Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy
Publisher: (January 7th, 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK
NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+
Synopsis: 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.
Review: 3 Stars - Shaken Not Stirred is the first title in the Mixology series
from author Alyssa Rose Ivy. With characters in their 20’s trying to figure out
what they want for their lives. This contemporary title will give readers some moments
to laugh as we follow along with Maddy and her friends in the Outer Banks.
As the synopsis states, main character Maddy is trying to
figure out her life now that she’s been rejected from med school. She moves in
with two friends, who just so happen to be guys, in the Outer Banks and
bartends while trying to figure out her next step.
So, the good and the bad for this reader. Let’s start
with the good. There were a few laugh out loud moments, I mean I cracked up!
Gotta love when an author can do that with her characters, the story and her
writing. I always appreciate when an author can do that, so thank you Ivy! I
loved Maddy’s two roommates. They told her things she might not have wanted to
hear and they had her back the whole time. There were often times I wondered if
she’d end up with one of these two characters because to me I felt she had more
of a spark if you will with Macon and Brody than her possible love interest
Colin. And then there’s Lyle… he’s quiet and he’s Maddy’s crush from afar.
Since I mentioned the bad above I guess I’ll address it
further. I just didn’t see any connection with Maddy and Colin at all. Not from
the beginning and not where they ended up once I had finished reading. I never
saw it no matter how hard I looked. It left me feeling confused and if I had
missed something. And then she has this huge crush on Lyle and while it’s there
it’s not, which was also kind of confusing to me. I get crushes, I do, but this
just felt different than what I had taken away from the synopsis.
For me the highlight of the story was the roommates Macon
and Brody. They seemed more like “people” than anyone else in the story. I
looked forward to reading any scene that they were part of. I wanted more of
them in the book. I wished that the book was about them and I’m hoping that the
next installments in this series will be about these two boys because there’s
no doubt I’ll be reading them. It’s because of these two guys that I’m able to
give the book a 3 star review, otherwise the story was… and I really hate to
say it because I’ve loved every other book by Ivy that I’ve read… this one was
a bit weird.
All in all, would I recommend this title? Sure. It’s a
quick, light read with some juicy secondary characters that can hold their own
when it comes to book boyfriends. I also believe that fans of this author will
also enjoy this title. I look forward to more Macon and Brody in the future and
any other titles this author writes because in the end I’ve been a fan of her
work in the past and this one little bump in the road won’t prevent me from
reading other titles by her in the future. Enjoy.
About Alyssa Rose Ivy:
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.
Find Alyssa Online:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest
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