Shaken or Stirred wasn’t quite as up my street as I’d hoped for. It’s okay, and not like it was a chore to read, there were just some things that kind of irked me about it, enough to push this towards a lower rating.

Julia purchases her uncle’s bar, determined to turn it around and really make it own. Savannah is a caretaker, but on top of that, she feels responsible for the rest of her family, too, stepping in after her mother passed.

For me, a lot of Romance books hinge on the characters, and whether I really like the book or not is often because of the characters themselves. By the end of this, I felt frustrated with both Julia and Savannah, and kind of not really caring about them being together or not by the end of the book.

It might be because we get so little time seeing them actually together, and any ‘obstacles’ that come between them feel a touch forced. I did like Julia’s cousins, and the scenes where the three of them were hanging out were a lot of fun to read. But overall there were some things that annoyed me such as the Black Best Friend trope, Savannah's unfounded dislike of her father's girlfriend (it's hard to match up what we see with her versus what Savannah tells us), the 'resolution' and the reason for the fallout between the couple's fathers.

Some of the scenes between Julia and Savannah were sweet, but by the end I was finding Savannah to be a bit annoying, and we don’t get enough of them really being around each other, with obstacles between them that feel like they weren’t well thought out enough.

The book is enjoyable, and Beers can write a fun novel, but this just wasn’t a hit for me personally.

This was ok.
Georgia Beers almost always delivers great books in my mind so my expectations were ON for this one. It was enjoyable and a pretty easy read, but perhaps for introducing a new series, I would have preferred more depth to set the scene. Either that or I needed more patience.
Both main characters were completely agreeable, it was low angst and the pace was good.

I received this ebook from Net Galley for an honest review. This is the first book I've read from this author. Shaken or Stirred is first in a new series. This one is centered around Julia Martini who opened the bar Martinis. She is not even looking for love when she seen a girl walk in her bar and sparks flew.

I love when we get the start of a new series. It is exciting and I know when I get attached to characters I will get to see them again soon. While this one wasn't my favorite by this author, it is still such a good read. I love the setup of the characters, the secondary characters were all likable and I am super excited to see their story come together. Beers is an excellent author, and her books never disappoint. Always well written, enjoyable, and full of good dialogue. Julia and Savannah are cute. Really hard not to adore Savannah. I always like the natural caregiver types. Want an easy weekend read, this is perfect for just such a read.

Great start to a new series. I really enjoyed Julia trying to have her bar become successful, particularly to show her Dad that she could do it. And then she meets and flirts with Savannah, who also has a lot of issues when it comes to her meddling family. I really wanted Savannah to break free and just enjoy a bit of her life, so I was really rooting for her and Julia. The banter was adorable.

There are some ups and downs that the two go through, where they aren't sure if they can date without drama, and so the story stayed interesting throughout. I like a little bit of angst in my story.

Overall, I'm looking forward to learning more about the Martini cousins.

Good first book in series. I liked the cousins/friend group that Beers has created. I'm already anticipating what is in store for these other characters in future books. The romance is cute. Though this was Julia Martini's story, I really took a liking to Savannah the most. She was full of backstory and depth. Dealing with so much heaviness. Definitely start this series, although I'm not sure I need to convince any of you to read Georgia Beers.

I have read about every Georgia Beers-book out there, but I never tire of her writing. Her books are so comfy and sweet and romantic - the equivalent of cozying up in front of the fireplace under a thick blanket.

To be recommended!

3 Stars. Julia Martini wants to be noticed by her father, she wants her father to actually care what she is doing. After she buys the bar from her uncle, her father seems to not care about her even less. Julia wants to make the bar a success and tries everything to make the bar seem trendy. That is where she meets Savannah McNally, a caretaker who stops in the bar one day to get a drink with a friend. Savanah and Julia start to make plans to hang out and start to really like each other. Julia tries to find time for her between trying to get bar up and running.

This book is the start of a series of books based off the three cousins in the novel, this is the first one. This was not my favorite Georgia Beers book and I thought the storyline was not the best. I did not like the drama in the book with Savanah's brother and everything. I love Georgie Beers but I did not love this novel. I hope the rest in the series are better. This book was a little hard for me to read and I wanted to like it more than I did. I would recommend this novel if you plan on reading the series, as this the starting point of it and introduces a lot of the characters that will be in the next two novels. I am not sure I liked the development of the characters and where they went in this novel.

My thoughts…

Georgia Beers is my go-to for heartfelt, warm and fuzzy romance. Her stories are like comfort food to me, and they hit every time. I can always count on great characters and a well-constructed, satisfying romance. Her latest novel Shaken or Stirred is all of that and more. I fell in love with not only the characters, but the whole series concept. It’s engaging and I whole-heartedly look forward to more.

The romance between Julia and Savannah is delightful. Readers fall in love with them as they fell for each other. To me, that is a clear indication that the romance works. Their chemistry and courtship is believable, as well as beautiful. The two are compatible and their emotional tension reads as logical and purposeful. Readers come to understand Julia and Savannah; they appreciate what motivates them on both a large and small scale. Quite simply, the whole dynamic is magnificent, giving the romance that special magic that is needed to make it alluring and enchanting.

What I find most appealing about Georgia’s stories is her writing style. It’s honest, balanced and filled with complex relationships that not only captivate you, but intrigue you. She accomplishes this big time with the Martini family. They provide a rich backdrop for not only this story, but the series. Georgia once again uses ethnicity in the most relatable and inviting way. The interactions and conversations between these characters are beyond appealing; the warm feelings of family and friendship wrap around readers like a comfy blanket. They provide proof that Georgia–once again–knows how to create the most appealing, three dimensional characters. Furthermore, the Martinis, just like all of Georgia’s characters, contribute a higher level of believability and connectivity to the story, one that is inviting in every way. Their flaws soften the storytelling and provide it with the kind characters that are comfortable to be around. In short, they are the kind of characters one would like to call friends.

Final remarks…

It feels redundant to say that Georgia has done it again, but Georgia’s done it again. She’s created another engaging romance that grabs readers from page one. I was absolutely invested and found the whole story completely entertaining. The leading ladies are wonderful; they’re likable, compelling and perfect together. The secondary characters are exceptional. They add what I’ve come to think of as Georgia’s special brand of color and sound; it’s a dynamic that fans simply love. Simply put, readers fall into her story worlds and don’t want to leave. I give this a two big thumbs up. Shaken or Stirred needs to go in the TBR pile.

Strengths…

Well-crafted
Lovely leading ladies
Alluring romance
Splendid secondary characters

Julia and Savannah are the absolute cutest power couple okay.

Georgia Beers has written the sapphic contemporary romance of my dreams with this book and absolutely everyone should read this. I love the romeo and juliet aspects, and there is nothing I enjoy more in romances than a good setting and the bar provided that so well.

Julia resonated with me with a lot as someone who wants to control everything, I understood her reasoning perfectly. Then incomes Savannah who makes Julia want to be different, makes her want to spend time not just in the bar but with Savannah. Everyone needs a Savannah in their life that makes them want to be a better version of themselves.

Georgia Beers has taken us on another journey to finding love when you least expect it and aren't sure if you're ready for it. We get to see if Julia and Savannah are ready to do what it takes to make it work despite family obligations, new small businesses, and pride.

i am ALWAYS here for some sapphic romances and what a duo these two are. it got some vibes of written in the stars by alexandria bellefleur and i was there for it. thouching, funny, sexy, everything i want and need in a romcom where martinis are the favourite drinks.

I really like Giorgia Beers books and this was no exception. It was an easy light hearted read and the drama wasnt really that huge- I actually thought there was going to be something between the fathers and couldn’t really see the point of bringing the feud up and then taking it nowhere. That would be my only down point though. I look forward to reading the other books in the series

Georgia Beers is a new Author to me, and after reading this she's quickly become one of my favourites. It was nice to read a sapphic romance story that was light-hearted. I thoroughly enjoyed this and cannot wait for the next 2 books in this series.

Julia Martini is a cool and hard-working bartender and also a recent bar owner. Savannah McNally is a nurse who has to help her father and raising her two siblings. These two met at the bar and flirted with each other. As usual, I love the pacing of all Beers’ stories. This flirtatious chemistry between Julia and Savannah was there since their first meeting and then the story goes with each of them trying to deal with their own issues.

I never think twice when I saw a new book from Georgia Beers, I know that I’m going to love it. Especially I’m excited since this one is part of a series (I think her last series was the puppy love ones). However, I would say this book is not my favorite. There was some backstory that I felt need a bit more exploration especially the feud between their families. At a point, I thought there would be some Montagues - Capulets thing going on. All in all, it’s a sweet story, and I’m looking forward to the next cousins’ stories!

I have been a fan of Georgia Beers since her first book and this one did not disappoint!
The main characters are Julia and Savannah. Julia has just taken over the reins of her family's bar that is not fairing well. She plans a whole remodeling of it hoping that things will turn around and make her family proud.
Savannah is a care taker. It is her occupation and also a care taker of her family as well. Her brother is an alcoholic who refuses to get help and runs to Savannah when he needs cash for his habit. Her father has recently started dating after being widowed for a long time. Savannah has a lot on her plate. Then her friends want to take her out to a new bar that just opened.
Julia is tending bar and sees Savannah. The attraction is immediate, but Savannah does not know that Julia is the owner. Savannah continues to go to the bar and the attraction grows.
What waits for the two is family dynamics that no one saw coming. It could tear the two apart before they ever really start.
I would highly recommend!

Georgia Beers is one of my favorite authors. She puts out a solidly written and very enjoyable romance time and time again. Shaken or Stirred is for sure one of those books that can be put into that category. As I read this one, I was excited and giddy because I knew that there would be 2 more books to come in this series. I enjoyed reading and seeing the love connection between Julia and Savannah. I also loved the supporting characters. They brought depth to the story and helped to guide Julia when she needed it most. Just a really lovely story and looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

4.25 stars

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

2.5 stars. I’m always happy to read a new Georgia Beers book, and I love that this is the first in a series featuring a trio of sapphic cousins! Unfortunately, the overwhelming feeling I have for Shaken or Stirred is just...fine, with a touch of disappointed.

Julia Martini (38, lesbian) is feeling lots of pressure as the new owner of Martini’s, her family’s bar. She wants to do everything right to impress her seemingly-disapproving father, so at work she takes on more than she should. Savannah McNally (34, lesbian) is also overworked, but in a different way. She assumed the role of a mother figure to her two younger siblings after her mother’s passing, and she’s starting to worry about her father, who seems to be in the early stages of dementia. The two women meet when Julia makes Savannah a cocktail at Martini’s, and since that night they can’t stop thinking about each other. But Savannah’s father is vocal about his disapproval of the Martini family, even though Savannah can’t coax a reason why out of him.

Julia is an okay character, I guess. Her main trait is definitely “workaholic” (at least from what we see of her in this book), but she can occasionally be playful and fun. She also has a bit of a judgmental vibe sometimes imo, especially when it comes to one of her coworkers’ physical appearance. I found Julia’s cousins, Amelia and Vanessa, so much more interesting, and whenever the three cousins are on page together, Amelia and Vanessa steal the show. Savannah is definitely my favorite of the two MCs. She’s relatable, quirky, and bighearted: a character type Beers writes very well.

Georgia Beers is great at writing romance, but this book just didn’t feel all that romantic. Sure there are some cute scenes between Savannah and Julia, including a fun spontaneous date, a caring-for-the-sick-person scene, and some tandem drink-mixing. But overall, I didn’t feel much romantic chemistry between the leads and found their relationship more lusty than anything. There’s also so much family stuff (aside from the cousins, who are great) going on — the mystery of why Julia’s father is so cold toward her, the other mystery of the Martini/McNally “feud,” Savannah’s anxiety over her brother struggling with addiction, and more — that I feel suffocates the main romance. The constant family drama on both sides is like an exhausting black cloud hanging over the romantic scenes, making them less enjoyable for me. And to make matters worse, none of the family sub-plots are resolved in a satisfying way for me, either.

This is also the fourth Georgia Beers book I’ve read in which one of the MCs has a Black best friend. Beers tries to incorporate slang(?) into the way these characters speak, and it’s especially noticeable here with Savannah’s best friend Tiffany. I googled the “Black best friend” trope, and Tiffany seemed to fit this to a T. There’s also a weird conversation about skin color between Savannah and Tiffany that felt…rather weird coming from a white author? Obviously I’m not the best judge of Tiffany's portrayal as a white person, but it did feel a bit off.

Overall, this definitely wasn’t my favorite Georgia Beers book, but it's not bad either. I’m looking forward to reading Vanessa’s and Amelia’s stories, which I’m sure I’ll enjoy a lot more!

content warnings: alcohol (recreational), alcoholism, d-slur, graphic sex, guilt, injury, loss of a parent to cancer (past), violence

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

Whenever I see that Georgia Beers has written a new book, I know I am in for a wonderful read. This book is the first of her new series, “Swizzle Stick”. Because it is the first book, Ms. Beers not only has to tell a story, but also has to introduce and develop each character so readers will want to continue reading the series. She completes this task in flying colors.

The main characters are Julia Martini and Savannah McNally. Julia comes from a huge Italian family. When her uncle decides to sell the family bar, Julia jumps at the chance to purchase it. After abundant redesigning and financial investment, the bar, appropriately called Martini’s, opens. Julia is a workaholic and does not feel she has time for a relationship at this point in her life.

Savannah is a home health nurse and always seems to be taking care of everyone. For example, when she is only a teenager, her mother passes away and Savannah assumes the responsibility of raising her two younger siblings and taking care of her father. Between work and family obligations, Savannah is always busy. Having a relationship is the last thing on her mind.

With encouragement from friends, Savannah takes a rare night off and meets her friends at the newly reopened Martini’s. Julia happens to be bartending that night. They are attracted to one another, and an evening of flirtation occurs. However, both know it is harmless because they are too busy to act on it. And so, the story begins.

Ms. Beers always develops her characters beautifully. They are characters with whom readers can easily relate. Readers look forward to the next book in the series to learn more of the characters’ lives and the lives of their family and friends. The secondary characters, specifically Julia’s cousins, are also interesting and readers look forward to each one being featured in upcoming books.

The story that Ms. Beers has created is superb! You can always expect it to be rich in family, loyalty, and love. Readers will find that the romance will be slowly crafted with a little angst to spice it up. The attraction between the two will build slowly and tenderly.

I recommend this book. It is a romance which will leave you with warm feelings and a desire to read the next book in the series. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have a feeling that this is a first of a series of books involving the Martini family, and if the others are on par with Shaken or Stirred then Georgia Beers is onto a few winners here.

Savannah is the girl with a lot of family relying on her whereas Julia has a lot to prove to her family. The attraction between the two is instant which then leads onto a very good story.

Can't wait to read the next book

Would I recommend: Yes, for that nice pleasant read