Tag Archives: Cocktails

Last Call (Cocktails 4.5) by Alice Clayton-a review

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LAST CALL (Cocktail 4.5) by Alice Clayton-a review

Last Call

Amazon.com / Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 6, 2015

Simon and Caroline are back for another round of baking, banging, and big life changes. Settling in, but never settling down, Caroline has finally struck a balance between the professional and the personal. As one of the top interior designers in San Francisco, she travels all over Northern California between nook time with Simon.

Perpetual globetrotter Simon has cut his frequent flyer miles in half over the last year, preferring to balance his professional and personal life, as well.

The next step in their lives seems preordained—toasts, veils, and the aisle of rose petals. But when an accident on a photo shoot in Southeast Asia brings Caroline the most terrifying phone call she could ever imagine, she has to ask whether “till death do us part” is a more realistic prospect than faces most couples.

It’s been a grand adventure, and Caroline and Simon wouldn’t go out without the best surprise ending ever. One part sexy, one part laughter, a dash of exotic locales, and one pink nightie, mixed with passion, and you’ve got Last Call. Served with a side of Clive.

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW: LAST CALL is the latest installment in Alice Clayton’s contemporary, adult Cocktail romance series focusing on a tight knit group of family and friends. LAST CALL is the continuing story of Caroline Reynolds and Simon Parker whom we first met in book one Wallbanger. Each storyline in the series can be read as a stand alone without too much difficulty but for sheer enjoyment I would suggest reading in order.

Told from first person point of view (Caroline) the storyline focuses on a number of scenarios including an upcoming wedding, an impending birth and Simon’s latest photography assignment overseas. We welcome the return of the previous storyline couples : Vivian and Clark; Lucas and Chloe; and all of Caroline and Simon’s closest friends including Caroline’s boss Jillian and her husband Benjamin; as well as Sophie, Neil, Mimi and Ryan as they offer support and love for each couple as they face their futures together.

LAST CALL is an ensemble storyline with a mixture of humorous moments, sexiness, sarcastic innuendo and sass between friends and family that had been missing from the previous couple of stories. The funny banter and one-on-one repartee flows easily and invites the reader into the storyline as part of the fun and excitement. The relationship between friends and family is tight; the support is nurturing; and the love continues to grow with every quirky response and one liner.

If you are looking for a quick and funny storyline with moments of romance and friendship, LAST CALL is a welcome addition to Alice Clayton’s COCKTAIL series.

cocktail series

1. Wallbanger
2. Rusty Nailed
3. Screwdrivered
4. Mai Tai’d Up
4.5 Last Call (January 2015)

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Mai Tai’d Up (Cocktail #4) by Alice Clayton-a review

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MAI TAI’D UP (Cocktail #4) by Alice Clayton-a review

Mai Tai'd Up

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 2, 2014

The gossip mill in the seaside community of Monterey is churning about Chloe Patterson, the newcomer who is starting a sanctuary for rescued pit bulls. It’s rumored that she’s a former beauty queen (true) who ditched her fiancé the morning of their wedding (also true). And that while she’s not looking for a new man, the good-looking local veterinarian has his eye on her. Absolutely, positively true.

When Lucas Campbell isn’t at the family veterinary clinic, he’s paddle boarding in Monterey Bay. Recently single, he’s definitely not in the market for a new relationship, but he still can’t resist taking a second, third, and fourth look at the recent arrival of Miss Golden State.

Neither Lucas nor Chloe has any interest in being tied down. Being tied up, however—now there’s a thought. But are a few Mai Tais, a moonlit night, and the music of Frank Sinatra enough to allow them both to forget their past? Let’s hope Ol’ Blue Eyes knows what he’s doing.

Mix one part tiki, one part kinky, and a splash of old black magic matchmaking, and it’s time to be . . . Mai Tai’d Up.

••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: MAI TAI’D UP is the fourth full length installment in Alice Clayton’s contemporary, adult Wallbanger romance series. This is veterinarian Dr. Lucas Campbell and Chloe Patterson’s storyline. Chloe is Clark Barrow’s cousin whom we met in book three –Screwdrivered. Although MAI TAI’D UP is the fourth in the series, it can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous storylines is revealed where necessary.

Told from first person point of view (Chloe) MAI TAI’D UP focuses on runaway bride Chloe Patterson. Groomed by her mother from an early age to be the perfect wife and pageant queen, Chloe is tired of her mother’s rules. A few hours before her marriage to hot shot lawyer Charles Sappington, former beauty pageant winner Chloe has second, third and fourth thoughts about marrying a man she doesn’t love. Realizing there is no love match between her and her intended, Chloe takes off for father’s family farm in Monterey Bay, where she will begin work on a pit bull rescue clinic. Enter Dr. Lucas Campbell, the man with whom she would fall in love.

Lucas Campbell is heartbroken. Left at the altar by his own runaway bride, Lucas is having a difficult time accepting all that has happened. Meeting Chloe shows Lucas the possibility of a real happily ever after but Chloe has hidden the truth about her wedding fiasco.

The relationship between Chloe and Lucas is slow to build as our couple dance around one another for much of the storyline knowing that both could be rebounding from disastrous relationships. Lucas is preparing for a three month excursion to Belize, working with Veterinarians without Borders and Chloe is busy preparing her new pit bull rescue operation. There is plenty of sexual tension throughout the storyline but Chloe’s lie of omission has Lucas second guessing everything about their relationship.

The supporting characters are colorful and well developed including Chloe’s parents, and cameos by her cousin Clark and his fiancé Vivian-Clark and Vivian characters allow for cohesion and familiarity to the Wallbanger series. Chloe’s mother is a real piece work, living vicariously through her daughter’s pageant success. We are also introduced to Lucas’s parents as well as the office receptionist who is quite the matchmaker when she puts her mind to it. Both Chloe and Lucas’s exes make a couple of appearances throughout the story.

MAI TAI’D UP has moments of laughter, heartbreak, passion and drama. The building relationship between Chloe and Lucas is almost secondary to the pit bull rescue storyline and Chloe’s dysfunctional relationship with her mother. The sex scenes are limited ( and nearing the end of the story) as the bond between Chloe and Lucas continues to build-similar in context to a chic lit storyline. But unlike the original Wallbanger storyline, the humor and sexual energy is not as prevalent and missing some of its’ oomph ! The style of writing has changed with each series installment-not a bad thing, just different.

MAI TAI’D UP is a sweet, romantic and entertaining storyline with a happily ever after.

cocktail series

1. Wallbanger
2. Rusty Nailed
2.5 Last Call (January 2015)
3. Screwdrivered
4. Mai Tai’d Up

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Rusty Nailed (Cocktails #2) by Alice Clayton-a review

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RUSTY NAILED (Cocktail #2) by Alice Clayton-a review

Rusty Nailed

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 24, 2014

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?

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: RUSTY NAILED is the second instalment in Alice Clayton’s contemporary adult Cocktail romance series that began with Wallbanger. As far as most readers knew Wallbanger was a stand alone based a piece of the author’s fan fiction she wrote several years earlier. Wallbanger was a runaway hit and RUSTY NAILED is the continuing story of Caroline ( she of the Pink Nightie) and Simon (he of the nightly Wallbanging).

The focus of the storyline is the continuing relationship between our leading couple. From exasperated neighbors to lovers, RUSTY NAILED follows Caroline’s expanding interior design position within her best friend’s firm and Simon’s busy life as a globetrotting photographer for many well know magazines. Along the way, the reader is pulled into the upheaval of a best friend’s wedding, the dissolution of a relationship, and the beginning of a future for two people who never thought beyond that night or the next day.

RUSTY NAILED pulls together all of the previous storyline characters-friends, co-workers and Clive- who drive a good portion of the storyline. There is a stand off and misunderstanding when one couple’s relationship disaster follows the stuff of teenage angst; while another couple move forward and make Caroline an offer-she may have to refuse.

The relationship between Caroline and Simon is very sensual; very hot and yet most of the sex is implied. There is nothing sexually graphic as the author leaves much to the reader’s imagination and in this is was a refreshing read. Much of the sexual innuendo stylizing from the first storyline is absent. RUSTY NAILED is not as humorous as WALLBANGER but then again, Caroline and Simon’s lives are getting more complicated, and their friend’s lives and adventures add a degree of anxiety and stress to what is already a busy time.

Alice Clayton writes a story that is sure to please. There are no hidden or dark secrets. RUSTY NAILED, like its predecessor, is a romantic storyline where our couple must navigate the minefield that is everyday life. Problems will present themselves and our couple will learn that negotiation and conflict are all a part of being in love. Caroline’s love of baking and Simon’s love of everything she bakes is one theme that continues in this instalment.

Reading Order:

Wallbanger
Rusty Nailed (June 2014)
Screwdrivered (September 2014)
Mai Tai’d Up (December 2014)

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

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