So Cute!

Amelia’s world is devastated after she leaves her job to go travelling with her wife only find her wife leaving her. Starting over again, Amelia is battling all life is throwing at her and dog and house sitting for a friend of her father when she meets Kirby who has been hired to decorate the house. At first there is a tension between Amelia and Kirby until Amelia realises they might have more in common than she first thought.

I can’t express how much adored this third book in the Swizzle Stick Romance series! Georgia has covered so much between Amelia and Kirby that it was just a heartbreakingly beautiful story about love and acceptance. Kirby and Amelia have both endured emotional trauma, which is what makes them such a perfect fit for one another. Even if Amelia was desperately trying to resist.

The moments they shared were tender, sweet, emotional, and just lovely. I felt so connected to both Kirby and Amelia even though I have never experienced anything like they were. Kirby had this wonderful infectious enthusiasm for just being who she was and passionate about her career and what she wanted in life, whereas Amelia was hurt, wary of happiness, and it was something everyone can relate to. Amelia’s hesitancy to want to open up and let Kirby be a part of her life was completely understandable but I am so glad she gave in, trusted her instincts and explored the possibilities because they were just beautiful together.

What is great about this story is that even though part of a series, you can read and enjoy it as a standalone story. I would recommend reading the other books in the series though because they all give great insight into the Martini cousins. I love how one of the cousins is the main focus of the story but we get to check in with the others and have a good catch up, it just makes the story that little bit more special.

An absolutely brilliant story that had me emotionally invested and unable to put it down until I reached the very end.

An excellent conclusion to the Martini trios romantic exploits! I very much enjoyed Amelia and Kirby's story of falling in love while working at a mansion. Any time you can have a romance that involves a bunch of dogs and hot pool sex you're on the right track.
I did wish that Amelia did a better job of overcoming her issues with self esteem before the end. It still felt like she was counting on Kirby to make her feel good about herself rather than finding a way to accept the changes going on in her life. The same goes for the scene with Tammy at the funeral, Kirby swooped in and took care of Amelia but Amelia never really got to the place where she was the one standing up for herself.

Overall a very fun read!

Big sad. The last installment in the cousin series. Any of these stories can be read as a stand alone. I think the writer goes through a good amount of repetition to make sure you don’t miss out by picking just one up.

This installment was my favorite. It was nice easy read to curl up with. Both characters are well written.. There’s a draw between Kirby and Amelia despite their age gap that completely works. Amelia’s menopause journey is well written.. The family and support characters add so much when they come together.

I would love to spend more time with the Martini family but this was a good one to close things out.

For those that may or may not know this is the 3rd book in Ms. Beers newest series around 3 cousins. I will be honest and say I did not read the first one (yet), picked this up with the second book but I can tell you I was able to follow along just fine-that is not to say these books are stand-alones but don't let that stop you from reading this 3rd one first if you want. Reading them out of order may not be confusing but it will leave you a bit short on getting to know ALL the characters and I can promise you, each and everyone of the characters is so worth getting to know!

As for this 3rd book in the series, it is a bit more tear jerking, in that Amelia (3rd and oldest cousin) has and is going through some stuff-her wife divorced her (after said wife cheated), she retired early from a good job for said ex-wife (who still left and cheated) and she is going through the pre-midlife changes women have to endure-so ya, she is not the happiest person right now (not sure what Ms. Beers has against this MC, I mean a trifecta of life dings....but at least there is alcohol).

The other MC in this last series is Kirby, the painter (interior/exterior), which some of you may remember from book one but again don't worry if you started with this book in the series, you will get Kirby just fine. She is fun, loves her job and just lives life with a smile, oh and she is so much younger than Amelia.

I loved this book because it has all my favorites, age gap, not enemies but dislike to lovers, and a second chance (for Amelia) at a new beginning. Ms. Beers always gives us rich characters to fall in love with and writes like we are right there with them, in the Bar Back, talking a walk with the pups, and needing a cold shower after some of those pool scenes <smile>. Keep in mind, especially if you have read the other books in this series, this one in my opinion is a bit more series-it's not dark or glumly but it does deal with some mature themes (which thank you from an 'older' readers) and Ms. Beers writing around body image and how Kirby understood for Amelia made me cry it was so heart-felt-Ms. Beers gave Kirby such an old sole for a young women and Amelia the understanding she needed, I wanted to just keep following these 2 even after the book was done.

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this author on my own.

To see my Amazon review, it is under CC-Just heart warming

Ah, the perfect rainy day romance to get lost in while snuggled up with a giant cup of coffee, a warm blanket, your favorite candle burning, and the noise machine going.

I'm a big fan of Georgia Beers. She's my Top 5 author of LGBT fiction, and I read her novels with such a gusto and joy. She creates that magical chemistry between the characters that I love so much. Amleia and Kirby are no exception to it as characters. All of Martini cousins are very likable and you won't go wrong with picking up this series and read them all.

Amelia Martini is a mess. At 49, she's divorced and being hit hard by menopause. She's retired from her government job and has started a dog walking/sitting company. When she takes a job house sitting for one of her father's friends, she never expects Kirby Dupree to turn her life upside down. Kirby's a housepainter and starts a job at the house Amelia is housesitting. Kirby is drawn to Amelia despite her less than pleasant disposition.

This is the third book in Georgia Beers Swizzle Stick series. The first two featured Amelia's cousins, Julia and Vanessa, who also play a part in this book, along with their respective loves. The three cousins are more like sisters and are always there for each other, but Julia and Vanessa can't really understand what Amelia's going through. Kirby, on the other hand, even though she's 14 years younger than Amelia, she shows such understanding and compassion to Amelia, which is exactly what she needs. Maybe because I'm the same age as Amelia and have started perimenopause, I felt a lot of empathy for her. There is nothing worse than feeling like a stranger in your own body and it takes someone with the compassion and patience of Kirby to help Amelia realize that the way she sees herself isn't at all how everyone else sees her. I really like Kirby and Amelia together. They complement each other beautifully.

I have enjoyed most of the Georgia Beers books I have read. She always creates entertaining characters, and this is no exception. Kirby and Amelia are both extremely likable. This story has lot of humor but also deals with a subject that doesn't get enough attention in lesfic, a woman dealing with menopause. Amelia's plight is one we will all have to deal with, maybe not to the severity she does but I can only hope we all have someone like Kirby to help us get through it.

An ARC was provided by Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for an honest review.

With a Twist is the third and last book in the swizzle stick romance series by Georgia Beers. While it is possible to read this as a standalone romance I would advise against it.
The Martini cousins we meet in these books have lives that are intertwined like no other, they come to rely and depend on each other, reading one without the other would just leave too many gaps.

In this final book, we finally get Amelia's story. I must admit I was waiting for this one, she is the oldest of the cousins and has an "extensive" backstory. She's also going through perimenopause and is just struggling. Vanessa and Julia aren't always too kind or understanding towards her. While I don't mind a bit of moodiness in a book, certainly not if it fits with the character and storyline, I do think Beers put a bit too much emphasis on it. As in it felt like almost every other line was either Amelia saying, doing or thinking something negative/ moody or her cousins would, but mostly Amelia herself. I understand this is the character, but I understood it with far less emphasis as well. Amelia's love interest we've also met in Shaken or Stirred, book 1. Kirby is "the painter", I like her. This is a fun character that has, I would say, hidden depths. She is the upbeat presence Amelia needs in her life and Amelia is the person to ground Kirby from floating off. They are a good match and Kirby is incredibly understanding, to my and Amelia's surprise she's just always there and knows just what to say or do, without it feeling like it's too good to be true. At least in my opinion.

I like how this last book in the series unfolded and I wouldn't mind if these characters would appear in some other Beers books. It has some bumps and I wouldn't call this my favourite in the series, but I just can't help but love Amelia, I just have a soft sport for her add Kirby to the mix and it's just lovely.

The third in a series and it was nice to see some familiar characters as I have read book 2 already. Book 1 is definitely on my TBR list as I have grown to love this group.

This one is an age gap romance and about family. I've always stayed clear of age gap romances as I thought it would not be for me, but I was proven wrong. I loved the interactions between the MC's and how their age factored into that. The doubts it gave them but also the new insights in their thinking and themselves. Georgia writes so clearly and with great attention to detail it really draws you in. I very much enjoyed all the names Kirby had for colors and thought it was a nice little added detail to Kirby's character.

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Great story about family - both found and related. It’s part of a series but I haven’t read the others (yet!) and it stands alone well. I thought the dialogue flowed naturally throughout. I really liked the peek into menopause. It’s not something I’ve read a lot about and think it should be shared more. ..not looking forward to it but I loved the way Kirby responded to Amelia’s situation and the way she kept showing up for her throughout the book. There wasn’t a ton of tension but I was fine with it. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their relationship. I also adored Amelia’s cousins- their familial relationship is enviable and definitely made me want to read the rest of the series. It’s an easy enjoyable read!

Short summary: Amelia is in a rough spot- she’s divorced, going through menopause and her mom died a few years ago. Her dog walking business is going well though and it leads her to housesit at a gorgeous property being painted by talented, bubbly, loveable Kirby. Kirby’s not used to standing still but Amelia takes her breath away. The two start spending time together and despite the age gap, realize they have a lot in common.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

• With a Twist
• Author Georgia Beers
• Series Book 3
• MC Kirby Dupree & Amelia Martini



This is the last book in the Swizzle Stick Romance Series

Amelia is 49 and really going through it. Retired, Divorced, Menopause and starting a new business as a dog Walker/sitter. Amelia is a grump. She is struggling (poorly) with menopause and how to deal with all the changes that are happening.

Kirby is a ball of energy! She loves life. She is very active. She seizes the day, everyday. Her character was very enjoyable. She loves painting it’s her passion. She learned everything from her father. She scores a well paying job to paint 7 rooms in 4 weeks.

Kirby meets Amelia, because the house she is painting is also the same house that Amelia is dog sitting at. We know that generally, grumpy people don’t have much tolerance for happy bouncy people. At first Amelia and Kirby do not hit it off. Kirby is able to break down some of Amelia’s walls.

This is an age-gap romance. Kirby is in her 30’s while Amelia is 49.

I appreciated how the author really did give us a good look into Amelia’s character. How she felt out of place, how the changes going on with her body were really making her cranky. The loss of her mother was also something Amelia had to struggle with. Her mother was a real friend and she could talk to her about anything. Not having this person there for during her struggles also made her sad.

Kirby is just a really sweet and kind person. She really sees Amelia’s pain.

Amelia has other big blow in this story. Her family gathers around her and is there for her in her time of need as well as Kirby. It was beautiful to see the love of this family and the love Kirby has for Amelia.

This book is about new beginnings, family and love. I highly recommend this series. The author did a magnificent job with all three books. 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received an ARC from Bold strokes books through NetGalley!Thank you to Bold Strokes Books!!

𝗔 𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.

This is the last book of the A Swizzle Stick Romance series and the last of the queer Martini cousins finally finds love. Amelia hasn't been the most charming character in this series so I wasn't too excited for this book. At 49, she's the oldest, and after going through a painful divorce, she's also the saddest one around and I found it hard to like Amelia because of all the negativity. She also tends to get snarky, which doesn't make her the best conversationalist.

But Amelia's love interest, Kirby, is really nice and probably the reason why I read on with interest. Kirby is the young and cheerful interior painter who renovated Julia's (Amelia's cousin) bar in the earlier book and had a brief encounter with Amelia then. But a year has passed since and this time around, Kirby has more opportunities to interact with Amelia and get to know her on a deeper level and I like how patient and gentle Kirby is with Amelia, which is probably what Amelia needs.

This series hasn't been my favourite by Georgia Beers because Beers has so many other awesome books that I've fallen in love with, but it's still a good series by any standards, and I'm a little sad to see it end.

A glorious end to the Sizzle Stick Romance series.

Amelia Martini, the eldest cousin among the trio has always been portrayed as the cranky and unapproachable cousin in the previous books. Life threw plenty her way with a divorce, menopause, body insecurities and aging. While she was still stuck in a funk, life threw her another curveball in the form of the energetic, artistic and sporty Kirby Dupree.

Physical and psychological conditions are unfortunately issues that can wreck and challenge one’s self esteem. Having support soothes but love can heal. Kirby was the perfect balm for Amelia and it was super easy to love Kirby for her maturity, attitude and approach to life. One thing that stood out in the book - there is always someone out there who can see the person beyond your hurts and insecurities and still want and love you. This is a satisfying read where everyone found love and something I learned about the author, she has a knack for naming colours!

I just reviewed With A Twist by Georgia Beers. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

This is the third and last book in the Martini family trilogy. I recommend you read the first two books to get all the enjoyment from the series. With a Twist was well written with complex characters one of which is going through menopause. If you like a grumpy lady with hot flashes you'll love Amelia, a lady who's also uncomfortable in her own skin.

One of the tags is enemies to lovers but I don't think that's quite right. It's more like this women is so grumpy but I can't keep away from her.

I can't believe it's the end of the series, how can I leave the Martini cousins ​​like this? I have to plan a re read really soon
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From the first book, the story of Julia and Savannah went straight to my heart and with this ending I ended up on the edge of the abyss. When Amelia appeared in the first book and said that she didn't like the color of the bar, I began to think what shape Georgia Beers would give her story.
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Amelia had a very difficult last two years, with the mourning for the loss of her mother still latent, the separation and divorce after retiring from her job, the only thing she needed was to start perimenopause period. Trying to find a new rhythm in her life, she starts a small dog-sitting business, something she enjoys a lot. With the proposal of taking care of a house and two dogs while their owner goes on a trip, comes the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful house with all the comforts and a direct view of the painter who is renovating the house.
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Kirby knows that Amelia Martini is the cousin of the owner of her favorite bar and the sexiest woman she has seen since she criticized her choice of color for the bar.Having to share a workspace shouldn't be a big deal between two grown women, but with Amelia's mood swings and Kirby's sunshine mood, it's hard to stop spinning around the attraction that neither can contain.
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This is a romance between grumpy-sunshine womens with an age gap, that goes straight to the reader's heart, vulnerability and acceptance overflow on every page taking you by surprise.
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I love Georgia Beers characters and I've been following this series, falling in love with the Martini cousins ​​and their stories and that's why I can't stop recommending it
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Thanks to Georgia Beers and Bold Stroke Books for give me this Beautiful Book in exchange for my honest opinion I really loved reading it

after reading the first 2 books of the martini cousins i was so excited for the next one, the things i love about these books are the friendships, the family and the fluff and this one was no different. Kirby was so likeable in the way that she comforted and loved Amelia.

This was an awesome series by Georgia Beers and “With a Twist” turned out to be my favorite. This is a good ole grumpy / sunshine romance with an age gap twist.

Amelia the eldest of the Martini cousins is having to deal with the joys of pre-menopause which include being grumpy, short tempered and dealing with ill timed hot flashes that add to her misery. Seeing her cousins all happily pair up isn’t doing wonders either for her post divorced life. Enter Kirby the painter who loves what she does, cheerful to a fault and Amelia is trying to deal with her attraction that she thinks is not going to be reciprocated or the fact that she’s even worthy of it.

I absolutely loved the dynamics / chemistry between Amelia and Kirby. It was at times hilarious, flirty, a little sad when Kirby gets shot down by Amelia and so very heart warming when they just got each other.

It’s hard to like grumpy characters and usually they have to go through this “change”before we start liking them. However, here I really liked prickly Amelia because she knows when she is being horrible to someone and that conflict between not being able to help themselves and regretting their behavior two seconds later was so well captured by Beers, not to mention it really added to Amelia’s vulnerability.

Kirby was just the sweetest character I’ve read in a long time and I loved how she was just always there for Amelia, not advising, not preaching but just there listening. I also liked how Beers brought out the whole dynamic of being loved by your family but not really seen or understood until Kirby comes along and those little things she does make big feels happen. And speaking of big feels, there’s a whole lot of steam generated by that fancy pool. In fact I think this entire series, Beers has upped the steam factor…phew!

This is a low angst read and I was cackling at how Beers pokes fun at the whole miscommunication angst path that the book didn’t actually take. No spoilers on what the angst portion is all about, it is emotional but it’s all good in the end.

I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for what Georgia Beers dreams up next! 5🌟s

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the last book in the Swizzle Stick romance series and focuses on the oldest cousin Amelia. Readers have already come across her in the two previous books in this series as the " grumpy" one. Well, dealing with divorce and menopause can do that you! It was nice to dive inside Amelias head, her struggles with menopause are realistically written and the way Kirby enters her life as a positive force was satisfying to read. The only downside was that the focus was mostly on Amelia and so even though I liked Kirby a lot, I don't feel like I got to know her as well as the Martini clan.
And speaking of, perfect ending to a series with the amazing bond between these women on display at the end and the wedding between Julia and Savannah to make if full circle to the first book. If you're looking to escape into romance for a little bit that will leave you with a smile on your face and a satisfied smile I sincerely think you can never go wrong with a Georgia Beers novel.

***An ARC was provided in exchange for a honest review ***

I was looking forward to reading Amelia’s story and it delivered for me. Amelia felt like the most complex person of the three cousins and it is fitting that her story is last, providing the series with an excellent ending.

In the previous books we already met Amelia. At 49 she’s the oldest of the Martini cousins and what made me so curious about her in the previous books is the sadness that surrounds her. Her divorce, retirement and also dealing with menopause have dented her self-confidence and self-love. Yes, she’s moody, snarky and sad, but it’s clear where this is coming from and I could easily sympathize with her. When she meets the energetic 35-year-old Kirby, Amelia is doubting everything and most of all whether to get involved with Kirby in any way.

Of the three books this was the least easygoing one, but it was still light enough to make it an easy read. I really liked seeing Amelia transform over time and taking back her life. A transition like this does not occur overnight and I thought how it was done was realistic. Her self-doubt may be wearing on some readers though and at some point, I thought she could have placed a bit more faith in Kirby. Kirby is confident and not shy to let Amelia know what she wants and of course she’s exactly the positive energy that Amelia needs. Kirby seems unfazed by anything, but she has some of her own struggles in life. You get some insights in Kirby’s life, but they were less in depth than those of Amelia. Beers clearly made the decision to place the main focus on Amelia, but there were a couple of points where I would have liked to read a bit more about what was going on in Kirby’s head.

Reading more about the Martini cousins felt like coming home. It has been good to get to know them all and their significant others, their banter, but also their devotion to each other and their family. I will miss them.

An excellent conclusion of the series. There is a sadness to this book, but it still makes a relaxed read without a lot of angst or drama as you could expect from a Georgia Beers book and I think a lot of people will enjoy this.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

With a Twist by Georgia Beers is a lovely and fitting finale for her “Swizzle Stick Romance” series. I’ve enjoyed all three novels about the Martini cousins. This last story, however, is a bit special because I can relate so easily to what the main character is going through.

You see, Amelia Martini is the oldest of the three cousins we’ve come to know and love in these stories. In fact, she is forty-nine years old. Her plan for this time of her life was to retire early, and travel around the world with her wife, Tammy. She did retire. Then Tammy left her for another woman and insisted the house she and Amelia bought together be sold. Now Amelia is a middle-aged woman living in her father’s house, starting a new dog sitting business, and beginning to go through menopause. That includes all the power surges, night sweats, mood swings, and feelings of losing control of one’s body. She gets a job house sitting in a gorgeous home with two cute dogs, but finds out her time there will be interrupted by Kirby Dupree, a thirty-something, stunning house painter. The two seem to clash at the beginning, but there is also a spark of chemistry between them.

Both Amelia and Kirby are easy to love. Kirby is likeable; kind, generous, and just a good person. I think I connected with Amelia because I know exactly what she is physically going through. Menopause is not easy, and the author describes the symptoms perfectly. I want to live in a house like the one Amelia is house sitting. I could happily retire in a place like that.

The story itself is heartwarming and romantic. This is a great conclusion to Julia, Vanessa, and Amelia’s tales. I had a wonderful time reading these books and will miss these characters now that the series is complete. I recommend this entire series to all romance lovers.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.