begin a friendship. This friendship grows stronger and slowly becomes romantic.
However, due to past relationship scars and an unknown future, this puts a strain on the relationship that could possibly stop it before it can be fully realized.
I would recommend.

I really enjoyed this conclusion to the Swizzle Stick Romance series! While the first book kinda missed the mark for me, I liked the following two books and ended up loving all six main characters. Beers also includes a heartwarming epilogue that left me feeling satisfied.

With a Twist stars Amelia Martini (49), who’s feeling the effects of menopause and coming to terms with her divorce. While house-sitting and dog-watching for a wealthy client, Amelia encoutners Kirby Dupree (35), who’s been hired to paint the same client’s house. While Kirby and Amelia got off on the wrong foot during their very first encounter, Kirby finds she can’t resist the appeal of the prickly older woman, and Amelia realizes that this much younger woman might empathize with her more than anyone else does.

Kirby and Amelia might be one of my favorite Beers couples; they complement each other so well and I could just feel the love radiating between them. I especially loved Kirby, how behind her upbeat personality there was lots of depth, and how she always strove to understand Amelia. I’m also pleased to announce the lack of a formulaic third act breakup!

An issue I sometimes have with Beers’ books is that her characters are too conventionally attractive; thankfully, this is not the case here. Beers doesn’t hesitate to show how the reality of menopause affects Amelia. She’s not thin and she struggles with body image issues, plus she has many insecurities about menopause coinciding with her divorce.

Those dog paws on the cover made me expect adorable doggo moments, and Beers did deliver those. Amelia and Kirby’s client has two dogs, a Springer Spaniel named Stevie and a Frenchie named Calvin, and those boys were just precious, especially Calvin with his big goofy ears! I must say that I expected more doggo moments, but chances are I’m just an unreasonable doggo fiend and you can ignore me.

As for cons, I do often have issues with Beers’ use of stereotypes and ableist language, and unfortunately those are also present in this book. But there aren’t as many instances of these things as in previous books, so that’s good.

In short, I’d recommend this if you’re looking for a heartwarming sapphic romance with great emotional connection, lovable side characters, and a couple of cute doggos!

content warnings: death of a parent, divorce, graphic sex, alcohol (recreational), loss of a loved one, car accident, cancer, ableist language, stereotypes

Oh, Amelia. Where do I begin? She's such a complex character. In On the Rocks, she wasn't completely amiable but I was intrigued to read her story. Although she's snarky and a tad brash at times, she is also a sweet character that's just had a bit too much to deal with in the last few years. I really, truly felt for her - especially with her peri-menopausal symptoms. Menopause is definitely a time in my life I am slightly dreading and in the first half of the book I cringed quite a bit at her symptoms. Beers managed to really nail the discomfit and hot flushes.

Kirby is a fantastic character. She's fun, loyal, straight-talking and I adored getting to know her. She is exceptionally patient with Amelia and is truly a saint at times. I loved the age gap of 14 years (possibly due to the fact it's the same between my wife and I). I could really draw inferences between reality and fiction.

There's a super sad moment in this and I didn't realise I'd felt so strongly towards a character, as I spent a moment quietly crying for/with her. This novel was definitely deeper than I expected, which was such a pleasant surprise. There's a great, steamy romance but also a complex character who manages to win you over regardless of her quirks. I enjoyed this read, which was a bit different to the usual run-of-the-mill lesfic romances.

All in all, a great novel to conclude the Swizzle Stick Romance series from Georgia Beers.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars. Amelia Martini loves watching dogs and when her father finds her a man who is looking for someone to house sit in a mansion and watch his dogs, Amelia can't say no. Amelia just has to be there to let painters paint the house while the owner is away. Kirby Dupree owns a painting company and has a big contract to paint a whole house in a unique way. Kirby loves color and anything to do with it. When Amelia and Kirby meet, they both see a connection, but Amelia tries to deny it at first. Kirby is much younger than her and Amelia is unsure how to feel about that.

I enjoy the books where it is a group of friends, or in this case, family, but I kind of got sick of them at the end. I did not enjoy this book as much as I wanted to since it also talked a lot about the other family members. I also did not always buy the connection between Amelia and Kirby. I thought the relationship at first was good, but I felt like this book dragged a little. Overall, I love Georgia Beers but this series was not my favorite.

This is the last in the three-part series entitled “Swizzle Stick”. When I think of Georgia Beers, I think romance. She is becoming one of my favorite go to authors for great romance novels. Needless to say, I have read all of her books, several of them quite a few times!

The series centers around three cousins. Each of the books focuses on one cousin and her quest for happiness. In this book Amelia Martini has withdrawn from finding a lasting relationship. Recently divorced, she feels that a partner is not in her future. Other than the time she enjoys with her cousins, Amelia finds her pleasure with dogs. She has started her own pet sitting business and is happy with her accomplishments.

Kirby Dupree is the other main character. She runs a very successful house painting business that was passed down to her by her father. Painting is something that brings her much happiness. Kirby’s down time is consumed by softball and hanging out with her friends at the Martini Bar.

Although their paths cross briefly at the bar, they don’t get the chance to really know each other until Amelia takes on a long-term dog/house sitting job. It just so happens that Kirby is contracted to paint the interior of the house while the owner is away. At first there is a lot of friction between the two, but it soon erupts into sparks of attraction.

I love Kirby’s character. She is happy and tries to look at the positive side of situations. She takes pride in her painting and enjoys the times when she is asked to create unusual painting techniques. I have to say that Amelia’s character is not one that readers will be drawn to. She is depressed and cranky. However, we learn that at age 49 she has started to have menopause and is dealing with hot flashes and mood swings. Over a period of time, we will see how the two characters work through their relationship problems.

This is a well-written romance with solid characters. It has a good pace and can be read as a standalone. However, I highly suggest that readers start with the first book in the series so they can truly learn about the cousins’ trials and tribulations. Thankfully, Ms. Beers ties up all the storylines for this series in this final book. I am always sad when one of her series is completed because I want to read more. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this ARC from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic Finish
Amelia is starting over. Her wife left her, she retired from her job and all her plans for the future lie in ruins. Toss in all the not so lovely things that happen to a woman of a certain age’s mind and body and life just kind of … well sucks. She is doing her best to keep her head above water by spending time with her cousins and working at her new business as a dog sitter/walker. She also volunteers at June Bug Farms walking the dogs there too. (June Bug Farms was the setting of another trilogy by Ms Beers, it’s a great series too!) She manages to land a dream job sitting for a wealthy man’s dogs for a few weeks while he is away. The dogs are sweet and the job is easy, the best part… there’s a pool!! There is a drawback though… Kirby, the woman who owns the company that painted her Cousin Julia’s bar, is going to be there during the days painting several rooms in the house. Kirby hasn’t had the easiest of lives. She is the only remaining member of her family and she tends to work and play too hard to keep the sadness at bay. She is really looking forward to this new job, she is going to get to use lots of great painting techniques that she normally doesn’t do. The only drawback is the prickly Amelia… but is it really a drawback? The woman is cute Kirby is convinced that in spite of herself, she’s very intriguing. As the two women get to know each other, they realize that even though they are so very different, maybe that’s a good thing…


I LOVED this book!!!! It’s FINALLY Amelia’s turn to be the focus of a book and I was so excited! I’ve felt a kinship with her from the first book and now I get to really know her. Amelia is going through menopause and her experiences are so spot on. I could TOTALLY relate to her, her new mental and physical reality was so realistic! I’ve never read any other book that described what she is going through in such a clear and open way. I adored the heck out of Kirby. She is just a dream come true. She’s really interested in Amelia and does her very best to understand what she is going through and to find ways to support and help her. Amelia (I keep wanting to spell her name the way I spell mine, oops) is shocked that a virtual stranger is even better at taking care of her than her own family, no matter how they try. When tragedy strikes, Kirby shows her true colours and what happens next is for you to discover. Just a side note, I REALLY loved that all three cousins and their lady loves played a big role in this book so we get to see what they are up to as well. ENJOY!