I’m a huge fan of Georgia Beers so when given the chance to start a new series by her I was over the moon.
This book was a wonderful romance that pulled me right into the story. I love the way the bar becomes a place for everyone to gather and it sets up the storyline for the series. The chemistry between the two MCs was instant and with the challenges they each faced I found myself rooting for them.
It was nice to see Beers bring her trademark humorous dialogue into the storyline and I found myself laughing out loud several times.

I received an advance readers copy from the publisher via NetGalley

Romantic, sweet read with likable characters. Shaken or Stirred is another hit by Georgia Beers that won’t disappoint.

I loved how the main character was named Martini, owned a bar and specialized in Martinis. It was clever and very original. I"ve received much enjoyment from this book and have already read it twice. I am so happy I was chosen for an advanced copy. Please read and enjoy this book.

Shaken and Stirred, the first book in the Swizzle Stick Romance series, follows hard working bar owner Julia Martini as she revamps and remodels her bar. She avoids relationships since all of her time is devoted to her bar. Until one day Savannah McNally walks into Martini's bar with her friend and both Savannah and Julia feel the sizzle of attraction.

There was a nice slow burn connection between Julia and Savannah. I like how Beers established not only a connection between the characters, but also between the characters and their family members like cousins Vanessa and Amelia as Julia and Savannah's relationship developed. This book also had important sub-themes such as dementia, elder care, alcoholism, and earning parental respect, even for someone in their thirties. 4 stars

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

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


Julia is very driven to turn her family bar that she bought into a success. She has a close relationship with her family especially her cousins Amelia and Vanessa I love their talks although she tries to get the approval of father but he doesn’t make it easy because he doesn’t agree with her choices which I find ridiculous because she gives her all.


Savannah is a care giver who puts everyone first in her life she has become a surrogate mother to her siblings all the while tries to look out for their dad she also tries to accept his girlfriend.

Savannah decides to put herself first and goes to a bar to meet her best friend Tiffany for a drink and when she meets Julia behind the bar their a spark between them.

Julia and Savannah realize there something between but with family and obligations they don’t think they have time for love let alone a relationship but they both learn it isn’t selfish to put yourself first.

3.5/5 stars

It really comes as no surprise to me that I enjoyed this book. Beers is one of my go-to romance authors at the moment, and this book is Beers doing what she does best. We have two main characters who are both down-to-earth, flawed but loveable, and altogether charming. Beyond that, their chemistry was together was great, with some classic flirty dialogue and tension right from the beginning. While I think this is a solid book and I definitely enjoyed reading it, I can’t say that it is my favourite from Beers, especially considering I have particularly loved her last couple of releases.

I really enjoyed the setting and job aspect of this book. One of our main characters, Julia, is the owner of a bar. Not only is she the owner behind the scenes but she also works the floor as a bartender, which is how we get our meet cute. I found Julia’s dedication to the bar and struggle with maintaining a work-life balance very compelling. She is fully committed to the success of the bar, which at times means that her relationships are pushed to the side. Adding to this, there is a lot of pressure on her considering the bar has been passed down in the family, and she wants to prove herself to her father. I don’t know what it was about this combination, but I was super invested in Julia’s personal story from the beginning. As someone that has definitely struggled with being a bit obsessed with their work, I was definitely really drawn to Julia and all of her flaws. On top of that, the description of the bar seemed to just click in my mind so well. Because of that, I felt fully immersed in this nightlife setting, almost as if I was sitting at the bar sipping a G&T myself.

While I also really liked Savannah, her story and the side-characters close to her (including both family and friends) didn’t leave the same impression in me as Julia’s did. In saying that, I did enjoy the focus on family and friends from both of our main characters. We had some supportive and sweet family members that added to the heartwarming and wholesome feel of the book, as well as some not so great (but still realistic) family members that made the book feel more down to earth and genuine.

The romance was of course very good. I particularly enjoyed the kind of bumbling first encounters and the early stages of their romance, which was altogether very sweet. I did feel like this book was missing a smooth development and transition from these early stages to a more deep romance, especially by the end. The book felt very quick, which in some ways is a good thing (meaning a flew through the book and it was easy to read) but on the other hand I was left feeling like the romance could have been explored more. I think this is the main reason I would give the book three stars rather than four, as I was yearning for more from our MCs. I think this wasn’t helped by the main conflict of their relationship feeling rather superficial. I’m not asking for some large angst-driven conflict, but it never really felt like our characters had that big turning point that drove them together or reinforced their love.

Altogether, this was a highly enjoyable and heartwarming read by Beers, despite not being one of my favourites from her.

This is not my first Georgia Beers book and that is why I can assure you that I want to continue reading everything she is going to write.
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Her characters have a simplicity that makes each gesture sound like a real person, a friend or someone who is part of my family. Still intrigue me how she does to write about complex topics, mixing them in things that everyone can relate but without being a great drama of it, just something that forms and is part of the characters, just like real life. And yes, I always end up loving her characters.
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In this love at first sight story, obstacles slowly grow the relationship until it becomes solid and fragile between Savannah and Julia. Savannah is the caretaker, she takes care of the elderly as a way of making a living but she also does it in her personal life, with her brothers and her father, filling the role of a mother and responsible of all. Julia on the other hand is a workaholic who wants to prove to her large Italian family, especially her father, that she can make her new challenge, Martini Bar, a success. They are both immersed in their lives and the people around them until their first glance meets and everything start to shift.
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I loved Julia's family so much, that group of Cousins ​​that make up a very special club, that I can't wait to see what story is going to follow in this new series
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Thanks to Georgia Beers and Bold Strokes Books for give me this great book to read in exchange for my honest opinion I really loved it

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗯𝗮𝗿.

This is the first book of A Swizzle Stick Romance and I'm stoked that Beers decided to do another series. Beers wanted to do a family series this time so this one is about the queer cousins of the Martini family - i.e. Julia, Vanessa and Amelia - who will have a book each about them. The first one is Julia's story. She has taken over her uncle's bar and is now running it and Savannah is a customer. The attraction between them is instant, they hit it off and they are super sweet.

While Julia and Savannah's feelings for each other are straightforward, circumstances don't make it easy all the time. Family plays a big part in shaping these two women and family dynamics affect them in ways that are not always good. But instead of giving us frustrating main characters or a storyline filled with bad decisions, Beers give us really likeable characters and delivers the story gently with minimal heartbreak. Cousins Amelia and Vanessa play big roles in this book too, being Julia's support and voices of reason when she needed them, and I like them already. This is good because it paves the way for the next few books. I also like the idea of having the bar as a constant hangout place in this series.

Beers has never disappointed me. Her stories are always great and I'm excited to read the other books in the series. What a strong start!

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

Romantic and sweet and drama galore.

Beers never fails with romance and this is a sweet and toasty one. She worked the slow burn by pacing the attraction and the result was a solid and blissful ending. The leads are both beautiful in their own rights; Julia, the workaholic bar owner who mixes delicious sounding cocktails (you wish you could taste them) and the big hearted and giving Savannah. The book presented family issues on both sides that were painfully real but thankfully overshadowed by Julia’s loving cousins, Amelia and Vanessa. The book was certainly set out to entice, excite and it did generate all the feels of falling in love. This is the first of a series and can’t wait for the others.

I just reviewed Shaken or Stirred by Georgia Beers. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

I love this sort of plot, but this book didn't speak to me at all. I wish the book was more open and felt natural. As if I am reading something that is happening in another part of the world.

Another solid small town romance from one of the queens of the genre. I was hoping for a little more weight and a little less formula, but I'm sure to be in the minority. Overall, a pleasant way to spend a lazy summer day, and a reason to look forward to the rest of the series.

The main characters were so adorable and cute together. The author had done a great job of fleshing them out and giving them life, and I related to them and felt for them as they navigated their family and business troubles. The supporting characters, from Savannah's siblings to the Martini cousins, were all interesting and well written. The storyline about Savannah's brother and his struggle with alcoholism really hit home. I'm not much of a drinker but I was left longing for a cocktail after reading this book. I very much enjoyed it and look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Georgia Beers never disappoints. She consistently delivers great characters who feel like they can be your friends. This is the start of a new series involving cousins. Julia Martini purchases her family bar from an uncle. After updating the bar she is turning into a workaholic trying make it successful. Her two cousins Amelia and Vanessa are there for late night talks, food and support. Savannah McNally comes into the bar with a friend and feels sizzling heat for the sexy bartender. Savannah is a home healthier care giver and is dealing with family issues involving her dad and younger siblings.

I like that Beers starts with the instant attraction but lets the relationship grow with flirtation and talking. One of the sweetest and realistic things is seeing the two watch each other and how they interact with their friends and family members. It shows each other their inner qualities and it attracts them more.

This is an easy, light and fun story with minimal angst. It is a perfect read for a summer or fall day on the porch. I hope I don't have to wait too long for Vanessa's story. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was my very first sapphic novel and let me tell you - it did not disappoint. Immediately, you fall in love with both Julia Martini with her oversized family and her new bar that she has trouble leaving, and Savannah McNally with her desire to take care of everyone, including her two younger siblings and widowed father. When they meet one another, the chemistry is palpable. Their story never seems rushed, which is often the case with romance novels. Instead, the tension burned slow and steady until they both seized the moment and could no longer deny their feelings for one another.

One thing I loved, besides the romance, was how the author covered real issues such as being a part of the LGBTQ+ community in a religious, Italian family and the struggles of having family suffering from alcoholism and dementia. This added more depth to the story, and made me feel more invested in both the Martini and McNally families.

This was truly such an enjoyable read for me. I devoured it over the span of two days and found it so hard to put down. I wanted to befriend literally every character - especially Julia’s cousins Amelia and Vanessa. I would love to see them find their happily ever after! Needless to say, I am now a definite fan of Georgia Beer’s work and can’t wait to grab another book!

Georgia Beers is one of my favorite authors and I am thrilled that she has created a new series surrounding the Martini cousins. This book was deep on a different level, it showed that no matter how success you can become, your still that 10 yo waiting for your parents approval, and the damage that this can cause in relationships as you age. Savannah though, was not going to back away, and the connection between her and Julia was well written. Can’t wait for book 2!

For me I can never go wrong with a Georgia Beers book! It's the perfect way to spend a lazy weekend, letting your heart warm with a lovely romance in your hands and knowing you'll be able to close the book with a happy sigh at the end.
As in all her other books this one about workaholic bar owner Julia Martini and looking after everyone Savannah McNally doesn't revolve about complex plotlines, extraordinary situations and big angsty break ups. The thing that make her books a great read are simple: great main characters and equally great side characters, humor in the internal as well as external dialogues, swoon worthy romance and a realistic setting.

If you are looking for a romantic read that is guaranteed to make you smile and sigh happily when reaching the end this is definitely one you should pick up!

I have always enjoyed reading books written by Georgia Beers. And this book is a winner! The story is told from the point-of-view of the two main characters: Julia Martini, a workaholic struggling to make her new bar successful, as well as dealing with her father's disapproval of her life's choices, and Savannah McNally who puts the needs of her father, sister and brother before her own needs.
The story begins with a chance encounter at the bar that sparks the interest between Julia and Savannah, and takes off from there.
There are serious issues both Julia and Savannah deal with, but the story also has humor which is provided by Julia's cousins, Amelia and Vanessa. Both women are also gay, and I would have liked to learn more about them. I understand that this is the first book in a trilogy. I hope the next two books are about Amelia and Vanessa.
I highly recommend this book!

This is a very fun, flirty, swoony romance. I loved Julia and her cousins who kicked her butt when she needed it and offered hugs when she needed that. Savannah was so easy to root for as she took care of everyone in her life. This is fun and sexy and a great summer read

This was my first F/F romance book, and so glad it was this one! This book is a great start to a new series by Georgia Beers of the three Martini Cousins, Vanessa, Amelia and Julia. This was Julia’s story, who’s the owner of the Martini Bar which has been in her family a lifetime and she purchases from her Uncle. As Julia is remodeling and trying to make something with the family business she meets Savanah. The sparks fly and they are instantly attracted to one another, and so the story starts. I loved the Martini Cousins, lots of giggles with those three. This wasn’t just a romance story between Julia and Savannah, but also a story of everyday family struggles as well with each character. There was a nice balance between the two. The story is so well written, and definitely kept me interested throughout. I really connected with all the characters and the feels were all there! I’m so glad to hear that the next books will be about Vanessa and Amelia the other two cousins. I can’t wait to see how their stories unfold.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for providing me this ARC via Net Gallery in exchange for my honest opinion.