Laura’s Review of Rusty Nailed by Alice Clayton

If you have read and loved Twisted (Tangled, #2) by Emma Chase, Beautiful Stranger (Beautiful Bastard, #2) by Christina Lauren, and Playing for Keeps (Neighbor from Hell, #1) by R.L. Mathewson then you are going to LOVE this book!

Synopsis

        In this sequel to Wallbanger, the second book in the Cocktail series, fan favorites Caroline and Simon negotiate the rollercoaster of their new relationship while house-sitting in San Francisco.

        Playing house was never so much fun—or so confusing. With her boss on her honeymoon, Caroline’s working crazy long hours to keep the interior design company running—especially since she’s also the lead designer for the renovation of a gorgeous old hotel on Sausalito. So with her hotshot photographer boyfriend gallivanting all over the world for his job, she and Simon are heavy-duty into “absence makes the heart grow fonder” mode. Neither has any complaints about the great reunion sex, though! Then Simon decides he’s tired of so much travelling, and he’s suddenly home more. A lot more. And wanting Caroline home more, too. Though their friends’ romantic lives provide plenty of welcome distraction, eventually Caroline and Simon have to sort their relationship out. Neither wants “out of sight, out of mind,” but can they create their own happy mid-ground cliché?

       USA TODAY bestselling author Alice Clayton delivers another delicious, frothy cocktail of a book, shaking up her characters, stirring in laugh-out-loud humor, and serving sizzling romance straight up!

                       

What I Loved

      I’m not doing first impressions for this book because this was a power read for me; once I started reading I couldn't put it down and finished it in a little over 24 hours.  I loved Wallbanger and I absolutely LOVED Rusty Nailed!  Alice Clayton has a way of making a love story utterly hilarious, yet serious, yet feels so real all at the same time.  This magic equation immediately sucks you into Caroline and Simon’s world and you never want to leave.  I’m pretty much read to move to the Bay Area tomorrow and find my very own Simon out there! 

      There are lots of things going on, some good, some bad, and all with Caroline’s sense of humor sprinkled throughout.  You rejoin the happy couple almost immediately after Wallbanger ends, the prologue bringing you through the first several months of their relationship quickly, showing you the love they have for each other and how it has blossomed into a full blown grown up relationship.

      You totally grow with this couple more so in this book then in the first because now they are a solidified couple, no more women wanting to get spanked or making cat noises.  This book was all about Caroline and Simon and their many adventures in baking and hot steamy sex (sometimes involving both).  Alice Clayton doesn't let you down in the sex scenes department and I thank her very much for that. 

Not So Much

      I guess my only complaint about this book is the details in some scenes. Wallbanger came out almost two years ago.  I did not memorize what Caroline’s apartment looked like, or Simon’s for that matter.  I know this part of a series but a lot of thing should’ve been gone over again to refresh people’s memory.  Also there are such great details when it comes to Simon’s looks and his physique but the same attention is not paid to Caroline.  That’s always a little frustrating to me when the same attention is not given to the female characters in the book as is given to the males.  I just wish there was a solid description at least once of how tall Caroline was, what color her eyes were, something like that.

This Book Was…

    

       Fabulous! I loved every second of this book!  I love Caroline and Simon so freaking much I can’t stop smiling while I’m writing this review! That is how much I love them!  I loved the character development, and I loved that we got to see Caroline and Simon not only grow as a couple but grow as adults and watch them take those awesome next steps together.  I not only loved seeing Simon and Caroline’s relationship develop and grow but seeing the same for Mimi and Ryan, and eventually Sophia and Neil.  I love when authors not only suck you into the main character’s lives but get you involved in the supporting characters as well.  I will say though I am not a cat person which is fine I love Clive anyway, but 4 cats!?!?! All I kept on thinking about was how horrible the house will smell! Such a great easy, funny, romantic, sexy read!  

Sausaltio, CA