Showing posts with label Cocktail Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cocktail Series. Show all posts

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Book Spotlight : Mai Tai'd Up (Cocktail, #4) by Alice Clayton


Mai Tai'd Up

Cocktail #4

By: Alice Clayton

Published: December 2, 2014

Publisher: Gallery Books

Source: Publisher

Add to Goodreads

GR's Summary:

Looking for the perfect mix of smart, sexy, and sassy? Mai Tai’d Up continues New York Times bestselling author Alice Clayton’s Cocktail series, which began with Wallbanger and continued with Rusty Nailed and Screwdrivered. 

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 fiancĂ© 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.


Cocktail Series:
My Review on Wallbanger Here
My Review on Rusty Nailed Here
My Review on Screwdrivered Here





Book Teaser:


My Thoughts:

After completing the Cocktail Series, I can say one thing with certainty; I would consider myself privileged to read anything that Ms. Clayton has written.  All of her books have that special spark, that make a book come to life.  They transport you in to a wonderful escape full of witty entertainment, humor at it's best, colorful characters, and addictive plot lines.

Mai Tai'd up was as wonderful of a read as I was hoping for.  In this installment, we get Chloe (Clark's cousin,) and Lucas' story.  Chloe is about to get married to Charles, a hotshot lawyer who appears to have what every girl would dream of on paper.  However, Chloe is not "in love" with Charles.  Their relationship lacks passion and excitement.  Therefore, she realizes that she cannot marry him.  She needs space and change in her life.  The opportunity presents itself, when her father, Thomas, offers for her to use their vacation home in Monterey.  While there she sets up an animal rescue for Pit Bulls.

When she gets to Monterey, Chloe, has the pleasure of meeting and working with gorgeous veterinarian, Dr. Lucas Campbell.  Lucas is still getting over the fact that his long term girlfriend, Julie, left him at the alter on their wedding day.  It becomes clear that both Chloe and Lucas share an attraction, and intense chemistry.  However, they know that they are not in a place to embark on a new relationship, and don't want to be each other's rebound; so they decide to become friends.  Pretty soon they are spending nights and weekends together, as as their friendship grows, so do their mutual feelings for one another...

Mai Tai'd Up was an excellent addition to the Cocktail series.  I loved Chloe.  She was a very memorable character, and made a huge amount of character growth.  She went from her controlling mother dictating her life, to taking charge of her own future happiness.  I loved her compassion towards the injured Pit Bulls, and thought that she was a really funny character.  Lucas was a great character as well.  I enjoyed the interactions between Lucas and Chloe as they had fun spending time together, and trying new things.  We get an appearance by Viv and Clark, and it was one of my favorite parts in the story.  Viv is hilarious!!!  We also get to see Sophia and Neil again, and the entertainment factor was at an all time high!    

My Rating:

I give, Mai Tai'd Up, by Alice Clayton, 4.5 Friendship First, Romantic, Funny, Ole' Blue Eyes Filled Stars!!!  Read this series! It is excellent!  Superb!  Phenomenal! 






Casting:
"Chloe"
(*She refers to herself as looking like Christie Brinkley in the book.)

"Lucas" 
(As Ms. Clayton see's him)


Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo



About Alice Clayton:

Novelist Alice Clayton makes her home in St. Louis where she enjoys gardening but not weeding, baking but not cleaning up after, and is trying desperately to get her long-time boyfriend to make her an honest woman–and please buy her a Bernese Mountain dog. 

After working for years in the cosmetics industry as a makeup artist, esthetician, and educator, Alice picked up a pen (read laptop) for the first time at 33 to begin a new career: author. Having never written anything longer than a grocery list, she soon found writing to be the creative outlet she’d been missing since walking away from the theater 10 years before. 

She has a great time combining her love of storytelling with a sense of silly, and she was shocked and awed to be nominated for a Goodreads Author award in 2010 for her debut novels, the first two installments of The Redhead Series–The Unidentified Redhead and The Redhead Revealed. Her latest novel Wallbanger is a return to her trademark comedic erotica, or funny smut, that Alice has become known for. 

Additionally, Alice loves spending time with her besties on Not Your Mother’s Podcast (check them out on iTunes) and has recently partnered with actor Greg Grunberg, blogger Brittany Gibbons, and actress Keili Lefkovitz on a new travel show that will begin filming in January. 

Alice enjoys pickles, Bloody Marys, eight hours of sleep and a good pounding.






Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Book Review: Screwdrivered (Cocktail #3) by Alice Clayton



Screwdrivered
Cocktail #3
By: Alice Clayton
Published: Sept. 2, 2014
Publisher: Gallery Books
Source: Publisher
Add to Goodreads

GR's Summary:


Readers back for a third round of the bestselling Cocktail series will enjoy a madcap romantic comedy about bodice ripping and chest heaving, fiery passion and love everlasting. Plus a dash of paperwork filing and horseshi—wait, what? 

By day, Viv Franklin designs software programs. By night, Vivian’s a secret romance-novel junkie who longs for a knight in shining armor, or a cowboy on a wild stallion, or a strapping firefighter to sweep her off her feet. And she gets to wear the bodice—don’t forget the bodice. 

When a phone call brings news that she’s inherited a beautiful old home in Mendocino, California from a long-forgotten aunt, she moves her entire life across the country to embark on what she sees as a great, romance-novel-worthy adventure. But romance novels always have a twist, don’t they? 

There’s a cowboy, one that ignites her loins. Because Cowboy Hank is totally loin-ignition worthy. But there’s also a librarian, Clark Barrow. And he calls her Vivian. Can tweed jackets and elbow patches compete with chaps and spurs? You bet your sweet cow pie. 

In Screwdrivered, Alice Clayton pits Superman against Clark in a hilarious and hot battle that delights a swooning Viv/Vivian. 

Also within this book, an answer to the question of the ages: Why ride a cowboy when you can ride a librarian? 


Cocktail Series:
My Review on Wallbanger Here
My Review on Rusty Nailed Here






My Thoughts:

Alice Clayton can write!!!  The Cocktail Series should be on every romance lovers wish list!  These books are among my favorite's.  In the previous books in the series, we met Viv, Simon's good friend from high school, but she was a very minor secondary character.  At first I was a little worried that I wouldn't love Screwdrivered as much as Wallbanger, and Rusty Nailed, because I love Caroline and Simon so much.  Well, I should never have underestimated Ms. Clayton.  She made me love Viv and Clark, just as much Simon and Caroline.

Vivian is a romantic at heart.  She reads a ton of romances and longs to have an adventure and love story like the one's she reads about in her books.  When her Great Aunt Maude dies, and leaves her a beautiful home in Mendocino, California, Viv decides it's time for an adventure.  She leaves Philadelphia, to check out the home and small town.  When she gets there she see's a handsome cowboy by the name of Hank, and decides that her own romance novel is about to play out with Hank as her leading man.  Then she meets Clark, the town's Librarian, Archivist, and the head of the Historian society.  She has to get all renovations approved by him before she can make changes and repairs to the house.  Clark infuriates her, challenges her, and attracts her.  However, she's so busy going after the man she thinks she wants, will she jeopardize the opportunity to be with the man that's her perfect match?

Screwdrivered was an epic treat!  I was constantly laughing out loud, giggling, and gasping, "Oh my gosh!"  My husband was looking over at me like I was crazy!  This is a feel good story at it's best.  The kind of story that gives you butterflies in the stomach, a large dopey grin on your face, a blush to your cheeks, and a lift to your spirit!  I LOVED every moment.  As I got near the end, I found myself trying desperately to slow down my reading, because I didn't want it to end.  There are many good books out on the market, but there is only a small selection that are this stunning!  The chemistry between Vivian and Clark completely evoked goosebumps and tingles in the best way imaginable.  Ms. Clayton seduces the reader with the art of sensuality.  A sexy look here, a tiny touch there, was all I needed.  She set the romantic tone of the story seamlessly, until it built in to an all encompassing inferno of desire and passion, sweeping me completely off of my feet!     


My Rating:


I give Screwdrivered, by Alice Clayton 5 Palpitating, Pulse Increasing, "Please Turn Around and See What's in Front of You," Filled Stars!  Read the Cocktail Series for an all star cast of characters, a laughter inducing plot, and steamy romance at its best!




My Favorite Quote:

"It doesn't always have to be so hard.  Sometimes falling in love just means turning around and seeing what's right in front of you."

~Caroline



Picture Teaser:


Purchase At:





About Alice Clayton:

Novelist Alice Clayton makes her home in St. Louis where she enjoys gardening but not weeding, baking but not cleaning up after, and is trying desperately to get her long-time boyfriend to make her an honest woman–and please buy her a Bernese Mountain dog. 

After working for years in the cosmetics industry as a makeup artist, esthetician, and educator, Alice picked up a pen (read laptop) for the first time at 33 to begin a new career: author. Having never written anything longer than a grocery list, she soon found writing to be the creative outlet she’d been missing since walking away from the theater 10 years before. 

She has a great time combining her love of storytelling with a sense of silly, and she was shocked and awed to be nominated for a Goodreads Author award in 2010 for her debut novels, the first two installments of The Redhead Series–The Unidentified Redhead and The Redhead Revealed. Her latest novel Wallbanger is a return to her trademark comedic erotica, or funny smut, that Alice has become known for. 

Additionally, Alice loves spending time with her besties on Not Your Mother’s Podcast (check them out on iTunes) and has recently partnered with actor Greg Grunberg, blogger Brittany Gibbons, and actress Keili Lefkovitz on a new travel show that will begin filming in January. 

Alice enjoys pickles, Bloody Marys, eight hours of sleep and a good pounding.







Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Blog Tour: Rusty Nailed (Cocktail #2) by Alice Clayton



Rusty Nailed
Cocktail #2
By: Alice Clayton
Published:  June 24, 2014
By: Gallery Books
Mature Content
Add to Goodreads


GR's Summary:

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 clichĂ©? 


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!



Cocktail Series:






My Thoughts:

Wallbanger was such an amazing book!  When I heard that Ms. Clayton would be continuing this series with three more books, I was excited.  I was also a little bit worried.  I wondered if the sequel could possibly measure up to such a phenomenal first book.  I'm very excited to say that Ms. Clayton nailed it, with the sequel, Rusty Nailed!!!  If you are a fan of Wallbanger, you will love Rusty Nailed.  It had all of the elements that I loved in the first book!  It was fast-paced, entertaining, fun, humorous, and downright sexy!!!

In Rusty Nailed, Caroline and Simon have been together for a year.  They both still have their own apartments, and Caroline likes it that way.  She enjoys having her space, and even though she misses Simon when he is away for his job, she anticipates his return, and savors their moments together.  She likes being independent and is happy with the way things are.  Their good friends, Mimi and Ryan's relationship is going strong.  Unfortunately, Sophia and Neil have broken up, and this is the one topic that Caroline and Simon tend to argue over.  

Now that Caroline's boss and good friend, Jillian, is getting married, things are starting to get even more hectic at Caroline's job.  Then, Jillian lets her know that she will be on an open-ended honeymoon with her new husband, Benjamin, and Caroline will be in charge.  Caroline is excited with her promotion, and the fact that she is getting her very own intern!  Jillian also asks Caroline to house sit for her when she is gone.  

Caroline quickly becomes overwhelmed, and starts to wonder if she took on too much, once Jillian is gone.  To top it off, Simon, is at home more often, and misses Caroline, as do her best friends Mimi, and Sophia.  They are worried that she is working too hard.  Caroline misses Simon also.  As these two try to navigate their relationship, you will not be able to tear your eyes away from this story!

Rusty Nailed was an excellent sequel, and has me excited and highly anticipating the rest of the series!  I love Ms. Clayton's casual writing style.  The conversations between all of these characters flow so naturally and realistically.  I enjoyed Caroline's friendships with Mimi and Sophia.  These ladies are hilarious, and often times had me laughing out loud!  I could relate to the dynamics of their friendship, hilarious banter, and appreciated their love and loyalty towards one another.  Simon was just as dreamy in this sequel as he was in the first book.  Maybe even more so.  He was such an attentive, sweet, and sexy boyfriend.  Even though it's been a year sice they've been in a relationship, things between these two have not cooled down one bit.  I love both of these characters individually, but together they're even better!


My Rating:

Rusty Nailed is a hit!  This story was excellent!  I laughed out loud!  I swooned over the sweet and sexy, Simon.  I loved and connected with all of the characters, and enjoyed how realistic this story came across.  Caroline and Simon felt like a real couple, who were dealing with real issues.  This story was a light-hearted, fun, feel good read, and the perfect bookish escape!  I give, Rusty Nailed, by Alice Clayton, 4.5, Hilarious, Romantic, Sexy, Swoon-worthy, I just can't get enough Filled Stars!!!!  This book needs to be pushed to the very top of your TBR!!!





Book Teaser:




About Alice Clayton:

Novelist Alice Clayton makes her home in St. Louis where she enjoys gardening but not weeding, baking but not cleaning up after, and is trying desperately to get her long-time boyfriend to make her an honest woman–and please buy her a Bernese Mountain dog. 

After working for years in the cosmetics industry as a makeup artist, esthetician, and educator, Alice picked up a pen (read laptop) for the first time at 33 to begin a new career: author. Having never written anything longer than a grocery list, she soon found writing to be the creative outlet she’d been missing since walking away from the theater 10 years before. 


She has a great time combining her love of storytelling with a sense of silly, and she was shocked and awed to be nominated for a Goodreads Author award in 2010 for her debut novels, the first two installments of The Redhead Series–The Unidentified Redhead and The Redhead Revealed. Her latest novel Wallbanger is a return to her trademark comedic erotica, or funny smut, that Alice has become known for.


Additionally, Alice loves spending time with her besties on Not Your Mother’s Podcast (check them out on iTunes) and has recently partnered with actor Greg Grunberg, blogger Brittany Gibbons, and actress Keili Lefkovitz on a new travel show that will begin filming in January. 


Alice enjoys pickles, Bloody Marys, eight hours of sleep and a good pounding.







Giveaway:
Enter to Win a Print Copy of Wallbanger 
by Alice Clayton!  (U.S. Only)


Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday (52)


Hosted by Breaking the Spine

 
Waiting On Wednesday (WOW) is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating at A Bookish Escape.

 Rusty Nailed (Cocktail, #2)
by Alice Clayton

Genre: 
Contemporary Romance/Humor

Expected Release Date:
June 24th, 2014

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 clichĂ©?

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!




Why I Can't Wait:


I absolutely LOVED Wallbanger!!!! I can't wait to read more about Caroline and Simon. I just finished reading The Redhead Series, I love the way Alice Clayton's books leave me with a huge smile on my face and a happy heart :) Her books are a real escape!



What Are You Waiting On?







Saturday, November 16, 2013

Book Announcement & Giveaway : You Got Banged, Now It's Time To Get Nailed!

You Got Banged, Now It's Time to Get Nailed !

Gallery Books is proud to announce a new major book deal with USA Today bestselling author Alice Clayton for three full length books and one novella.

Alice Clayton

The first title in the new Cocktail series, RUSTY NAILED, will be a sequel to the wildly successful WALLBANGER and will be released in June 2014. SCREWDRIVERED and MAI TAI'D UP will follow in September 2014 and December 2014. The novella, which will be published in January 2015, will be the beginning of a brand new Hudson Valley Series. Micki Nuding, Senior Editor at Gallery Books, negotiated the deal with Karen Solem at Spencerhill Associates which includes World rights.


Redhead Series: 
The Unidentified Redhead (Redhead, #1)The Redhead Revealed (Redhead, #2)The Redhead Plays Her Hand (Redhead, #3)




To celebrate this AWESOME news, Gallery Books is giving the COMPLETE Redhead series to one lucky follower :)


***Giveaway***