Amanda Russo has been divorced from her wife, Mel, for about ten years. She hasn't dated in awhile and is more focused on her bakery and her two children, one who is in college and the other soon to start college. Amanda hires an architect, Quinn Sullivan, to remodel her bakery and finds herself attracted to Quinn.

Quinn has been divorced from her wife for about one year. She has dated extensively during that time but hasn't meet anyone who has inspired her or that she developed any real chemistry with during one or two dates. During her initial meetings with Amanda on the bakery remodel she feels the missing chemistry that she hasn't experienced on her other dates. However, Quinn is a bit weary of Amanda's ex.

This was a good read with a fairly low drama factor which highlighted the development of a relationship between two middle aged women. Each woman faced challenges in their dating life brought on by family, ex's, friends, and work, so it definitely reflected real life experience. I enjoyed both main characters and Amanda's son, Cal's, openness toward his mother's newly developing relationship with Quinn. There were also some steamy scenes to enjoy! 4 stars

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Having really enjoyed the author's previous two books, this wasn't my favourite work of hers. I liked the diversity of her supporting characters. I enjoyed the fact that the leads were divorced and older and weren't instantly drawn to one another, but this also meant the main characters and the romance felt too 'real-life' for me and lacked the chemistry and the escapism I read romance novels for. I couldn't connect with the main characters (their lives were so different from mine) and also didn't particularly enjoy the fact that one of them was sleeping with her ex for the first third of the book. Very well written book with well-developed characters, but it just didn't work for me as a matter of personal taste.

When you pickup an Aurora Rey book you know you are in for a treat. In this book she gives it all. She develops two main characters who you end up cheering for throughout the book, despite their many ups and downs because you know these two women if they ever can get it together really would be wonderful. Amanda comes with to college age children who have opinions about her dating, plus an ex-wife who wants her back. Quinn on the other hand Has an array of sisters who keep putting her up for blind dates with eligible women. The problem is Quinn is not really happy with any of them because there’s no connection. When Amanda and Quinn meet they do have a connection however there is, of course, lots of obstructions in their way to ever possibly finding that happy ever after. Quinn has some issues with self-confidence when it comes to putting herself out there to find love with Amanda.
What I liked about this book is how the author writes About the challenges of middle-age women getting into the dating process, it’s realistic and not an easy thing to maneuver. I also like the way despite the possibility of heartbreak these two women are willing to try knowing that it won’t be an easy path to find the love they’re both looking for. When I ended this book I knew for sure it was one that was going to go on my to read again pile because it’s so well done with just the right amount of heat that we all love in our romance novels.

Was a good story between Amanda & Quinn. I like the way they actually meet both important business women. Was an easy read and a quick one

“Twice Shy” is an adult romance book centered around Amanda, who’s trying to avoid getting back together with her ex-wife, and Quinn, who’s still struggling with her divorce and trying to avoid being set up with random women. The two of them end up meeting, and quickly become attracted to one another. However, Amanda’s ex-wife tries to get in the way of their newfound relationship and get Amanda back.

The main critique I have about this book is how it starts off pretty slow at first. However, it gradually begins to pick up as Amanda and Quinn realize that they’re attracted to one another, and I loved the romance between the two of them that happens throughout most of the story. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it to fans of adult romance.

This was a great and cozy lesbian romance, which did not bother me one bit. The writing is and story is great and it also involves a bakery. This reminds me of my friend Karen and her wife after she got out of longtime toxic relationship with her cheating girlfriend. Glad she is happy and i think she would like this book.

Thanks to Netgalley, Aurora Rey, and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review,

Available: 10/13/20

'Twice Shy' by Aurora Rey is pretty sweet romance about two women giving love a second chance.

Amanda and Quinn are not looking for love when they begin a working relationship. Amanda is a baker who is expanding her business and Quinn is the architect in charge of designing the expansion.

The chemistry is pretty obviously felt by both sides upon meeting but I never felt like this was insta-love, which I was glad about. Rey takes the time to let the characters get to know each other and to have the relationship grow organically over time. I especially enjoyed the scenes where Quinn interacted with Amanda's college age children because I felt it really conveyed how she cared about Amanda with wanting to make a good impression on her kids.

This is a pretty low angst read in my opinion and I felt that it could've been prevented if Amanda had explained to having had a hookup with her ex-wife right before she and Quinn started dating.

And to top it off, there were several scenes with family and friends, some of which you may recognize from Rey's previous releases of 'The Last Place You Look.' and 'Recipe for Love' which is always fun.

I definitely recommend this for anyone wanting a nice, low-drama read.

An ARC was given to me by NetGalley for an honest review.

This is a very cute novel! I wasn't in love with the cover and so wasn't sure it would be a good fit for me, but I was impressed that this book (which is basically a romance) did deal with some heavier issues. It was refreshing to see divorced lesbians, who move on and date other women, and how that affects the family dynamics with their kids. It was also refreshing to read a novel about middle-aged people dating as opposed to just newly out of college folks. I would recommend this book for people looking for a cheerful, easy read that includes some solid sex scenes.

Twice Shy is a fantastic book. Aurora Ray really delivers! This book may start out a little slow, but it builds quickly and turned out to be a pleasant surprise! Quinn is an architect, who is less confident than she appears, and Amanda is divorced and a mother of two older children. I never give too much spoilers, but as Amanda and Quinn get to know each other, the story opens up to honest dialogue, fun rapport, and real life situations around blended families. Aurora Ray is able to weave the realities we all face in our own self doubt, with the desire to re-invent ourselves, at any age, into a wonderful book that delivers, not only a great story, but REAL HOPE.

A sweet double layer romance with a dusting of powdered sugar.

Two divorcées one bakery.

Local baker Amanda is ready to expand her bakery with the help of the good looking architect Quinn. The chemistry is palpable and scents the air like frosting - but they are working together, and there is the little snafu of Amanda falling back into bed with her ex wife… oh and her kids might want to have a say in things. Can Amanda unwind enough to I recognize a good thing when she sees it?

Quick sweet sexy romance and while it’s about a bake shop the sex scenes downright sizzle.

Twice Shy is about two divorced women (who were both cheated on) coming together despite their past relationships and making a new way on their own terms. Amanda Russo buys the building her bakery is in and hires architect Quinn Sullivan to redesign the space. There is chemistry between the mains but both are "twice shy" about it for a few reasons which are mentioned in the synopsis.

So there were a few reason I enjoyed this cute romance. I loved loved loved that the characters were in their late 40s. I wish more authors wrote about this age group. Romance is obviously not just for the young. Older people can have a HEA a second time around. I also liked that the characters talked to one another and got to know each other. The pacing of this romance fit the mains perfectly. The romance of this one was good too. I liked the chemistry between Amanda and Quinn and the sex scenes were pretty steamy. The secondary characters also played an important part. Twice Shy was just a super cute romances with some very likable mains.
3.75 stars.

This arc was provided by the publisher for an honest review.

This was a cute sweet story.

Amanda and Quinn are ready to take another chance at love despite being hurt before. When they meet and start working together they get to know each other. I like how the relationship progress the bonds they had with Amanda kids.There are some ups and down especially with Amanda ex Mel my god she just a bit much and maybe that what her character was meant to be but I was waiting on a scene where she wasn’t annoying and it never happen. The others characters were great to.

I can totally see this as romcom this could be great on Netflix.


I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

This was a very cute romance novel. I loved the fact that the characters were all around my age, it’s great to see that in a book once awhile. I also loved how patient Quinn was with her and Amanda’s relationship. The only thing that irked me was Mel. I could not stand her, which is what her character was supposed to do but it made me skim through her parts. She was so annoying.

A cute and fluffy romcom.

This book was entirely sweet (pun intended). Amanda (in her late 30’s) , after expanding her bakery hires Quinn to work as her architecture-but as the two begin to fall for each other- things take a turn.

It’s a sweet story, with some steamy scenes and good queer and trans rep throughout characters (Amanda’s son is trans).

However, personally I didn’t connect insanely well to the characters. The ex in particular wound me up at multiple points, (whether that was because she was reminiscent of an ex of my own or not, who knows).

If you’re after a steamy, queer gal romcom- this may be for you. A well written, sweet story.

Thanks to NetGalley, who provided me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

This may seem like a minor point, but the main characters being middle aged really struck a chord with me. The book was an encouraging take on finding love and new beginnings, regardless of age. I wish the story was a little quicker to ramp up. It felt like the real plot didn’t unfold until the last 25% of the book, which was a shame. Once the story got started it was worth the wait.

This was a fun and very cute romance novel. I liked Amanda and Quinn and enjoyed the story, particularly their relationship with Amanda's kids. I wish there hadn't been so much miscommunication and I found Mel very annoying, but those are my biggest issues with this book.