Shaken Not Stirred (Mixology #1) by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Genre: New Adult (Contemporary Romance)Date Published: January 4, 2014
Publisher: Self
Finding the perfect guy is like mixing the perfect drink. It's all about the taste and presentation.
Maddy's gone off the deep end, at least that's what her family thinks when she handles her med school rejections by moving to the Outer Banks. It doesn't help that she's paying her bills by bartending and is sharing walls with two guys, even if one of them is her childhood best friend.
Her choice of men seems more balanced on the surface—Colin is driven, sexy, and gainfully employed, but she can't help spending her Thursday nights searching for the perfect drink for Lyle, whose music captivates her with its haunting lyrics. Maddy believes everyone has a perfect drink—and finding Lyle's isn't a challenge she's willing to lose.
Shaken Not Stirred is the first book in the Mixology series by Alyssa Rose Ivy. I thought this book gave a pretty realistic look into what a person feels and thinks during a new relationship. It's not always sunshine, butterflies, and perfection. There are doubts and what ifs too. Because of this, Maddy was very easy to relate too. I had my doubts about this relationship. Things happened that I don't think I would have been able to get over as easily. Because of these things, I'm still unsure about them as a couple in the long term, but at the same time they have something special too. There were moments between them that made me thing they were perfect for each other. Again, these ups and downs made it feel real. The ending was a surprise to me. I didn't see that little twist coming, and it really made me re-think some of my opinions about Maddy and Colin. The story flowed nicely and fully kept my attention. This author knows how to write some amazing romances.
The next book in this series is Carly and Macon's story. I'm super excited for this book, because I enjoyed their characters tremendously. I also hope we get glimpses into how Maddy and Colin are doing. Are they together? Apart?
Shaken Not Stirred by Alyssa Rose Ivy was provided to me by InkSlinger PR for review. The opinions are my own.
To read more about this author, visit Alyssa Rose Ivy's Blog and Website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.
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The next book in this series is Carly and Macon's story. I'm super excited for this book, because I enjoyed their characters tremendously. I also hope we get glimpses into how Maddy and Colin are doing. Are they together? Apart?
Shaken Not Stirred by Alyssa Rose Ivy was provided to me by InkSlinger PR for review. The opinions are my own.
“When do you get off?”
I held back a groan. Did he think I was going to hook up with him?
“Later.”
He laughed, as though I’d said the funniest joke. “No, really. I’d love to hang out. You’re pretty.”
“Does that usually work for you?” There was something about being behind the bar that made me better at turning down male advances. It’s like I had an alter ego—sexy and badass Maddy.
“I don’t know. I’ve never used it before.”
Davis now had a few of his buddies’ attention, and I knew it was about to get worse. “It’s not working. You guys want another round?”
“Do you come with it?” the supposed groom-to-be asked.
“You couldn’t handle me if I did.” I was on a roll.
“Oh yeah? You really think that?”
“Yes.” I crossed my arms. Macon would be dying if he’d been there to listen.
“Care to let me prove you wrong?” He leaned forward slightly.
“Aren’t you engaged?”
He looked down the row at his friends, probably trying to figure out who ratted him out. Finally, he smirked. “She’s not here.”
“Ugh.” I walked to the other side of the bar. I shouldn’t have started in with these guys. Their tip would hopefully make it worth it. I looked back at Mary’s section, but the diner was gone.
“Do you think I could handle you?” There he was, the solo diner, standing in front of me. I may have miscalculated his age a little. He was probably in his thirties.
“I don’t know. It’s hard to tell.” I tried for seductive as I checked him out more. He wore a fitted dress shirt that made me wonder what was underneath. Aside from Colin, I’d never dated a guy more than a year or two older than me. It sounded and looked appealing.
“Yeah? Well, at least you didn’t write me off as quickly as those guys.” He spoke loudly enough that the whole row of college guys could hear. Not that it would have been hard to get their attention. Although they hadn’t stopped jeering since I turned the disgusting groom-to-be down, they were watching us with interest.
“I don’t waste my time on boys.”
Lone Diner smiled. “I understand that completely. I’m Gabriel.” He held out his hand.
He had to be kidding. That name fit way too well. He could have easily walked off the pages of one of those fallen angel books that sometimes tempted me to stay up reading them on my e-reader. “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Maddy.”
“The pleasure is all mine.” He held onto my hand and I half expected him to kiss it. “Are you working tomorrow night?”
“No. I’m off.”
“Great. Give me your address. I’ll pick you up at eight.”
A thrill ran through me. This was so not Maddy it was insane, but why not?
“How about I meet you there.” I could be adventurous without being stupid. Getting in a stranger’s car wasn’t the best idea. Especially a stranger who looked and talked like this one.
I held back a groan. Did he think I was going to hook up with him?
“Later.”
He laughed, as though I’d said the funniest joke. “No, really. I’d love to hang out. You’re pretty.”
“Does that usually work for you?” There was something about being behind the bar that made me better at turning down male advances. It’s like I had an alter ego—sexy and badass Maddy.
“I don’t know. I’ve never used it before.”
Davis now had a few of his buddies’ attention, and I knew it was about to get worse. “It’s not working. You guys want another round?”
“Do you come with it?” the supposed groom-to-be asked.
“You couldn’t handle me if I did.” I was on a roll.
“Oh yeah? You really think that?”
“Yes.” I crossed my arms. Macon would be dying if he’d been there to listen.
“Care to let me prove you wrong?” He leaned forward slightly.
“Aren’t you engaged?”
He looked down the row at his friends, probably trying to figure out who ratted him out. Finally, he smirked. “She’s not here.”
“Ugh.” I walked to the other side of the bar. I shouldn’t have started in with these guys. Their tip would hopefully make it worth it. I looked back at Mary’s section, but the diner was gone.
“Do you think I could handle you?” There he was, the solo diner, standing in front of me. I may have miscalculated his age a little. He was probably in his thirties.
“I don’t know. It’s hard to tell.” I tried for seductive as I checked him out more. He wore a fitted dress shirt that made me wonder what was underneath. Aside from Colin, I’d never dated a guy more than a year or two older than me. It sounded and looked appealing.
“Yeah? Well, at least you didn’t write me off as quickly as those guys.” He spoke loudly enough that the whole row of college guys could hear. Not that it would have been hard to get their attention. Although they hadn’t stopped jeering since I turned the disgusting groom-to-be down, they were watching us with interest.
“I don’t waste my time on boys.”
Lone Diner smiled. “I understand that completely. I’m Gabriel.” He held out his hand.
He had to be kidding. That name fit way too well. He could have easily walked off the pages of one of those fallen angel books that sometimes tempted me to stay up reading them on my e-reader. “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Maddy.”
“The pleasure is all mine.” He held onto my hand and I half expected him to kiss it. “Are you working tomorrow night?”
“No. I’m off.”
“Great. Give me your address. I’ll pick you up at eight.”
A thrill ran through me. This was so not Maddy it was insane, but why not?
“How about I meet you there.” I could be adventurous without being stupid. Getting in a stranger’s car wasn’t the best idea. Especially a stranger who looked and talked like this one.
Check out my review of the other book in this series!
If you haven't done so already, you need to read Alyssa Rose Ivy's books!! While you're at it take a peek at my reviews too!
Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand. You can also read an interview with Alyssa Rose Ivy here.
To read more about this author, visit Alyssa Rose Ivy's Blog and Website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.
Loyal, confident and brave!
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