Shaken Not Stirred (Mixology, #1)
by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Publication Date: January 7th 2014
Book Description:
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.
Reading a book by Alyssa Rose Ivy and not falling in love with it and its characters is impossible. At least, it's like that for me. I loved every single book I read that is written by Alyssa, and Shaken Not Stirred is no exception to that rule. Speaking of rules, here are some of them that you should know before reading one of her books: you won't be able to put it down until you finish it, you will love the characters, you will be really engaged in the story, you will be laughing your ass off through the whole books, and you will be very sad when you realize you just finished the book and you want more. Consider yourself warned!
Shaken Not Stirred has a great storyline. Maddy works as a bartender and she always knows what drink someone would enjoy. But for some reason, she can't figure out Lyle, a guy who sings in her bar every Thursday. While she spends her Thursdays trying to figure out Lyle's drink, she agrees to go on a date with Collin after a whole summer she has been turning him down. They click immediately, but she has a lot going on and while trying to figure out what she wants, she might not even realize what is the right thing for her.
Like I already said, I really loved all the characters, more so because I felt really connected to them. They were just normal people with normal problems. There was nothing that is unusual like in other contemporary romance books. Maddy is a girl who wants to figure out what she wants to do with her life after she is rejected in med school and she ends up working in a bar and living with two friends. I loved Macon and Brody, Maddy's roommates.! They always made me laugh and I really liked that they were always there for Maddy, no matter what.
The romance was really sweet, and while Maddy wasn't so sure if Collin is the right one for her, I cheered for him from the very beginning! I expected a love triangle in this book, but it wasn't really a triangle. It was just another guy who was in the picture, but nothing really happened with him.
While I felt the ending was a little rushed, I still really enjoyed Shaken Not Stirred. If you love light and funny contemporary romance novels, I am sure you will love this one, so give it a chance and try it out!
First of all, welcome to Anatea's Bookshelf. I am happy to have you here!
-Thanks for having me!
1. Can you tell us something about yourself?
-I’m a mother of two living in North Carolina. I love writing books with romance and lots of humor.
2. What inspired you to be an author?
-I’ve always loved writing, but it wasn’t until I was home with my daughter that I decided to publish my first book.
3. Do you have a favorite author or a book?
-Moby Dick by Herman Melville is my favorite book. He describes obsession so perfectly.
4. How did you get the idea to write Shaken not Stirred?
-The idea for Shaken Not Stirred developed while on vacation in the Outer Banks. I had fun talking to bartenders, waitresses and store owners, and decided I needed to write a story based off the experience. Maddy’s story developed from there.
5. Can you tell us something more about the next book in Mixology? Who will be the main characters in On the Rocks?
-On the Rocks will be Carly and Macon’s story. I fell in love with both of these characters in Shaken not Stirred and look forward to sharing their story.
6. How many books are going to be there in Mixology series?
-I haven’t decided for sure yet.
7. What are your plans for this year? What new books can we expect?
-I have a number of releases lined up including: The Hazards of a One Night Stand (a companion novel to the Hazards of Skinny Dipping), Search (the empire chronicles #2), as well as some other paranormal and contemporary books.
8. And for the end, can you tell us your favorite quote?
-When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
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.
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Thanks so much for reading and reviewing Shaken Not Stirred! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! It was really great, and thank you for stopping by!
DeleteA man who is honest, stands for his principles, and is kind to those who are younger and older than him.
ReplyDeleteA man whose smart, trustworthy and has a good sense of humour
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a nice light read! I do so enjoy those every now and then. Glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeletehandsome, tall, with green eyes, like humor, kind and gentle
ReplyDelete