Twist by Kylie Scott has a very appropriate title, as the romance between Joe Collins and Alex Parks starts out due to a very intriguing plot twist that is revealed right away and sets up this emotional, at times touching, but definitely fun and sexy story.

Alex Parks has had a few things happen in her past, relationship failures and some emotional and difficult times with her best friend Val that have made her leery of getting involved in a committed relationship. Still she decides to put herself out there on a dating site. When she connects with Eric Collins over email, she can admit to herself that she's relieved. He seems like a nice guy, they are developing what feels like a real friendship online but they live in different states so it's a safe relationship that doesn't require too much effort. When Eric stops messaging her though, she's concerned. Her friend Val convinces her that Eric's upcoming birthday is the perfect time to drop in on his corner of the world. And so Alex shows up on the doorstep of the Dive bar, ready to surprise her pen pal. But she's the one who is surprised – when it turns out that Eric has no idea who she is, and it's his big brother Joe whom she's been messaging all along.

Joe's guilty of leading Alex on, but not for any nefarious reasons. He'd set up Eric's dating profile but then was intrigued by Alex's initial contact and replied back – thus setting them up for the situation they are now in. Joe is nothing like his brother Eric. He's big, he's blond, he looks nothing like his brother Eric's picture but is more of the bearded Viking lumberjack sort. He's not Alex's physical type at all. Alex is ready to admit to this whole thing being a huge mistake, but a bout of the flu strands her in Coeur D'Alene and gives Joe the opportunity to prove to her that their friendship is real. In fact, once Alex is on the mend, the sparks flying between them are hard to ignore. Can this twist of fate give two people the relationship they've been looking for?

What a great story! I was hooked right from the beginning, when Alex turns up at the Dive Bar that 'Eric' has told her all about for his birthday party and finds out the truth. Alex's internal monologue is hilarious – snarky, blunt and honest, and she's just as outspoken in public too. She's embarrassed and would gladly forget the whole thing ever happened if not for ending up with the flu at her hotel and Joe trying to make things up to her. Gradually Alex realizes that Joe really is a nice guy, and that the things he shared with her over email are truthful, even if his picture wasn't. The attraction between them heats up slowly but surely until they find themselves sharing some sexy times together. The problem is that Alex was only supposed to be in this small town for a weekend, and though she extended her stay by a few weeks it's got a definite end point.

While there are lots of laughs in this story, there are some very emotional moments too, and some plot twists and turns (that title again!) that I didn't see coming. There were some teary eyed moments for me as the story played out, and that's a good sign that the author has done their job in drawing me into the story. There are some interesting secondary characters too, and for those who have read the author's Stage Dive series, some cameo appearances that are quite sweet and funny. Alex and Joe get a well deserved happy ending once they work through their trust and commitment issues. Twist is an emotional and sexy romance with plenty of laughs and lots of feels. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series!

This review has been featured on the Straight Shootin' Book Reviews blog and feedback updated with the link. It will be posted on sale sites during release week and has been been posted on goodreads.

I have been impatiently waiting for this book for, what seems like, forever. So much so that I kept convincing myself that it was coming out sooner than it actually was. To say I was excited to finally have the book on my kindle would be an understatement.

I'm still kicking myself for not taking the time to read Kylie Scott sooner than the start of this series. These are the types of books that got me started reading and that help me avoid reading slumps. I'm not one for stories made up of too much angst, but I love when I can feel the emotions between two characters so much that it makes me cry. This is NOT a crying book but it's a well-written one and those tend to do me in more than I'd like to admit.

Joe and Alex's relationship started out under false pretenses and quickly morphed into a easy friendship with undertones of an attraction between two people doing their best to not indulge.

I absolutely fell ass over teakettle with Joe. I'm a sucker for the nice guys, what can I say. The way he needed to make up for his deceit to Alex from the very beginning, the caring way he took care of her while she was sick, his insecurities about Eric, how he showed Alex just how strong she could really be, all of it. He was everything.

Honestly, I kind of fell just as hard for Alex. She was insecure and angry about being played but she wasn't so blinded by those things that she wouldn't open up to moving past it all and recognizing that the friendship her and Joe had established was worth a second chance.

Much like the first book, the build up to them becoming 'more' was slow and steady, yet somehow fast at the same time. Once they finally gave into their attraction, there wasn't a whole lot holding them back.

It wasn't all rainbows and roses however, and there's a section of the book where some things happened that I was totally not expecting. Looking back though, it was everything I didn't even realize I was hoping for. And just when I expected some drama between them for one reason, a new reason pops up that had me ready to pop Joe in his sexy lumberjack face. Luckily that's when Alex's real strength showed up and she handled things like a boss.

I'm really loving this series and with each new unexpected twist I get more excited about the next book. I can't wait to catch up to Eric and see him get knocked down a few pegs.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley for voluntary review

I fell in love with Vaughan and Lydia in Dirty, so I couldn't wait for the second book in the series to be released especially after reading the blurb. Joe and Alex were a hot mess at times in Twist, but with a little help from their friends, they manage to navigate the rough waters eventually.

There was a bit of a role reversal in this story in terms of the attitudes and actions of the main characters. Joe may look like hot Bigfoot with long hair and tats, but he is a genuinely nice guy who generally gets stuck cleaning up his immature brother Eric's messes He is hardworking to a fault and a people-pleaser which can get him into trouble at times. Alex is the commitment-phobe with intimacy issues who rarely leaves her house and whose sole friend Val convinces her to take an uncharacteristic chance on traveling to meet the man she has been corresponding with online. Alex is the love 'em and leave 'em type but something about "Eric" (really Joe) convinces her to take a chance when Val pushes her out of her comfort zone only to be completely humiliated when she arrives at Eric's birthday party and he has absolutely no idea who she is.

Joe has some serious groveling to do if he hopes that she will ever speak to him again. When Alex is struck by the flu before she can get on a plane to flee back to the safety of her apartment in Seattle, Joe gets his chance to convince her to hear him out because she is too sick to kick his butt back out the door. Alex was initially drawn to Eric's picture online and Joe's appearance is the exact opposite of the type she is normally attracted to, but as he nurses her back to health they try to find the friendship they established in their online interactions despite his lie about his identity. They are both surprised when that friendship not only re-emerges but also starts to turn into something more as they agree to help balance each other out. Joe helps Alex break out of her shell to experience more of life, and she helps him learn to say to no to people once in a while. Just when things are going well and feelings may have to be acknowledged, tragedy strikes and Joe withdraws into himself as guilt and an unexpected blast from his past courtesy of his petty brother's machinations hit him all at once.

Maybe it was the fact that I read back to back stories about men who started their relationships based on a lie, or maybe I just built it up too much in my mind due to the long wait between books, but Twist just didn't hold the same magic for me that I found in Dirty. There was still plenty of Ms. Scott's signature humor and heat, but I didn't experience that same connection with these characters that I have found in her past books. Alex is a bit immature at times and Joe had a tendency to bury his head in the sand rather than getting a clue a little too often, but I absolutely adored Alex's best friend Val formerly known as Vince. She had no qualms about laying into Joe for his stupidity or calling Alex onto the carpet for running away from anything remotely resembling a feeling that may cause her to break out of her comfort zone. Oh and a guest appearance from my absolute favorite Stage Dive guy was one of the high points of the story for me too! As for Eric, that man has some serious maturity issues to deal with so his redemption ought to be interesting. Let the countdown begin to Chaser...

I absolutely enjoyed this story. Right off the bat, the opening scene had me thinking uh oh this could get interesting.

I sort of loved that when they meet face to face there is a bit of drama in the fact that Joe wasn't honest with her. This was a story for me about falling for someone that you know on a personal level. Their connection is there but the dishonesty has put a huge damper in what would have started out wonderfully. This book has some banter back and forth that had me giggling and smiling a bit.

Alex I instantly liked her, she was extremely guarded and not so much a people person and took a chance. While it backfired on her initially I think the outcome was worth it and her and Joe were meant to be.

Joe I loved him, selfless and always doing everything for others. Always thinking he wasn't good enough and that irked me a little because I FREAKING loved him from the get go.

When these two get together OH MY the Sexy time was HAWT, but they were also extremely cute and adorable with each other which made me love them that much more. Of course there are some obstacles that get in the way, including themselves and it made me want to shake both of them at certain points. GAH !!!!

This book gave me some feels, had me smiling, and had my heart racing a bit. I absolutely enjoyed it.

"Amazing in all the ways"


Kylie Scott's books are always a pleasure to read. I couldn't wait to get my hands on Twist. I was so excited to start reading it.

I LOVED the first half of the book. I love everything about it. The banter between Alex and Joe was amazing. It had the funny characteristics I have come to expect from Kylie Scott's novels. On the other hand, the second half, not so much.

In the beginning, Alex Parks who's a graphic designer has decided to put herself "out there". After joining a dating service, she has been in constant communication for months with a guy named "Eric". When he goes silent for a couple of weeks, she decides to fly and surprise him on his birthday. The last thing she was expecting was to learn that Eric was not the brother she had been writing to. In turns out that Joe has been using Eric's account all along. Alex can't believe he has deceived her. She can't wait to run out of his town and go back to her safe life in Seattle. She was not counting on the flu hitting hard and delaying her escape.

Joe Collins goes out of character when he makes the decision to respond to a message on his brother's dating service account. He finds himself in a conundrum, tell Alex the truth and risk never receiving another message from her or keeping the lie and enjoying the online friendship he has with her. He finds Alex to be funny and he savors their exchanges. When Alex shows up at the Dive Bar, he can't believe he has made such a huge mistake by letting her think she was communicating with Eric. He's determined to ask for her forgiveness. Nursing her through her sickness is the least he can do to redeem himself from all the pain and embarrassment he has caused her.

Alex was shy and she was scared of intimacy. She didn't want to get hurt again. It was easier to remain in her cocoon but Joe helped her realized she was missing out on living.

Joe was not your typical alpha. Instead, he was more of the nice guy who didn't like to play games. He didn't like deceiving Alex and he felt bad for having done it. He did a lot to make Alex forgive him so that's why I didn't understand when he decided to take his pain out on Alex and begin hurting her feelings, repeatedly. Even weirder was to see Alex transform herself from the funny strong woman I have come to love to a helpless doormat.

I'm sad I didn't like the second half since I love this series and its characters. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping I fall in love with the next couple all the way through.

Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever watched Catfish on MTV. Every time I see an episode I sit in anticipation wondering if the girl who thinks she’s texting a shy, sensitive guy in Oklahoma who also looks like a male model will actually be texting an agoraphobic female high school dropout. *Spoiler* They’re always lying. Twist is Kylie Scott’s take on what would happen if you were catfished. Except instead of finding out you’ve been emailing a 60-year-old shut in you find out you’ve been talking to a brooding, lumber-sexual.

If you read the first book in the Dive Bar series, you’ll remember Eric is the narcissistic ladies man who slept with one of his best friend’s ex-wife and knocked her up. Joe is Eric’s brother. A sweet, gentle giant with a penchant for plaid. When Alex joins a dating site she thinks she’s talking to Eric, but Eric loses interest exactly two seconds after his brother sets up his online dating profile. When Joe goes to close his brother’s profile he can’t help himself from emailing Alex back. But instead of telling Alex who he really is Joe keeps pretending to be his brother. Skip ahead six months and Alex decides she’s going to surprise Eric – except Eric isn’t the only one who is surprised.

Twist was even better than I had imagined, it dug a little deeper than most lighthearted romances out there tackling issues like body image (both male and female) and promiscuity. One of the reasons Joe doesn’t tell Alex he’s not his brother is because he’s always lived in the shadow of Eric who could easily be a male model. Joe is handsome, but he doesn’t have a six-pack or sculpted body, he was real, and it was so refreshing to have a male lead who wasn’t cut from granite.

Besides the scorching sex scenes, humor, and unbelievably feels (especially from the baby situation), Twist gave me one of my new favorite book moments. One of the reasons I love reading Kylie Scott’s books is that she is a true feminist. There are a lot of books out right now feature alpha males who, in my opinion, are more rude and borderline abusive than sexy. There is a scene in Twist where Joe grabs Alex and drags her to another room so they can talk. Alex asks Joe repeatedly to stop pushing her around, but he ignores her. When Joe finally gets Alex in the room what does she do? She slaps him and tells her to never manhandle her again, then she tells him to apologize. Ladies and gentleman, I have never wanted to write a love letter to an author more than I did after reading that scene. YES! Finally, a character who isn’t afraid of telling a man, “No, pushing me around against my will is not sexy.” It made me love Alex even more than I already did.

I thoroughly enjoyed Twist. Kylie Scott writes characters that are multidimensional instead of annoying caricatures of what romance authors think we want. Twist is a fantastic read that anyone who is tired of played out romance tropes will truly appreciate.

3.5 stars-- TWIST is the second installment in Kylie Scott’s contemporary, adult DIVE BAR romance series - a spin off from her popular Stage Dive series. This is bartender/builder Joe Collins, and interior designer Alex Parks’ story line. TWIST can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from first person point of view (Alex ) TWIST follows the building relationship between builder/bartender Joe Collins, and interior designer Alex Parks. For weeks Alex has been communicating online with a man she believes to be Eric Collins but a surprise visit to the man in question finds Alex stunned when Eric denies all knowledge of their online affair. Enter Eric’s older brother Joe, and the man with whom Alex will fall in love. What ensues is the rebuilding of a friendship between Alex and Joe, and Alex’s struggle to not fall in love with the man who has lied to her for several months.

Alex Parks doesn’t do relationships but her online friendship with ‘Eric Collins’ finds our heroine entering new territory and stepping out of her comfort zone when she makes a surprise visit to Eric’s hometown. But to Alex’s dismay and shock Eric knows nothing about Alex believing she is a groupie from his days as a rock star and musician. Joe Collins struggles with his place in the family and keeping his identity a secret from Alex Parks has stirred up a hornet’s nest of distrust and anger from not only Alex but from his brother as well- a man who directs his anger at our story line heroine. Joe is a bit of a push over as it pertains to his family and his friends making for some awkward moments between Joe and the woman with whom he will fall in love. While Alex remains in town to help Joe with a renovation project, she discovers that falling for the man will only lead to heartbreak-once again. Some drama of another nature forces Joe to reevaluate his relationship with Alex Parks forcing our heroine in another direction.



The relationship between Alex and Joe begins as a lie; an online deception that Alex struggles to forgive and forget. Joe is determined to make things right with the woman that calls to his heart but an accident will cause Joe to push Alex out of his life, and in doing so, force Alex to walk away for the very last time. Their lack of confidence and uncertainty about the future overshadows their developing love. The $ex scenes are intimate, seductive and intense, without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Joes’ brother Eric, and his parents Stan and Audrey Collins; Nell and her ex husband Patrick; Dive Bar employee Rosie; Vaughn and Lydia (Dirty #1) and Alex’s best friend Val, as well as cameo’s appearances by the rock band Stage Dive including our beloved Mal. The requisite conflict is a not so subtle ex who wants a second chance with our story line hero.

TWIST is a slow building story about family, friendships, loyalty and second chances. Joe and Alex’s relationship has issues of trust, not only from Joe’s original deception, but also from demons of the past, for both of our story line characters. The premise lacked something in its’ presentation- perhaps the anticipation factor or lack of any real emotion from either leading character. In the end, the conflict was too quickly resolved for all of the struggle between our leading couple. The romance was provocative; the characters were affectionate and sensitive but missing some of the fiery emotional connection I want in my story line couples.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

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Twist Kylie Scott

Is it cat fishing? mistaken Identity? Or a case of well meaning intentions?

Kylie Scott is one of my automatic reads, whenever she has a new book out it's on my TBR. They also don't stay on my TBR for long it's picked up and read rather quickly. I always eagerly await her latest release and Twist is a perfect example as to why. The 2nd book in the Dive Bar series, a follow on from the Uber successfully Stage Dive series Twist is Joes story, the quiet sexy giant that is always rushing to the rescue of his friends and little brother Eric. I love the characters in Kylie Scotts worlds they are eclectic and enjoyable and Twist has some prime examples with some flashbacks to the characters we first met in Stage Dive.

Twist had me tied up in emotional knots as the plot had me running the gauntlet from happy and laughing yo sad and crying. I was hooked from the first chapters I was easily and I couldn't put it down. So a brief overview Introvert Alex decides to stop living life from behind a computer screen and meet the man she fell in love with online 'Eric'. Only 'Eric' isn't all that he seems and the funny sweet guy she fell for on line is an Ass when she meets him face to face he doesn't even recognise her, denies speaking to her and he has a pregnant lady friend. That is so not ok! But 'Eric' isn't really Eric, his online dating profile was taken over by his well meaning brother Joe initially to close it down but then he couldn't closing it down meant no more interaction with Alex. So be prepared to fall for a sexy bearded beast with a kind heart.

This was a FUN, SEXY, LIGHT-HEARTED romance rounded out by just the right amount of angst and feels! There was some seriously hilarious banter, a bit of a love-hate romance, and even some surprises that I didn't see coming! The hero and heroine were complete opposites in every way. They'd met by chance online but had never seen each other in person but there was a catch — she thought he was his brother and he never bothered to correct her so when they finally met, she was shocked and understandably pissed. But when he proved himself to actually be the good guy he knew she couldn't see, she found herself unexpectedly falling for him.

*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*

I love it when there is no love at first sight. Alex pretty much loathes Joe the first time she meets him. Which I was not expecting, ’cause Joe is just such a nice guy in general.

Though to be fair, he screwed up big time here. Now pushed together by circumstances, Joe has the chance to redeem himself.

I loved how that connection between Joe and Alex grew gradually. Seeing their lives intertwine, meddling friends, it’s all very entertaining.

Both have some issues, but them coming together forces them to address those, and work through them.

Twist is a great addition to the Dive Bar series. It was awesome getting to know all the characters better. Joe was a guy that was not really on my radar, but he nicely surprised me. Alex is interesting. She’ll keep you on your toes.

Twist was fun, hot, and entertaining, and exactly what I needed to relax after a trying week.

My review for this title was going to be low, so I have decided to DNF the title. We are looking at possibly joining the promo tour for the book through InkSlinger PR. If this happens, I will update this with the link to the promo on the blog page.

Thanks,
Laura

These are my Happily Ever After Novel Thoughts...

I didn't realize until I finished reading this book, it was the second in a series. It definitely can be read as a standalone! I think I need to read the first one because from this story, I'm not entirely sure who the story could be about.

I really liked this book! It was a different type of Boy Meets Girl type of story. Things played out as you would expect but it was written so well you can feel their emotions. There was one part I cried my eyes out because it was super sad and caused great turmoil.

There were lots of laughs to be had but some real issues being dealt with, as well.

Take a trip to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to find out if Alex and Joe can move beyond friendship to find their Happily Ever Afters.

Thank you for allowing me to receive an ARC of this book. I did have some trouble staying connected to the characters and the plot in this story. I am choosing to not write a review at this time as I don't want to deter any other readers from purchasing the book and reading it. I completely understand that just because I didn't end up loving the book doesn't mean others won't. I am still more than happy to help promote it on my blog. Thank you again for the opportunity to read it.

Another good book in the Dive Bar series, and I really enjoyed this one. Right from the start it sucked me into the story line with Alex's trip to surprise her online friend, and hopefully take their relationship to the next level. Only surprises aren't always welcome as we soon discover in this book. I didn't expect it all all, so this element gave me a good kick start to the book.

As the story went on I enjoyed where things went. Alex as a character was pretty quiet, a bit reclusive, suffering from anxiety issues and doesn't get out much, so her situation really pushed her out of her comfort zone. Having said that she is also full of sass at times, giving Joe what for on a number of occasions, adding an element of humour to the book.

Joe was a great character, with his own issues, he's kind and caring, but does make some pretty huge mistakes in the book!

With plenty of drama, and some major upset and trauma, there is plenty to keep the pages turning. I enjoyed how Joe and Alex's friendship developed and the support they both offered one another.

I feel like we are starting to get a really good feel for all of the characters featured in the series. I look forward to the next book... Overall a really entertaining read, which was sweet, sexy, romantic and funny, with an element of sadness too!

Friends to lovers is a favorite theme of mine and in this tale Ms. Scott puts a unique spin on it to amp up the drama and modernize it for the digital age. After numerous emails Alex thinks she's found the man of her dreams, a man worth going outside her comfort zone for. When she decides to pay an unexpected visit to him for his birthday though, everything comes crashing down as truths are revealed and hurtful words are said. On the cusp of Alex giving up completely fate intervenes to throw her and Joe together once again in a relationship full of ups and downs that charmed me as well as frustrated me at times.

Alex is a likable young woman who has let fear and self-doubts rule her life for far too long. Her email exchanges brought out a stronger side to her, a braver one that had her making a spontaneous decision. She's hurt though when she discovers that the man she grew close to isn't who she thought he was, which is understandable and which brought out her bitter side at first. Joe's not at all the kind of guy she's normally drawn to but she comes to appreciate him the more time they spend together. Alex has always set herself apart from others but quickly finds herself caught up in the lives of Joe's family and friends, making a place for herself in their circle. Being with Joe has her taking on new challenges and each time she meets those goals I was left cheering. Her interactions with Joe started off antagonistic but quickly took on a sweet and sensual vibe through sexy and playful banter. She became a good support to Joe when he needed her most but when a blast from his past returns she too returns to her usual ways of running in self-preservation of her heart. It disappointed me but she ultimately made me proud by fighting for what she truly wanted in a cheer-inducing conclusion.

Joe has always felt second best to his charming, playboy brother Eric. Girls always cozied up to him for an introduction to the sexy Eric which made him feel unworthy and doubtful of finding his own HEA. Seeing Alex's online dating profile had him doing the unthinkable by pretending to be Eric so he can get to know her better. Her appearance at the family bar though throws him for a loop, but desperate to make amends he'll wear his heart on his sleeve and present all the qualities of the quintessential book boyfriend. With his long hair, rugged mountain man looks, and strong protective nature he might not be what she thought she wanted but he slowly wins her forgiveness and ultimately her heart in a sweet and sexy evolution of friends to lovers. Joe's the one everybody counts on, the loyal one who never says no to those who need his help. Alex shows him that it's okay for him to think of his own wants and desires and when he finally stood up for himself it left me cheering. Ultimately Joe's a sexy beast, endearing in his interactions with Alex and a truly delicious man with a talent for dirty talk and a body built for sin. His only flaw is in taking on too much responsibility, taking on guilt associated with a tragedy that wasn't his fault, but had him pushing Alex away out of his personal pain. It was an act that frustrated me as it was a blow to her self-esteem, but for all the loving words and deeds that came before I easily forgave him.

The premise of this story was an appealing one that set up a solid foundation between Joe and Alex despite their immediate falling-out. Seeing their previous conversations made their quick connection more believable. Their interactions were antagonistic early on but evolved into a sweet and scorching romance as they opened their hearts and desires to each other. They were a good support system to each other which made each of them better and stronger in a relationship that had me rooting for them through every speed bump thrown in their path. Along with this compelling and immensely likable main couple was a large cast of equally engaging secondary characters. They were a larger than life group who supported one another and who played their own parts in getting Joe and Alex together, sometimes with humorous intentions. There were a few who stood out though. Amongst those were Alex's transgender friend Val whose backstory was heartbreaking. Her attitude was feisty and unconditionally supportive of Alex and I would love to see the story of her and Liam's romance. The other character that caught my attention was Eric, and not always for his good qualities. Eric was arrogant, uncaring of women's feelings, and seemed a bit childish at times. He didn't want to take on adult responsibilities, happy to get by on his charm, but a tragic event might very well be the catalyst to his becoming more mature and worthy of HEA on the verge of his story releasing next. Readers looking for a fun and flirty read with a touch of angst and a lot of scorching encounters will find this the perfect read to put a smile on their face and a blush to their cheeks.

Lou: Has and I are big fans of Kylie Scott’s work. She always writes funny and engaging characters with a whole lot of humour, sass, and wit. Twist is book two in the Dive Bar series (you can read my review of book one here) and handsome Joe has been a very, very bad boy. No really. He was an ass and pretended to be his older brother Eric in an online relationship with Alex. Poor Alex rolls into town, excited and happy at the chance of meeting Eric, the person she thinks she has this amazing connection. Instead she finds herself duped in the most humiliating way, even though Joe meant everything he said to her. The beginning of the novel was soooo good because Alex wrecked Joe a new one, and oh boy did he have to grovel.

Has: I really enjoyed the premise and seeing a souped Alex thinking she would end up meeting the man she was engaging online with for the past few months. She was going to rock his world and she ended up getting conned. Joe definitely had his work cut out for him in the groveling department and it was a very good thing that Alex caught the flu, which allowed Joe to win her over, despite her resentment and betrayal of trust. I especially loved the introduction to each chapter, which had excerpts of their online conversations which reflected the tone of the chapter. It was fun and sexy.

Lou: Joe allowed Alex to rip him multiple new ones and he didn’t bat an eyelid when she consistently–and more than once–made him realise how much he’d hurt and humiliated her. Her grumbled to himself, but he took it. Joe was an awesome guy who had hang-ups over his brother, Eric.

Yeah, Alex catching the flu and getting stranded in town was the catalyst that allowed Alex to see Joe for Joe. Initially she never would have given him the time of day as a lumberjack/viking wasn’t her type, but she soon fell for Joe, and even in flu-state she got some sexy ogling done. But while I loved Joe and Alex there was an issue I had with the book and that was the middle. It dragged somewhat as Alex spends a good portion of the book ill in a hotel room.

Has: Yeah, the middle lagged with the flow of the pace of the book, even though the moments between Joe and Alex were fun. But I felt the momentum of the story stalled until the second half, which really picked up in pace. I wished there was more time spent on that because there was a subplot that involved Nell, who was pregnant with Eric’s baby from the last book, and Pat, who was her ex. In a lot of ways I felt this was the weakest aspect of the book because while a lot of focus was on Alex and Joe’s story, I was expecting something more from this subplot and it felt more like an Ex Deus Machina and I was a bit disappointed with the outcome.

Lou: The romance itself was great and I loved Joe and Alex’s interactions, but a lot of the story was also based around Joe’s family and friends and the Dive Bar itself. The Nell and Eric storyline was disappointing. I was waiting for the subplot to get moving, especially with Nell and Pat and how they would work things out. But the storyline was wrapped up so quickly–and sadly–that was sudden and unexpected. It left me confused because the subplot felt like it was going to build up with each book.

Joe and Alex get caught up in the Nell storyline, and it’s there that things finally picked up pace and the tension and conflict came into action. Joe pushes Alex away, but she doesn’t run away. She sticks with him and is a friend to him, even though he doesn’t seem to realise it until too late. And I didn’t have an issue with her going away and then coming back to Joe.

Has: I also felt the final conflict between her and Joe didn’t work as well for me, but overall I really liked their relationship which had the trademark of Kylie’s Scott’s humour and wit and that made their romance fun, sexy and quirky.

I also enjoyed seeing cameos from the Stage Dive crew at the end of the book, which was fun to revisit. Overall, TWIST was an enjoyable and fun romance which was filled with humorous and witty moments.

I give TWIST a B+

Lou: Overall I really enjoyed this book too, despite the midde pacing and Nell’s storyline. But what was good was great and Scott always delivers enjoyable romances.

I give Twist a B

This is my first time reading anything written by Kylie Scott. I heard great things about her work, so when the opportunity to read and review her latest release came knocking I could not pass on it. "Twist" is the second book in the Dive Bar series and can be read as a stand-alone.

The story follows Alex Parks and Joe Collins, two people who had nothing in common. They met each other through an online dating service. During this time, they developed a rapport. However, Alex did not know that the man to whom she was baring her soul was not who he portrayed himself as. She discovered the deception when she decided to fly across the country and surprise him for his birthday. However, instead, she got the surprise when she discovered that Eric the man she thought was her online pen pal was actually his brother Joe. She was royally pissed and understandably so. You see she took a big risk when she decided to leave Seattle. She suffered from a mild case of agoraphobia. After the embarrassing meeting, she decided to return home, but her plans got derailed when she became ill after walking to her hotel in the rain. This gave Joe the opportunity to prove to her that he was not the douche bag she thought he was.

I loved how the romance developed. Joe is not Alex’s type at least so she thought, but that was until she got to know him. I loved their banter, which was tinged with humour and a lot of steam. They had me laughing for most of the first half of the book. Theirs was not an insta-love, but a slow burn connection. I enjoyed Joe’s friends’ hilarious attempts to pair them both. Alex’s best friend for me was the life of the story. The way she called out Joe for making Alex believe that he was his brother.

Again, he listened. In fact, he listened for quite a while. “You’re… I… Okay, yes, I’m a raging asshole. I should never have done that to her, you’re right. But…” He paused. Then he took an almighty big breath, letting it out real slow. “Yes. You’re right, there’s no excuse for such a willful act of bastardly and I definitely deserve to be castrated and burn in hell for all eternity. Um. Who did you say you were again?” The man massaged his temple, making the muscles in his upper back move. Nice. “Valerie, Alex’s best friend.

The story started out on a high note. The witty banter along with the steamy scenes made for an interesting read. Things were going well up to this point, but tragedy struck, changing the dynamics of the story. It took on an emotional feel, which was not a problem. My problem was with Joe’s treatment of Alex at this point. He took a shocking 360-degree turn. From that moment, he became my least favourite person. The connection established earlier was damaged. I knew he blamed himself for what happened, but it does not justify what he did to Alex. If I had his POV, I may have understood his actions.

Although I did not agree with Alex’s choices after what transpired I respected her for the decision she made to stick around. If I were in that situation, I may not have stuck around. It is my belief that, she was opening herself for more hurt in light of the events that followed. . The anger he expressed when she decided that heeding his request would be in her best interest was misplaced and unfair.

I struggled with my decision in rating this book, which is due in part to the issues with the second half of the book. Did I enjoy the story? Yes, it is a well - written story, with lots of snarky and humorous banter. Would I read more of the author’s work? Most definitely. I am planning to continue the series and I hope the other books will meet my expectations. Would I recommend? Yes, I would, especially to fans of romantic comedy.

Joe started out with good intentions and figured what would one little lie really hurt? Well wasn't he surprised when his email friend showed up out of the blue! Alex showing up unexpectedly was not on his list of things he was expecting. After being totally embarrassed Alex just wants to leave and go back home. Joe *sigh* is a really good guy and wants to talk it out.

Oh my gosh, Joe! Joe is almost the total package (he does a few things that doesn't quite let him achieve the total package status but he's pretty close!) He's sweet, will do anything for friends and family and can't say no to them, even if he wants to.

Alex is used to saying no, no she doesn't want to go out, no she doesn't want to meet new people. She's perfectly happy being at home, reading and working.

These two bring out the best in each other and help each grow until it all comes crashing down. I was rooting for these two so much! They have a lot to work through and there was times I was laughing, wiping away a tear, and grumbling.

Loved seeing characters from the Stage Dive series too.

Twist was such a sweet and funny read!! Alex and Joe meet on an online dating website. Problem is that Joe is using his brother's Eric's account, which Alex doesn't know. Alex decides to surprise Eric and oh man is she embarrassed at that encounter. This book was just great! The right amount of emotion and banter between the main characters!

I received a free copy of this book to read and review.