Twist is a catfish story. Joe begins an online conversation with Alex through an online dating account created by his brother Eric. Joe only plans to tell Alex that Eric isn't truly interested and that he's lost interest in his online profile, but something about Alex intrigues him. So instead Joe continues to talk to Alex through email never revealing his true identity. Alex's best friend persuades her to get on a plane and go visit Eric for his birthday. But when Alex shows up and Eric has no idea who she is things get awkward. Alex has no intention of hearing out Eric's big burly lumberjack looking brother when he tells her that he's been the one behind the emails that she's felt such a strong connection to. Fate has other plans and Alex is struck down with the flu which prevents her from traveling immediately home. Joe steps in and takes care of Alex while she's sick. And Alex agrees to stay for two weeks to get to know Joe.

I had been hoping that the email correspondence between these two characters would have more of an impact on this story. There were emails included from before the two meet, but I didn't feel like they contributed too terribly much to the story itself or the connection between the two characters as the emails didn't dive as deeply into personal territory as I wanted. This felt like a missed opportunity to me.

Because I so recently read Dirty (although I don't plan to review it), the language that Kylie Scott uses was just too familiar for me. She uses the exact same phrases from time to time in a way that doesn't always sit well with me. I imagine it's easy to use repeat phrases when you're just writing the way you think, but I guess I hope for more when it comes to authors. I'd like to see each book challenge the author to find new ways of communicating the same feelings and emotions.

I guess it is a fault of the genre just as much as the author, but I'm a little tired of relationships that are built upon the physical more than the emotional. On the one hand, I appreciate how Alex wasn't initially attracted to Joe physically but the more she learned about him the more that changed. Yet their relationship still centered around the physical a bit much for my preferences. Although not as much as Vaughan and Lydia's. Beware there is quite a lot of description as well as language if this bothers you.

Ultimately, Twist was a fast read for me, but it likely won't be one that I remember much about in years to come. Alex and Joe won't stand out as an epic couple or even a favorite read for the year. There wasn't much wrong with Twist, but it was just okay for me. Twist gets 3 Stars. Have you read Twist? What did you think? Let me know!

Ahhhhh!! There's nothing like a Kylie Scott romantic comedy. Ever since 'Lick', I have been a huge fan of her witty and sexy writing. I am calling 'Twist' a friends-to-lovers story because Alex meets her ideal man online and they really do become "friends" even though it is through a dating site. She decides to surprise him and travels all the way to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. SURPRISE! It turns out she was not communicating with "Eric" but instead was really emailing with Joe, his brother. A big, sexy, lumbersexual brother. Not her type at all. Oh no.

“With all the body-shaping underwear, lip gloss, heels, and tiny dress, you could almost say I’d been fibbing about who I was. His lie, however , left my Spanx and push-up bra way behind.”

Joe is beyond shocked to see Alex in person and her already-fragile ego takes a nose dive. One thing leads to another, and Alex decides to stay in town and realizes that Eric is actually not her type at all. It is Joe is the one who she really developed the relationship with. In all his bearded, muscled glory. Kylie Scott is a truly gifted writer and the banter banter between her characters is priceless. While we all know this story will have a happy ending, it is the journey there that is so satisfying. Alex is a real, relatable and very funny heroine, and the scenes between her and Joe are GOLD.

“No more hiding or denying, sticking to the sidelines of life. It was my time to step forward and be brave. When it came to Joe Collins, I was more than ready to say yes.”

Alex is hilarious and warm and real and someone you would want as your best friend. The whole gang from the Dive Bar series is here plus my favorites from the Stage Dive series. BUT with that said, this is a complete standalone and you do not need to have read any of the earlier books.

'Twist' had plenty of steamy hot scenes and I think Joe Collins might be one of my favorite Kylie Scott characters. Joe and Alex have amazing chemistry and there is just enough angst to add the perfect amount of tension to this romance story. And all the kudos to Kylie Scott for writing a STRONG female heroine who goes after what she wants!! YES!! This is a funny, sexxxxxy, well-written and lighthearted romantic comedy. It has the perfect mix of dirty, laugh-out-loud humor and well-rounded characters. I'm booking a flight to Coeur d'Alene.

FAVORITE QUOTES:

“When it came to Joe Collins, my pussy was a wanton whore. And seriously, who could blame it? His body was one big beautiful playground. There wasn’t an inch of him I didn’t want to explore.”

"Basically," he said, voice little more than a rumble, "with your permission, I just want to hold you down and make love to you for a good long time, watching your face as you come."

Twist by Kylie Scott
Dive Bar #2

I have had pen pals in the past when paper and pen were used then later as email buddies. I can honestly say that meeting most of them was even better than expected - but one time it definitely was not. Why? No warning of the visit and the person was not as had been described in the letters. What does my remembering this event have to do with “Twist”? Well, the story told in “Twist” reminded me of my past and made me think and feel and care a bit more about the characters I was reading about. It also made me wonder, “What if the guy who showed up on my door had been more like Joe?” – not that Joe showed up at Alex’s door…but still…

Alex had expectations when she showed up to meet Eric at the Dive Bar. She had hopes that their messaging over past months might prove the basis for more and since it was one of the only times she had been willing to try for more it was a BIG deal the way he responded to her appearance at the bar. Eric was surprised, Alex was surprised and so was Joe, the instigator of the mix-up. Turning on her heel to leave should have been the end of the debacle but instead the flu found Alex and Joe stepped in to nurse her back to health. With time their ally they found their way back to the online friendship that they both so enjoyed. With a few twists and turns, ups and downs, interesting moments and some sad ones, too, the couple move forward toward a HEA that they both deserve.

You have no doubt heard of the quiet man, the gentle giant, that still waters run deep – well, Joe was the epitome of all of these sayings and more. I think he might be one of my favorite book boyfriends so far. Alex is a bit harder to pigeonhole. She’s smart, independent, and hardworking; she has a sense of humor, knows what she wants and needs both in and outside of the bedroom. She has one close friend but otherwise she seems unwilling to commit to a relationship and fears emotional entanglements. I enjoyed the telling of this story, catching up with characters from the previous book and am eager to find out who will star in book three of the series.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Griffin – This is my honest review.

4.5 Stars

5 Little Miss CROWNS

Kylie Scott's second addition to the Dive Bar series is everything I love about her writing with its sassy and fierce heroines, rocker-esque heroes, and a story line that is filled with angst and tension, keeping readers turning the page until the very end.

These characters, the main and secondary characters alike, are just fun. Joe is is lovable, caring and compassionate giant, bearded, long haired god. His heart is what readers will love most about him, as his big heart and desire to help others are absolutely his best qualities. His counterpart, Alex is a strong and fierce heroine. She isn't afraid to speak her mind and stand up for herself and others, which is an attribute I love in a independent heroine. Her development throughout the novel also showcases the vulnerability love requires, and exemplifies that bravery she actually possesses. On top of fantastic main characters, the secondary character of Val, the other members often Dive Bar, and the most exciting cameos during the book further engage readers.

Readers are going to fall in love with the development and chemistry between these two. Kylie Scott develops their relationship using past emails to effectively establish their initial attraction, but the story also exhibits how this pair grows together. The readers get to witness them reconnect as friends and grown into more. The tragedy that befalls these characters is hard and is the impetus for the conflict. which creates an issue between Joe and Alex that is authentic and believable. Readers will be sucked into the fallout of the climax of the story, and their hearts will heart not just for Alex but Joe as well. The story, however, ends with a resolution that will leave readers with that HEA they desire, making them smile from ear to ear.

Twist is another amazing addition to the Dive Bar series. The characters, all of them, are fun and lovable, the writing is superb, and the story line fantastic. Kylie Scott has certainly composed her best Dive Bar novel to date, and I cannot wait for Chaser.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

I love the Dive Bar!!! And I love, love, love Joe! He made a big mistake deceiving Alex, but I was way more willing to forgive him than she was. Why she was so angry was completely understandable. I admired her willingness to be brave, but herself on the line. It totally backfired, at least initially. Cracked me up how they both denied that their email communication was anything beyond platonic. Ha! They were so into each other, but refused to see it. It was so much fun watching their relationship unfold. Bearded guys normally aren't my thing either. In Joe's case, I could make an exception. He was such a good guy. Not perfect, just a good person. And who wouldn't want to cuddle with a man built like a lumberjack?!

Holy Biscuits! What a sequel. I had a hard time getting into the first book of the series, but this one just blew me way. I could not gobble this delectable treat quick enough. Joe and Alex were magnetic, both drawn to each other and the fact that the could overcome the "Twist" was absolutely wonderful.

This book with tug at your heart strings, and have you weeping for joy with the ending. I am glad I took a second chance with this author as she was totally worth it.

This is my first book by Kylie Scott but when I saw it on NetGalley I was super excited to read it. It's not everyday you see a book straight up catfishes the girl even if he didn't want to lie and I really wanted to know how that would play out. However, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. Don't get me wrong, I liked this book and the story but there was something missing.

First of all, let me talk about the characters. I really liked Alex. She was an awesome girl and I really liked how supportive she was of her friends even when she was comfortable in some situations. I also loved how strong she was even if she had her own doubts and problems. I don't really know what to say about Joe. I liked him, I did, but there was something missing in him. Here's the thing, this book is told only from Alex's POV. There are a few snippets from Joe's POV but it's through email so you don't know a lot about im. That's what made me enjoy this book a little bit less because at some point things happened, Joe made some decisions I wasn't happy about and I just wanted to know his reasoning behind it. Well, I know the reasons behind those decisions but I wanted to know more about him and I wanted to see him develop more. However, I did enjoy his relationship with Alex even if I thought it was a little bit too fast. I also loved to see him with his family and friends. It was pretty awesome.

I also enjoyed the story itself. Normally romances are too predictable and most of the times you know what will happen to them and why they'll drift apart at some point. I had no idea about what would happen to them and what the rift would be. There was something that I knew it would happen but there was also something else that I had no idea it would happen that broken my heart.

Overall, I did enjoy this book even if it was missing something and I'm planning on reading more Kylie Scott's books because I'm pretty sure I'll love those too.

This was my first book by Kylie Scott, though I’m curious about her previous series and her previous book of this series, so I’ll for sure read more from her. I did enjoy this one, I especially liked the writing. Twist is told through Alex’s POV, with some snippets of the messages exchanged between her and Joe throughout their online “friendships”. While I really liked the way the book was told, because Alex was hilarious, I also felt like I didn’t get to know Joe that well, because I wasn’t getting his POV.

Which happened probably because I didn’t feel like the characters were totally fleshed out. Don’t get me wrong, I did like what I did see from Alex and Joe, they were truly awesome people and they were amazing together as well. But there are some things that happen that I truly didn’t get, that were never truly explained or explored, and that made it less enjoyable for me.

But, even though I thought some things should have been explored a little bit more, I did love the plot, and the connection between both main characters.

Overall a very enjoyable read, I’ll make sure to check out Kylie Scott’s other books. Even with some minor problems, this was a romance worth reading. Give it a shot.

*Arc kindly provided for an honest review*

Twist was such a good read. The start of the story was like reading about an episode of the show “Catfish" going wrong. There was so much to love about this story.

" I wanted to be his wonderwall. His place to rest and heal."

Alex decides to fly to Coeur D' Alene, northern Idaho, to surprise Eric for his birthday. They have been talking and bonding online for months. All dolled up, Alex’s entrance at the Dive bar did not go unnoticed, far from it… She felt like she knew the people in attendance, thanks to her correspondence with Eric, but what she did not expect was for Eric, to not know who she was!

Alex realised that the person who she has been talking to and for whom she has developed feelings was not who she thought he was. Joe, Eric’s brother, stepped forward as the guilty person.

I love Joe- I am guilty! I do not like bearded men with long hair blablabla but Joe … *Swoon- He was the full package. He is caring, funny, sarcastic, loyal, and sexy and so much more. When “ Bigfoot” meets “ Miss Little Fucking Sunshine” , as a reader, you beg for a HEA for them. The road to happiness will not be easy and without turbulence, but will they get the HEA that they so deserve ?

I was dazzled from the very first page, devouring chapters after chapters.- all the characters had the witty and sarcastic humor I love, making it very easy for me to fall even more in love with each and every one of them.

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.

Prepare yourselves for some crazy fangirling, okay? Because I freakin’ LOVED this book.

You guys… I started Twist late at night, thinking I’d just read a few chapters. Ha! What a fool I was. I couldn’t put it down. This was a one-sitting, don’t move, don’t eat, don’t drink, don’t talk, JUST READ book, and I swear, I am still in the post-book glow.

Twist was ALL THE THINGS I wanted it to be. It was smart and it didn’t get bogged down in unnecessary drama. The characters talked, they bantered, they flirted and it was amazing. It was captivating and intense and sexy as hell, and ahhhh, I just wanted to keep reading and reading and reading until I collapsed in a Kylie Scott-induced coma of book perfection.

Too much? Eh, maybe. But, hey, I am owning my book geekiness. If I were to change one thing about this book, I’d have added something more to the Eric-Nell-Pat storyline, which although desperately emotional, didn’t quite come with the closure I wanted. However, Chaser is yet to come, and I am going to go out on a limb (like, a really sturdy, strong limb… so, a branch. I’m going out on a branch), and say that we’ll delve into that a little more when April 2018 rolls around.

April 2018, you say? Yes, it’s a long way away, but I have faith that it’ll be more than worth the wait. I mean, if it is anything like Twist—as in delicious and joyful and funny and paced like a dream with sassy, sexy characters, fun settings, awkward and awkwardly adorable moments, hole in the chest feels, JOE, perfect, sweet, kind, controlled, yummy, bearded, bitable Joe…

I should stop. I’ve lost my train of thought because JOE. #SorryNotSorry

Not sure I can salvage this review, but you get the idea, right? You know now that one-clicking Twist (and its excellent predecessor, Dirty) is a great freakin’ idea. And you also know I am a crazy fangirl for Ms. Scott... and JOE.

I loved him and I hated him, and I honestly hadn’t known him long enough for either. But he had me. There could be no fighting this one true fact. Joe had me, whether he wanted me or not.

~ FIVE Little Miss STARS ~

4.5 stars

Oh Joe you dirty dog, what did you get yourself into? Joe (older brother of Eric) does a very naughty thing by creating an online relationship with Alex; why is this naughty you ask? Because he pretends to be Eric the entire time. Unfortunately for Joe, Alex decided to finally meet her wonderful online man and boy-oh-boy was she surprised by what she found.

I loved the whole book especially the relationship between Joe and Alex. Joe tried so hard to gain Alex's forgiveness and Alex worked hard to overcome her trust issues.

I have to say I didn't expect that twist in the Eric/Nell/Pat situation. I'm still hoping on a book for Nell and Pat.

4.5 Stars!

I really enjoyed this book. It's the first I've read from this author and won't be the last. One of my favorite things I enjoy is humor in my books. While I wouldn't label this a romantic comedy, there was enough humor in it that kept me very entertained. It also had its fair shair of romantic angst and it was a slow burn love that started of in a unique way.

What I loved about this, besides the humor, was both main characters. Joe was described as a big, blonde lumberjack with tattoos. He wasn't exactly shy but he wasn't cocky either. He's the big guy that's kinda clueless about his own appeal and was just an all around friendly, loyal and easygoing guy. Alex is your typical pretty but nerdy introvert. Despite her social issues she was a strong woman and brave enough to go out of her comfort zone for the right reasons.

The way these two met was funny and cute. Joe's brother had him set up an account for him on a dating website. After the first contact with Alex, Eric flaked out on the website. When Joe went to shut down the account, he saw Alex's email and responded as Eric. He was intrigued by her and thought it harmless to continue emailing her. When Alex got the nerve to fly out to Idaho to meet Eric, she gets a surprise when she finds out he has no clue who she is. The way the author handled the way these two met and kept bringing them together was very well done and I was completely engrossed in this couples fumbling.

What I didn't love about the book was the way Joe handled the plot twist towards the end. Without giving it away I'll just say this, I hated how he handled things because he hurt Alex in the process, but I couldn't hate him. He was dealing with a lot and people aren't always the best in sad circumstances. However, I did love how Alex handled herself. She's a better woman than me and she's the reason these two had their HEA. Great book!

ARC provided by NetGalley.

Twist is the second book in Kylie Scott's Dive Bar series. I loved it! This story was highly entertaining and the characters were completely endearing.

Joe Collins and Alex Parks 'meet' for the first time when Alex decides to come out of her shell and meet her online pen-pal who she met on a dating site months ago. You see, Joe and Alex have become very close in these months. They get along so well, and everything is supposed to be perfect when they meet... but there is one very big problem. Alex thinks she is meeting Eric. Eric who is Joe's brother. Eric, who set up the dating profile and never used it. Alex is not happy about this information. She feels betrayed.

I loved the way Alex and Joe met. I love that Joe took care of Alex when she first got there and talked her into staying for awhile to spend time with him. I seriously LOVED the start of this book. The first half was perfection. I read it cover to cover with no breaks. It was such a fun story that kept a huge grin on my face.

Joe and Alex's friendship starts to grow, and eventually develops into more. We all know those feelings they have between them have been there for much longer, but it was nice to get them to see it. When Joe has something traumatic happen in his life, I loved how Alex was there for him. Her friendship was unconditional. I adored Joe and Alex and how Alex started to see Joe.

Honestly, this book was on it's way to being a 5 star favorite of mine, until closer to the end. I loved Joe so much that I took it very hard with his change of behavior.

Another thing I loved about this book was the Nell/Pat/Eric story-line. It was great to catch up with these guys and see a bit of their story that was introduced in Dirty. Both Joe and Alex have a great set of friends and I loved to see their relationships with them. Friendship in general was such a huge part of this story. I also adored the message that the perception of beauty is different for everyone, and the best kind of beauty and allure comes from within.

Twist felt real and honest. It was funny, entertaining, sweet and sexy. By far one of the best friends to lovers stories I've read in a while. And I truly did love the 'twist'! This is one I would definitely recommend!

4 When Do We Really Know Anyone Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
Kylie Scott has a knack.... a way of telling stories which will hook you right from the start...and hold your interest till the very last page. She has created characters who work their way into you mind while you are living your day to day life... and this book is no different.

This is the second entry to the Dive Bar series. It is a series where there are more Real People populating it then the Rich and Famous. There is a gritty feel to it... where if you are lucky... you would know where there was a bar just like Dive and go to it often.

Like all Scott books, there is a cast of characters who are unique yet understandable. This is a tale of two people who are more alike than they realize. Both have pain and hide from relationships. Both feel their reasons are sound.... and both are in a life rut.

We have the older brother Joe Collins... a man who is big, brawny, solid and kind. His younger brother, Eric, is the "Ladies Man" and set up a profile on a dating site. But like most things that his brother does... he has lost interest before he even got started on it. Joe goes to cancel out the profile and sees an intriguing email from a pretty little thing...

He reads it... becomes interested enough to respond and before he realizes what happened and what exactly he has done... He has an email relationship with a woman named Alex Parks. Now Joe knows he should tell her he is not the Handsome, Picture Perfect man who's photo stares back at her...and he will...

But damn the two of them start writing to each other and each time he learns more about this woman. It becomes the highlight of his long work day. They talk about all things... how he feels the pressure of some of the drama surrounding his friends at the bar...He shares little things that happen and how he has started rehabbing a part of the building the bar is in... how it feels right doing it...and he also tells Alex he is there for her too... to tell him whatever she wants...

And Alex does...She is a woman who has created a very strong business all on her own doing graphic design. She works from home so her circle of friends is tight and there are days she is home working non stop. She hasn't had relationships because the idea of committing to someone leaves you open for hurt. One night stands can work...because it is done and then back to her existence.

Alex does have a tried and true friend who is her sounding board/support and all around fantastic person....and when Alex kept going on and on about this man she had been emailing and then dreaming about etc....she pushed Alex to take a risk.... to fly out to the city he lived in on his birthday to surprise him. Alex decides to throw caution to the wind...flies out, goes straight to the bar dolled up in the dress her friend told her would say everything she was afraid to...and even wore the eff me pump as well.

We are there when Alex makes her way into the bar, looks at the man who has been in the photo, calls out to Eric Happy Birthday, I'm Here and all hell breaks out. Eric acts like the player he is...questioning Alex about whether they had a hook up from the past....and she is stunned...

Everyone doesn't know what to do...and then Joe comes out from the back and sees Alex.

Oh, Hell...Joe reaches out to Alex and starts to explain... But Alex is having none of it. She is embarrassed, hurt, and red hot angry...Really angry... the type that makes you do stupid things...like leave the bar and start walking in a city that she has no idea where she is going and in the freezing wet cold.

Joe chases her down... is continuously apologizing but also letting her know she cannot keep walking like she is....He takes her to a hotel in his Bronco, gets a room for her... apologizes some more and then says goodnight.

Alex has every right to be pissed... and feels betrayed. When she wakes, she has a sore throat, feels crappy and is looking for a place to get cold medicine...This way she will just drug herself up and fly home. What she didn't expect to see was Joe asleep in his Bronco parked in front of the hotel. She couldn't resist taping on the glass. Joe immediately jumps wake and starts asking her if they could just talk...have coffee or breakfast or something...Alex gives in because she is exhausted.

What happens next is this story of two people who must mend fences in order to really see who each other is...And there is much to see.

Alex is an amazing character...she has a career- she is smart and capable. She self doubts and has serious trust issues...The fact Joe wasn't truthful from the start hurts and it's really hard for her to let it go. But...she does see Joe as this man who stirs her up...and she is a little annoyed she is becoming attracted to him.

No he is not a pretty boy like Eric, the one she thought she was interested in....Nope the more she sees of Eric...the less she is attracted to him. Joe is the one who is ringing her bell and it is because of who he is...and the foundation of emails the both of them had....

Now this wouldn't be a Kylie Scott story without some hot sexy times and also some drama...The sexy times were right on the money... The drama between Joe and Alex... was not my cuppa...There were some serious complications happening but they did work out and all ended fine...

The secondary characters and their stories worked... they gave depth and we got to see old friends from other series...MAL <3333 briefly.

I happen to think this series works and there is more to discover. I will be sitting at the end of the bar...waiting for the next installment. Eric better get his Sh*t together...

Dirty (Dive Bar, #1) by Kylie Scott Dirty (Dive Bar, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Kylie Scott never disappoints! I have enjoyed all of her Dive Bar series books but this one is probably my favorite. Alex has been corresponding with Eric on an online dating site and she decides to go visit him unannounced. The surprise is on her when she finds out that his brother, Jo, has been corresponding with her instead. Great dialog and red hot chemistry make this a fun romance read.

A raw, honest, sexy, palpable romance that was mixed with humor, friendship, love, passion, strength, and confidence. Kylie Scott continues to intoxicate readers with her words, charismatic characters, and heartfelt love stories and in her newest release, Twist, she has readers like myself drunk in love with with Joe Collins.

Forget a Tom Collins because the only thing that I want to be drinking is Joe Collins. When Joe helped set up his younger brother’s dating profile, he didn’t think he would easily develop an email pen-pal friendship with Alex Parks. For six months, “Eric” and Alex would exchange messages and inform each other of their lives.

So when Alex decides to make a surprise visit, she expected Eric to be thrilled but what she found instead was an Eric, who didn’t know who she was. It turns out that Joe has been the one exchanging emails with Alex. Hurt and disappointed, Alex wanted to get away as fast as she could but when she caught the flu, it was Joe who showed up at her hotel making sure she was okay. Joe never intended for Alex to get hurt and be made a fool of so he tries to show her that he truly cared for her. As Joe tried to show Alex, "the real Joe," Alex begins to fall for him and his big heart. What happens when her guarded walls begins to crumble and she opens her heart to Joe?

I seriously can’t get enough of Twist. This book was not only a fun read but also blends an emotional and heartfelt aspect that I found myself drawn to. I love seeing the connection between Joe and Alex through their past emails and how they still have that bond that carried through as they got to know each other in person. Kylie Scott did a remarkable job showcasing the chemistry as she splashes laughter and vulnerability in a sexy and raw manner. So if you are looking for a story that blends friendship, love and a twist then I would highly recommend you to read this beautiful love story of Joe and Alex.

Kylie Scott is a superstar when it comes to writing hot romance novels starring sexy bad boy rockstars. The Dive Bar series is a spinoff series from her Stage Dive series. So those of you who are familiar with the hot members of Stage Dive will surely enjoy this series. This series is about a bar called Dive Bar and the people who work there. They may not be famous rockstars, but they are still hot and passionate. The premise of this story may be one that we are familiar with. Two people who meet online and seem to make an instant and hot connection. But it seems that one of them has kept a big secret.

Alex Parks doesn't do serious relationships. With a job that she can literally do from her couch at home she doesn't really like to socialize or leave the safety of her apartment. She decides to set up an account on a dating site and soon finds someone that she is not only physically attracted to, but someone that seems to really get her and make her laugh. So she decides to surprise him on his birthday. The last thing she expected was for him to have no clue as to who she is.

Joe Collins just wanted to help his brother and set him a dating account in hopes that maybe he would find someone nice. But Eric doesn't even know how to write an email, let alone manage an account. So Joe decides to write in his stead. And once he starts corresponding with Alex, he finds that he just can't stop. And even though he desperately wants to come clean to her, he also knows that once his secret is out, he may never hear from her again. But when Alex makes a surprise appearance at Eric's birthday party, he has no option but to confess his crime. And even though Alex hates him for lying to her and wants to go back home as soon as possible, circumstances force her to stay in Coeur d'Alene a little longer than planned and they soon find that maybe the connection that they had online can translate to a very hot and deep relationship.

A sweet and sensual read with some very HOT love scenes! Another winner by Kylie Scott!

This one started slow for me and I almost gave up on it. Man am I glad I stuck with it! The core of the story is online dating and the little lies that are weaved into conversations on those sites. What happens when you come face to face with the person on the other end and they realize you aren't exactly what you said you were. That's how Joe and Alex's story begins and it just gets better! The writing style of this author is great and her characters are very well developed. If you find it slow starting, just give it time. The story is well worth the wait. This is one I highly recommend.

***4 “Little Miss” Stars***

First off I have to admit that a good portion of the reason I wanted to read Twist was because I was hoping for an update on the Stage Dive crew, the Ferris brothers specifically, but any info would have made me a happy girl. But outside of that my curiosity was definitely peaked by the whole sexy bigfoot teaser, and who wouldn’t be?? So I dove in and I LOVED the first 70% or so of the book. LOVED. It was sweet, sassy, snarky and all kinds of smexy with a good dose of heart and drama tossed into the mix and then the last 30% hit and while some things I was good with, others I was a bit meh about, but in the end I really enjoyed Joe and Alex’s story!

Joe Collins is the man who is there for everyone when they need him. Saying he’s a Yes man isn’t far off, but lately the crazy has been kicked up a few notches in his life and he’s doing all he can to ride it out. I LOVED Joe, I did and couldn’t even get all that upset with his deception because the man is, at his very core, a good one. He definitely has that whole smexy bigfoot alpha male thing going on and can be a bit bossy, but he takes the time to really see what is going on around him and do what is best, even if it isn’t what’s best for him.

Alex’s childhood and teen years were definitely not the happiest of her life and the scars she bears from that time have shaped her into the woman that she is. While she isn’t entirely anti-social, she keeps her world in a very tidy, neat little box. I loved Alex and all of her quirks, some understandable while others were a bit overblow, but she was very real to me. I loved her sass, snark and adorkable moments and how much she cares about those she calls her own.

After their very awkward first meeting, even I felt all kinds of awkward for them, I really liked how things played out between Joe and Alex. There was waffling and accusations, but they both ended up realizing that the friendship they’d built was a good and worked through it. The attempt at keeping things platonic was a losing battle from the start, but it was fun to see them try and fail because their failing was damn smexy! What I enjoyed the most though was that they ended up helping each other become stronger and find their way through the issues that plague them. It was rocky and at times I wanted to Gibbs smack them both, but I really happy with how they ended up.

Now for that last 30% of the story. Honestly, I had no issue with most of it, in fact I must give Ms. Scott props for that major twist in the story because I didn’t see it come at all. I’m still processing it, but I absolutely respect the direction she went. My issue comes with one of the bumps in the road in the fall out of that twist. It makes absolute sense and it was something that was brought up earlier, but I just wasn’t feeling it. With all that was going on already it was just too much for me and while I didn’t skip those parts, I did read faster than my norm. This is a total “it’s not you, it’s me” situation and though I wasn’t feeling it, it didn’t cause my enjoyment of the story to wan.

I’ve had an interesting relationship with Ms. Scott’s books. Some I’ve love, others have been meh, but regardless there is something about her characters that always makes me want more and Twist is one of the ones I loved and even though Eric is on my shit list at the moment I am quite curious to see if he can get himself off of that list. So, while the wait is a long one, I’m definitely looking forward to Chaser to see what his journey will be and to of course get a glimpse of the Stage Dive crew.

I’ve never read anything by this author before, but I liked Twist so much that I went on a Kylie Scott book-binge immediately afterwards and devoured some of her previous books. One weekend and four books later, I had a book hangover that made Monday difficult to embrace, but I don’t regret my overindulgence. Ms. Scott writes passionate, interesting and funny stories with endearing and relatable characters, and Twist is a thoroughly enjoyable book that weaves copious amounts of humor into a poignant and empowering story of a woman who falls in love and finds herself in the process.

While this is the second book in the Dive Bar series, you do not need to follow the series order, but book one – Dirty – is wonderful and should be in your TBR pile, if it’s not already.

Alexandra (Alex) Hall isn’t one to put herself out there – emotionally or physically – and she lives her life within the safety of a self-created bubble. She works from home as a graphic designer and limits her public outings; some of her closest friends are the food delivery men and the UPS guy. She avoids romantic entanglements, indulging instead in one-and-done hookups, but she reconsiders her stance on romance after she meets Eric Collins through an online dating website. They began exchanging emails and hit it off immediately, which leads to a regular correspondence. Eric lives in a different state, so Alex feels that there is some safety in their exchanges and the distance allows themselves to be more authentic in their online interactions. Their casual, flirty and comical emails evolve over time into meaningful exchanges, where both open up and share intimate details of their lives. Alex develops feelings for Eric, and she decides to risk the pain of rejection and fly out to surprise him at his birthday party.

She arrives at the party dolled up and with high expectations, but it turns out to be her worst nightmare - she’s not greeted warmly and in fact, Eric has no idea who she even is. It turns out that Alex was catfished by Eric’s brother Joe, who was actually the one corresponding with her all these months, although to give Joe credit, he never intended to deceive Alex. He went on his brother’s rarely-used online dating account to help him with something when he happened to read Alex’s initial email and was intrigued by it. One email multiplied into frequent communications, by which time he’d passed the point of no return and was unwilling to reveal the truth for fear of alienating Alex and because of his own insecurities over the fact that some of the women in his past preferred his brother’s classical good looks and smooth charm to Joe’s more reserved nature and rugged, ‘lumbersexual’ looks.

Besides being horribly embarrassed, Alex is understandably pissed at Joe and doesn’t really find him attractive - physically, he’s not her usual type. She plans to leave this quagmire on the first plane available but is struck by an illness that keeps her stuck in town. Joe feels horrible about everything and genuinely likes Alex, so he uses this opportunity to further explain himself and try to make it up to her by taking caring for her while she’s ill.

Alex is too sick to refuse Joe’s offer of help, and their time together allows her anger to cool and them to begin anew. While she doesn’t believe she’d ever be romantically interested in him again, he’s still the man she got to know and like virtually and that connection proves to be a strong aphrodisiac.

Twist is told exclusively through Alex’s point of view, allowing the reader to get to know her well, and she’s a wonderful character. She has a razor-sharp wit that makes her one of the funniest heroines I’ve ever read, and she also has a very tender and sensitive side as she deals with the fear of intimacy that has controlled many aspects of her life. Witnessing that journey makes her both genuine and utterly relatable, and you can’t help but cheer for her as she finds motivation through her evolving relationship with Joe to face and conquer her fears.

Supporting Alex along the way is her longtime best friend Valerie, whose inclusion adds another level of depth to Twist. Valerie is a steadfast friend who helps Alex through tough love softened by humor, and she is a transgender woman who has experienced significant bullying. Ms. Scott seamlessly weaves a serious, topical social issue into a love story and sensitively and compassionately shines a light on the heartbreaking challenges faced by the transgender community.

The only reason I haven’t made Twist a Desert Isle Keeper is that I couldn’t get a good read on Joe, because we never are given his point of view. I wanted to understand his motivations better and craved to read of his developing feelings for Alex, but this lack of insight made it difficult to fully connect with their love story.

Kylie Scott’s Twist is a captivating and uplifting story of a woman who becomes a stronger version of herself when she makes the terrifying, stomach-dropping fall into love. Alex reminds us that love has the power to make us fearless in the face of our own uncertainties, because knowing someone loves us just the way we are - with all of our flaws – provides the ultimate safety net and motivation to leave our comfort zones and seize all that life has to offer.