This book was so much more than I expected it to be! It made me feel a wide range of emotions - embarrassment, mortification, longing, lust, heartbreak. It was sensual and seductive and the sexual tension was off the charts. I loved the characters and the way they grew together as individuals and as a couple. Five star read for sure!

**I'm in the process of writing a longer, more in depth review for my blog. I will update this review as soon as it's completed and will post the review to my blog on April 11.

Received a ARC from Netgalley for my HONEST opinion.

OMFG!!! I LOVE Kylie Scott. I'm so happy I got the ARC! I was trying to wait till it got closer to release date to read, but I just can't wait any more. So Here I go....


I loved this book. I mean it's no Play(I love Mal) But it was way better then the first in this series IMO. I just love these two together. They both have to over come a lot to be together (past, family, ex's and insecurities)but it was great to read and watch them work though it. I did want to punch Joe when All the bad stuff happened and how he acted and things he said or didn't say. But I didn't hate him so it made it easy for me to forgive and forget and fall back in love with him just like Alex did. I love that we got to see the boys and girls of Stage Dive. This also had some sad parts that I just couldn't believe but it all worked out for the HEA.

I'm dying for the next book in this series (who is it?) or any book by Kylie Scott. I am going to be total fan girl but I LOVE HER! She has such a way with her stories they just get me or I get them IDK. I have never been disappointed by her or her book. (and I have read all her work)

This is such a fantastic premise - and very fitting for today's world. I do appreciate that Scott didn't take it someplace too dangerous. Instead there is a bit of a misunderstanding about who exactly Alex has been emailing, with the expected hard feelings, but Joe is a good man and things quickly turn around.

None of these people are perfect and both Alex & Joe have their hesitations for putting themselves out there. While their face-to-face introduction leaves A LOT to be desired, there are all of those emails that built a good foundation for their friendship. They just have to believe in themselves and each other ... but of course trusting is never easy.

Twist is full of humor, heart and heat. It's fun to be with these two as they move from a virtual friendship to a real one, with lots of sparks and playfulness along the way. While they let life get in the way and freak them out for a bit, eventually they figure things out - and it fits them so well :)

(This is the first of Scott's books that I've read but it definitely can stand alone. She does such a great job of keeping you in the know wither everything relevant that you can easily jump right in.)

This was very well done. Right from the start the dialogue was sassy and the storyline was working for me. I can honestly say that I enjoyed this from start to finish and it had my interest all the way through.

One of the things I appreciated was the lack of an epilogue. Sometimes epilogues can be too predictable and overly sweet. I like how this story ended. It didn't need a flash forward for me to know what happened next.

Review Scheduled to go live on blog on April 6th 2017

Kylie Scott captured me as a fan after I read Lick back in 2013. Since then I crave each book she has written and I know that she will create an exciting storyline that makes me laugh, fall in love with the characters and leaves me wanting more. The Dive Bar series is a spinoff from her original series, and I am continuing to enjoy her work.

To begin with, we find Alex in the Dive Bar, putting herself on the line and going after something she wanted. She threw herself out there, only to find herself in an uncomfortable situation and backtracking out of there. What she doesn't expect is Joe Collins coming after her and taking care of her when she needed help. Joe isn't usually Alex's type of guy, but the more time they spend together the closer they become.

It was amusing to see these two become closer. They have a lot in common and try to deny the attraction building between them. Alex isn't usually attracted to tall... very tall, bearded guys with long hair, but Joe's kind personality and sweet nature won her over. It's only a matter of time before these two go all in, but life isn't always smooth sailing.

Twist made me fall in love with this world all over again. It was great seeing all the new characters that I met in The Dive Bar once more, and getting a small glimpse of some of my favourites. I love that the Dive Bar crew are all close and that they band together in tough times. However, I could see Joe struggle and that Alex felt a little like an outsider. She wasn't sure how she could help, but she was a strong and determined girl and fought for what she wanted. I'm eager to get more from this world to see how things unfold for the rest of the gang, because it will be a difficult journey.

Sometimes love is served with a twist!
Twist (Dive Bar) - Kylie Scott


TWIST is the latest installment of the Dive Bar series by Kylie Scott. The gang's all here again but this time it's Joe Collins in the hot seat. And the big, burly, lumbersexual hottie is trouble when what he thought of as an innocent deception blows up in his face.

It was supposed to be innocent. When Joe starts using his brother Eric's online dating profile instead of closing it like he was asked to do, he really didn't think much of it. But when the woman he has been chatting with over the last several months shows up at the Dive Bar, ready to meet the man she thought she had been building a relationship with, it all comes to a head.

Alex Parks has no idea that when she shows up at the Dive Bar to see her online friend, that he'll have no idea who she even is. But, when she finds out about the deception, her humiliation has her wanting to run back to her home in Seattle as soon as possible. Fate will have other ideas and she is left grounded in northern Idaho for several days. Days in which she is left getting to know the big, blonde hunk who is the cause of all of the problems.

And although neither Joe nor Alex wants to admit it, the more time they spend together, the more time they have to realize that they are just what the other needs.

I really thought TWIST was cute. From the horrible mix up when Alex showed up at the Dive Bar unannounced, I knew that I was going to be in for a treat. Joe for all the trouble he caused was adorable and sweet. I was glad that he got someone that could appreciate him and not just what he was doing for them.

And Alex was a lot stronger than she gave herself credit for despite all of her neuroses. I was just happy she was able to get past most of them in order to get the ending that she deserved.

All of the drama between Nell, Eric and Patrick continued as well, but we got some resolution with that. That was bittersweet, but I was glad that things worked out the way that we all thought that it should have.

TWIST is the second book in the Dive Bar series, but it could be easily read as a standalone. The Dive Bar crew makes recurring appearances but you'll get the gist if don't read the first one. However, I recommend reading the first book because it was just as fun as this one.

My only problem with TWIST was the fact that Joe totally shut down there in that last third. I didn't understand why he just wouldn't talk to Alex and avoid all of the heartache he put them both through. I felt like he should have had to work just a bit harder to get back into her good graces after that, but who am kidding? I probably wouldn't have been able to hold out very long either.

All in all, I thought TWIST was fun, sweet, and sexy. Just what I was expecting from this author. I love the characters, the stories, and the setting. I can't wait to see what kind of trouble they will get into next.

*Advanced Reader's Copy provided by NetGalley and Publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I absolutely loved this book. I've read every thing Kylie Scott has written to date, and they just keep getting better! I really am hoping for a lot more in this series!

This was my first Kylie Scott book and I was SO excited to try out another new author to me but while reading, I was left feeling bummed out and just underwhelmed.

The way the characters met through online dating and the mix up could have been really fun and witty but I just felt nothing. The story just felt very flat and slow moving to me.

I did like Joe the hero who was such a nice guy and just all around sweet and caring but the heroine Alex really did nothing for me.

I have heard such great things about this author but unfortunately I didn't connect to the story or the characters and eventually just got to the point that I didn't really care what happened.

I know this author has a big following and it could just be me and not the book but Twist didn't work for me. I wish it did as I had looked forward to reviewing this with my blog partner Denise :(

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1952784166?book_show_action=false

AMAZING! I love all Kylie's books, but this one was the best in this series!

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. A girl walks into a bar… intent on surprising the man she has been emailing for months (but not yet met) to surprise him on his birthday only to find out he has no idea who she is. That is how Twist started out and I found Alex’s introduction to the Dive Bar to be most stressful. I know that I would never have the guts to fly across the country and “surprise” someone I had met online. Because of this, I immediately loved Alex and wanted to shelter her from anything bad happening.

“I actually feel a little better,” I lied.
“Yeah? Because you look like shit.”
“Don’t you flirt with me.” I coughed out a laugh. “I’m not your type, remember?”


After intending to shut down the online account of his brother, Eric, Joe caught sight of Alex’s profile and started messaging her, as Eric. Because of how Alex was introduced to Joe, he was a little bit harder to get a handle on. (Also, because the story was told completely from Alex’s point of view.) Despite this, I got the keen sense that he was one of the “good guys”. More than that, I just knew his vulnerability was just strong as Alex’s, which made for a great “what will happen”mentality while reading about their somewhat fake online relationship to friendship.

“Yes. You’re right, there’s no excuse for such a willful act of bastardry and I definitely deserve to be castrated and burn in hell for all eternity. Um. Who did you say you were again?”


Valerie, Alex’s very overprotective best friend was awesome. I, like Valerie, felt a protective instinct for Alex throughout the story. Though she was a self-proclaimed love em and leave em kinda girl, the undercurrent of vulnerability had me wanting to shelter her.

“Wow. Does she know about the whole identity-theft psychic-stripper debacle?”
“That’s the official term now, is it? Well, no, she doesn’t know about the whole ITPSD.”


Though Alex bonded with most of the folks in Joe’s world while getting to know the real him, I couldn’t help but feel like her tie to all of them was tenuous and I kept expecting the rug to be ripped out from under her. Add in Eric’s dislike for Alex and that feeling was amplified.

“I think that went pretty well.” Eric sank back in his seat, hands behind his head. “Could have done without hearing about my brother’s supposed super-penis but, other than that, not the worst Collins family gathering ever.”


This story was sexy with chemistry that jumped off the pages, filled with Kylie's special brand of humour, had just enough angst to make my heart ache and with a storyline that kept me bashfully grinning in between cringes and swooning.

I really thought for sure that Alex was going to be the one to pull a runner and break poor Joe’s heart but I was truly surprised by the conflict that ended up driving a wedge between them. Luckily, I had built up lots of love for Joe along the way or else the situation may have caused me to not be able to forgive him.

Like other Kylie Scott reads, I loved every minute of this read.

An amazing story, a book that captured my attention, spoke to my heart and one I will definitely read again and again countless times.

I am loving this series. Can't wait for the next book. Alex and Joe have a rough start but end up over coming it. Then with more twist still get there HEA. I loved Alex. She was so sweet. And her friend Val was awesome! I loved seeing all the other friends in the book. And loved hearing Nell and Pat got there HEA. Awesome book will definitely be counting down days till next book!

So out of her comfort zone…

This is the second book in the Dive Bar series that can be read as a stand-alone.

Joe Collins is the good son, always there for friends and family but he was bad when instead of shutting down his younger brother’s online dating profile he starts messaging a woman who he finds interesting. They connect on many levels, their friendship blossoms with every email but she thinks he’s his brother, a little white lie he hasn’t figured out how to confess to. When she shows up at his brother’s birthday party at the pub they own he’s as mortified as she is when she learns the truth.

Alex Parks is a graphics designer who works out of her home in Seattle, Washington. She’s not a people person but she connected with a man on an online dating site and they’ve become close. With a bit of encouragement from her best friend to leave her comfort zone she boards a plane to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to surprise the man she’s been messaging with on his birthday. The surprise is hers, he doesn’t know who she even is. She’d been speaking to his brother who looks totally different than his sibling with long blond hair and a beard, so not her type. Joe didn’t mean to lie to her but he enjoyed her messages and the friendship that had developed and didn’t know how to tell her.

Leaving the bar she’d been humiliated at and walking in the rain to find a hotel followed by Joe, Alex catches a very bad flu that prevents her from heading straight home the next day. Joe takes care of her against her wishes but she’s too sick to really deal with him. She does get to know him as him while he does so and she ends up staying, as awkward as things are between them they work on their issues.

The hero is a great guy, a nice guy who lets too many people take advantage of him, this man needs to grow a spine, to learn how to just say “NO”. He’s not an emotionally strong person, he hates to make waves among family and friends even when it’s warranted. Alex sees this clearly and Joe gains strength from her support. He needs to take a course on being an alpha but he’s a likable enough character. The heroine is an absolute mess who needs serious amounts of psychotherapy, she’s quite a contradiction. Why would a woman with so much relationship phobias even go to meet the man she believed she was messaging with? She definitely went out of her comfort zone and her fears surprised Joe, he helps her anyway. There’s a lot of her internal dialogue to wade through. At the beginning she’s not too likable but she does grow on you.

This was the first time reading this author who’s recommended by some of my favorite bloggers with great reviews but perhaps I shouldn’t have started with this book that left much to be desired. This was a painful read that I had to push myself to finish, the extremely slow pace of the storyline did not keep my attention as it should have; this reader was bored too often. Things that appeared to be comedic attempts I just found sad or awkward. There was no feeling to the story, words on a page that elicited little to no emotion. The story does get better if you get past the first two thirds of it. We are only given Alex’s point of view, having Joe’s might have helped things.

An advanced reading copy was obtained from the publisher via NetGalley.

2.5 stars

Absolutely loved the concept of the dating site and the catfish!!! I was hooked from Page 1!!! The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because of... Star and Joe's 180 flip. I didn't buy and I didn't enjoy reading it.

Thank you for giving us a little Mal!!!

Kylie Scott serves up a second round of intoxicating, heart melting, steamy romance in book 2 of her Dive Bar series, folks. Joe Collins, the hardworking gentle giant hero, is all about family and friends. From being a jack of all trades, working with his hands in his father’s construction company to tending bar at his brothers’ co-owned bar, this Mr. Fix-It is sure to sweep you off your feet, just like like he did Alexandra, aka Alex, the heroine. He shows what a teddy bear heart he has under all that mountain man of muscle and beard. Sure, he had some knucklehead moments, but you couldn’t help but love this guy.

Alex didn’t disappoint, as well. Sure, she’s got some issues of her own, but I loved her sassy comebacks and inner monologues. When times got tough, she had Joe’s back, even when it seemed to cost her what she thought she didn’t have to give, her heart.

With the first half slowly unfolding as the main couple banter back and forth while dancing around and getting to know each other, I found the second half sealed the deal at a much faster pace as fate stepped in and forced them to overcome their fears, insecurities, flaws, and choose happiness over stubborn pride. But not before enduring quite a bit of relationship angst and even a separation.

A brief unexpected cameo appearance of Mal, Jimmie, and the rest of the Stage Dive band had me doing a fangirling happy dance at the mere mention of these rock and roll characters. Seriously, if you haven’t read the Stage Dive series, you really should get right on that.

So no matter what twist you put on this, it comes down to the same thing. Ms. Scott sure knows how to put a smile on my face and put my heart through the wringer at the same time. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for me in book 3, Chaser, due to release in November 2017.

Title: Twist, Series: Dive Bar (Book 2), Author: Kylie Scott, Pages: 288, stand-alone but part of a series, HEA, hardworking good guy/gentle giant hero, graphic designer heroine, no cheating, some ex-OW drama, VERY steamy after halfway through, relationship angst, pushes heroine away, sassy heroine reluctant to love at first, roller coaster of emotion the second half.

Book 1 - Dirty (Lydia & Vaughan), 4/19/16, Pages: 288
Book 2 - Twist (Alexandra & Joe), 4/11/17, Pages: 288
Book 3 - Chaser, 11/2/17, Pages: 288 (details not available yet.)

(This review is based on an advanced reader copy distributed via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased, fair opinion. No compensation was provided to this reviewer, nor is there any affiliation between the reviewer and author/publisher/NetGalley. It will be posted on Amazon, Goodreads, NetGalley, Barnes & Noble, and Edelweiss.)

Twist is tricky book for me to review. I’m a big fan of Kylie Scott. She always draws me in with her humor, her unique characters and fun, yet emotional, story lines. But something about Twist felt…different. Not because it didn’t have all the things you expect with a Scott title. It did. They were there. But it took longer for them to surface, I suppose.

It was a bit like reading two books. The first 50% and then the second.

The first half is fairly slow paced, as we learn how Alex finds her way from Seattle to Idaho. It’s a cute take on mistaken internet identity, she believes she’s been getting to know one person but it turns out the real person returning her emails is his – much more responsible (and bearded) – brother, Joe. A lot of time is spent with the struggle of being lied to and of trying to re-trust someone after such a betrayal. All important stuff and I appreciate the realness of the timeline here.

But man, did I want them to remove some clothes earlier. 😉

I’m slightly kidding there. Mostly.

Once you get to that half way point, the pace changes and the story heats up. It also allows for the characters to relax enough for that familiar funny to kick in. I really enjoyed the easiness between Joe and Alex at that point. They fit together really nicely, pushing each other just enough without making it too hard for the other person, as they both struggle with relationships in their own ways.

By about 80%, I was fairly over the fact that we had a slower start. Then Scott pulled one of my all time favorite, and hardly ever used, moves.

In so many, many romances you hit that spot in the book. You know it’s coming. You know about when in the timeline (80ish %) it’s going to surface. It’s the all too familiar ‘break up’. Right? You know it. Something happens and one person gives up or leaves the relationship for one reason or another. Then you spend the next 10% of reading with them separated, before head is removed from arse and they reconcile.

We’ve seen it time and time again.

Well, Scott twisted that up a bit. In my favorite way. I won’t say how because I don’t want to be a spoilery bitch. But it’s different and I’ve only seen it in a few titles. That isn’t to say that there isn’t that emotional climax. It’s there, it’s just different and I fucking loved it. I re-read the last 20ish %. Twice.

While I would probably rate the front half about a two star, the second would be quite near a five. I ended up really enjoying it, as a whole.

Kylie Scott really know how to pull you into a book. Her opening scenes are always dynamic and engaging. Twist is no different and opens with our female protagonist, Alex, showing up unexpectedly at the birthday party of the man she has been emailing through an online dating site. Unfortunately for her she quickly finds out that she was being lied to. The man she thought she was having an online relationship with isn't the person she thought he was. Its his brother who took over the account. Joe, the quiet bartender from the previous novel Dirty, has been playing the role of unintentional romeo.

This was a unique "twist" (ha ha) on the friends to lovers trope. The story itself was unique and compelling. The characters were more serious and genuine. Eric is an absolute sweetheart. I dove into this book and devoured the first half of the book. There was a character that was introduced about 75% in that I felt created unnecessary drama. I could have done without that character at all.

All together though it was a good book with an interesting storyline and stellar characters.

***Advanced copy obtained from St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin via Netgalley***

Ayekah's review Oct 25, 2016 · edit
really liked it

Oh holy night did this one throw me right straight into a total tizzy. It's a must read. I loved it.

We're back at the Dive Bar where Alex shows up after meeting Eric (she thinks) online and having a several month's worth of conversation with him and sharing some pretty personal things. Alex is wrapped pretty tight, works from home she's a graphic designer. Not really great with crowds and social settings make her really uncomfortable. When her best friend Val pushes her to go to Idaho to surprise him, it is she who gets the surprise. Eric as you will recall got Nell pregnant after a one night drunken binge when she and Pat split. Eric is not anything close to Father material much less online nice guy, hit and quit, he does not commit.
The bar is closed for his birthday, all the gang is there when Alex shows up and when Joe comes in, it's obvious that he's the one who's been talking to Alex all this time and to say Alex hates liars is an understatement. She's humiliated, out of her element and angry as hell, and blows her cork. Joe tries to explain, she's having no part of it and sets off in the pouring cold rain to walk to a hotel. Intent on leaving the next day she comes down with a bad cold which turns into a very nasty bug and Joe takes care of her. Joe is everything Alex doesn't think she likes in a man, he's hot a full beard, looks like a mountain man, built like a brick shit house and the long hair. Think Paul Bunyan.
Joe tries his best to make it up to her and they very slowly work on things... and I mean slow. Not to say the book is slow, these two take one step forward and two steps back. There's also weird family dynamics's with Eric and Joe. Joe does his father's bidding with the construction company and Eric wants no part and is happy working in the bar.
The great part is we get to see all the characters from book one, which I loved and Pat, Nell's ex makes an appearance. Alex gets talked into helping design the upstairs renovation above the Dive Bar.
The two of them are working together. Pat and Andre help out a little. It's easy to see that Joe likes Alex and she him, but these two are both taking it slow. I love how Joe always asked her direct questions when she'd give him some evasive statement or answer. He's no dummy. I loved him. I loved her too.
When an accident occurs that shakes them all to the core, Joe shuts down and shuts Alex out. Conveniently his ex shows up at the same time. Oh and she happens to stay with Joe. She's a real piece of work and I wanted to throttle her boho ass. So what happens? Do things work out with Alex and Joe? Where is Eric and what about Nell? So many variables and so much could happen and change. In the blink of an eye. Like life.
This was one amazing read and I love Kylie's books. She writes a great character as well as plot. Toss in some steam and a few beers and it's all there.
Great book Kylie!! I'm ready for the next one!

**arc from NetGalley and Publisher in exchange for a fair review***

Twist is the much anticipated second book in the Dive Bar series. It was well worth the wait for this happy reader was hanging onto every word.

Joe and Alex have been involved in an online relationship .... but Joe has been pretending to be his brother Eric. Now, Alex shows up out of the blue with big plans to seduce the man of her dreams .... who she believes is Eric. It's a very embarrassing situation that plays out and Alex feels humiliated and betrayed. That's what happened in the first couple of pages but their story didn't end there. Alex and Joe end up spending a lot of real time together and helping each other with a few issues and naturally they end up falling for each other.

Kylie Scott did an absolutely wonderful job on this book. It had some of everything and more feels than I could handle at times. There was some very emotional things that happened and maybe some of our Dive Bar family was forced to grow up in this book. Even though I cried a little bit I loved the story so much. Kylie Scott deserves a big hug for this one. I loved it and already look forward to reading the next book.