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!

----

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?

#ITPSD with a #TWIST is an unforgettable cocktail at the #DiveBar.

I'm not sure how it keeps happening, since I already love the author's work, but each book takes me even deeper into #FanGirl mode. Her ability to make me laugh and connect with the characters is a talent that I appreciate. Reading is my passion, and I enjoy escaping into whichever fictional world I'm virtually experiencing. I most definitely dug my trip to Coeur d' Alene, and wasn't ready for it to end. Fortunately there will be more books in the Dive Bar series, so I'll continue to bask in the glow rather than mourn the loss.

Alex is a she. She's lots of things, including sassy and sarcastic, when she wants to be. Her ongoing internal dialogue had me snickering nonstop. She doesn't have a lot of friends, but the ones she does have are the forever kind. She hasn't had much luck in the relationship department, but she is keeping her options open. The nice thing about online dating is that she could learn things about someone without fully committing. It's like a safety net, letting her explore her options without fear of confrontation. After spending several months writing to Eric (aka Joe), she feels like she knows him.

Joe works at the Dive Bar. He is the older brother, used to cleaning up behind Eric. After spending his time setting up the online dating account for his brother, he ends up going back to delete the account after baby brother loses interest. That was his full intention. Really. He wasn't expecting there to be a message waiting. Nor was he expecting to become so intrigued by it that he felt compelled to respond. And once he started, it became addictive. He thought about revealing his identity, but changed his mind. Being constantly compared to his good looking brother all the time was enough to deal with already. Why deny himself a pen pal? It's not like he'd ever meet her in person. She lived thousands of miles away.

Well, I've set the stage for you. As you've learned by reading the synopsis, Alex decides to make a surprise visit to see Eric. As you've already guessed, he has no idea she even exists. If you aren't already a member of the Kylie Scott fan girl club, you will be by the time you finish reading Twist. Her books are very addictive. The line forms here...

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

Here we go again, Kylie Scott gives us another incredibly rocking story with lots of heat, sizzling romance, awesome characters, and an appealing story that will make you laugh and sigh dramatically!

In this AMAZING second book in Miss Scott's Dive Bar series, we get one smoking hot bearded man that melted my heart and made my panties damp! I absolutely SWOONED with this sexy sweet man! The way he took care of Alex after the very first awkward meeting was so dreamy and sweet and the way both Alex and Joe start falling for each other as the book progresses made this romance lover VERY happy. This story was and is a masterpiece and Miss Scott just knows what us readers like and want and delivers...Every. Single. Time.

Twist gets a SWOON WORTHY FIVE SHOOTING STARS! If you like, sexy, sweet, charming, bearded men, you will LOVE LOVE LOVE Twist!

I really loved Dirty and had high hopes for the next instalment in the Dive Bar series but whilst I enjoyed Twist, it didn’t have as big an impact on me as its predecessor. I did, however, love Joe. For such a larger than life character, he was also a very sweet man.

The start of the book was intriguing as Eric and Joe come face to face with Alex Parks, the girl Joe has been emailing after logging onto his brother’s online dating profile, and from the first couple of pages, the story looked set for an explosive read.

Whilst the connection and developing story between Joe and Alex was fun and easy to read, it also felt very safe and despite the background drama between Joe and Alex, it wasn’t until later in the book that the story really took hold. There are emotional highs and lows in this book and also a healthy dose of good old communication issues between Joe and Alex. What I did find slightly tedious and unnecessary, especially given my loathing for text in italics, was the email history between Eric (or Joe) that was inserted throughout the book and after a few messages, I did find myself skimming over them.

When Joe and Alex do come together, they share a delightful connection and their time together was really sweet, especially with how Joe and Alex perceive sex so differently.

Alex was a really fun character, though. She was quirky and extremely direct when expressing her opinions. This made her encounters with Joe even more entertaining. With Joe’s easy going personality and desire not to rock the boat where his family are concerned to Alex’s need to hide herself away from the real world, they turn to each other to change their respective outlooks on life.

Eric’s book is up next and whilst he didn’t do anything to endear himself to readers in Twist, until your heart breaks for him near to the end of the book, I’m sure he will turn out to be a complex but enjoyable character especially when we get to see him tamed by a good woman!

4.5 stars- fun, flirty, and some switch ups to the norm

Twist is a great follow-up to Dirty, but can certainly be read as a standalone. Once again, Miss Scott delivers likable, real characters with Joe and Alex. The writing flows and the pacing is steady throughout, but it’s written in a light-hearted, causal manner that makes for a fast read. Of course, there’s a large dose of humor and fantastic dialogue that brings the story to life and left me smiling throughout the book.

I found the characters and their relationship a bit atypical for contemporary m/f romances and those details really made Twist really stand out. The couple connects somewhat accidentally via a dating site, but their physical distance makes them more online pen pals at the start. Having an established relationship prior to meeting allowed their romance to move along quickly without it feeling unbelievable or relying on instalove. Joe and Alex had good chemistry from the outset, and there were definitely some steamy scenes throughout Twist. However, there wasn’t an immediate physical lust fueling this pairing and that made it different to see play out. I found it actually validated their relationship early on. In another departure from the stereotypical romance hero and heroine, both Joe and Alex have quieter dispositions. They are happy to keep to themselves or fade into the background around those more boisterous personalities. Although having one subdued character isn’t uncommon, in my experience it’s less likely to see two. This created an interesting and new dynamic for me as an avid romance reader. I enjoyed how they lit each other up. That spark came through very clearly to the reader and showcased their feelings well. I also liked that Alex owned her sexual experiences. She wasn’t promiscuous by any stretch, but she also wasn’t waiting for true love to sweep her away. It’s always nice when a heroine isn’t the stereotypical inexperienced partner in a relationship. When added to her and Joe’s other character attributes, as well as aspects of their relationship, Twist really stood out among the sea of contemporary romances.

I think fans of Dive Bar or Stage Dive will be happy with this newest installment. Not only does it deliver the type of romance I’ve come to expect from this author, but it stepped away from the norms a bit. With Nell and Pat’s subplot getting a good chunk of time and resolution, some cameos from Stage Dive favorites, and a check-in with Vaughan and Lydia from Dirty, Twist had all the ingredients to make this an enjoyable and easy read. The book ends with just enough insight into another side of Eric, leaving me eager to see what the final novel in the series will bring to the table.

Alex has been emailing Eric for a while now; they met on a dating website and quickly started talking regularly, though they've never met in person. When Eric suddenly stops answering her, she decides to head out to his home town and surprise him on his birthday. But the surprise is all on her when she walks into the Dive Bar. It is Eric's birthday -- but the Eric from the dating profile, the Eric standing in front of her looking so confused and mistaking her for a previous hook-up, is not the Eric she's been talking to. Instead, she finds out, in front of all these strangers, that she's actually been talking to Eric's older brother, Joe. Joe, who is nothing like the sort of men Alex is attracted to . . . yet the two of them fit so well together in email. Can she get past the fact that he lied to her like that and continue what they started?



For me, the start for Twist was a bit slower than what I experienced with Dirty. It wasn't snail-pace slow or anything so drastic, but I did feel like it was dragging *just a bit* compared to the fun start that I so enjoyed with book 1. However as the story went on, I did feel like I still got Scott's usual humor and fun here, so I was still quite happy as things picked up.


I did have a few moments where a joke or phrase sounded familiar, like I had read it in a previous Scott novel. I'm not sure if it was actually a repeat or if it's just the way her writing voice is? It wasn't a big deal, but it gave me brief pause once or twice before I moved on. Related, there was one scene where I felt like the joke was a bit exaggerated and became more annoying than anything else. It's while Vaughn is on stage singing 80's love ballads and there's a table with a teenage boy and his parents; the teenager can't stand the singing, and starts pretending like he'd rather die than listen to it -- stabbing himself with a fork, pretend sawing his throat with a knife, hitting his head on the table, etc. Now, if just one of those had been mentioned, it would have been okay; by that, I mean clearly the reader would get the point -- in typical teen boy fashion, he doesn't want to listen to lovey-dovey shit. But in the span of a few pages, Alex takes note of all the things he does to show his feelings about the music and it felt like overkill. Even more so since apparently the parents didn't notice any of it, nor did anyone else in the bar, just Alex. Again, not a huge problem, but something that stood out for me anyway.



Now Scott's books are always written 1st POV from the heroine only. I have nothing against 1st POV but I do prefer if it alternates between both character's POV. Even though her books are only from the heroine's perspective, I've usually felt like I still had a good idea about the hero, who he is and why he does things. But for some reason, I felt like I didn't get much about Joe here. I was left wanting his POV more than I have previous heroes. For example, I think of Mal's book (Play -- probably my favorite) and his character comes across on page really strongly even without directly getting his perspective. In comparison, Joe's character fell short for me in that way.



Scott definitely has the rom-com feel to her books. This is true with Twist, but there was quite the emotional turn that I wasn't expecting. It hit me out of nowhere and definitely changed things for many of the characters (more so supporting characters than Alex and Joe directly -- no spoilers, I promise). Again, it's not that I didn't like this turn, I just didn't see it coming.



But, like I said, there's still plenty of fun and snark, so it's not like it's a heavy or overly angsty read. In the end, I think the heavier emotions were balanced out by the lighter fluff.


Scott does sex scenes well and I don't have any complaints here. These two have chemistry. I enjoyed watching Alex try to deal with intimacy with Joe; she's very much against emotions and anything beyond a quick, mutual hook up, while he wants to fuck her rough just as much as he wants to slow it down and maintain eye contact. She doesn't know how to deal with the latter and tries her hardest to turn him back to hard, somewhat impersonal fucking. He doesn't push her, but he also doesn't exactly let her get away with keeping her guard up completely either, and it provided great heat between the two.


I think what I loved the most was seeing the glimpses of previous characters, especially Mal. Oh, Mal. Have I mentioned I love him and his silly antics? Every time he shows up, even briefly, in a book I smile.



Overall, yes, there were some little things that kept me from loving Twist as much as I did Dirty, but that half a star difference really wasn't that big. I still had a great time reading it, will recommend it (and Scott's other books) to many, and I can't wait to see what Scott gives us next!



4 STARS!

My 4.5 star review of TWIST is up on Goodreads and will be posted on blog and social media upon release and links will be updated below at that time.

4.5 stars

When Alex Parks left Seattle for Idaho to surprise and meet her online love interest, she was not prepared for what she found. Seems that her online Prince Charming's brother had taken over his account and was really the one corresponding with her for months...but Joe Collins looks nothing like she was expecting. In contrast to his classically handsome and well dressed brother in his profile pic, Joe is bigger, bulkier, much hairier, and more casual.

Needless to say Alex does not take kindly to being duped and a scene ensues. But Joe is determined to apologize and try to make her understand where he was coming from.

Alex's normal life is pretty solitary. She has one good friend, but she is kind of a hermit and even works from home. She has fears, insecurities, anxiety, trust issues and tends to avoid people and relationships. She likes feeling safe and being in control of her environment. Taking this chance was a huge risk for her. But she also has a snarky sense of humor and is full of sass. She can be strong willed and opinionated.

Joe is a big, burly teddy bear. He is used to living in his brother's shadow and often girls have used him to get to Eric. So he is a bit self conscious, awkward, and has his own issues with trust and self worth. But he is smart, caring, protective, hard-working, loyal, and down-to-earth. He is always trying to please everyone sometimes to his own detriment. But his core group of friends at the DIVE Bar are tight and they all love him. But he also exudes his own lumbersexual-like sex appeal that makes him sexy and charismatic.

Due to circumstances, Alex ends up spending more time with Joe. And the more time they spend, the more the big, burly giant starts to grow on her. And Joe enjoys sparring and sharing time with her as well. They begin to challenge and push each other to get out of their comfort zones. She needs to say YES more and be more adventurous, social, and not miss out on so much. While he needs to say NO more and and not always be too nice and everyone's doormat.

They go from message buddies to friends and eventually lovers. But Joe's life is complicated by drama with his core group. And since he tends to internalize so much, it is easy for him to get overwhelmed with them, work, and the introduction of Alex into his life. Alex is thrust into the middle of a tight knit group that has known each other for many years. When something unexpected happens, Life in Coeur d'alene becomes more complicated and confusing. Joe's internal struggles and worries start to make him doubt and push her away. And her insecurities make it easier for her to get hurt and make her want to run. They are both sensitive and stubborn. It's easy to feed into each other's trust issues without even meaning to. They are from two different worlds with two very different personalities. Life is going to sometimes throw out twists...it is up to the individuals to determine how they deal with them.

Will one of them take the lead on fighting for what they could have or will it be easier to let each other just fade back into their old lives and forget about each other?

Kylie Scott writes characters that are likable but flawed or a bit awkward too. I totally adored Joe most of the time, but have to admit during some of his broody times I wanted to beat sense into him with his own hammer. And Alex's fear and anxiety could be frustrating too. There was drama, angst, and a lot of back and forth with them. But they had great chemistry and connection, fun banter, and I loved them together. But they definitely had some things to work through if they were going to have a chance.

This installment was humorous, angsty, sexy, fun, emotional, and sweet. I liked getting more with the group we met in Dirty: Vaughan, Lydia, Nell, Pat, Eric, Andre, and Rosie. We saw some more drama and progression with some of their stories and it really added more depth to this one. And there were some fun surprise cameos too. But it can be read as a stand-alone since all pertinent character and plot information was reviewed. I am looking forward to Eric's book Chaser.

Fans of Kylie Scott's writing will find what they expect in this book. Witty heroine, hot guy, sexy writing. While it's a little different from her other books, it's not particularly original, but if you've enjoyed Kylie Scott's previous books, you will find more to like in this one.